Mortgage rates continued to drop, with the 15-year fixed-rate loan hitting a record low, according to a weekly report from mortgage financier Freddie Mac.
The 15-year fixed rate fell to 2.61% this week from 2.64%, The previous record low of 2.63% was set the week of Nov. 21, 2012.
Worried about predictions of rising mortgage rates, additional increases in home prices and new costs for FHA borrowers, first-time homebuyers are kicking off the spring buying market in years, despite skimpy inventories and late winter weather across much of the nation.
According to the latest Campbell/Inside Mortgage Finance HousingPulse Tracking Survey, first-time buyers accounted for 34.5 percent of home purchase transactions in February based on a three-month moving average, the second monthly increase for first-time homebuyers.
First-time homebuyer traffic surged in February. The HousingPulse Homebuyer Traffic Diffusion Index for first-time homebuyers, an indicator of future home purchases, hit a four-year survey high of 66.4% in February. Any score above 50 percent with the index reflects an increase in home shopping traffic.
“First-time homebuyers are the wildcard in the upcoming spring-summer homebuying season,” said Thomas Popik, research director for Campbell Surveys. “We see strong first-time homebuyer traffic, but it’s still not clear that the traffic will translate into increased purchases, because first-time homebuyers are dependent on low-downpayment financing, such as FHA mortgages, and announced FHA program changes will take effect this spring.”
In the April to June timeframe, FHA will be increasing its Monthly Insurance Premium and require payment of the MIP for the full term of the loan.
While first-time homebuyers represented the fastest growing category of home purchasers between January and February, purchases by current homeowners saw the biggest drop fell from 44.3 percent to 42.5 percent. That was the lowest market share for current homeowners recorded by the HousingPulse survey since last June.
The Campbell/Inside Mortgage Finance findings are similar to data released by Realtor.com last week that suggests buyers are getting an early start this year (See Early Bird Buyers Try to Beat Tight Inventories).
Comedy
LARCHMONT Colin Quinn and Friends. Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. $25. Watercolor Cafe, 2094 Boston Post Road. (914) 834-2213; watercolorcafe.net.
MAMARONECK The Irish Comedy Tour, stand-up. March 1 at 8 p.m. $15 to $32. Emelin Theater, 153 Library Lane. (914) 698-0098; emelin.org.
PORT CHESTER George Lopez. Feb. 22 at 8 p.m. $45 to $79.50. Jim Gaffigan. March 1 at 8 and 11 p.m. $60. The Capitol Theater, 149 Westchester Avenue. thecapitoltheatre.com; (877) 435-9849.
POUGHKEEPSIE J. R. Havlan. Feb. 23 at 9 p.m. $20. Bananas Comedy Club, 2170 South Road, Route 9. (845) 462-3333; bananaspk.com.
POUGHKEEPSIE The Capitol Steps, musical and political sketch comedy. Feb. 23 at 8 p.m. $35 and $40. Bardavon Opera House, 35 Market Street. (845) 473-2072; bardavon.org.
TARRYTOWN Bobby Collins. Feb. 23 at 8 p.m. $38 to $48. Tarrytown Music Hall, 13 Main Street. (877) 840-0457; tarrytownmusichall.org.
WEST NYACK Dan Soder. Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. $15. Mario Cantone. Feb. 21 through 23. $30. Rob Stapleton. Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. $20. Levity Live NYC Pro Show, stand-up. Through Feb. 26. $15. Levity Live, 4210 Palisades Center Drive. (845) 353-5400; levitylive.com.
Film
IRVINGTON “Sound City,” documentary by Dave Grohl. March 1 at 8 p.m. $9. Irvington Town Hall Theater, 85 Main Street. irvingtontheater.com; (914) 591-6602.
PLEASANTVILLE “My Reincarnation,” documentary, followed by discussion with the filmmaker Jennifer Fox. Feb. 21 at 7:30 p.m. $6 and $11. Pulp Fictions: Crime Novels on the Big Screen Film Series. Through Feb. 28. $6 to $14. Jacob Burns Film Center, 364 Manville Road. (914) 747-5555; burnsfilmcenter.org.
POUGHKEEPSIE “The Way We Were,” starring Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford. Feb. 22 at 7:30 p.m. $6. Bardavon Opera House, 35 Market Street. bardavon.org; (845) 473-2072.
