Hudson Gateway Agent’s Day …. and CRS Day!

CRSI spent a wonderful day yesterday at the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors Agent’s Day in Tarrytown at the Doubletree Hilton. It is a wonderful event each year that I love to attend, one where we can network,  attend informative classes, take our Ethics class, meet many bankers, inspectors, specialists in  every field be they in mold, photography, gifts , media-  or in my case yesterday, informing the many agents how important the CRS designation truly is.  CRS tableWhat is the CRS designation?  Well, in a country full of acronyms. CRS is quite easy! Certified Residential Specialist. Did you know that less than 1% of NYS (that is New York State) Realtors have this very special designation? Did you know that only 3% of Realtors, nation wide care enough about their craft that they hold this designation?photo 7

“Value of a CRS Designation

  • Highest credential awarded to residential agents, manager and brokers
  • Pride in being one of 3% of REALTORS® holding the elite CRS credential
  • CRS agents look first to other CRS agents for client referrals
  • Marketing resources to advertise your expertise as a CRS Designee “

On October 24th and 25th, there will be a CRS Course 204  “Buying and Selling  Income Properties” at the  Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors in White Plains, and it is not too late to sign up!

The class is going to conducted by Frank Cowalksi  8:30 am to 5:30 p.m. each day, and while each agent can earn a very worthy 15 NYS credits towards their continuing education requirements, they can also earn 16 credits towards their CRS designation.. (With the right requirements , that is all they might need in order to obtain this wonderful designation… ).

Nina and ArtieThe day was wonderful… Our table was  sponsored along with  by Semper Home Loans (Artie Dimella) whose enthusiasm, energy and goodwill carried the day.  Artie and his valuable team imparts the same enthusiasm to their clients every day – a very win win situation.Semper Home Loans

The day was complete with our very own Nina Gail Betancourt,  (President extraordinaire) whose own unique brand of enthusiasm, energy shines through every time I see her… Does she ever stop? Both she and I manned the table the entire day, answering questions and hopefully helping agents  to make the right decision – obtain their CRS designation! Dorothy Botsoe, our Lower Hudson Region District Representative must have arrived before dawn to set up the table!

Westchester is GREAT!

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Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk 2013

Houlihan Lawrence has always been in the forefront of special charities and philanthropic endeavors throughout Westchester.  In fact, Chris Meyers, the COO of Houlihan Lawrence is the Chairperson for the “Light the Night’ Fundraiser on November 2nd, 2013 to help raise funds to fight blood cancers (Lymphoma and Leukemia Society). Today however, was the culmination of the “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk” which was held at the Manhattanville College, in Westchester, N.Y.

Houlihan Lawrence’s contribution to this wonderful event (and over $40,000 in donations)  was comprised of teams throughout our Westchester offices, and we were simply “Team Larchmont!”  Through our team spirit, our camaraderie and love, we were able to raise $2622 and it just personified what we represent. Team Larchmont!

No wonder we are Number One!

Larchmont is GREAT!

 

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Channel Four’s LXTV’s “Open House” GREAT segment for 10 Sheldrake Lane, New Rochelle, 10804

aerial Photo 10 Sheldrake LaneThere are certain homes that just need to  be bragged about! 10 Sheldrake Lane (“Four Chimneys”) is one such home…  The home is so special, that I sought out coverage for the home on Channel Four’s LXTV’s “Open House.”  The show usually likes the architect to speak about the home, the designer, the home -owner, but none of those people were available, and so yours truly had the wonderful privilege to represent this lovely home.

LXTV site: http://bit.ly/1fx5wn6   “Open House”

“Four Chimneys”

Located in New Rochelle just 30 minutes s to NYC, this McKim, Mead and White waterfront merits its lofty pedigree. Sited behind gates on a cul-de-sac. 1.79 acre with peaceful views of Sheldrake Lake. Exquisite architectural detail blends with  up-to-the-minute amenities. Re-purposed for the active, modern family, recreational opportunities abound. Massive gym, indoor half basketball court, putting green and sport court. Amazing infinity pool blends seamlessly with the lake. A unique, timeless compound.

Priced at $5.4 Million.

New Rochelle is GREAT!

 

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370 Pinebrook Boulevard, New Rochelle 10804

IMG_20131004_162016_067Rustic, secluded, tranquil… just a few adjectives to describe the property located at 370 Pinebrook Boulevard.  As I was approaching the home the other day, I had the nicest greeting! Two deer were dining  al fresco in the garden.!  You can’t see one as he/she was at the corner table, but what a treat for me!

They obviously know and appreciate New Rochelle just as I do!

Located away from the street on a 0.36 of an acre flag lot, this 1824 square foot, 2 bedroom, 2 bath ranch with newly lowered taxes ($13,575) has much to offer! The central air conditioning is approximately 7 years old, and the exterior of the home was painted just a few years ago. This home is a great alternative to a condo but with land! Being offered at $445,000. 370 Pinebrook Boulevard, New Rochelle.

New Rochelle is GREAT!

