Tag Archives: Mt Kisco Real Estate

Seth’s Blog: Self directed effort is the best kind | Mt Kisco Real Estate

Leave a reply

How much are you paying for a drill sergeant?

Perhaps you can burn 500 calories on the treadmill before you give up for the day. With a personal coach, though, you could do 700. The trainer gets you to exert more effort.

You wake up on a Monday morning after a long hard weekend of misbehaving. You have a splitting headache. You can easily call in sick, no one will freak out. But then you remember that there's a $500 bonus at stake if you keep your attendance perfect. You make the effort because someone else is bribing you.

On the playground, it's tempting to rip into a kid who stole the swing from you. You're about to whack him, but then you see your mom watching. With a great deal of effort, you walk away.

Effort's ephemeral, hard to measure and incredibly difficult to deliver on a regular basis. So we hire a trainer or a coach or a boss and give up our freedom and our upside for someone to whip us into shape. Obviously, you give up part of what you create to the trainer/coach/boss in exchange for their oversight.

Has it become a crutch? Are you addicted to a taskmaster, to someone else's to do list, to short term external rewards that sell your long-term plans short? If no one is watching, are you helpless, just a web surfing, time wasting couch potato? Who owns the extra work you do now that you're being directed?

There's an entire system organized around the idea that we're too weak to deliver effort without external rewards and punishment. If you only grow on demand, you're selling yourself short. If you're only as good as your current boss/trainer/sergeant, you've given over the most important thing you have to someone else.

The thing I care the most about: what do you do when no one is looking, what do you make when it's not an immediate part of your job… how many push ups do you do, just because you can?

via sethgodin.typepad.com

The Greenest Ceiling Fan Ever–and How to Install and Maintain It | Mt Kisco Real Estate

Leave a reply

Robyn Griggs Lawrence thumbnailI lived for 13 years without air conditioning, and that was a blessing for me. On summer days, cross-ventilation and ceiling fans kept our midcentury ranch home comfortable. I despise AC, but it came with the townhouse I now live in, and my kids crank it up because they can. This year, before the heat strikes, I’m installing ceiling fans and reacquainting my kids with how to use them.

Philip Diehl invented the first electric ceiling fan in 1882. By the 1920s, most homes in the United States had ceiling fans, but their popularity faded with the onset of air conditioning. Ceiling fans made a comeback during the 1970s energy crisis and are again in vogue as homeowners look for ways to save energy. (Even if you can’t bear to be without AC, raising the temperature a couple of degrees and letting a good ceiling fan make up the difference could save you up to 14 percent on your energy bill).

Ceiling fans move air rather than directly changing its temperature, so reversing the blades’ direction can help in both heating and cooling. In summer, the blades should blow air downward (usually counter-clockwise). In winter, the blades should turn the opposite direction (usually clockwise) on a low speed, so it pulls up colder air and forces warmer air near the ceiling to move down and take its place.

Run ceiling fans counterclockwise on medium to high speeds during hot weather only when the room is occupied, Ben Erickson advices on DannyLipford.com. Ceiling fans create a breeze that evaporates moisture from your skin, making you feel cooler. “This cooling effect doesn’t change the temperature of the air; it only makes you feel cooler,” he explains. “That is why you should turn the fan off when the room is empty. Otherwise, heat from the motor will actually increase the temperature in the room.”

Start your ceiling fan shopping by visiting the Energy Star site, which lists 368 fans that are at least 50 percent more efficient than conventional models. In this category, there is a clear green winner: Emerson Electric’s Midway Eco Fan, which moves more than 6,900 cubic feet of air per minute while consuming only 20.2 watts of electricity—a fraction of what a typical ceiling fan uses. The Midway Eco “brings new meaning to the concept of efficiency,” Greg Tillotson writes at HansonWholesale.com. Emerson’s EcoMotor uses up to 75 percent less energy compared to other ceiling fans, and the aerodynamic airfoil-shaped blades move up to 40 percent more air than typical fan blades. The built-in light uses four 13 watt fluorescent lamps. The Midway Eco is more than 3 times (or 300 percent) more energy efficient than any other Energy Star-rated ceiling fan with lights, Tillotson reports.

emerson fan 

Emerson Electric’s Midway Eco ceiling fan is three times more efficient than other Energy Star-rated models. Photo courtesy of Emerson Electric 

via motherearthnews.com

Realtor sentiment against dues increase running high | Inman News in Mt Kisco NY

Leave a reply

More than 80 percent of Realtors are opposed to a $40 annual dues increase the National Association of Realtors is considering in order to boost political advocacy at the local, state and federal level, according to an online poll conducted by RealTown.com.

