Homes Sales, Market Reports and Real Estate in Western New York

I am sorry your agent is lazy...

2008-07-21T12:16:43Z

Dear Mr. & Mrs. Investor:

Thanks for your recent call regarding investment property in the Buffalo area. I am so glad that you find my website so helpful. It is great to know that it is a great resource for Investors. I have spent a lot of time and money to create a useful resource for Western New York real estate buyers, sellers and investors.

I would love the opportunity to find just the right investment property here in Buffalo NY, but I am not interested in providing your lazy agent with information that you desire. Your agent has access to the same information that I have. They can do the same analysis that I do for my clients. Clients that are willing to work with me exclusively. I am sorry that your current agent does not:

- have any information regarding investing in Wetern New York
- a website full of information
- a search facility for you to find homes for sale.
- mail you current listings that might be of interest to you
- financing resources
- access to the MLS because they don't believe they have to be a member of Buffalo Niagara Association of Realtors

I hear horror stories of Investors (both local and Foreign) that are purchasing investment homes here only to discover that they made a bad decision. It is so important to understand the variety of neighborhoods, housing options and financing options.

Read Also: BusinessWeek Article | Dirty Deeds

I wish you luck in your search, and when you are free from the current Buyers Agreement that you signed with your agent, please give me a call at (716) 743-5297. At that time I would be happy to discuss your needs and assist you in purchasing an investment property in Western New York.

Yard Sales! Garage Sales! Tag Sales! Oh My!

2008-07-21T08:49:18Z

How to have a Successful Garage Sale in Western New York

I am always talking about getting rid of the clutter in your home and organize your stuff before you put your home up for sale. This is important because potential buyers many times cannot see beyond what is in the house and see it as their home. Many times they get involved in your collection of things, your family photos or that there is just too much stuff in the home making it feel a lot smaller than it really is. So you want to overcome the objections that buyers may have it is better to remove them before you place your home for sale.

Read Also: Help get your home sold faster...

Once you start the process of gathering up the things that you do not need, what do you do with this stuff? You could call 1-800-GOT-JUNK and have them take it away. You could drop off unused clothing at a local drop box. But before you do that how about making a little fast cash with a Yard or Garage Sale? It is summer in Western New York and it seems that every Friday, Saturday and Sunday there are hundreds of them throughout the area.

Garage Sale Basics

You don't have to be a Yard Sale Queen to have a successful Garage Sale in Western New York. And with National Garage Sale Day coming up on August 10^th it is a great time to start thinking about having a Garage Sale. There are a few things that you do in preparing for a Garage Sale that will make your life a lot easier.

Read Also: How to have a Successful Yard Sale

1. Double check to make sure you do not need a permit to have one
2. See if your community has a group sale coming up - there is strength in numbers or see if some of your neighbors are going to have one and gather together on the advertising.
3. Decide on a date and advertise it in the local newspapers and perhaps even on the web at one of the many free Yard Sale Advertising sites
4. Make sure you mark everything you want to sell. My mother uses color coded system to help make it easier when she does a yard sale. Red is hers, Yellow mine, green my brother, and blue my Aunt. That way we keep track of who receives what proceeds from the sale.
5. What information to put in your advertisement? Address, dates and hours and any unique items that you may have for sale. You can advertise your sale on www.GarageSaleHunter.com for FREE!
6. Have everything staged the night before, if you advertise the start of your sale at 8am, be prepared for early birds at 7am!
7. Have lots of change on hand, $100 in tens, fives and singles is a good starting place. And all your loose change.
8. Supplies that you will need include newspaper to wrap glassware and lots of plastic bags for those that purchase. Also have a few boxes available for big purchases.
9. Signage is important! Put up signs two or three days before your sale. Make sure that they have the dates, times and address. After your sale, make sure you pick up your signs.
10. Don't forget to put up flyers in local stores and bulletin boards.
11. Think safety. Have a friend or family member with you. There is safety in numbers.
12. Have a plan for when things don't sell. Either have a place pickup the items that do not sell or plan on delivering them to a local charity.

Read Also: The Garage Sale Handbook

Ready to sell your Buffalo area home and want more information on selling Real Estate in today's market, please call me at (716) 743-5297 or fill out the form below.

Western New York Natural Treasures!

2008-07-20T21:12:38Z

Allegany State Park is located in Cattaraugus County at 2373 ASP, Route 1, Suite 3 in Salamanca, NY 14779. In 2007 this was named one of the amazing places in the United States. Just a short day trip for Buffalonians to enjoy the best of outdoors living year round.

