Archive for the 'Larchmont' Category
These are photos that I took at Manor Park in the summer of 2009 – It was a beautiful summer day – hot but dry and I had my pal Jade with me. I’m checking out a new video program as my program of choice – Animoto has such poor customer service that I have been forced to move on. I loved the way they put stills together into a terrific slide show that was really over-the-top. It was easy to use and fun to work with. But it didn’t play nicely with Word Press on the internet explorer browser – which 80% of my clients appear to use. Their customer service refused to address this issue and then wanted a nice stiff fee to upgrade service to professional. That would be fair enough if they would FIX what is wrong. Why would I do that if 80% of my readers have a hard time viewing the videos? So now I’m trying something new…Hope you like it. This is my first attempt with this slide show – so forgive the lack of polish…Manor Park is terrific. A wonderful place to spend some time taking in the boats the water and the general scenery.
Meanwhile – note to Animoto – fix your system before you try to strong-arm money out of people. You’ll find that if you twist arms for money without providing any service – you will be sorely lacking in customers. Animoto had a great platform – but it needs to work on all browsers or chasing people for money won’t work.
©2011 – Ruthmarie G. Hicks – http://thewestchesterview.com – All rights reserved.
When Westchester NY home buyers start thinking about high end cooperatives in a walkable neighborhood with easy access to Metro-North – they think almost reflexively of Garth Road in Scarsdale P.O. And with good reason. The train is a mere 5- 10 minute walk as is the village of Scarsdale. You have tree-lined streets, lots of parking (admittedly mostly street parking) and numerous complexes, many of which pre-war charmers with high ceilings and high ceilings and wonderful layouts.
But just a little to the east you have virtually the same thing in Larchmont NY - though this area remains a bit under most buyers radar. Nevertheless there are a cluster of wonderful cooperatives and condos located on North Chatsworth Ave., Washington Square and New Jefferson. The complexes along this one square block are just steps from the train and about 2 blocks from the heart of the village. You can easily leave the car behind for most shopping and fine dining. NYC is 35 minutes away on the New Haven Line. Larchmont is also an express stop during peak hours which is an added bonus.
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First some bad news – rents in our area are headed north – in a big way:
In recent years, renting has become the new thing to do. Sort of a post-modern version of “shabby chic” that was so popular in the 80s that I remember in high school and college. Since the beginning of the recession in 2008, rents have been low which has been a wonderful gift to former home owners who had sold their homes by doing the unthinkable….bringing money to the closing table. They needed a break – and ironically, just about the only break this terrible recession gave anyone was in the form cheap rent.
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One of the nice things about living in Westchester NY is that every town and village has its own events and unique character that all Westchester residents can enjoy. Larchmont NY Homes are very popular because of all that the village has to offer. This summer Larchmont’s Memorial Park is hosting concerts at 7 PM every Monday from July 11 – August 1. Granted the first concert has already passed us by – but there are three more:
July 18 – A Night of R&B with Reunion
July 25, Caribbean Rock & Roll with Twist of Fate
August 1 – Woodstock Here We Come with Back To The Garden 1969
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The Stonecrest Cooperative: 21 North Chatsworth Ave – Larchmont NY:
BACK ON THE MARKET AFTER FULL BATHROOM RENOVATION!
Since this listing has its own page with its own domain name – I did not create a new posting for it. So this is just to announce that the unit is back on the market after undergoing a complete bathroom renovation. The price is very competitive and the location nothing short of ideal.
The complex is located in an area that is the Sound Shore version of Garth Road in Scarsdale or downtown White Plains. In fact, anyone looking for a condo or coop in these locations would be well advised to take a serious look at the coops and condos on North Chatsworth Ave. generally. Located steps from the train, fine dining and shopping it was rated a “Walkers Paradise” by Walkscore.com. You really can leave the care behind! Larchmont is an express stop on the New Haven line – just 35 minutes from Grand Central Station.
Below are some photos of the interior of the unit – which is large in size has high ceilings and ample closet space and wonderful views.
If you would like to learn more about this listing including the affordable cost of living, a video and links to many more photos you can click here TheStonecrest3C.
© 2011 – Ruthmarie G. Hicks – http://thewestchesterview.com – All rights reserved.
There is a lot of competition with Westchester NY homes for sale. During this major housing recession we’ve learned that aggressively promoting the home from top to bottom is extremely important.