RHINECLIFF “The Big Lebowski,” directed by Joel Coen. Feb. 20 at 6:30 p.m. Donations accepted. Morton Memorial Library, 82 Kelly Street. morton.rhinecliff.lib.ny.us; (845) 876-2903.
ROSENDALE Opera in Cinema: Teatro Alla Scala’s “Don Carlo.” Feb. 17 at 2 p.m. $20. “Soul Masters: Dr. Guo and Dr. Sha,” documentary by Sande Zeig. Feb. 19 at 7:15 p.m. $5 and $7. 2013 Oscar-nominated short films. Feb. 23 and 24. $5 and $7. Rosendale Theater, 408 Main Street. (845) 658-8989; rosendaletheatre.org.
For Children
BRONX Tropical Discoveries and Wintertime Wonders, outdoor and craft activities. Through Feb. 24. $10 to $20; members and children under 2, free. The New York Botanical Garden, Southern Boulevard. (718) 817-8700; nybg.org.
HARRISON The Art of Origami, craft workshop. Feb. 21 at 10:30 a.m. Free. Harrison Public Library, 2 Bruce Avenue. (914) 835-0324; harrisonpl.org.
MAMARONECK “Angelina Ballerina,” musical. Feb. 17, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. $13. Emelin Theater, 153 Library Lane. (914) 698-0098; emelin.org.
NORWALK Winter Wonderland Children’s Ball, dancing, food and access to the exhibits. Feb. 23 at 6 p.m. $10 and $12. Stepping Stones Museum for Children, 303 West Avenue. steppingstonesmuseum.org; (203) 899-0606.
OSSINING Wonderful Winter, four-week class with crafts, stories, games and outdoor explorations. Ages 2 to 3. Through March 12. $70 and $85. Teatown Lake Reservation, 1600 Spring Valley Road. teatown.org; (914) 762-2912.
TARRYTOWN “Clifford the Big Red Dog Live.” Feb. 24 at 1 p.m. $35. Tarrytown Music Hall, 13 Main Street. tarrytownmusichall.org; (877) 840-0457.
WHITE PLAINS The Royal Hanneford Circus. Ages 2 and up. Through Feb. 18. $23.50 and $29.50. Westchester County Center, 198 Central Avenue. (914) 995-4050; countycenter.biz.
YONKERS “Two Rivers, Two Cultures,” theater performance on early British and American cultures. Sundays at 1 and 3 p.m. Through Feb. 24. School’s Out, Stars Are In, creative activities and Planetarium shows. Feb. 18 through 22. Free with museum admission, $3 and $5. Hudson River Museum, 511 Warburton Avenue. (914) 963-4550; hrm.org.
YORKTOWN HEIGHTS “Pinocchio,” musical. March 2 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. $12 and $15. Yorktown Stage, 1974 Commerce Street. (914) 962-0606; yorktownstage.org.
Music and Dance
ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON Conservatory Orchestra, conducted by Jose-Luis Novo. Feb. 17 at 3 p.m. Suggested donation: $15 to $20. American Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Leon Botstein. Feb. 22 and 23 at 8 p.m. $24 to $40. The Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts, Bard College, fishercenter.bard.edu; (845) 758-7900.
BRONXVILLE Humblebrag, jazz. Feb. 19 at 1:30 p.m. Free. Reisinger Concert Hall, Sarah Lawrence College, 1 Mead Way. (914) 395-2412; slc.edu.
CROTON-ON-HUDSON Glenda Davenport and the Hiroshi Yamazaki Trio, jazz. Feb. 24 at 2 p.m. Free. Croton Free Library, 171 Cleveland Drive. (914) 271-6612; crotonfreelibrary.org.
DOBBS FERRY Mary Gauthier, with Tracy Grammer, folk. March 2 at 7:30 p.m. $22 and $25. Common Ground, at South Presbyterian Church, 343 Broadway. commongroundfusw.com; (914) 693-1065.
HASTINGS-ON-HUDSON The Howard Fishman Quartet, jazz and blues. Feb. 23 at 7:30 p.m. $18 and $20. Common Ground Coffeehouse at First Unitarian Society of Westchester, 25 Old Jackson Avenue. (914) 693-1065; commongroundfusw.com.
