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

Harsh weather, tight supply sink U.S. home sales | North Salem NY Homes

Severe cold weather and a shortage of houses on the market pushed U.S. home resales to an 18-month low in January, the latest indication economic activity has hit a soft patch.
The National Association of Realtors said on Friday that home sales dropped 5.1 percent last month to an annual rate of 4.62 million units, the lowest level since July 2012.

The Realtors group said unseasonably cold weather was partly to blame, but it also acknowledged some fundamental weakness, with fewer homes on the market to choose from and higher mortgage rates and prices reducing affordability.

"Some housing activity will be delayed until spring," said Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist. "At the same time, we cannot ignore the ongoing headwinds of tight credit, limited inventory, higher prices and higher mortgage interest rates."

The 30-year fixed mortgage rate is about a full percentage point higher than it was a year ago, even though rates have come down a bit since hitting a two-year high in September.

Sales tumbled in the Northeast, South and Midwest, which were hit by snow storms and ice last month. But they were down 7.3 percent in the West, an indication that other factors apart from the weather also weighed on sales.

Home resales, which peaked in July, have declined in five of the last six months, and in January were down 5.1 percent from a year-ago.


http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/21/us-usa-economy-housing-idUSBREA1K16J20140221

Landlords could be on hook for tenant costs | Katonah Real Estate

A bill that would require property owners to pay for tenant relocation costs when a building is shut down for safety violations has been resurrected after it had gone nowhere in the City Council during the Bloomberg administration. Councilwoman Margaret Chin, D-Manhattan, introduced the bill Tuesday, which seeks to make building owners pick up the tab when residents are barred from returning home because of a fire or illegal or dangerous conditions. Last year, the city's Department of Buildings, just one of several agencies with this power, issued 1,496 partial-vacate orders that shut down a portion of a building and 346 full-vacate orders, though in both cases, some of the orders may reflect multiple violations at the same property.

The previous iteration of Ms. Chin's bill languished for nearly three years in the council before it officially died at the end of the old administration. A number of the bill's original co-sponsors now hold prominent positions in the City Council. They include Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, D-Manhattan—who wields the ultimate power to make or break legislation—and Councilman Jumaane Williams, D-Brooklyn, who chairs the Committee on Housing and Buildings, which would serve as the vehicle for Ms. Chin's proposal. Neither office commented on the bill. In addition, Mayor Bill de Blasio has also made housing and tenants' rights a cornerstone of his fledging administration.
A major source of infractions in Chinatown and elsewhere is the presence of illegal apartments, according to Ms. Chin. Her district, which includes Chinatown, was the site of three major vacate orders last year in which multi-family buildings were emptied out by city edict.



http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20140206/REAL_ESTATE/140209922/landlords-could-be-on-hook-for-tenant-costs

The best and worst housing markets in America right now | Bedford Hills Homes

The best and worst housing markets in America right now | Bedford Hills Homes | Bedford New York Real Estate | Bedford NY Homes by Robert Paul Realtor

Hybrid ARMs are Hot | Waccabuc NY Real Estate

Hybrid ARMs are Hot | Waccabuc NY Real Estate | Bedford New York Real Estate | Bedford NY Homes by Robert Paul Realtor

2 things that could torpedo home price gains | Katonah NY Real Estate

Home prices are gradually climbing nationwide, though there are strong headwinds that could kill any momentum coming from persistent labor market struggles and depressed median wages.
That’s the conclusion from the latest sustainable home price update from Fitch Ratings.

Home price growth in the western United States continues its near-record pace among a limited supply owing to the fact that new home sales are limited by low construction rates.

Existing inventory is also restricted by underwater borrowers unable to sell, and a surprising number of homes still mired in extended foreclosure proceedings.

"In markets with short supply, increased demand from institutional investors and individual borrowers returning to recovering markets has created the conditions for the sharp climb in prices," said Stefan Hilts, a director at Fitch.

As Housingwire has reported, unemployment appears to be down but a close look shows it’s not because jobs are being created but rather because people are dropping out of the workforce.
"Without a strong employment base, it is difficult to find sustainable support for the rapid growth in home prices across much of the country," said Hilts.




http://www.housingwire.com/articles/28785-things-that-could-torpedo-housing-price-gains

How to Network with Influential People Using Twitter | Mt Kisco Homes

Do you want to use Twitter to promote your business?
Are you looking for ways to build relationships that matter on Twitter?
In this article, you’ll discover how to build a strong Twitter community with influencers, which will benefit your business.

