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Merrick, NY Real Estate News

By Jill Sackler, LI South Shore Real Estate - Broker Associate
(Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. 516-575-7500)
A mysterious package arrived at my office the other day. Who sent it? What could it be? Turns out it was from our very own Long Island North Shore Agent Ellen Caruso setting the stage for an upcoming ActiveRain Book Club. On June 15th, we will be discussing her latest pick - Defending Jacob by William Landay. It appears that all those registered to participate on that day were sent a pair of black gloves together with a couple of vague clues designed to help us crack yet another murder that has just taken place. You're welcome to join us. There's never a dull moment out here in the Rain!
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By Jill Sackler, LI South Shore Real Estate - Broker Associate
(Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. 516-575-7500)
Jill Sackler, LI South Shore RE Agent, SRES, Newsday Press Release The Wikipedia definition:  In slang, old school can refer to anything that is from an earlier era, anything that may be considered "old-fashioned". Old school refers to something that is fairly old and not very recent. Depending on the context and intent, the term can imply a high regard or respect, or be a pejorative. They say atleast 90% of Buyers and Sellers begin their search online. They say that no one reads the newspaper anymore and ads placed there are a waste of time and money. The Charles Rutenberg Realty feels it is worth it to take a shot. They promote all their new agents with a profile and pic in the Sunday housing section. By 9:30 yesterday morning, I already had a call from someone who recognized me. I th...
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By Jill Sackler, LI South Shore Real Estate - Broker Associate
(Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. 516-575-7500)
COMPARATIVE MARKET ANALYSIS (CMA) - The Definition  Generally speaking, a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) report will contain the following data:   Active listings Under Contracts Sold listings Expired/Withdrawn/Canceled    Active Listings:  True to their name, these are the listings that are currently available in the marketplace. Being aware of them is useful in terms of knowing your competition but, they don't give you very much information in terms of selling price. A homeowner is free to put any price tag on his home but there's no guarantee that he will get it. If anything, if your house is priced too high, that will help sell your neighbor's house as the consumer will notice what a great deal he's getting when looking at the competition. Under Contracts:  This is the middle gro...
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By Jill Sackler, LI South Shore Real Estate - Broker Associate
(Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. 516-575-7500)
Smile! You're on Candid Camera - Video Blogs - Jill Sackler L.I. Agent Connecting with people, reaching a large audience and learning from each other through posts and webinars - these are definitely some of the advantages of social media. My favorite by far? The Video Blog. Relatively new to the scene; they're popping up everywhere and I make it my business to watch as many as possible from the leaders in my industry.Video blogs allow me to know someone in a way that could never be possible by merely glancing at a professional head-shot. A photo is just a frozen second in time and, we're naturally, all drawn to our very best expression. Interestingly enough, sometimes we're attracted to the one pose that barely resembles us at all. Psychiatrists would have a field day with that one.But...
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By Jill Sackler, LI South Shore Real Estate - Broker Associate
(Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. 516-575-7500)
MARKET REPORT - MERRICK, NY 11566 - APRIL 2012 RESIDENTIAL As you can see from this chart depicting residential sales for the month of April in 2010, 2011 and 2012, prices for Merrick homes have continued to bounce around wildly.  The current available inventory is 231 and the median list price is $499,000. I expect, that after a while, they will stabilize in the low to mid 400's. We'll revisit each month to see how Merrick is faring.        
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By Jill Sackler, LI South Shore Real Estate - Broker Associate
(Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. 516-575-7500)
à bientôt Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Long Island's South Shore Real Estate Agent - Jill Sackler Two weeks ago, I made the difficult business decision to leave my real estate company of a little more than two years.   During said time, I was privileged to work with a superb group of intelligent and hard-working individuals who genuinely liked each other and got on well, which made for an extremely pleasant working experience; a unique find in a sales environment.  Moving forward, I've opted to test the quality, value and fitness of a different business model. The separation has felt remarkably like what I imagine one feels when jumping off a cliff. At various times, I was disoriented, agitated and barely capable of putting two cohesive thoughts together.  Still, I was intent...
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By Jill Sackler, LI South Shore Real Estate - Broker Associate
(Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. 516-575-7500)
ROXEY - MERRICK, NEW YORK'S MOST FAMOUS RAILROAD DOG WHILE I was researching Merrick's history,  I came across a most enjoyable true story of a yellow mongrel who went on to become the official mascot for the Long Island Railroad.  He lived about 100 years ago and is buried at the Merrick train station.  Just last year, Heather Worthington, a children's author, published the heartwarming book, Miles of Smiles, sure to appeal to dog lovers of all ages. The story goes that one day in 1901, a stray dog, frightened during a thunderstorm, showed up at the Garden City train station. The station master let the dog in and waited for someone to claim him, When no one did, the kind-hearted railroad employee decided to adopt the dog and named him, Roxey, after one of his own beloved pets. He thoug...
