Stephanie L. Solano's Westchester Real Estate Blog

Mt. Vernon, NY Co-op Market First Quarter 2011

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 14:39:20 -0700

Mt. Vernon, NY Co-op Market First Quarter 2011

This is the market report for co-op apartments sold in Mt. Vernon for the first quarter of 2011. All information is sourced from the Empire Access Multiple Listing Service.

In the first quarter of 2011, there were 12 closings with a median sale price of $155,000.

In the first quarter of 2010, there were 17 closings with a median sale price of $93,500.

15 co-ops are currently under contract at a median asking price of $70,000. 122 co-ops are active on the market and available ranging from $33,500 to 345,000.

If you'd like to search for a co-op in Mt. Vernon or just see where home values are going, get yourself a free listingbook account and search the MLS like an agent!

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Stephanie L. Solano
Realtor, Licensed Salesperson
J. Philip Real Estate LLC
cell 914-645-2433
fax 914-470-1124
http://stephanielsolano.wordpress.com
http://stephanielsolano.listingbook.com
www.stephanie.jphilip.com

Selling Your House? Get that Certificate of Occupacy or Permit

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 15:40:11 -0700

If you are thinking of selling your house, make sure you have all permits and certificates of occupancy (c/o) in place BEFORE listing your house for sale.

You might have held off on getting that permit or c/o for fear that your real estate taxes will rise. Pay the fee now because you will be paying way more for it later on if you don't.

After signing a contract of sale, not only does the buyer have responsibilities like securing a mortgage, but the seller has an obligation to have clear title of the house. This includes making sure you have permits and c/o's for things like decks, pools, finished basements, extra bathrooms, expansions, etc. Each municipality has different requirements, so speak to someone in your municipality's building department to determine what you need.

Let's suppose you have a ready, willing, and able buyer, signed contracts and are waiting for the closing date. The title report is run and oops you never bothered to get a permit or c/o. No problem, you'll head down to the building department and get it. Heck, you have a few weeks before the closing. And guess what? Your urgent matter is not urgent to the town. It can sometimes take up to 6 weeks for the town to finalize the paperwork. This can mean pushing back your closing or even worse, the time expiring on your obligation and the buyer can take their down payment back and walk away. House unsold, back at square one.

Here in Westchester County it's not uncommon for a closing to take place 90 days after signing a contract. Once the contract is signed, the listing is changed from "active" to "conditional contract" on our MLS. Your house becomes less searchable and in front of less eyes. Essentially the seller looses out on at least 3 months of activity or potential buyers.

Also, it is very important to hold onto important paperwork like this. Yes the town has a copy, but guess what? The town looses things too.

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Have you checked your attic lately?

Sun, 22 May 2011 11:54:05 -0700

Did you hear of the Utah man who found $45,000 in the attic of the home he just purchased?

The previous owner, Arnold Bangerter, passed away and left the house to his children.

Josh Ferrin, the new homeowner, found the money in a crawl space in the attic over the garage. He decided to give the money back.

Could you imagine the feeling of finding all that money?

If you'd like to find a Westchester County home that may have cash hidden in the attic, contact me at stephanie@jphilip.com or 914-645-2433 or set up a free listingbook account to search the MLS like an agent.

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Bedford Post Inn

Fri, 20 May 2011 13:40:35 -0700

I was lucky enough for my husband to surprise me with a great meal at The Bedford Post Inn for our anniversary. They have 2 restaurants (The Farmhouse and The Barn) and an Inn with 8 rooms and a yoga studio.

The grounds are beautiful and rustic with a gravel driveway, arbors, stonework and nice plantings. It reminded me of Napa Valley. The dining room was also quite charming with a fireplace and nice decor. I understand that the fireplace gives nice ambiance, but in May it was too warm to have it on.

