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Westchester County NY Real Estate Blog - Ragette Real Estate

In many markets across the country, the number of buyers searching for their dream homes outnumbers the number of homes for sale. This has led to a competitive marketplace where buyers often need to stand out. One way to show that you are serious about buying your dream home is to get pre-qualified or pre-approved for a mortgage before starting your search.

Even if you are not in an incredibly competitive market, understanding your budget will give you the confidence of knowing whether or not your dream home is within your reach.

Freddie Mac lays out the advantages of pre-approval in the ‘My Home’ section of their website:

“It’s highly recommended that you work with your lender to get pre-approved before you begin house hunting.

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How to Assess the Real Cost of a Fixer-Upper House

 

           

When you buy a fixer-upper house, you can save a ton of money, or get yourself in a financial fix.

Trying to decide whether to buy a fixer-upper house? Follow these seven steps, and you’ll know how much you can afford, how much to offer, and whether a fixer-upper house is right for you.

1. Decide what you can do yourself

TV remodeling shows make home improvement work look like a snap. In the real world, attempting a difficult remodeling job that you don’t know how to do will take longer than you think and can lead to less-than-professional results that won’t increase the value of your fixer-upper house. 

  • Do you really have the skills to do
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Home Upgrades with the Lowest ROI

  

           

File these six upgrades under wish fulfillment, not value investment.

Life is a balancing act, and upgrading your home is no different. Some upgrades, like a kitchen remodel or an additional bathroom, typically add value to your home. Others, like putting in a pool, provide little dollar return on your investment.

Of course, home owning isn’t just about building wealth; it’s also about living well and making memories -- even if that means outclassing your neighborhood or turning off future buyers. So if any of these six upgrades is something you can’t be dissuaded from, enjoy! We won’t judge. But go in with your eyes wide open. Here’s why: 

1. 

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Introducing....

3 Wildwood Road, Eastchester, NY


 3 Wildwood Road, Eastchester NY - Exclusively offered by Ragette Real Estate.

For more information: http://www.Ragette.com/3WildwoodRoad

Outstanding Lake Isle Estates Residence set on Glorious Half-Acre of Park-Like Grounds! Open the custom-made front door to an amazing 3,000sf layout of sun-drenched rooms. This 4 Bedroom, 3 Bathroom home offers a super-sized Living Room and Formal Dining Room, a chef's-delight Eat-in-Kitchen with handmade cabinetry and 10' wide floor to ceiling pantry. The unique architectural design of the Master Bedroom Suite includes curved walls with built-in storage, an 8'x11' Master Bathroom with marble and granite finishes, a cathedral ceiling, skylight and 8'x11'

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 White Plains Cooperative Sales Statistics

white plains cooperatives

           

The White Plains Cooperative Market has been red-hot. The Average Selling Price of a White Plains cooperative in May was $203,863.  While the Original List Price to Sale Price Ratio topped out at 95.0%, the highest ratios we’ve seen since June of 2012 (95.3%).  Additionally the Average Days on Market nosedived to just 121 days during the month of May.  That’s the lowest average days on market for White Plains cooperatives dating back to June of 2008’s 126 days on market.

          

 

White Plains Cooperatives: Average Selling Price

(Past 12 Months)

Month Sale Price, Average
June 2013

$189,206

July 2013
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What You Should Know About Your Home and Your 2013 Taxes

It’s the last year for three sweet home tax benefits, but the first for a way simpler home office deduction.

 These days few things start a fight on Capitol Hill faster than taxes. Despite the fact that three important tax benefits used by millions of American homeowners are days from expiring, Congress is unlikely to do anything to re-up them any time soon.

So if you’re eligible, tax year 2013 is possibly the last time to claim the private mortgage insurance (PMI) deduction, the energy tax credit, and debt forgiveness benefit, all of which all expire on Dec. 31, 2013. 

At least there’s one piece of good news for homeowners: If you have a home office, there’s a new, simpler

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Happy St Patrick's Day Everyone!


Congratulations to Eastchester's 2014 Grand Marshalls Tom Huvane and Jim Hendry, and Honoree Father Eric P. Raaser. Yesterday's Eastchester St. Patrick's Day Parade was tremendous! 

Below is a copy of our journal advertisement .... you can find the rest of them here:http://www.wizadjournal.com/eastchesterirish2014/index.php

 

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First “GREEN LINE” Business Sponsor, Grand Marshals and Honoree Named For Eastchester's Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade

February 26, 2014

EASTCHESTER —The Eastchester Irish American Social Club (EIASC) today announced that Ragetté Real Estate, located in Eastchester and the oldest family-owned real estate firm in Westchester County, has been named the first ever “Green Line Sponsor” for the EIASC’s 2014 Eastchester St. Patrick’s Day Parade. In the days leading up to the parade, the green line is painted along the route, including White Plains Road, to help show and build community support for the day’s celebration of Irish culture.

“We are delighted to have Ragetté Real Estate step up as the first ever ‘Green Line Sponsor,’” said

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Sellers Getting Ahead of Spring Rush

The spring selling rush may already be under way, as some home owners are already throwing their properties on the market to take advantage of rebounding home prices and improved equity.

Paul Reid, a real estate agent with Redfin in Temecula, Calif., says some sellers are listing properties earlier than usual in anticipation of the spring season.

Sellers are “nervous about what the spring is going to bring,” says Reid. “They don’t know if everybody will list this spring — then you’ll have a big counterbalance toward too much inventory — or if there’ll be a crunch again. They figure they’ll get out ahead of the market, list, sell, and be done with it.”

Inventory shortages persisted last year,

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