The Westchester View » Larchmont

Go Giants! Crazy Superbowl Hat Making Day!

Ruthmarie Hicks — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:17:43 +0000

What would the Superbowl be without the crazy hats? I mean really – you gotta have them…Well the Larchmont Library is going to make things easy for you! They are hosting a hat-making event on Saturday – Feb. 4 for kids aged 7 and up…The event is free and the time is 10:30 AM

The Event - Crazy Super Bowl Hat Making
The Place - The Larchmont Library – Larchmont Ave.
The Time - 10:30 AM Sat. Feb. 4
The Cost - FREE!

Enjoy!

Market Update – Larchmont NY Homes – Chatsworth Elementary School

Ruthmarie Hicks — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:47:06 +0000

Larchmont homes zoned for the Chatsworth Ave Elementary School feature the best of what a Westchester bedroom community has to offer. Homes in this particular school zone cover two distinct neighborhoods.

Homes in the Village of Larchmont:

Homes in the village of Larchmont feature tree-lined streets and pre-war homes packed with Old-World charm and character. They range in style from rambling Victorians with wrap-around porches, graceful colonials and impressive Tudors. Typically, the homes in the village sit on smaller lots, though there is still a feeling of space and privacy. These are mature neighborhoods with old-growth which adds to a sense of privacy.

Convenience is a very big amenity of this part of Larchmont. It is easy to leave the car behind and walk to shops and fine dining. Many leave the car and walk to the train and end up doing their shopping on their way home. Most locations in the village are eaily accessible by foot to Metro-North. Walk Scores range from very walkable to walker’s paradise – which is very unusual for single-family home neighborhoods.

Homes in Larchmont Manor:

As a general rule, Larchmont Manor features bigger more expensive homes on larger lots. The streets are graceful and meandering with the mature growth that characterizes a long-established neighborhood. Located on the other side of Boston Post Rd., the area is slightly less accessible to shopping and dining withou the car. It makes up for it with more spacious homes, some feature water views of the Long Island Sound.

The area boasts the beauty of Manor Park and the Larchmont Yacht Club.

The walk score in this neighborhood ranges from very walkable to car-dependent.

Larchmont Homes – Median Sales Prices:

All data comes from the Empire Access MLS (EAMLS). This first chart shows the pricing before the crash and following. The red bars are the years prior to the crash of 2008 and the green bars are 2009, 2010 and 2011 respectively. In 2006 the median sales price was $1.226 million and that peaked in 2008 to $1.343 million. In 2009 that number abruptly “corrected” to $907k and rose to $1.243 million in 2010 and now rests at $1,053,000 for 2011. The decrease in median reflect a decrease in 3-4 BR homes. Larger homes with 5+ BR’s have actually gained back the ground that they lost. There was in an increased number of sales in the fixer market at the entry level this year. But median prices were indeed down slightly in an apples to apples comparison. This may have been a reflection of the the expiration of the first time homebuyers tax credit which would impact smaller homes more than larger homes. Median prices for 3-4 BR homes remain about 17% below the values attained near the peak in 2007.

Larchmont Homes – Sales Volume from 2006-2010:

The sales volume before the crash went from 78 sales in 2006 to 48 in 2008. Once the crash of 2008 happened sales volume stayed nearly the same for 2009 but at severely reduced prices. That ground was recovered in 201o and increased again in 2011. These numbers indicate that this market is shifting from a buyers to a sellers market. The increase in sales volume is a key indicator of a recovery in progress.

For the Latest Information on Sales and Listings:

For the latest on sales stats and current listings - feel free to contact me by phone – (914-374-5529) or email – (Ruthmarie.Hicks@gmail.com) or you can simply fill out the form below – whichever method you prefer. Don’t worry – I do not sell, spam, or otherwise abuse your information!

Market Update on Larchmont NY PO – Single Family Homes

Ruthmarie Hicks — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 20:21:23 +0000

Larchmont homes typically evoke tree-lined streets and mature neighborhoods. This area does not disappoint on any of these. The area is strictly residential – yet for the most part it is walkable neighborhood – many of the homes being a mile or less from the train station and parts of the village. Some areas are somewhat further from town – so walkability depends upon you precise location. But leaving the car behind is indeed an option for a large portion of this neighborhood. Because this is a long established neighborhood, Larchmont homes generally have a distinctive Old -World charm about them. Tudors seem to dominate the area although Colonials are very much in evidence as well. But don’t let the age of these homes fool you. Most of them have aged gracefully and boast many upgrades that can give you the best of both worlds: old world charm – with modern amenities. The lot sizes run the gamut from roughly 0.12 acres to over an acre in larger homes. In general, the homes close in to the village sit on smaller lots.

