Tag Archives: Bedford Hills NY Homes for Sale

Bedford Hills NY Homes for Sale

How wise agents get appraisers to see what they see | Bedford Hills Real Estate

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Appraisals continue to be a potential issue with every contract. It doesn’t need to be this way. Of course, there will always be situations where a genuine value challenges exists. But for the most part, better preparation by agents can alleviate the majority of problems.

A key component of that preparation is an understanding of what an appraiser does and how they operate. This can quash issues before they arise. Appraisers have no interest in “killing a deal.” They get paid to complete reports. Appeals or contested reports waste everyone’s time, and no appraiser goes out looking to waste time.

Agents would do well to understand that the appraiser is not their enemy, but simply one of the many people involved in the sale.

Appraisers report the market — they don’t create it. The agent-appraiser relationship can be contentious, mainly due to a lack of understanding. Appraisers have little idea of how much time can be invested with a client, and agents have little understanding of the requirements appraisers work under.

 

 

– See more at: http://www.inman.com/2013/12/13/how-wise-agents-get-appraisers-to-see-what-they-see/?utm_source=20131213&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dailyheadlinesam#sthash.KkSG0mEy.dpuf

Fixed Mortgage Rates Little Changed | Bedford Hills Real Estate

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Freddie Mac  today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey(R) (PMMS®), showing average fixed mortgage changing little from the previous week amid light economic data releases.

News Facts

  • 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.42 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending December 12, 2013, down from last week when it averaged 4.46 percent. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 3.32 percent.
  • 15-year FRM this week averaged 3.43 percent with an average 0.7 point, down from last week when it averaged 3.47 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 2.66 percent.
  • 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 2.94 percent this week with an average 0.4 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.99 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 2.70 percent.
  • 1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 2.51 percent this week with an average 0.4 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.59 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 2.53 percent.

Average commitment rates should be reported along with average fees and points to reflect the total upfront cost of obtaining the mortgage. Visit the following links for the Regional and National Mortgage Rate Details and Definitions. Borrowers may still pay closing costs which are not included in the survey.

Quotes Attributed to Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist, Freddie Mac.

“Mortgage rates were little changed amid a light week of economic data releases. Of the few releases, total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 203,000 in November and the unemployment rate declined to 7.0 percent. Also, single family mortgage debt outstanding increased for the first time since 2008. This is a positive sign as it reflects that the pick-up in new purchase-money originations has offset loan paydowns and led to a net increase in principal outstanding.”

Freddie Mac was established by Congress in 1970 to provide liquidity, stability and affordability to the nation’s residential mortgage markets. Freddie Mac supports communities across the nation by providing mortgage capital to lenders. Today Freddie Mac is making home possible for one in.

Fifty-two Percent of Largest Markets Have Recovered Half of Lost Equity | Bedford Hills NY Homes

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A majority of the nation’s largest markets, 52 percent, have now recovered more than half of the equity they lost during the Great Recession, according to the latest Rebound Report from Homes.com.

For the fourth consecutive month, all of the 200 midsize local markets measured continued to show gains year over year for the single-family index in October.  While the number of top 100 markets achieving a full recovery remained flat from the previous month, there was noticeable improvement in the number of these markets pertaining to overall recovery.  Three markets moved out of the 0-25% rebound range, and three markets moved up in the 75-100% rebound range.

Month-over-month increases in index values were seen in 251 of the top 300 markets, down from 253 the previous month.  The slight downtrend is likely due to both seasonal trends and the state of recovery for these markets.  Of the 49 markets that saw declines last month, 18 have fully recovered their decline in home prices from the housing bubble and show signs of continuing stabilization.

Seasonal downtrends, along with market stabilization, continued to trend at the end of the third quarter increased month to month – slightly down by three from last month’s report.  However, the month-to-month declines displayed by 39 markets are relatively nominal, with the largest decrease being -0.93 index points in Lynchburg, Va.

“As we end the third quarter, both large and small markets that previously achieved full price recovery from the housing depression consolidated their gains reached during the home buying season.  One in four surpassed their pre-recession peak values,” said Brock MacLean, executive vice president of Homes.com.  “These price gains are restoring millions of homeowners to positive equity and are reviving local real estate markets across the country.”

