buy a house in brooklyn ny: First time homebuyers 8,000 Dollar Tax Credit: Thinking of fraud? Think again…
- 08/01/09 09:27 AM
Luke Constantino| August 1st 2009 There are many first time homebuyers out there who will be taking advantage of the 8,000 dollar First time Home-Buyer credit that was passed in 2008 and goes on until December 1st of 2009. As many good things we get as relief from the government come, so do people who want to commit fraud. "We will vigorously pursue anyone who falsely tries to claim this or any other tax credit or deduction," said Eileen Mayer, Chief, IRS Criminal Investigation. "The penalties for tax fraud are steep. Taxpayers should be wary of anyone who promises to get … (3 comments)
buy a house in brooklyn ny: the Follow Up and Good Business Practices
- 05/01/09 09:28 AM
Luke Constantino May 1st, 2009 We all have to admit, this has been a very challenging market so far. The banks are very astringent with loans; people keep changing their minds and its "Open contract season"! This is where a person goes into contract with a seller and the seller never signs and keeps it open hoping for a better offer. I do not do this practice, I find it unethical. I find most of my business this year is coming from past clients. People who I have either helped buy or sell property throughout the years. I always keep in … (0 comments)
buy a house in brooklyn ny: Trulia: Leaving Q&A comments for all the wrong reasons
- 04/22/09 10:40 AM
Luke Constantino April 22, 2009 I went ion Trulia, a very good real estate website and went to the questions and answers section. I was browsing through the questions and saw one that I thought was kind of obvious: "How Come A lot of People Don't List Their Properties on the MLS in The Hamptons Anymore?"
For the times we are going through this one was pretty obvious, a no brainer. Most Realtors want the buy and the sell end, no co brokers. Greed was the answer to this question. Hey, I know getting the buy and sell end on … (0 comments)
(Hot plate! Don't touch!) It's an excellent steak! Going in, the atmosphere is a mix between a butcher shop and a farm house with simple chandeliers. The first time you ever go might be strange. You see a lot of high-end people eating an extremely high- end steak in a place with low-end decor. I have been seated next to corporate executives, ball players and stock brokers who have just come off the trading … (1 comments)
buy a house in brooklyn ny: Same sex marriage bill announced in New York
- 04/17/09 02:38 AM
Luke Constatino | April 17th, 2009 On April 16th, New York Governor David Patterson spoke about same sex marriage as a prejudice that needs to be corrected in our society. He compared the bill to the long time discrimination against blacks. Mayor Bloomberg was also there with other politicians to enforce this bill. In the past, New York has said it would recognize gay marriages contracted elsewhere. In my personal opinion, I don't find anything wrong with this bill. It should be passed and other states should follow suit (yes that includes you Texas!). Its 2009. I believe everyone should have … (10 comments)
buy a house in brooklyn ny: Closing Traffic through Prospect Park in Brooklyn
- 04/14/09 11:01 PM
Luke Constantino April 15, 2009 Bike riders, joggers, runners and walkers are very happy to hear about the plan to close Prospect Park totally off to traffic. The 3.35 mile loop that stats from 3rd Street in Park Slope and ends across the park at 16th street in Windsor Terrace has been of great concern to activists who want the park to stay as green as possible. This closing will not stand in the way of plans to improve Park Circle will also improve Prospect Park.
A lot of motorists will have to find a different route than going through … (2 comments)
buy a house in brooklyn ny: Are Property Values Going Up?
- 04/11/09 03:13 AM
Luke Constantino April 11, 2009 I have a client who checks Zillow.com consistently. He calls me one day and tells me "Luke, do you know the price of houses is going up?" I answer him with a question: "Really, that's great, where did you get this information?" He starts to elaborate on where he got his results.
I have been in the business for quite a while and get this from time to time. If the prices in this market are going up, it would mean there is more buying and the inventory is going down. At the same time … (1 comments)
"Omne vivum ex ovo" Latin for "All life comes from an egg".
It has always been a well known fact in the Christian region that the egg was a symbol for life. Not only did you have to give something up for Lent, you were also forbidden to eat eggs. So what comes after Lent? Easter, when you can eat all the eggs you want!
So where does painting eggs come from? Well, it has nothing to do with religion. It was a tradition that came from the ancient Persians. They used to … (3 comments)
buy a house in brooklyn ny: The Compliment
- 04/09/09 03:01 AM
Luke Constantino | April 9th, 2009 Yesterday I was working: on a contract, 3 people bidding on the same place, a partition, a new listing at $2.2M, and a rental. Hey, it's that time of year here in NYC. I just recently switched offices and had a lot on my plate. On top of this, I have another broker trying to squeeze me for extra money so I called a lawyer friend of mine to help me out. He told me it wasn't a problem and he would shoot a letter out to this broker. Problem solved. We started talking and … (2 comments)
buy a house in brooklyn ny: Fear: It’s Stopping People from Buying in The Best Conditions ever.
- 03/20/09 03:05 AM
Luke Constantino| March 20, 2009 This is a very different market today than it was 2 years ago. If you don't stay current and work with an educated mortgage company you can miss out on quite a bit of business. Gone are the days where you can say "That's a good question, let me get back to you on that", you have to stay current and knowledgeable. Buyers are very intelligent and know more than you think.