The menu is not very extensive which is ok with me. I rather have the chef concentrate on a few items and execute them perfectly. We ordered off the a la carte menu, but there also is a 5 or 8 course tasting menu. Everything we ordered was excellent. We had the ravioli with chopped truffle for an appetizer, veal and beef for our entrees. The sides of potato and broccoli were really good and the service was excellent as well.

Although we didn't get to meet Richard Gere (it's his restaurant) or Martha Stewart (who lives in Bedford), I would highly reccommend The Bedford Post for a special occasion. I would like to try The Barn for a brunch in the future.

Bedford is composed of 3 hamlets; Bedford Village, Katonah, and Bedford Hills. The town is 39.3 square miles in northern Westchester County. Bedford Hills has a stop on Metro-North which will take about an hour to midtown.

If you would like to be neighbors with Richard or Martha contact me at stephanie@jphilip.com, 914-645-2433, or set up a free listingbook account and search the MLS like an agent.

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Farmers' Markets in Wetchester County

Fri, 20 May 2011 10:22:52 -0700

Farmers' Markets in Westchester County are getting ready to open for the season. If you like fresh veggies, fruit, poultry, baked goods, cheeses, fish and eggs see below for a farmer's market near you.

Croton-on-Hudson Farmers' Market
Municipal Lot on Municipal Pl. and Riverside Ave. (Street Address: Across From 1 Municipal Pl.)
WEDNESDAYS 1:30 PM TO 6:30 PM - RAIN OR SHINE JUNE 1 TO NOVEMBER 23, 2011

Larchmont Farmers' Market
Metro North Parking Deck #3 off Chatsworth Ave. (Street Address: Near 1 Railroad Way)
SATURDAYS 8:30 AM TO 1:00 PM - RAIN OR SHINE MAY 28 TO DECEMBER 17, 2011

New Rochelle Farmers' Market
Library Green, Huguenot Street and Lawton Street (Street Address: Near 264 Huguenot Street)
FRIDAYS 8:00AM TO 3:00PM - RAIN OR SHINE FRIDAYS JUNE 17 TO NOVEMBER 18, 2011

Ossining Farmers' Market
Corner of Main and Spring St. (Street Address: Ossining Post Office, 100 Main Street)
SATURDAYS 8:30AM TO 1:00PM - RAIN OR SHINE MAY 28 TO DECEMBER 17, 2011 (no market on June 11)

Pelham Farmers' Market
Corner of Harmon Avenue and Fifth Avenue (Street Address: Near 8 5th Avenue)
SATURDAYS 8:30AM TO 2:00PM - RAIN OR SHINE MAY 28 TO NOVEMBER 19, 2011

Pleasantville Farmers' Market
Memorial Plaza off Manville Rd. (Street Address: Across From 42 Memorial Plaza)
SATURDAYS 8:30AM TO 1:00PM - RAIN OR SHINE MAY 28 TO DECEMBER 17, 2011

Tarrytown Farmers' Market
Patriot\'s Park on Rt. 9. (Street Address: Adjacent to Tarrytown Public Library, 121 N. Broadway)
SATURDAYS 8:30AM TO 1:00PM - RAIN OR SHINE MAY 28 TO NOVEMBER 19, 2011

If you's like to find a home near any of these towns contact me at stephanie@jphilip.com or 914-645-2433 or set up a free Listingbook account and search for homes like an agent.

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4 Years Ago Today...

Thu, 19 May 2011 10:08:14 -0700

We got married!!! I can't believe how fast these 4 years have flown by and how much fun we've had together.

The ceremony was at Holy Family Church in New Rochelle. This is the same church where my parents got married back in 1971.

The reception took place at Glen Island Harbour Club, also in New Rochelle.

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Commute to New York City on Metro-North Railroad

Sat, 07 May 2011 10:08:33 -0700

It won't come as a surprise to you that one of the most important factors when looking for a home is the distance to and from work. Many Westchester residents work in New York City and take the Metro-North Railroad to New York City each day.