IRVINGTON PreFab 4, tribute to the Beatles. March 2 at 8 p.m. $20 and $25. The Last Waltz — Live, tribute to the Band. March 3 at 7 p.m. $15 to $35. Irvington Town Hall Theater, 85 Main Street. irvingtontheater.com; (914) 591-6602.
LARCHMONT Bucky Pizzarelli Trio, jazz. Feb. 21 at 7:30 p.m. $15. Pete Malinverni Trio, jazz. Feb. 22 at 8:30 p.m. $5. Leslie Pintchik Trio, jazz. Feb. 23 at 8:30 p.m. $5. Ben Taylor, folk. Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m. $20. Watercolor Cafe, 2094 Boston Post Road. (914) 834-2213; watercolorcafe.net.
MAMARONECK Preservation Hall Jazz Band. March 2 at 8 p.m. $75. Emelin Theater, 153 Library Lane. (914) 698-0098; emelin.org.
MARLBORO Gustafer Yellowgold and Rachel Loshak, pop. Feb. 17, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Funk Junkies. Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. Rebecca Martin and Larry Grenadier, jazz. Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. The CKS Band, blues and rock. Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens. Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. Jeremy Baum, jazz. Feb. 24, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Donations accepted. The Falcon, 1348 Route 9W. liveatthefalcon.com; (845) 236-7970.
NEW ROCHELLE Tutti Flutti and the Bassoon, music from movies and television. Feb. 24 at 3 p.m. $10 and $15. Trinity St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 311 Huguenot Street. incomingtideentertainment.com; (914) 740-5437.
NORTH SALEM Phil Rosenthal, folk. Feb. 24 at 3 p.m. Free. Ruth Keeler Memorial Library, 276 Titicus Road. ruthkeelermemoriallibrary.org; (914) 669-5161.
OSSINING Harry Bolick, bluegrass. Feb. 24 at 3 p.m. Free. Ossining Public Library, 53 Croton Avenue. (914) 941-2416; ossininglibrary.org.
PAWLING Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys, Cajun. Feb. 17 at 4 p.m. $20 and $25. Lunasa, Irish folk. Feb. 22 at 8:30 p.m. $30 and $35. Sloan Wainwright Band, with Glen Roethel, folk and pop. Feb. 23 at 8:30 p.m. $25 and $30. The Pears, Missy Alexander and Bill Petkanas, jazz and blues. Feb. 24 at 4 p.m. $15 and $20. Towne Crier Cafe, 130 Route 22. (845) 855-1300; townecrier.com.
PEEKSKILL Kids’ Open Mic Night, performers 17 and younger. Feb. 17 at 5:30 p.m. Free. Open Mic Night. Feb. 21 at 8:30 p.m. Free. Marc Von Em, blues and folk. Feb. 22 at 9:30 p.m. $5. Cobert Operations, pop. Feb. 23 at 9:30 p.m. $5 and $10. 12 Grapes Music and Wine Bar, 12 North Division Street. (914) 737-6624; 12grapes.com.
PEEKSKILL The Conigliaro Trio, jazz. Feb. 22 at 7:30 p.m. $10. The BeanRunner Jazz Project. Feb. 23 at 7:30 p.m. $10. BeanRunner Cafe, 201 South Division Street. beanrunnercafe.com; (914) 737-1701.
PIERMONT James Maddock, folk and rock. Feb. 17 at 4 and 7 p.m. $25. Bobby DiBlasio and the Derelicts. Feb. 21 at 8 p.m. $10. Johnny A, rock. Feb. 22 at 7:30 and 10 p.m. $30. Christine Ohlman and Rebel Montez, rock. Feb. 23 at 9 p.m. $20. The Turning Point, 468 Piermont Avenue. (845) 359-1089; turningpointcafe.com.
PORT CHESTER Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, rock. Feb. 23 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. $35 to $60. The Capitol Theater, 149 Westchester Avenue. thecapitoltheatre.com; (877) 435-9849.
PURCHASE John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molasky, jazz. Feb. 23 at 8 p.m. $42.50 to $72.50. Performing Arts Center, Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Road. artscenter.org; (914) 251-6200.
SAUGERTIES A concert featuring soloists from the West Point Band. Feb. 17 at 3 p.m. Free. Saugerties Pro Musica, Saugerties United Methodist Church, Washington Avenue and Post Street. saugertiespromusica.org; (845) 246-5021.