Building Connections With Twitter

Using Twitter to help your company grow isn’t about the number of followers you have.
It’s about building a community of followers who are passionate about your industry and who eventually become passionate about your brand.
The quickest and easiest way to develop a relevant Twitter community that grows your company is to find connectors and build relationships with them.
Connectors are called many things: thought leaders, industry experts, etc. They are the people who already have a thriving community and your customer’s ear.

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You can benefit from forming relationships with connectors on Twitter. Image source: iStockPhoto.

By building relationships with influencers, you increase the chances of gaining your customer’s ear and building your own strong community.

#1: Find the Influencers in Your Current Network

The best place to find connectors is in your current community; find influencers who are already following you.
By using Followerwonk, you can see your current Twitter followers ranked by a Followerwonk statistic known as social authority.
Followerwonk’s social authority is based on the retweet rate of users’ last few hundred tweets, the recentness of those tweets and a retweet-based model trained on user profile data. This number is by no means perfect, but retweets are so strongly correlated with a healthy community that they’re a great way to identify relationships that you should pursue.
Even if the person has a great social authority rank, they’re not worth reaching out to unless they’re involved in your industry. It’s not just about having a community—it’s about building the right community.

Pin It

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Find influencers in your network by selecting the higher numbers in the right column.

#2: Know Your Competitors’ Connections

One of the great things about Twitter is transparency. From @google to @smexaminer, you can see everything everyone is saying. This makes competitive research super-accessible.
Your competitors have networks that likely include influencers who are directly related to your industry. To find these people, follow the same process you followed above, but use each competitor’s Twitter handle instead of your own.
Another tool that can help you find your competitors’ useful friends is Open Site Explorer.
Type in your competitor’s URL and go to the Just-Discovered tab to see the recent inbound links your competitors have gotten.



http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/how-to-network-with-influential-people-using-twitter/

Farmers Markets in January | Chappaqua NY Homes

Fresh Food from Local Sources - January 16th-22nd, 2014 Down to Earth Markets

What's New and In Season This Week $2 OFF any purchase of $10 or more *Mention this email to save* Meredith's Bread Assorted Gluten Free Cookie Box Meredith's Bread Beef Minute Steaks $2 OFF/lb = $11/lb (reg. $13) Thinly-sliced - perfect for Philly Cheesesteaks Kiernan Farm FREE French Baguette with purchase of bread loaf (Reg. $3.50) *Tell Al you read it here to receive free baguette*Orwashers Bakery Ground Beef Buy five 1 lb. packs at $9.25/lb. & get 1 lb. pack of Pork Sirloin Chops FREE Kiernan Farm Hot Cider Mead Orchards Jerusalem Artichokes John D. Madura FarmsMuhamarra, Middle Eastern Red Pepper SpreadTaiim Falafel Shack Parsley Gajeski Produce Pork Sirloin Chops $1.50 OFF/lb = $8.75/lb (reg. $10.25) Kiernan Farm

Click on a Market to see all vendor and event details... Westchester County Mamaroneck Winter Saturdays, 9:00 am-1:00 pm St. Thomas Episcopal Church 168 West Boston Post Road (at Mount Pleasant Ave) Ossining Winter Saturdays, 9:00 am-1:00 pm At the corner of Spring & Main in downtown Ossining Headed to the city soon? Visit a Down to Earth Farmers Market in NYC!

Announcements

Westchester Magazine Contest: The BEST OF Westchester Vote for your favorite Down to Earth Farmers Market for the BEST Farmers Market in Westchester! Our eligible markets include: Croton, Larchmont, Mamaroneck Winter, New Rochelle, Ossining, Rye, and Tarrytown. Westchester Magazine hosts this annual online survey, and this year for the first time, they've added "Farmers Markets" as a category. Please find your online ballot right here. Voting ends on February 7th at midnight. Thank you for singin' it loud and proud about your favorite Down to Earth Farmers Market in Westchester. MamaroneckStop by for a FREE Health Screening from the Foundation for Wellness this Saturday. After the quick, informative health review, you'll find all sorts of fresh, nutritious foods at the market - always a beneficial prescription. Stay tuned to all market happenings via our Down to Earth Markets Facebook page and follow us on Twitter @DowntoEarthMarkets