The Metro-North Railroad is a subsidiary of the New York State MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority) and was founded in 1983 when the MTA assumed control of Conrail commuter operations in New York and Connecticut. The railroad began in 1832 as a horse-car line in lower Manhattan. Today there are 384 route miles and 775 miles of track, Metro-North goes to 120 stations distributed in seven counties in New York State (Dutchess, Putnam, Westchester, Bronx, New York (Manhattan), Rockland, and Orange) and two counties in Connecticut (New Haven and Fairfield).

Schedules and Fares can be found here

Metro-North Railroad map can be found here

If you are looking for a home near one of Metro-North's stops, contact me at stephanie@jphilip.com or 914-645-2433.

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Port Chester, NY has Great New Restaurants

Fri, 06 May 2011 15:15:52 -0700

Port Chester, NY has Great New Restaurants

Port Chester is really being put on the map as far as restaurants goes. You may have heard of celebrity chef Mario Batali and Joseph Bastianich opening up Tarry Lodge in the Fall of 2008. If you have not been there yet, I suggest going. I love a good thin crust pizza and the Goat Cheese with Pistachios and Truffle Honey Pizza was delicious. Tarry Lodge's menu will be a welcome change from the tired Italian restaurants who serve "chicken parm" and other Americanized Italian food. "Secondi" or main dishes range from $19-29.

Tarry Market and Tarry Wine have opened up around the corner. You can buy authentic European meats, cheeses, pastas and wine. There are a few tables in front of the espresso bar that are good for people watching on Main Street.

If you are looking for dining with a different mood, try Lolita Cocina & Tequila Bar. This mexican restaurant has a kind of goth dungeon-like (in a good way) atmosphere with the dark lights and red velvet curtains. Although it's technically not in Port Chester. It is just down the road from Tarry Lodge on Mill Street in the Byram section of Greenwich, CT. The waiter brought over a "smoking" grapefruit granita with a splash of tequila which was nice and refreshing. Then came chips along with 3 salsas. The main courses were delicious. Try the carne asada. Along with the check came a huge green-apple cotton candy- very fun. I am not a tequila connoisseur, but they have many different ones to choose from.

For Mexican with a "beachy" touch, try Bartaco. It is kind of hard to find, down the road from The Willet House at the end of the parking lot. It sits right on the Byram River and has a patio outside for alfresco dining or drinks. I found the portions to be rather small, but the atmosphere makes up for it.

If you are looking for a home in Port Chester, NY or any other town in Westchester or Connecticut, contact me at stephanie@jphilip.com or 914-645-2433.

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Scarborough Park in Briarcliff Manor, NY

Wed, 04 May 2011 15:21:34 -0700

The other day I happened to find a neat little park. Scarborough Park in Briarcliff Manor sits nestled between the Scarborough Train Station and the Hudson River. Although this park has been around for 97 years it seems to be a little hidden treasure. With views of the Tappan Zee Bridge in the distance, this 6 acre park is popular for fishing. We even saw someone reel in a 20 inch striped bass. The Village is currently pursuing grant funding to further improve and develop the site.

If you would like to find a home in Briarcliff Manor or anywhere else in Westchester County set up a free Listingbook account and search for homes like an agent.

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Westchester School District Information

Tue, 03 May 2011 15:33:08 -0700

A very common question from home buyers is:

"How good are the schools?"

I can't tell you. Not because I don't know, but because it is against Fair Housing Laws for me to give my opinion. I can, however, give you resources for you to draw your own conclusions about the area or the schools.

A few good resources are:

Westchester School District Report Cards, published by New York State

National Center for Education Statistics, published by the US Department of Education

If you do a quick Google search for school rankings you will get a bunch of results, but their data source may not be reliable.

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What is a REALTOR?

Tue, 03 May 2011 13:49:29 -0700

What is a REALTOR®?

