Westchester County NY Real Estate Source

Astor Lane Realty is your source for all things real estate in Westchester County NY!

Westchester County NY real estate is unlike any other housing market! We have the highest property taxes in the country and the bubble that burst a decade ago did not hit us as hard as other states and markets.

I would invite you to educate yourself about real estate in Westchester County NY before buying or selling. We just happen to be the firm that prioritizes our client's education and comfort before anything!

You can also find out more helpful information on Westchester County Real Estate by following us on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and YOUTUBE

 

Oct. 5, 2020

2 Lockwood Ave Unit#2A Bronxville NY 10708

Looking for an updated coop in the Chester Heights area of Eastchester? This 2BR unit has all the modern updates today's buyer is looking for in a home. Awaiting you are refinished hardwood floors and a sleek kitchen that will make cooking at home extremely desirable. Walk through this home with our comprehensive virtual tour and take a look for yourself.

 

VIRTUAL TOUR BELOW:

To learn more about this unit, or if you are interested in a private viewing, all you need to do is click the link below to schedule a brief call with our office:

CLICK HERE TO SCHEDULE

 

Sept. 15, 2020

How To Label and Organize Your Moving Boxes When Buying or Selling in Westchester County, NY

How To Label and Organize Your Moving Boxes When Buying or Selling in [market_city]

Whether you are buying or selling, there is a move in your future and things are going to get hectic. While there are a few common-sense tips for making a move a little easier, such as using sturdy, clean moving boxes and packing lighter objects in larger boxes and heavier items in small boxes, organization is the key to success. One of the best ways to lessen moving day chaos is knowing how to label and organize your moving boxes when buying or selling in Westchester County, NY

Moving Binder

The last thing you need on moving day is to be searching for a list or anything else you need to help get through the process of packing the moving truck. Using a binder to control the stress level is a great way to organize your moving boxes when buying or selling in Westchester. You can keep important papers, lists, and labels here until it is time to start packing. You may want to grab a clear pencil pouch for the binder to keep any small items of importance during the move together as well.

Labels

Knowing how to use the power of labels when buying or selling in Westchester County, NY will be of enormous help when it is time to organize your moving boxes. Labels can be hole punched as close to the outer edge as possible, in order to put them into your moving binder in preparation for moving day. Be sure not to put labels on anything other than boxes, unless you are sure it is easily removable. For furniture or larger belongings, you will want to tie on labels or easy-peel labels to save precious finishes. It also would not be a bad idea to place labels on more than one side of the box, in order to quickly locate information during the rush of unloading the moving truck or unpacking.

Supply Kit

You will want to keep a large, preferably clear container that will fit your moving binder along with any supplies you will need for packing and moving. This will make the job of labeling and organizing your moving boxes much more efficient when buying or selling in Westchester. 

Fragile stickers that are red can be added to boxes that require a more gentle touch. You may also wish to use color-coded stickers for every box from one particular room. you will want to have markers, packing tape, and material to fill in open spaces and to wrap any fragile items. Consider using environmentally friendly options for this purpose, such as biodegradable peanuts. 

Box Index

Creating a box index that coordinates with the labels is another helpful way to organize your moving boxes when buying or selling in Westchester County. While it may sound like an overwhelming task to write down the contents of each box, you will thank yourself for the effort. Trying to remember what box you have already packed something away in can be nearly impossible sometimes. Once you get started, you’ll see that the job of jotting everything down actually goes quite quickly.

Open Me First

Keep in mind that the order of loading the boxes is important when you organize your moving boxes when buying or selling in Westchester County, NY. you will want to have special labels to denote the boxes which are of “open me first” status” and be sure these are the last boxes loaded. you will want to keep in mind what you may be in need of on your first night in your new home, in addition to the clothing and personal sundries you’ll want to have on hand. You’ll want your bedding, towels, and bathing supplies. Remember some food for staving off hunger and especially your coffee for the first morning. 

