tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45653837833062479752024-02-07T05:07:05.940-05:00Sullivan County Real Estate MusingsRandom Sullivan County NY Real Estate thoughts and experiences.Jducey1234http://www.blogger.com/profile/10810197915886891524noreply@blogger.comBlogger101125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4565383783306247975.post-34840011393554933622015-04-07T17:05:00.002-04:002019-04-05T18:13:33.931-04:00Filler Words<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I am in the process of possible buying a new car. I am not
in a hurry, and I am looking for the perfect pre owned deal. I have never been
in this position before, and frankly with every single car I have ever bought,
I always wondered if I could have done better, so this time I am being the
proverbial pain in the ass shopper. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">What this has done is put me in front of a lot of salesmen.
And since I myself sell for a living, I am aware of mannerisms and techniques
as I interact with various car salespeople. I find it fascinating. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I have made a list below of the "pet peeves" I
have developed from my interactions, and have made sure I do not have them in
my selling "vocabulary".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">"Honestly" or "To be honest with you."
This one is a big red flag for me. I know that it is a habit for many people,
or just a filler, but it infers that there has been some previous dishonesty.
It immediately raises suspicion, (even if it is subconscious).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">"Obviously." This one is another filler word, but
if you start to notice it, it is surprising how often some people use it.
"At the end of the day" or "in effect" is similar. I had a
salesman use "in effect" twenty six times in a fifteen minute conversation.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">"No problem." (in response to thank you.) This one
isn't a big deal, but it is a bit unprofessional. "You're welcome just
sounds better.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">New age words are my most recent pet peeve. Words like integrated,
cutting edge, seamless, synergistic, or user-friendly. It seems like they may
have been in some car salesman handbook, and everyone seems to be using them.
Again once or twice is OK. But a few will beat you over the head with them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Ok there is my little gripe-fest. Not really real estate
related, but interesting none the less. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Am I the only one who notices this kind of stuff? </span></div>
For more info go to my website: <a href="http://mlssearch.sullivancounty4sale.com/idx/details/listing/b040/4913570/48-Leeward-Drive-Bloomingburg-12721" target="_blank">This site here</a><br />
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Jducey1234http://www.blogger.com/profile/10810197915886891524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4565383783306247975.post-17497055710908188182014-05-04T21:34:00.000-04:002014-05-04T21:37:03.258-04:00Inventory Rises With the MecuryAs is customary, real estate inventory here in Sullivan County has swelled as we have headed into spring. This is nothing new. Every year this happens. Sellers wait until the temperature rises and the snow melts. They then do the necessary touch-ups to the property, and call a real estate agent to list. I am happy with the new crop of homes this spring. There are some REALLY nice--priced right listings that have come on the market over the past few weeks.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh16I_HsZthJuAj5XJqroZNeBXYmpK7NcZ1nlpHbLhWv8Rf1YaSlPYBjjtP4qjVRZvJZ_WECqE_9brukO7aEXdFsqfmzMwAVh_ux9Iw0Oot-_01masiI61qPRmHLZw_joItbW6LG4ZATrmv/s1600/SCMLS37071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh16I_HsZthJuAj5XJqroZNeBXYmpK7NcZ1nlpHbLhWv8Rf1YaSlPYBjjtP4qjVRZvJZ_WECqE_9brukO7aEXdFsqfmzMwAVh_ux9Iw0Oot-_01masiI61qPRmHLZw_joItbW6LG4ZATrmv/s1600/SCMLS37071.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">302 Tannery Road $975K</td></tr>
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This is a 125 acre piece (including the entire Forest Glen Lake) in Forestburgh, adjacent to Merriwold. The structure is a bit dated, but in a charming summers-on-lake kind of way. It is also big, almost 2700 square feet. Yes the price tag is a bit pricey, but in my opinion well worth it. This has been owned by the same family for 50 years. <a href="http://mlssearch.sullivancounty4sale.com/idx/details/listing/a253/35965/302-Tannery-Road" target="_blank">Click here</a> for more info.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgElwYOWB71eo-UefA-tFMLQ3iyZxMLoE-wcCv-IBu1I5bJnwPs4LSrhgDul2eR8XB5Fx9JiaC6-57RLpfURrNoZdAU-Kx7Wm57Vw3xy-Pg2m6E4g_8R-pNhh12XEAKJF5fjZ-ZF8n2Ph1P/s1600/SCMLS38371B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgElwYOWB71eo-UefA-tFMLQ3iyZxMLoE-wcCv-IBu1I5bJnwPs4LSrhgDul2eR8XB5Fx9JiaC6-57RLpfURrNoZdAU-Kx7Wm57Vw3xy-Pg2m6E4g_8R-pNhh12XEAKJF5fjZ-ZF8n2Ph1P/s1600/SCMLS38371B.jpg" height="247" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">128 Basket Road $449K </td></tr>
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This sprawling stream front gem is in Fremont Township which makes it a little further from the city, however the location of this property is well worth the extra minutes in the car. It is set on five acres, with Basket Brook (a year round trout stream) cascading by the rear of the property. The home has been refurbished, and everything is done tip-top. Catch dinner in your backyard! This is one of those properties that forces you to relax when you are here, and makes you reluctant to leave. <a href="http://mlssearch.sullivancounty4sale.com/idx/details/listing/a253/38371/128-Basket-Road" target="_blank">Click here</a> for more info.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhidsgR2UwM76VyWWAy8zw9vv_BumFuAL-NfvfGhfzh8iXbaEK7aNi_nyOOKG3YqY1RUkbChGL3k2fV-IXr95hRZIAXyPVqkJ2vwxH7ahsbEMnoD_oCvoutzQhgRR39WVpT84Wqu35Hmgh8/s1600/SCMLS38226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhidsgR2UwM76VyWWAy8zw9vv_BumFuAL-NfvfGhfzh8iXbaEK7aNi_nyOOKG3YqY1RUkbChGL3k2fV-IXr95hRZIAXyPVqkJ2vwxH7ahsbEMnoD_oCvoutzQhgRR39WVpT84Wqu35Hmgh8/s1600/SCMLS38226.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">56 Beaverbrook Road $299K</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This is my listing. So perhaps I am a bit biased. However I have had two of the top brokers here in Sullivan County tell me that it is a great house, and they think it will sell quickly. It is a Adirondack style cabin on 9.5 very private acres and just steps from the home is Mill Pond. This is the quintessential lake front cabin in the woods. Very special property. <a href="http://mlssearch.sullivancounty4sale.com/idx/details/listing/a253/38226/56-Beaver-Brook-Road" target="_blank">Click here</a> for more info.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPAQ_trqyxOl8-gFh6e7dUb0ai88BVVwpdUNLBNPGKIwGUlczXfpaj_wx9ok42ID3xmM584BX2uC9Au6167ZXsObb2Om_Bk4R74AFhNwDwz6Mw46eA_VFkH9ngeMT47ON8vASB0BwK_qTk/s1600/SCMLS38427A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPAQ_trqyxOl8-gFh6e7dUb0ai88BVVwpdUNLBNPGKIwGUlczXfpaj_wx9ok42ID3xmM584BX2uC9Au6167ZXsObb2Om_Bk4R74AFhNwDwz6Mw46eA_VFkH9ngeMT47ON8vASB0BwK_qTk/s1600/SCMLS38427A.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">127 Forestburgh Road $349K </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My final favorite new listing brings us back to Forestburgh. This area is always popular, because it is under that magic two hour window to the city. This charming old farmhouse dates back to 1780. It is set on 11 bucolic acres with a nice pond. The entire vibe of this property is peaceful serenity. <a href="http://mlssearch.sullivancounty4sale.com/idx/details/listing/a253/38427/127-Forestburgh-Road" target="_blank">Click here</a> for more info.<br />
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Good, priced right inventory is what our area needs. The properties above are only a small sampling of the crop of great listings that have hit the Sullivan County real estate market in the last month or so. give me a call if you are looking for an upstate getaway. I can assist you in finding that dream home.<br />
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Jducey1234http://www.blogger.com/profile/10810197915886891524noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4565383783306247975.post-42373194462425742202014-03-14T16:42:00.001-04:002014-03-14T16:42:55.608-04:00Flood Insurance Affordability Act Passses<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-ved="0CAYQjRw" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=yoohRWqKlDgUfM&tbnid=OoJBrUD7qx6RyM:&ved=0CAYQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mcclatchydc.com%2F2014%2F03%2F06%2F220395%2Fhouse-lawmakers-urge-senate-to.html&ei=9mgjU6SfD8jn0gGAj4DgDQ&bvm=bv.62922401,d.dmQ&psig=AFQjCNFpXCLdN6gBFHdTeTQ3dB1srCxX0A&ust=1394915847804613" id="irc_mil" style="border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img class="irc_mut" height="240" id="ms__id4186" src="http://media.mcclatchydc.com/smedia/2014/03/06/17/11/kduDR.AuSt.91.JPG" style="margin-top: 6px;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="irc_su" dir="ltr" id="ms__id4215" style="text-align: left;">Steven Palazzo, R-Miss urging the Senate to vote yes</span></td></tr>
