I live on Paine Avenue named after Thomas Paine (“Common Sense”) ..in New Rochelle, and took this photo over the summer. It reminded me a touch of Monet‘s Water Lilies ….. only because there are water lilies (I am not getting carried away here!).. Best Gay
New Rochelle is GREAT!
Westchester Taxes seem to be the highest….Sigh….. New Rochelle taxes are high also…. and so it has been my pleasure to help my various clients grieve their taxes in the past few years…… free of charge of course…
Whenever I take a listing, one of the first things I look at are the taxes…I look at the mill rate (it is currently 2.67 in New Rochelle), divide it into the assessment… and then I am able to discern at what home value the City is assessing tax. If a home is going to be listed for say $600,000 and they are being assessed at a value of $800,000 then it would seem to be a no-brainer to grieve those taxes…I will obtain the information for my clients, and I just ask that they submit the paperwork themselves so the city officials see it as a ‘from the heart’ experience from the home-owners. … I do not promise anything BUT have been successful every time… The one trend I have noticed though is that last year the city was reducing taxes by $5000, $7000, and even $10,000 in one case. So many people grieved their taxes across the board that this year I noticed the city was no quite as indulgent and the common trend was perhaps $1000, $750, or $1500 if they were lucky….A sign of the times…. cuts everywhere!
Taxes can be grieved in our city from usually June Ist to approx. the second or third week of that month.
I find it immensely rewarding being able to help people I know, and when I get the call thanking me- it makes it all worth while.
So many people do not realize that they can grieve their taxes, that it is an easy process, and that they can grieve every year if they want to..
While I would ideally like to get paid for my services, I have always tried to ‘give something back’ to the community, and in this poor economy, I see this as being one of the ways I can give back to some people at least (I only do it for 10-12 people each year), and the return for me is satisfaction!
New Rochelle is great!
Have a great week. Gay
I usually use my websites as a barometer for internet interest in my listings, and the websites have also served as an indicator for holidays, the economy, etc. For instance, I will see a drop in visitors (those people who seek out the listing either by location, price, or house size, and then explore the photos for further detail), every major Holiday or stock market decline. Since it has always proved to be factual, I always use that fact when meeting with a potential seller. Not only do I explain in detail how I can market and sell their home, I also inform them of the feedback they will receive, and use the graphs from one of my websites to demonstrate just that.
I now have another great barometer into the economy, and public sentiment. The top 25 students at New Rochelle High School, and the colleges they choose to attend! If you will look at my earlier bogs (“New Rochelle College Bound Students 2007 versus 2008″ and ” New Rochelle Class of 2009″) you will see – just as I did – that a year before the market really dropped, and there was a hint of anxiety in the air, that students were choosing less expensive schools, perhaps where they obtained higher scholarship awards. There were some that argued with me that since the Ivy League Schools have so much endowment money this was not so, but I feel and felt that there are many families and students who felt more comfortable in choosing a school that would cost less.
New Rochelle’s high school students have always excelled in my eye with exceptional programs. We are proud to have the Pave Program (Performing and Visual Arts Program). Pave students have a choice between PAVE I, PAVE II, PAVE III and PAVE IV where students can either choose a major or a split major in one or two of the arts (music, vocal, visual arts, theater or dance), and while there are different criteria for each program, the culmination is with the student obtaining 5 units of credit which fulfills the State Education Department requirement for a Fine Arts sequence.
The High School also boasts the on-site Museum of Arts and Culture, which is the only Regents-chartered museum in the State of New York. While featuring wonderful exhibits from the students, it also collaborates with other museums and cultural institutions offering outstanding, wonderful programs and exhibits for the entire City of New Rochelle and neighboring areas.
The students might not even have to be one of the top 25 in academia to rise to great achievements. This year, Dan Hoffmann, a graduating senior, was the Governor of the Northeast State of JSA (Junior State of America – The Junior Statesmen Foundation) for the 2009-2010 school year. Dan was his chapter’s president, the coordinator of the Westchester JSA Conference 2008-2009, and director of communications for the Northeast State JSA, 2008-2009. Dan was elected by the council of governors as its representative on the foundation’s board of trustees. He will be attending the University of Michigan.