Let's Open the Winter Recipe Box, Starting with Orange Split Lentil Soup

Fresh spinach is one of the greens often available throughout the winter. Just ask your favorite Down to Earth Markets farmer. In these cool, brisk days of winter, we have something to celebrate: the harvest. (Really!) While it's easy - and so wonderful - to relish the taste of a fresh tomato in the Ides of August, winter has it's glory, too. During this time of year, the foods at the farmers market slowly come into the season just like we do. We start our winter days by shedding our warm bed covers. A sweet potato emerges from deep within the earth. Farmers encourage their winter harvests through coverings, such as a high tunnel. We put on our own protective layers as we go out to experience the fresh winter air. Even in these shorter days of winter, it is a delicious time to awaken. At DowntoEarthMarkets.com, we have a Recipe Box where every recipe is sourced from the farmers market and labeled by season. The winter bursts with the savory tastes of root vegetables, the crunch of greenhouse greens such as bok choy, and the robust flavor of mushrooms. Just to name a few. And here's one of our favorite winter recipes, by Rinku Bhattacharya of Cooking in Westchester. Enjoy - See you at the market! Orange Split Lentil Soup with Caramelized Onions and Greens Created by Rinku Bhattacharya Course: Appetizers & Soups Diet: Vegetarian Season(s): Fall, Winter Ingredients 1/2 cup dried orange/red split lentils 3/4 teaspoon turmeric 1 teaspoon salt 3 green chilies, slit halfway lengthwise 3 cups finely chopped greens of choice (spinach or kale work well) 4 tablespoons oil 1 medium red onion, very thinly sliced 1 teaspoon ghee or butter (clarified butter) yogurt Chopped cilantro or mint Instructions Place the lentils and 3 cups of water in a cooking pot on medium heat. Add the turmeric, salt, and green chilies and bring to a simmer. Lower the heat to low and continue cooking about 20 minutes, until the lentils are soft and smooth. The liquid should be smooth and soupy. Stir in the greens and let them wilt. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a small wok on medium-low heat for about 1 minute until fairly hot. Add the onion and cook until crisp and golden. This process takes some time and needs care during the final 5 minutes to ensure that the onions brown but do not burn. Gently pour the oil and onions into the lentils. Add the ghee and cook until the Ghee or butter has melted into the lentils. Serve in bowls with a tablespoon of yogurt garnished with mint or cilantro.

Day Vendors This Week Mamaroneck Flourish Baking Company #Freedom Craft Brewing - **First appearance ever at market!** Mortgage Apple Cakes Sohha Savory Yogurt Trotta Pasta

Down to Earth Markets 173 Main Street Ossining, NY 10562 Phone: 914-923-4837

Terry Riley Explores Miami’s Return To Its Pedestrian Roots | Bedford Hills Real Estate

Terry Riley Explores Miami’s Return To Its Pedestrian Roots | Bedford Hills Real Estate | Bedford New York Real Estate | Bedford NY Homes by Robert Paul Realtor

Dubai property market attracting more Chinese investors | Katonah NY Real Estate

Dubai property market attracting more Chinese investors | Katonah NY Real Estate | Bedford New York Real Estate | Bedford NY Homes by Robert Paul Realtor

L.A. Reid sells to Harold Prince at 515 Park Avenue | Armonk Homes

L.A. Reid sells to Harold Prince at 515 Park Avenue | Armonk Homes | Bedford New York Real Estate | Bedford NY Homes by Robert Paul Realtor

Government thinks it can fix struggling communities | Cross River Real Estate

Government thinks it can fix struggling communities | Cross River Real Estate | 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

Insights from experts can help agents and sellers price a property, but buyers will want second opinions | Bedford NY Homes

Does having a home “pre-appraised” or “pre-inspected” make a difference? Is this money well spent by the average seller? Do buyers and buyer agents care, or are “prelisting” appraisals and inspections not considered credible? Should a seller-provided appraisal be accepted as impartial by a buyer?

What is your natural reaction to being told something is worth X? Do you say to yourself, “It might be worth that to you?”A few things immediately come to mind when a seller-provided appraisal is pushed front and center: What is the relationship of the agent to the appraiser? Seller to the appraiser? What was the stated purpose of the appraisal? What is the background of the appraiser?

When was the appraisal completed and what are the trends in the area? Who paid the appraiser? Was the appraisal completed as an underwriter would expect? It’s interesting how frequently prelisting appraisals are above list price: “Appraised at $450,000 and reduced to $380,000.”