Larchmont NY PO – Median Sales Prices:

The big bad bear market has actually been very kind to Larchmont Village and the Larchmont PO. While other areas of Westcehster NY are still in the doldrums, Larchmont homes have been selling at a fairly brisk pace and prices have increased. This first chart shows the pricing before the crash and following. The red bars are the years prior to the crash of 2008 and the green bars are the years following the crash. In 2006 the median sales price was $998k and that peaked in 2008 to $1.125 million. in 2009 that number came crashing down to $905k and has risen steadily to nearly $1.1 million this year. This has been a strong come-back.

Although the market in the area has recovered quite briskly, the pace of recovery has varied somewhat between smaller and larger homes. This chart contrasts the differences between 3 and 4 BR homes. In general, with a few caveats, the homes under 2000 sf with fewer bedrooms have recouped less ground than their larger counterparts.

Larchmont NY PO – Home Sales Volume:

The sales volume before the crash went from 94 sales in 2007 to 72 in 2008. Once the crash of 2008 happened sales dropped to 51 for 2009 but recovered in 2010 when it went back to 95 sales. 2011, although slightly lower in volume, was noted for its competitive sales.

Wendy Gee – Something for everyone – Larchmont NY

Ruthmarie Hicks — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:24:18 +0000

As some of my readers know, I am currently on a quest to promote local businesses and merchants in lower Westchester NY. Westchester retail has come a long way since I was a youngster shopping at the local army and navy. But local merchants face an uphill climb from big-box creep. So far the focus has been on Mamaroneck, Larchmont, White Plains, and the River Towns – particularly Tarrytown. After a while, I realized that I was in as much of retail rut as the rest of the world. Sure I have my favorite haunts – but all of us need to stretch beyond and try new things!

To be totally candid – I had never been into Wendy Gee before this past week. From the outside, it looked to be well above my price range – and if the truth were to be told some of the higher end items certainly are. However, you can find just something for just about everyone at Wendy Gee from higher-end but comfortable furnishings for adults to toys for tots. Even the family pet is included. Many of the items are geared to adding a sense of style and whimsy to a room. An accent piece from this store can actually change the feel of room, by adding a splash of the unique. As my stager for properties (Marie Graham) would say ” a touch of whimsy an color go a long way.” Just one or two pieces could help transform a room from dull to dynamite.

This is a great place to shop for the remaining people on your list for the holidays and beyond. This is not a big-box bland place to be. Enjoy the video below an be sure to visit their website: WendyGee.com. Better still – stop by for a visit and get some ideas. Wendy Gee is located at 1949 Palmer Ave. in Larchmont NY.

Westchester Events – Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair – at the NEW Mamaroneck Library

Ruthmarie Hicks — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 18:12:45 +0000

The Council of the Arts and the newly rebuilt Mamaroneck Library have teamed up to host a holiday Arts & Crafts fair tomorrow – Dec. 10th. The Council of the Arts has been making a concerted effort to promote local artists. Their new logo…LOLA (Love Our Local Artists) pretty much says it all. There has been a major outreach to local artists and the response has been amazing – with local artists all vying for a table at this fair.

This is a great way to experience what local artists have to offer and to get to know your community. There are 38 vendors of which over 20 are local. Items for sale will range from the very affordable ($3) to high-end paintings for over $1000. There is literally something for everyone – including the family pet. I’m sure the gift ideas alone will be truly amazing. So come on out tomorrow and enjoy yourselves while you support the arts in your local community. Its also a great way to see the newly refurbished library if you haven’t done so up to now. 5% of the proceeds go to the library to help fund larger events in the future. Parking is free!

The Time: 10 AM – 4 PM
The Place: Mamaronck Public Library (Prospect Ave.)

Market Update – The Stonecrest – 21 N Chatsworth Ave. – Larchmont NY

Ruthmarie Hicks — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 08:28:26 +0000

Larchmont NY has long been a popular destination for buyers of single family homes, but Larchmont is also a popular location for those looking for condos or cooperatives. A cluster of these condos and cooperatives are located in a prime location within one to two blocks of Metro-North in the Larchmont P.O.