Get your Free Travel Guide and make your plan to enjoy Allegany State Park

Ellicotville NY is just a short drive from Allegany State Park in the southern section of Western New York with a wide variety of outdoor activities to enjoy year round. The town is just a short trip to Allegany State Park, New York’s largest four-season park. Ski Magazine describes "Ellicottville's funky community, two resorts, deep ski history and quaint downtown combine to create an eastern gem in Western New York." The two ski resorts are Holiday Valley and Holimont are popular ski destinations for Buffalonians. Ellicottville is not just a ski town! The village is center for endless festivals throughout the summer including the Summer Festival of the Arts, Tast of Ellicottville and Fall Festival to name a few. There is a mixture of great resturants, shopping and nightlife for vistors to enjoy. Nearby there are activities to please everyone including a Casino, hiking, biking, hunting, fishing and water sports.

Site Design...

2008-07-18T21:23:55Z

Along the way you will find that you will evolve with your Blog site. You may start here at ActiveRain and then decide that a blogger or free wordpress site is what you need to drive business to you. You may even think that a certain platform designed for your own optimization is a good idea.

Then you go in a direction and you think well this is just perfect. And then you start getting feedback about the design you selected and you start to think that you might just need to make a few changes. That is exactly what happened to me this week.

Here is what my problems with the site were:

Site colors were not working for me
Getting way too busy
Not enough visual punch
rather boring and bland

And here is what the site looks like now that i have integrated changes:

So what do you think?

How to enjoy your Western New York Backyard (LOCALISM FEATURED)

2008-07-15T10:40:37Z

Instead of taking a summer vacation this year, many people are starting to upgrade their Western New York backyards for year round enjoyment. This trend is called staycations and across the country people are enhancing their yards. So it is no wonder Buffalonians are doing so as well. Granted, year round is a matter of your tollerance for the cold weather. Fortunately for Buffalonians a little snow doesn't stop us! Just install a fire pit!

How are your Western New York nieghbors enancing their back yards? Some are installing incredible home theatre systems, others are setting up incredible outdoor grills, some install pools and others are making the backyard the perfect place for the kids to play; both young and old.

Outdoor Theatre Systems

Home theatre systems are one of the most popular requests with many Luxury WNY home buyers and many are beginning to take it outdoors. The whole concept of backyard entertainment all started with the Princess Cruise Lines: Movie Under the Stars. This was a big hit, people loved it and the trend has expanded onto other ships as well. Now you can take that idea and apply it to your Buffalo area yard with your very own private outdoor theatre. When you decide to do this, don't be surprised when the neighbors show up unannounced!

Outdoor Grill System

Cal Spas has just what you need for the ultimate outdoor grilling experience! They even have a complete home theater system with a 63-inch LCD flat panel HDTV; surround sound, iPod docking station, Sirius satellite radio, and hookups for gaming consoles.

Also on board for the party are:

a five-burner BBQ grill
a wet bar
weatherproof recliners with cup holders
two fire pits

On top of that, the theater system is built to marine grade specifications for protection from the elements.

Other Resources for Grills:

Outdoor Pizza Ovens

Buffalonians know Pizza! There are tons of restaurants that serve this popular food. Sometimes though, the best pizza is created at home with your favorite ingredients. Not a great thing in the heat of summer when the thought of heating up the whole kitchen to make pizza is not exactly appealing!

How about purchasing an authentic European wood-fired oven which is handmade in Portugal! The oven infuses everything it cooks with a kiss of smoky goodness, producing tender and flavorful fish, meat, vegetables, breads and of course Pizza.

Outdoor Pizza Oven Resources:

Backyard Putting Green

Most Western New Yorkers don't have the joy of being able to golf year long. So what is an avid golfer to do to practice their putt? Install a synthetic putting green surface that looks and feels like natural grass. It's ideal for backyard practice. Play in wet weather, no watering, no mowing, no seeding or fertilizing. Occasional brushing (fifteen minutes) keeps the green conditioned for year-round play.

Enjoy practicing your short game in the convenience of your Western New York back yard! For the avid golfer to have your own putting green is a wonderful thing! Again don't be surprised if you are suddenly very popular with your friends...

Outdoor Putting Green Resources:

Backyard Tree Houses

There is something magical and wondrous about a Tree House. The Magic Tree House books by Mary Pope Osborne are a wonderful series of books for young children. My son enjoyed these books that take Jack and Annie throughout history and around the world. Peter Pan, the Swiss Family Robinson all lived in Tree Houses. There is something magical about tree houses!

Tree Houses can be as simple as a few pieces of wood on branches, or they can be elaborate homes in the sky. Perhaps your home doesn't have a tree to support such a wonderful place to play, well there ones designed to be on the ground too!

Tree & Play House Resources:

You might want to add a batting cage, a basketball court or even a tennis court for your sports fans. Perhaps you might enhance your yard with a Pergola, Gazebo or just great comfortable outdoor furniture. No matter what you do, make sure that you do enhancements to add to your enjoyment of your home.