SOUTH SALEM “This Shining Night,” choral concert by Camerata D’Amici. Feb. 24 at 4 p.m. $10 and $25. South Salem Presbyterian Church, 111 Spring Street. cameratadamici.org.
WOODSTOCK Garnet Rogers, folk. Feb. 22 at 9 p.m. $15. Bearsville Theater, 291 Tinker Street. (845) 679-4406; bearsvilletheater.com.
YONKERS Zeinab Naderi, classical piano. Feb. 23 at 2 p.m. Free. Yonkers Public Library, Grinton I. Will Branch, 1500 Central Park Avenue. (914) 337-1500; ypl.org/grinton.
Outdoors
BRONX Garden and conservatory highlights walk. Sundays at 2 p.m. Through Feb. 24. Free with admission to the grounds, $2 to $8; members and children under 6, free. Wave Hill, 675 West 252nd Street. wavehill.org; (718) 549-3200.
KATONAH Winter tree identification. Learn to identify types of trees. Feb. 17 at 1 p.m. Free. Winter Workshop: Learn to make candles or soap or both. Feb. 23 at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. $20 for candle making, $45 for soap, $60 for both. Sugar maple tapping for the sap used to make syrup. Feb. 24 at 1 p.m. Free. Muscoot Farm, 51 Route 100. (914) 864-7282; muscootfarm.org.
OSSINING “Whooo’s on Their Nest?” Learn about and meet a great horned owl. Feb. 23 at 2 p.m. $5; members, free. Sugaring Sunday, facts and folklore about sugaring at Teatown. Feb. 24 at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. $5; members, free. Teatown Lake Reservation, 1600 Spring Valley Road. (914) 762-2912; teatown.org.
POCANTICO HILLS Meet the Bees, part of a monthly event focusing on the habits and care of different species on the farm. Sundays through Feb. 24. Free. Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture, 630 Bedford Road. stonebarnscenter.org; (914) 366-6200.
SCARSDALE Finding and Feeding Winter Birds, a walk to learn about winter birds and to visit the center’s birds-of-prey exhibit. Feb. 17 at 2 p.m. Free with museum admission, $5 to $7; members and children under 2, free. Greenburgh Nature Center, 99 Dromore Road. (914) 723-3470; greenburghnaturecenter.org.
Spoken Word
HYDE PARK “Jersey Justice: The Story of the Trenton Six,” discussion with Cathy D. Knepper. Feb. 24 at 2 p.m. $25. The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, 4079 Albany Post Road. (845) 486-7770; fdrlibrary.marist.edu.
MAMARONECK John Wood will discuss his book “Creating Room to Read.” Feb. 28 at 7:30 p.m. $25. Emelin Theater, 153 Library Lane. (914) 698-0098; emelin.org.
PLEASANTVILLE Oscar talk with Mark Harris and Janet Maslin. Feb. 20 at 7:30 p.m. $6 and $11. Jacob Burns Film Center, 364 Manville Road. burnsfilmcenter.org; (914) 747-5555.
SLEEPY HOLLOW The novelist Karen Engelmann reads from “The Stockholm Octavo,” with the soprano Brett Umlauf performing songs of Carl Michael Bellman. Feb. 24 at 4:30 p.m. $5. Hudson Valley Writers’ Center, 300 Riverside Drive. writerscenter.org; (914) 332-5953.
Theater
CROTON FALLS “Ten Unknowns,” drama by Jon Robin Baitz. March 7 through 30. $33 and $35. Schoolhouse Theater, 3 Owens Road. schoolhousetheater.org; (914) 277-8477.
CROTON-ON-HUDSON “The Letter Project,” one-woman show by Marcy B. Freedman. Through Feb. 28, 1 to 3 p.m. Free. Black Cow Coffee Company, 4 Old Post Road South. (914) 271-5891; marcybfreedman.com.
ELMSFORD “In the Heights,” musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegría Hudes. Through March 17. $52 to $80 for dinner and show. Westchester Broadway Theater, 1 Broadway Plaza. broadwaytheatre.com; (914) 592-2222.