The Stonecrest – 21 North Chatsworth Ave – Larchmont NY:

The Stonecrest, located at 21 North Chatsworth Ave Larchmont is a luxury cooperative in a doorman building – located roughly two blocks from the train station. The stately Pre-War Tudor complex boasts one of the finest locations in the area. The Roughly two blocks from the train station and a similar distance to shopping and fine dining, I am hard pressed to think of a more convenient loation. The address has a walk score of 92 out of 100 making it a walker’s paradise.

The units have high cove ceilings and spacious layouts. Most get a great deal of natural sunlight. Parquet hard-wood floors are also a marvelous benefit of living in an older complex. An interesting bit of trivia: Lou Gehrig and his wife called the Stonecrest his home until 1940.

Recent Sales History at the Stonecrest:

The following charts below show the pricing history from 2005-2011. The sales volume in the complex is fairly low so statistically significant numbers are difficult to come by. I’m using 1 BR units for the statistics that are roughly 750 sf or larger for the charts because they have had far more consistent sales over the years.

The charts below show the depreciation in 1 BR units that have occurred since 2006. Peak years are in red, The initial drop in prices occurred in 2007 when the housing peak slowed down. Prices went down about 18% from roughly $322,000 to $264,000. Prices reached an equilibrium that lasted almost four years to the end of the tax credit. Those years are depicted in green. When the tax credit ended, the market for coops generally ground to nearly a halt. When sales picked up again, the knife finally fell on values. This final drop appears to be about 33% with the current year (in blue) at a median price of $175k.

For 2 BR units it is less clear because there are gaps where no sales occurred and there are several years in which unusually large units were the only units sold. The pattern was difficult to work with and not statistically significant so there is no chart. For “average” 2 BR unit from 1100-1200 sf the price drop also took place in two bites. There was an initial 12% drop from about $384,000 to $335,000. Now the median price for that size unit is about $257,000 for about a 23% drop. The numbers here are smaller, so reading too much into these numbers would not be wise. A great deal has to do with layout and overall condition.

In general, the major fall in prices occurred somewhat later than in surrounding areas. This reflects the allover sturdiness of this market. The area is sought after and the result is that it is one of the last areas to take a big fall. It stands to reason that it will be one of the first to recover. At this point, although the decline looks absolutely sickening, it represents a terrific buying opportunity. Buyers should be grabbing onto these bargains with both arms if they have the means to buy at this time.

For the latest updates on sales and listings at the Stonecrest:

Feel free to contact me -

by phone at (914-374-5529)

by email at Ruthmarie.Hicks@gmail.com

For more information about the Stonecrest go to my web page – The Stoncrest.

Small Business Saturday – Stores to visit in Larchmont & Mamaroneck

Ruthmarie Hicks — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 16:57:45 +0000

This is my final post in this series but just because Small Business Saturday ends today, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t bookmark these posts and visit them during the holiday season and beyond. Most of these suggestions have been on the Westchester View before. I had a rather busy black Friday – people were shopping for homes as well as for the holidays.

Recologie:

Located at the corner of Palmer and Larchmont Ave., this is a store that lends it self to reviews….I couldn’t put down my camera when I wrote a review last September. Everywhere you turn around there is something very unique. I was in the store yesterday and they are having specials for Small Business Saturday. I love going in there because there is always something new and totally unique in there. Here are some new things that stirred my interest:

That slick black bag is actually ribbons of FILM crocheted together. Far from funky, It’s really slick and certainly a conversation piece. The iPad cases that come in variety of colors are recycled from wet suits and the marvelous bracelet is constructed from beaded safety pins. That only scratches the surface…So be sure to stop by.

The Voracious Reader:

Although I couldn’t stop by – this is the best place to visit to unwind with a cup of tea at A Proper Cup and the kids can explore the many marvelous offerings. I wrote a review for both A Proper Cut and The Voracious Reader earlier this year.

HomeMade Pizza Co:

Tired after all that shopping? Don’t want to cook? Don’t feel like eating out either? Just place an order at HomeMade Pizza on Palmer Ave. You will get a pizza that is ready to pop into the oven. I have tried this and it is truly a wonderful treat. A great meal in the comfort of your own home, at your own time frame with virtually no muss and no fuss.

Fotos on the fly: It’s Halloween!