My son, Brett, also graduated in June from the High School, and while he was 104 of the graduating class of 678 students, he had a GPA average of over 90 indicating that the graduating class is academically strong, bright, intelligent and accomplished young men and women. My gauge of the top 25 is not an indicator of the best schools for the best students but rather the schools these exceptional students chose to attend, and that there are many other exceptional students choosing exceptional schools also. Brett is attending Muhlenberg College to play baseball. He obtained an academic scholarship, and as a Captain of the High School Varsity Baseball Team was awarded the Board of Education Scholar Athlete Award in the sport of Baseball, the Principal’s Scholar Athlete Award in baseball, the N.R.H.S. Scholar Athlete of the Year Award , the N.R.H.S. Spring 2010 Most Valuable Athlete Award, and the Louis Lise Memorial Award given by the New Rochelle Little League to a Varsity Baseball Team Player who has shown outstanding dedication and improvement. He is also a member of the National Honor Society. My point? Can you imagine what the other students that I have not listed have accomplished and the schools they are currently attending? Another student is attending Edinburgh University in Scotland!
This 2010 year, the top 25 students chose the following colleges and universities:
•Yale University
•Cornell University
•University of Virginia
•Yale University
•Washington University of St. Louis
•Villanova University
•Columbia University
•Carnegie Mellon University
•Cornell University
•Columbia University
•Syracuse University
•University of Chicago
•Columbia University
•Cornell University
•New York University
•Duke University
•Wellesley College
•Michigan University
•Brandeis University
•Northwestern University
•Cornell University
•University of Maryland
•McGill University
•Northwestern University
•Colgate University
My thoughts this year? I saw a large trend towards State schools in the last few years, but with the ever increasing numbers of students going to those schools, I think that students are following their hearts and returning to the Ivy League schools, etc…. So I do not see this as a result of the economy improving – although home sales had improved (in part to the foreclosure sales and first-time home buyer credits) in the first 6 months of this year, but rather families and students alike wanting an excellent education as a result of the poor economy, and realizing that it doesn’t hurt to attend an Ivy League School. It is also wonderful to have exceptionally bright children and an award winning school district.
New Rochelle has wonderful, dedicated, caring teachers who give of themselves on a daily basis to help improve the lives, characters and scholastic achievements of its students.
New Rochelle is great!
It is quite interesting to note that the “House of Tudor” which reigned England from 1485 to 1603 has, in a sense, become the “Tudor House” to many of us…of course, we all recall Henry the VIII and his 8 wives, but on an everyday occurrence, we see so many Tudor Homes and as a Realtor, I wanted to find out why the popularity?
As it happens, the Tudor style home became a sign of a man’s wealth. To own a Tudor home,and especially to have a well designed garden accompanying the Tudor home, was the epitome of elegance and wealth back in the good old days of the 15th and 16th Centuries in England.
People would compete with each other with regard to the size, and grandeur displayed. It is interesting to note that the Tudor homes in England are traditionally white with half timbers which means they were built with wooden frames, and wattle and daub (wet clay and sticks) were used to fill in the spaces between. The English Tudors are white with black painted half-timbers, and yet in America, we traditionally see white with brown painted timbers, and with stucco and perhaps some brick work. A Tudor home will traditionally feature dormers, a large fireplace, and some Tudors will have a “stepped” appearance by which the upper floor will overhand the lower level. This originated when, in the 15th century, the people would pour out their chamber pots onto the streets, and rather than throw the contents onto the passersby, it would be thrown into the center of the street hopefully avoiding them. Fortunately, a warning call would usually precipitate the casting of the contents of the pot! Some 500 year old Tudor homes are still remaining in England. However, having grown up on an Island in the English Thames Estuary where we had original 17th Century Dutch cottages with thatched roofs (and tiny, tiny rooms), Tudor-style homes were an everyday occurrence to me.
Perhaps because the Tudor home signified wealth, luxury, etc…it is no surprise that Tudor homes are still very popular to many people. As a Realtor, I am proud to reside in New Rochelle – home to many beautiful Tudor homes.. I have had the privilege to list and sell quite a few Tudor homes in the New Rochelle area in all different price ranges.
