Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Monday, December 30, 2013
Home electricity use in U.S. falling to 2001 levels | Katonah NY Homes
The average amount of electricity consumed in U.S. homes has fallen to levels
last seen more than a decade ago, back when the smartest device in people's
pockets was a Palm pilot and anyone talking about a tablet was probably an
archaeologist or a preacher.
Because of more energy-efficient housing, appliances and gadgets, power usage is on track to decline in 2013 for the third year in a row, to its lowest point since 2001, even though our lives are more electrified.
Here's a look at what has changed since the last time consumption was so low.
Better Homes
In the early 2000s, as energy prices rose, more states adopted or toughened building codes to force builders to better seal homes so heat or air-conditioned air doesn't seep out so fast. That means newer homes waste less energy.
Also, insulated windows and other building technologies have dropped in price, making retrofits of existing homes more affordable. In the wake of the financial crisis, billions of dollars in Recovery Act funding was directed toward home-efficiency programs.
Better Gadgets
Big appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioners have gotten more efficient thanks to federal energy standards that get stricter ever few years as technology evolves.
A typical room air conditioner -- one of the biggest power hogs in the home -- uses 20 percent less electricity per hour of full operation than it did in 2001, according to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers.
Central air conditioners, refrigerators, dishwashers, water heaters, washing machines and dryers also have gotten more efficient.
Other devices are using less juice, too. Some 40-inch (1-meter) LED televisions bought today use 80 percent less power than the cathode ray tube televisions of the past. Some use just $8 worth of electricity over a year when used five hours a day -- less than a 60-watt incandescent bulb would use.
Those incandescent light bulbs are being replaced with compact fluorescent bulbs and LEDs that use 70 to 80 percent less power. According to the Energy Department, widespread use of LED bulbs could save output equivalent to that of 44 large power plants by 2027.
The move to mobile also is helping. Desktop computers with big CRT monitors are being replaced with laptops, tablet computers and smart phones, and these mobile devices are specifically designed to sip power to prolong battery life.
It costs $1.36 to power an iPad for a year, compared with $28.21 for a desktop computer, according to the Electric Power Research Institute.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/home-electricity-use-in-us-falling-to-2001-levels/
Because of more energy-efficient housing, appliances and gadgets, power usage is on track to decline in 2013 for the third year in a row, to its lowest point since 2001, even though our lives are more electrified.
Here's a look at what has changed since the last time consumption was so low.
Better Homes
In the early 2000s, as energy prices rose, more states adopted or toughened building codes to force builders to better seal homes so heat or air-conditioned air doesn't seep out so fast. That means newer homes waste less energy.
Also, insulated windows and other building technologies have dropped in price, making retrofits of existing homes more affordable. In the wake of the financial crisis, billions of dollars in Recovery Act funding was directed toward home-efficiency programs.
Better Gadgets
Big appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioners have gotten more efficient thanks to federal energy standards that get stricter ever few years as technology evolves.
A typical room air conditioner -- one of the biggest power hogs in the home -- uses 20 percent less electricity per hour of full operation than it did in 2001, according to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers.
Central air conditioners, refrigerators, dishwashers, water heaters, washing machines and dryers also have gotten more efficient.
Other devices are using less juice, too. Some 40-inch (1-meter) LED televisions bought today use 80 percent less power than the cathode ray tube televisions of the past. Some use just $8 worth of electricity over a year when used five hours a day -- less than a 60-watt incandescent bulb would use.
Those incandescent light bulbs are being replaced with compact fluorescent bulbs and LEDs that use 70 to 80 percent less power. According to the Energy Department, widespread use of LED bulbs could save output equivalent to that of 44 large power plants by 2027.
The move to mobile also is helping. Desktop computers with big CRT monitors are being replaced with laptops, tablet computers and smart phones, and these mobile devices are specifically designed to sip power to prolong battery life.
It costs $1.36 to power an iPad for a year, compared with $28.21 for a desktop computer, according to the Electric Power Research Institute.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/home-electricity-use-in-us-falling-to-2001-levels/
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Friday, December 27, 2013
NY Parks Department To Buy 1,200 Acres In Hudson Valley To Expand Hiking | Bedford Hills NY Homes
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is teaming up with Scenic Hudson on an agreement to add roughly 1,250 acres of open space in the Hudson Valley region.
The new open space is set to run from Dutchess County to Hudson Highlands State Park. The agreement builds on the 63 acres added to Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park, "expanding popular hiking opportunities and open space protection in the Hudson Highlands," State Parks representatives said in a release.
"The Hudson Highlands are a nationally important scenic landscape, providing tremendous recreational opportunities and contributing to clean air and water, and protection of these lands strengthen Gov. Andrew Cuomo's outstanding conservation legacy," State Parks Commissioner Rose Harvey said in the release. "I am grateful to our partners for their work in securing these spectacular lands for the public, and that New York is able to draw on resources such as the Highlands Conservation Act (HCA) funding and the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) to preserve our state's wonderful places and improve our park system."
Scenic Hudson President Ned Sullivan also extended his thanks for the new project.
"This project demonstrates the benefits of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's economic development strategy—recognizing that protecting the state's fabulous natural resources and job creation go hand-in-hand. This is a foundation of the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council and its ‘green circle' strategy to focus resources on the Hudson Valley's great natural, historic and cultural treasures," said Sullivan in the release. "Great thanks also to State Parks Commissioner Rose Harvey for her leadership and understanding of how much enjoyment and inspiration this landscape will give to residents and visitors alike. The preserve is close to an urban center and mass transit but offers a true wilderness experience. Scenic Hudson is honored to be part of this important conservation agreement."
The agreement calls for State Parks to purchase the Fishkill Ridge acreage from Scenic Hudson with about $1.8 million in HCA funding and $250,000 from the EPF, according to the release. Scenic Hudson is also donating more than $1.8 million worth of land value toward the sale.
"Fishkill Ridge is one of the Hudson Valley's iconic landscapes, visible from miles around and offering the public some of the best hiking in the region. Throughout the year, people come from New York City and all over to enjoy this remarkable resource, which also is contributing to the economic vitality of nearby communities such as Beacon and Cold Spring," said Steve Rosenberg, executive director of The Scenic Hudson Land Trust, in the release.
For more information, call 518-474-0456 or visit the State Parks website.
The new open space is set to run from Dutchess County to Hudson Highlands State Park. The agreement builds on the 63 acres added to Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park, "expanding popular hiking opportunities and open space protection in the Hudson Highlands," State Parks representatives said in a release.