 

http://www.realestateeconomywatch.com/2013/11/

How to Find Home Buying Credits | Bedford Hills Homes

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Buying your first home is an exciting process, but it can also be a nerve-racking experience. You invest a lot of time and energy seeking out the right home in the right neighborhood. Then the real challenge begins: financing it.

Getting a mortgage loan requires you to have enough money in the bank to pay all of the costs associated with closing the loan, plus enough left over to convince the lender that you can actually afford to pay a monthly mortgage payment.

One strategy some home buyers employ is to seek out home buying credits that provide funds to help people get into their dream homes. Here’s a look at some of the most common, along with information about how to find them.

Mortgage Credit Certificate

The Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) is available to first-time home buyers in certain states. It provides up to $8,000 in tax credits to people who have not owned a home in the previous three years, meet certain income criteria and use their new home as their primary residence.

Each state has its own rules about when it offers the MCC and who can qualify. Check with your local housing authority to see if it’s available to you.

Good Neighbor Next Door Program

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers significant credits to law enforcement officers, school teachers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians who purchase single-family homes in areas targeted for revitalization.

The Good Neighbor Next Door Program makes homes (usually in urban areas) available for up to 50 percent off the list prices. Buyers must agree to live in the home for at least three years. Learn more at HUD’s website.

 

 

http://www.zillow.com/blog/2013-12-05/how-to-find-home-buying-credits/

How to Use Facebook Voice Messages for Your Business | Bedford Hills Realtor

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Do you use your Facebook personal profile to build business relationships?

Have you considered using Facebook voice messages to connect with your customers?

If you connect with customers on your personal profile, you can use Facebook voice messages with great success.

In this article, I’ll show you four ways Facebook voice messages can benefit your business.

What are Facebook Voice Messages?

Facebook voice messages are 60-second audio messages you record from an iOS or Android smartphone/tablet and send to friends and followers whom you’ve followed back.

To send Facebook voice messages, simply open a new message using the Facebook mobile app or the Facebook Messenger app.

mari smith message

Recording a Facebook voice message to Mari Smith.

 

From an Android phone, press the paperclip to open a blank voice message. From an iOS device, press the microphone.

When your blank message is opened, press and hold the red button to record. When you’re done recording, let go of the button and click Done to send your recording.

When a voice message is received, a playback box appears in the recipient’s Chat or Message window. They just click the arrow to listen!

facebook voice message

Example of a sent Facebook voice message.

Now that you have a better understanding of what Facebook voice messages are and how you access them, let’s see how you can use them to benefit your business.

#1: Build Relationships When You Welcome New Followers Personally

When you’ve hit the magic 5,000-friend limit, the only way to connect with more people from your profile is to allow them to follow you.

One way to leverage personal connections with Facebook voice messages is to follow your followers.

To find your followers, go to the About tab on your profile. Scroll down to your Friends box and click on Followers.

Follow a few of your newest followers, then thank each of them for connecting with you with a short voice message. You might also use the opportunity to let them know about your website, Facebook page or any of your other social media channels.

mari smith followers

Find your followers on the About tab of your profile.

Sending a personalized voice message to new followers will let them know you notice them and help you develop a deeper relationship with them.

#2: Become a Recognized Information Resource

If you receive a lot of questions, it can be difficult to keep up with the volume that comes through.

When you receive the same question from several people, use Facebook voice messages to record the answer once and deliver it to each person at the same time. Not only is this faster than typing individual text-based replies, it makes things more personal and you solve their problem with one effort!

If someone posts a question about something you answered in your ebook, send a Facebook voice message with a link to a free version of the ebook and mention where the answer is located.

It’s easy to become a go-to resource when you use personal voice messages to answer questions from your community.

#3: Create Brand Ambassadors

If you’re a public figure, most of your fans rarely get the opportunity to connect with or meet you in person. Facebook might be the closest they get to interacting with you.

Use voice messages to surprise a few of your business connections with a free product and a personalized recording from the CEO.

istock microphone

Personal voice messages have greater impact than generic emails or posts. Image source: iStockphoto

A series of surprise voice messages to share free products with people helps you create enthusiastic brand ambassadors.

#4: Reward Loyalty With Targeted Deals

Nobody feels special when they receive a discount that’s offered to everyone, but they do feel special when they receive a personal offer that’s created just for them.

Send targeted Facebook voice messages to promote exclusive deals to your community members.

When you notice a particular customer has longstanding loyalty to a product or service you offer, send a voice message and offer a truly exclusive discount on that product. Or a sneak preview of a new product!

