New Year's Eve Live Web Cam - - 12/30/07 06:13 PM
In case you coiuldn't make it to New York for the 100th dropping of the Times Square New Year's Ball here is a link to a live web cam where you can see it happening.  In case you are home you can watch from the comfort of your home.
 Join Panasonic and EarthCam on December 31st for a LIVE webcast of the 2008 New Year's celebration in Times Square. Enjoy streaming video and audio from multiple webcams and watch as the world ushers in the New Year!
 
From Panasonic, click here.
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Some Rules of the Road if You Have A Pet - 12/30/07 02:09 PM

If you have a pet, a dog, cat, bird or domestic animal and you want to move into a co-op building that approves any/or the above there are few things that you should know.  First I have had buyers who have wanted to buy in buildings that do now allow pets and think that they can "sneak" their cat into the apartment because the cat is an indoor cat and nobody would know.  The building will and or other owners will eventually find out.  I had one buyer who put the kitty litter out in the garbage and the superintendant discovered … (3 comments)

The Dance Between Buyer's and Seller's Agents - 12/27/07 12:48 PM
Historically, pre buyer brokerage, agents all worked for the seller.  If they had the buyer they were working as sub-agent's of the seller and the seller's agent.  In this scenario if an agent was a sub-agent they would be able to call the listing agent and ask for informaiton, such as have there been any offers?, where is the seller going?, and because the agent was working for the seller the listing agent would "fill in the agent" and give them the information they needed to go back to the buyer and solicit an offer.  If the sub-agent and asked "have … (3 comments)

What is This Thing Called Blogging? - 12/25/07 05:59 AM
It has been over a year since I started blogging.  I started because I saw a need for day to day postings and fresh content for both my clients/customers and for the Googles of the world who love and rank fresh content and give rewards to bloggers for ongoing content.  I wanted to talk about the hot topics of the day, like market reports and what is going on in Westchester County and this was the venue.  I am not an expert but know what I see around me.  Have my own opinions and I was willing to put them out there … (6 comments)

A Real Estate Wiki - Live 1/1/08 - 12/23/07 01:46 PM
                       GOING LIVE January 1, 2008
 "At last the real estate industry gets its own, large, objective wiki that focuses on the real estate industry and the home buying and selling process. With real estate being such a huge industry you would think a free-standing real estate wiki would already exist but alas only a few small, in-house attempts have been tried.
When you realize how complicated and extensive it would have to be to truly be a meaningful and valuable resource it's no surprise that the task hasn't been undertaken - at least up until now.
This real estate wiki is the combined … (4 comments)

The Times They Are a Changin...... - 12/23/07 11:20 AM
Yesterday I read a post from about whether agents can sell anywhere in their state and whether they should or not by Charles McDonald. That post lead me to thinking a bit about this topic. SO...
Historically agents stayed in their areas.  All agents worked as sub-agents of the seller whether or not you had the buyer and if a buyer wanted to look in another area the agents would refer them and receive a 25-30% referral fee.  Seniors agents had referral networks throughout Westchester County and knew that if they referred out they would receive the referrals coming in.  An income stream.  … (8 comments)

Real Estate Sales and Safe Driving - 12/23/07 05:33 AM
Last October I was driving past a local middle school.  I was driving in a caravan of cars all going about 35 miles per hour in a 30 miles speed limit.  All of a sudden we come around the corner and there is a sign that says 15 miles/hour with flashing yellow lights.  We call immediately slow down, but not quickly enough, and I got a ticket for speeding.  My first.  I am the type of person who follow all the rules about everything or I can't sleep at night.  I mailed in my ticket, pleading not quilty and waited for … (8 comments)

A Dog Loving Real Estate Broker in Westchester County, New York - 12/23/07 05:11 AM

This is Max my beloved Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.  He weighs about 25 lbs which is large for the breed and large for a lot of buildings throughout Westchester County that will allow dogs but have weight restrictions.  Some buildings will interview your dog as well as you to incure that your dog isn't a barker that will annoy neighbors. There are buildings available throughout Westchester County that will allow dogs, larger dogs are permitted in a limited number of buildings.  More buildings will allow pets, but not dogs.  Unfortunately not all dog lovers do the right thing in cleaning up … (7 comments)

4 Capt Honeywell Road, Ardsley, New York - 12/20/07 06:16 AM
I have a new listing and am still working on the many sites that I use to market my listings. Single web sites, virtual tours both branded and unbranded, uploading to 15 sites with Trulia, Google Base, Zillow, New York Times website, Harmon Homes, Yahoo Directory, as well as Realtor.com.  RE/MAX has a site that is now 2nd in search rankings nationally amongst homebuyers, Craig's List, The Real Estate Book as well as many more.
This new listing is in the Ardsley School District.  A Charming Stone Front two step Ranch with a Living Room with Fireplace, Dining Room, Kitchen, 3 Bedrooms, … (1 comments)