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The Flood Insurance Affordability Act passed in the Senate by an overwhelming 72-22 margin. NAR had been pushing strongly for this. It is good to see that sometimes when things are this unfair, both sides of the aisle see that, and make sure that tax dollars are going towards something that makes sense. (It is not too often you can say that!) In fact it was republican Rep. Michael Grimm (of "I'll break you in half" fame.) who sponsored the bill. Although most of the nays did come from the right wing side of the aisle. <br />
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This bill effectively repealed the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 which came along and among other things, changed flood zone maps throughout the country. They also changed the rules for second homes and "repetitive loss" homes, did away with the "grandfathering" of some zones and lessened the potential government subsidies for flood victims. The result was much higher premiums and in some cases homes that insurance companies would not touch, making them un-lendable. <br />
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On paper the Biggert-Waters bill made some sense. There was too much convolution, and this was supposed to make things simpler. But in true government form, it didn't. And in some cases it literally forced people out of their homes.<br />
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NAR got involved once there came reports that deals were falling through because banks were refusing to lend on homes that could no longer get insurance. There was the typically finger pointing, but FIAA has made it through the Senate. Now all it needs is Obama's stamp, and hopefully it will ease things for folks in the flood zones.<br />
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In other National Association of Realtor News, we finally have a new general counsel. Katie Raynolds Johnson was chosen to replace Laurie Janik who retired last year after many years of service. <br />
“I am excited and honored to be offered this opportunity,” said Johnson in a written statement. “I am looking forward to my new leadership role as part of NAR’s stellar legal team, continuing our work on behalf of the association and its Realtor members.”<br />
Johnson was chosen as NAR’s senior vice president and general counsel as part of a comprehensive national search. She was chosen after narrowing down over fifty high level applicants. <br />
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What is the pay? Well that is a bit of a secret, but it is safe to say that our dues are bein put to good use. Jducey1234http://www.blogger.com/profile/10810197915886891524noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4565383783306247975.post-4074016599075279622013-12-30T20:40:00.000-05:002013-12-30T20:40:24.289-05:00Cigarette Smoke<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQWPZQFntO1FOqLAVvxGbzoKwh3XtXjMuwE86zHvWScpgmCCAX6QRNsOcy7rmEbD_y6u0xY6-iUNEVO-THR-gP2hXzJSEhPWO_kWbjZGamQpSMqYTrJV6zVku8jkirIN_DopYpFYn4vNpI/s1600/Smoke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQWPZQFntO1FOqLAVvxGbzoKwh3XtXjMuwE86zHvWScpgmCCAX6QRNsOcy7rmEbD_y6u0xY6-iUNEVO-THR-gP2hXzJSEhPWO_kWbjZGamQpSMqYTrJV6zVku8jkirIN_DopYpFYn4vNpI/s320/Smoke.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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A major part of the first impression that buyers get when
going into a house for the first time is the odor. I have smelled all kinds of different aromas
when showing houses--from the very good to the downright nauseating. Nothing
can make a prospective buyer hurry from a home faster than a bad smell.</div>
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The two that I seem to encounter the most are pet smells and
cigarettes. Both are fairly unpleasant, depending on the severity, but
according to Regina Flores of ServPro, Cigarette smoke smell is much worse to
get rid of.</div>
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"If the pet smell is your run of the mill shedding dog
or cat, and the animal has not repeatedly done its "business"
indoors, then simply removing the hair, and replacing the carpets will normally
get rid of the animal smell." She says. "Cigarettes on the other hand infiltrates everything.
I've seen yellow walls, practically dripping with nicotine. That is a much
harder odor to get rid of."</div>
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I used to smoke. I smoked all through my twenties. And not
that it is an excuse, because it was apparent back in the nineties that it was
bad for you--but everyone seemed to smoke back then. At least everyone I
knew. You could smoke in restaurants, in hotel rooms, hell they had just stopped
allowing you to smoke on domestic flights. EVERYTHING used to smell like
cigarettes. I never noticed it. </div>
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But now I am one of those horrible reformed smokers that
hates the smell of it. I glower at any smoker who I deem has ventured too close
to my personal space. I applaud every new anti-smoking law, and I look with a
bit of pity at those huddled outside still puffing away. Smoking is so twenty
years ago.</div>
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And the smell is the first thing I notice when
I go into a house. There really are few smells that are as bad as stale cigarettes
in a home that has been shut up for awhile. And according to the experts in odors. Getting
rid of the smell can cost you thousands of dollars. </div>
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"In real bad cases," says Flores, "Getting
rid of carpets and repainting won't do the trick." you have to scrub all
the tar off the walls. Then you prime the wall with an alcohol based solvent
before repainting. Also the tar will seep through the carpet and into the
subfloor, which will need to be treated with a heavy duty solvent as well. And
if there is any type of duct work in the house? Many times all the will need to
be replaced to bring the odor under control."</div>
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Jeff Williams of KW NYC saw an apartments sell for 20% less
than its none smoke contaminated duplicate. A bad habit that cost the seller
over fifty thousand dollars. </div>
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So besides depreciating your health, smoking can depreciate the value of your home. Just
another reason to give up the smokes. </div>
Jducey1234http://www.blogger.com/profile/10810197915886891524noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4565383783306247975.post-20449219232746301872013-09-02T12:36:00.000-04:002013-11-13T17:42:40.828-05:00My Blog Has Moved!In my unending quest to be looked at favorably in the eyes of Google, I have moved my blog so that it has the same root url as my main site. <a href="http://sullivancounty4sale.com/my-blog/">Click here for the new blog.</a> This site will be shut down in the next few months. Jducey1234http://www.blogger.com/profile/10810197915886891524noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4565383783306247975.post-21340515446389786472013-01-27T14:04:00.000-05:002013-01-27T14:04:03.261-05:00Business is Business
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I'm not sure if this blog post is much more than a
justification of my actions, or to assuage my guilt, but I think it may also
educate possible home buyers and sellers, and maybe just be a good read. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I just finished a deal with an agent who was a fellow agent
in the first real estate office I joined. We have since done a few deals over
the years, and have remained in contact. She was at my wedding. She is a good,
solid agent, and is one of the good ones that is easy to do deals with.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was the listing agent, and she was the buyer's agent. It
was a somewhat unique set of circumstances that I secured this listing. It was
a distressed property that we were attempting to short sale. I had attempted to
sell this property earlier at a higher price point in which the seller would
break even a few years back to no avail. So once they fell behind on payments we
decided to attempt a short sale.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Short sales are not only a pain in the neck, they are also very
time consuming. I contacted his bank, secured all the necessary documents, waited
the obligatory weeks, called loss mitigation, waited on hold, waded through red
tape and many customer service reps with varying degrees of customer service
training and effort. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Did you know an independent
college study ranked customer service of large companies<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>across the business spectrum--from banks to insurance
companies to online retailers. In all these companies customer satisfaction was 300% greater on Mon.