Don't have a yard and need assistance finding that perfect backyard? Call me today at (716) 743-5297 to find the perfect Western New York yard!

Grand Island Market Report

2008-07-14T16:47:41Z

Grand Island

Single family homes:

There are currently 108 active listings on Grand Island. The average list price of a Grand Island Single Family home is $257,863 with the highest $899,000 and lowest listed for $77,900.
There are 3 pending and 9 under contract listings on Grand Island.
in the past 30 days there has been 15 closed sales averaging $195,500 after an average of 58 days on the market. Highest sold in this time period sold for $255,000 (272 DOM) and lowest sold for $52,000 (0 DOM)

Grand Island Single Family Market Report May 2008

Grand Island Single-family home Market Report March 2008

Thinking of selling your Grand Island home? Interested in finding out the current market value of your WNY home? Then call Colleen Kulikowski at (716) 743-5297 to discuss what is happening in today's Western New York Real Estate Market. We would be happy to give you a personalized Comparative Market Analysis for your home, just fill out the form below. View additional WNY Market Area Statistics here and check out the Erie County Market Report July 2008.

All Statistics are gathered from the Buffalo Niagara Association of REALTORS®.

If you enjoyed this post by your Buffalo & Niagara Falls Home Sales Expert, make sure you subscribe to our RSS feed!

Colleen Kulikowski grew up in Western NY and moved to the NY/NJ/CT area in 1984 where she was a successful consultant in the technology field. She has a diverse background including event management, corporate training and a wealth of computer knowledge focuses in the latest marketing strategies, statistical analysis and logistics for her clients. She has worked for several companies including Radio City Music Hall, Reed Reference Publishing, Nabisco Foods, Key Bank and Marsh & McClennan. Her broad range of knowledge and creativity give her an edge in the Real Estate industry. An expert at presenting her clients properties to their fullest advantage and knowledgeable about vacation and second home purchases positions her to create opportunities for her clients. Call her today at (716) 743-5297 to schedule an appointment to discuss your Real Estate needs.

Email this author | All posts by Colleen Kulikowski

Relocating to Buffalo NY? Start Here!

2008-07-12T16:52:51Z

Buffalo Relocation Guide

Researching a new city that you think you might relocate to can be frustrating. Not all the great relocation information you are looking for in one place. That is why you need the assistance of an expert to guide you through the complicate maze of information.

You will be curious to know about Buffalo Communities, the individual neighborhoods of Buffalo and find resources to assist you in deciding that Buffalo NY is for you! This website is packed full of community information, market reports and information to assist you in the purchase of your Buffalo home!

When people speak of Buffalo they don't always mean just the city of Buffalo. In fact many of those that live in the seven counties of Western New York will refer to themselves as Buffalonians. The pride in the area is that strong. So communities like Amherst, Cheektowaga, Lewiston, Grand Island, North Tonawanda, Williamsville, Orchard Park are just a few of the Buffalo communities here.

Why Relocate to Buffalo NY

The first thing you think of when you hear Buffalo NY is snow. What you don't hear about is that the Greater Buffalo region has the most days with sunshine in summer in the northeast. Did you know that the spring, summer and fall months are mild and ideal for all the local festivals and community events? Free outdoor concerts are in many of the communities in Western New York. Besides which when you hear about all the massive snow it usually falls in the South Towns filling the ski areas with fresh powder. And that is where it belongs! Where Buffalonians can enjoy it!

One unique fact is that all the suburbs are not really more than 20 minutes from Downtown Buffalo. Buffalonians enjoy one of the shortest work commutes in the country. With a diverse selection of homes ranging from historic 19^th & 20^th century homes to the state of the art eco-friendly homes there is something sure to please you! The Buffalo Niagara area has a very affordable price range of homes for sale.

What makes Buffalo NY Special?

People often ask what makes the Buffalo area so special. It is not any one thing, but a combination of the people, lifestyle, recreational and cultural activities here in Buffalo. There is an annual event called Buffalo Homecoming that promotes Buffalo and encourages those that want to come back for good with opportunities to make those dreams a reality. Mark your calendars, June 25-28, 2009 are the dates for the next event!

Read Also: Tim Russert personified Buffalo

Cultural

Buffalo's include cultural attractions including the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, Buffalo Zoological Gardens, the Kleinhans Music Hall (home of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra), and Shea's Buffalo Center for the Performing Arts. Buffalo Delaware Park is home to Shakespeare in the Park the second largest free outdoor Shakespeare festival in the United States.

In nearby Lewiston there is Art Park and just over the boarder in Canada is Niagara on the Lake. To the south of Buffalo there is the Roycroft Campus and the Chautauqua Institute.