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Dont’ Forget your Pumpkin! October, 2013

pumpkinsAs I was driving  along the Boston Post Road in Mamaroneck , I had to notice that there were still lots of pumpkins left to purchase at the  St. Thomas Church.

Weekdays 1-5 p.m., and weekends 10 – 6.  Perfect!

Mamaroneck is GREAT!IMG_20131018_125823_072

 

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Free Rabies Vaccination/low cost Micro Chipping Day at the New Rochelle Humane Society 10/20/2013

100x75xar132624489512344_jpg_pagespeed_ic_0rvqbV7KYNWhile today was Feral cat day at the New Rochelle Humane Society, tomorrow, Sunday October 20th,  will be “Free Rabies Vaccination/low cost Micro chipping Clinic at the New Rochelle Humane Society from 10 am to 2 p.m.

This no-kill shelter is always seeking way to raise much needed funds for its many pets who are  seeking that forever home! The New Rochelle Humane Society services the following 19 towns and villages: New Rochelle, Larchmont, Town of Mamaroneck, Mamaroneck Village, Irvington, Scarsdale, Ardsley, Dobbs Ferry, Eastchester, Elmsford, Greenburgh, Harrison, Hartsdale, Hastings-on-Hudson,  Pelham, Pelham Manor, Rye, Rye Brook, and Tarrytown, and rescues over 500 dogs and 900 cats each year. They only receive 50% funding, and so fund raising is always  on-going  but always fun!

New Rochelle is GREAT!

 

 

Road – New Rochelle, NY 10801.  (914) 632-2925.

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Larchmont’s Rag A Muffin Parade today at 1 p.m!

IMG_20131012_130530_168The little ones (and many older ones) look forward to a wonderful tradition. That being the Rag A Muffin Parade that starts at 1 p.m. on Palmer Avenue at Larchmont Avenue, and proceeds down to  the fire house.  I attended last years’ parade, and it was so much fun to see everyone enjoying a perfect Fall day, dressed  up in so many creative costumes  but all enjoying themselves.

Larchmont is GREAT!

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CRS Wealth Building Course in White Plains 10/24 & 10/25

CRSI think our Certified Residential Specialist President says it best!  It should be fun… AND educational!

” I’m excited to let you know that the New York State CRS Chapter in cooperation with NYSAR, our State Association, is bringing a CRS designation course to Westchester County. On Oct 24 & 25 of next week, we will be presenting CRS 204 – Wealth Building with Income Properties, at the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors in White Plains. (Flyer )

We felt that given the financial sophistication of the consumers in the Lower Hudson area, this course would be important for anyone wanting to expand their market. As a Chapter member, you have the benefit of taking this 2 day course for the discounted price of $179. We invite you to share the attached course flyer with anyone you may know who may be interested in earning their CRS designation, picking up 15 hrs NY CE credit and gaining valuable information that can truly impact their business. Let them know how valuable the CRS designation has been for you. Many seasoned agents are not aware that if they have been in the business at least 10 years and have had a substantial number of transactions, this course may be all they need to earn the CRS designation!

We thank you for your support of our Chapter and promise a great opportunity to network and learn together during this program. I am registered and hope to see you next week! Call or email if you have any other questions.

All the best,

Nina

Nina Gail Betancourt, CIPS, CRS, RSPS
Associate Broker ~ North Country Sotheby’s International Realty
2013 President ~ New York State CRS Chapter
2012 CRS of the Year ~ New York State
Dir: (914) 862-0770 Cel: (914) 361-9880
NinaGail@gmail.com
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Making Strides to end Breast Cancer 2013 – Bake Sale – H/L Team Larchmont

Today was an emotional day… The first emotion was being totally frozen by 3 p.m today after standing outside in the cold for 6 hours! Ha! The second emotion was love. Love for  all of my associates who stepped up to the challenge to give their time, energy and support for this wonderful charity.

Our Manager, Debbie Doern, stopped by yesterday at our Fund Raising Bake sale event to offer support, and today our Sound Shore Regional Manager, Judi Smith, stopped by to purchase a few very small items, but vastly overpaid  (although Margie Wechsler’s pumpkin cakes are delicious as are Lou Pollak’s chocolate chip cookies and all warranted more) but she also overpaid by probably $35….. Love, was the emotion that threaded its way though today’s cold, dreary and overcast day but that shaft of love and light shined on our bake sale outside of our office located at 2070 Boston Post Road in Larchmont, New York throughout the day.  A gentleman stopped by this morning with his two, small children. I could see that he was holding back his tears as he mentioned to me that his wife was sitting  at a table just 10 feet away at Bradley’s (a wonderful local breakfast and lunch establishment but one imbued with class and offering decadent pastries, breakfasts and lunches),  and how she was diagnosed with breast cancer just 4 months earlier. He bought two small items,  one for each of his children, but also perhaps signifying the pain and hope he is experiencing with his wife’s treatment and  recovery and how it is affecting his life and the lives of those two children.

