WASHINGTON—A cut in the FHA annual mortgage insurance premium announced in the final days of the Obama Administration earlier this month, was “suspended indefinitely” in the initial hours of the new Trump Administration. The move was part of a host of executive orders issued by President Donald Trump in his first week in office that…
Read MoreDebts and deficits run by the federal government, despite experiencing declines over the past seven years, have been at record levels for several reasons. The lack of revenue to the government, coupled with high federal spending, has contributed to the problem. We also experienced a financial crisis that crippled our economy for many years. We…
Read MoreALBANY—According to results from a Homeownership Poll conducted by the Siena Research Institute, 84% of New York voters support the NY First Home proposal that would create a tax-free savings account to help New Yorkers save for a first home. Support for the program was bi-partisan and spread across the entire state. Specifically, the NY…
Read MoreWHITE PLAINS—As the new year begins, the Hudson Valley home sales market seems to be running on close to all cylinders with strong sales in Westchester, Rockland, Orange and Putnam counties. All indications are that the region’s economic fundamentals will continue to fuel activity and perhaps spark even higher price appreciation in some markets in…
Read MoreRenee Zurlo to Lead HGMLS for Second Term TARRYTOWN—On Jan. 19, the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors achieved another significant milestone in its storied 101-year history with the installation of its first black President, veteran Realtor Dorothy Botsoe. The Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors held its annual Installation Gala at Abigail Kirsch at Tappan Hill…
Read MoreRYE BROOK—In a surprise move, Houlihan Lawrence whose roots in Westchester County date back to 1888, has been acquired by Warren Buffet’s Home Services of America, Inc. of Minneapolis, MN. Both parties in the transaction did not release financial terms of the deal that was announced on Tuesday, Jan. 17th. Nancy Seaman, chairman of Houlihan…
Read More2016 ANNUAL AND FOURTH QUARTER REAL ESTATE SALES REPORT Westchester, Putnam, Rockland and Orange Counties, New York WHITE PLAINS—2016 posted the region’s best real estate sales results since the post-recession recovery period that commenced in 2011. Realtors participating in the four-county Hudson Gateway Multiple Listing Service, Inc., a subsidiary of the Hudson Gateway Association of…
Read MoreCROTON-ON-HUDSON—A.S.A.P. Mortgage Corp. will be celebrating the opening of its fourth Westchester County branch location at 125 Grand St. here with an open house and ribbon cutting celebration on Thursday, February 9th at 11 a.m. “We are excited to be opening our fourth Westchester County branch office and expanding our team of seasoned mortgage professionals,”…
Read MoreNEW YORK—Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices announced on Jan. 9 that it established a beachhead of sorts in New York City, opening its first office in Manhattan at 590 Madison Ave. Company executives also tell Real Estate In-Depth that the firm plans on expanding its operations in Westchester County and elsewhere in 2017. The newly established Berkshire…
Read MoreNEW ROCHELLE—The City of New Rochelle issued a Request for Proposal for the redevelopment of Fire Station #1 at 45 Harrison St. on Jan. 2. The city-owned property is not included in the portfolio of properties in the city’s far reaching Master Development Agreement with RDRXR, a partnership of Renaissance Downtowns and RXR Realty, according…
Read MoreALBANY—New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo confirmed published reports days earlier of a deal to shut down the Indian Point nuclear power plant complex in Buchanan by 2021. On Monday morning (Jan. 9), Gov. Cuomo announced the deal with Indian Point owner and operator Entergy Corp. to shut down the complex 14 years earlier than when…
Read MoreBUCHANAN—The devil will certainly be in the details of the widely reported tentative deal between Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Entergy Corp. to shutter the two nuclear reactors at Indian Point Energy Center here by 2021. The New York Times initially reported the deal between the Cuomo administration and Entergy on Friday that calls for one…
Read MoreWHITE PLAINS—The Hudson Gateway Realtor Foundation, the charitable arm of the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors, recently presented more than $38,000 in checks to 16 charitable and non-profit organizations throughout the Hudson Valley. “As Realtors, we are so pleased to be able to give back to the local communities where we make our living,” said…
Read MoreWARWICK—A family-owned fine flavor manufacturing firm that dates back to 1890—Star Kay White Inc. of Congers—has decided not to move forward on a planned multi-million dollar expansion at the Warwick Valley Office & Technology Park, Real Estate In-Depth has learned, due to higher than expected construction costs. Benjamin Katzenstein, president of Star Kay White, informed…
Read MoreNEWBURGH—The City of Newburgh has issued a Request for Qualifications for a real estate broker to help sell some city-owned properties. The city issued a Request for Qualifications on Dec. 23 for New York State licensed real estate brokers “to provide professional brokerage services for marketing, listing and selling select city-owned properties.” RFQ submittals are…
Read MoreIn the Realtor Code of Ethics, Standard of Practice (S.O.P.) 3-6 states: “Realtors shall disclose the existence of accepted offers, including offers with unresolved contingencies, to any broker seeking cooperation.” This particular Standard of Practice is illustrative of the overarching requirement of Realtors under Article 3: “Realtors shall cooperate with other brokers except when cooperation…
Read MoreTARRYTOWN—Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has entered into a purchase agreement with the owner of the Landmark at Eastview, an affiliate of BioMed Realty, L.P., to acquire the nearly 1.5-million-square-foot office and laboratory complex on approximately 150 acres for $720 million. The fast-growing pharmaceutical firm reported the transaction in its Form 8-K filing with the Securities and…
Read MoreNEW YORK CITY—Inman recently announced its “Real Estate Influencers of 2017” and several Hudson Valley-based real estate professionals made the prestigious list. Among the Influencer selections by the real estate industry media website included J. Philip Faranda, broker/owner of J. Philip Real Estate LLC, an independent real estate brokerage firm based in Briarcliff Manor and…
Read MoreTOWN OF WALLKILL—The Sears department store and adjoining Sears Auto Center at the Galleria at Crystal Run mall here will close by mid-April. Sears has been a staple in the retail market in Orange County and particularly in the Middletown-Wallkill area for decades. Sears is an original anchor of the Galleria at Crystal Run, which…
Read MoreCARMEL—Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell said recently that her “Year of Business Development” launched in March 2016 as part of her State of the County Address has achieved some significant goals by year’s-end. Among the economic development oriented initiatives highlighted by the County Executive included approved plans for a new senior center at the Butterfield…
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