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By Jill Sackler, LI South Shore Real Estate - Broker Associate
(Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. 516-575-7500)
COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT ON YOUTUBE I'm always so fanatical about adhering to copyright infringement laws that I was really upset to see the following message, copied directly from Youtube, twice this month on videos I posted:    Your video may include the following copyrighted content: Acknowledged claims Musical Composition administered by: Music Publishing Rights Collecting Society What does this mean? Your video is still available worldwide. In some cases ads may appear next to your video. Please note that the video's status can change, if the policies chosen by the content owners change. Learn more about copyright on YouTube. This claim does not affectyour account status. I believe this copyright claim is not valid. If you do not agree with this copyright claim, you have the right t...
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By Jill Sackler, LI South Shore Real Estate - Broker Associate
(Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. 516-575-7500)
MERRICK MANOR TOWNHOUSES & THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD - 11566   This is a detached co-op development located in the heart of Merrick, which is primarily made up of private houses. I'm advertising the lifestyle rather than the actual couple of units that are currently for sale. If someone is thinking about moving to our wonderful community of Merrick but is not really interested in owning a lot of property or doing the maintenance that comes with it, then, maybe, one of the lovely available units will fit the bill. The development is situated in easy walking distance to transportation, shops, restaurants, library, houses of worship etc. If a prospective buyer is coming in from the city, where it is uncommon to own a car, his transition to a suburban lifestyle might seem more familiar a...
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By Jill Sackler, LI South Shore Real Estate - Broker Associate
(Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. 516-575-7500)
JILL SACKLER - LONG ISLAND'S SOUTH SHORE REAL ESTATE AGENT - SIGNATURE VIDEO To be on the cutting edge of sales and marketing, these days, you need to appear on video.If you're reluctant to try, believe me, I hear you.I was on Take 47 before I finally started remembering my lines. Channeling the comedic prowess of the ladies of The View (huge fan!)  did absolutely nothing for my delivery.For your amusement, I also included some bloopers.I, now, have renewed appreciation for anyone who makes a living in the entertainment industry. It's always so much harder than you think it's going to be.    
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By Jill Sackler, LI South Shore Real Estate - Broker Associate
(Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. 516-575-7500)
OIL TANK ABANDONMENT ON LONG ISLAND I don't know if this applies to other states but, here on Long Island, when you convert to gas heat from oil, the oil tank must be abandoned properly. Years ago, it didn't matter but, with the new concern for environmental protection, soil and water contamination are, understandably, a very hot topic.  When you convert to gas heat in your home, besides removing the old oil burner and boiler, you must also give thought to how you're going to decommission your old oil tank that may be buried beneath the ground. It's not just a recommendation; it's the law.Even if your oil tank was emptied and the fill pipes were plugged before the conversion, it's likely there remains a little oil or sludge. Over time, the tank will start to decompose and what's left on...
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By Jill Sackler, LI South Shore Real Estate - Broker Associate
(Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. 516-575-7500)
SUPER BOWL XLVI - ZACHARY BORST OF MERRICK, NY MERRICK has been in the news a lot lately. We must be on a winning streak! Merrick resident, Zachary Borst, 26, was picked as the winner of the Chevrolet Route 66 video submission contest which will air during the 46th Super Bowl.  He wins the much sought after air spot and a $25,000 grand prize. Borst's commercial was picked out of approximately 200 worldwide submissions because it contained all the important elements the company was looking for: light-heartedness and a commitment to the Chevrolet name. It's called "Happy Grad" and it depicts a high school graduate who is ecstatic at finding a bright yellow Chevy Camaro parked outside of his house which he mistakenly believes is his graduation present from his parents. Actually, the car be...
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By Kenneth M Rossman, FL Certified General Real Estate Appraiser #RZ3504
(Appraiser, Ken Rossman)
Real Estate Appraiser Appraisals Merrick NY We are a quality orientated  real estate appraisal firm serving Merrick, Nassau County, Long Island, New York; extremely experienced in appraising one and two family homes in Merrick and throughout Southern Nassau County. I grew up in  Wantagh NY very close to Merrick  And returned to live in Wantagh for many years  and am extremely knowledgeable about North Merrick neighborhoods (Briarcliff, Merrick Gables, Merrick Woods, Merrick Lea) and real estate market values in  Merrick NY I have appraised or reviewed appraisals of hundreds of homes in Merrick over the years.   I offer a somewhat short desktop (but still comprehensive) form type report which represents a significant cost savings over traditional narrative and even typical residential fo...