Don’t Delay

While it is advisable to begin packing as early as possible, allow yourself 2 – 3 weeks, if possible to label and organize your moving boxes when buying or selling in Westchester, NY. There is a formula that you can use to estimate the size and number of boxes that you will likely need to successfully pack your home. This will also help in making proper arrangements for the size of the moving truck used in transporting your belongings.  Whatever your plan of attack, you will want to set a goal of completing the night before the move with your “open me first” boxes. You could decide to finish room by room, with a certain date in mind for each room. Otherwise, you could have a goal of a certain number of boxes per day, until you have completed your task.

Astor Lane Realty can provide you with even more hints and tips on how to label and organize your moving boxes when buying or selling in the Hudson Valley. To learn more about how we can help you, Call or Text Us and we will answer all of your questions! 

Posted in Buyers, Sellers
May 26, 2020

19 William St Unit#1C Mount Vernon NY 10552

Looking for an updated coop in the heart of Fleetwood? This 2BR unit has tons of character! Awaiting you are original hardwood floors and high ceilings to complement the architectural detail that flows through this home. The modern kitchen will make it easy to enjoy cooking every night complete with stainless appliances and modern finishes.  Walk through every inch of this home with our comprehensive, vigorous virtual tour right now and you will notice the plethora of natural light.

 

VIRTUAL TOUR BELOW:

To learn more about this unit, or if you are interested in a private viewing, all you need to do is click the link below to schedule a brief call with our office:

CLICK HERE TO SCHEDULE

 

April 14, 2020

6 Fort Hill Lane in Scarsdale NY 10583

Looking for an updated home in the Edgemont school district of Scarsdale NY? This updated 4BR, 3.5BA ranch has an open concept that is unrivaled! The flow that runs across the living area and kitchen is filled with gleaming hardwood floors and tons of natural light. Walk through every inch of this home with our comprehensive, vigorous virtual tour right now!

 

VIRTUAL TOUR BELOW:

To learn more about this home, or if you are interested in a private viewing, all you need to do is click the link below to schedule a brief call with our office:

CLICK HERE TO SCHEDULE

 

March 2, 2020

2020 Housing Market

 

2020 Housing Market

 

As you can see, although the Coronavirus scare is driving down the stock market, housing still has a strong outlook for this year.

Due to advantageous interest rates AND price appreciation starting to normalize, the real estate market, especially in Westchester County, is projected to have a great year!

Interest rates are lower by almost 1% over last year!!! This equates to an estimated $250 per month savings on a mortgage of about $400,000.

 

 

Dec. 27, 2019

Selling Your Home During The Holidays

 

 

Most people think selling during the holidays is pointless. Is it really?

Here are a couple of things to consider:

 

1) Demand is strong! - Interest rates are still extremely low which makes it perfect for someone looking to buy NOW rather than later. There are many buyers looking to buy now so they can reap future equity as soon as possible.

2) Less competition! - There are many home owners looking to wait until the spring market to list their home. If you live in a desirable neighborhood, then you can end up being the only available home in the area. Depending on the buyer's situation, they may not want to wait until then and look to move on your home immediately. That can lead to a higher selling price with multiple buyers bidding on your home.

3) Buyers searching for homes this time of year are usually MOTIVATED! - They understand that inventory is low, and they want to get ahead of the spring competition. Furthermore, they may have so much fatigue from losing out on the past spring market season that they feel motivated to move on something now.

If you are thinking about selling your Westchester County home, then please feel free to reach out to our office.We pride ourselves on educating homeowners on what their property may be worth in today's market.

 

June 28, 2017

The Importance of Home Equity in Retirement Planning

The Importance of Home Equity in Retirement Planning | Simplifying The Market

The Importance of Home Equity in Retirement Planning

Thursday June 22nd, 2017 For Buyers, For Sellers

We often discuss the difference in family wealth between homeowner households and renter households. Much of that difference is the result of the equity buildup that homeowners experience over the time that they own their home. In a report recently released by the nonpartisan Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI), they reveal how valuable equity can be in retirement planning.

Craig Copeland, Senior Research Associate at EBRI, recently authored a report, Importance of Individual Account Retirement Plans and Home Equity in Family Total Wealth, in which he reveals:

“Individual account retirement plan assets, plus home equity, represent almost all of what families have to use for retirement expenses outside of Social Security and traditional pensions. Those families without individual account assets typically have very low overall assets, so they have almost nothing to draw from for retirement expenses.”

