5 style rules to take any room from boring to bold | Armonk Real Estate

Every designer has his or her own style rules. Over the years, I’ve honed mine down to the top five that I come back to again and again. Follow these ideas — or break them if you see fit — and I guarantee you’ll be able to take any space from feeling like it’s a boring, everyday thing to something you love every day.

mb design studio

1. A midcentury piece. I’m a huge believer in always using at least one midcentury modern element for a number of reasons. For one thing, the design period, despite no longer being technically “modern” (in the sense that it’s now technically a retro style from the past century), still feels current and timeless.

Toronto Interior Design Group | Yanic Simard

Modern pieces work well in virtually any space, whether contemporary or traditional. I love the pairing of this classic Eileen Gray table with the curvy traditional chest and soft bedding, adding just one punch of truly modern style to keep this room from feeling too formal.

Holly Marder

One of the easiest ways to introduce a modern piece is through seating. Midcentury chairs are always stylish with traditional wood tables for that old-world, new-world mix.

See why people love midcentury modern design

Plyroom

2. A touch of white and a touch of black. Our eyes expect to see a full spectrum of colors, and how we perceive a space can change based on the range of colors represented. This is why I try to always include at least a hint of white and a touch of black in each space. White is often easy, but be mindful of adding black accents. Black picture frames and other elements on white backgrounds will make sure both ends of the spectrum are represented and balanced.

Young Folk

Notice how this room has a lot of off-white but still includes a little pure white, which helps reveal the undertones of the other shades. Pure black can be easily introduced through lamps with black bases or cottage-inspired cage shades, as seen here.

See 12 gorgeous black and white bathrooms

Douglas C. Wright Architects

3. A mix of textures. Whether your space is bold and colorful or subdued and neutral, a truly designed look involves a mix of textures for that subtle richness. Besides different upholstery textures, like cotton, burlap, hides, linens, silks and sheers, you should always strive to include some wood, metal and glass. The materials in this no-fail trio are easy to mix and will add lots of depth.

(Also notice again how this room includes small accents of black while still feeling very airy and open.)

Steele Street Studios

Other textures to consider mixing in:

• Woven baskets
• Smooth woods (vs. worn-in woods)
• Plant life
• Plastic (such as Lucite chairs)
• Wool or cashmere
• Exposed bulbs (the glow is almost like its own texture)

When in doubt, add a midcentury chair with metal details, and you’ve covered two rules at once!

Gastón y Daniela

4. Personal imperfection. Besides all the perfectly chosen materials, a space should have at least once piece that speaks to a sense of history, with some true vintage character or personal meaning.

These vintage suitcases make a beautifully quirky side table, balancing the sleek bedding and custom drapery to make sure nothing is too perfect.

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http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/51989473?utm_source=Houzz&utm_campaign=u1602&utm_medium=email&utm_content=gallery15

Al Capone's Fantastically Historic Miami House | #Armonk Real Estate

[All photos courtesy MB America]

In case you've ever wanted to see what it's like inside a notorious gangster's home, you will be happy to learn that the interiors of Al Capone's 1922 Mediterranean Revival estate on Palm Island are prepped and camera ready for the next booty-poppin' Rick Ross music video or riveting Telemundo novela. The 93-year old historic home recently underwent a major renovation spearheaded by Miami-based, Italian-run MB America, which has taken charge of the property's purchase, renovation and management. According to MB America CEO Marco Bruzzi, the property was acquired for around $8M and has so far had $1.4M in renovations. The architecture and design of the Capone compound renovation is led by MB America co-founder and architect Monica Melotti. According to her, the project is 75% complete and will be ready to lease this May.

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http://miami.curbed.com/archives/2015/03/26/

Appraisers: Does CU Mean See You Later? | Armonk Real Estate

Will Fannie Mae’s roll out this year of Collateral Underwriter (CU), its proprietary automated appraisal risk assessment tool, reduce appraisers to be nothing more than servants of a computerized tool?  Or is it “just another tool that is reviewing appraisers just as other processes have all along.” as a Fannie spokesperson put it?

