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The High Taxes in Westchester as Seen Through the Lens of the New York Times

I am told that Westchester County property taxes are the highest in the nation. After reading this article in the New York Times on the effects of tax grievances in the County, I was inspired to make the following comment: People aren’t grieving their taxes because of the companies selling the service; companies are selling […]
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Angelina’s of Tuckahoe

I’m a foodie for sure. One of the great things about Westchester County is our vast array of incredible cuisine, and other than a good steak house my preference will always be Italian. This past week I had the good fortune to enjoy lunch with a fellow broker at Angelina’s of Tuckahoe, a wonderful place […]
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That is One BIG Dog

There is nothing in the water in New Rochelle; this is just an English Mastiff, all of 250 pounds, that I met this past weekend while showing its master’s home. I have never seen a dog this big. Never. He was just huge. This pooch was quite a gentle giant, however, and happily let me […]
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About Foreclosure Settlement Conferences

New York Foreclosure Settlement Conferences I attended a foreclosure settlement conference today with a client whose house is listed with my company as a short sale. There was some understandable anxiety about the event, so I went to be a supportive advocate. As daunting as the name may sound, they are in place to ensure […]

Active Rain The High Taxes in Westchester as Seen Through the Lens of the New York Times I am told that Westchester County property taxes are the highest in the nation. After reading this article in the New York Times on the effects of tax grievances in the County, I was inspired to make the following comment: People aren’t grieving their taxes because of the companies selling the service; companies are selling […]

Active Rain Angelina’s of Tuckahoe I’m a foodie for sure. One of the great things about Westchester County is our vast array of incredible cuisine, and other than a good steak house my preference will always be Italian. This past week I had the good fortune to enjoy lunch with a fellow broker at Angelina’s of Tuckahoe, a wonderful place […]

Active Rain That is One BIG Dog There is nothing in the water in New Rochelle; this is just an English Mastiff, all of 250 pounds, that I met this past weekend while showing its master’s home. I have never seen a dog this big. Never. He was just huge. This pooch was quite a gentle giant, however, and happily let me […]

Active Rain About Foreclosure Settlement Conferences New York Foreclosure Settlement Conferences I attended a foreclosure settlement conference today with a client whose house is listed with my company as a short sale. There was some understandable anxiety about the event, so I went to be a supportive advocate. As daunting as the name may sound, they are in place to ensure […]

Active Rain The Shoe House I’ve seen crazy stuff in homes before. I really have. I’ve seen a basement pool table filled with sand and hundreds of plastic soldiers carefully placed upon it to re-enact a battle in the Civil War. I’ve seen people who had more photos of their kids than exposed wall. Nude art? Dime a dozen. Personal documents […]

Active Rain Open House, Riverdale Co Op Apartment I will be holding 3030 Johnson Avenue, Unit 2G open today, May 7 from 1-3 pm. The unit is a very cute 1 bedroom starter with an updated kitchen and bath, dining area, and spacious open living room. Riverdale is truly one of the jewels on the crown of New York, with a fantastic walk […]

Active Rain Should You Sell? Maybe Not. I was referred by a current client (I love referrals) to a family member who wanted to know what his condominium in White Plains might be worth. It is a nicely renovated unit he bought last year, but it is in a small building with fewer than 50 units and was built prior to World […]

Active Rain How To Render Cash Offer Useless We have had the good fortune to receive some cash offers submitted on company listings recently. Cash is nice; no mortgage, no appraisal, no banks, and fewer headaches. Agents who submit a cash offer have every right to be enthusiastic and upbeat about it. However, there is a peculiar trend among cash offers which perplexes […]

Active Rain What Can You Buy in Abbottabad for $1 Million? Do you like privacy? Looking for that quiet getaway? Are you security minded? Perhaps you seek a nice pied-à-terre. Maybe you hate schlepping out the garbage all the way to the end of the driveway twice a week. Did you hear that the Hamptons and Catskills are “out?” I have just the place for you. That’s […]

Active Rain Do I Need Vacation? Should I get a little R and R? You tell me. Earlier today I put a slice of pizza in the microwave and began to input my bank card PIN. Not long ago, Ann mentioned Catherine’s excellent report card, and for a fleeting moment I began to worry that it wouldn’t comp out. On the […]

Active Rain Why Total Strangers are High-Fiving Today On September 11, 2001, I was preparing to drive my fiance’ to work at her office on the upper east side of Manhattan. Our wedding was in 18 days, her parents were literally in the air from Korea that very morning and due at JFK in a few hours, and the sky was blue. It […]

Active Rain Speechless Sundays: Eden My fellow New Yorkers know we’ve endured a brutal winter. The kids were busting out to enjoy the warmer weather, and even when it rained, they were out there to enjoy mother nature. We have a great vantange point from our back door and caught preciousness many times. These are just a few examples of […]

Active Rain Spring 2011 in Briarcliff Manor I thought it might never come after the winter we endured, but Spring has arrived in Westchester County. As always, it is beautiful, with forsythia and cherry blossoms making their debut ahead of many other pieces of God’s artistry. This is Gregory (who has stolen Mom’s iPad) and his faithful Max in the shade of […]

Active Rain The Gizmo Conundrum Gizmos Drive Me Crazy. 16 short months ago, I bought a Netbook laptop with a 3g Internet connection. It made me a tech savvy guy. I would see a client at their home and watch their jaws drop as I logged onto the Multiple Listing Service and produced a market analysis right before their eyes. […]

Active Rain That’s What Makes it a Contract! I had the pleasure of helping a new agent get his very first listing tonight. It was our second time at the kitchen table of this particular seller, and it was a textbook case of my standing offer to all my guys: Put me in front of your prospects and I’ll get you their business. […]

Active Rain Exhaling I have barely had time to notice Active Rain’s server issues because of a frantic past two weeks in my own little corner of the world. Among many things, I had to take two days and drive to Rochester, 300 miles away, to handle some business with some properties we own. Like any busy broker, […]

Active Rain How to Submit a Low Offer How to Submit a Low Offer on a New York Listing What is more compelling to someone selling a home when presented with an offer on their property: A voicemail or A well written offer sheet complete with a cover letter, proof of funds, pre approval and specific terms If you are like […]

Active Rain Credit Shmeddit, it is a Team Effort Is a sale any less valuable if a broker or manager steps in and helps? One thing I appreciate when I assist members of my firm in their transactions is that my guys truly care for their clients. It certainly shows in their actions, and I have the front row seat as broker to see […]

Active Rain Ashley Oakland Investigation Like many associations across the country, our own MLS had a moment of silence at our monthly meeting yesterday in memory of fallen Realtor colleague Ashley Oakland. The news has been a bitter pill to swallow for agents all over the USA, and I can’t fathom her loved ones’ grief and suffering. Today’s news informed […]

Active Rain Good News and Bad News Around Ossining Two follow up pieces of news on topics I have blogged on recently: Ossining voters have overwhelmingly rejected the $69,000,000 bond proposal for the expansion and renovation of the school buildings. I wrote a piece voicing my own opposition to the proposal, and evidently, other school district voters agreed with me by a 57%-43% margin. Over […]