GARRISON “Prisoners,” drama by Richard Edwin Knipe Jr. March 1 through 24. $15 and $20. The Philipstown Depot Theater, 10 Garrison Landing. philipstowndepottheatre.org; (845) 424-3900.
NEW ROCHELLE “Curtains,” musical based on the book by Rupert Holmes, with music and lyrics by Fred Ebb and John Kander. Feb. 22 through March 2. $5 and $10. Iona College Arts Center, 715 North Avenue. iona.edu/artscouncil; (914) 637-7796.
WHITE PLAINS “The Color Purple,” musical by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, Stephen Bray and Marsha Norman. Through Feb. 24. $30 and $40. White Plains Performing Arts Center, 11 City Place. wppac.com; (914) 328-1600.
Museums and Galleries
BEACON “Studio Mali,” photographs by François Deschamps. Through April 7. Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 6 p.m.; and by appointment. Fovea Exhibitions, 143 Main Street. (845) 765-2199; foveaexhibitions.org.
BEACON “Intimate Landscapes,” photographs by Robert Rodriguez Jr. Through March 4. Wednesdays through Mondays, noon to 6 p.m. RiverWinds Gallery, 172 Main Street. riverwindsgallery.com; (845) 838-2880.
BEACON “These Are Mine,” works by Eleni Smolen. Through March 3. Fridays through Sundays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and by appointment. Theo Ganz Studio, 149 Main Street. (917) 318-2239; theoganzstudio.com.
BRONX “Honey, I Rearranged the Collection.” Through June 2. “Joan Semmel: The Lucid Eye.” Through June 9. Thursdays through Sundays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Fridays to 8 p.m. Bronx Museum of the Arts, 1040 Grand Concourse. (718) 681-6000; bronxmuseum.org.
BRONX “In the Realm of Dreams and Fears,” group show. Works by Antonio Vicenty. Through May 1. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, noon to 6 p.m.; Wednesdays, 2 to 6 p.m. Longwood Art Gallery @ Hostos, 450 Grand Concourse. (718) 518-6728; bronxarts.org.
BRONX “The Beauty of Paradise: A Photographic Tour.” Through Feb. 24. “Magnificent Trees of the New York Botanical Garden,” photographs. Through April 14. $2 to $20; members and children under 2, free. The New York Botanical Garden, Southern Boulevard. (718) 817-8700; nybg.org.
COLD SPRING “Nature as Metaphor,” works by Carla Goldberg and Leigh Taylor Mickelson. Through Feb. 24. Thursdays through Sundays, noon to 6 p.m.; and by appointment. Gallery 66ny, 66 Main Street. (845) 809-5838; gallery66ny.com.
GREENBURGH “Historical Reflections,” paintings and drawings by Hank Kearsley. Through March 8. Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Greenburgh Public Library, 300 Tarrytown Road. (914) 721-8225; greenburghlibrary.org.
HARRISON “Cameragenic,” photo composites by Alan P. Cohen. Through Feb. 24. Mondays and Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Sundays, 1 to 5 p.m. Harrison Public Library, 2 Bruce Avenue. harrisonpl.org; (914) 835-0324.
HUDSON Works by Adam Cohen and Russel Monk Casa. Through March 3. Monday through Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sundays, noon to 5 p.m. Carrie Haddad Gallery, 622 Warren Street. carriehaddadgallery.com; (518) 828-1915.
HUDSON Works by Kyle Staver. Through Feb. 24. Thursdays through Mondays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. John Davis Gallery, 362 ½ Warren Street. (518) 828-5907; johndavisgallery.com.
HYDE PARK “The Roosevelts: Public Figures, Private Lives,” photography exhibition about the public and private lives of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. Through June 30. $7; children 15 and under, free. Daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, 4079 Albany Post Road. (845) 486-7770; fdrlibrary.marist.edu.
KATONAH “Beyond the Bed: The American Quilt Evolution,” exhibition of a wide variety of quilts. Feb. 24 through June 16. $5 to $7; members and under 12, free. Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sundays, noon to 5 p.m. Katonah Museum of Art, 134 Jay Street. (914) 232-9555; katonahmuseum.org.
LARCHMONT “Newcomers Club,” group show. Through Feb. 23. Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; and by appointment. Kenise Barnes Fine Art, 1955 Palmer Avenue. kenisebarnesfineart.com; (914) 834-8077.
