WASHINGTON—Fueled partly by an increase in the share of sales to first-time buyers, existing-home sales increased in May to their highest pace in nearly six years, according to the National Association of Realtors. Led by the Northeast, all major regions experienced sales increases in May. Total existing-home sales, which are completed transactions that include single-family…
Read MoreI think we all like to believe that we embrace change and generally accept change until we have to deal with its reality. Four years ago the leadership of three organizations—the Westchester-Putnam Association of Realtors, Rockland County Board of Realtors and the Orange County Association of Realtors—sat down at the table and began to explore…
Read MoreMAHOPAC—Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell said her administration continues to make headway into bringing new development to the “County of Main Streets.” Odell, the keynote speaker at the June 25th meeting of the Commercial Investment Division of the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors, said she is bullish on the future of the county. She also…
Read MoreWASHINGTON—Pending home sales rose in April for the fourth straight month and reached their highest level in nine years the National Association of Realtors reported on May 28. Led by the Northeast and Midwest, all four major regions saw increases in April. The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, increased…
Read MoreWEST NYACK—Rockland County Executive Ed Day told members of the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors’ Commercial Investment Division that Rockland County’s finances, which were on the brink of default when he took office, are improving thanks to new management practices and other cost-cutting programs initiated since he took office last year. Day revealed to CID…
Read MoreGOSHEN—Orange County Clerk Annie Rabbitt announced earlier this month that online records search is now available in Orange County. The public can now access County Clerk records from their home or office. Any public records previously viewed at the clerk’s office, including land and court documents, can be viewed online. “I’m very excited to bring…
Read MoreNEW YORK—Douglas Elliman Real Estate recently announced the launch of Douglas Elliman Sports & Entertainment, a new nationwide entity with global reach that will provide an elite level of real estate brokerage services for clients within the sports and entertainment industries, as well as ultra-high net worth parties. The highly specialized division, which has a…
Read MoreNEW ROCHELLE—Holliday Fenoglio Fowler, L.P. announced recently that it had closed the $7.475-million sale of three apartment properties totaling 65 units in New Rochelle. HFF marketed the properties on behalf of the seller, JEM Holdings of New York City. Virginia City, LLC purchased the offering and assumed the existing mortgage, the brokerage firm reported. The…
Read MoreWYKOFF, NJ—Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty announced that its sales office in Wyckoff, NJ at 646 Wyckoff Ave. held its grand-opening ceremony on Thursday, May 14. “We are thrilled to be opening in such a great community,” said Nancy Martin (licensed as Josephine A. Martin), manager of Rand Realty’s Wyckoff office. “Wyckoff is a…
Read MoreMAHOPAC—Keller Williams Realty Partners and Broker/Owner Lou Cardillo recently announced that the 4th Annual “KW Now Serving” auction and tips for charity event raised a total of $6,000 for local charity “Drug Crisis in our Backyard” and “KW Cares.” “KW Cares” is a 501c3 charity helping KW associates facing financial hardship due to major emergencies,…
Read MoreInstead of one theme for my column this month, I decided to briefly address a series of items that are on the front burner of the Association. As you review this edition of Real Estate In-Depth you will note the extensive coverage of our Lobby Day efforts in Albany on June 9th. Almost 40 members…
Read MoreALBANY—About 40 members of the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors traveled to Albany by bus or car on June 9 to lobby state legislators on key legislation impacting the real estate industry. The legislative session was marred by the recent indictments of two of the most powerful state politicians—Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and State Senate…
Read MoreHASTINGS-ON-HUDSON—Ginsburg Development Companies, which recently began construction on major rental housing projects in Yonkers and Ossining, broke ground on May 7 on its $34.9-million The Lofts on Saw Mill River development here. The project, situated on a 7.45-acre site on Saw Mill River Road (Route 9A), will feature 66 loft-style rental apartments in three buildings.…
Read MoreNEW YORK—Cushman & Wakefield and DTZ have reached a definitive agreement to merge and are set to become one of the largest global real estate services companies. The deal was announced by both firms on May 11th. The new company, which will operate under the Cushman & Wakefield brand, will have revenues of more than…
Read MoreWASHINGTON—The nation’s leading housing economists spoke last month at an economic and policy forum to appraise the state of the U.S. housing market. The event, held by the National Association of Realtors, National Association of Home Builders, and McGraw Hill Financial Global Institute, drew more than 80 attendees representing industry analysts, Congressional staff, and members…
Read MoreNEW CITY—Rockland County Executive Ed Day unveiled on April 30th the “Rockland Codes Initiative,” a sweeping effort to combat illegal housing and overcrowding in the county. The first phase of the initiative will utilize the broad powers of the Rockland County Department of Health to improve the local housing supply for all economic segments of…
Read MoreWHITE PLAINS—Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors’ Board Director and civil rights and fair housing advocate Barry Kramer will receive the Pioneer of Fair Housing Award from non-profit housing services agency Westchester Residential Opportunities, Inc. at a dinner in his honor on Tuesday, June 30th. The awards dinner for the popular and affable Realtor will be…
Read MoreA lot has been said about keeping specific policies in place at the federal and state level to support home ownership. These policies include the soundness of the FHA, stopping a 20 % mandatory down payment requirement for first time home buyers and preserving the mortgage interest deduction There are many other policies that I…
Read MoreEASTCHESTER—Westchester Real Estate, Inc. recently celebrated the accomplishments of its top agents, along with announcing the launch of a new consumer e-newsletter, “Trending Today.” At an exclusive Awards & Networking luncheon at the Pelham Split Rock Golf Club on April 10, 2015, the elite group of top performing agents enjoyed a cocktail hour, lunch, brief…
Read MoreNEWBURGH—The RE/MAX Benchmark Realty Group participated in the 16th Annual Habitat for Humanity Walk for Housing at Washington’s Headquarters on April 26th. In conjunction with a bowling event held prior, the walk participants and fellow agents donated more than $500 towards the Walk for Housing. RE/MAX Benchmark Realty Group was also a corporate sponsor of…
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