The poll of 3,041 RealTown subscribers found 82.3 percent were opposed to the proposed $40 dues increase, while 16.3 percent were in favor. A small number — 1.4 percent — were undecided.

An alternative proposal that would increase funding for political advocacy while leaving dues effectively unchanged was opposed by 72.2 percent of RealTown subscribers, and supported by 22.5 percent.

Another 5.3 percent did not express their opinion on the alternative proposal, which would eliminate a $35-a-year special assessment that funds NAR’s “Home Ownership Matters” public awareness campaign and increase funding for political advocacy by implementing a $35-a-year dues increase.

via inman.com

Housing Flipping Dead For 2011 | Mt Kisco Luxury Real Estate

Leave a reply

We keep hearing about what’s popular in 2011 for home design — but how about what’s not? Builder Magazine writer Jenny Sullivan asked industry experts to weigh in on design fads that you won’t likely see in the new year. Here are some of the fading home trends experts mentioned:

1. Trophy space: Forget those two-story grand entrances. Builders are seeking more affordable, energy efficient design so they are getting rid of large, volume spaces in homes.

2. Just for show: Fancy, overdone rooms won’t cut it in the era of the practical, cash-strapped buyer. Lavish industrial-grade kitchen ranges or fancy master bath spa tubs– that are hardly even used anyway–will fall to the wayside. “The kitchen is once again becoming a working part of the home and not just a showcase,” architect Don Taylor of DW Taylor Associates in Ellicott City, Md., noted in the article. “It needs to provide all of the latest conveniences and technology, but with practical applications in mind. The faux commercial kitchen look may have reached its summit.”

3. Egocentric houses: It’s not just about the interior of a home that makes a home.

Buyers are caring more about its curb appeal and what’s nearby the home as well. Parks, amenities and neighborhood connections create a sense of community, said John M. Thatch, principal with Dahlin Group Architecture and Planning in Pleasanton, Calif. While most infill homes on the boards are 10-20 percent smaller in size, Thatch notes that buyers are willing to trade extra space for a more appealing neighborhood.

4. Home flipping: Gone is the trend of buying a “starter” home or a home for short-term investment. Buyers are now buying for keeps and it’s changing the way they view homes. “The idea of a home as a short-term money maker is essentially gone, so when people do buy they’ll do it with the intention of staying ten years instead of two or three,” says Jim Chittaro, president of Smykal Homes in Chicago. As such, he says buyers will care more about the design of the home and they won’t want it to feel cheap.

NAR Article

Mt Kisco NY Homes

Mt Luxury Homes

Mt Kisco NY Restaurant Names Soup After Governor Elect Cuomo | Mt Kisco NY Real Estate

Leave a reply

A restaurant in Mount Kisco has unveiled a new soup in honor of Gov.-elect Andrew Cuomo, who lives in New Castle (but has a Mount Kisco mailing address). Via Vanti! is now serving “Lago di Cuomo” soup. It is a “puree of warming winter greens served with a crostini topped with goat

cheese, chopped tomato and fresh basil,” the restaurant Founder Jimmy John said in a news release. The soup is vegan and non-dairy, and a gluten-free crostini is available upon request.

The soup, while named for Cuomo, is also inspired by the Lago di Como resort destination in northern Italy, according to the restaurant. Customers will get a free taste of the “inaugural soup” during January. Lago di Cuomo will be one of Via Vanti!’s seasonal soups, and $1 from every purchase of it will be donated to the Food Bank of Westchester.

The 2-year-old restaurant is located in the historic Mount Kisco Train Station at 2 Kirby Plaza.

Existing Sales Rise 5.6% In November According to NAR | Mt Kisco Real Estate

Leave a reply

Existing-home sales got back on an upward path in November, resuming a growth trend since bottoming in July, according to the National Association of REALTORS®.  

Existing-home sales, which are completed transactions that include single-family, townhomes, condominiums, and co-ops, rose 5.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.68 million in November from 4.43 million in October, but are 27.9 percent below the cyclical peak of 6.49 million in November 2009, which was the initial deadline for the first-time buyer tax credit. 

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, is hopeful for 2011. “Continuing gains in home sales are encouraging, and the positive impact of steady job creation will more than trump some negative impact from a modest rise in mortgage interest rates, which remain historically favorable,” he said. 

