Featured

Mid-Hudson Region Secures $83M in State Grant Funds

December 13, 2016

Legoland Project Awarded $3 Million  ALBANY—The Mid-Hudson Valley region came out the big winner in this year’s Consolidated Funding Awards, netting $83.3 million in state aid that will support 105 economic development/infrastructure projects in the seven-county region. In an announcement on Dec. 9, Gov. Andrew Cuomo awarded a total of $716.9 million in CFA funding…

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Westchester Hopes Fair Housing Case Winding Down

December 8, 2016

Astorino Welcomes Carson as HUD Secretary WHITE PLAINS—In an exclusive interview, Westchester County Executive Robert Astorino told Real Estate In-Depth that the county fully expects to meet its court-mandate to have 750 affordable housing units either built or approved by the end of this month. County Executive Astorino also said that the election of Republication…

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Report: Demographic Shifts, Consumer Demand Will Keep U.S. Suburbs Thriving

December 8, 2016

WASHINGTON—Suburban housing markets across the United States are evolving rapidly and overall remain well-positioned to maintain their relevance in the years ahead as the places where most Americans live and work, even as many urban cores and downtown neighborhoods continue to attract new residents and businesses, according to a new publication from the Urban Land…

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Loew’s Theater Groundbreaking a Precursor to Building Boom

December 1, 2016

NEW ROCHELLE—A groundbreaking was staged at the long-shuttered Loew’s Theater in New Rochelle on Nov. 30 for a much-anticipated $120-million mixed-use high-rise tower. However, while definitely cause for celebration, city officials and the developer say the event was just the first of what they expect will be a host of new commercial developments that will…

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GUEST VIEWPOINT: Business and Environmental Groups United To Protect Hudson River from Anchorages

November 29, 2016

Many business organizations—including the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors (HGAR) and the Business Council of Westchester—have come out in strong opposition to the U.S. Coast Guard’s consideration of regulations that would allow the establishment of new anchorage grounds in the Hudson River. Under the proposal, 10 additional anchorages with space for up to 43 vessels…

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State, National Home Sales Post Strong Gains in October

November 23, 2016

ALBANY—Home sales in October posted strong gains both in New York State and nationally. The New York State Association of Realtors reported on Nov. 22 that home sales in the Empire State reached the second highest October monthly total on record. Home sales in the Empire State dipped slightly from one year ago, but still…

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Trump Presidency Will Certainly Bring Changes to Housing Market

November 16, 2016

WASHINGTON—While real estate mogul Donald Trump was anything but predictable during his campaign for the White House, his upset victory over former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will no doubt bring changes to the financial and housing markets in both the short and long-term. Although some of President-elect Trump’s policies are still unclear, real estate…

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SPOTLIGHT ON: 2016 Realtor of the Year Gary Leogrande

November 14, 2016

After spending more than 30 years in real estate, Gary Leogrande, broker for Keller Williams New York Realty in White Plains, was still quite surprised to be named the 2016 HGAR “Realtor of the Year” at Member Appreciation Day last month. “Sometimes over the years, I’d be sitting in the audience and thinking, ‘well maybe…

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Astorino Proposes P3 Long-Term Lease Deal With Oaktree to Manage Westchester Airport

November 7, 2016

WHITE PLAINS—Westchester County Executive Robert Astorino has proposed a plan to implement a public-private partnership (P3) whereby Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. would manage operations at Westchester County Airport under a 40-year-lease deal. The long-term lease deal, if approved by the Westchester County Board of Legislators, would save taxpayers more than $140 million, improve the overall…

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NAR Approves HGAR Merger With Manhattan Association of Realtors

November 3, 2016

WHITE PLAINS—The Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors reports that the National Association of Realtors has approved its proposed merger with the Manhattan Association of Realtors (MANAR). Richard Haggerty, CEO of the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors, told Real Estate In-Depth that NAR approved the merger deal on Wednesday, Nov. 2. The merger, which becomes effective…

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Realtors Author Books on Keys to Healthy Living and Long Life

October 26, 2016

Karen Mayo of Exit Realty in Elmsford and Gwen Weiss-Numeroff of Keller Williams Hudson Valley Realty in New City have more in common than just selling real estate—they have both authored books about staying healthy and living a long life. A Realtor since 2013, Mayo worked in banking and mortgage financing with firms like Wells…

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Striving to Improve the County’s Fiscal Outlook and Quality of Life

October 25, 2016

A Conversation with County Executive MaryEllen Odell CARMEL—Putnam County’s continued push to foster economic development and tourism continued in 2016 with a host of ambitious initiatives, including the continued improvements at the county-owned Putnam County Golf Course, the redevelopment of the storied Tilly Foster Farm and an initiative with the City of Danbury that could…

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WCA, County’s Major Cities Partner on Gigabit Broadband

October 11, 2016

WHITE PLAINS—Chief officials of the Westchester County Association and the mayors of the cities of Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, White Plains and Yonkers announced on Oct. 6 that they have signed a “Smart Cities ComPact” to embrace smart growth initiatives. Tops on their agenda is bringing “Gigabit” broadband to Westchester County. The initiative, estimated to…

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Rep. Maloney Proposes Bill to Stop Hudson River Barge Plan

October 4, 2016

NEWBURGH—U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney has submitted new federal legislation that would halt current, and any future United States Coast Guard proposal to expand mooring infrastructure on the Hudson River between Kingston and Yonkers. The U.S. Coast Guard is considering the adoption of a new rule that would establish new anchorage grounds for commercial vessels…

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Report: NYC Metro Top Market in Need of More Single-Family Housing

September 21, 2016

WASHINGTON—Single-family home construction is currently lacking in 80 percent of measured metro areas despite steady job creation and the low activity is creating a housing shortage crisis that is curtailing affordability and threatening to hold back prospective buyers in many of the largest cities in the country, according to new research from the National Association…

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BARRISTER'S BRIEFING: Metrics for Real Estate Agents and Brokers

August 30, 2016

  A Legal and Business Perspective In the 2011 film Moneyball, Brad Pitt’s character, Oakland Athletics General Manager Billy Beane, opines at the end of a nearly triumphant season, “How can you not be romantic about baseball?” Similarly, real estate agents and brokers may ask themselves a similar question about buying and selling homes. The…

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Hudson Valley Seeing Strong Sales Activity Throughout Region

August 19, 2016

As reported in HGAR’s 2016 second quarter residential real estate sales report, the Hudson Valley continues to experience increased sales volume. This long awaited market condition has produced a five-year high of second quarter sales reaching an overall 23% increase in closings over the same period in 2015. Putnam County, at 32%, had the largest…

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GATEWAY PERSPECTIVES: A Legacy to Remember

August 10, 2016

First, a disclaimer, I am blatantly biased as I write this month’s article. I have been a huge fan of HGAR’s Legal Counsel Edward I. Sumber for more than three decades. In my opinion Ed has been one of the most effective and knowledgeable association legal counsels in the country, and he has earned the…

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LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS: Victory for Realtors as Condo Legislation is Signed Into Law

August 4, 2016

President Obama has signed Condo legislation that was approved by both houses of the Congress, into law. This is a big victory for Realtors as well as for future buyers as purchasing a condo is often a more affordable housing option. The new law mitigates current FHA regulations surrounding existing condominium projects, including streamlining project…

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