than on Fri. The study also showed that if you use the person's name three
times in the conversation you are much more likely to have a positive
outcome.) However once again I have veered off topic.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">At any rate just when I was thinking I was making progress,
I heard the bank sold the bad dept to an investment firm. We were at square
one. Luckily this was a much smaller company, and they had paid whatever cents
on the dollar, so they were much more willing to short sale the property and
worked well with me throughout the process. However it was a lot of work, so
when I listed the property I did not do an even commission split like a
normally do. I kept a point on the listing (my) side.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have been at closings tables before and been the recipient
of the smaller--buyers agent commission split, so I get it. It does leave a bad
taste in your mouth and a feeling of being ill used. After all I did bring the
buyer. Isn't that half the work? There are a few companies (and agents) who are
notorious for this, and around the realtor water cooler it is considered a bit
gauche and in bad taste.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But in my defense,
the commission offered was right in line with the "going rate" so it
was not a discount on that end. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I
feel I did do quite a bit more work. The property was a good house at a good
price, and I knew it would sell fairly quickly. Dangling good inventory out
there for buyer's agents is a good thing right? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I explained all this to the buyer's agent, and I think she
gets it. I am just left with a vague guilty feeling, and a need to have it
somehow justified. Thanks for the Catholic upbringing Mom. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But like my title
says--business is business.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There were 9 single family homes reported sold in the Sullivan County MLS. <a href="http://scmls.paragonrels.com/publink/default.aspx?GUID=83b50bf0-96ea-4264-97cf-c9f09fb12cdf&Report=Yes" target="_blank">Click Here for Listings.</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">31170 finally sold. That was a favorite of mine and had been on the market awhile. It went for 143K which is a good price for that house. It is a cool brick farmhouse on seven acres. The listing says it sold FHA which is a bit surprising, because that house needed some work. (Talk about agents working hard. They must have worked very hard to push that through FHA) Congrats to whoever bought it. I am little bummed that I was not able to sell it. </span></div>
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Jducey1234http://www.blogger.com/profile/10810197915886891524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4565383783306247975.post-65870300082015148832013-01-14T18:52:00.000-05:002013-01-14T18:53:44.063-05:00Skiing in Sullivan County<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZy7JX-m_2W2kmzMvHzb5o6jy2BH1oOfhRZpzs3hF7uW0uXcDjwXrfmfgzug4Q9HJLh0Q-sDLH5iCp5tl2QbPjYgIme_tqnG4KEC_ohItxl-ufX2ZcRzkMQQV4jrr6p3TGVV-xLWhEa-p/s1600/Belleayre_trailmap_sm_2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZy7JX-m_2W2kmzMvHzb5o6jy2BH1oOfhRZpzs3hF7uW0uXcDjwXrfmfgzug4Q9HJLh0Q-sDLH5iCp5tl2QbPjYgIme_tqnG4KEC_ohItxl-ufX2ZcRzkMQQV4jrr6p3TGVV-xLWhEa-p/s320/Belleayre_trailmap_sm_2012.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hunter Mountain</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Since Sullivan County really is in the foothills of the
Catskills, That is pretty much what you are going to get skiing wise here.
Foothills. However we are within not too far driving distance to <a href="http://www.belleayre.com/" target="_blank">Belleayre</a>, <a href="http://www.huntermtn.com/huntermtn/index.aspx" target="_blank">Hunter</a> and <a href="http://www.windhammountain.com/" target="_blank">Windham</a>--all pretty major skiing resorts. And as of this week, they
are all up a running. Belleayre has over 20 trails open, Windham as all of them
open, and so does our closest large skiing mountain, Hunter. the snow tubing
chutes are also open, and of course the accommodations as well. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Closer here to our area, we have <a href="http://www.elkskier.com/" target="_blank">Elk</a> Mountain, which is just
over the border in PA. It is a smaller skill hill in comparison with the larger
upstate ones, however they boast a thousand feet vertical, and have over a half
dozen trails. It is a little under an hour to Elk. This is the mountain I would
most recommend if you own, or are planning to own in Sullivan County. It is big
enough to enjoy, and you get some really nice views from the trails. The
Mountainside Cafe is a nice spot to rest and get a cup of hot chocolate. There
is no hotel on the mountain, but there are quite a few places to stay nearby.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.ski-bigbear.com/home/default.aspx" target="_blank">Masthope</a> is also in PA, but a bit closer. It is only a
fifteen minute ride from Barryville. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a pretty small ski resort, really good
for the young ones, or a place to spend a non-challenging day. They too have a
nice clubhouse, and their tubing and skiing rates are quite reasonable.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here in Sullivan County we have <a href="http://www.holidaymtn.com/" target="_blank">Holiday Mountain</a> a 450 foot
drop with seven beginner trails. They also have a tubing hill, and ice skating
for the kids. They too have a snack/lunch chalet with your agreeable winter
skiing grub. Its close, and it's a nice way to spend a winters day.</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And then of course there is the Villa Roma with its four
trails of 200 plus feet of drop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again
it is a good place for the kids, but even the beginner skier might want to skip
this one. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There were five single family homes reported sold in the Sullivan County MLS this week. <a href="http://scmls.paragonrels.com/publink/default.aspx?GUID=4f938d0c-1ed9-44f2-83f8-531e80f72da6&Report=Yes" target="_blank">Click Here</a> for listings.</span></div>
Jducey1234http://www.blogger.com/profile/10810197915886891524noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4565383783306247975.post-3468693888763180682012-12-27T15:17:00.002-05:002012-12-27T15:17:33.514-05:00To Fix or Not to Fix
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdQ9Gc4G232k-FPdGdEHxVeVQWmV_IojhwxbnxRONhBcOeiNmLza6KDoEAvEeB6PVwcANnHBMFX57Hr6iimBkXwWOmtZ35F38MEUFC71ALgkEo0EIVU1hUtIPPyKkXMFn9WOA-fa9e-bVG/s1600/brokenDownFarmHouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdQ9Gc4G232k-FPdGdEHxVeVQWmV_IojhwxbnxRONhBcOeiNmLza6KDoEAvEeB6PVwcANnHBMFX57Hr6iimBkXwWOmtZ35F38MEUFC71ALgkEo0EIVU1hUtIPPyKkXMFn9WOA-fa9e-bVG/s320/brokenDownFarmHouse.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
To fix or not to fix, that is the question. these days a number of home
sellers are facing this dilemma. the problem is sellers are already facing
lower property values due to the real estate decline, so the last thing they
want to do is spend more money enhancing their home, only to sell it.<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">That’s
understandable… </span></strong><em><b>but</b></em><strong><span style="font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">, if you really want to