Yun added that home buyers are responding to improved affordability conditions. “The relationship recently between mortgage interest rates, home prices and family income has been the most favorable on record for buying a home since we started measuring in 1970,” he said. “Therefore, the market is recovering, and we should trend up to a healthy, sustainable level in 2011.” 

The national median existing-home price for all housing types was $170,600 in November, up 0.4 percent from November 2009. Distressed homes have been a fairly stable market share, accounting for 33 percent of sales in November; they were 34 percent in October and 33 percent in November 2009. 

Foreclosures, which accounted for two-thirds of the distressed sales share, sold at a median discount of 15 percent in November, while short sales were discounted 10 percent in comparison with traditional home sales. 

Inventory Drops
Total housing inventory at the end of November fell 4.0 percent to 3.71 million existing homes available for sale, which represents a 9.5-month supply at the current sales pace, down from a 10.5-month supply in October. 

NAR President Ron Phipps said good buying opportunities will continue. “Traditionally there are far fewer buyers competing for properties at this time of the year, so serious buyers have a lot of opportunities during the winter months,” he said. “Buyers will enjoy favorable affordability conditions into the new year, although mortgage rates are expected to gradually rise as 2011 progresses.” 

According to Freddie Mac, the national average commitment rate for a 30-year, conventional, fixed-rate mortgage rose to 4.30 percent in November from a record low 4.23 percent in October; the rate was 4.88 percent in November 2009. 

“In the short term, mortgage interest rates should hover just above recent record lows, while home prices have generally stabilized following declines from 2007 through 2009,” Yun said. “Although mortgage interest rates have ticked up in recent weeks, overall conditions remain extremely favorable for buyers who can obtain credit.” 

A parallel NAR practitioner survey shows first-time buyers purchased 32 percent of homes in November, the same as in October, but are below a 51 percent share in November 2009 from the surge to beat the initial deadline for the first-time buyer tax credit. 

Investors accounted for 19 percent of transactions in November, also unchanged from October, but are up from 12 percent in November 2009; the balance of sales were to repeat buyers. All-cash sales were at 31 percent in November, up from 29 percent in October and 19 percent a year ago. “The elevated level of all-cash transactions continues to reflect tight credit market conditions,” Yun said. 

Single-Family Homes Sales Jump
Single-family home sales rose 6.7 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.15 million in November from 3.89 million in October, but are 27.3 percent below a surge to a 5.71 million cyclical peak in November 2009. The median existing single-family home price was $171,300 in November, which is 1.2 percent above a year ago. 

Existing condominium and co-op sales declined 1.9 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 530,000 in November from 540,000 in October, and are 32.2 percent below the 782,000-unit tax credit rush one year ago. The median existing condo price was $165,300 in November, down 5.5 percent from November 2009. “At the current stage of the housing cycle, condos are offering better deals for bargain hunters,” Yun said.

NAR

Mt Kisco Homes

Mt Kisco Luxury Homes

HUD Sets New Rules to Sell HUD Owned Homes in Mt Kisco NY | Mt Kisco Real Estate

Leave a reply

Overhaul of U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) REO sales program features a superstore website, new management composition, increased bidding advantages for owner occupant purchasers, new real estate commission structure, and new policies and procedures that leave non-Realtor licensees scrambling for access to HUD properties.

HUDHomeStore.com is a one-stop shop for all information and resources pertaining to HUD Homes.  The new website replaces a clunky, confusing myriad of government and regional contractor websites that made the search for HUD Homes a laborious, time consuming chore. Yardi, Santa Barbara based property and asset management software developer, built the supersite.

The new website gives real estate agents and consumers access to extensive information about properties, and all contracts, disclosures, and property condition reports can be downloaded at property detail pages. Agents and brokers register at HUDHomeStore.com prior to placing bids on HUD homes, and agents and consumers can sign up to receive automatic e-mail notices when new listings come on the market.

Daily property listings replace weekly announcements.

HUD’s new M&M III Contractor Program is the first overhaul of the agency’s REO sales system since 1999, when the agency outsourced management of its foreclosed FHA inventory as part of Al Gore’s “Reinvent Government” initiative.  HUD is rolling out a new asset distribution method to streamline operations, capitalize on expertise of potential vendors, and provide flexibility in a changing environment.

“These new [M&M III] contracts epitomize FHA’s continuing effort to reduce risk, increase net returns, decrease holding times and improve efficiency in the resale of its inventory of foreclosed properties,” said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. “It is critically important that FHA successfully and efficiently sell its inventory of these properties and these contractors will help us do that.”

