Westchester Real Estate Talk

What's new is that now you can get the driving directions you have always been able to get but in addition now you can get public transporation times and routes when you enter in an address, either train or bus, and you can get walking routes as well.  Very cool to help getting around. Check out this short video and then visit Google Maps, here.

Real Estate agents have all kinds of ways of going from beginning to end in a Real Estate transaction.  Some agents put in an offer, communicate attorney information and then disappear into some large black hole never communicating the progress of the deal.  Others agents will return an email or phone call when asked, others don't stay on top of their deals and don't know how to respond.

This is what happened to me on a recent transaction. The other agent is rather new in the business and her client was a relative.  This agent thought it would be okay to pick which information she would divulge and would not permit the listing agent to properly do their job.  Even in the climate we find ourselves with the banks, where listing agents in order to do their job property need to properly scrutinize a buyer this is how she proceeded.  Other than understanding that this is the job her perception was that the listing agent was unnecessarily giving her a hard time by questioning the ability of her buyer to get a mortgage.

I personnally love it when an agent informs me along the way as to the status of transaction.  A call that says, my buyer has submitted his application to the bank, my buyer has gotten a provisional approval, the appraisor will be coming next week, my buyer has submitted their application to the the co-op board, my buyer is going to be interviewed on such and such, etc.  I find these calls invaluable for an owner.  I always approach my transactions this way and keep a listing agent and seller informed.  It helps a seller plan their next step.

Buyer's need to understand that properly analyzing a buyers ability to purchase a property helps a seller make a favorable decision as to whether to accept a buyer' offer.  Seller's need to feel comfortable that a buyer is qualfiied.  It is no longer enough to just present a bank pre-approval.  Listing agents may require further information, may call the mortgage broker or bank the buyer went to and ask some tough questions.  Be prepared.

Below is a link to the article that appeared in the local newspaper in Westchester County, The Journal News.  According to the Westchester Putman MLS 3rd Quarter Report:

1.  Home owners in Westchester County it would seem that a greater ability to hold their properties off the market and wait for some calming or reversal in the market;

2.  The foreclosure problems devastating other real estate market throughout the country are not as dire here even though the number of foreclosures have increased and what is going on in the financial markets will effect us because of our proximity to Wall Street;

3.  The unemployment rate has edged up;

4.  The number of sales has slowed dramatically but some buyers can still buy and are finding the pricing to be good, it is a buyer's market overall in this county with the number of months of inventory at 9.6;

From the Journal News here.

I think there are misunderstandings between buyers, sellers, agents because expectations aren't expressed or clearly understood.  So some rules of the road.

1. If you fill out a form on a website it is possible that an agent will contact you.  We are people too. If you would prefer to not have a conversation with an agent it is okay to be polite.  It is okay to say No, thank you.  You do not have to slam the phone down.
2. If you bring the kids to view properties that's great.  Please hold their hands when you go through a house, please leave cookies and food in the car.
3. If you are going to be late, please call.  Most likely we have made a bunch of appointments and there may be homeowners waiting for you, or a homeowner has gone out and will return after you view their home, not calling is not fair.
4. If you respect us we will respect you.  We are all licensed by our states and there are certain things we need to tell you, we must.  It is the law.
5. If you call after 5pm real estate offices are closed and we can't make appointments to show you properties, we need to make appointments, schedule showings and will not drop everything to run all over with you, please plan ahead.
6. We are not a free service.  We are hard working individuals, we make our living selling real estate, we are educated, trained, experienced, some respect please.
7. We reserve the right to not be yelled at, be taken advantage of, treated badly, kept waiting every time we make an appointment with you (it's not okay).
8. If we show you a property we expect that you buy that property with us, that's only fair.
9. Commmon sense works.  Ask questions about how it works, what's okay and what isn't we can talk about it.

Thank you.

After several years of discussion New York State granted the Town of Greeburgh $43,000 to build a dog park.  This dog park officially opened this week and is a state of the art dog park.  There is an area for small dogs and there is an area for large dogs.  There are trails that dogs will love.  This dog park is located in E. Runsbrook Park which is a Town Park and will be maintained by the Town.  Private donations are being requested from dog lovers and pet owners.

There is proper etiquette for dogs and dog owners going to a dog park.  Dogs need to interact and bully dogs are not welcome.  To read what to look for, Dog Park Safety.

This park is located off of Dobbs Ferry Road.  Taking the Sprain Brook Parkway South taking the Greenburgh/Ardsley Exit.  Right at the Stop Sign (Dobbs Ferry Road) and then another immediate right.