I am more current with this ever changing market, more than I ever was in the past. Along with years of experience I'm … (0 comments)
buy a house in brooklyn ny: Sheepshead Bay Brooklyn: Large Corner Area Great for Development
- 03/15/09 12:43 PM
I have been marketing this property from the beginning of January and haven't gotten any calls on it. I have made over forty inquiries to different developers in the area to no avail. I think the commercial market in my area must be extremely slow because this is an excellent development area. The other corners close to the have condo developments on them. Too bad the mayor took away the fifteen year tax abatement. If anyone has any serious buyers or this area please contact me as soon as you can. Thank you. Luke Constantino Commercial | ResidentialRE/MAX at THE … (0 comments)
buy a house in brooklyn ny: Buying Houses in Brooklyn
- 03/06/09 03:43 AM
By Luke Constantino | Friday, March 06, 2009 Brooklyn has quickly become one of the most desirable boroughs to live in New York City. There is a vast majority of neighborhoods and different ethnic backgrounds here which makes it (in my opinion) the greatest place to live. You have a majority of ethnic restaurants, museums, entertainments and parks that outweigh Manhattan by far. Why Brooklyn than Manhattan? It's less expensive and more residential... It's a place where people live.
(Some kids playing "Stickball" on a residential street in Brooklyn) Before buying or renting a place in Brooklyn: "DO YOUR HOMEWORK!!!" … (1 comments)
buy a house in brooklyn ny: The market as of today: Brooklyn, NYC
- 03/03/09 04:40 AM
As of today the commercial market here is very, very slow. Along with that a majority of small boutique type businesses have gone out of business leaving a lot of main avenues dotted with "Store for Rent" signs. It seems as if more and more businesses are either consolidating of leaving altogether.
(I'm sorry, I liked the name.) As for the residential market (Houses 1-4 family) it is a perfect time to buy and a lot of people know it. The majority of low priced homes are being sold to a lot of first time home buyers here. The "trifecta" … (0 comments)
buy a house in brooklyn ny: Housing Bust and .... a Disease?
- 02/28/09 04:29 AM
Luke Constantino|February 28th, 2009 So what does the mass public think of Obama's housing stimulus plan? Well, if you're not sure of exactly what the plan entails, here is a quick summary:The Government bailed out Banks. Automakers, too. So why not bail out those people who can no longer afford their homes? The rescue plan unveiled Wednesday by Obama offers $75 billion in incentives for banks and investors to reduce struggling home borrowers' interest rates and make other changes to loan terms. The money will come from the second half of the $700 billion federal financial bailout. The goal is to … (1 comments)
buy a house in brooklyn ny: Current Market Conditions in my area: Brooklyn NY
- 02/08/09 11:30 PM
This year is almost the same rules as last; •1. Get a lot more lower priced listings to assure a mortgage (650,000 or less ) and an income •2. Always have low/mid/high priced listings to keep your listing portfolio balanced •3. Have a few very good mortgage lenders on hand •4. Always have at least 2 good attorneys •5. Remind your buyers this is the best time to buy; •A. The 2009 FHA stimulus package is geared to first time home buyer •B. Mortgage rates were artificially reduced to an all time low to generate a market but won't … (2 comments)
buy a house in brooklyn ny: Neighborhood Profile: Prospect Park, Brooklyn, NY
- 02/07/09 11:01 PM
Prospect Park is a 585[1] acre (2.1 km²) public park in the New York City borough of Brooklyn located between Park Slope, Kensington, Windsor Terrace and Flatbush Avenue, Grand Army Plaza and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and seven blocks north east of Green-Wood Cemetery. It's run and operated by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.
The park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux after they completed Manhattan's Central Park. Attractions include the Long Meadow, a ninety acre (36 ha) meadow thought to be the largest meadow in any U.S. park; the Picnic House … (1 comments)
buy a house in brooklyn ny: Merry Christmas (Time for a random act of kindness).
- 12/24/08 10:36 PM
I have to admit, this has been a very good year. The real estate gods must have been watching over me. Even though no docs loans were phased out, every deal above 600K was scrutinized by every lending institution and we are in a recession I did very well. I have to say, I am very grateful and thank God for the things I have.
There are many who are less fortunate and need help, more this year than ever before. I think if everyone just gave a little of their time, money and effort this Christmas season and next … (1 comments)
buy a house in brooklyn ny: My Third Public Write Up. (New law offers hope to cheated brokers)
- 12/22/08 11:50 PM
Luke Constantino| Dec.23, 2008 It's been one hell of a year! From sub prime loans killing our economy to no doc loans being phased out, I have become a dentist and a magician. Each and every deal I have had this year is like pulling teeth or trying to pull a rabbit out of a hat. We all know a good realtor/agent has to wear many hats in order to be successful, but the economy has challenged our market more now than ever before. I have done many deals this year, each one harder than the next. So when I get a … (0 comments)
A lot of the politicians may not say it, but yes, we are in a recession. When the government has to bail out large financial firms, large chains like Circuit City cut the amount of their stores in half and unemployment is soon to drop to a record low in decades, I think it's safe to say we are. Food donation sites in my area are seeing more than triple the amount of people they saw 16 months ago. I have never heard so many financial analysts come up with so … (4 comments)
buy a house in brooklyn ny: Neighborhood Profile: Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, NY
- 09/22/08 05:48 PM
Brooklyn Heights is a neighborhood within the New York City borough of Brooklyn; originally designated through popular reference as 'Brooklyn Village', it has, since 1834, become a prevalent area of the Brooklyn borough. As of 2000, the Brooklyn Heights sustained a population of 22,493 people. The neighborhood is part of Brooklyn Community Board 2.
Brooklyn Heights stretches from Fulton Street near the Brooklyn Bridge south to Atlantic Avenue and from the East River east to Court Street and Cadman Plaza. Adjacent neighborhoods are : DUMBO, Downtown Brooklyn, Cobble Hill and Boerum Hill. It is the part of Brooklyn closest … (0 comments)
Luke Constantino| August 1st 2009
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