LARCHMONT “My Two Worlds,” art works by Aldo Pili. Through Feb. 27. Free. Mondays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sundays, noon to 5 p.m. Larchmont Public Library, 121 Larchmont Avenue. (914) 834-2281; larchmontlibrary.org.
LARCHMONT New Members’ Show. Through March 2. Tuesdays through Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m.; and by appointment. Mamaroneck Artists Guild, 126 Larchmont Avenue. mamaroneckartistsguild.org; (914) 834-1117.
NEW PALTZ “Russel Wright: The Nature of Design,” experimental industrial home design circa 1920 to 1970. Through March 10. “Malian Portrait Photography” and “Photo-Rapide: François Deschamps.” Through April 14. “The Dorsky Collects: Recent Acquisitions 2008-2012.” Through June 23. Wednesdays through Sundays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art, at the State University of New York at New Paltz, 1 Hawk Drive. newpaltz.edu/museum; (845) 257-3844.
NEW PALTZ Works by Doug Maguire and James Cramer. Through March 16. Mondays, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Tuesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sundays, by appointment. The Mark Gruber Gallery, New Paltz Plaza. markgrubergallery.com; (845) 255-1241.
NEW ROCHELLE “Black Hair: Black Identity,” group show. Through Feb. 21. Mondays through Wednesdays, noon to 5 p.m.; Thursdays, noon to 5 p.m. and 6:30 to 8 p.m.; Sundays, 2 to 5 p.m. Brother Kenneth Chapman Gallery, Iona College Council on the Arts, 715 North Avenue. (914) 637-7796; iona.edu/artscouncil.
NYACK “Inventing Worlds,” paintings by Leslie K. Price, Lorna Ritz and Robert Straight. Through April 7. $3 and $5; members, children and students, free. Thursdays through Sundays, 1 to 5 p.m.; and by appointment. Edward Hopper House Art Center, 82 North Broadway. (845) 358-0774; hopperhouse.org.
OSSINING “Colors of the Rainbow,” works by Madge Scott. Through Feb. 28. Monday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Tuesdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Wednesdays, 1 to 9 p.m.; Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sundays, 1 to 5 p.m. Ossining Public Library, 53 Croton Avenue. (914) 941-2416; ossininglibrary.org.
PEEKSKILL “The Surviving Art,” paintings by Paul Arts. Through March 10. Sundays through Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. BeanRunner Cafe, 201 South Division Street. (914) 737-1701; beanrunnercafe.com.
PEEKSKILL “Say Peekskill,” photography and sound installation by Ben Altman. Through March 28. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sundays, 1 to 4 p.m. Field Library, 4 Nelson Avenue. (914) 737-1212; peekskill.org.
PEEKSKILL “Habitats,” clay sculpture by Marlene Ferrell Parillo. Through March 17. Wednesdays through Sundays, noon to 6 p.m.; and by appointment. Flat Iron Gallery, 105 South Division Street. (914) 734-1894; flatiron.qpg.com.
PEEKSKILL “The Power of Place,” works by members of the Peekskill Artist Club. Through April 28. Peekskill Project, citywide art festival. Through July 28. $2 to $5; members, free. Fridays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 6 p.m.; and by appointment. Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art, 1701 Main Street. (914) 788-0100; hvcca.org.
PELHAM “Vital Signs,” group show. Through March 30. Tuesdays through Fridays, noon to 5 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pelham Art Center, 155 Fifth Avenue. (914) 738-2525; pelhamartcenter.org.
PORT CHESTER “Duets,” group show. Through Feb. 23. “Absorption: Entire Occupation of the Mind,” figurative sculpture and installation by Jeff Schwarz. March 2 through 30. Mondays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and by appointment. Clay Art Center, 40 Beech Street. (914) 937-2047; clayartcenter.org.
POUGHKEEPSIE “Recent Acquisitions: Works on Paper.” Through March 30. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sundays, 1 to 5 p.m. Vassar College, Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, 124 Raymond Avenue. (845) 437-5632; fllac.vassar.edu.
POUND RIDGE “Hooked Rugs by Mary Parker: An American Folk Art Goes Local.” Through Feb. 23. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pound Ridge Public Library, 271 Westchester Avenue. poundridgelibrary.org; (914) 764-5085.
