WHITE PLAINS—The Hudson Gateway Multiple Listing Service, Inc. (HGMLS) and the Sullivan County Multiple Listing Service, Inc. (SCMLS) announced on April 13 they have finalized an agreement to combine their two MLSs, expanding the HGMLS coverage to five counties in the Hudson Valley. SCMLS currently has approximately 200 agents in 58 primary participating offices, and…
Read MoreWHITE PLAINS— Two veteran Westchester County developers—Martin Ginsburg and Robert Weinberg—pioneers and icons in their respective sectors are teaming up on a project that can finally provide a suitable gateway to Downtown White Plains from the White Plains Train station. The two developers are embarking on a redevelopment of a more than 500,00-square-foot office complex…
Read MoreWHITE PLAINS—HGAR has recently launched a new Global Business Council charged with creating global business opportunities and education for HGAR members. Robert Shandley of Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty in White Plains is the chairman of the new council. The new council, comprised of approximately 17 people, is planning networking mixers along with educational…
Read MoreTARRYTOWN—An affiliate of the DSF Group has acquired the Talleyrand Apartments complex here in a deal reportedly valued at more than $90 million. Commercial brokerage firm CBRE reported that Jeffrey Dunne, Gene Pride and Eric Apfel represented the seller in the transaction for the 300-unit multifamily community. Multiple press reports citing public records stated that…
Read MoreALBANY—Chief officials of the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors, while not specifically citing the old axiom, did in fact embrace the tried and true sports strategy uttered by many a head coach that “Sometimes a good offense is a good defense.” The recently passed $168.3-billion Fiscal Year 2019 New York State budget did not include…
Read MoreWHITE PLAINS—Sales of residential housing during the first quarter of 2018 in the lower Hudson Valley market served by the Hudson Gateway Multiple Listing Service, while still strong when compared to the last several years, were flat to somewhat lower as compared to the first quarter of 2017. Sale prices continued to strengthen in all…
Read MoreSANTA CLARA, CA—Rising interest rates and home prices will cause a resounding majority of millennials to modify their home search, perhaps prompting them to seek a smaller or less expensive home or even consider different neighborhoods, according to a survey released on April 4 by realtor.com. Two factors are contributing to market sensitivity from millennials—their…
Read MoreWASHINGTON— New consumer findings from the National Association of Realtors surprisingly show that while a growing share of households in the first three months of the year feel more confident about the economy and their financial situation, those positive feelings are not translating to positive views that now is a good time to buy a…
Read MoreWASHINGTON—With six months remaining in the 2018 federal fiscal year the National Association of Realtors supported the passage of the $1.3-billion omnibus appropriations bill that was approved by the U.S. House and Senate on March 22, and signed by President Donald Trump, despite some misgivings, the next day. The measure funds the federal government through…
Read MoreALBANY—A record number of members of the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors traveled to the state capital on March 20 and joined Realtors from across the state to press the industry’s legislative agenda that includes advancing the implementation of a first-time home buyer’s savings account and transparency and disclosure in cooperative housing sales transactions statewide.…
Read MoreWASHINGTON—Chief officials with the National Association of Realtors and the New York State Association of Realtors continue to point to low inventory levels as a continuing headwind for the residential sales market. The National Association of Realtors released home sales statistics for the month of February that showed a 3% sales volume increase nationally, however,…
Read MoreNEW YORK—New York State Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced today (March 21) a $230-million settlement with UBS in connection with its packaging, marketing and issuance of residential mortgage-backed securities to investors prior to the housing crisis in 2006. The settlement includes $189 million worth of consumer relief for New York homeowners and communities and…
Read MorePLEASANTVILLE—Founders and co-owners of ERA Insite Realty Services—Lou and Debra Budetti—announced recently the grand opening of their firm’s new Pleasantville office at 370 Manville Road here. ERA Insite has been headquartered in White Plains since 1985, with additional offices in Bronxville and Thornwood. With the recent merger of the former Century 21 Haviland with ERA…
Read MoreWHITE PLAINS - HGAR was one of the co-sponsors of the annual Westchester County Fair & Affordable Housing Expo held on March 10 at the Westchester County Center. From left, John Baker, Nneka Reed, Marlene Zarfes and Cecilia Alcantara of Westchester Residential Opportunities. A very well attended program at the expo focused on "Resources for…
Read MoreALBANY—A contingent of more than 40 members of the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors are expected to travel to the state capital later this month to meet with state lawmakers and advocate for consumer and real estate industry reform legislation. The contingent will be led by Leah Caro and John Olivero, co-chairs of the HGAR…
Read MoreNEW CITY—Rockland County Executive Ed Day is allowing the recently passed co-op purchase reform bill to become law, but has requested the County Legislature go further and enact a provision that would require cooperative boards provide a reason for an applicant’s denial. County Executive Day announced that he would leave the bill, sponsored by County…
Read MoreWASHINGTON—The National Association of Realtors reported on Feb. 21 that existing-home sales slumped for the second consecutive month in January and experienced their largest decline on an annual basis in more than three years. All major regions saw monthly and annual sales declines last month, NAR stated. Total existing-home sales, which are completed transactions that…
Read MoreSCARSDALE—Compass, a real estate technology company, announced today it has agreed to acquire Platinum Drive Realty, a growing real estate brokerage headquartered in Scarsdale. The acquisition comes on the heels of a recent $450-million investment in Compass by the Softbank Vision Fund and an expansion initiative to the Chicago, Dallas and San Diego markets. With…
Read MoreWASHINGTON—Despite weakening optimism from non-homeowners at the end of last year that now is a good time to buy, an overwhelming majority said they do want to own a home in the future and believe homeownership is part of their American Dream. That is according to new consumer survey data released recently by the National…
Read MoreGREENWICH, CT—A recent $14.5-million waterfront estate sale has brokers in Greenwich saying reports of a weak luxury real estate market in this exclusive Fairfield County community belie recent activity and concrete sales data. Houlihan Lawrence agent Ellen Mosher exclusively represented the buyer for 51 Glen Avon Drive in the highly sought-after Greenwich waterfront neighborhood of…
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