NEW ROCHELLE is great! Just 35 minutes from New York City by train, and just 45 minutes from Broadway!
I live in a wonderful neighborhood that has many beautiful older homes…. and we actually call it the estate area of New Rochelle. When my husband and I first purchased our house, I remember how USAA would not insure the house as it WAS too old for them.. not realizing that these are beautiful homes that if taken care of, are splendid…Many of the homes were built in the early 1900’s with simply grand architectural details, stained glass windows, molding, beautiful hardwood floors…… but the one area that does not improve with age is the basement!
I have entered 2 Million dollar houses and you not only need a flashlight (exaggeration but you get the dungeon feeling) when you enter the basement…. piled high with memorabilia that will have to be thrown out before the closing, 2 older refrigerators, asbestos, and maybe some mold…. a friend told he that he has a flow-thru basement… when it rains, the water flows thru!….If only home-owners would think to tidy up their basement in addition to the living areas… it would really improve the sales price of the home especially since so many people today like everything new with seemingly no issues.
An associate asked me to help price a home in New Rochelle… a magnificent Tudor with pool, 7 bedrooms and located on over 0.60 of an acre. I loved the house.. but I mentioned that I would be giving her two prices, one with the basement emptied and painted and one without that being accomplished… Since she had been asking the owner to empty out the house, she felt she could only ask for so much…. but she did mention the other day that the basement held them back…
I have to mention that I am always leery of a newly painted basement as you don’t know if they are covering up water issues, mold issues….but at the same time, to just clean out the basement, having it smell nice goes a long way to help sell it! Plus, you can always take some photos before and after showing that the basement was in good condition – just needed the cleaning and painting.
Another suggestion is to take photos of a house before it is spruced up to sell…. and what it looks like afterwards, and you can use those photos when you go on a listing presentation… ask the home-owner- which home would you rather buy?
Have a good one! Gay
I grew up in England – pre computers, and I can recall boasting at how I had 5 pen pals from across the globe… There was a French boy, a French girl, an American girl who would always write about going to conventions… I would wonder what is a convention?…Another American girl, and then there was a blonde Greek girl – I was amazed at her blonde hair and the fact she wasn’t dark… I have long forgotten their names, but I can vividly remember being ecstatic at receiving letters from them, and the wonderful insightful information they contained about themselves and their respective countries.Of course, it was a dark plot by my teachers to get us to write more, but it was quite effective and exciting!
I liken Active Rain to the new pen pal – and as I open up the site each day, I see many familiar people who have Featured posts, or who have commented on posts, and while I might not be in touch with those bloggers personally, you get to know their personalities, their humor, and some make you smile, some grimmace, and it is just re-affirming to know that we all experience the same issues, and are able to reach out to one another to help in some way, to commiserate and to share.
I can tell when things are quiet as you will see peple blogging about their listings… one after the after…. evenings can be busy – after a day’s work, and as people unwind on the internet! Mornings reflect the longer blog…. more thought having gone into them….Each blogger has his/her own particular way of approaching things, and just as some members have mentioned meeting other members at raincamps…I can well imagine it must be like seeing an old friend. Of course, that is when the photo comes into play if it’s a little older and the blogger not appearing the same….do we recognize each other?
SO, blogging is definitely the new pen pal….but on a much larger scale…. and with much easier access… and directed at over 192,000 ‘pals’ and if one pal isn’t around to say ‘hi’ then we always know that there will be someone who will !
Have a great day and happy blogging!
Your pal,
Weeee-llll let me backtrack… Being a positive person, and always ‘looking on the bright side of life…’ – by the way, did you know that was one of the most popular songs in England for funerals? Well, that aside, I found myself at an open house today, and it was a simply gorgeous New England Fall (so soon – yikes..) day…. the leaves were changing color, and in fact, the day was SO nice… no-one came… Obviously the old ‘ build it and they will come..” did not apply to me- today…. My cell phone didn’t have access in that area…. so no calls….mmmmhhhh.. I had taken a tape from the library.. which sounded great.. but wasn’t so good… – hey I want to be entertained…. I walked around the house quite a few times… taking some photos- even though my photographer will be there on Monday… and so I found myself picking up acorns for my squirrels…. I kid you not… I picked up loads of acorns (made me think of berry picking when my children were younger)… brought them back to my garden, and my delightful squirrels (who will probably find devious ways of trying to enter my roof this winter)…. BUT my point is… I stayed positive…. Real estate is a tough business, someone once said that you do not get paid until the check is in your hands…. and so, while sometimes we miss our children’s sports games, some family affairs (although that could be a good excuse), in trying to fully represent our clients and their needs, it is very important to always look to the positive, find the best in everything, look for the humor in life…. and I believe that will be transferred over to our customers and clients… I also think that being part of the Active Rain Community HELPS you stay positive also… so many groups, blogs – all a great and healthy learning experience.