"The Hudson Highlands are a nationally important scenic landscape, providing tremendous recreational opportunities and contributing to clean air and water, and protection of these lands strengthen Gov. Andrew Cuomo's outstanding conservation legacy," State Parks Commissioner Rose Harvey said in the release. "I am grateful to our partners for their work in securing these spectacular lands for the public, and that New York is able to draw on resources such as the Highlands Conservation Act (HCA) funding and the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) to preserve our state's wonderful places and improve our park system."
Scenic Hudson President Ned Sullivan also extended his thanks for the new project.
"This project demonstrates the benefits of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's economic development strategy—recognizing that protecting the state's fabulous natural resources and job creation go hand-in-hand. This is a foundation of the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council and its ‘green circle' strategy to focus resources on the Hudson Valley's great natural, historic and cultural treasures," said Sullivan in the release. "Great thanks also to State Parks Commissioner Rose Harvey for her leadership and understanding of how much enjoyment and inspiration this landscape will give to residents and visitors alike. The preserve is close to an urban center and mass transit but offers a true wilderness experience. Scenic Hudson is honored to be part of this important conservation agreement."
The agreement calls for State Parks to purchase the Fishkill Ridge acreage from Scenic Hudson with about $1.8 million in HCA funding and $250,000 from the EPF, according to the release. Scenic Hudson is also donating more than $1.8 million worth of land value toward the sale.
"Fishkill Ridge is one of the Hudson Valley's iconic landscapes, visible from miles around and offering the public some of the best hiking in the region. Throughout the year, people come from New York City and all over to enjoy this remarkable resource, which also is contributing to the economic vitality of nearby communities such as Beacon and Cold Spring," said Steve Rosenberg, executive director of The Scenic Hudson Land Trust, in the release.
For more information, call 518-474-0456 or visit the State Parks website.
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Simple crescents and arcs in the architecture make the most of spectacular views all around this remarkable home | Bedford NY Homes
The recipe for a truly exceptional home is quite straightforward. Just mix one part enlightened owner, one part creative architect, one part spectacular site and just the right amount of green.
In the foothills just above Santa Barbara, California, is one such home. A labor of love and a feast for the senses, this home combines all those ingredients in something special. With the mountains just to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the south and the lights of Santa Barbara just below, the home’s geometry was purposefully kept simple to take advantage of the site’s views and features and create a complex set of spatial experiences.
In the foothills just above Santa Barbara, California, is one such home. A labor of love and a feast for the senses, this home combines all those ingredients in something special. With the mountains just to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the south and the lights of Santa Barbara just below, the home’s geometry was purposefully kept simple to take advantage of the site’s views and features and create a complex set of spatial experiences.
The back of the home, designed by architect Dave Mendro, bows out to the lights of Santa Barbara below and the Pacific Ocean beyond. The arc of the home is reflected in the arc of the pool along the edge of the site, which is anchored at one end by a pergola-like structure that creates an outdoor room from which to watch the sunsets to the west.
The north (entry) side of the home is the concave portion of the crescent shape, a design that maximizes views across the site. The garage and entry are at the lower level, while all of the living spaces are above.
Access to the living areas from this lower level is by a glass staircase and a custom-made lift located in a vertical cylinder that, like a totem, denotes where the front door is.
The home is essentially one room wide with a circulation space along the edge. And rather than having traditional windows, the two long faces of the crescent are made of lift-slide doors. These doors allow for large, unobstructed views out while creating a home that’s transparent.
Rather than there being traditional walls and doors separating one room from the next, form and structure create privacy from room to room. Poured-concrete walls that are perpendicular to the long faces of the house provide rhythm and structure to the interior spaces.
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Thursday, December 19, 2013
New Castle Town Update | Armonk NY Homes
This past week the Town Board passed our 2014 Town Budget. The tax rate increase is 1%, an additional $1.60 per thousand of assess value. It will mean a $30.00 per year increase on the median value house of $862,000.00
As I leave office, I leave North Castle in the strongest financial position in decades. Both our contingency fund and our unreserved fund balances are at the maximum recommended levels. Our paving funds are also higher than they have been in decades. This is in response to our paving management report showing a need to improve our streets. Our infrastructure, equipment, technology and parks have all been returned to sustainable levels.
I want to take this opportunity to again thank all the wonderful residents I have had the pleasure of meeting and working with. Being North Castle Town Supervisor has been a wonderful experience. I have led by example and I am proud of my accomplishments.
I appreciate all the support I received from the Town Board, our Town employees and all the residents. I wish the incoming Town Board all the best.
I wish you all a very happy Holiday Season and a very happy, healthy and safe New Year.
Sincerely,
Howard Arden
Glassy Miami Beach Penthouse Offers Killer Views For $25M | Armonk NY Homes
Location: Miami Beach, Fla.
Price: $25,000,000
The Skinny: Among all the luxury condo units in the glassy residential towers that crowd the South Beach waterfront, this penthouse pretty much represents the highest of the high end—and with an asking price of $25M, it better. This 11,252-square-foot unit delivers pure, unadulterated Miami Beach chic with a roof-top pool, soaring 20-foot ceilings in the common areas, and dramatic ocean views. The three-story condo occupies the entire eastern side of the Sieger Suarez-designed Apogee South Beach, and its embarrassment of riches includes an interior design scheme by Yabu Pushleberg and appliances and finishes from Miele, Franke, and Dornbracht. Assuming price is not an issue, the only downside may be that the six-bedroom unit comes with just two air-conditioned parking spaces. This is the second time the five-year-old property has been on the market: back in 2011 it was renting for $75,000 a month on its way to a sale for $11.5M, less than half its current ask.
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
What the new FHA mortgage limits mean for you | Bedford Corners NY Real Estate
The Federal Housing Administration recently announced a reduction in high-cost area loan limits -- a reduction that comes in accordance with the government’s ongoing effort to retreat from the housing market. Rewind the clock to 2008, when financial markets were significantly depressed, the economy was on the verge of recession -- enter the FHA as the new outlet to support a frail housing sector.
Since then, unemployment has dropped, job growth, while still bleak, is improving, and real estate is in demand. The FHA has accomplished its goal of helping to boost the housing market. Now the government wants to minimize its exposure to bigger loans.
The FHA loan limit reduction will affect homebuyers in higher-end properties. For example, if you take Sonoma County, Calif., the maximum new FHA loan limit in January will be reduced to $520,950 from $662,500. Homebuyers who once could buy with less capital will now have to invest more cash into the deal or buy less house.
If you're looking to buy a house but haven't yet, here's what to expect in 2014.