Westchester County Library System - 12/19/07 06:08 AM
 
 
The Westchester County Library System has a new interactive website. There are 38 libraries throughout Westchester County serving 940,000 residents.
You can locate libraries, search for books, movies, audio books, music, large print, and magazine articles.  You can reserve books.  There is a link to the Health Advocacy Resource Center for Seniors and you can see which were the 10 Best Books for 2007.
                                          Westchester Library System
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Hamlet of Hartsdale, 10530, Market Reports - 12/19/07 05:14 AM

A review of the existing inventory in Hartsdale, NY, 10530 shows that there are 37 single family homes on the market, 15 active condominiums and 42 active co-op's.  Last March when I posted there were 36 single family houses, 17 active condominiums and 61 co-op's.  The numbers have held steady with the exception of co-op's where the inventory has declined significantly.
Single Family Homes 
Minimum              400,00  for a two bedroom with just over 1000 s feet
Average                732,495 for a 4 bedroom, two and a half bath with 2,200 sq feet
Median                 625,000 for a 3 bedroom, two bath with 1890 sq feet
Maximum             1,775,000 for a 5 … (1 comments)

GMAC Closing Offices - 12/17/07 07:35 AM
According to the Boston Globe, GMAC Real Estate is closing 15 offices in Massachusetts and New Hamphire leaving 35 offices open.  They are laying off 50 managers and support staff.
"contraction is due more to the growth of the online housing marketplace and technological changes than to the housing slump", read entire article, here.
Around the country is this the beginning of contraction among real estate offices.  Between the internet and the housing slump in various parts of the country this is probably the beginning.  In my local area I have seen several offices close and/or merge.  With the renewal dues for the … (6 comments)

Westchester County, NY Real Estate Online - 12/17/07 06:26 AM
The real estate business is shifting and changing.  More choices, more informaiton available online, shop from home. So I would like to introduce you to some of my real estate sites to provide you with good content and all the information that you might be looking for if you are buying or selling residential real estate in Westchester County, New York.
My main site has property searches.  I have two.  You can preview properties, sign up for automatic emails, save searches so you can return, each has a planner where you can save the properties you like and delete the properties you … (0 comments)

Bloggers Making a Difference Day - 12/16/07 05:21 AM

Tomorrow is Bloggers Making a Difference Day.  Bloggers performing acts of kindness and then posting these acts on their sites. You can make a donation, buy a present, share a photo, help someone across the street.  Tomorrow is the day to post.  There is a dedicated site where you can read all about it,
                                           
                                                        Bloggers Unite
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Opening Next Week in White Plains- The Ritz Carlton - 12/15/07 06:46 AM
 
Big excitement in White Plains.  The Ritz Carlton is opening.  Westchester County really needs to have a hotel in the middle of all the hussle and bussle that has become White Plains in the past few years.  The Ritz Carlton is located at Main Street and Hamilton Avenue.  The cost was $600 million and it is 950,000 sq ft.
There will be restaurants, BLT which will open this Thursday and "42" which is located on the 42 Floor. "42" will open to the public on New Year's Eve.  It should be fabulous with 22 foot tall windows and views of Long Island … (1 comments)

Bash and Build - 12/15/07 06:09 AM
 
The New York Metropoitan Area has become #1 in the nation in tearing down and building properties overtaking Chicago which had been #1.  While overall new construction has softened there are three communities in the Metropolitan New York area where high end "bash and build" continues without any concern for the sub-prime or other market conditions.  Greenwhich, Ct, Bedford, NY and Old Westbury out on Long Island all continue with older houses being taken down and large McMansions being built.
I live in the Estate Section of a Community in Central Westchester County where the zoning is 1 acre and being a … (1 comments)

Too Many Questions from a Client? - 12/15/07 04:57 AM
A few weeks ago a very nice lady contacted me from my website.  She and her husband are thinking of renting a house in Westchester County, New York and had some questions.  They are aiming toward the school year so would probably need to start looking in April, May or June.  They are spending the time now to investigate things, the commute, the schools, the community so that they will be prepared when the time comes.
Initially I suggested that she send along by email some of her questions and that I would be glad to answer them.  Even without her questions, I … (4 comments)

A Rabid Fox in Northern Westchester County - 12/15/07 04:36 AM
There is a rabies alert in North Salem which is located in Northern Westchester County.  A rabid fox attacked a dog.  After the attack the fox was hit and killed by a car and was taken to the New York State Laboratory for testing which confirmed that the fox was rabid.
Anyone bitten by a rabid animal or having contact with it's saliva may need immediate rabies vaccination treatment.  Treatment is 100% effective if administered early enough.  Once systoms appear the disease is fatal.
How to spot a rabid animal:
"Unusual behavior may be the first sign of rabies in an animal. A rabid … (2 comments)