attract serious home buyers,</span></strong> keep your sales contract from
falling through, and get the best possible price, you need to swallow hard and
fix that house. Now I am not talking about spending thousands and thousands,
however the little things need to be repaired. A loose front stair or a rotten
windowsill can turn off a buyer before they even give the house a chance.<br />
<br />
Studies have shown that within ninety seconds of meeting someone, people
already have made a basic assumption about that individual, simply based on
that quick interaction--a wrinkled shirt, or unkempt eyebrows, or whatever
catches the eye. That becomes the starting point. Now throughout further interactions,
obviously those can change. However why start at a disadvantage?<br />
<br />
The same premise is true for house hunters. An idea--a premise--is formed
within minutes of setting foot on a property. Did you know that an unheated
home shown in the winter months is much less likely to sell than one with the
heat on? If one <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">feels</i></b> uncomfortable they are less likely to pull out their
checkbooks. It has been proven many times. Buyers buy more on impulse--on
feeling than rational thought. <br />
<br />
<strong>Many buyers will also use your home’s flaws as an excuse to offer
you a lower price.</strong> They interpret these flaws as a lack pride in your
home, or that you lack the money to fix them and are desperate and willing to
sell for less.<br />
<br />
<strong>First, get your home inspected now,</strong> instead of waiting to find out
what’s wrong with it when you’ve got a potential buyer on the
line. This will eliminate unexpected shocks for both you and the buyer and give
you a chance to fix problems that might scare someone away. The more things you
can fix now, the less overwhelmed your buyer will be, and the less likely he or
she will cancel the sale.<br />
<br />
<strong>Second. Declutter. I cannot stress
this enough.</strong> People's personal belongings do not sell a<strong> </strong>house. Buyers need
to envision their things in the space. It is difficult to do that when it is
crammed with the sellers stuff. A clean home is an inviting home. Does the
garage need a fresh coat of paint? How about the stain in the carpet in the hallway?
These things may seem little, but they all matter. <br />
<br />
<strong>And finally Third. Do not be around
for the home showings.</strong> Now if you want to be there<strong> </strong>initially, meet the
prospective buyers, and then excuse yourself, that is fine. However following
the buyer around and explaining things about the home is not a good idea.
Studies again have shown that a prospective buyer feels like a guest when he or
she is in a home with the owner. You want that person to imagine being the
owner, not a house guest. You have hired a real estate agent for a reason. Let
him or her show the house. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b><br />
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
There were 13 properties reported sold in the last seven day on the Sullivan County MLS <a href="http://scmls.paragonrels.com/publink/default.aspx?GUID=e0484cfb-5ea5-4b03-a2d2-72331f3c2923&Report=Yes" target="_blank">Click Here for listings.</a>Jducey1234http://www.blogger.com/profile/10810197915886891524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4565383783306247975.post-20155457213540433862012-12-13T20:56:00.000-05:002012-12-13T20:56:06.225-05:00My Flippin' Brother
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNh1k9IvZp_v7T_R7tZobBqx5i6ptpr_1Ap1y8tLjXKWmJ326Ef8H1do1tLJkFPj88DzA43VIfd6ky3QH_S4H5-vMCgf71b8e63J3oLQ1Rx1SQ2uN3DT1fcMcsHAwuvVpIuu3VtAzvFjeO/s1600/my-flippin-brother.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNh1k9IvZp_v7T_R7tZobBqx5i6ptpr_1Ap1y8tLjXKWmJ326Ef8H1do1tLJkFPj88DzA43VIfd6ky3QH_S4H5-vMCgf71b8e63J3oLQ1Rx1SQ2uN3DT1fcMcsHAwuvVpIuu3VtAzvFjeO/s1600/my-flippin-brother.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNh1k9IvZp_v7T_R7tZobBqx5i6ptpr_1Ap1y8tLjXKWmJ326Ef8H1do1tLJkFPj88DzA43VIfd6ky3QH_S4H5-vMCgf71b8e63J3oLQ1Rx1SQ2uN3DT1fcMcsHAwuvVpIuu3VtAzvFjeO/s320/my-flippin-brother.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So I am not even going to address the lack of blog posting. Disgraceful..I
know. I do plan on posting sold info every week , so for those of you who have clamored
for it, it will make its return. I will post it every Fri.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once again the reason for my lack of blogging is the fact
that I have been very busy. I am set to shatter my previous record for sales in
a year, and this Dec. alone will beat what I made in my first two years of
being an agent. Some has to do with the fact that the market has turned around,
but a lot of it is simply because I have been doing this for longer now. I am
better at it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People know this is what I
do, and refer others to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My sphere of
influence has grown, and with it does my sales volume. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But as the holidays approach, things slow a bit, and I have
been able to catch my breath and try to resuscitate a stale (ish) website and
blog. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So "My Flippin' Brother" made its premier on A&E
on Saturday. This is a show about a local realtor/designer/house flipper Randy
Florke who owns the Rural Connection. It is a real estate office based in
Manhattan that sells second homes in Sullivan County. He also flips homes, and
even tried a modular "green" line of second homes that I believe was
not all that successful. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">At any rate, Randy has been successful buying and selling
real estate here in Sullivan County. He was one of the first to really start
catering to the metro second home buyer pool, and his
shabby-chic-farm-house-on-a-dirt-road line of inventory was a hit throughout
the boom years. And something others have tried to emulate with varying
success.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The show however,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was
an unmitigated disaster. The "stars" of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the show are Randy, who unabashedly refers to
himself as a cross between Martha Stewart and Bob Villa. His brother Ron, who
although he has a pretty good reputation as a solid contractor here in Sullivan
County, decided for whatever reason to let the show paint him as a complete
imbecile, and Jesse Fescue who plays the tired part of the flamboyantly gay
interior designer. Think Albert (Nathan Lane) in the Birdcage--which was a
great movie, but I digress--meets Cameron from Modern Family, meets the
interior decorator from Beetlejuice. All good roles, however it's been done,
and the attempt at this character was about as subtle as a sledgehammer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Perhaps it would have been less insulting to the veiwers intelligence if it werent being passed of as "reality" television. On the show it said Randy had just purchased the home they were flipping. In reality he has owned it since 2006. At the end the "buyer" (who never really bought it, the house sits empty to this day) wrote a check for 300K for the house. I can assure you that never happend.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I'm not even going to mention the fake water main break three inches below the ground. Pipes freeze unless they are below the frost line.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">They made sure to add a fair amount of bickering and arguing.