HUD’s current inventory of foreclosed FHA property is approximately 44,000 homes. That is up from the usual average level of 35,000 to 40,000.

The M&M III program replaces a single contractor design, separates marketing and maintenance responsibilities, and establishes a management trio in each market area — Asset Managers, Field  Service Managers, and Mortgagee Compliance Managers.

Asset Managers assign HUD properties to Local Listing Brokers and award commissions up to three percent to those listing brokers. A commission based on percentage of sale price replaces a nominal flat fee listing brokers received prior to M&M III. The listing broker commission schedule is designed to incentivize listing brokerages to engage in agent and consumer outreach to spur more HUD Home sales. Selling broker commission caps are reduced from five percent to a maximum of three percent, in an amount corresponding to the Local Listing Broker commission in that market area.

Full Article

Mt Kisco Homes

Mt Kisco Luxury Homes

6 Steps for Your Energy Audit in Mount Kisco NY | Mt Kisco NY Real Estate

Leave a reply

Is your home squandering precious energy? Here’s how you can search out areas of energy waste that may be costing you money. By following up on problems, you can lower energy bills by 5% to 30% annually. With annual energy bills averaging $2,200, investing in fixes or energy-efficient replacement products could save you up to $660 within a year.

Leave the deerstalker hat and magnifying glass behind. All you’ll need for energy sleuthing is a flashlight, screwdriver, paint stirrer, tape measure, and—not just for serenity’s sake—a stick of incense.

1. Hunt down drafts. Hold a lit stick of incense near windows, doors, electrical outlets, range hoods, plumbing and ceiling fixtures, attic hatches, and ceiling fans in bathrooms—anywhere drafts might sneak in. Watch for smoke movement. Note what sources need caulk, sealant, weather-stripping, or insulation.

2. Check attic insulation. Winter or summer, insulation does the most good when it’s overhead, so start with the attic. First, do you have insulation? If the insulation you see covers the tops of the joists by several inches, you probably have enough. If the insulation is only even with the tops of the joists, you probably need to add insulation.

3. Check wall insulation. Remove electrical outlet covers to see if your wall contains insulation. Installing spray foam insulation is easy to do and can dramatically improve a building or home’s energy efficiency and thermal resistance. Shut off power to the receptacle before probing beside the electrical box with a wooden paint stirrer. Check some switch boxes as well. Their higher wall location lets you see if blown-in insulation has settled.

4. Look for stains on insulation. These often indicate air leaks from a hole behind the insulation, such as a duct hole or crack in an exterior wall. Seal gaps with caulk or spray foam insulation brooklyn. Radon is widely known in the home improvement industry. It’s kind of one of those things that no one likes to discuss, because the danger is so surreal. You’ve probably heard of toxins being referred to as silent killers, and when it comes to radon; that’s no understatement. Maybe you haven’t heard that much about radon or what you have heard has not been too convincing. Does radon seem to be some “new” thing that is going to cause cancer and end the world? Everything seems to cause cancer, but the trick is in knowing how to prevent cancer, before it begins. Not everything causes cancer. That way of thinking is just some comedian’s way to laugh-off the seriousness of so many people contracting this fatal disease. But, it’s real. Radon is a proven carcinogen, and experts know more about radon than other carcinogens. So, if you were told to avoid a proven carcinogen, you know that you would. Please, this is important. Radon doesn’t smell, it doesn’t have a taste, and you can’t see it; there aren’t even any immediate symptoms. Radon has the ability to kill you without even giving you a chance to defend yourself, without even knowing, not even a rash! Radon is not only found in the air, but also in water, so be sure to have your well water tested for radon. Although radon does not give you much of a chance to defend yourself or trace whether you have been exposed, radon testing and mitigation systems have been developed in order to measure the radon count in your home, school, or workplace. There are even ways to make these places almost 100 percent radon-free. Not only do you want the places where you spend the most time to have a low radon count, but you want it gone. Did you know that most people, who have cancer from radon exposure, did not get it because they were saturated in it; but because of a low radon concentration? Don’t let radon fool you into thinking you won’t get sick, or that you and your loved ones have no way to protect yourselves. There are experts who know how to regulate radon levels, and provide you with the protection that you need. You can also visit https://www.ph-el.dk/radonsikring for more information.