I was honked at! Oh my! A lady in her car asked if we were participating in a ‘walk’. “Yes, I replied-  at Manhattanville College next Sunday starting at 8:am (registration time)… She mentioned how she was 4 years in remission, and it was obvious that she wanted to briefly share her great news while she was stopped at the traffic light. Who wouldn’t? People walked by mentioning how they have to sign up, they had done it before, it was a necessity… and people came back after making a cash withdrawal as they wanted to participate in some way, and they all did.. Longtime friends Arnie Sternheim from New Rochelle popped by yesterday and today wanting to contribute(and who breakfasts at Bradleys every weekend) …  A local author, and lovely lady, Marlene Fanta Shyer (author of the book “Happy Anniversary, He Said”  stopped by to purchase some goodies. It might have been cold and unappealing today,  and also a Holiday weekend, but in wanting to personally help contribute towards cancer awareness – enabled so many people to be wonderful. Past great clients (Craig and Laurel)  popped by and purchased a goodie…

Lou (Pollak) baked again last night and this morning, and brought some wonderful brownies and chocolate chip cookies…not to mention joining me at 2 pm for that final hour!  That really helped to make the day…Her joyfulness of spirit warmed my heart (and body). Susan (Emery) made some chewy chocolate chip cookies that were an instant hit, and oh my goodness!!!   Juergen (Hess) made a delicious cornbread with pistachios and raisins that people gobbled up  (oooh! could Thanksgiving be around the corner?).. And how could I forget Laurie Iannuzzo! Laurie brought in some delicious brownies yesterday which were quickly purchased (and consumed), and in wanting to help out yet again, ran out to purchase more ingredients and brought in early this morning some wonderful scones  with cranraisins and raisins..  Yours truly bought one  (and I should have purchased more… but my thighs would scream and that is  different story)..

Team Larchmont has proven to be a wonderful team, and representative of the camaraderie, team spirit and cohesiveness of the office.  No wonder we are Number One!

We raised $550 in the bake sale. Great..

Did you know that the dollars raised by “the Making Strides Supporters“,  the American Cancer Society is doing the most for people facing breast cancer today to end the disease tomorrow? We all know people, friends, family members who have suffered or who died from this disease. My mother died from breast cancer. My older sister ( Ha – she will always be older!) has had breast cancer, and my far younger sister  had a double mastectomy to avoid the probability of the disease.

If we were all to contribute just $10, $25, $50, or $100  a year to this worthwhile charity, imagine the results we could produce..

Sublime!   Team Larchmont has raised over $2100 todate on behalf of Houlihan Lawrence’s ongoing and never ending support of Cancer awareness. Please join us on the walk on October 20th at 8 am.. and walk either 3-5 miles… make a small donation, and if you can’t, that is okay also. We know you care – because we all do.

Larchmont is GREAT!

 

 

 

 

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Bake Sale for “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer”

Working in an office (like mine – Houlihan Lawrence #1 in Westchester), means that we have many opportunities to work together both on a business level and on a social level. When it comes to working together for a charity – or for a fellow worker, then “Team Larchmont” knows no bounds!

We had raised  close to $1600 for breast cancer awareness  earlier this week. (Houlihan Lawrence is a yearly supporter of this great charity, and our office – along with every  Houlihan Lawrence office – raises funds for the charity, and we also participate in a walk  “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer“. This year, it will be held on October 20th, 8:30 am at the Manhattanville College where you are invited to join us and walk from 3-5 miles-  your choice!  We all decided to have a bake sale this weekend, and after one day we raised over $300 with another day  (tomorrow, October 13th) to follow! … With just under $2000 raised for the charity to date, it looks like Team Larchmont will reach our goal of $2000 and more so!

If you are in the area, and would like to taste some delightful and yummy baked wares, please pop by 2070 Boston Post Road tomorrow, and buy a brownie for just $1, a banana bread for just $5….   Our Julie Webber made some delicious  gluten free chocolate chip cookies with an almond butter that sold immediately, and her spiced pumpkin cupcakes were equally as popular!  Berdie Stein made some delicious chocolate chip cookies, and Lucy Yocum made pumpkin bars with chocolate chips (gone!). Lou Pollak’s home made chocolate cakes with a chocolate drizzle just disappeared (along with her banana breads), and then we had Dee Van Eyck’s confetti bars that were so beautiful to behold… Yours truly made blueberry muffins, Laurie Iannuzzo made brownies nestled in a delightful basket (gone!), and tomorrow, we will be featuring more goodies from our great chefs. Margie Wechsler made a banana bread and thought that she had under-priced it. “Oh no, ” I informed her.. the purchaser was a breast cancer survivor, and she bought not only the  banana bread but 3 blueberry muffins also and donated $20…  THAT was the theme of the day.. People overpaid for their wares as they realized it all was going to a great charity (and so many knew or were cancer survivors).. Thank you for the really great donations today from Karen Dorfman (who has been recovering from back surgery -G-d Bless), and to Katie McLoughlin who every time she passed the tables gave a generous donation! Helllooooo!  Didn’t I see you before?

The agents who could not bake have all given generously as their lives (our lives) are always so busy with selling beautiful homes in the community. Debbie Doern, our manager, runs a tight ‘ship’ but in this case – everyone is at the helm..  “Team Larchmont”

What can I say!

Larchmont is GREAT!

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