Tag: REAL ESTATE

It’s Not Too Late to Book an August Rental in The Berkshires

Looking for a last minute getaway for August? This private home is nestled in the wooded foothills of The Berkshires. The home is very secluded, while still being close to attractions, shopping, and summer destinations. Just a few minutes drive to Stockbridge, Great Barrington, and the Berkshire’s cultural attractions – including Tanglewood, Jacob’s Pillow, The Norman Rockwell Museum, and Shakespeare & Company.

This 3 Bedroom, 2 Bath house has an open-floor layout with kitchen, dining area, and living room in one. All three areas feature windows, skylights, and a wall of sliding glass doors to enjoy the outdoors from inside.

 

The bedrooms include a Master Bedroom with it’s own bathroom:

There is also a second Bedroom with a full size futon:

The third Bedroom has a twin size bed:

Linens are included, and there is a clothes washer and dryer in the house.

Additional features include a large deck that wraps around the to the backyard where a grill is located.

 

The house is located in the town of Austerlitz, NY (on the NY/MA border), and is roughly a two hour drive from Boston and NYC, and about 30 minutes to Hudson. Available for the entire month of August, 2017, for $3,750. Shorter terms may also be available.

For more pictures and additional info, or to rent the house, check out the listing on BeachandBartolo.com by clicking here.

 

For more local happenings, news, and events, follow ColumbiaCountyCurrent on twitter @CoCoCurrent.

Jeff McKinney is a Realtor in Columbia County, NY (Beach & Bartolo Realtors – 34 Main St., Chatham NY 12037). Connect with him on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Pinterest.

Every Room Has A View in This Hudson Valley Home

Imagine enjoying your morning coffee, or happy hour cocktail, with this as your view…

That’s just one of the views from a house that I recently listed in Gallatin, NY. It’s a Colonial style home that was built in 2007. The 2.25 acre property features panoramic views, and the house is situated at the top of a hill so the views span around the house, from the front to the back yard.

This 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom house features a two story foyer with wrap around staircase, living room, dining room, and great room with open floor plan kitchen/family room. The large master suite has two walk-in closets and a large bathroom with soaker tub, separate shower, and two sinks.

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The house is located in the southern section of Columbia County, so it’s less than two hours from New York City. It’s also just a bike ride away from Lake Taghkanic State Park, and just a few minutes drive to Hudson and Red Hook

The house is offered at $269,000. If you’d like to see it in person, email me at Jmckinney@BeachandBartolo.com.

For more pictures and additional info, check out the listing on BeachandBartolo.com by clicking here.

 

For more local happenings, news, and events, follow ColumbiaCountyCurrent on twitter @CoCoCurrent.

Jeff McKinney is a Realtor in Columbia County, NY (Beach & Bartolo Realtors – 34 Main St., Chatham NY 12037). Connect with him on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Pinterest.

Good Advice for Home Buyers When Making an Offer

A recent article on RealtorMag had some valuable advice for home buyers when it comes to making an offer on a house. These tips are especially important in a competitive market, like we have been seeing in Columbia County lately.

Making an Offer: 5 Mistakes to Avoid

1) Delaying

“Time kills deals,” says Andrew Sandholm of BOND New York Properties in New York. “Dragging your feet means you could wind up paying more in a bidding war situation or missing out on the property altogether.” Buyers need to be ready with their paperwork, such as bank statements, a preapproval letter, and documents supporting proof of funds, from the day they begin house-hunting mode. That way they can pounce quickly with an offer when they do find a home they like.

2) Making an Offer for Their Preapproved Amount

Smart buyers are getting preapproved to show a seller they’re financially able to purchase a home. However, Chuck Silverston, principal at Unlimited Sotheby’s International Realty in Brookline, Mass., warns buyers against using that document to come up with an offer amount.

“Many buyers come in with a preapproval for the exact offer price, but when you’re competing against other offers, including cash offers, you want to show financial strength,” Silverston says. “An exact preapproval could make a listing agent nervous because not only does the buyer not have any wiggle room to negotiate, but they might no longer qualify if interest rates rise.”

3) Submitting a Lowball Offer

Lowballing a seller often backfires, particularly in a seller’s market. “A lowball offer that isn’t backed up with math or comparable sales data is disrespectful and could turn off the seller and possibly mean you will miss out on the property completely,” Sandholm says.

4) Waiving Inspection Contingencies

“I don’t care whether it’s new construction or even your mom’s house you’re buying from her – get it inspected,” urges Joshua Jarvis of Jarvis Team Realty in Duluth, Ga. Further, if you waive the inspection contingency in your offer, you may lose the earnest money if you later back out of the deal.

5) Not Presenting Yourself Well Enough

In a seller’s market, buyers need to take steps to make sure they look good in the eyes of the seller. “In today’s highly competitive environment, the listing agent is trying to determine which buyer will be the easiest to deal with,” Silverston says. Buyers may want to avoid pointing out every defect, making nitpicky queries, or questioning the seller’s tastes.