Will it meld underwriting and appraisal into one operation, providing both borrower and lender faster and more accurate answers”  Is it the newest Big Data arrow in the GSE’s quiver to reduce lender risk and prevent fraud and help appraisers deliver more accurate valuations?  Or will the appraisal process become subject to the same inflexibility that created the credit box and to bureaucratic decision-making that keeps Fannie two generations behind in the use of the latest FICO models?

Collateral Underwriter leverages an extensive database of property records, market data, and proprietary analytical models to analyze key components of each appraisal, including data integrity, comparable selection, adjustments, and reconciliation. Coverage may vary slightly from market to market, but it is able to score approximately 97% of appraisal submissions nationwide. It has been used internally at the GSE for years.  Now the decision has been made that it is ready for prime time.

Effective earlier this week, on January 26, 2015, Fannie Mae introduced an appraisal risk score, flags, and new messages from Collateral Underwriter into its Uniform Collateral Data Portal (UCDP).  Lenders can voluntarily submit appraisals and receive feedback; submissions are voluntary—at least for now—lenders are sell to Fannie are “strongly encouraged” to use the system.  CU will provide a numerical risk score from 1.0 to 5.0, with 1 indicating the lowest risk and 5 indicating the highest risk. Twenty-one Risk flags will identify appraisals with heightened risk of quality issues, overvaluation, and property eligibility or policy compliance violations and messages identify risk factors and specific aspects of the appraisal that may require further attention.

The jury is out on how CU will impact residential real estate, but one thing is clear.  It will be much more than a backstop for lenders to check up on whether an appraisal could cause them future problems when the time comes to sell a loan to Fannie.   Fannie has already announced plans to will make it available to lenders to “support proactive management of appraisal quality and help lenders more effectively and efficiently identify issues with appraisals.

There’s no doubt CU will become, as its name says, and underwriting tool for property for lenders just as DU is a tool for underwriting the loan.   “CU will be integrated with DU® (Desktop Underwriter) in the first half of 2015 to give lenders a holistic view of risk. This will provide a foundation for future waiver of representations and warranties on value, and we are working with our regulator, FHFA, on timing and details,” Fannie says in its FAQ.

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http://www.realestateeconomywatch.com/2015/01/does-cu-mean-see-you-later/

Here Now, a Monochromatic Look at 1980s Chinatown | Armonk Real Estate

6 images

Photos via My Modern Met
Photographer Bud Glick, who in the 1980s wandered the streets of New York on an anthropological mission, writes that, at that time, "an older generation" of Chinatown's denizens were being replaced by a "rapidly expanding new influx of immigration." His series Chinatown, NY was his attempt to document the neighborhood's transformation. For three years he brought his camera to the the hub in lower Manhattan, not doing much with the negatives for some three decades. A generation later, he's pulled them out and started digitally editing them. "When you look at images from another time, often many years later, you see things you didn't see before [...] your photographic style may have been a certain way but we also evolve."

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http://curbed.com/archives/2014/11/14/chinatown-1980s-photographer.php

US mortgage refinancing surges to highest in a year | Armonk Real Estate

The march lower in US government bond yields is rippling out into the real economy.

A drop in 30-year Treasury yields to fresh lows for the year has dragged the rate on 30-year mortgages - those favoured by Americans - down with it, encouraging homeowners to refinance existing home loans on better terms.

Demand to refinance mortgages jumped 23 per cent to the highest level since November, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) said on Wednesday.

Refinancing accounted for 65 per cent of mortgage volumes last week, according to the gauges published by the MBA, the highest share since December.

Mike Fratantoni, the chief economist at the MBA, said:

"Mortgage rates have fallen close to 30 basis points over the last four weeks. Refinance application volume reached the highest level since November 2013 as a result, and the average loan balance for refinance applications increased to $306,400, the highest level in the survey's history.

Meanwhile, an index of demand for mortgages to buy homes fell 5 per cent from a week ago, the MBA said.