The report echoed the findings of a working paper, Home Equity Patterns among Older American Households, authored by Barbara Butrica and Stipica Mudrazija of Urban Institute. Fannie Mae highlighted these findings for their blog The Home Story this past winter, quoting Butrica and Mudrazija:

 “For most adults near traditional retirement age, a home is their most valuable asset — dwarfing retirement accounts, other financial assets, and other nonfinancial assets. Although relatively few retirees tap into their home equity, having it provides financial security… In fact, many retirement security experts argue that the conventional three-legged stool of retirement resources — Social Security, pensions, and savings — is incomplete because it ignores the home.”

USAToday interviewed two area experts to comment on the EBRI report. Randy Bruns, a private wealth adviser with HighPoint Planning Partners, agreed with the findings:

“Social Security and home equity are major pieces of the retirement puzzle.”

Wade Pfau, Professor of Retirement Income at The American College of Financial Services and author of Reverse Mortgages: How to use Reverse Mortgages to Secure Your Retirement, said having the equity without a plan to use it won’t help:

“Home equity is a very important asset for American retirees, and so it is important to think about how to make best use of home equity in retirement planning.”

Bottom Line

Whether you use the equity in your home through a reverse mortgage or by selling and downsizing to a less expensive home, it should be a crucial piece of your retirement planning.

 

Stephen Zondorak

Licensed Real Estate Broker

Astor Lane Realty

914-341-2998

 

Nov. 10, 2016

Maintaining Your New Home

 

Yearly Costs to Maintain a Home

 

I love checking on my home buyers within two to three months after closing. Most of my clients always seem to be surprised by the daily upkeep and associated costs of maintaining their new home. As much as I counsel them (during the home buying process) to be aware of these "hidden" costs and constant care they always mention that it is much greater than they initially planned. Please understand that this article is not meant to deter anyone from buying a home, but is meant to educate those that spend so much time and energy on preparation to acquire the home. After closing, you must plan fully for your new costs and work after moving in. 

Some of the things you should be aware of are:

 - Outside Care: In the summertime, you will need to care for your outside yard - water your grass and flowers, mow the lawn, trim the hedges, and clean debris. In the winter, you need to shovel and clean your sidewalk to ensure no one hurts themselves on your property due to negligence. In the fall, it is a good idea to get your gutters cleaned so the rain can be diverted appropriately and powerwash any exterior areas and siding. Lastly, if you have a fireplace, it is probably best to have it inspected for any major cracks inside the chimney to safeguard any possibility of smoke coming through.

 - Appliance Care: This is probably the most important one. It is important for you to ensure ALL your appliances are maintained yearly and by a trained professional. I can almost guarantee that the care and attention you show now will save you lots of $$$$ later. TRUST ME. This list can include your dishwasher, oven / range, microwave, washer, dryer, lawn mower, leaf blower, hedge trimmer, and if you live on the East Coast - SNOW BLOWER.

- Interior Care: Find time once a month to do the following: Polish / shine your hardwood floors, clean your windows (inside and outside),  use WD-40 on any creaky hinges or doorknobs that are stuck. Furthermore, find some time once a year to do the following: Reapply any basement water treatments, freshen up any rooms where the paint seems to have dulled and / or repaint any window trims to lighten up your spaces. 

As you can see, the acquisition of your new home is only "half the battle". Maintaining your home with some of these tips can go a long way towards ensuring your home is in tip top shape and protecting your equity for years to come.

 

Below is an article from Yahoo finance that gave me some minor motivation to write this post.

Hidden Costs of Home Ownership

 

**If you found this article to be helpful, please let me know. If you did not find it helpful, then I would like to know that also. **

 

Stephen Zondorak

Licensed Real Estate Broker

Astor Lane Realty

914-341-2998

Posted in Buyers
Oct. 22, 2016

Buyer Agency: What is it?

Buyer Agency

 

Buyer Agency: What is it? Is it necessary?

My inspiration for this article is unfortunate. This came about due to a recent situation that happened to me earlier this week.