1. Your mortgage limits will be lower
Most counties will see the maximum loan limits decrease, on average, by $67,250 beginning January 2014.
2. You'll see jumbo mortgages again
A jumbo mortgage loan typically has tighter qualifying restrictions in terms of credit history and debt ratio requirements than its FHA loan counterpart. For example, a buyer with tarnished credit can use an FHA loan to purchase a home three years out of the short sale or foreclosure or two years after a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. But with many jumbos, the standard seven years will apply in most cases. One exception to this is if you have 30% down, a lender will consider granting a jumbo loan to a borrower two years after they’ve had a short sale.
3. You'll need to get your credit score in order
You'll need at least a 700 credit score to play ball. The best terms will go to those with 740 scores or better. (Before you even start shopping for a home, it's important to know what shape your credit is in. There are many ways to check your credit scores, including Credit.com's Credit Report Card, which is a free tool that shows you your credit scores and an overview of your credit report so you know which aspects of your credit you need to work on to get a higher score.)
4. You might need a 20% down payment
No longer will homebuyers on the higher-end market be able to purchase a home with less than 20% down if the loan is not conforming high balance or FHA. In other words, 20% down is going to be the new normal in most markets for majority buyers. Many investors simply do not allow for mortgage insurance on large scale loan sizes.
http://money.msn.com/home-loans/article.aspx?post=32d491e3-26b8-4f5d-8787-b3941b4a1ef2
Since then, unemployment has dropped, job growth, while still bleak, is improving, and real estate is in demand. The FHA has accomplished its goal of helping to boost the housing market. Now the government wants to minimize its exposure to bigger loans.The FHA loan limit reduction will affect homebuyers in higher-end properties. For example, if you take Sonoma County, Calif., the maximum new FHA loan limit in January will be reduced to $520,950 from $662,500. Homebuyers who once could buy with less capital will now have to invest more cash into the deal or buy less house.
If you're looking to buy a house but haven't yet, here's what to expect in 2014.
1. Your mortgage limits will be lower
Most counties will see the maximum loan limits decrease, on average, by $67,250 beginning January 2014.
2. You'll see jumbo mortgages again
A jumbo mortgage loan typically has tighter qualifying restrictions in terms of credit history and debt ratio requirements than its FHA loan counterpart. For example, a buyer with tarnished credit can use an FHA loan to purchase a home three years out of the short sale or foreclosure or two years after a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. But with many jumbos, the standard seven years will apply in most cases. One exception to this is if you have 30% down, a lender will consider granting a jumbo loan to a borrower two years after they’ve had a short sale.
3. You'll need to get your credit score in order
You'll need at least a 700 credit score to play ball. The best terms will go to those with 740 scores or better. (Before you even start shopping for a home, it's important to know what shape your credit is in. There are many ways to check your credit scores, including Credit.com's Credit Report Card, which is a free tool that shows you your credit scores and an overview of your credit report so you know which aspects of your credit you need to work on to get a higher score.)
4. You might need a 20% down payment
No longer will homebuyers on the higher-end market be able to purchase a home with less than 20% down if the loan is not conforming high balance or FHA. In other words, 20% down is going to be the new normal in most markets for majority buyers. Many investors simply do not allow for mortgage insurance on large scale loan sizes.
http://money.msn.com/home-loans/article.aspx?post=32d491e3-26b8-4f5d-8787-b3941b4a1ef2
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
New construction sales stoke builder confidence | Armonk NY Homes
NAHB: Builders cautiously optimistic going into 2014
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index shows cautious optimism going into 2014, with the association’s index rising four points to 58 for December as new construction shows signs of sustained demand.
NAHB's index focuses on the market for new single-family home construction sales, and is calculated looking at three indicators – current sales conditions, sales expectations, and prospective buyer traffic.
"This is definitely an encouraging sign," said NAHB Chairman Rick Judson. "The HMI is up 11 points since December of 2012 and has been above 50 for the past seven months. This indicates that an increasing number of builders have a positive view on where the industry is going."
The rise in builder confidence is shared by outside financial analysts.
Keefe, Bruyette & Woods (KBW), a full-service, boutique investment bank and broker-dealer that specializes in the financial services sector, states in its 2014 real estate forecast that analysts expect continued recovery in the housing market, including purchase volume growth of 5%.
http://www.housingwire.com/articles/28325-new-construction-sales-stoke-builder-confidence
NAHB's index focuses on the market for new single-family home construction sales, and is calculated looking at three indicators – current sales conditions, sales expectations, and prospective buyer traffic.
"This is definitely an encouraging sign," said NAHB Chairman Rick Judson. "The HMI is up 11 points since December of 2012 and has been above 50 for the past seven months. This indicates that an increasing number of builders have a positive view on where the industry is going."
The rise in builder confidence is shared by outside financial analysts.
Keefe, Bruyette & Woods (KBW), a full-service, boutique investment bank and broker-dealer that specializes in the financial services sector, states in its 2014 real estate forecast that analysts expect continued recovery in the housing market, including purchase volume growth of 5%.
http://www.housingwire.com/articles/28325-new-construction-sales-stoke-builder-confidence
Monday, December 16, 2013
Armonk, Bedford Corners Lead in Highest Average Size | #RobReportBlog
| Armonk,
Bedford Corners Lead in Highest Average Size | #RobReportBlog |
Square Feet | |
| Katonah | 3,876 | |
| Pound Ridge | 3,854 | |
| South Salem | 3,029 | |
| Mt Kisco | 2,788 | |
| Chappaqua | 4,101 | |
| North Salem | 3,288 | |
| Armonk | 5,800 | |
| Bedford | 4,701 | |
| Bedford Hills | 4,021. | |
| Bedford Corners | 5,059. |
7 Ways to Grow Your Blog With Pinterest | Pound Ridge Realtor
Would you like more traffic to your blog?
Are you looking for creative ways to use Pinterest to benefit your business blog?
Pinterest offers a robust path to help you build your blog.
You can use Pinterest to find content for your blog, grow your audience and increase your website traffic.
In this article, I’ll show you 7 easy ways to use Pinterest to grow your business blog and engage further with your online audience.
Create secret boards for your blog post ideas and use them as placeholders for images, videos, quotes, etc. that you want to blog about in the future. Curate boards for single posts, a series you’re working on, even potential guest bloggers.
Remember, secret Pinterest boards are only visible to you. You can use them to curate content ideas securely for your business blog.
Check Your Keywords
Because Pinterest is keyword search–friendly, you can easily search for and find pins associated with the focus of your blog. Simply go to the search box at the top left of the Pinterest site and enter a keyword related to your blog.
