This past December I blogged about 2 neighboring homes for sale in Nyack, NY that were featured in a New York Times article discussing the merits of using a broker to sell a home and the reasons people sell by owner. The homes were side by side; I was familiar with both, and even showed […]

This past November I blogged my thoughts on eclipsing 100,000 points on ActiveRain and, more importantly, the good things that occurred on the way. Today, 4 months and a day later, I hit 200,000 points. More happy things have happened out of my blogging efforts. A few highlights: I might write about this after it closes, but one buyer who found […]

Drive through Swiss Hamlet just once and you’ll appreciate the name; beautiful homes in classic styles with stunning views of the valley. Residents have a full homeowners association which includes tennis courts, a clubhouse, and beautiful swimming pool. The amenities are run by the Swiss Hamlet Homeowners Association, located in the clubhouse right in the […]

Dear Buyer and Buyer Agent:  My clients and I are in receipt of your lowb-, um, offer. We are grateful that you are interested in the home- it has served my clients well for years. I can only hope that if you live there too that it will be the source of much joy and many […]

When I was a kid I had a Murray 5-speed bike with a banana seat and high handlebars, and I would ride between my neighborhood, Ossining’s Indian Village, and Chilmark, across Pleasantville Road on the other side of Ossining Resevoir. Homes in Chilmark were bigger and nicer than my own. While I rode through those streets […]

We have just closed on 155 North Regent Street in Port Chester, and to celebrate that closing I’ll post a rundown of the real estate market in that distinguished village. Port Chester has a warm place in my heart. It was where “the office” was where my father worked when I was a child. Whenever […]

George Mantor’s article “Is It Time to Go on The Offensive?” has me thinking. Mantor echoes the dissatisfaction most of us have with both the government and large banks, and he announces that he is switching to a credit union for his banking. He is using his economic vote. Should we all?  In 2005, when I started […]

To get the word out about the FREE Westchester County home buyer seminar this coming April 7 at 6pm at the Tuscan Grille in Briarcliff Manor, we have set up www.TheKeysToHome.com.  The theme of the seminar, The Keys, is very appropriate. The “key” to getting your own set of “keys” to a home is the […]

While driving through Dutchess County today, I was reminded of a pet peeve in real estate that I have long meant to blog about: builders who cut every, single solitary tree down when they build a subdivision and then plant a few saplings in their place. It seems to be particularly bad in the Hudson […]

We’ve chosen the Tuscan Grille in Briarcliff Manor for our upcoming home buyer seminar this April 14 at 6pm. Tuscan Grille, formerly Torchia’s, is located at 518 North State Road in Briarcliff Manor. This will not be your average seminar- we’re going to cover things seldom discussed that will give attendees a tremendous advantage in getting […]

If you talk to different people in Westchester County, you’ll get different opinions as to the direction the market is taking. One appraiser tells me he’s never seen things so dead; another lawyer feels like things have picked up noticeably. With the April 30 deadline for the tax stimulus fewer than 6 weeks away, we all […]

While driving up Broadway in Yonkers yesterday I spotted some deer grazing on the lawn of the Richmond Children’s Center. I thought I’d stop to take a quick snapshot, when I realized that this wasn’t a deer or two that wandered, it was SEVEN of them, grazing quite brazenly, in an area that is virtually […]

New HAFA rules are forcing home sellers to negotiate directly with subordinate liens, or, in common terms, second mortgages, on their own, according to Bankrate.com. The way the rules are written, there is a financial incentive for the 2nd mortgage  to settle and release the lien, but the onus of getting assurances that the bank will settle […]

This is one of those half-written thoughts that I’ve had since 1996 when I entered the real estate industry, walked through the homes of other folks, and began to witness, first hand, how people live other than myself. Specifically, the, shall we say, storage of belongings. What they do with their stuff, and what stuff […]

J. Philip Real Estate will be participating a home buyer seminar for anyone interested in learning more about the process with no charge and no obligation on April 7, 2010 at a site to be announced shortly. We are flattered to have been asked to be the real estate broker presenting at the event. There will […]

Amy Hoak’s timely article on HAFA and short sales in yesterday’s Journal concludes with timely advice that I wrote myself the very same day. The article focuses on the many pitfalls of short sales, as well as the new HAFA (Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives) regulations which are set to go into effect on April 5, 2010. Here is […]

The gentleman pictured here is at the pre-close walkthrough of one of my listings which recently closed. He’s not the buyer. He isn’t the buyer’s agent. He’s the loan officer. I won’t name him here, but let’s call him Mr. Big Mouth.  Mr Big Mouth, so far as I can tell, is a competent loan […]

When I closed my first short sale in 1998 I had no idea that 10 years later I’d be doing them with any regularity. At that time, short sales were uncommon; they remained uncommon through 2006. Even in 2007, other agents needed to be educated about what a short sale was, how long it took […]