Put all that together with some contrived issues and problems that pop up as a
deadline approaches and certain bank default and destitution looms, and you
have a pretty bad hour of television. It is a shame, because I think that a
real estate show in Sullivan County would have been nice. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There were 8 single family homes sold in Sullivan County in the last seven days. <a href="http://scmls.paragonrels.com/publink/default.aspx?GUID=4a169c39-efc6-45e2-b628-b19de2325232&Report=Yes" target="_blank">Click Here for Listings</a></span></div>
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Jducey1234http://www.blogger.com/profile/10810197915886891524noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4565383783306247975.post-72797638541358960212012-07-30T12:01:00.002-04:002012-07-30T12:01:39.961-04:005 Must Have Apps for Searching<br />
<br />
<br />
As we shift our online usage to a more mobile platform, companies are scrambling to keep up with the technology. Like the Commodore 64 or MySpace, some will be left behind, however in my opinion the five below will emerge as the leaders of real estate mobile app searches. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5T8RBPlTWD0HGotVk1GLThfE8lUvFARrn3pNKq7W6IGFsJLfztyMdNgXDKqacVsT2pI3B9XwxgC9N27LjzXZH8ucTcbleQONdV4T0TI8mhdM2lJuZubYqgbUre-oOsiQnVbpFUMD9fJfl/s1600/Realtor-com-mobile-app.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5T8RBPlTWD0HGotVk1GLThfE8lUvFARrn3pNKq7W6IGFsJLfztyMdNgXDKqacVsT2pI3B9XwxgC9N27LjzXZH8ucTcbleQONdV4T0TI8mhdM2lJuZubYqgbUre-oOsiQnVbpFUMD9fJfl/s1600/Realtor-com-mobile-app.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5T8RBPlTWD0HGotVk1GLThfE8lUvFARrn3pNKq7W6IGFsJLfztyMdNgXDKqacVsT2pI3B9XwxgC9N27LjzXZH8ucTcbleQONdV4T0TI8mhdM2lJuZubYqgbUre-oOsiQnVbpFUMD9fJfl/s320/Realtor-com-mobile-app.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Droid Sans";">1) True to form, <a href="http://www.realtor.com/mobile/?source=web" target="_blank">Realtor.com</a> is the
best, easiest and broadest app out of all of them. Although I have had my
issues with NAR, and have voiced them here, when it comes to technology and
staying ahead of the curve, I believe they have spent a ton of money to make
sure that happens. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found the navigation to be very intuitive
and looking for houses and prices was an enjoyable experience. With features
such as checking for nearby houses, prices, realtor search, favorite properties
it makes searching a snap. Realtor.com could arguably be just the only app you
need for all your real estate searches. All the others are chasing NAR and
Realtor.com. It’s a free app so you have no excuses in not checking this app
first. I really could have stopped the list at one.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoiYj3hPEjz9RskXqXAAn1QsPijbdxfM1np9YvtNHFfLCc2BuvgY2XySNdWK157YsgqqWJ7SQxWDqT5yCRUkiJclPthp3pSqolopXG4CqFIdGkeoDT91H8V7h7UDHLsD0_0dcRwyn2bn4Q/s1600/Zillowapp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoiYj3hPEjz9RskXqXAAn1QsPijbdxfM1np9YvtNHFfLCc2BuvgY2XySNdWK157YsgqqWJ7SQxWDqT5yCRUkiJclPthp3pSqolopXG4CqFIdGkeoDT91H8V7h7UDHLsD0_0dcRwyn2bn4Q/s1600/Zillowapp.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Droid Sans";">2) Again, I have had my issues with
<a href="http://www.zillow.com/mobile/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Zillow</a> (don't worry fellow Zillow freedom fighters. I no-followed this link.), however they too have obviously spent a lot of money on their
mobile web platform, and it shows. It's mapping section is better than
Realtor.com, and it integrates well with the GPS on the Iphone, so you can find
a listing that looks interesting and then get directions, and follow your way
there. Zillow has proven that they are going nowhere.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvG5UXvXau_frqcAbjtDaePoGbC-ksILjN_w8TTDl_uy3JExCOyqH5moPqYJCYa3UWPTWcAQqIssvfy-WkL7YDxyjbkAhYq3YA6GVBF9dRQA04ysPcDgkXbCxDN83cZs7Z-5O4ibRyjzXl/s1600/Evernote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvG5UXvXau_frqcAbjtDaePoGbC-ksILjN_w8TTDl_uy3JExCOyqH5moPqYJCYa3UWPTWcAQqIssvfy-WkL7YDxyjbkAhYq3YA6GVBF9dRQA04ysPcDgkXbCxDN83cZs7Z-5O4ibRyjzXl/s1600/Evernote.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Droid Sans";">3) I put <a href="http://evernote.com/download/" target="_blank">Evernote</a> on this list
because it is extremely useful for jotting down notes or taking pictures. One
of my favorite features about Evernote is the fact it syncs over the cloud. You
can install Evernote on your desktop, iPad or Android tablet so your
information can be changed or added anywhere online or offline.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Droid Sans";"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Droid Sans";">All of your notes and information
will stay on there and it won’t take up any space on your device. Even if you
are finished looking for houses this app will still be useful as a digital
journal. It also features voice notes as well. You will have to create an
account first but it is free and that login is the key to your journal. Highly
recommended for everybody.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-zdKA0MIJuJZ8Zdtg5LPS7HPURTV1MNFFV_UqfUPcGbtR7k8YkhjUuO4dqWVCR5d6eDHoZ-4fSznvj6tzhQKYFK_WprgXfUS4TJ0uu4JI0a_CRhhbSWhzcbpbBp0OrpXqlA-SxDLt48v0/s1600/House-Hunter-app.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-zdKA0MIJuJZ8Zdtg5LPS7HPURTV1MNFFV_UqfUPcGbtR7k8YkhjUuO4dqWVCR5d6eDHoZ-4fSznvj6tzhQKYFK_WprgXfUS4TJ0uu4JI0a_CRhhbSWhzcbpbBp0OrpXqlA-SxDLt48v0/s1600/House-Hunter-app.jpg" /></a></div>
4) <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/house-hunter/id445304335?mt=8" target="_blank">House Hunter</a> is another house locator app. One
feature that really caught my eye is being able to set the importance of each
amenity of the house. For example you could set the importance of your backyard,
acreage, waterfront, view, etc. and work your way down the list.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: "Droid Sans";">After you complete the score you can
add the custom profile and search for houses. It also has a mortgage calculator
which comes in handy. This app does cost $3.99 (which dooms it long term.) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>so you should use the apps above to see if
they meet your needs. There is a “light” version of this app but it makes it
barely usable as you can’t create custom profiles and barriers to most of the
functionality before telling you to purchase the app.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Droid Sans";">5) <a href="http://www.ziprealty.com/iphone/index.jsp" target="_blank">Zip Realty</a> is another free app
with a good fast search engine. It has partnered with NAR somehow (I would love
to see the numbers they are paying.) and they have over 500,000 MLS listed
houses. Locally however they do not have any SCMLS (Sullivan County) listings,
only GHVMLS (Greater Hudson Valley) listings. As a side note I have noticed
that quite a few web searches, including RE/MAX.COM do not have a feed to
SCMLS. This is yet another reason to ensure that your home is listed with an
agent who is a member of both.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Droid Sans";">There were ten single family homes reported sold in the SCMLS in the last ten days. <a href="http://scmls.paragonrels.com/publink/default.aspx?GUID=52068ad6-07ce-492c-a857-2e885c8c41b6&Report=Yes" target="_blank">Click Here for Data</a><o:p></o:p></span>Jducey1234http://www.blogger.com/profile/10810197915886891524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4565383783306247975.post-49395627856575514682012-07-04T10:20:00.000-04:002012-07-04T10:21:03.975-04:00Fireworks Cancelled<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVSE06GcpF1qsGXRa5OMkFAWgLqFbmYGAuFohaKYdDdDWUHIP_8NKbN_RR0G6rCibyJfhBGYh9lecgrYzmPwjfSt2M3LykFzoaqkmeRDcRKCTwAMFS3e001YcDRAkMqmJqvCriBgcgfInh/s1600/July42010PosterWebsite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVSE06GcpF1qsGXRa5OMkFAWgLqFbmYGAuFohaKYdDdDWUHIP_8NKbN_RR0G6rCibyJfhBGYh9lecgrYzmPwjfSt2M3LykFzoaqkmeRDcRKCTwAMFS3e001YcDRAkMqmJqvCriBgcgfInh/s320/July42010PosterWebsite.jpg" width="232" /></a><br />