The term REALTOR® is a registered trademark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

Unlike many real estate agents who are simply licensed by their state to do business, REALTORS® have taken additional steps to become members of the local board of REALTORS® and are held to a strict Code of Ethics.

If you are in search of a REALTOR® in Westchester or Connecticut, please contact me at 914-645-2433 or stephanie@jphilip.com

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Pleasantville Day 2011

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 11:23:25 -0700

Pleasantville Day 2011

This year Pleasantville Day will be held on Saturday, May 14th from 10am to 4pm at Memorial Plaza (next to the train station).

Come and enjoy a community event for a day full of activities, games, rides, and food.

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What's That Smell?

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 16:08:17 -0700

Bob: Oh, my God! What's that smell?
Jack:That smell, Bob, is our s***. Focker flushed the toilet in the den, so the septic tank is overflowing.
Greg: Jack, I told you. It wasn't me. It was Jinx.
Jack:Focker, I'm not gonna tell you again! Jinx cannot flush the toilet. He's a cat, for chrissakes! The animal doesn't even have thumbs, Focker.

-Meet the Parents

As you go further north in Westchester and Putnam counties, septic systems become more common. Some people have hesitation when deciding to buy a home with a septic system. Most likely due to not being familiar with the systems.

Septic systems are perfectly fine. Like other systems in your home, proper maintenance is key. The EPA recommends pumping your septic once every 3 to 5 years.

If you are buying a house and the seller cannot provide documentation of when the last time they pumped the septic, I would recommend getting it done as soon as possible.

For more information see A Homeowner's Guide to Septic Systems.

If you are looking to buy or sell a home in Westchester or Fairfield County contact me at stephanie@jphilip.com or 914-645-2433.

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Pelham, NY Real Estate Market First Quarter 2011

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 10:55:48 -0700

Pelham, NY Real Estate Market First Quarter 2011

This is the market report for single family homes sold in the Pelham school district for the first quarter of 2011. All information is sourced from the Empire Access Multiple Listing Service.

In the first quarter of 2011, there were 10 closings with a median sale price of $744,950.

In the first quarter of 2010, there were 11 closings with a median sale price of $805,000.

18 homes are currently under contract at a median asking price of $1,000,000. This tells me that the activity is not letting up- buyers are making deals. 70 homes are active on the market and available ranging from $325,000 to $1,088,000.

If you'd like to search for a home in Pelham or just see where home values are going, get yourself a free listingbook accountand search the MLS like an agent!

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Pleasantville Real Estate Market First Quarter 2011

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 09:49:21 -0700

Pleasantville, NY Real Estate Market First Quarter 2011

This is the market report for single family homes sold in the Pleasantville school district for the first quarter of 2011. All information is sourced fom the Empire Access Multiple Listing Service.

In the first quarter of 2011, there were 8 closings with a median sale price of $511,250.

In the first quarter of 2010, there were 2 closings with a median sale price of $662,500.

6 homes are currently under contract at a median asking price of $462,111. This tells me that the activity is not letting up- buyers are making deals. 54 homes are active on the market and available ranging from $299,000 to $998,000.

If you'd like to search for a home in Pleasantville or just see where home values are going, get yourself a free listingbook account and serach the MLS like an agent!

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Why You Need to Get Pre-Approved Before We Look at Houses

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 18:53:41 -0700

Why You Need to Get Pre-Approved Before We Look at Houses

If you are thinking of buying a house you will NEED to get a pre-approval from a lender. (Unless you are paying cash) This is very basic, but sometimes "buyers" put up a bit of a struggle about getting pre-approved before we look at houses.