Scroll through the tabs to find recurring themes or items and topics that have high repin rates, a lot of likes and generate a large number of comments. Add the topics that make sense to your content calendar and create your own popular posts.
http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/grow-your-blog-with-pinterest/
Are you looking for creative ways to use Pinterest to benefit your business blog?
Pinterest offers a robust path to help you build your blog.
You can use Pinterest to find content for your blog, grow your audience and increase your website traffic.
In this article, I’ll show you 7 easy ways to use Pinterest to grow your business blog and engage further with your online audience.
#1: Create a Blog Think Tank
Are you constantly clipping articles, studies, posts and pictures and placing them in an idea folder—online or off? Pinterest is tailor-made for doing this quickly and easily online.Create secret boards for your blog post ideas and use them as placeholders for images, videos, quotes, etc. that you want to blog about in the future. Curate boards for single posts, a series you’re working on, even potential guest bloggers.
You can use secret boards as placeholders for content you may want to use in the future.
Remember, secret Pinterest boards are only visible to you. You can use them to curate content ideas securely for your business blog.
#2: Search Pinterest for New Content Inspiration
It’s no secret that business bloggers face the constant need to churn out fresh content. When you struggle to come up with something new, turn to Pinterest and find a treasure trove of ideas for a single post or a series of articles that will interest your readers.Check Your Keywords
Because Pinterest is keyword search–friendly, you can easily search for and find pins associated with the focus of your blog. Simply go to the search box at the top left of the Pinterest site and enter a keyword related to your blog.
Scroll through the tabs to find recurring themes or items and topics that have high repin rates, a lot of likes and generate a large number of comments. Add the topics that make sense to your content calendar and create your own popular posts.
http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/grow-your-blog-with-pinterest/
London House Price Growth to Slow in 2014 as Property Tax Looms | Cross River Real Estate
The London housing market will cool next year as a proposed tax on property sales limits demand from overseas buyers, Rightmove Plc (RMV) said.
Asking prices in the capital will increase 6 percent after gaining 10.6 percent in 2013, the U.K.’s biggest property website said in a report published today. Prices nationally will rise 8 percent, up from 5.4 percent this year.
Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne plans to introduce a capital-gains tax on non-resident foreigners selling U.K. property, starting in 2015. He denied last week that government incentives to boost the housing market are fueling a bubble and pushing prices further beyond the reach of first-time buyers.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-12-16/london-house-price-growth-to-slow-in-2014-as-property-tax-looms.html
Asking prices in the capital will increase 6 percent after gaining 10.6 percent in 2013, the U.K.’s biggest property website said in a report published today. Prices nationally will rise 8 percent, up from 5.4 percent this year.
Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne plans to introduce a capital-gains tax on non-resident foreigners selling U.K. property, starting in 2015. He denied last week that government incentives to boost the housing market are fueling a bubble and pushing prices further beyond the reach of first-time buyers.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-12-16/london-house-price-growth-to-slow-in-2014-as-property-tax-looms.html
Friday, December 13, 2013
Thursday, December 12, 2013
EShowings shuts down after founder reports to prison | Katonah NY Homes
Multistate real estate showing appointment service eShowings Inc. has shut down, just days after the incarceration of its founder and former CEO, Charles Smith.
The move leaves an estimated 14,000 clients in the lurch and the firm’s 85 or so employees out of work.
Smith, who founded the company in 1999, headed to prison on Dec. 4 to serve a 2 1/2-year sentence for pocketing his employees’ payroll taxes instead of handing them over to the government.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware, Smith had taken money deducted from employees’ paychecks and spent it on personal items for himself and his family, including vacations and gambling. Smith also continued to use company funds even after he had officially resigned in early October.
EShowings also continued to bounce checks, including employee paychecks, and had not paid rent or other liabilities or employee insurance premiums since Smith’s Oct. 4 sentencing, the office said.
Two days after Smith’s incarceration, the company’s employees were informed their weekly Friday paychecks would be delayed until Tuesday due to lack of funds. By Monday evening, Tomy Kot, the company’s general manager, was calling employees to tell them the company had been shut down and they would not be receiving their last two weeks’ worth of pay.
- See more at: http://www.inman.com/2013/12/11/eshowings-shuts-down-after-founder-reports-to-prison/?utm_source=20131212&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dailyheadlinesam#sthash.mdg0tMcD.dpuf
The move leaves an estimated 14,000 clients in the lurch and the firm’s 85 or so employees out of work.
Smith, who founded the company in 1999, headed to prison on Dec. 4 to serve a 2 1/2-year sentence for pocketing his employees’ payroll taxes instead of handing them over to the government.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware, Smith had taken money deducted from employees’ paychecks and spent it on personal items for himself and his family, including vacations and gambling. Smith also continued to use company funds even after he had officially resigned in early October.
EShowings also continued to bounce checks, including employee paychecks, and had not paid rent or other liabilities or employee insurance premiums since Smith’s Oct. 4 sentencing, the office said.
Two days after Smith’s incarceration, the company’s employees were informed their weekly Friday paychecks would be delayed until Tuesday due to lack of funds. By Monday evening, Tomy Kot, the company’s general manager, was calling employees to tell them the company had been shut down and they would not be receiving their last two weeks’ worth of pay.
- See more at: http://www.inman.com/2013/12/11/eshowings-shuts-down-after-founder-reports-to-prison/?utm_source=20131212&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dailyheadlinesam#sthash.mdg0tMcD.dpuf
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
7 Ways to Grow Your Blog With Pinterest | Pound Ridge Realtor
Would you like more traffic to your blog?
Are you looking for creative ways to use Pinterest to benefit your business blog?
Pinterest offers a robust path to help you build your blog.
You can use Pinterest to find content for your blog, grow your audience and increase your website traffic.
In this article, I’ll show you 7 easy ways to use Pinterest to grow your business blog and engage further with your online audience.
Create secret boards for your blog post ideas and use them as placeholders for images, videos, quotes, etc. that you want to blog about in the future. Curate boards for single posts, a series you’re working on, even potential guest bloggers.
Remember, secret Pinterest boards are only visible to you. You can use them to curate content ideas securely for your business blog.
Check Your Keywords
Because Pinterest is keyword search–friendly, you can easily search for and find pins associated with the focus of your blog. Simply go to the search box at the top left of the Pinterest site and enter a keyword related to your blog.
Scroll through the tabs to find recurring themes or items and topics that have high repin rates, a lot of likes and generate a large number of comments. Add the topics that make sense to your content calendar and create your own popular posts.