Ruthmarie Hicks — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 04:41:12 +0000

Here are a few photos I have taken along the way over the past week or so while running around the county. Most were taken with my iPhone – as they really WERE on the fly while I was working with clients. But its fun to see what people are doing. Halloween has become such a fun holiday in Westchester that its getting up there with the 4th of July in terms of internet searches.

In any case – enjoy the pics…

The photo below was taken at Coffee Labs in Tarrytown. After a long day I decided to indulge in a latte and this is just as sample of Jefferson’s terrific Latte art.

Sometimes people protest in their own unique way. As the FASNY issue has escalated in White Plains and signs such as FASNO are springing up all over the place – some have a real sense of humor… I took this phto one night while walking the dogs.

Furniture Sharehouse Drive – Sat Oct. 15 from 9-3 PM in Armonk NY

Ruthmarie Hicks — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 16:42:41 +0000

The Furniture Sharehouse is having its annual fall drive in Armonk tomorrow – Oct. 15 from 9- 3 PM. So for anyone who is thinking that their gently used furnishings are getting out of control…. you might want to load up the SUV and bring them to a place where they will be used by needy and grateful families.

For those who do not know what the Furniture Sharehouse is all about – it is a not-for-profit furniture bank that coordinates with many social service agencies in Westchester – helping needy families to furnish homes that would be nothing but 4 bare walls without help from the commmunity. According to Marie Graham – they have furnished nearly 1500 families so far.

Now- before you load up the car – there are some guidelines so please click here so you know what is appropriate.

The Time: Sat. Oct. 15 from 9-3 PM

The Place: North Castle Town Hall – 15 Bedford Rd. – Armonk NY

Downsizing in Larchmont NY – Is now a good time to scale back?

Ruthmarie Hicks — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 06:19:54 +0000

Recently, I’ve had several inquiries from would be home sellers about whether now is the time to consider downsizing their home. Scaling back is never easy and should not be undertaken lightly as it means a significant change in your lifestyle, but from a financial standpoint, I would have to say that the answer would be a very strong “YES!” if you are a Larchmont homeowner.

In the midst of a national housing crisis many would-be sellers are sitting on the fence asking whether now is a good time to scale back into something smaller. This is particularly true of empty nesters or soon-to-be empty nesters. With real estate – as with all large ticket items – it is best to buy low and sell high.

Of course the devil is in the details. If someone is looking to scale-up or scale-back they usually end up on the losing end of one transaction and the winning end of the other. So it is small wonder that many would-be sellers are stalled in this market, afraid to put their toe in the water.

Larchmont single- family homeowners have enjoyed steady appreciation since the crash of 2008…

But in Larchmont NY – there is a unique opportunity for sellers who wish to stay local by downsizing into the Larchmont condo or coop market. In this unique time Larchmont homes have enjoyed brisk appreciation since the 2008 crash. A home seller in Larchmont may not be able to get what they got at the peak of the market – but some of the prices are very, very bullish. Median sales price for the 10538 zip code was $1,068,000 in Q3 of 2011 up about 6% from the previous year. Just look at the sales data from the MLS for homes in Larchmont Village and the Larchmont P.O. Prices are recovering nicely. Just look at the pricing history from 2006 to the end of September 2011…The red bars represent years before the crash and the green bars represent the years following the crash. The current year is in purple: There are two charts below. The Larchmont P.O. (10538) and Larchmont Village.

The Larchmont condo and coop market has continued to languish in spite of robust sales in single family homes…

But just as important are the drops for cooperatives. 1 and 2 BR coops have really struggled over the past year. This market is still a buyers market. Just look at the sales price history. It’s hard to believe this is in the same location. The condo market is similar -but too small to offer up reliable statistics. Once again, the red bars represent years before the crash and the green bars represent the years following the crash. The current year is in purple.

Buy low and sell high….

So right now there is a rare win-win opportunity for home owners who would like to exchange their large single family home for something more manageable. Its hard to determine just how long this type of a trend will last, but if you are thinking that the house is just a bit much to keep up and that it is time to think seriously about scaling back – this is truly a unique and rare opportunity to create a win-win on both sides of the buying/selling equation.

If you are thinking about making a change, I can help by giving you a reliable and free market analysis of your home while showing you what your money can buy on the purchasing side. I also offer a discounted commission on those who choose to complete both transactions through me.

You can contact me by phone – (914) 374-5529 or by email Ruthmarie.Hicks@gmail.com. Or you can simply fill out the form below.