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By Jill Sackler, LI South Shore Real Estate - Broker Associate
(Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. 516-575-7500)
NATIONAL INTEL SCIENCE COMPETITION AS IF THE BELLMORE-MERRICK SCHOOL DISTRICT didn't already have enough to be proud of, yesterday they captured 5 of the 300 semifinalist slots in this prestigious, pre-college science contest that began in 1942. They are in alphabetical order: Asia Brown Brett Gossett Ross Iscowitz Ross Shulman Bilal Siddiqui There were 61 students who placed from various Long Island schools and a total of 105 student researchers who came from all over New York State, making it #1 in the nation in total number of semifinalists followed by California, which had 41. The Intel Science Competition, formerly known as the Westinghouse contest, is funded by a computer-chip company in California known as Intel Corp. Each semifinalist and his corresponding high school wins $1,00...
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By Jill Sackler, LI South Shore Real Estate - Broker Associate
(Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. 516-575-7500)
Two limousines and a Humvee from the 1st 69th Infantry Division led the procession as we traveled from the Merrick Golf Course at 2550 Clubhouse Road to the gazebo at the Merrick LIRR to kindle a grand 12 foot menorah. Hot latkes, Coffee, Music, Dancing, Jelly Donuts, Chanukah treats and Dignitary Greetings were enjoyed by everyone.    
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By Jill Sackler, LI South Shore Real Estate - Broker Associate
(Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. 516-575-7500)
SANFORD H. CALHOUN HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC DEPARTMENT Winter Concert  2011 Calhoun H.S., one of Merrick's three, is famous for its award-winning music department. Several times a year, the students get to showcase their talent at various music festivals and other local neighborhood concerts. This year's winter performance was held on Thursday, December 15, 2011 and I proudly attended to watch my daughter and her friends participate in this outstanding school event. The show consisted of numbers from Chorale, Concert and Symphonic Bands, Show Choir "Crescendo," Jazz Band, Concert Choir, and Wind Ensemble. The performances are of a very high caliber. We have many gifted musicians at Calhoun. One really fun annual tradition that I've never seen before at any other school is when Calhoun alumni a...
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By Jill Sackler, LI South Shore Real Estate - Broker Associate
(Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. 516-575-7500)
SENIORS REAL ESTATE SPECIALIST  If you're thinking of making the Mature Market your real estate niche, there are some important personality traits you may want to make sure you possess for a completely successful business relationship: Ability to explain the process completely Ability to demonstrate patience & understanding (instructions may need to be repeated) Ability to listen well and read between the lines (reluctance to get a job done may mask a fear of the unknown) Ability to mimic their schedule. Be an early riser as they often are. Ability to follow-up. If speaking by phone is difficult, and there is no computer in the house, pick the same  day and time to show up every couple of weeks at their home and have the conversation in person. A desire to truly make yourself useful as ...
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By Jill Sackler, LI South Shore Real Estate - Broker Associate
(Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. 516-575-7500)
REVERSE MORTGAGES AND CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MAKE IT A GOOD FIT Through a 3rd party, I learned that a homeowner was trying to sell but was unable, at this time, to sell it for the amount she needed to make in order to move on. She is presently considering a reverse mortgage. The first question I would ask her is "What was your original motivation for moving?"Because first and foremost, to consider a reverse mortgage, there needs to be a good reason to stay in the home. Is it the perfect size? the perfect neighborhood? Will it allow you the quality of life you're looking for in your advanced years? Is the home maintenance and related costs within reach? Are the property taxes reasonable?If any of the answers to the above questions is "no," then a reverse mortgage is not for you and your init...
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By Jill Sackler, LI South Shore Real Estate - Broker Associate
(Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. 516-575-7500)
AUTUMN ARRIVES ON LONG ISLAND   Normally, around this time right before Thanksgiving, the trees are mostly bare. This season, it seems like it took just a little longer than usual to see our Fall colors. I'm quite sure it was the crazy weather patterns we had earlier this year that caused the delay - floods and hurricanes in the summertime, a snowfall before the end of October, unusually high temps of 65 in November (who's complaining?), but my point is they're here! This is my front yard and the Weeping Cherry tree looks quite wonderful and seasonably festive.
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By Jill Sackler, LI South Shore Real Estate - Broker Associate
(Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. 516-575-7500)
AND TO THINK ALL THIS TIME I'VE BEEN SUBSISTING ON POMEGRANATE      Yesterday, I wrote a post entitled AAH! The Old Neighborhood.  Later in the afternoon, I returned to the computer and was thrilled to discover it had been featured. I've been here on ActiveRain for 15 months now and this is my 2nd feature, but, in reality, it's only the 1st that was suggested by my peers. So, I do thank you for the happy discovery. It was actually quite satisfying. Katerina Gassett has long spoken to us about SEO. I often watch her timely and informative tutorials on specific ActiveRain features and general computer "stuff." Not long ago, I took note of her mention that a featured article would garner more Google juice AND TO THINK ALL THIS TIME I'VE BEEN SUBSISTING ON POMEGRANATE. Well, it turns out th...
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