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I just heard that the Narrowsburg Firework display has been cancelled for this year. And I must say I am incredulous. Over caution and political correctness have always been a bit of a sore spot with me, but this is taking it to a whole new level. Apparently last year someone went to the River Reporter with a story of a fledgling bald eagle that was a bit shook up by the merriment. The story does not divulge how shook up the baby eagle was, or how this person even knew this. At any rate, It brought in the big bad federally over financed United States Fish and Wildlife Service.( I am picturing black Humvees). Anyone who disrupts or injures a Bald Eagle will face up to a 200K fine and a year in jail was decreed. <br />
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The volunteer fire department who do this show as an act of patriotism and to raise money so they have the correct equipment when they run into a burning building (for free) to save you or your family talked it over and decided it was not worth the risk. The skies over Narrowburg Bay will be silent this 4th. Chalk another one up for bureaucratic overreaction. Families usually come from all over the state for this day in Narrowsburgh which culminates with a pretty fantastic firework show. One that celebrates our freedom. God forbid a baby eagle gets to sleep a bit later. When did common sense stop?<br />
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I don't want to make this bigger than it is, however when the government forbids an act like the celebration of our freedom, over the ridiculous ruse that it may agitate some local wildlife, I think it is time to pay attention. Common sense needs to previal, and we as a collective people need to stand up against this sort of (albiet minor) oppression. <br />
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There were 21 sold listings reported in the Sullivan County MLS over the last 10 days <a href="http://scmls.paragonrels.com/publink/default.aspx?GUID=24031d3b-cfe1-43ad-a30b-3e10ed7e47a2&Report=Yes" target="_blank">Click Here for Listings</a>Jducey1234http://www.blogger.com/profile/10810197915886891524noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4565383783306247975.post-47752950830267702492012-06-12T22:44:00.000-04:002012-06-12T22:44:35.083-04:00Sullivan County Real Estate Auction This MonthWell I have probably broken a record for how long it has been between posts, but my life has been as hectic as it can be. I had my second child three months ago, a little girl, who is the sweetest thing in the world, but a hell of a lot of work, my mother who has been ill for some time has taken a turn for the worse and requires a lot of care as we prepare for the inevitable, and we have also bought a house and moved. Whew, even writing it sounds exhausting.<br />
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After overseeing and physically doing a major part of the renovation of our new home, we are finally settling in. I have spent most of the last month or so looking like one of those semi-clueless people on the DIY network as I ripped up old carpet, and bad pink tile, and discovered that everything takes longer and costs more than anticipated. But as I said, things are finally slowing down a bit. On top of all of that I wrote three offers so far this month, and have been out every weekend showing houses. There is no doubt. The market here in Sullivan County has rebounded.<br />
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But the remnants of the crash still surrounds us, and nothing makes that more obvious than the yearly Sullivan County Tax Auction. There are a record number of properties on the docket this year. Almost triple the amount there was back in '08. The auction takes place on June 20th and 21st in the auditorium at Sullivan County Community College. However there is an early registration and a chance for you to take a look at some of the auction properties before than. <a href="http://content.nysauctions.com/Sullivan/SullivanBrochure.pdf" target="_blank">Click Here</a> for all the info on the auction.<br />
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There will be some steals and deals to be made. A few of these are some pretty nice spots, and on average they go for around 70% of the original ask. So if you do a bit of homework and have your checkbook and your nerves ready, you could end up walking away with a nice deal.<br />
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There were 15 single family homes reported sold from the MLS in the last 10 days. <a href="http://scmls.paragonrels.com/publink/default.aspx?GUID=d770d702-d693-4595-b87f-c62df0df2910&Report=Yes" target="_blank">Click here for the details</a>Jducey1234http://www.blogger.com/profile/10810197915886891524noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4565383783306247975.post-7616676685479760222012-03-27T14:28:00.000-04:002012-03-27T14:28:37.246-04:00Lakefront For Under 200K <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWc9ekiqoHZbwEqN2-Vzmkf3QOyGPxng4EwUDj9t9xuACWZLZbfuOb3pL9WEtTmAYna2F_NuR-qu5dumcuYnwOot1s9tXamH71GfeEcnpQkVmlDIKDGpqFui2ryrgsOHlp_pukcpjjyGqv/s1600/SCMLS33443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWc9ekiqoHZbwEqN2-Vzmkf3QOyGPxng4EwUDj9t9xuACWZLZbfuOb3pL9WEtTmAYna2F_NuR-qu5dumcuYnwOot1s9tXamH71GfeEcnpQkVmlDIKDGpqFui2ryrgsOHlp_pukcpjjyGqv/s320/SCMLS33443.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">6 Bodine Lake Road 189K</td></tr>
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Once again life has placed my blog on temporary hold. I know that no one needs to hear my personal saga. (But I had a baby two weeks ago, my father broke his back, and I have been EXTREMELY busy fielding real estate inquiries.) It seems like the warm weather has brought people out of hibernation. Hits on my website have more than doubled in March, and my inbox is stuffed with inquiries. (Alright, stuffed may be an exaggeration, but there has been more than enough to keep me busy.) So all that has made the blog suffer.<br />
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I did want to squeeze in a post however, it has been too long, and it weighs on me like a guilty chore. I imagine faceless, nameless readers, breathlessly checking every day, only to be disappointed with the same old post staring back at them. Google analytics points out otherwise, that the traffic is not that robust at all—that perhaps it is just a handful and even they may be stumbling upon this blog by accident. However, my type A personality allows me to sleep better when my blog is current. <br />
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So I decided to just quickly highlight a property that I think is a good indicator of where our market is, and how far we have come. However I think it also indicates (by the fact that it is not yet in contract) how sluggish our market still is, and how hesitant buyers are.<br />
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The property is a 1342 square foot three bedroom two bath home on Bodine Lake in Yulan. It is a true lakefront, there is no “short walk” to a public access, or a road between the home and the water. It has a nice grass backyard that slopes down to the water. It is priced at 189K. <a href="http://www.jduceyrealestate.com/Web/AR412475/ListingSearch/details/?mls_id=NY-SCAOR&mls_no=33443&display_page=1&lpp=20&index=1&total_listings=1&from=results" target="_blank">Bodine Lakefront</a><br />