Sports

The sports fans are not to be left out here in Buffalo NY! There are the Buffalo Bisons, Buffalo Bills, Buffalo Sabres and Buffalo Bandits for fans of professional sports and there are several universities with incredible sports programs for you to enjoy as well.

Dining, Beer and Wine

Sure you know about Wings! But did you know that Pizza, Friday Fish Fry's and Beef on Weck are just as popular in Western New York. Don't forget Ted's Hot Dogs either! Because Buffalo is a melting pot of ethnic cultures, the food here reflects that diversity.

In fact, dining in Buffalo can go from a casual outdoor restaurant to the finest gourmet French restaurant. You are bound to find something you desire in any one of Buffalo's 2,700 restaurants. The best way to sample the diverse selection of food is to attend the annual "Taste of Buffalo" which is one of the nation's largest food festivals!

There is an image that all Buffalonians drink beer, and many do; but there is wine too! In fact, there are several incredible wineries in Western New York where you can take advantage of locally produced wines.

Recreational Activites

With short commute time here in Buffalo it means more free time for recreation. And Buffalonians know how to take advantage of these oppportunities. Biking, hiking, sailing and rowing in the summer to skiing and sledding in the winter are available to Western New Yorkers. You name the recreational activity it is here. With the heavy snows in winter skiing at Holiday Valley or Kissing Bridge is a wonderful evening activity. Buffalonians know how to enjoy the outdoor life - all year round!

Internet Relocation Resources

There are so many places that you can find out information about a community. Check out the list of resources I have compiled.

Your Relocation Expert

Need more reasons why to relocate to Buffalo NY? Perhaps you are considering relocation to the Greater Buffalo region and need more information. Let me assist you in the process of deciding Buffalo is right for you! Call me today (716) 743-5297 to find out more and receive my free Buffalo Relocation Guide.

Week In Review July 11, 2008

2008-07-11T17:37:41Z

Buffalo Homes & WNY Real Estate

WNY Real Estate Experts in Greater Buffalo New York Homes for Sale

Credit Changes on Investment Properties

As of today, the sub prime market has just about dried up. In the conventional world, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have increased the down payment requirements to a minimum of 20%. Due to the foreclosure issues that have hit the real-estate market, the mortgage insurance companies have taken a major financial hit.

{More»}

Sell my WNY Home - Choices too much for today's home buyers?»

I read a great article over at Daud Miracle that I find timely in the world of Real Estate. Buyers want to search on-line for a home, but in doing so they can easily be overwhelmed. Are Your Customers Sick & Tired of Choice? brought up an exceptional point. In it he pointed out: "Yet, according to Barry Schwartz, choice is a paradox. While it's great to have options, he's observed that options often lead to bad decisions, dissatisfaction in what's been chosen or a paralysis to taking action."

For Sale By Owner - Photography of your home»

As a homeowner you may not be thinking of selling your home at this time. But you might in the future. And at that time it might not be so pretty or it could even be more spectacular than it is now. Try and take photographs of the exterior of your home in the variety of seasons so when the time does come you have a great photograph for your Realtor to use.

Real Estate Investors - Allentown Least Expensive Listed Homes June 2008»

Allentown Historic Preservation District located in Buffalo, New York boasts one of the best examples of urbanism in Western New York. A wide range of housing is available in Allentown. This past weekend was the Allentown Art Festival, so it is an excellent time to look at housing options in Allentown.

Home Staging - Photography of your home»

Buy a WNY Home - Show me how to own a home!»

With all the Real Estate doom and gloom that the media keeps publishing, you may be thinking that it is absolutely impossible to purchase a home. The state of Real Estate market is not terrible. Don't some of you remember in the 70's and 90's? If you think things [...]

Mortgage & Finance - Mortgage Rates Report - July 10, 2008»

Mortgage Rates as of July 10,2008 by Brian Brady.

WNY Market Report

Erie County Market Report July 2008»

There are several communities within Erie County that make up the Real Estate Market. Here is an overview of what is happening in Erie County as of July 2008. Communities of Williamsville, Amherst, Cheetotwaga, Depew, Lancaster, Tonawanda and Grand Island are included in this report that looks back at the past twenty-four months of activity.

July 1, 2008 Snyder NY Market Report for Single-family homes»

Snyder NY is a popular Western New York Community of homes. In 2007 there were a total of 375 single-family homes that sold in Snyder NY.

June 2008 Lewiston Single-family Homes Sold Market Report»

There are currently 84 single-family homes for sale in Lewiston and 6 pending sales of homes for sale.
The average list price of a single-family home in Lewiston is $210,027
Highest Listed is $849,900 and the lowest is $65,000
In the past thirty days there has been a total of 9 Lewiston NY homes sold for an average [...]