Here are some reasons why you need to get pre-approved:

You need to know what you can afford. You may have a good "ballpark figure" of how much you can afford, but how do you know that the bank will actually lend you that much money? Many people assume they will be able to get a loan because the have been pre-approved in the past, but times have changed.
You need to know the terms of the loan. Talking to a lender will give you an idea of different loan options that are available to you. Conventional, FHA, Fixed, Adjustable, 203(k) rehab loan... A lender will also give you a good idea about how much money you will need for a down payment and how much for closing costs. Online mortgage calculators can give you a basic "idea", but many times they do not take into account the property taxes, homeowners insurance, and mortgage insurance. Why guess?
You might fall in love with something you can't afford. The buyer thinks that he/she will be able to get a loan to purchase a house in a certain price range, he/she falls in love with a house, and then she is denied for a loan. With all the added scrutiny, it is NOT easy to get financing these days, so before you fall in love, cover your bases and get your pre-approval letter.
The seller will NOT take your offer seriously unless it is accompanied by a pre-approval letter. Because I want to get your offer accepted, I won't submit an offer without a pre-approval. The seller wants proof that you are able to afford their home. They do not want to waste their time and money waiting for a deal to close if it is likely that the buyer will not get financing. Submitting an offer on a house without including a pre-approval letter is simply a waste of everyone's time...including yours!

When you object to talking to a lender, you're sending a clear message to everyone that you have no real intention of buying a house. So if you're serious, go get that pre-approval letter!

I'd be happy to recommend a few reputable lenders in the Westchester County area. And no, they don't give me a kickback!

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"Don't take my picture"

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 21:54:12 -0700

Opperman's Pond in Pleasantville, NY

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Our Growing Family

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 13:43:42 -0700

I wanted to share a blog post by my broker, J. Philip Faranda where he mentions me getting an accepted offer on behalf of my buyer client.

I love the spring market.

Via J. Philip Faranda (J. Philip R.E. LLC) Westchester County NY:

Ann is not pregnant.

The company, however, is attracting some excellent people. So here are a few welcomes:

We welcome Leslie Miller, buyer agent extraordinaire, who specializes in Westchester county, including but not limited to Ossining, Briarcliff, Chappaqua, Pleasantville, and even as far south as Scarsdale and White Plains. Leslie is a very conscientious and caring individual and buyers can expect great representation from her! You can email Leslie at leslie@jphilip.com.

We also welcome Jim Brick, formerly of Century 21 VJF. Jim has something in common with Joe Namath! OK, so it's a bad knee. But he's on our team now, and will be back on his feet soon, serving Putnam County and north Westchester. Reach Jim at jbrickco@yahoo.com.

And now something really cool: It is going to get a little, shall we say...chaotic around here. The Ambassador of Chaos herself, the artist, the Renaissance Woman, the one and only Carolyn Tann-Starr is joining the J. Philip Real estate family-when else? April 1st! Carolyn posted recently that she was looking for a new broker, but needed one who appreciated social media and her online efforts. I saw the match and asked her to call me in her comments.

And she did.

And I initially didn't know who was calling me (hey I was on my mobile phone).

However, we sorted it out in a jiffy, and shook hands over the ether about 5 minutes later. I look forward to our association.

A few other nice bits of progress in our little corner of the world:

Congratulations to Stephanie Solano for getting a good solid accepted offer yesterday on behalf of a delighted buyer client in Port Chester, NY.

Congratulations to client Scott on the successful closing of his White Plains Co op listed by Yours Truly.

Best wishes to my buyer clients Tom and Janine on the closing of their purchase in Scarsdale, NY.

High fives to seller clients Terence & Nicole and Marty and Tricia on their homes getting accepted offers this past week. Both inspections went well and contracts are out on both!

We have more irons in the fire, but those are the highlights and I love to share good news.

Subscribe to J. Philip's Real Estate Blog by Email

We Are Westchester County & Metro New York Real Estate. Reach Phil at (914) 723-8900.

J. Philip Faranda, Broker-owner, J. Philip Real Estate, LLC. Vice President, Empire Access Multiple Listing Service.

I am one of New York's premier short sale REALTORS, serving Westchester, the Hudson Valley & Metropolitan New York.

Free MLS Search! Register for a Free Listingbook account and search the MLS like an agent.