Remember, the more on-point your content, the more likely it is to be shared across other social media sites.
Look for Interesting Images
Whether they’re related to your topic or not, you’re likely to stumble upon a pinned image of an idea, picture, service or product that encourages you to think outside the box and write a post that stretches you. Add it to your secret board for a future article.
Pinterest can be a useful source of inspiration for your business blogging topics.
For example, food blogger Stephanie Manley of CopyKat Recipes says that Pinterest drives more traffic to her blog than Facebook and Twitter combined. “What I love about Pinterest is that boards are curated by real people. Thanks to them, my website receives about 10,000 additional unique visitors a month.”
http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/grow-your-blog-with-pinterest/
Are you looking for creative ways to use Pinterest to benefit your business blog?
Pinterest offers a robust path to help you build your blog.
You can use Pinterest to find content for your blog, grow your audience and increase your website traffic.
In this article, I’ll show you 7 easy ways to use Pinterest to grow your business blog and engage further with your online audience.
#1: Create a Blog Think Tank
Are you constantly clipping articles, studies, posts and pictures and placing them in an idea folder—online or off? Pinterest is tailor-made for doing this quickly and easily online.Create secret boards for your blog post ideas and use them as placeholders for images, videos, quotes, etc. that you want to blog about in the future. Curate boards for single posts, a series you’re working on, even potential guest bloggers.
You can use secret boards as placeholders for content you may want to use in the future.
Remember, secret Pinterest boards are only visible to you. You can use them to curate content ideas securely for your business blog.
#2: Search Pinterest for New Content Inspiration
It’s no secret that business bloggers face the constant need to churn out fresh content. When you struggle to come up with something new, turn to Pinterest and find a treasure trove of ideas for a single post or a series of articles that will interest your readers.Check Your Keywords
Because Pinterest is keyword search–friendly, you can easily search for and find pins associated with the focus of your blog. Simply go to the search box at the top left of the Pinterest site and enter a keyword related to your blog.
Scroll through the tabs to find recurring themes or items and topics that have high repin rates, a lot of likes and generate a large number of comments. Add the topics that make sense to your content calendar and create your own popular posts.
A search for the keyword “backpacking” shows a trending interest in food-related content.
Look for Interesting Images
Whether they’re related to your topic or not, you’re likely to stumble upon a pinned image of an idea, picture, service or product that encourages you to think outside the box and write a post that stretches you. Add it to your secret board for a future article.
Pinterest can be a useful source of inspiration for your business blogging topics.
#3: Write Articles That Relate to Pinterest’s Most Popular Categories
A 2012 report by RJMetrics showed that the most popular categories and topics on Pinterest are:- Home (17.2%)
- Arts and Crafts (12.4%)
- Style/Fashion (11.7%)
- Food (10.5%)
- Inspiration/Education (9.0%)
- Holidays/Seasonal (3.9%)
- Humor (2.1%)
- Products (2.1%)
- Travel (1.9%)
- Kids (1.8%)
For example, food blogger Stephanie Manley of CopyKat Recipes says that Pinterest drives more traffic to her blog than Facebook and Twitter combined. “What I love about Pinterest is that boards are curated by real people. Thanks to them, my website receives about 10,000 additional unique visitors a month.”
http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/grow-your-blog-with-pinterest/
Here comes the 'party house' | Bedford Hills Homes
In the years immediately following the housing bust in late 2007, real estate agents focused on functionality and facts, such as the square footage and condition of the house, to convince buyers that they were getting a good deal. Now with the market improving, sellers are seeking to establish an emotional connection with buyers by focusing on lifestyle features instead.
As a result, nearly 2 percent of homes on the market are described as "perfect for entertaining" — or one out of every 64 homes, according to an analysis by real estate brokerage ZipRealty. That is a 15 percent increase over the past year. ZipRealty examined listings in 24 major metro areas from the first quarter to the third quarter of 2013 compared with the same period in 2012.
http://realestate.msn.com/blogs/post--here-comes-the-party-house
As a result, nearly 2 percent of homes on the market are described as "perfect for entertaining" — or one out of every 64 homes, according to an analysis by real estate brokerage ZipRealty. That is a 15 percent increase over the past year. ZipRealty examined listings in 24 major metro areas from the first quarter to the third quarter of 2013 compared with the same period in 2012.
http://realestate.msn.com/blogs/post--here-comes-the-party-house
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Monday, December 9, 2013
Chicago Housing Boom Ran Out Of Steam in November | Katonah NY Homes
After 20 consecutive months of double digit growth in home sales the Chicago real estate market is ending the year with rather flat year over year sales. When the Illinois Association of Realtors announces the official numbers in a week and a half they are likely to report a slight decline of about 0.3% - basically flat. In reality there was ever so slight growth of about 2.5% - just enough to allow us to claim 29 consecutive months of year over years home sales growth. This was totally expected as contract activity has been slowing down and contracts lead closings by about a month or two.
Given the extremely low levels of home inventories (more on that below) I have to believe that home sales could be a lot stronger. The demand is there, with numerous buyers on the sidelines waiting for the right property to come along. It's just that the supply is not there.
The November sales numbers were pretty much in the middle of the pack over the last 17 years or somewhere between the Novembers of 2001 and 2002 - a long time ago.
The IAR press release will also mention that median home prices were up 11.1%. What this primarily means is that the mix of homes sold is skewing higher but watch the journalists discuss rising prices as if it's the same thing.
Pending Home Sales
Chicago homes that remain under contract at the end of November (essentially pending home sales) declined once again from the previous month to 4292, which means that more homes either closed or had their contracts terminated than went under contract. This is normal at this time of the year. However, when viewed relative to the current sales rate the months of supply of pending homes actually went up a tad to a 2.4 month supply.
http://www.chicagonow.com/getting-real/2013/12/chicago-real-estate-market-ran-out-of-steam-november/
Given the extremely low levels of home inventories (more on that below) I have to believe that home sales could be a lot stronger. The demand is there, with numerous buyers on the sidelines waiting for the right property to come along. It's just that the supply is not there.
The November sales numbers were pretty much in the middle of the pack over the last 17 years or somewhere between the Novembers of 2001 and 2002 - a long time ago.
The IAR press release will also mention that median home prices were up 11.1%. What this primarily means is that the mix of homes sold is skewing higher but watch the journalists discuss rising prices as if it's the same thing.