Depew NY Real Estate Market Report June 2008»

Currently there are 44 active lisitngs in Depew Single family homes for sale and two pending sales with an average list price of $118,051.

Buffalo Festivals and Community Events for July

2008-07-09T17:31:30Z

Plan on some good times here in Western New York the month of July! Here is a complete list of Western New York activities

Allegany County Fair. July 14-19. Features J&J Amusements on the Midway, mini-theater, exhibits, live demonstrations in museum, model building, domestic arts & crafts, farm machinery, 4-H and more. Kellie Pickler concert, 8pm Friday night. $8 general admission (3 and over) except Friday night. (585-593-1180/alleganycountyfair.org)

Canal Fest (Erie Canal Banks, Tonawanda) July 13-20. Arts
Come Home to Salamanca (Various locations, Salamanca) July 11. Food and craft vendors, live music, children’s entertainment, classic car show, sock hop and more. (945-2034)
Corn Hill Arts Festival (Corn Hill Neighborhood, Rochester) July 12-13. Over 400 artists and craftspeople, live entertainment, food and more. (585-262-3142/cornhill.org)
and crafts show, carnival rides, games, food vendors, live entertainment, golf tournament, pageants, parade, boat race, closing fireworks and more. (692-3292/canalfest.org)

Art, Jazz & Wine Fest (Peak ’n Peak Resort, 1405 Old Rd, Clymer) July 26, 12-5pm. Featuring artistic and musical talent from across the tri-state region. (355-4141/pknpk.com) Bonafest (St. Bonaventure Church 95 E Main St., Allegany) July 12-13. Food, games and music. (373-1330)
Buffalo Garden Walk (Elmwood Village, Symphony Circle, the Cottage District, Historic West Village and Allentown, Buffalo) July 26-27, 10am-4pm. Three headquarters with walk maps: Richmond-Summer Senior Center, Buffalo Seminary School and Allentown Association. Self-guided tours of local gardens. Free. (879-0123/gardenwalkbuffalo.com)
Eden Corn Festival (Post 880 American Legion, Legion Dr. & Rt. 62, Eden). July 31-Aug 3, Thurs 5pm-11pm, Fri noon-midnight, Sat 11am-midnight, Sun 11am-10pm. Food, midway rides, tractor pulls, square dancing, arts & crafts shows, music and more (992-9141/edencornfest.com)
Ellicottville Championship Rodeo (6319 Sommerville Valley Rd., Ellicottville) July 4 at 7pm, July 5 at 1pm & 7pm, July 6 at 2pm. Barbeque, concessions, rodeo events and more. Adults $15, children $8. (699-4839/ellicottvillerodeo.org)
Ellicottville Summer Festival of the Arts (Various locations, Ellicottville) July 3-6. Arts and crafts show (July 5 & 6), home tours, fireworks, historical picnic, strawberry festival and live music from the BPO (July 5) and the Little River Band (July 6). (800-349-9099/ellicottvilleny.com)
Festa Italiana (St. John’s Church 931 N Union St., Olean) July 19-20. Italian-American cuisine, music, games, children’s activities and more. (372-5313)
Filipino Day/St. Lorenzo Ruiz Day (Our Lady of Fatima, 1023 Swann Rd., Youngstown) July 24. 10:30am rosary procession, 11:30am Filipino Mass, 12:30pm lunch, 1pm cultural presentation. (905-839-8539/fatimashrine.com)
Finger Lakes Wine Festival (2790 County Rt. 16, Watkins Glen) July 18-20, Fri. 6-9:30pm, Sat. & Sun. 10am-5pm. Arts and crafts vendors, gourmet food, wine seminars, cooking demos, live entertainment. (866-461-7223/flwinefest.com)
Genesee County Fair (Genesee County Fairgrounds, Batavia) July 15-19. Parade, rides and games, live entertainment and more. (578-0475/gcfair.com)
Great Blue Heron Music Festival (Wait Corners Rd., Sherman) July 4-6. Over 50 performers, dance tent, music workshops, food and craft vendors, children’s activities and more. Starring Donna the Buffalo and the Avett Brothers. Pre-sale weekend pass $61; one-day and youth passes also available. (487-1781/greatblueheron.com)
Infringement Festival (Allentown, Buffalo) July 24-Aug 3. “Under the radar” theater, visual arts, media and music. (infringebuffalo.org)
Italian Heritage Festival (Hertel Avenue) July 17-20, 11am-11pm (10pm on Sunday). Italian food, cultural exhibits, live entertainment, Bocce tournament and more. (874-6133/buffaloitalianfestival.com)
Lebanese Festival (St. John Maron Catholic Church, 2040 Wehrle Dr., Williamsville) July 25-27. Ethnic food, drinks, music, dancing and children’s entertainment. (632-9875)
Niagara International Chamber Music Festival (Ontario, Canada, Niagara-on-the-Lake). July 21-Aug 8. More than 45 concerts performed between 15 venues throughout the Niagara-on-the-Lake region. Performances include the Philharmonic String Quartet, the Gould String Quartet, Festival Strings, Quartetto Gelato, the John Sherwood Trio and many more (905-468-5566/niagaramusicfest.com)