5. Inspect exposed ducts. Look for obvious holes and whether joints are sealed. Heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC) ducts are made of thin metal and easily conduct heat. Consider insulating them. Uninsulated or poorly insulated ducts in unconditioned spaces can lose 10% to 30% of the energy used to heat and cool your home.

6. Check anything that goes through an exterior wall. Examine dryer ducts, plumbing lines under sinks and vanities, anything that pierces a wall. Any gaps around it should be sealed with spray foam insulation or caulk.

Read more: http://www.houselogic.com/articles/diy-home-energy-audit-6-easy-steps/#ixzz17NxAangl

Mt Kisco NY Homes

Mt Kisco Luxury Homes

Mortgage Defaults in Mount Kisco NY | Mount Kisco Real Estate

Leave a reply

SOME affluent homeowners have been walking away from a second home or investment property that is worth less than what is owed on the mortgage, even though they can still afford to make the payments.

But dumping that beach condo or country cottage, or even a home bought for an adult child — a practice known in the industry as a “strategic default” — is not the same as discarding a poorly performing stock or bond. Among the lingering effects is wrecked credit that can prevent the homeowner from getting another loan of any kind for 7 to 10 years.

In July, a study by researchers from the European University Institute, Northwestern University and the University of Chicago concluded that the strategic default trend was “large and rising” among homeowners with an equity shortfall of $100,000. As of last March, it said, strategic defaults accounted for 35.6 percent of all foreclosures, compared with 23.6 percent a year earlier.

“I’m increasingly seeing people who are middle class or higher on the pay scale coming to the conclusion that ‘I may be able to carry it, but should I?,’ ” said David Shaev, a bankruptcy lawyer in New York who assists homeowners in distress.

“But the question is, can the bank come after you, and if so, what is your position? What is your liability?”

The answer depends largely on where the property is.

In “recourse” states, a lender can come after you, and usually other assets like a primary residence, for the full mortgage amount. In “nonrecourse” states, a lender agrees to accept whatever the property fetches at a short sale, foreclosure sale, or a deed-in-lieu, in which the property is taken back but not formally foreclosed on, and generally can’t sue for the full loan amount. Florida, Connecticut and Arizona are among the nonrecourse states, while Colorado, Maine, New Jersey and Hawaii are recourse states.

There is a third category of state, called “single-action” or “one-action,” which allows the lender either to foreclose on the owner or file a civil lawsuit for the full loan amount. New York, California and Idaho are in that category.

Even in a nonrecourse state, however, those homeowners who opt for a strategic default on a previously refinanced property may not be protected from lenders, because the mortgage in such a case was not accorded for a first purchase, said Philip Faranda, a mortgage broker for J. Philip Real Estate, in Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.

New York Times Article

Mt Kisco NY Homes

Mt Kisco Luxury Homes

Amanda’s Law in Mount Kisco NY | Carbon Monoxide Detectors | Mount Kisco Real Estate

Leave a reply

Carbon Monoxide Alarms

This rule has been adopted as an emergency rule, effective as of October 25, 2010 – the text is below.  The following link provides background on the legislation, Amanda’s Law: Available here.

 

TEXT

Subdivision (d) of section 1220.1 in Part 1220 of Title 19 NYCRR is amended by adding a new paragraph (13) to read as follows:
           

(13) 2007 RCNYS section RR313.4. For the purposes of applying the 2007 RCNYS in this State, the text of section RR313.4 in chapter R3 of the 2007 RCNYS shall be deemed to be amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows: 

“RR313.4 Carbon monoxide alarms. This section covers the installation, performance and maintenance of carbon monoxide alarms and their components in new and existing buildings. The requirements of this section shall apply to all new and all existing buildings, without regard to the date of construction of the building and without regard to whether such building shall or shall not have been offered for sale.

“Exception: Compliance with this section is not required where no carbon monoxide source is located within or attached to the structure. However, compliance with this section is required if any carbon monoxide source is subsequently located within or attached to the structure.

“For the purposes of this section RR313.4, the following terms will have the following meanings:

“The term ‘carbon monoxide source’ includes fuel fired appliances, equipment, devices and systems; solid fuel burning appliances, equipment, devices and systems; all other appliances, equipment, devices and systems that may emit carbon monoxide; fireplaces; garages; and all other motor vehicle-related occupancies.

“The term ‘dwelling unit’ means a single unit providing complete, independent living facilities for one or more persons, including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation.

“The term ‘sleeping area’ means a room or space in which people sleep.