Chicago Home Contract Activity
Well, this is the metric that tells us where the market is going and it's looking rather flat, which is how we already know that at least December closings will again be basically flat. I'm estimating that after accounting for contract terminations November contracts will actually be 1.6% below last year.
Pending Home Sales
Chicago homes that remain under contract at the end of November (essentially pending home sales) declined once again from the previous month to 4292, which means that more homes either closed or had their contracts terminated than went under contract. This is normal at this time of the year. However, when viewed relative to the current sales rate the months of supply of pending homes actually went up a tad to a 2.4 month supply.
http://www.chicagonow.com/getting-real/2013/12/chicago-real-estate-market-ran-out-of-steam-november/
Best Ways to Use Radiant Orchid | North Salem Real Estate
I must confess, I was not a huge fan of Pantone’s 2013 Color of the Year, Emerald, as I tend to prefer greens that have more yellow in them (chartreuse) or blue (turquoise). So I was pleased to see Pantone’s new Color of the Year for 2014, Radiant Orchid — mostly because it represents a complete 180-degree shift from Emerald, as the colors are opposite each other on the color wheel. Let’s take a look at this head-turning — and sometimes head-shaking — color.
Wondering exactly what color Radiant Orchid is?
Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, says, “An enchanting harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones, [it] inspires confidence and emanates great joy, love and health. It is a captivating purple, one that draws you in with its beguiling charm.”
Sounds good, but I was curious to find out people’s reaction to the color.
Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, says, “An enchanting harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones, [it] inspires confidence and emanates great joy, love and health. It is a captivating purple, one that draws you in with its beguiling charm.”
Sounds good, but I was curious to find out people’s reaction to the color.
I conducted an informal and completely unscientific poll among my friends on social media, and Radiant Orchid got mixed reviews. One of my friends commented that she likes this color for orchids, and that’s about it. Another friend finds it insipid and too similar to mauve — a color she associates with dental offices from the ’80s. Ouch!
But another friend thought the color would work well for one of her quilting projects, perhaps used with shades of gray or soft green.
A poll conducted by Houzz showed similar mixed feelings, so I decided to find examples of successful uses of the color to see if I could change some minds.
But another friend thought the color would work well for one of her quilting projects, perhaps used with shades of gray or soft green.
A poll conducted by Houzz showed similar mixed feelings, so I decided to find examples of successful uses of the color to see if I could change some minds.
Here’s a nice example of how to use Radiant Orchid in a room, via an area rug. Because it’s rather bold, the color packs a nice punch when used as an accent through furnishings and accessories.
And not that I advocate changing out the colors in your home every year with each passing color trend, but an area rug is a smart way to use a bold color in your home; if you grow tired of the sassy hue, it’s easy to replace it.
While I would advise against painting all four walls of a room in orchid, it does make a terrific accent wall color. Pair it with plenty of neutrals, such as white, gray and tan, to let it take center stage and keep it from clashing with other bold colors.
Where are these movie homes? | Chappaqua Homes
Where are these movie homes?
'Bad Santa'
When Willie T. Stokes (Billy Bob Thornton) and his partner Marcus (who played him?) set up their next Christmas day heist in this southwestern city, he ends up at the lavish home of a young bullied boy who thinks he's actually Santa. Throughout the crude comedy, the criminal actually helps the boy make some strides in standing up for himself. The house where a lot of the action takes place was quite big and spacious, but one thing is certain — it's not located where the movie is set.http://realestate.msn.com/where-are-these-movie-homes#3
Friday, December 6, 2013
When to Choose Wood Heat | Mt Kisco Real Estate
The significance of wood heat as an energy resource can be seen during a drive through small towns or down country lanes: The long lines of piled firewood in the yards prove that heating with wood remains a viable option.
Every winter, people who choose to heat with wood devote time to cutting up logs, and every spring they split the logs and stack them in rows to dry under the summer sun. In fall they move firewood to the house and stack it again, and in winter they burn it to warm their homes as they begin cutting again for the next year’s supply.
Why do so many households in forested areas choose to heat with wood — a bulky, messy and labor-intensive fuel source? Firewood is a homegrown energy resource that helps families stretch their household budgets, strengthen their local economies and continue a generations-long tradition.
Yet the topic of fuelwood is all but missing from energy policy debates — few politicians discuss its merits or plan for its strategic use. (Industrial wood energy, however, is getting some attention. A recent report from Duke University points out that advanced wood-combustion technologies can be used to cleanly burn wood to generate electricity. The report shows that this renewable power source could be quickly developed to provide more power in the United States than we currently get from hydroelectric sources. To learn more about this report, read Cleaner Energy From Firewood.)
Wood heating mostly attracts attention when people discuss pollution. Wood smoke has caused real problems in small towns and large cities throughout North America, and an increasing number of activists clamor to have wood burning banned from their communities because of its associated air pollution. Some environmentalists warn that an increase in firewood use would damage forests. As a result, wood burning has become more often identified as a problem to be solved rather than an opportunity to be harvested. Fuelwood is a renewable energy resource that most governments — and even some renewable energy advocates — don’t seem comfortable with.
It is not my intention to trivialize the environmental impacts of wood heating or to deflect concerns by emphasizing the pollution from other energy sources. Wood-burning technology has greatly improved over the past 25 years, however, and I believe wood heating should remain a part of our energy discussions. For example, upgrading to an advanced woodstove can reduce a household’s smoke output from wood by as much as 90 percent!
Just as noticeable as new stoves’ reduction in visible smoke is the increased efficiency that results from newer models burning — not wasting — the energy-rich smoke. Efficiency is expressed as the percent of potential energy in the fuel that’s delivered as useful heat to the house. Older woodstoves range in efficiency from about 35 percent for a cast-iron box stove or furnace to 55 percent for some 1980s-era airtight stoves. Most old outdoor boilers are less than 50 percent efficient. By contrast, EPA-certified woodstoves average about 70 percent efficiency, and none is less than 60 percent efficient. The newer generations of EPA-certified outdoor boilers are also much more efficient. (For more details on the advantages of EPA-certified stoves, see our Woodstove Buyer’s Guide.)
Despite fuelwood’s considerable advantages, not all households can solve the problems of rising home heating costs and global warming by heating with wood. Firewood is not a great home heating fuel in densely populated urban areas because its emissions tend to be higher than other options, and the air in urban areas is already burdened with pollution from factories and vehicles.
But large parts of North America are relatively thinly populated and have highly productive forests — these are the regions where wood heating makes sense. Forests need to be managed sustainably, but the methods to do so are now well-known: selective harvesting, thinning of dense stands, removal of poorer-quality trees, leaving seed trees of all present species and ages, and allowing some standing dead trees to provide wildlife habitat.