Oatka Festival (Main St, Leroy). July 12-13, 10am-6pm. Parade, food, entertainment, crafts, a fishing derby, and more (585-768-6910/oatkafestival.org)
Old Home Days Williamsville (Main St., Williamsville/Amherst) July 8-11, 10:30am-11pm daily. Giant parade and Chiavetta’s Chicken BBQ on Tues, Youth Day with Bicycle Rodeo, games and Irish dancers on Wed, and Family Day on Fri. Live entertainment, rides, and more. (632-4210/oldhomedays.org)
Old Sanborn Days (Sanborn Fire Company 5811 Buffalo St., Sanborn) July 12-13. Old-fashioned country fair and craft show, petting zoo, food, car show, music, chainsaw artists and more (693-6140/northofthefalls.com)
Orleans County 4-H Fair (Knowlesville Fairgrounds, Knowlesville) July 23-29, 8am-10pm. Midway, exhibits and live entertainment. (585-798-4265/orleans4-hfair.com)
Pirates Festival (Krull Park, Lake Rd/Route 18, Olcott). July 18-20, Fri 6pm-12am, Sat 12pm-12am, Sun 12pm-6pm. Rides, Food, music, entertainment and activities (778-8531/olcott-newfane.com)
Porter Cup Golf Tournament (Niagara Falls Country Club, 505 Mountain View Dr., Lewiston). July 22-26: free admission to one of the top amateur golf tournaments in the world (282-1204/portercup.com)
Scandinavian Folk Festival (Jamestown Community College 525 Falconer St, Jamestown). July 18-20, Fri 3pm-10pm, Sat 10am-10pm, Sun 10am to 4pm. Scandinavian fair with food, live entertainment, shops, dancing, lectures, crafts, workshops (338-1187/scandinavianjamestown.org)
Shakespeare in the Park (Shakespeare Hill in Delaware Park, near Hoyt Lake) Everyday Tuesday-Sunday June 7-Aug 17, at 7:30pm. June 19-July 13: King Lear; July 24-Aug 17: Merry Wives of Windsor. Free. (856-4533/shakespeareindelawarepark.org)
Shaw Festival (Niagara-on-the-Lake, Festival Theater). An Inspector Calls (April 17-Nov 2), Wonderful Town (April 1-Oct 5), Mrs. Warren’s Profession (July 6-Nov 1) Court House Theater: The Stepmother (April 29-Oct 4), A Little Night Music (June 1-Oct 4), Belle Moral: A Natural History (July 12-Oct 5). Royal George Theater. (1-800-511-SHAW/shawfest.com)
Sterling Renaissance Festival (1538 Farden Rd., Sterling). July 12- Aug 17 Saturdays and Sundays only, 100:30am-7pm. Over 80 stage and street performances, more than 200 actors and stagehands recreate an authentic English Renaissance Village, food, crafts, join in a pub sing, wench auction, and trial and dunke, $22 adult admission, children 6-12 $9.95, children 5 and under free (1-800-879-4446/sterlingfestival.com)
Taste of Buffalo (Delaware Ave/ Niagara Square). July 12-13, Sat 11am-9pm, Sun 11am-7pm. The 25th anniversary, with more than 150 culinary specialties served by WNY restaurants, live music, children’s area with special entertainment and activities, free admission, fees for food (831-9376/tasteofbuffalo.com)
Victorian Dazzle (Various locations, downtown Fredonia). July 18-19. Experience the Victorian era with period costumes, cemetery ghost tours, lectures and demonstrations, antique vendors, architectural tours, arts, food and entertainment. (888-414-4818/festivalsfredonia.com)
Waterfront Art Festival (Kershaw Park, Lakeshore Dr, Canandaigua). July 26-27, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 10am-5pm. Over 200 artists with hand-made, high quality work, along the beauty of the Finger Lakes region. (waterfrontartfestival.com)
Wellsville Balloon Rally (Island Park, Route 417/Route 19, Wellsville). July 18-20. Mass hot air balloon launches, Wellsville Main Street Festival on Sat, food and merchandise vendors, live entertainment, free admission (585-593-3752/wellsvilleballoonrally.com)
Westfield Arts and Crafts Festival (Moore Park, Rts. 394 and 20, Westfield). July 25-26, Fri 9am-7pm, Sat 9am-4pm. Annual YWCA festival, with 200 vendors, food, free parking (326-2011/tourchatauqua.com)
Wildlife and Renaissance Festival (Hawk Creek Wildlife Center, 655 Luther Road, East Aurora) July 19-20, 26-27. Bird shows and demonstrations, dragon exhibit, live music, medieval reenactments, children’s games and art show. $7 admission. (652-8646/hawkcreek.org)
Wines in the Wild (Buffalo Zoo, Parkside Ave. at Delaware Park) July 30, 6pm-9pm. Adopt-an-Animal benefit: sample food, dessert, beer and wine, with live music and visits from animal ambassadors. Tickets are $35 presale and $40 at the door. Must be at least 21 years of age (995-6131/buffalozoo.org

