Charlie Oppler took over as president of the National Association of Realtors at a pivotal time for the national organization and for the nation’s real estate industry as well. With the advent of COVID vaccines and mass distribution now underway, the 1.4 million NAR members and the nation are beginning to adjust to what will…
Read MoreNEW YORK—As a result of a year-long probe, the Housing Rights Initiative, The Legal Aid Society and the Washington, D.C.-based law firm Handley Farah & Anderson filed a federal lawsuit today against a total of 88 landlords, real estate managers and brokers for illegally discriminating against low-income tenants with Housing Choice vouchers in New York…
Read MoreCHAPPAQUA—Grand Lux Realty announced on March 12 that it had opened its new office in Chappaqua at 101 King St. “We established our Armonk office back in 2006,” said Michael Levy, founder and principal broker, Grand Lux Realty. “This move is bittersweet, but we are not saying goodbye to Armonk or our long-time clients. While…
Read MoreALBANY—The employment numbers for 2020 released by the New York State Department of Labor for the Hudson Valley region on March 11 were not surprising in the least, with leisure and hospitality leading the way with job losses during the 12-month period, exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, that exceeded 22,000 jobs. However, job numbers released…
Read MoreNEW WINDSOR—Orange County’s premier wedding, catering and event venue Anthony’s Pier 9 in New Windsor is in contract to be sold to an entity that plans to convert the 70,000-square-foot facility into a motion picture production studio. The pending sale with the unidentified buyer was announced by The Bonura Hospitality Group, which stated it expects…
Read MoreWASHINGTON—The Fannie Mae Home Purchase Sentiment Index decreased in February by 1.2 points to 76.5. Four of the HPSI’s six components fell month over month, including most notably homebuying conditions and household income components. Offsetting much of that decline, however, was increased optimism regarding job security, with consumers reporting a significantly more positive view of…
Read MoreA Give-Back Journey At this point in her life, Jeanne Shields is taking a little breather from her many, many philanthropic activities, including serving as a Trustee and fundraising volunteer for the Hudson Gateway Realtor Foundation. The Associate Broker with Howard Hanna | Rand Realty’s Nyack office has a very good reason for her much-needed…
Read MoreNEW YORK—U.S. Senator Charles Schumer announced on March 7 at a briefing at his New York City offices, that the “American Rescue Plan that passed the U.S. Senate would have an impact on New York State that approaches $100 billion. As part of the deal, more than $23.8 billion flows directly to New York State…
Read MoreWHITE PLAINS—The New York State Association of Realtors has issued a “Call to Action” to Realtors to send a message to Westchester County legislators and Westchester County Executive George Latimer urging their support for the Westchester County Legislature to pass a new law requiring co-op boards to provide a reason in writing for application denials.…
Read MoreFamed American Bandstand host Dick Clark once clarified his multi-decade influence over the music industry. “I don’t set trends,” he offered, “I just find out what they are and exploit them.” Much the same can be said of Westchester County, where the area’s changing real estate landscape is more a reflection of emerging national and…
Read MoreWHITE PLAINS—A mixed-use project that has been on the drawing boards for more than five years, secured a key approval yesterday from the White Plains Common Council that could put final approvals finally within reach for the property owner. The White Plains Common Council unanimously voted on Monday evening to accept the environmental findings, zoning…
Read MoreALBANY—New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Feb. 25 that the state will launch a program to deploy undercover fair housing testers in New York City, Long Island, Westchester County and the Central New York and Western New York regions to possibly uncover housing discrimination practices by sellers, brokers and landlords. The state is currently…
Read MoreYONKERS—Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano and other city officials joined with executives of Regency Apartment Ventures LLC on Feb. 25 to celebrate the groundbreaking of Regency on the Hudson, a seven-story 126-unit residential building at 56 Prospect St. here. The development will feature 13 units that will be designated as affordable under the city’s Affordable Housing…
Read MoreWHITE PLAINS—The Westchester County Industrial Development Agency’s Board of Directors earlier today (Feb. 25) unanimously approved a new local hire labor policy that will require incentivized project developers hire 85% of its construction workers from the local area; require its workers complete OSHA safety training; subcontractors be enrolled in a pre-apprenticeship program and that all…
Read MorePatricia Dantzic admits she was a bit apprehensive about re-entering the workforce with a new career in real estate. After enjoying a successful profession in corporate communications in the music industry, she switched gears, earned her license and began working at a local agency. Soon afterward, she was approached by a team member from Berkshire…
Read MoreWASHINGTON —Existing-home sales rose in January, marking two consecutive months of growth, according to the National Association of Realtors. From a month-over-month perspective, buying activity varied in the major regions. Year-over-year, all four areas recorded double-digit gains in January. Existing-home sales in the Northeast in January declined 2.2%, recording an annual rate of 870,000, a…
Read MoreWASHINGTON—Minority homeownership continues to stubbornly lag behind the national rate, with Black Americans facing some of the toughest hurdles to achieving this essential part of the American Dream, according to a report released recently by the National Association of Realtors. The homeownership rate for Black Americans—42%—is nearly 30% less than the rate for white Americans…
Read MoreYONKERS—The Yonkers Industrial Development Agency Board reports it recently granted final approval of financial incentives for 56 Prospect St., a $32.6 million, 126-unit apartment building. The project, which received final approval at the IDA’s Feb. 5 meeting, will be comprised of 90 studios, 18 one-bedroom units and 18 two-bedroom units with a rooftop terrace overlooking…
Read MoreNEW ROCHELLE— RXR Realty, master developer of Downtown New Rochelle, announced on Feb. 10 the topping out of One Clinton Park, a 28-story mixed-use tower under construction here. The project created 250 on-site construction jobs, employing a diversity of contractors, including MWBE firms and local New Rochelle companies. One Clinton Park features 352 state-of-the-art, highly…
Read MoreYONKERS—Human services organization Rising Ground announced plans today to offer for sale its Leake & Watts campus in Yonkers, a property the organization has owned for more than 130 years. Matt Del Percio, president of the Rising Ground Board of Directors, said the 32-acre property at 463 Hawthorne Ave., overlooking the Hudson River, was recently…
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