“The term ‘sleeping unit’ means a room or space in which people sleep, which can also include permanent provisions for living, eating, and either sanitation or kitchen facilities but not both. Such rooms and spaces that are also part of a dwelling unit are not sleeping units.

“In the case of a building constructed on or after January 1, 2008, a carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed in each of the following locations:

“1. Within each dwelling unit or sleeping unit, on each story having a sleeping area.

“2. Within each dwelling unit or sleeping unit, on each story where a carbon monoxide source is located.

“One carbon monoxide alarm installed on a story of a dwelling unit or sleeping unit having both a sleeping area and a carbon monoxide source shall suffice for that story within that dwelling unit or sleeping unit.

“In the case of a building constructed before January 1, 2008, a carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed in each of the following locations:

“1. Within each dwelling unit or sleeping unit, on the lowest story having a sleeping area.

“When more than one carbon monoxide alarm is required to be installed within an individual dwelling unit, the alarms shall be interconnected in such a manner that the actuation of one alarm will activate all of the alarms in the individual unit. The alarm shall be clearly audible in all sleeping areas over background noise levels with all intervening doors close.

“Exception: Interconnection is not required where carbon monoxide alarms are permitted to be battery operated in accordance with section RR313.4.2.

“All carbon monoxide alarms shall be listed and labeled as complying with UL 2034 or CAN/CSA 6.19, and shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s installation instructions and this code.

“RR313.4.1 Prohibited locations. Carbon monoxide alarms shall not be located within or near the openings to garages, bathrooms or furnace rooms. Carbon monoxide alarms shall also not be located in or near locations specified as ‘prohibited,’ ‘not recommended’ or the like in the manufacturer’s installation instructions.

“RR313.4.2 Power source. The required carbon monoxide alarms shall receive their primary power from the building wiring when such wiring is served from a commercial source or an on-site electrical power system, and when primary power is interrupted, shall receive power from a battery. Wiring shall be permanent and without a disconnecting switch other than those required for overcurrent protection.

“Exception. Carbon monoxide alarms shall be permitted to be battery operated when installed in buildings without commercial power or an on-site electrical power system or in buildings constructed before January 1, 2008.

“RR313.4.3 Maintenance. Carbon monoxide alarms shall be maintained in an operative condition at all times, shall be replaced or repaired where defective, and shall be replaced when they cease to operate as intended.

“RR313.4.4 Disabling of alarms. Carbon monoxide alarms shall not be removed or disabled, except for service or repair purposes.

“RR313.4.5 One-family dwellings converted to bed and breakfast dwellings. One-family dwellings converted to bed and breakfast dwellings shall have carbon monoxide alarms installed in accordance with the requirements of section F611 of the Fire Code of New York State.

“RR313.4.6 Buildings under custody, licensure, supervision or jurisdiction of a department or agency of the State of New York.  A building which is under the custody, licensure, supervision or jurisdiction of a department or agency of the State of New York and which is regulated as a one-or two-family dwelling or multiple single-family dwelling (townhouse), in accordance with established laws or regulations of such department or agency, shall have carbon monoxide alarms installed in accordance with the stricter of the requirements of this section or the requirements of section F611 of the Fire Code of New York State.”

Subdivision (d) of section 1225.1 in Part 1225 of Title 19 NYCRR is amended by adding a new paragraph (3) to read as follows: 

(3) 2007 FCNYS section F611. For the purposes of applying the 2007 FCNYS in this State, the text of section F611 in chapter F6 of the 2007 FCNYS shall be deemed to be amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:  

“F611 CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS 

“F611.1 General. This section covers the application, installation, performance and maintenance of carbon monoxide alarms and their components in new and existing buildings and structures. The requirements of this section shall apply to all new buildings and structures and to all existing buildings and structures, without regard to the date of construction of the building or structure and without regard to whether such building or structure shall or shall not have been offered for sale. 

“F611.1.1 Definitions. For the purposes of this §F611, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

“Carbon monoxide source. The term ‘carbon monoxide source’ includes fuel fired appliances, equipment, devices and systems; solid fuel burning appliances, equipment, devices and systems; all other appliances, equipment, devices and systems that may emit carbon monoxide; fireplaces; garages; and all other motor vehicle-related occupancies. 

“Dwelling unit. The term ‘dwelling unit’ means a single unit providing complete, independent living facilities for one or more persons, including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation. 

“Existing buildings and structures. The term ‘existing buildings and structures’ means buildings and structures constructed before January 1, 2008. 

