Drones have become increasingly popular as an advertising tool for real estate professionals. Regulators have heretofore compelled drone operators to apply for a “Section 333” waiver from the FAA before they are ready to go airborne. With Google Earth and other live images already out there, it would have been unlikely for the government to…
Read MoreALBANY—Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed into law the “zombie property” bill on June 23rd. The legislation, which passed the State Legislature, is geared to combating the blight of vacant and abandoned properties throughout the state providing further assistance to those in danger of losing their homes, and in some cases expediting the foreclosure process. Gov. Cuomo…
Read MoreCORNWALL—Ginsburg Development Companies announced the grand opening later of the new model homes at Stone Hollow at Cornwall, an enclave of 28 stylish single-family homes located in the quaint Hudson River community of Cornwall. GDC Principal Martin Ginsburg told Real Estate In-Depth that his firm began the development just prior to the Great Recession, but…
Read MoreWALLINGFORD, CT—Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England and Westchester Properties stated that is a proud supporter of hiring veterans and welcomes every opportunity to hire the men and women who have served the country (and their spouses) through the company’s Veterans to Realtors program. The Veterans to Realtors program helps veterans get started in an exciting…
Read MoreNANUET— Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate-Rand Realty announced earlier this month it had received the brand’s national Community Involvement Excellence Award. The distinction is given to the companies that provide exceptional assistance to their clients and whose team gives back to the community in which they live and work. “It’s an honor for our…
Read MoreMIDDLETOWN—On Thursday May 12, Keller Williams Hudson Valley United celebrated Red Day by helping two local causes. The residential brokerage firm divided its efforts to helping two counties. One contingent went to the local YMCA in Middletown to help beautify its children’s community center and get it ready for the season, weeding, mulching, cleaning equipment, painting and…
Read MoreALBANY - The New York State Department of Tax and Finance has published a form for distribution to new homeowners that provides guidance on the new STAR tax credit program, the New York State Association of Realtors reported on June 7. Homeowners who purchased their current home prior to May 1, 2014 and already receive…
Read MoreSUFFERN, NY– Castle Lanterra Properties has acquired 1825 Apartments, a 455-unit community in Pflugerville, a suburb of Texas’ state capital of Austin, announced CLP Founder and CEO Elie Rieder. This is the third Austin area acquisition for the Suffern, NY-based firm. The community, named for State Route 1825 that fronts the property, consists of 60…
Read MoreThe cost of maintaining local government is going up, but the state portion of funding and state aid is not keeping up with the rising cost of upkeep. This is forcing cities like Yonkers and others to institute various regressive tax hikes such as transfer tax hikes and mortgage recording tax hikes. The problem with…
Read MoreRYE—There is now a standard to measure how buildings can affect the health of people occupying them. It's called the WELL Building Standard ™. Based on the belief that buildings should be developed with people's health and wellness at the center of design, WELL™ was established by the International WELL Building Institute™ (IWBI), a public…
Read MoreRYE—Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England and Westchester Properties announced recently the opening of its Rye office at 22 Purchase St. in the heart of downtown Rye. The latest opening gives the company a total of 53 offices and nearly 1,800 agents. Heading the office is Harrison resident, Margaret Grasso. “Our Rye outpost provides us with…
Read MoreNEW ROCHELLE—Meadow Lane Senior Apartments, a new independent senior housing complex at United Hebrew of New Rochelle, has received a $250,000 grant from The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation that will support its $6-million construction. The project adds 32 low-income apartments—24 one-bedroom units and eight studios—to United Hebrew’s senior housing stock, which also includes Soundview…
Read MoreWHITE PLAINS—Westchester County has both good and bad news on the foreclosure front. A familiar pattern continues as the number of judgments entered on foreclosed properties rose more than 8% over the same period last year. The number of new foreclosure filings dropped almost 27% when compared to last year’s first quarter. The Westchester County…
Read MoreMOUNT VERNON– Redwood Realty Advisors announced on May 16th the closing of two apartment buildings in Mount Vernon for a price of $7.5 million and a cap rate of 6.9%. The two properties are located on the same block of South Second Avenue. The sale included one 34-unit apartment building and a second mixed-use apartment…
Read MoreCROTON-ON-HUDSON—Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, part of the HSF Affiliates LLC family of real estate brokerage franchise networks, and BHHS River Towns Real Estate have launched a new campaign and a consumer sweepstakes. Advertisements launched March 7th with 30- and 15-second spots airing on HGTV, one of the top networks with familiar programming such as Love It…
Read MoreDANBURY, CT—The Westchester County offices of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Connecticut and Westchester County were recently named a Platinum Award winner by the Cartus Broker Network for their outstanding performance during the past year. The award was presented at the 2016 Cartus Broker Network International Conference held recently at the Harbor Beach Marriott Resort…
Read MoreNEW YORK—In response to increasing local interest by Chinese homebuyers and investors, residential brokerage firm Houlihan Lawrence has launched a Traditional Chinese-language version of its website. The site offers a seamless browsing experience for Chinese viewers by pairing a curated selection of properties with deep links to its premier listings translated on LuxuryPortfolio.com. “We are…
Read MoreNEW CITY—Rockland County has embarked on an aggressive campaign to compel slumlords to remedy code violations that have forced tenants to live in dangerous and unsanitary conditions. Under Rockland County Executive Ed Day, the county government has also embarked on an effort to expedite the foreclosure process on non-residential tax delinquent properties. The Rockland Codes…
Read MoreWHITE PLAINS—The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has leveled charges of housing discrimination against a White Plains cooperative—Tompkins Manor at 505 Central Park Ave.—for refusing to grant an exception to its policies that would allow a person with disabilities to buy a unit there. The case came to HUD’s attention after a unidentified…
Read MoreNEW CITY—After about five months serving on the Clarkstown Town Council, Realtor Valerie Moldow resigned on Monday evening (May 2), citing “unforeseen personal and family matters.” Moldow, an Associate Broker with Keller Williams Hudson Valley Realty of New City, was appointed to the post in January to fill the position vacated by newly elected Town…
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