When I list a home I tell the seller a hard truth that permeates this market whether you are listing at the high end in Scarsdale or Larchmont to a small coop in downtown White Plains. That truth is that buyers are demanding and LAZY….Seriously, most buyers just don’t want to lift a finger to do anything. The thought of sweat equity has been left in the dustbin of the bull market along with no-doc, low-doc and stated income loans.
Given this atmosphere – where buyers are skimming the cream and leaving the rest – we think often of bringing in stagers to achieve a depersonalized move-in ready feel to a home. People make upgrades just to sell a home. New kitchens and baths are often installed just to appeal to buyers. But what about that all-important first impression? Before people even enter your Westchester home? Curb appeal is very powerful and if you miss out on plantings during this summer market – you are missing an opportunity – and perhaps leaving money on the table.
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When listing your Westchester NY home for sale - choosing a good listing agent is critical. One issue that you should consider in the selection is what kind of photographs they put into the MLS. Seriously, I am often shocked at what many agents seem to think is an acceptable presentation. Buyers are pouring over public facing versions of the MLS. Most will cherry pick the homes with the best photos and discard the rest. With many homes for sale at this time, the process of elimination begins on line. Poor photography means fewer showings and less offers. Its really that simple.
Photos should be warm – inviting and should include neighborhood photos so that buyers that are not purely local can get a feel for the area before even getting in their car.
Exteriors need to have curb appeal. I took these three pictures in Larchmont NY. One was of a house (not my listing) and the other two give the feel of the area immediately surrounding the home. Make no mistake – when listing your home a picture really is worth 1000 words…
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It was a long, cold winter and very few buyers were out during the first quarter of 2011. If we weren’t having our weekly Noreaster – we were digging out of one. So Larchmont homes for sale tended to stay on the market longer than they did last year. The Larchmont NY housing market is a tale of two markets. Strangely some of the statistics are counter intuitive and I will explain why the raw numbers don’t tell the entire story. However, it is apparent that the single family home market in Larchmont NY continues to recover while the cooperative market is still languishing. Although the Larchmont PO does have condominiums – the sales volume was too low for me to draw conclusions from. Feel free to contact me for further information on condominiums.
Larchmont NY Single Family Homes:
The chart below shows a distinct decrease in median sales price over Q1 2010. However, this reflects more the size and condition of the homes sold. Prices appear to be inching up. Areas like Larchmont, Rye and Scarsdale have been among the first markets to recover and that recovery is continuing. The median sales price for the Larchmont PO was $829,000 down 12.7% from Q1 2010. However, more fixers were sold where last years buyer had the luxury of cherry picking the homes with the most upgrades. This the numbers run counter to the reality of this market. Sales volume was also down from Q1 2010 – but the terrible weather has a great deal to do with this. What is more significant is the current contracts and pendings which indicate a 4.5 month inventory overhang. That’s a bull market – not a bear.
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Having featured the Hudson River and surrounds, I decided to pull a photo from the Long Island Sound side of the Westchester NY. Larchmont NY sits on the Long Island Sound and boasts wonderful views of the water. My father was a long-time resident of Larchmont NY and both he and I enjoyed walking in Manor Park. I took this picture on a midsummer afternoon in 2009. It was warm but not stifling and the good thing about being on the Long Island Sound is that there is always a nice breeze. Manor Park is actually a private park that residents of Larchmont Manor have generously kept open for the residents and guests. It is opened from dawn until dusk and many come to enjoy this wonderfully maintained space. Like the River Walk – it is a focal point that has taken hold with the residents in the immediate area and beyond. I attended the fireworks at Manor park for the 4th of July 2010 and they were spectacular.
©2011 – Ruthmarie G. Hicks – http://thewestchesterview.com
Here is a Westchester event that should be on almost everyone’s calendar. Most Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church in Mamaroneck is hosting a Spring Spectacular fund raiser which should be fun for young and old alike.
When?
Sat April 16th – 4-7 PM & Sun April 17th 9-2PM
Where?
Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church – 320 E. Boston Post Rd., Mamaroneck NY
Activities for children will include face painting and a personal visit from the Easter Bunny. For the adults there will be handcrafted knits and homemade baked goods.
Including….
Chocolates by Chocolations. 607 E. Boston Post Rd. – Mamaroneck
Flowers and Palm Crosses from Mangones Farmers Market – 1427 E. Boston Post Rd. Mamaroneck
Specialty Cakes from ABC Cakes NY. Mamaroneck