“Multiple dwelling. The term ‘multiple dwelling’ means a dwelling which is either rented, leased, let or hired out, to be occupied, or is occupied as the temporary or permanent residence or home of three or more families living independently of each other, including but not limited to the following: a tenement, flat house, maisonette apartment, apartment house, apartment hotel, tourist house, bachelor apartment, studio apartment, duplex apartment, kitchenette apartment, hotel, lodging house, rooming house, boarding house, boarding and nursery school, furnished room house, club, sorority house, fraternity house, college and school dormitory, convalescent, old age or nursing homes or residences, and a dwelling, two or more stories in height, and with five or more boarders, roomers or lodgers residing with any one family. 

“New buildings and structures. The term ‘new buildings and structures’ means buildings and structures constructed after December 31, 2007. 

“The term ‘sleeping area’ means a room or space in which people sleep. 

“The term ‘sleeping unit’ means a room or space in which people sleep, which can also include permanent provisions for living, eating, and either sanitation or kitchen facilities but not both. Such rooms and spaces that are also part of a dwelling unit are not sleeping units.

“F611.2 Equipment. Carbon monoxide alarms shall be listed and labeled as complying with UL 2034 or CAN/CSA 6.19, and shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s installation instructions and this section.

“F611.2.1 Combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are permitted, provided the alarm is listed for such use. Combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms shall have distinctly different alarm signals for smoke or carbon monoxide alarm activation. 

“F611.3 Where required. Single and multiple station carbon monoxide alarms shall be provided in the locations described in this section.
            “Exception: Compliance with this section is not required where no carbon monoxide source is located within or attached to the structure. However, compliance with this section is required if any carbon monoxide source is subsequently located within or attached to the structure.

“F611.3.1 New buildings and structures: one-and two-family dwellings, multiple single-family dwellings (townhouses), and buildings owned as a condominium or cooperative and containing dwelling accommodations.  A carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed in each of the following locations:
            “1. Within each dwelling unit or sleeping unit, on each story having a sleeping area.
            “2. Within each dwelling unit or sleeping unit, on each story where a carbon monoxide source is located.
            “One carbon monoxide alarm installed on a story of a dwelling unit or sleeping unit having both a sleeping area and a carbon monoxide source shall suffice for that story within that dwelling unit or sleeping unit.

“F611.3.2 New buildings and structures: Group I-1 occupancies. A carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed in the each of following locations:
            “1. On each story having a sleeping area.
            “2. On each story where a carbon monoxide source is located.
            “One carbon monoxide alarm installed on a story having both a sleeping area and a carbon monoxide source shall suffice for that story.

“F611.3.3 New buildings and structures: Group R occupancies not covered by section F611.3.1 or section F611.3.2, nursery schools (with sleeping units) not covered by section F611.3.1 or §F611.3.2, bed and breakfast uses not covered by section F611.3.1 or section F611.3.2, and multiple dwellings not covered by section F611.3.1 or section F611.3.2.  A carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed in each of the following locations:

“1. In each dwelling unit or sleeping unit where a carbon monoxide source is located. In a multiple-story dwelling unit or sleeping unit, a carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed on each story having a sleeping area and on each story where a carbon monoxide source is located. One carbon monoxide alarm installed on a story having both a sleeping area and a carbon monoxide source shall suffice for that story.

“2. In each dwelling unit or sleeping unit that is on the same story as a carbon monoxide source.

“F611.3.4 Existing buildings and structures: one-and two-family dwellings, multiple single-family dwellings (townhouses), and buildings owned as a condominium or cooperative and containing dwelling accommodations.  A carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed within each dwelling unit or sleeping unit on the lowest story having a sleeping area.

“F611.3.5 Existing buildings and structures: Group I-1 occupancies. A carbon monoxide alarms shall be installed on each story having a sleeping area.

“F611.3.6 Existing buildings and structures: Group R occupancies not covered by section F611.3.4 or section F611.3.5, nursery schools (with sleeping units) not covered by section F611.3.4 or section F611.3.5, bed and breakfast uses not covered by section F611.3.4 or section F611.3.5, and multiple dwellings not covered by section F611.3.4 or section F611.3.5.  A carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed in each of the following locations:

“1. In each dwelling unit or sleeping unit where a carbon monoxide source is located. In a multiple-story dwelling unit or sleeping unit, a carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed on the lowest story having a sleeping area.

“2. In each dwelling unit or sleeping unit that is on the same story as a carbon monoxide source.

