News

Houlihan Lawrence Commercial Bullish On Office, Multifamily Markets in 2017

February 2017

RYE BROOK—Houlihan Lawrence Commercial Group recently released a report on the commercial real estate and multifamily markets in Southern Westchester County that predicted continued improvement across all sectors. The report, authored by Houlihan Lawrence Commercial’s Teresa Marziano, noted that Manhattan’s influence on the Westchester commercial markets (south of I-287) continues. She said, “Westchester’s commercial real…

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BARRISTER'S BRIEFING: New Department of State Regulatory Changes Affecting Licensees

February 2017

The New York Department of State, which promulgates regulations affecting real estate licensees, recently issued several amendments to existing regulations on Jan. 4, 2017. This article will call attention to those recent amendments and the implications on licensees. To start, there has been a regulatory change to 19 NYCRR §175.1.  That particular amendment is italicized…

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Danone North America Finalizes HQ Move to White Plains

February 2017

WHITE PLAINS—Danone North America announced on Feb. 7 it will be moving forward with a planned relocation of its corporate headquarters from Greenburgh to approximately 100,000 square feet of leased office and retail space at 100 Bloomingdale Road in White Plains. The North American operations of The Danone Co., known for Dannon and Evian yogurt…

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Ginsburg Firm Acquires Downtown White Plains Rental

February 2017

WHITE PLAINS—In the residential development firm’s first entry into the Downtown White Plains market, Ginsburg Development Companies has purchased the 124-unit luxury rental apartment building at 25 Martine Ave. here. The 12-story building, currently known as Halstead White Plains, was purchased by GDC from DSF Group of Boston for $35.25 million. GDC plans to make…

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Merlin Entertainments Proposes Major Road Project to Help Secure Legoland Approval

February 2017

GOSHEN—Merlin Entertainments, the developer of the proposed $500-million LEGOLAND New York project here, has taken a bold step to mitigate one of the major issues tied to the project’s approval. The firm announced on Monday plans to relocate and reconfigure Exit 125 of Route 17 to help alleviate traffic on local roads. The multi-million dollar…

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Bon Secours Inks $180M Deal with Royal Philips

February 2017

VALHALLA—In another example of the tremendous economic engine health care is to the Hudson Valley, Royal Philips and Bon Secours Charity Health System, a member of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network here, recently announced a multi-year, strategic partnership agreement valued at $180 million. The agreement will make Philips solutions available to BSCHS in support…

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Judge Throws Out Legoland Project Opponents Suit

February 2017

GOSHEN—The proposed $500-million LEGOLAND New York resort project has scored a major legal victory with the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by a group of adjacent property owners. New York State Supreme Court Judge Robert A. Onofry dismissed an Article 78 proceeding filed on Dec. 8 by the Concerned Citizens for the Hudson Valley and…

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Commercial Brokers Bullish on Hudson Valley Market in 2017

January 2017

WHITE PLAINS—A record crowd of more than 120 real estate professionals were on hand to hear a rather upbeat view of the Hudson Valley commercial real estate market this year at the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors’ Commercial Investment Division’s Annual Commercial Broker’s Roundtable held at the HGAR offices in White Plains. CID President John…

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Reaction Mixed to PSC Decision on Suez NY Water Rate Hike

January 2017

NEW CITY—Reaction has been mixed to the decision by the New York State Public Service Commission earlier this week to decrease the requested water rate hike request by Suez New York, Inc. by nearly $1 million over the next three years. Rockland County Executive Ed Day was highly critical of the PSC decision charging that…

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2016 U.S. Existing-Home Sales Best Since 2006

January 2017

WASHINGTON— Existing-home sales closed out 2016 as the best year in a decade, even as sales declined in December as the result of ongoing affordability tensions and historically low supply levels, according to the National Association of Realtors. Total existing-home sales, which are completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, finished 2016…

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Trump Suspends FHA Mortgage Insurance Premium Reduction

January 2017

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…

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LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS: How Debts and Deficits Could Impact Real Estate

January 2017

Debts 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…

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Poll: NY First Home Proposal Overwhelmingly Supported by New Yorkers

January 2017

ALBANY—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…

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Hudson Valley Home Sales Soared 12.5% in 2016

January 2017

WHITE 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…

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HGAR Makes History With Dorothy Botsoe Installation

January 2017

Renee 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…

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Houlihan Lawrence Acquired by Warren Buffett’s Brokerage Firm

January 2017

RYE 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…

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Hudson Valley Posts Strongest Home Sales Since Recession

January 2017

2016 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…

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A.S.A.P. Mortgage Schedules Grand Opening Of Fourth Westchester County Location

January 2017

CROTON-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,”…

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