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Now yes the market bubble has burst, but it is not 1968, and we are not in Minnesota, so obviously there must be some drawbacks for a lakefront to be priced like this, and there is. Bodine Lake is a very small, non-motorboat lake. The one side of the lake is adjacent to a fairly busy road, which you can see across the lake from the backyard, and the house itself is dated and needs some work. The deck is in need of repair as well<br />
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However this is a true lake front home priced under 200K. The water is literally steps from the back deck, and it has a great backyard that slopes down to the water--It has that vacation/lake house feel.<br />
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This is one of those properties that I feel will be snatched up pretty quickly. There just aren’t a lot of waterfront homes like this. Most that are in this range have some pretty serious compromises for the buyer to consider.<br />
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Back in 2007, I sold a home smaller than this one, in similar shape, with only lake rights to Bodine. (It was a short walk, but certainly not in the backyard like this home) That home sold for 219K. The interest rate was 6.75%. <br />
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There were eleven single family homes reported sold on the Sullivan County MLS in the last ten days.<br />
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<a href="http://scmls.paragonrels.com/publink/default.aspx?GUID=8a8b93a2-6a25-4414-a2ad-1fb798cd4f70&Report=Yes" target="_blank">Click Here</a> for sold listings<br />
<br />Jducey1234http://www.blogger.com/profile/10810197915886891524noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4565383783306247975.post-13671394287405261612012-02-18T20:34:00.000-05:002012-02-18T20:59:06.625-05:00Cribs--Sullivan County Style<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
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Although this is another blog post that is not based on an original concept, I figured that it would interest some people. <a href="http://www.upstater.net/" target="_blank">Upstater.net</a> has been doing Friday Real Estate Porn for some time. (A segment where they feature upper end, high scale homes.) Well Upstater has a tendancy to stick a little further east and north. (Although they do stray into Sullivan from time to time.) Besides, in my opinion they have recently sold out. All of the sudden they are charging for advertising and listing placements. I think it is a shame, because it was a really cool blog for a while. Oh well, everybody's gotta make a buck. They still have some good posts though, and they highlight some really nice properties. </div>
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At any rate, I have had the opportunity to see some upper end homes here in Sullivan County over the last few weeks, and decided I would post a few of them on here. Now some are only quasi for sale. They are not on the MLS, and the owners will only sell if the price is right. I have not included addresses, but feel free to drop me a line if you are interested in more info, and I can get a hold of the owners.</div>
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1) Minimalist on 11 acres in the Chapin Estate. Gourmet kitchen and baths with all granite and marble. Large stone patio from rear of home leads to a huge in-ground pool, pool house, indoor/outdoor kitchen with fireplace, pizza oven and state of the art appliances. A private walk leads down to your tennis court and a 4-season gated residential preserve tucked discretely amidst 2500 acres of pristine forest lands and bordering 14,000 acres of protected conservation lands. Out your back door is a 2000 acre lake. Price tag? 6.5 Million. Click on the images for a larger view.<br />
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2) Perched above North Branch NY high on a mountain this custom built 6,200 square foot contemporary really is a cut above most homes I have seen in the area. The stone work alone cost well over 100K, and it is evident why as soon as you enter the home. Over 100 windows make this already openly designed structure feel as if you are living on the hillside. The central focus of the house is the "conversation pit". A sunken living room area with a huge stone fireplace, and all stone laid floors with radiant heat underneath. Dual oak staircases lead too the second level where the master bedroom with floor to ceiling windows looks out on the countryside. And the other stairwell leads to a fully finished basement with a wine cellar, and a media/movie theater room. A bridge over the driveway leads to a full apartment above the three bay garage, complete with two more bedrooms and a bath--perfect for entertaining. <br />
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The only drawback to this spectacular property is the driveway, which winds its way up the steep mountainside to get to the secluded meadow where the house sits. It is a real challenge if there is any sort of weather. Price tag? 1.9 Million. Click on the images for a larger view.<br />
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3) This home was built in 1912, as part of the Singer sewing machine estate which entailed 3,000 acres with a 100 acre mountain lake. This home served as the boathouse, and the grand structure remains today. The main section of the house has retained its integrity and remains untouched complete with original stone fireplace, clay tiled floors, leaded-glass windows,and beautifully crafted walnut domed ceiling and trim. The windows open to the lagoon which flows from the 100 acre lake.<br />
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The kitchen has been redone with all new high end appliances, and the eat in nook looks out over the lagoon with a stone arch foot bridge and a waterfall. The lower level has all the original stonework. Currently it is used as a library, but could easily be converted into a another bedroom. The double doors from here lead out into the courtyard. Property sits on just over four acres. Very special property. Price tag? 649K<br />
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<tr><td><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="150" src="http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb329/jducdey1234/278_7.jpg" width="200" /> </td><td><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="240" src="http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb329/jducdey1234/278_6.jpg" width="320" /> </td></tr>
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<tr><td><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="150" src="http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb329/jducdey1234/278_5.jpg" width="200" /> </td><td><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="150" src="http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb329/jducdey1234/278_3.jpg" width="200" /> </td></tr>
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<tr><td><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="150" src="http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb329/jducdey1234/278_2.jpg" width="200" /> </td><td><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="240" src="http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb329/jducdey1234/278_1.jpg" width="320" /> </td></tr>
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<a href="http://s1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb329/jducdey1234/?albumview=slideshow" target="_blank">Click Here for slideshow of all the images of the properties above.</a><br />
