So this very short video  is a slide show of  downtown White Plains in the late summer and fall.  The downtown is vibrant and active with Trump Tower and the Ritz Carlton dominating the scene as high-rise buildings.   White Plains is often thought of as the mini-me Manhattan and with good reason.  Many Manhattan restaurants and shops have opened their doors in White Plains  was successful transplants.

It’s not too early to think about the 4th of July Weekend – heck it is almost upon us.  There is no need to go to Manhattan  for great 4th of July fireworks and events – Just look at these Westchester events  chock full of fireworks.  Save gasoline and stress and forget the city this year.  There is plenty to do in your own back yard and you save gasoline and stress.

A NEW FEATURE THIS YEAR – TAKE IT WITH YOU ON YOUR SMART PHONE!

Use the QR Code at the bottom of this page and  have these great events with you all weekend – where ever you go.  Go to QuiQR to get this feature for your smart phone if you don’t already have it.

Village of Mamaroneck Fireman’s Carnival:
Harbor Island Park – Mamaroneck Ave and Boston Post Rd.
Begins Tuesday  June 28  7-11 PM .  There is a parade on June 29th and fireworks on July 4th.  The event continues through the 5th of July.
This is the Fire Department’s annual fundraiser.  But the event itself is special and fun for ALL.
Independence Day Celebration  – White Plains
White Plains High School – North St. between Bryant & Ridgeway
June 30 6-10 PM
A fun filled evening of  inflatable rides, entertainment  and fireworks.

Pirates of the Hudson:  The Siege of Sleepy Hollow
Philipsburg Manor   July 2, 3, & 4  (3PM-8PM)

This is a brand new even from the same group that brought Horseman’s Hollow during the Halloween season.  This event is not scary and kid-appropriate.  There are treasure hunts and a pirate shipwreck and temporary tattoos for kids and a Museum of Oddities , pirate bands and a Thieves Market which is fun for all.  Food is from “Tastefully Yours”.  Tickets go fast – so you should book early.

Click here for on-line tickets.  (https://www.hudsonvalley.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=267&Itemid=290)

Kensico Dam Music Fest –

July 3rd – 6 PM – 10 PM – Mustic begins at 6 PM – Fireworks after dark…Carpooling highly suggested – the place is always packed!
Kensico Dam Plaza – Bronx River Parkway – Valhalla NY

Playland Fireworks –

Playland is noted for its totally amazing fireworks.

July 3rd & 4th – 9:30 PM
Playland Park – Playland Parkway
Parking $7 Sunday and $10 Monday

Sleepy Hollow Fireworks

July 4th – Kingsland Point Park 8:30 PM -
The fireworks will be out of the General Motors lot .  They can be seen from Kingsland Point Park  as well as the bottom of Beekman Ave.
So that should get everyone started on this very special of holiday events.

THE QR CODE FOR YOUR SMART PHONE!

© 2011 – Ruthmarie G. Hicks – http://thewestchesteview .com – All rights reserved.

White Plains, NY a city of close to 60,000 residents and a commuter population of over 250,000 has witnessed explosive growth over the past ten years and has proved to be remarkably resilient in spite of the housing recession that currently grips the country. Nevertheless, there has been some weakness in this market and in some sectors there have been minor corrections.

Cooperatives:

The first graph shows the average third quarter pricing for the coop, condo and single family markets in relation to the third quarter of 2007. The average cost of a coop has gone down 7.9% over the same period last year from $246,000 in 2007 to $228,000 in 2008. Prior to this report, coop prices had shown tremendous resilience with prices posting gains or staying level. Pockets of a seller’s market still exist in coops, particularly at the higher end above $300,000.

The second chart shows the current inventory of active listings versus the number of units sold during the last quarter and indicates that it will take about five months to absorb the current inventory of coops. This indicates a market that is fairly neutral between buyers and sellers. The balance of power appears to be shifting to the buyer should the trend towards larger inventories increase.

Condominiums:

Condos posted the biggest gains – up 20.3% over last year. It should be noted that I adjusted some of these numbers to reflect the fact that the Ritz Carlton of White Plains, a very high-end condominium complex had yet to have a closing at this time last year. Since it represents a new price point for the city, it skewed relative values upwards in a way that did not reflect changes in the market. The adjusted average of $481,000 is a better reflection of condo sales in general and is more relevant to buyers and sellers of units under $800,000. The actual average which reflects condos in the $2 million plus range is $514,000.

There is roughly a 6.7 month supply of active listings on the condo market making this market similar to coops in that th balance of power is shifting towards the buyer and away from the seller – higher prices notwithstanding.

Single Family Homes:

Single family home prices have been weakening since the third quarter of last year. Right now they appear to be stabilizing although with an average price of $756,000 they are down 3.4% over the same period last year. Nevertheless, this indicates a leveling off because average prices are unchanged from the previous quarter. Overall, prices for single family homes have dropped about 7% since the spring of 2007.

The 3.4 month supply of single family homes is a good reflection of a market that has undergone a dip and is now firming up. Although prices remain soft, a 3.4 month supply of inventory tilts the balance of power more in the seller’s direction.

Sales Volume:

Although the White Plains, NY market has been highly resistant to some of the downward trends gripping the country, the low sales volume indicates a market that is correcting – particularly with respect to condos and coops which have been the strong points of the market up until now. The third chart shows that sales volume is down 19 to 32% on cooperatives and condos respectively. While the uptick of 1.2% for single family homes is another indication that that particular market is leveling off.