“F611.3.7 Work completed within one-and two-family dwellings, multiple single-family dwellings (townhouses), buildings owned as a condominium or cooperative and containing dwelling accommodations, Group R occupancies, bed and breakfast uses not covered by section F611.3.8, and multiple dwellings not covered by section F611.3.8.  Where work includes the addition or installation of a carbon monoxide source, the construction of a chimney, or the connection of the building to a garage or to any other motor vehicle-related occupancy, a carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed within each dwelling unit or sleeping unit on the lowest story having a sleeping area.

“F611.3.8 Work completed within Group I-1 occupancy. Where work includes the addition or installation of a carbon monoxide source, the construction of a chimney, or the connection of the building to a garage or to any other motor vehicle-related occupancy, a carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed on each story having a sleeping area.

“F611.4 Prohibited locations. Carbon monoxide alarms shall not be located within or near the openings to garages, bathrooms, or furnace rooms. Carbon monoxide alarms shall also not be located in or near locations specified as ‘prohibited,’ ‘not recommended’ or the like in the manufacturer’s installation instructions.

“F611.5 Power source. When the building wiring is served from a commercial or on-site power source, carbon monoxide alarms shall receive their primary power from the building wiring and, when primary power is interrupted, shall receive power from a battery. Wiring shall be permanent and without a disconnecting switch other than those required for overcurrent protection.

“Exceptions:

“1. Carbon monoxide alarms installed in buildings without a commercial or on-site power source shall be permitted to be battery operated.

“2. In existing buildings and structures, cord-type, direct plug, or battery-operated carbon monoxide alarms shall be permitted.

“F611.6 Interconnection. When more than one carbon monoxide alarm is required to be installed within an individual dwelling unit or sleeping unit, the alarms shall be interconnected.

“Exception: Interconnection is not required where cord-type, direct plug, or battery-operated carbon monoxide alarms are permitted.

“F611.7 Maintenance. Carbon monoxide alarms shall be maintained in an operative condition at all times, shall be replaced or repaired where defective, and shall be replaced when they cease to operate as intended.

“F611.8 Disabling of alarms. Carbon monoxide alarms shall not be removed or disabled, except for service or repair purposes.”

 

Amanda’s Law   

CHAPTER TEXT:

LAWS OF NEW YORK, 2009

CHAPTER 367

   AN  ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing Amanda’s law requiring certain residences to have installed an operable  carbon monoxide detector

       Became a law August 26, 2009, with the approval of the Governor.
       Passed by a majority vote, three-fifths being present.

The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:

Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may  be  cited  as “Amanda’s law”.

§  2.  Subdivision 5-a of section 378 of the executive law, as amended by chapter 202 of the laws of 2006, is amended to read as follows:

5-a. Standards for installation of carbon monoxide detectors requiring that every one or two-family dwelling [constructed or offered  for  sale after  July  thirtieth, two thousand two], or any dwelling accommodation located in a building owned as a condominium or cooperative in the state [constructed or offered for sale  after  July  thirtieth,  two  thousand two,]  or  any multiple dwellings [constructed or offered for sale after August ninth, two thousand five] shall have installed an operable carbon monoxide detector of such manufacture, design and installation standards as are established by the council. Carbon monoxide detectors required by this section are required only where the dwelling unit  has  appliances, devices  or  systems  that  may  emit carbon monoxide or has an attached garage. For purposes of this  subdivision,  multiple  dwelling  means  a dwelling  which  is either rented, leased, let or hired out, to be occupied, or is occupied as the temporary or permanent residence or home  of three or more families living independently of each other, including but not  limited to the following: a tenement, flat house, maisonette apartment, apartment house, apartment hotel, tourist house,  bachelor  apartment,  studio apartment, duplex apartment, kitchenette apartment, hotel, lodging house, rooming  house,  boarding  house,  boarding  and  nursery school,  furnished  room  house, club, sorority house, fraternity house, college and school dormitory, convalescent, old age or nursing homes  or residences.  It  shall  also  include a dwelling, two or more stories in height, and with five or more boarders, roomers or lodgers residing with any one family. [For the purposes of this section, sale shall  mean  the transfer  of  ownership  of  a  business  or property, provided however, transfer of franchises shall not be deemed  a  sale.]  New  construction shall  mean  a  new facility or a separate building added to an existing facility.
     § 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law.

 Mount Kisco NY Homes

Mount KIsco Luxury Homes