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http://www.ft.com/fastft/224602/post-224602

Why a Slowdown in Housing Prices Is Great News | Armonk Homes

Why a Slowdown in Housing Prices Is Great News - NYTimes.com

Cash sales drop to lowest level since May 2010 | Armonk Real Estate

The share of homes purchased in cash continued its decline in May, falling to 34.4% of total home sales, which represents the lowest share of cash sales since May 2010.

May’s cash sales were down from April, when 36.9% of the sales were all-cash, and down from May 2013, when cash sales made up 37.4% of the total home sales, according to a new report from Corelogic (CLGX).

“The share has fallen on a year-over-year basis each month since January 2013,” Corelogic said in the report. “Prior to the housing crisis, the cash sales share of total home sales averaged approximately 25%. The peak occurred in January 2011, when cash transactions made up 46.2% of total home sales.”

Of the 34.4% of total sales that were made in cash, 55.5% were of real estate owned homes.
Re-sales made up 34%, short sales were 32.8% and newly constructed homes were 16.8%.
“While the percentage of REO sales that were cash transactions remained high, REO transactions made up only 8.2% of total sales in May and therefore did not have a large influence on the overall cash sales share,” Corelogic said. “In January 2011, when the cash sales share was at its peak, REO sales made up 24% of total sales.”

The state of Florida, which has long ranked at or near the top of the cash sales rankings, had the largest share of cash sales in May at 53.4% of total sales. New York ranked second at 50.3%, Alabama was third with 48.9%, West Virginia was fourth at 48.3% and South Dakota rounded out the top five with 46.3%.



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http://www.housingwire.com/articles/31028-cash-sales-drop-to-lowest-level-since-may-2010

Here's evidence showing the housing “recovery” isn’t real | Armonk Real Estate

As I continue to follow and write about developments affecting the housing market I cannot help but notice an increase in reports and supporting articles that question the strength of this important component of the general economy in America.

In a piece authored by John Mason in The Street dated Jul. 31, “How Fast Can the U.S. Economy Grow With So Many Delinquent Loans?” Mr. Mason points to a recent report by the Urban Institute, “… that analyzed the credit files of 7 million Americans shows why the U.S. economy may not be as strong as [another recent] report from the Commerce Department on second-quarter growth may have indicated.”

Mason’s article continues to state that the government reported that GDP rose at a seasonally adjusted 4% annual rate in the second quarter, as compared to a decline of 2.1% during the first quarter, which as we know was revised downward to a staggering 2.9% contraction. I have also reported on this here at HousingWire. There continues to be conflicting reports about just how “strong” our economic recovery is, or has been.

The Urban Institute, as noted by Mason, reported that about one-third of adults in America who have a credit file have a report of debt that is in collection.



read more.....




http://www.housingwire.com/blogs/1-rewired/post/30926-heres-evidence-showing-the-housing-recovery-isnt-real

Tebow Buys Golf Estate in Florida | Armonk Real Estate

above

The huge home former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow closed on recently in Jacksonville is his first completion in a while. The out-of-work player — now a commentator — is headed back to his home state of Florida, where he just paid $1.4 million for a 6,525-square-foot home on a golf course.

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https://homes.yahoo.com/news/tim-tebow-buys-golf-estate-florida-225505712.html

Connecting to the Landscape in Melbourne | Armonk Homes

Moonah trees can live for hundreds of years. Their name alone conveys a sense of mysticism, but it is their ancient ties to the coastal Barwon Heads region of Australia that have made them local legends. As the trees age, their bark becomes increasingly gnarled and twisted, responding to the surrounding environment and conditions. Like the cypress trees of Monterey, the baobab trees of Madagascar and the giant sequoias of California, these are regional icons, part of the landscape.

When architecture firm Auhaus was hired to build a house in Barwon Heads last year, they embraced these local natives: framing views of them, emulating their form and connecting with the landscape of the revered moonah tree. “The house was designed in conjunction with the landscape, and the two parts are inseparable,” says project architect Kate Fitzpatrick. “We wanted the house to be experienced as an extension of the site.”