I am hiring agents. We offer outstanding support, marketing resources, and pasta.

All content/images, unless noted, are the property of J. Philip Faranda & may not be used without permission

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Search For Homes

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 13:26:05 -0700

Do you want to not only search for homes that are for sale, but also find out what other homes in your neighborhood sold for?

Create a FREE Listingbook account and search the MLS like an agent.

You can search for homes in Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, the Bronx, and Connecticut. Once you click on a home you can get a community overview which includes information about population, demographics, and schools. You can also compare two communities on the previously mentioned criteria.

You can also set up a morning report which automatically emails you when new listings come on the market that match your criteria.

If you have any questions on setting up a Listingbook account or if you would like me to set one up for you, just let me know! Contact me at stephanie@jphilip.com or 914-645-2433.

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Buying a home? Don’t buy anything else!

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 15:14:19 -0800

Buying a home? Don't buy anything else!

Once you are pre-qualified, do not make any major purchases. Do not buy a car, furniture, lawn mower, tv, appliances, or open up or close any credit cards until your loan is closed and they keys to your new home are in your hand.

Lenders re-pull credit information just before closing and any changes in your credit may postpone the closing. Keeping your finances the same as when you pre-qualified will save you an unnecessary headache.

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Are You Taking Advantage?

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 13:28:46 -0800

It won't come as a surprise to you that Westchester County has high property taxes. Are you taking advantage of the New York State's School Tax Relief (STAR) Program?

This program provides property tax exemptions for New York homeowners.

Basic STAR is available for owner-occupied, primary residences where the owners' total income is less than $500,000. Basic STAR works by exempting the first $30,000 of the full value of a home from school taxes.

Enhanced STAR provides an increased benefit for the primary residences of senior citizens (age 65 and older) with qualifying incomes. For qualifying seniors, Enhanced STAR exempts the first $60,100 of the full value of their home from school taxes.

To file for the STAR program you must file an application with your local tax assessor by the deadline date (your tax assessor can tell you the date for your municipality).

When you buy a new home, your STAR tax exemption is not transferred automatically. You need to apply for the exemption on your new primary residence by the deadline.

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What is an FHA Loan?

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 13:42:27 -0800

What is an FHA Loan?

An FHA Loan is a mortgage loan in which the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) provides mortgage insurance on loans made by FHA approved lenders. FHA insures mortgages on single family and multifamily homes and is the largest insurer of mortgages in the world.

FHA mortgage insurance provides lenders with protection against losses as the result of homeowners defaulting on their mortgage loans. The lenders bear less risk because FHA will pay a claim to the lender in the event of a homeowner's default.

The cost of the mortgage insurance is passed along to the homeowner and typically is included in the monthly payment. In most cases, the insurance cost to the homeowner will drop off after five years or when the remaining balance on the loan is 78 percent of the value of the property- whichever is longer.

Generally, to be eligible for an FHA loan, you must have a valid social security number and have lawful residency in the United States and be of a legal age to sign on a mortgage in your state. Lenders will verify income, assets, liabilities, and credit history for all parties on the loan.

FHA insured mortgages offer many benefits and protections that only come with FHA:

Easier to Qualify: Because FHA insures your mortgage, lenders may be more willing to give you loan terms that make it easier for you to qualify.

Less than Perfect Credit: You don't have to have a perfect credit score to get an FHA mortgage. Even if you have had credit problems, such as a bankruptcy, it's easier for you to qualify for an FHA loan than a conventional loan.

Low Down Payment: FHA loans have a low 3.5% downpayment and that money can come from a family member, employer or charitable organization as a gift. Other loan programs don't allow this.

May Costs Less: FHA loans have competitive interest rates because the Federal government insures the loans. (Always compare an FHA loan with other loan types.)

Helps You Keep Your Home: The FHA has been around since 1934 and will continue to be here to protect you. Should you encounter hard times after buying your home, FHA has many options to help you keep you in your home and avoid foreclosure.