“Basically buyers who act less than enthusiastic will see themselves at a competitive disadvantage when sellers are comparing multiple offers,” he says.

SOURCE – realtormag.realtor.org

 

For more happenings, news, and events, follow ColumbiaCountyCurrent.com on twitter @CoCoCurrent, and me on Instagram @JeffmMcKinney.

January Home Sales: Highest Rate Growth in Nearly 10 Years

January existing-home sales show fastest seasonally adjusted annual sales growth in almost 10 years. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), existing-home sales increased 3.3 percentage points to a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 5.69 million — up from an upwardly revised 5.51 million in December. This sales pace is 3.8 percentage points above January 2015 and is the fastest SAAR sales pace in nearly a decade.

The median existing-home price for all housing types in January rose 7.1 percentage points to $228,900, which marks the 59th consecutive month of year-over-year gains. Total housing inventory experienced a boost as well, with a 2.4 percentage point jump to 1.69 million homes for sale — a much-needed jump from the rock bottom levels seen in December 2016. Despite the strong numbers, inventory is still 7.1 percentage points below January 2016 and is the 20th consecutive month of year-over-year declines. Unsold inventory is at an unchanged 3.6-month supply.

Distressed sales, which include foreclosures and short sales, were at 7 percent — unchanged from December and a 9 percentage point drop from January 2016. Five percent of January sales were foreclosures, and 2 percent were short sales.

Single-family home sales were at a SAAR of 5.04 million — a 2.6 percentage point month-over-month increase and a 3.7 percentage point year-over-year increase. The sales price for single-family homes increased by 7.3 percentage points to $230,400.

Existing condominium and co-op sales rose 8.3 percentage points to a SAAR of 650,000 units, 4.8 percentage points higher than a year ago. The median existing condo price was $217,400 in January — up 6.2 percentage points from 2016.

Buying Patterns Across the Country:

The Northeast, South and West experienced strong growth, while the Midwest took a small hit.

  • In the Northeast, existing-home sales jumped 5.3 percent to an annual rate of 800,000, up 6.7 percent from a year ago.
    Median price: $253,800, a 2.5 percent year-over-year decrease.
  • In the Midwest, existing-home sales decreased 1.5 percent to an annual rate of 1.29 million.
    Median price: $174,900, a 6.5 percent year-over-year increase.
  • In the South, existing-home sales rose 3.6 percent to an annual rate of 2.31 million. Median price: $201,400, a 9.2 percent year-over-year increase.
  • In the West, existing-home sales ascended 6.6 percent to an annual rate of 1.29 million. Median price: $332,300, an 6.8 percent year-over-year increase.

 

For more happenings, news, and events, follow ColumbiaCountyCurrent.com on twitter @CoCoCurrent.

So Long Hamptons & Hello Hudson Valley

The Hudson Valley region has frequently been referred to as the “Hamptons North”, but a recent article in BusinessInsider.com shows that our area is increasingly becoming The destination for vacations and second home purchases.  According to the article, while Average home prices in the Hamptons have fallen, the luxury real-estate market in the Hudson Valley, which is roughly the area stretching north from New York City along the Hudson River to Albany, is accelerating. The article also points out an increase among travelers who are visiting the area to take advantage of our numerous hiking options, and real-life experience trips.

Here’s a section of the BusinessInsider article by Madeline Stone:

Richard Ellis, owner of Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty in Nyack, New York, said he has witnessed a trend of New Yorkers buying property in the Hudson Valley over the last few years. Many vacation-home buyers he has done business with work in finance, have primary residences in downtown Manhattan or Brooklyn, and are in their mid-30s to 50s.

He has even worked with some clients who were specifically looking to trade in their Hamptons home for a quieter spot in the Hudson Valley.

“The lower Hudson Valley is certainly easier to get to than the Hamptons,” Ellis told Business Insider. “People who buy on our side of the river are not ‘keeping up the Joneses,’ so to speak. They’re looking to impress themselves, not others.”

These buyers value the proximity to Manhattan, outdoor activities, and stunning landscape that the Hudson Valley offers.

As a Realtor in the Upper Hudson Valley, I’ve been surprised by the large number of people house hunting in our area over the past few months. It appears as if people are trying to find, and buy homes during the winter, so that they can be ready to enjoy their homes in the nicer weather when it arrives in Spring. Chances are good that we will see an even greater number of people looking to buy in the region as the weather warms up.

You can see some of the homes that my agency has to offer on BeachAndBartolo.com. And don’t hesitate to email me, (jmckinney@beachandbartolo.com)  if you are interested in finding a home of your own in Columbia County.

Check out the full BusinessInsider.com article by clicking here.

 

For more happenings, news, and events, follow ColumbiaCountyCurrent.com on twitter @CoCoCurrent.