RHINEBECK “Art for the Heart,” works by Betsy Jacaruso and Cross River Fine Arts. Through Feb. 24. Thursdays through Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m.; Sundays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Betsy Jacaruso Studio and Gallery, 43-2 East Market Street. (845) 516-4435; betsyjacarusostudio.com.
RHINEBECK “Conversations With Cloth,” quilts by Lewis Krevolin. Through Feb. 24. Daily, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Montgomery Row Second Level, 6423 Montgomery Street. (845) 876-0543; montgomeryrow.com.
RHINECLIFF “I Love Rhinecliff New York,” private collection on display. Through Feb. 23. Tuesdays, 2 to 6 p.m.; Wednesdays, 2 to 7 p.m.; Thursdays and Fridays, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 to 6 p.m.; Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Morton Memorial Library, 82 Kelly Street. (845) 876-2903; morton.rhinecliff.lib.ny.us.
RIVERDALE “Icebergs and Glaciers,” works by Rosalind Schneider, Elaine Galen and John Conn. Through April 28. Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and by appointment. Elisa Contemporary Art, 5622 Mosholu Avenue. elisacontemporaryart.com; (212) 729-4974.
TIVOLI “Erotic Art Show,” group exhibition. Through March 3. Fridays, 5 to 9 p.m.; Saturdays, 1 to 9 p.m.; Sundays, 1 to 5 p.m. Tivoli Artists Co-op and Gallery, 60 Broadway. (845) 757-2667; tivoliartistsco-op.com.
WEST NYACK Members Exhibition 2013. Through Feb. 17. Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, 1 to 4 p.m. Rockland Center for the Arts, 27 South Greenbush Road. (845) 358-0877; rocklandartcenter.org.
WHITE PLAINS “From Shore to Shore: Boat Builders and Boat Yards of Westchester and Long Island,” group show. Through March 9. Tuesdays through Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. ArtsWestchester, 31 Mamaroneck Avenue. artswestchester.org; (914) 428-4220.
WILLOW “Pause for a Moment,” paintings by Bruce North. Through Feb. 28. Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and by appointment. James Cox Gallery, 4666 Route 212. (845) 679-7608; jamescoxgallery.com.
WOODSTOCK “Embracing the New, Modernism’s Impact on Woodstock Artists,” group show. Through May 5. Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays, noon to 5 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays, noon to 6 p.m. Woodstock Artists Association and Museum, 28 Tinker Street. woodstockart.org; (845) 679-2940.
WURTSBORO “Snow,” art exhibition. Through March 3. Free. Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 4 p.m. Wurtsboro Art Alliance Gallery, 73 Sullivan Street. waagallery.org.
YONKERS “Show and Tell,” group exhibition. Through March 9. Thursdays, 3 to 8 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Blue Door Gallery, 13 Riverdale Avenue. (914) 375-5100; bluedoorgallery.org.
YONKERS “The Panoramic River: The Hudson and the Thames.” Through May 19. $3 to $5; members, free. Wednesdays through Sundays, noon to 5 p.m. Hudson River Museum, 511 Warburton Avenue. (914) 963-4550; hrm.org.
Recently, I had a conversation with a first-time buyer, who was trying to think through precisely how to articulate her house-hunt wish list to her agent in a way that was clear on her wants vs. needs. During the course of our talk, I found myself briefing her on an agent’s wants and needs.
“Sure, every agent wants and needs to close your sale and earn a commission,” I told her. “But what they really want even more is, when possible, to be your hero.
“Every reputable agent wants you to be thrilled with your place. They want you to love them and to rave about what they did for you to their friends, for years in the future. So, if they can find someplace that scores on all your requirements and as many as possible of your preferences, chances are good that they will.”
The process of getting to that outcome, the outcome of being highly happy with your agent’s work, requires a number of things, but one that comes to mind is the way buyers interact with agents in terms of being demanding vs. nondemanding, and responsive vs. nonresponsive. These are the same factors psychologists look to when trying to understand which styles of parenting are likely to be successful, in terms of producing children that are competent to achieve their own goals in the world.
The New Castle Historical Society’s newest exhibit opens Tuesday at the Horace Greeley House, 100 King Street, in Chappaqua.