FHA does not provide direct financing nor does it set the interest rates on the mortgages it insures. For the best interest rate and terms on a mortgage, you should compare mortgages from several different lenders. In order to initiate the loan application process, please contact an FHA approved lender.

You can find an FHA approved lender in your area by going to: http://www.hud.gov/ll/code/llslcrit.html

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Searching for a Home Online

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 16:34:11 -0800

Almost everyone has heard of zillow, trulia, or redfin to search for homes online, but are these the most reliable resources?

Among a host of other things that I find not good, (which I will not get into on this blog post), in my experience these websites are not up to date. I have had buyers contact me wanting to see a property that they saw online at one of the sites mentioned above and when I went on the local MLS (multiple listing service), the listing has already been sold (and not recently). Another time the listing was for an incorrect price (I assume the price change was not updated). This is not uncommon.

According to a 2009 National Association of Realtors (NAR) survey, 90% of buyers used the internet to search for a home. I think that's great, but why use a website that is not up to date and comprehensive with the information on your local MLS?

Listingbook provides accurate and timely information about listings available on the Empire Access MLS (fka Westchester-Putnam MLS). Empire Access MLS services the Bronx, Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties.

If you would like to search the MLS like an agent, set up a free listingbook account here. Or contact me at stephanie@jphilip.com or 914-645-2433.

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Prospero Winery

Sat, 11 Dec 2010 17:02:02 -0800

One of my favorite places to go in Pleasantville is Prospero Winery. Located a short walk from the Pleasantville stop on Metro-North at 134 Marble Avenue, Prospero is a small family owned winery, store and tasting room. After having been to the North Fork of Long Island's wine country and the famed Napa Valley, Prospero is still one of my favorite tasting rooms. The staff is always friendly and knowledgable.

In 1973, the Prospero family from L'Aquila, Italy opened a fruit and vegetable stand in Pleasantville and began selling fruit, vegetables and California wine grapes. The grapes were a big hit among home wine makers and they began selling home wine making equipment. In 1999 a winery and tasting room was opened on the original site of the fruit and vegetable stand.

The tasting room welcomes visitors Tuesday through Sunday to sample their different varieties of wines including their Pleasantville White and Pleasantville Red table wines. They offer other products for sale such as olive oil, wine accessories, and gift baskets which are perfect for a holiday gift. Salute!

If you are looking to buy or sell a home in Pleasantville, contact me at stephanie@jphilip.com or 914-645-2433

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Local Snapshot: Pleasantville, NY

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 20:13:21 -0800

Pleasantville, NY is one of several villages in the Town of Mount Pleasant. Pleasantville is located just 31 miles north of Grand Central Terminal in NYC, the village is home to over 7000 residents.

Settled in 1695 and formerly known as "Clark's Corners," the Village was once a stop along the Underground Railroad. Pleasantville became an autonomous local government in 1897. It is the original home of The Readers Digest corporation. The village is now a regional destination, well reputed for the quality of its public services, public schools, fine arts, zagat rated restaurants, and community experiences.

Pleasantville is home to the acclaimed Jacob Burns Film Center http://www.burnsfilmcenter.org/

2000 Census Data: http://www.pleasantville-ny.gov/Pages/PleasantvilleNY_About/S00557F55-0055ED76.0/profile.pdf

The Pleasantville Chamber of Commerce sent out a brochure recently with all the holiday events in Pleasantville. Click the link for more information: http://pleasantville.com/files/Holiday_Happenings_Brochure_web_version_2010.pdf

If you are looking to buy or sell a home in Pleasantville, contact me.

Stephanie L. Solano

Licensed Salesperson, Westchester-Putnam MLS

J. Philip Real Estate LLC

cell 914-645-2433

ww.jphilip.com

Search the MLS like an Agent! Sign up for a free listingbook account http://stephanielsolano.listingbook.com

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