Auhaus Architecture

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Photos by Trevor Mein

Houzz at a Glance
Location: Barwon Heads, a coastal town on the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia
Size: 2,906 square feet (270 square meters); 1,238 square feet (115 square meters) of decks
Year built: Fall of 2013

The home’s study sits on its top floor, overlooking the moonahs behind the house. Thick, shrubby dune vegetation grows between the house and a nearby golf course. Fitzpatrick framed this view with one large window. “We wanted to create serene yet engaging interior spaces that make you deeply aware of the space you are in and the landscape outside,” She says.

 

 

 

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http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/28124040?utm_source=Houzz&utm_campaign=u547&utm_medium=email&utm_content=gallery0

 

5 bizarre buildings that will probably never sell | Armonk NY Homes

Appraisers assess the value of a house off of a multitude of variables like similar houses in the area and what special amenities the house features. But what do they do when the building is uniquely designed?
Inspired by an article in Gizmodo, this list shows that not every building is created equal.
The real question is whether or not the buildings will ever be able to resell.
After all, what is the fair value of a duck in the housing market?

1. Longaberger Company – Newark, Ohio (pictured above)

This seven-story building is home to the corporate headquarters of the Longaberger Basket Company.
The building is 160 times larger that the company’s medium-market basket. But at least it holds the title of the world’s largest basket.
2. The Shoe House – Hellam, Pennsylvania

Built in 1948, the building is a wood frame structure covered with wire lath and coated with cement stucco. The giant shoe was created as a giant advertisement originally used as a guesthouse, complete with five different levels and three bedrooms.




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http://www.housingwire.com/blogs/1-rewired/post/30292-bizarre-buildings-that-will-probably-never-sell

Housing Trends You Can Expect to See in 2014 | Armonk Real Estate

The lackluster housing marketonline.wsj.comhousing market has plagued successful homeownerswww.bankrate.comhomeowners over the past few years. In 2013, it started to head down the road to recovery, finally showing signs of life. That same trendwww.bankrate.comtrend will continue in 2014, proving that the once-struggling independent housing analyst in Deerfield Beachonline.wsj.comhousing market is determined to bounce back. So what can you expect to see this year? More homes should be available, mortgage rates will increase, and housing prices should rise. Here’s a look at five trends that are anticipated to occur this year.

1. Inventory will rise

In 2013, a small supply of homes on the market drove up home prices quite a bit. In fact, the National Association of Realtors, a Washington trade group, called 2013 the “year of low inventory,” CBS News reports. However, that is not what we’ll be seeing in 2014. “New construction and rising prices should bring more homes, both new and old, on to the market in 2014, helping inventory return to traditional levels,” per Forbes. In addition, CBS News attributes the stabilizing inventory in part to cash-carrying investors, who are now exiting the housing market.

 

 

Read more: http://wallstcheatsheet.com/politics/5-housing-trends-you-can-expect-to-see-in-2014.html/?a=viewall#ixzz32Mtf8aAA

Did the Housing Market Finally Receive Some Good News? | Armonk Real Estate

The housing market finally received some good news. After reaching its worst level in over two years, pending home sales in the United States posted the first gain in nine months.

The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, increased 3.4 percent to 97.4 in March from an upwardly revised 94.2 in February, according to the latest report from the National Association of Realtors. On average, economists expected sales to only gain about 1 percent. However, sales are still 7.9 percent below the March 2013 level of 105.7. In February, pending home sales declined to their lowest reading since October 2011.
With better weather conditions and increased housing inventory, more activity is expected in the coming months. “After a dismal winter, more buyers got an opportunity to look at homes last month and are beginning to make contract offers,” said Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, in a press release. “Sales activity is expected to steadily pick up as more inventory reaches the market, and from ongoing job creation in the economy.”


read more...

http://wallstcheatsheet.com/personal-finance/did-the-housing-market-finally-receive-some-good-news.html/?ref=YF

The 9 Biggest Gardening Mistakes to Avoid | Armonk Real Estate

The 9 Biggest Gardening Mistakes to Avoid | Armonk Real Estate | Bedford New York Real Estate | Bedford NY Homes by Robert Paul Realtor