Another Reason I Love RE/MAX - Referrals - 12/12/07 06:17 AM
 
 
Reported by Inman News this morning is the Hitwise rankings of Real Estate Websites.  These numbers convert to referrals within the RE/MAX network and why I really love RE/MAX is that we don't pay referral fees to RE/MAX International or to our local RE/MAX office.  The money stays with the agents.  RE/MAX is now the number 2 web site with 2.55% of market in November 07 ranking #2.  In October of 07 RE/MAX was ranked 3.  The only other site that has a higher market share is Realtor.com with 4.71%.
                                                                                                  Nov 07      Oct 07 Rank
 
 
 
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Work For Tax Program - Greenburgh, New York - 12/11/07 04:45 AM
Supervisor Paul Feiner, Greenburgh, New York will introduce a proposal to create a program to let seniors in the Town of Greenburgh work off property tax increases doing volunteer work around town. Colorado, Massachusetts and Connecticut among others have "Work for Taxes" programs. Around the nation  Seniors (60+) can earn about $7.00/hour and can work off up to $700.00/yr of property tax increases.  In Greenburgh that can be the difference between staying in community and foreclosure. Some of the possible jobs would be helping the library, bookkeeping, receptionists, tutoring.
Mr. Feiner is going to lobby the New York State Legislature and Congress … (2 comments)

Greenburgh Nature Center and A Model Train Exhibit - 12/10/07 05:58 AM
The Greenburgh Nature Center features a 33-acre woodland preserve, with live animals, a museum, a greenhouse with botanical exhibits, and a hands-on discovery room. The grounds are open from dawn to dusk throughout the year.  Located in the Town of Greenburgh in mid-Westchester County, please visit their web site at Greenburgh Nature Center.  From December 8 to December 18th they are having a SPECIAL HOLIDAY SEASON EXHIBIT- "TRAINS - YOUR TICKET TO THE GREAT OUTDOORS"                           Display of trains and posters mounted by the Westchester Model Railroad Club                  Railroads have always helped bring … (0 comments)

An Environmentally Friendly Holiday Season - 12/09/07 04:52 AM

A variety of ways to help protect the environment have sprung up for this holiday season.  Studies now show that 54% of holiday shoppers will choose to be eco-friendly if given a chance.  So a few ideas.
Christmas tree lights that are solar powered.  These lights are available at Home Depot and probably elsewhere and come with a small solar panel.  These lights will stay lit until midnight.Using organic beeswax candles in a menorahUsing eco friendly and reusable bags to wrap gifts, these bags can then be used at the supermarket instead of the plastic or paper bags.All of the lights on … (5 comments)

This is the Story of a Wonderful Little House.... - 12/08/07 05:14 AM
This is the story of a wonderful little house in Edina, MN.  At least the owners of this house thought so, they loved their house - but apparently no one else did.  Their wonderful little house sat on the market for 10 months with no offers.  This house was updated, had manicured lawns and was in a wonderful neighborhood!!!  They even painted it yellow, a warm inviting yellow.  After the 10 months passed these owners began to think they had the worst house in the neighborhood.  The home owner, thinking he had to do something as having a house on the … (2 comments)

What I Didn't Know Then That I Know Now - 12/02/07 05:23 AM
When I started in Real Estate 15 years ago I was truly naive and believed the world and the people in it to be ethical and good.  I believed that people would do the right thing given an opportunity, would tell the truth even if it cost them something and I suppose I was a bit in the clouds.  I have worked my whole life but at a desk job and not with the public, a different world.  My expectations were unrealistic. When I made the switch to real estate there was a learning curve, learning how to put deals together, … (4 comments)

Taking Precautions with Selling - 12/01/07 07:55 AM
As reported in a multitude of Newspapers and Magazines last week two women, posing as wealthy home buyers visited Open Houses in the up scale community of Upper Saddle River, New Jersey and luxury properties in Manhattan.  Police reports say that they stole jewelry and other valuables in excess of $70,000.  Some of the items stolen were fur coats, diamonds earrings and expensive brand hand bags like Louis Vuitton. They did catch and arrest the two women involved.
This is a very rare occurance but why take a chance. While all of these articles addressed Open Houses it really should address … (0 comments)

 
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Miriam Bernstein REALTOR® New Orleans Real Estate

New Orleans, LA

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RE/MAX N.O. Properties

Address: 8001 Maple Street, New Orleans, LA, 70118

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