My home ground is New Rochelle… I love living here, and it is a great place in which to live…. oh and the squirrels are happy too!
Have a GREAT evening, Best, Gay
New Rochelle is GREAT
I have lived in New Rochelle, 10804 for over 30 years and, in having a nice garden, I would admire my lavender bushes every year … but then would do nothing about it! Shame on me! This year, I cut off the lavender, allowed it to dry over the course of several weeks, and then placed the lavender seeds into a plastic bag with a few drops of essential lavender oil. I then let it cure for several weeks. The result? A heady smell of lavender that will nicely perfume your underwear and even sock drawers!
I was able to purchase the little sachet bags over the internet, but you can easily purchase them in an arts and crafts stores, lavender in color, of course. And they make lovely gifts! I have given them to past and current clients, to associates, and have taken them to open houses at my listings in New Rochelle. So it is the gift that keeps on giving!
The nice thing is, it was an inexpensive way to show people I care and am thinking of them! How was your day?
Just 35 minutes by train from New York City, New Rochelle is GREAT!
I think a key component that some of us forget, that with the importance of the internet, the very first visit to your listing is via the internet. Potential buyers and agents will look at the details of course, and the PHOTOS. If they like what they see, they will look further – perhaps look at the tour, listen to the narration if you have one….seek out the listing on Youtube….. and then they make the appointment. I live in New Rochelle, just 30 mins from NYC and I try to attract buyers from the city..I have 2 websites, and I am able to see at a glance exactly how many visitors my clients have had for their homes.. Realtor.com is able to depict the vistis in a graph which is great, as you can see when it is a holiday weekend, how the ‘visits’ decline.. and it is a great barometer as to what is happening in the world too and the pulse of the market place…I email it my clients each week -or drop it off as the case may be, but it is just another way of demonstrating to my clients…. that while they might not have had too many appointments, there were X amount of ‘unique’ visitors to the house via the internet… and perhaps we should address a possible price adjustment. I am seeing that more and more buyers are WAITING for the prices to come down, and other agents might say that the market is ‘dead’ there are no buyers, but I can see it differently from the website visitors. I KNOW they are ‘out there’ but they are waiting for the price to reach their comfort level. With the website vistor info, I can clearly show my sellers that what I am saying is fact.
I have sold several properties, only to learn after the fact that someone was upset it had sold – because they had been ‘watching’ it on the internet…. “Why didn’t you come and place bid I would ask” Well, I was waiting for it to come down….. Their logic amazes me for as I write in my newsletters, if YOU are waiting for the price to come down, so are 10 other people, and once your perfect home reaches its perfect price, that is when you have multiple biddiing,. and you end up paying much, much more. It is better to step forward, perhaps pay a few thousand more than you would like, but you end up with the house of your dreams. I can also mention to my sellers too that when I see a certain amount of people ‘circling’ it is a good time to have a price adjustment, so we can tempt them through the door… It WORKS!
A key component to this blog is the PHOTO aspect… If the photos are awful… you only get a first page click, and you can clearly see that by how long someone stays on the listing. To that regard, since our first visitors are on the internet – which is what I always tell my sellers, I always like to use a professional photographer.. He/she can take the best angles, utilize the best lighting….. Our goal is to draw as many people as we can to the house, so we can SELL them the house, but if the photos aren’t nice.. then they move on…. New Rochelle is GREAT!
New Rochelle is GREAT!
Gay Rosen is a Top Realtor in the Larchmont and New Rochelle, New York (Westchester) area. She is diligent, caring, driven and thorough (with a sense of humor). Call her!