Looking for Inspiration?

2008-07-08T19:19:52Z

Are you feeling a slightly off? Not sure what to write about? Need some inspiration? Perhaps you need to take on a challenge -- go explore the Internet. Perhaps you may even be inspired to write something that you might not otherwise write.

I was feeling rather uninspired this past holiday weekend so I went on a tour of the Internet. I started on one site, read a couple of articles and let a comment send me off to another site where I read until a comment sent me on to another site. All these sites make me think and be creative. It also gave me the inspiration to write one of my strongest articles that I have written in awhile...

Choices too much for today's home buyers?

Looking for a starting point? Ok, here are a bunch of sites to start with...

Buffalo Niagara Real Estate	America's Most Opinionated Mortgage Broker	Springs Real Estate Scoop	Manhattan Real Estate Blog
Blog Home Denver	Columbus Best Blog	Miamism	SouthBeach Condo Blog
The Housechick Blog	Long Beach Real Estate-Downtown Long Beach Condos	Denver Relocation	The Mortgage Go To Guy!!
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It is all local when it comes to Niagara Falls Home Values!

2008-07-08T14:01:53Z

It is all Local when it comes to Niagara Falls Home Values!

The media loves to take everything to the National level, especially Real Estate and home values. If that were true everyone could purchase a home for the same amount of money. Niagara Falls home owners cannot compare their home prices to that of Long Beach CA or Chicago IL or Miami FL. Even comparing home values in Orchard Park or Depew in Erie County is comparing apples to buttons. True data can show national trends, but Real Estate is local folks! In Niagara Falls Home Values can be as local as streets and blocks.

Think about the factors that go into why a Niagara Falls home sell or do not sell:

Economic factors distinguishing each; even within individual areas in the Niagara Falls real estate markets are very diverse. LaSalle vs. Downtown Niagara Falls vs. DeVeaux in the city of Niagara
Falls. Each area has pros and cons and each are priced far differently than one another.

The Emloyment base is quite different in Niagara Falls than Orchard Park.
Dynamics within a region will also cause demand anomalies - where people want to live will create a demand, meanwhile those living in the lesser demand areas have to price accordingly.
Don't forget Real Estate is all about Location! Location! Location!

Thinking of selling your Niagara Falls home? Or perhaps you have been thinking of purchasing a Niagara Falls home and have been waiting for the perfect time to do so. Remember to look to a specific neighborhood's performance rather than national statistics to decide whether to sell and/or buy a home right now.

Interested in your home's value? Call our office today (716) 743-5297 for a free, no cost, no obligation Market Analysis. Or check out our Market Reports!

Cambria New York -- Country living at it's finest!

2008-07-08T13:39:21Z

Cambria New York - an up and coming WNY community to call home

The Town of Cambria is an agricultural town in Niagara County and reflects the rural nature. This year the Town of Cambria, along with the county is celebrating its bicentennial this year to include a weekend party to be held July 26 & 27 at the campus of Niagara County Community College.

Read More: BICENTENNIAL EVENT CALENDAR

Cambria is becoming a popular place to call home in WNY. Here are some facts and information to assist you in deciding if Cambria is where you should purchase your next home.

Colleen Kulikowski, Real Estate Professional

3571 Niagara Falls Blvd.
North Tonawanda, NY, 14120
US

Work: 716-743-5297 Mobile: 407-288-0017 wnyrealestate@gmail.com

www.buffaloniagararealestatehomesales.com/wnyrealtor
www.buffalownyhomes.com

Erie County Market Reports

2008-07-07T10:18:18Z

June 2008 Market Reports for Erie County

Here are the Market Reports for June 2008 for Erie County communities:

Amherst NY Homes for Sale Market Report June 2008 for Single-family homes
Currently there are 114 active single-family homes for sale in Amherst NY for an average of $297,881

Forest Heights, Williamsville - Market Review June 2008
There have been two closed sales with an average sold price of $285,000 after spending an average of 61 days on the market in Forest Heights section of Williamsville NY.