Buyer agency is the relationship between a buyer and licensed salesperson (buyer’s agent) in which the client hired the agent to represent the buyer’s best interests. This fiduciary duty includes but is not limited to: reasonable care, undivided loyalty, confidentiality, full disclosure, obedience, and duty to account. A buyer’s agent will not represent the interest of the seller. Furthermore, it is important that your agent displays competency in all areas of the real estate buying process so, when it comes time to purchase your home, you can feel comfortable they are guiding you in the right direction.

With that said, I see most buyers house hunt without investing the necessary time to assess an agent and build a comfort level so they can leverage that relationship properly when it is time to buy a home.  Most often, I see buyers work directly with a seller’s agent (I can write a separate article on that subject but I will save it for another time) OR alternate agents depending on the home or area they choose. Most may not agree with this metaphor but I can tell you that the buyer / agent relationship is critical to home buying success and is very similar to a partnership / marriage. I believe that one should not overlook the most important aspect when working with an agent -  LOYALTY. When you have a buyer’s agent that has proven to be competent, loyal, and hardworking it would be a huge mistake if you did not leverage the longstanding relationship with your agent in working through the home buying process. I believe it is reasonable to expect loyalty from an agent and in turn, as the buyer, have it reciprocated.

Lastly, you should always be upfront and honest if you feel they are not meeting your service standard while being open to any feedback they may have for you as well. As is the case in every relationship – COMMUNICATION IS VITAL to success.  Depending on how long you have been working together OR if needs have changed, it is necessary for both parties to communicate as much as possible. Not only will this help with managing expectations, for both sides, but also alert agents to anything they are missing along the way.

If you have any further questions about buyer agency or just want to talk real estate you can always contact me at steve@astorlanerealty.com or contact me by phone at 914-341-2998.

 

Stephen Zondorak

Licensed Real Estate Broker

Astor Lane Realty

Oct. 12, 2016

Saving For A Home? Read This!

 

Saving for a home

 

Saving for a home? You may not need as much as you think….

 

QUICK DISCLAIMER: I am NOT a mortgage specialist, so any information provided here should not be taken as advice given by a licensed mortgage professional.

 

Before we go any further, I want to be “on record” by saying that I  believe it is in EVERY borrower’s best interest to purchase a home with at least a 20% down payment - (ex: if you plan on buying a home for $400,000, then your down payment would be $80,000)  Additionally, you would also need to account for closing costs which, depending on the area of your home, could be upwards of $15,000. So...do people normally have $95,000 saved up to purchase a home for $400,000? Based on the buyers that I have worked with, and done business with,  it is becoming a rare occurrence.

 

How does someone buy a home if they do not have the preferred amount of money down? Your lender is key! Whomever you choose to help with your financing can explain all of your options since situations vary with each individual.  However, I am here to provide some basic information which you may or may not have known about. Again, you should always verify this information with a licensed mortgage specialist as certain programs may have changed at the time of this writing.

 

  1. The FHA Loan- by far the most popular right now. The Federal Housing Administration has come up with a loan program that will insure these types of loans for qualified federal lenders. Subsequently, this allows them to offer you a product that only requires a down payment equal to 3.5% of the purchase price.  Although this loan has a lesser down payment requirement, than other conventional loans, it does come with certain fees associated with this type of financing.  Read more about it HERE

 

  1. The SONYMA DPAL Loan - Allows borrowers to procure down payment assistance through the use of a second mortgage. This is combined with current SONYMA mortgage programs and have great benefits like no interest rate and no monthly payments as long as you adhere to the program guidelines within a set period of time. Read more about it HERE

 

  1. The USDA Loan - Allows for no money down and can often have lower rates than other mortgage loan programs. Read more about it HERE.

 

As you can see, the above mentioned are just a few ways buyers can obtain a home with different down payment options.

 

Lastly, once you have your financing in place, with your pre-approval, then you can get to the fun part of searching for homes right here at astorlanerealty.com.

 

Below is a great article that I found going over this very same topic

 

http://themortgagereports.com/11306/buy-a-home-with-a-low-downpayment-or-no-downpayment-at-all

 

   

 

Stephen Zondorak

Licensed Real Estate Broker

Astor Lane Realty


914-341-2998