“Net energy” is the usable amount of energy left after extracting, processing and transporting an energy commodity to market. Natural firewood has a very high net energy ratio compared with almost all other options because it needs little processing, much of which can be done with human labor. This bodes well for fuelwood’s price stability in the future. Price stability is not likely for fossil fuels, because the net energy goes way down and the retail price goes way up as easily accessible deposits are depleted. Declining net energy is the biggest reason oil prices are now so high. (Read How Much Energy Does It Take to Get Our Energy? for more information on net energy costs.)
Considering the rising cost of conventional fuels, households located outside major urban centers that have access to forests can save some money by heating with wood. A household that heats with wood trades its own labor for big savings in home operating expenses. Depending on climate zone and other available fuel options, a household that produces its own fuelwood supply can save $2,000 or more each year. Plus, consider the intangible, non-monetary benefits:
Read more: http://www.motherearthnews.com/print.aspx?id={9DCA907C-2E3D-4D54-B3FE-7BF3CC3F9A49}#ixzz2mhsSyR3u
Every winter, people who choose to heat with wood devote time to cutting up logs, and every spring they split the logs and stack them in rows to dry under the summer sun. In fall they move firewood to the house and stack it again, and in winter they burn it to warm their homes as they begin cutting again for the next year’s supply.
Why do so many households in forested areas choose to heat with wood — a bulky, messy and labor-intensive fuel source? Firewood is a homegrown energy resource that helps families stretch their household budgets, strengthen their local economies and continue a generations-long tradition.
Wood Heat: Understand the Pros and Cons
During tough economic times, more people turn to heating with wood. The U.S. Energy Information Administration data released in October 2012 projects that more than 2.6 million households will heat their homes with wood this year, which is a 3 percent increase over last year.Yet the topic of fuelwood is all but missing from energy policy debates — few politicians discuss its merits or plan for its strategic use. (Industrial wood energy, however, is getting some attention. A recent report from Duke University points out that advanced wood-combustion technologies can be used to cleanly burn wood to generate electricity. The report shows that this renewable power source could be quickly developed to provide more power in the United States than we currently get from hydroelectric sources. To learn more about this report, read Cleaner Energy From Firewood.)
Wood heating mostly attracts attention when people discuss pollution. Wood smoke has caused real problems in small towns and large cities throughout North America, and an increasing number of activists clamor to have wood burning banned from their communities because of its associated air pollution. Some environmentalists warn that an increase in firewood use would damage forests. As a result, wood burning has become more often identified as a problem to be solved rather than an opportunity to be harvested. Fuelwood is a renewable energy resource that most governments — and even some renewable energy advocates — don’t seem comfortable with.
It is not my intention to trivialize the environmental impacts of wood heating or to deflect concerns by emphasizing the pollution from other energy sources. Wood-burning technology has greatly improved over the past 25 years, however, and I believe wood heating should remain a part of our energy discussions. For example, upgrading to an advanced woodstove can reduce a household’s smoke output from wood by as much as 90 percent!
Woodstove Efficiency
Emissions from older, conventional woodstoves average at least 25 grams of smoke particulates (almost an ounce) per hour of operation, and the emissions from older, wood-fired outdoor boilers range from 50 to more than 100 grams per hour. By contrast, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limits emissions of certified woodstoves to no more than 7.5 grams per hour. Since the regulation was established in 1988, the average emissions of certified stoves have declined steadily because of advances in technology and competition among manufacturers. Today, most new woodstove models emit only 2 to 4 grams per hour.Just as noticeable as new stoves’ reduction in visible smoke is the increased efficiency that results from newer models burning — not wasting — the energy-rich smoke. Efficiency is expressed as the percent of potential energy in the fuel that’s delivered as useful heat to the house. Older woodstoves range in efficiency from about 35 percent for a cast-iron box stove or furnace to 55 percent for some 1980s-era airtight stoves. Most old outdoor boilers are less than 50 percent efficient. By contrast, EPA-certified woodstoves average about 70 percent efficiency, and none is less than 60 percent efficient. The newer generations of EPA-certified outdoor boilers are also much more efficient. (For more details on the advantages of EPA-certified stoves, see our Woodstove Buyer’s Guide.)
Wood as a Renewable Energy Resource
These days, there is plenty of debate over what to do about climate-changing carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels. But firewood literally grows on trees, and the ability of a woodlot to regenerate is the secret to its status as a renewable energy resource. Wood is about half carbon by weight, but its use as a fuel is almost carbon dioxide-neutral, because trees absorb CO2 as they grow. When trees fall in the forest, the same amount of CO2 is emitted when they decompose as is released when they are burned for heat.Despite fuelwood’s considerable advantages, not all households can solve the problems of rising home heating costs and global warming by heating with wood. Firewood is not a great home heating fuel in densely populated urban areas because its emissions tend to be higher than other options, and the air in urban areas is already burdened with pollution from factories and vehicles.
But large parts of North America are relatively thinly populated and have highly productive forests — these are the regions where wood heating makes sense. Forests need to be managed sustainably, but the methods to do so are now well-known: selective harvesting, thinning of dense stands, removal of poorer-quality trees, leaving seed trees of all present species and ages, and allowing some standing dead trees to provide wildlife habitat.
Benefits and Costs of Heating With Wood
Economists focus on the monetary cost of energy, but the net energy cost can provide better insight into environmental costs and the underlying reasons for the monetary cost.“Net energy” is the usable amount of energy left after extracting, processing and transporting an energy commodity to market. Natural firewood has a very high net energy ratio compared with almost all other options because it needs little processing, much of which can be done with human labor. This bodes well for fuelwood’s price stability in the future. Price stability is not likely for fossil fuels, because the net energy goes way down and the retail price goes way up as easily accessible deposits are depleted. Declining net energy is the biggest reason oil prices are now so high. (Read How Much Energy Does It Take to Get Our Energy? for more information on net energy costs.)