Allentown Least Expensive Listed Homes June 2008»

Allentown Historic Preservation District located in Buffalo, New York boasts one of the best examples of urbanism in Western New York. A wide range of housing is available in Allentown. This past weekend was the Allentown Art Festival, so it is an excellent time to look at housing options in Allentown

Creekwoods in Amherst Market Report for June 2008
Creekwoods is a community in Amherst that has a mixture of multi-family and single-family homes to select from. A quick commute to Niagara Falls and Buffalo make it an ideal location for those that work in either city.

Real Estate Market Report for Cheektowaga Single-family homes for sale June 2008
Real Estate Market Report for Cheektowaga Single-family homes for sale June 2008, currently there are currently 19 pending/under contract sales. There are 269 active single-family homes for sale averaging a list price of $95,661.

Snyder NY Market Report for Single-family homes
Snyder NY is a popular Western New York Community of homes. In 2007 there were a total of 375 single-family homes that sold in Snyder NY.

Depew NY Real Estate Market Report June 2008
Currently there are 44 active lisitngs in Depew Single family homes for sale and two pending sales with an average list price of $118,051.

Clarence NY Homes Sold in Past 30 days & Market Report

Clarence sales in the past 30 days include 22 homes sold. There are currently 218 homes for sales and 6 that are pending. Average sold price in 2008 is $292,895.

Buffalo State College area homes for Sale Market Report June 2008
There are currently 59 multi-family homes for sale in the Buf State area and 6 pending with an average list price of $52,188 ranging from $7,800 to $224,900. Buffalo State College area homes for Sale Market Report June 2008 breaks down the number by duplexes, triples and four-plexes.

UB Area Multi-family Market Report - June 2008
University of Buffalo South campus is full of activity. Now is the time many parents are looking to purchase a home in the area so their children who attend school at UB have a place to live and help defray the living expenses. Over all there are:

Tonawanda Homes Sold in Tonawanda NY - January 1, 2008 - June 19, 2008
There are 44 Active Listings with an average list price of $92,272 with the lowest listed single-family home is listed at $28,700 and the highest list priced home is $450,000

Niagara County Market Reports

2008-07-07T10:14:10Z

Niagara County Market Reports for June 2008

Here are the market reports for June 2008 for Niagara County coummunities:

Town of Niagara Single-family Homes for Sale
There are currently 28 single-family homes for sale in the Town of Niagara with an average list price of $107,046. Highest single-family home for sale is listed for $200,000 and the lowest is listed for $18,000 in the Town of Niagara.

Lockport NY Single Family Homes for Sale
Real Estate Market Reports are a way to gauge what is happening in the Homes For Sale. There are currently 228 (up from 216 since the last market report for Lockport) active Single-family homes for sale in Lockport NY with an average list price of $110,057.

DeVeaux Homes For Sale - Market Report June 2008
DeVeaux Homes in Niagara Falls are truly unique and wonderful. There are so many options to this quiet community in Niagara Falls. In 2007 between January 1 and June 10 there were a total of 23 closed sales in DeVeaux selling for an average of $73,963 and spending an average of 92 days on the market.

Wheatfield Single-family Homes For Sale Market Report June 1, 2008
There are currently 4 pending/undercontract and 89 single-family homes for sale in Wheatfield with an average list price of $209,647 with the highest listed for $679,000 and the lowest listed at $60,000

Youngston NY Homes for Sale June 2008
Interested in buying or selling a single-family home in Youngstown New York? Year to date there has been 6 single-family homes sold for an average $138,458 spending an average of 87 days on the market in Youngstown NY.

Harltand NY Single-family homes for sale
Currently there is 2 pending sale and 18 active single-family homes for sale in Hartland with an average list price of $126,406.

Lewiston Single-family Homes Sold Market Report

There are currently 84 single-family homes for sale in Lewiston and 6 pending sales of homes for sale.

The average list price of a single-family home in Lewiston is $210,027.

Wurlitzer Park N. Tonawanda NY Market Report
Wurlitzer Park N. Tonawanda NY Market Report for June 2008. Year to date in Wurlitzer Park there have been a total of 4 closed sales on the MLS for an average sales price of $115,625 after spending an average of 84 days on the market. Highest sold for $142,000 (135 days on the market) and lowest sold for $86,000 (36 days on the market).

North Tonawanda Market Report for June 2008 Single-family homes for sale
In the time period January 1, 2007 to June 14, 2007 there were a total of 123 closed sales in North Tonanwanda with an average sales price of $91,388 spending an average of 64 days on the market. Compare that with today's numbers you will see average sold price has gone up, the number of days on the market has remained consistent and total sales in North Tonawanda from last year are down.