Armonk NY Real Estate Report | Armonk Homes

Armonk NY Weekly Real Estate Report	2/28/2014
Homes for sale	63
Median Ask Price	$1,829,000.00
Low Price	$699,000.00
High Price	$24,900,000.00
Average Size	5612
Average Price/foot	$457.00
Average DOM	153
Average Ask Price	$2,864,881.00

Freezing Long Island Ranked Hottest Market in January | Armonk NY Homes

Sacramento? San Diego? Nope, the nation’s hottest market in a frigid January was the Nassau-Suffolk CBSA according to Pro Teck Valuation Services’ January Home Value Forecast (HVF) update and much warmer Jacksonville ranked at the bottom with more than 80 percent of home sales due to foreclosure sales.

“Long Island leads Home Value Forecast’s ranking as the hottest real estate market in the nation in our January Home Value Forecast,” said Tom O’Grady, CEO of Pro Teck Valuation Services. “Many factors account for Long Island’s strong market, including foreclosures making up an inconsequential 2.18 percent of sales and available housing inventory at only 3.63 months. Looking at the extended forecast, we see Long Island reaching peak highs again within five years.”

This month’s Home Value Forecast update also includes a listing of the 10 best and 10 worst performing metros as ranked by its market condition ranking model. The rankings are run for the single family home markets in the top 200 CBSAs on a monthly basis. They highlight the best and worst metros with regard to a number of leading real estate market indicators, including: sales/listing activity and prices, months of remaining inventory (MRI), days on market (DOM), sold-to-list price ratio and foreclosure and REO activity.



http://www.realestateeconomywatch.com/2014/02/freezing-long-island-ranked-hottest-market-in-january/

Armonk Mortgage Rates | Armonk NY Homes

Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS^®), showing average fixed mortgage rates drifting slightly lower for the second consecutive week amid recent reports that inflation remains subdued.
News Facts

• 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.39 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending January 23, 2014, down from last week when it averaged 4.41 percent. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 3.42 percent.
  
• 15-year FRM this week averaged 3.44 percent with an average 0.7 point, down from last week when it averaged 3.45 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 2.71 percent.
  
• 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 3.15 percent this week with an average 0.5 point, up from last week when it averaged 3.10 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 2.67 percent.
  
• 1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 2.54 percent this week with an average 0.5 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.56 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 2.57 percent.
  

Average commitment rates should be reported along with average fees and points to reflect the total upfront cost of obtaining the mortgage. Visit the following links for the Regional and National Mortgage Rate Details and Definitions. Borrowers may still pay closing costs which are not included in the survey.
QuotesAttributed to Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist, Freddie Mac.
"Mortgage rates were flat to down a little this week amid reports that inflation remains subdued. The Consumer Price Index was up to 0.3 percent in December after being unchanged in November. For the year as a whole, consumer prices rose just 1.5 percent in 2013."
Freddie Mac was established by Congress in 1970 to provide liquidity, stability and affordability to the nation's residential mortgage markets. Freddie Mac supports communities across the nation by providing mortgage capital to lenders. Today Freddie Mac is making home possible for one in four home borrowers and is one of the largest sources of financing for multifamily housing. For more information please visit www.FreddieMac.com and Twitter: @FreddieMac.

Westchester Real Estate Shows Strong Quarterly, Yearly Growth | Armonk NY Homes

Westchester Real Estate Shows Strong Quarterly, Yearly Growth | Armonk NY Homes | Bedford New York Real Estate | Bedford NY Homes by Robert Paul Realtor

Toshiko Mori’s Glassy, Stilted ‘West Wind’ Asks $9.9M – House of the Day | Armonk Homes

Toshiko Mori’s Glassy, Stilted ‘West Wind’ Asks $9.9M – House of the Day | Armonk Homes | Bedford New York Real Estate | Bedford NY Homes by Robert Paul Realtor

How Rainwater Collection Works | Armonk NY Homes

How Rainwater Collection Works | Armonk NY Homes | Bedford New York Real Estate | Bedford NY Homes by Robert Paul Realtor