The exhibit, titled “New Castle’s Beginnings – Our Founding Farms” traces the town’s origins from Native American lands to the farms of the 19th century to the large estates and housing developments that define the community today. The society will also focus on several local farms and feature their products, among them: Sutton Farm, Dodge Farm, Brann Farm, Taylor and Annandale Farms and the Greeley Farm.
There will be interactive aspects to this exhibit plus a seminar series featuring speakers from local farms operating today.
The historical society will hold an opening reception on Sunday, March 3, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The exhibit will run through the year at the Horace Greeley House. The facility’s hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. or by appointment at 914-238-4666.
Wall Street’s bonus blues are holding back Big Apple home prices.
While the housing market is on the mend and every other major metro area is on the upswing, New York stands out as the sole city to see an annual price decline, according to Standard & Poor’s Case-Shiller index released yesterday.
Home prices in the New York area were down 1.2 percent in November compared to a year ago — the only decline out of the 20 metro areas tracked by the closely watched index.
By comparison, home prices on average were up 5.1 percent from a year ago nationwide.
David Blitzer, chairman of S&P’s Index Committee, singled out the city’s shrinking financial sector as one reason it is lagging the rest of the country.
“Financial services is not in the best shape, and that has put a damper on the home prices and how people view job growth,” said Blitzer.
In fact, Wall Street bonuses have been shrinking ever since the financial meltdown.
Bonuses paid out this year are expected to decline, after falling 13.5 percent last year for work done in 2011.
“If it’s a good year for bonuses, it’s a good year for people selling real estate,” Blitzer said.
And for at least some of the well-heeled Gucci loafer set, who typically drive real-estate values in the city, bonuses could be off as much as 35 percent, according to Wall Street recruiters.
The office of New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’ estimates that the Street’s base salaries fell 9.5 percent to $362,000 last year, from $400,000.
Job growth in the Big Apple also has been relatively flat, with just about 500 jobs added in the securities sector over the past year, according to the Independent Budget Office.
That follows several rounds of deep cuts across the securities industry since the financial meltdown.
During the height of the crisis, some 140,000 jobs were lost, IBO data shows.
New York home prices held up far better than those in other major metro areas during the crisis, and the city wasn’t nearly as hard-hit as financially overheated areas like Phoenix and Atlanta, a spokeswoman with Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s office noted.
The index does not factor in co-ops and condos and covers territory including Long Island, Westchester and Northern New Jersey.
Median home prices within the city’s five boroughs stand at $445,000 and $380,000 in the broader New York metro area, while national median is closer to $175,000, according to Moody’s Analytics data.
Pay within the five boroughs on average is $61,0000 and $68,000 in the broader New York area, while the national average is $53,000. according to Moody’s.
New York’s housing market is very sensitive to the metro economy, said Michael Zoller, an economist at Moody’s Analytics.
“If the metro economy isn’t producing high-paying jobs, nobody’s going to be able to pay high real-estate prices,” Zoller aid.
Chappaqua and Katonah Lead in Average Sold to Ask Price | RobReportBlog
Average 2012 Sold to Ask Price 93.72% Armonk 95.68% Chappaqua 93.10% Pound Ridge 93.07% North Salem 93.42% Bedford NY 93.66% South Salem 92.68% Bedford Hills 94.91% Mount Kisco 95.17% Katonah
The Remodeling Market Index hit its highest reading since the first quarter 2004, hitting 55 in the fourth quarter of 2012, according to the National Association of Home Builders. The fourth quarter report increased five points from the previous quarter.
Any RMI above 50 means most home improvement workers are reporting strong demand for their services.
“Remodelers are optimistic about the outlook for slow and steady market growth in the new year,” said 2013 NAHB Remodelers Chairman Bill Shaw. “Professional remodelers reported more work from large and small projects as well as overall home repair.”
Future remodeling activity indicators rose to 56, up from the previous quarter’s 49. Current conditions also revealed improvement, up from 52 in the previous quarter to 54.
“With existing home sales up, the increase in the RMI partially reflects the remodeling work new home owners undertake when they move in,” said NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. “Consumers are gaining confidence in the economy and feeling more comfortable pulling the trigger on large and small renovations.”
The RMI in the Northeast saw the largest increase, jumping 24 points. This is due largely to the start of remodeling work related to Hurricane Sandy damage. All four regions of the country saw an RMI above 50.