 - See more at: http://www.inman.com/2014/01/08/when-a-prelisting-appraisal-or-inspection-is-worth-the-trouble/?utm_source=20140108&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dailyheadlinesam#sthash.Cp2Rlmm6.dpuf

Prices to Plateau for Months? | Bedford Hills NY Homes

Prices to Plateau for Months? | Bedford Hills NY Homes | Bedford New York Real Estate | Bedford NY Homes by Robert Paul Realtor

Resort real estate market still in a holding pattern | Bedford Corners Homes

Sure, you have your traditional office, industrial and retail space. But you also have one of the largest resort districts in the world, and that sector is a market unto itself. That means it’s on a slightly different path toward recovery, say local experts in gaming real estate.

For one thing, the resort sector is more volatile than other types of commercial real estate, said Josh Smith, a commercial real estate consultant for gaming and co-founder of Colliers International Gaming Group in Las Vegas. Operators turn over their customers on a daily basis, rather than locking in their “tenants” with leases that run five to 15 years. Gaming is also vulnerable to immediate fallout from economic trouble, because operators rely on consumers’ discretionary income. And for better or for worse, gaming ties Las Vegas directly into the economy of the rest of the world, Smith said.

Right now, being keyed in to the global economy isn’t a bad thing. That’s because just as the world’s economy has been on the comeback trail, so has gaming. Where 2009, 2010 and 2011 brought hard times, 2012 and 2013 meant “real growth” in some parts of the economy, Smith said.

“2013 was the year we saw the recovery start to happen, particularly in the last couple of quarters,” Smith said. “We started to hear about strong demand indices. We’ve seen a lot of increased demand coming into 2014, and occupancies and rates are expected to be higher.”

Those expectations haven’t yet translated into huge amounts of investment.

Sales of gaming properties were slow in 2013, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The properties that did turn over were mostly smaller, limited-service places, said John Stater, research manager at Colliers International. Downtown’s Gold Spike is an example: Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh’s Downtown Project bought the 112-room property in April, with plans to redevelop it into a nongaming project. Taking those kinds of properties off the hospitality market helps constrain inventory as the market tries to recover, and that means less competition for operators still trying to survive, Stater said.

But there’s still enough competition to keep a lid on major megaresort development.

“With gaming real estate, we’re definitely not ready for another boom,” Stater said.


http://www.reviewjournal.com/business/business-press/resort-real-estate-market-still-holding-pattern

Sales Plunged in December | Pound Ridge NY Homes

The housing recovery closed up shop in December as year-over-year sales dropped from 9.4 percent to 6.4 percent above levels of a year ago and threaten to end the year only a meager 5 percent above sales in December 2012.

The latest weekly data from Dataquick shows that the 30-day average sales on Christmas Eve fell for second week in a row and prices, though sagging since the first week of the month, remained in the double digits above 2012.

	Homes Sales			Median Homes Sale Prices
Run Date	30 Days of Sales	% chg from 1 yr ago	% chg from 3 yrs ago	30 Days of Sales	% chg from 1 yr ago	% chg from 3 yrs ago
11/21/2013	227,831	10.2%	40.9%	$218,000	12.4%	15.3%
11/28/2013	221,468	8.7%	35.3%	$216,160	12.0%	13.8%
12/5/2013	219,035	8.8%	33.1%	$220,000	12.8%	15.8%
12/12/2013	222,597	14.1%	41.9%	$220,000	12.5%	17.0%
12/19/2013	207,914	9.4%	36.1%	$220,000	11.7%	15.9%
12/26/2013	204,498	6.4%	34.8%	$221,000	11.1%	16.3%

S
ource: DataQuick; DQNews.com

Global house prices: Castles made of sand | Bedford NY Homes

Global house prices: Castles made of sand | Bedford NY Homes | Bedford New York Real Estate | Bedford NY Homes by Robert Paul Realtor

Australia House-Price Jump Rekindles Bubble Fears | Bedford Hills Homes

Australia House-Price Jump Rekindles Bubble Fears | Bedford Hills Homes | Bedford New York Real Estate | Bedford NY Homes by Robert Paul Realtor

Teatown Lake Reservation updates | Katonah Real Estate

Teatown Lake Reservation updates | Katonah Real Estate | Bedford New York Real Estate | Bedford NY Homes by Robert Paul Realtor