Not only does this keep your customer excited about your products, but it also empowers him or her to tell friends about your business as well.

istock exclusive seal

Personalize exclusive offers for specific voice message recipients. Image source: iStockphoto

Targeted deals are a great way to reward your loyal customers and drive awareness for your business at the same time.

Use Facebook Voice Messages Wisely

Remember, just because you can send Facebook voice messages to all your connections doesn’t mean you should go overboard. Send out too many and you risk being viewed as a spammer and that bad reputation will reflect negatively on your business and the services you provide.

Instead, use Facebook voice messages strategically to make a good impression with individual members of your community, become a valuable resource and build loyalty with your fans.

 

 

 

 

http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/facebook-voice-messages/

Pending Home Sales Continue To Tumble | Bedford Hills Real Estate

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Pending home sales fell 0.6% month-over-month in October. This was worse than expectations for a 1% rise.

Meanwhile, pending home sales were down 2.2% on the year, worse than expectations for a 1.1% fall.

Last month’s number was revised up to show a 4.6% fall, compared to an initial reading of a 5.6% monthly fall.

Year-over-year the index was revised up to show a 2% rise, compared with an initial reading of a 1.1% rise.

“The government shutdown in the first half of last month sidelined some potential buyers,” Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist said in a press release.  “In a survey, 17 percent of Realtors reported delays in October, mostly from waiting for IRS income verification for mortgage approval.”

Limited inventory and declining affordability can continue to weigh on the index. Yun thinks the housing recovery is still at a healthy pace and attributes the decline in pending home sales to a cooling down of run up we had seen in housing recently.

Here’s a look at the regional breakdown:

  • In the Northeast, the pending home sales index (PHSI) up 2.8% on the month, and is up 8.1% from a year ago.
  • In the Midwest, the index is up 1.2% on the month and up 3.2% from a year ago.
  • In the South, the index fell 0.8% on the month, and is down 1.5% from a year ago.
  • In the West, it is down 4.1% on the month and 12.1% from a year ago.

Pending home sales have been falling for some time now and the index is considered to be a leading indicator for future existing home sales. The Commerce Department expects that 80% of signings will become existing home sales transactions within two months.

 

 

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/comes-pending-home-sales-144016650.html

Bedford Hills NY Real Estate Weekly Report | #RobReportBlog

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Bedford   Hills NY Weekly Real Estate Report11/22/2013
Homes for sale32
Median Ask Price$847,000.00
Low Price$289,000.00
High Price$10,995,000.00
Average Size4028
Average Price/foot$419.00
Average DOM151
Average Ask Price$1,733,887.00

Sustainable Cork Flooring: Elegant and Eco-Friendly | Bedford Hills Real Estate

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Bamboo, sustainably harvested wood, and linoleum made from recycled content  are all eco-friendly hardwood flooring options. Also available at most major home  improvement stores, cork flooring is competitively priced with other kinds of  sustainable flooring, and cork is a beautiful, eco-friendly material.

Cork products are made from the bark of the cork oak tree (Quercus  suber). Much of the world’s cork comes from forests in Portugal, where the  trees’ drought resistance allows them to flourish. Harvesters cut and strip the  bark during early summer, a process that removes only the dead outer bark layers  while leaving the living cambium intact. The cork trees continue to grow  unharmed for about nine years before the bark gets harvested again.

Most of the Portuguese cork oak forests are owned by individual families who — when they’re not harvesting the oak trees’ bark — grow medicinal herbs,  produce honey, gather pine nuts, graze cattle, and raise prized Black Spanish  pigs on cork oak acorns in the forests.

Sustainable cork flooring is made by mixing an adhesive  with “waste” cork granules from bottle-stopper production. It’s available in a  range of finishes, from wood tones to tile look-alikes, and its natural  propensity to repel water and provide acoustic insulation are bonus qualities.  Keep your eyes peeled for other sustainable cork products as well, including  wall insulation that’s growing in popularity in Europe because of its natural  fire resistance and sound-proofing ability. If you’d like to learn about and  support sustainable cork harvesting, go to Amorim Cork, and choose wine with stoppers made of real  cork. Cheer

Read more: http://www.motherearthnews.com/green-homes/sustainable-cork-flooring-zm0z13djzsor.aspx#ixzz2lO15Bu7D