Considering the rising cost of conventional fuels, households located outside major urban centers that have access to forests can save some money by heating with wood. A household that heats with wood trades its own labor for big savings in home operating expenses. Depending on climate zone and other available fuel options, a household that produces its own fuelwood supply can save $2,000 or more each year. Plus, consider the intangible, non-monetary benefits:
- The beauty and ambience created by a fire burning behind clear glass doors
- The special warmth given off by a woodstove located in a main living area
- The satisfaction one feels in mastering self-sufficient home heating, largely through personal labor and ingenuity
- The sense of security, both in terms of energy price stability and in the ability to remain fed and comfortable during electrical power interruptions
- The investment in a new woodstove and, if necessary, a new chimney
- The space needed to store a winter’s supply of firewood outside the house, and space indoors for a few days’ supply
- The physical strength and stamina required to split, move and stack firewood, or the effort of finding and purchasing wood from other sources
- The time spent gathering the fuel supply, tending the fire and dealing with regular maintenance, such as cleanup of wood chips, bark and wood ash
Read more: http://www.motherearthnews.com/print.aspx?id={9DCA907C-2E3D-4D54-B3FE-7BF3CC3F9A49}#ixzz2mhsSyR3u
Thursday, December 5, 2013
With Aging Population, Elevators More Popular in New Homes | Cross River Homes
Developers are luring downsizing baby boomers with elevators, a luxury feature that offers convenience now and the promise of easier movement as they age.
Business for Newtown, Pa.-based Bell Elevator Co. Inc. is up 25 percent over the last year, said Tom Reavy, owner of the six-year-old residential-elevator firm.
The aging U.S. population and the lower cost of installation — about $25,000 now compared with nearly $60,000 two decades ago — are two factors driving elevators’ growing popularity, Reavy said.
In real estate, targeting the over-55 demographic once meant single-story ranchers. But today, the lifts — which are still popular in suburban mansions — are becoming more common in townhouse developments, he said.
The National Association of Elevator Contractors did not have figures on the increasing presence of elevators in the home, but local industry observers agreed that the demand for them has grown.
Of the 27 completed Artisan Townhouses along the 1400 blocks of Bainbridge, Pemberton and Kater Streets in Philadelphia, 13 have elevators, said Scott Neifel, sales manager of Philadelphia-based Plumer & Associates Inc. Realtors.
The lone unsold property does not have an elevator, and, Neifel said, it probably would have sold if it had one. All eight homes in the next phase, which will begin in February at the southwest corner of Broad and Fitzwater Streets, will include elevators, he added.
“We are seeing them in just about any new development over a certain height,” said Matt Pincus, owner of West Chester, Pa.-based Pincus Elevator Co.
Elevators are a feature often expected in newly constructed homes of four stories or more, Pincus said.
An elevator can serve as a “glorified dumbwaiter” for carting luggage or groceries between floors, Neifel said. Still, not all downsizing suburbanites are interested in them.
http://rismedia.com/2013-12-04/with-aging-population-elevators-more-popular-in-new-homes/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=eNews
Business for Newtown, Pa.-based Bell Elevator Co. Inc. is up 25 percent over the last year, said Tom Reavy, owner of the six-year-old residential-elevator firm.
The aging U.S. population and the lower cost of installation — about $25,000 now compared with nearly $60,000 two decades ago — are two factors driving elevators’ growing popularity, Reavy said.
In real estate, targeting the over-55 demographic once meant single-story ranchers. But today, the lifts — which are still popular in suburban mansions — are becoming more common in townhouse developments, he said.
The National Association of Elevator Contractors did not have figures on the increasing presence of elevators in the home, but local industry observers agreed that the demand for them has grown.
Of the 27 completed Artisan Townhouses along the 1400 blocks of Bainbridge, Pemberton and Kater Streets in Philadelphia, 13 have elevators, said Scott Neifel, sales manager of Philadelphia-based Plumer & Associates Inc. Realtors.
The lone unsold property does not have an elevator, and, Neifel said, it probably would have sold if it had one. All eight homes in the next phase, which will begin in February at the southwest corner of Broad and Fitzwater Streets, will include elevators, he added.
“We are seeing them in just about any new development over a certain height,” said Matt Pincus, owner of West Chester, Pa.-based Pincus Elevator Co.
Elevators are a feature often expected in newly constructed homes of four stories or more, Pincus said.
An elevator can serve as a “glorified dumbwaiter” for carting luggage or groceries between floors, Neifel said. Still, not all downsizing suburbanites are interested in them.
http://rismedia.com/2013-12-04/with-aging-population-elevators-more-popular-in-new-homes/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=eNews
Canada’s Big Housing Markets Avoid Autumn Chill | Waccabuc Real Estate
While it wasn’t a chilly autumn for housing markets in the greater Toronto or
greater Vancouver areas, with both posting gain in prices and sales activity, it
wasn’t overly hot either.
In Toronto and its suburbs, the average sale price in November rose just over 11%, to 538,881 Canadian dollars ($504,098) from the same month last year, according to the Greater Toronto Area Realtors group. On the surface that looks like a big jump, but it partly reflects the sales mix.
In the latest period, there was a higher concentration of detached, single-family houses sold, which generally cost more than condominium units. In the year-ago period, sales of those higher-end homes had stalled, in part because of a new set of mortgage restrictions that effectively required bigger downpayments for homes that cost more than C$1 million.
The MLS Home Price Index Composite Benchmark, which levels out the housing mix, reveals a more modest, 5.7% price increase among like-for-like domiciles in Toronto. And while that’s strong, it’s not unreasonably so, says Robert Kavcic, senior economist at BMO Capital Markets in Toronto.
In general, policymakers look for prices nationally to grow at or slightly below the rate of incomes, he said, which is currently about 4% across Canada.
So, while Toronto’s home prices are running slightly ahead of that rate, Vancouver’s are running well below.
http://blogs.wsj.com/canadarealtime/2013/12/04/canadas-big-housing-markets-avoid-autumn-chill/
In Toronto and its suburbs, the average sale price in November rose just over 11%, to 538,881 Canadian dollars ($504,098) from the same month last year, according to the Greater Toronto Area Realtors group. On the surface that looks like a big jump, but it partly reflects the sales mix.
In the latest period, there was a higher concentration of detached, single-family houses sold, which generally cost more than condominium units. In the year-ago period, sales of those higher-end homes had stalled, in part because of a new set of mortgage restrictions that effectively required bigger downpayments for homes that cost more than C$1 million.
The MLS Home Price Index Composite Benchmark, which levels out the housing mix, reveals a more modest, 5.7% price increase among like-for-like domiciles in Toronto. And while that’s strong, it’s not unreasonably so, says Robert Kavcic, senior economist at BMO Capital Markets in Toronto.
In general, policymakers look for prices nationally to grow at or slightly below the rate of incomes, he said, which is currently about 4% across Canada.
So, while Toronto’s home prices are running slightly ahead of that rate, Vancouver’s are running well below.
http://blogs.wsj.com/canadarealtime/2013/12/04/canadas-big-housing-markets-avoid-autumn-chill/
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