<br />There were seven properties listed as sold in the Sullivan County MLS in the last ten days. <a href="http://scmls.paragonrels.com/publink/default.aspx?GUID=9474fa23-b5c6-4c91-b2e4-0aabd3260da2&Report=Yes" target="_blank">Click here for data.</a><br />
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</tbody></table>Jducey1234http://www.blogger.com/profile/10810197915886891524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4565383783306247975.post-56623552173409210562012-02-04T14:25:00.000-05:002012-02-04T14:25:34.562-05:00The Dilapidated Catskills<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxN59ZVAKgrsxNEoy9bPDczPS6-pOl8FRuFeOF-uRNW-ZIzpV88F7pF4LWJP1GUvZZDXk8MPpS5bZ5yL4i3penFB59TZpo7ndcWFoXWWY_M_RmAEFjAwz5qOtSm-nJwJJ3a-VsYJsueD-6/s1600/DSCN2930_1632x1224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxN59ZVAKgrsxNEoy9bPDczPS6-pOl8FRuFeOF-uRNW-ZIzpV88F7pF4LWJP1GUvZZDXk8MPpS5bZ5yL4i3penFB59TZpo7ndcWFoXWWY_M_RmAEFjAwz5qOtSm-nJwJJ3a-VsYJsueD-6/s320/DSCN2930_1632x1224.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bungalow Colony in Bethel</td></tr>
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The snow less winter continues here in Sullivan County. We seem to be stuck in a perpetual November. At this point I hope it continues. We really only have another five or six weeks before real spring weather starts to hit. This is the strangest winter weather I can ever remember though. But for all you global warming pundits—we have already surpassed the snow totals of 1922, and so far we are averaging a half a degree colder. No I think this just an aberration. Every once in a while you get a year like this. Although I feel bad for those that make their living off the weather, I certainly do not miss the nuisance of snow.<br />
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The real estate market chugs along here in Sullivan County. I am slow, but not stopped. I have heard others are busy, but February has always been a quiet month for me, and this year is no different. <br />
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My amateur photography distraction has switched over the last few months to the dilapidated. As all of us know, our region was a great draw—beginning right after the Second World War, until the mid seventies, with the peak in the sixties. The Catskills was the place to summer in. However, as the younger generation began to grow up, the allure of the mountains declined. As Max Kellerman put it "You think kids want to come with their parents and take fox-trot lessons? Trips to Europe, that's what the kids want. Twenty-two countries in three days. It feels like it's all slipping away."<br />
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And slip away it did. Now we are left with the rotting shells of that past. They dot our landcape--fascinating eyesores of a former generation.<br />
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There are many websites devoted to the decaying areas of our county—my favorite being <a href="http://www.vanishingcatskills.us/">The Vanishing Catskills</a>. (My blog title is a thinly veiled forgery.) I really like Raymon Elozua’s style. I don’t think it is just the black and white either. He captures that strange feeling of desertion and abandonment that is left behind on these properties. Scott Haegner’s "Jennie’s Bed" is also a pretty cool picture. Was it really taken in the cottage where the matriarch of the Borsch Belt passed? <a href="http://scotthaefner.com/photos/place/Grossinger's+Resort/3031/">Photo</a><br />
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And here are some <a href="http://www.allabandoned.com/finding-the-g-spot/" target="_blank">shots</a> of the Concord.<br />
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Although, using only my Coolpx 630, I don’t believe I have captured the same sensation as the other, more talented, I have included a few of my own. Click on the picture for a larger view.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIIEAto65FfkuOBZZTvkICrI6moVL9QMuk-qQwiYVOQfm0hpsFqM0Y-sYJXYWXQmy4K8qj293mMWP8_9h8lNwIhUUbhvfe6Q6k5KSfRJ5iWSrep7wRWBhpCcbozA86gtsJGFVV3TsuEobo/s1600/DSCN3005_1632x1224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIIEAto65FfkuOBZZTvkICrI6moVL9QMuk-qQwiYVOQfm0hpsFqM0Y-sYJXYWXQmy4K8qj293mMWP8_9h8lNwIhUUbhvfe6Q6k5KSfRJ5iWSrep7wRWBhpCcbozA86gtsJGFVV3TsuEobo/s400/DSCN3005_1632x1224.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Hardware Store in Parksville</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEB55TSV96a7hSx_ufYctmJENV8ZjGsbheCPD5-nDRNpQgEl8BKdYEq0OBJDgy2_iUOgInsdjm6ollCQ-eCkzN60W_FQZuh15oOHFTls8dzNSg9-Qj-6wJqXouCELsaxo_c_2oyVmM9sRC/s1600/DSCN2983_1632x1224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEB55TSV96a7hSx_ufYctmJENV8ZjGsbheCPD5-nDRNpQgEl8BKdYEq0OBJDgy2_iUOgInsdjm6ollCQ-eCkzN60W_FQZuh15oOHFTls8dzNSg9-Qj-6wJqXouCELsaxo_c_2oyVmM9sRC/s400/DSCN2983_1632x1224.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ed's Pharmacy in Parksville</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACCSe7K6GgFhT2yR_2rEe9jQeaFSUxAQFlnTf-5yDODaB5j0UiWgsoFoPwnC04rA41r1GRST_180saKPk3svThKXNj_GQFQPFDlKWe0B9ptdDqLy6PSlxdgW5Dgba46-027C94xtNWU1E/s1600/DSCN2992_1632x1224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACCSe7K6GgFhT2yR_2rEe9jQeaFSUxAQFlnTf-5yDODaB5j0UiWgsoFoPwnC04rA41r1GRST_180saKPk3svThKXNj_GQFQPFDlKWe0B9ptdDqLy6PSlxdgW5Dgba46-027C94xtNWU1E/s400/DSCN2992_1632x1224.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trailer in Livingston Manor at Sunset</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOtpi2H107KX3_OV_9-EHpTuYPB4FBh5ghhULe3Px6NxKrfyadv47rGUR_f2T8gFvCNTQgI_8e4GrQCWO1tfaIKNN50hJLhOppGxy0KDc5DixQPmzA4z3lCFSNG_N8vrpwkC9dTiF1utWb/s1600/DSCN3001_1632x1224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOtpi2H107KX3_OV_9-EHpTuYPB4FBh5ghhULe3Px6NxKrfyadv47rGUR_f2T8gFvCNTQgI_8e4GrQCWO1tfaIKNN50hJLhOppGxy0KDc5DixQPmzA4z3lCFSNG_N8vrpwkC9dTiF1utWb/s400/DSCN3001_1632x1224.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And below are a few of the Paramount Hotel.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWj9QKKerix1hEmHmH3TiLuK0HbJsEvMHGAybmTWwMPR4glvMj2NnlVJ_1Ub-VScnVb5KN6EVIabulcsv3g9E1sWL3av8d5gCf9a6zGyhK0yie83ckaubLS0rxkSdZfI6yLtOMAqmEvuuN/s1600/DSCN2999_1632x1224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWj9QKKerix1hEmHmH3TiLuK0HbJsEvMHGAybmTWwMPR4glvMj2NnlVJ_1Ub-VScnVb5KN6EVIabulcsv3g9E1sWL3av8d5gCf9a6zGyhK0yie83ckaubLS0rxkSdZfI6yLtOMAqmEvuuN/s400/DSCN2999_1632x1224.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPsTZ65KXQ1YKvJU8OUipTOkXbyvQIJAxZlTQHzxuk7b8oiDtHXz8ehMnyPyM8-7eZqknpM4kMxhK2v76OMLgc8fDOHqbF-2f-gBgVVmhv69Tj4Mn7mNWshAxH4PChIZsaBDrdUuW9AOR8/s1600/DSCN2998_1632x1224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPsTZ65KXQ1YKvJU8OUipTOkXbyvQIJAxZlTQHzxuk7b8oiDtHXz8ehMnyPyM8-7eZqknpM4kMxhK2v76OMLgc8fDOHqbF-2f-gBgVVmhv69Tj4Mn7mNWshAxH4PChIZsaBDrdUuW9AOR8/s400/DSCN2998_1632x1224.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb40CNzCzyWj5xPqjeNmy4r8rFySwhyphenhyphenwFWsthRf9MpWMDNzeOzf7z3KEMEje9XgLSEZTMb5hNpPom-J8VwWP8LTWiaIUCAUIG4n-u15ML_6kF3gFSfwwrm4rCsI2Y3upsB9vSqhB56VcCT/s1600/DSCN2994_1632x1224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb40CNzCzyWj5xPqjeNmy4r8rFySwhyphenhyphenwFWsthRf9MpWMDNzeOzf7z3KEMEje9XgLSEZTMb5hNpPom-J8VwWP8LTWiaIUCAUIG4n-u15ML_6kF3gFSfwwrm4rCsI2Y3upsB9vSqhB56VcCT/s400/DSCN2994_1632x1224.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0OOtnj-qH4fXDpUT7E7ppj3W8bWgT9uL0zknmoKS4LUXp_AyjYksTW3hj0WIZ5JYP0fwkr0aRqa7MrG9EKRguba_Bysnnxppbb5IHH-wrPLxPIatGCVLQIGcA0x0VGE3bTmmadMoWJ1q-/s1600/DSCN2995_1632x1224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0OOtnj-qH4fXDpUT7E7ppj3W8bWgT9uL0zknmoKS4LUXp_AyjYksTW3hj0WIZ5JYP0fwkr0aRqa7MrG9EKRguba_Bysnnxppbb5IHH-wrPLxPIatGCVLQIGcA0x0VGE3bTmmadMoWJ1q-/s400/DSCN2995_1632x1224.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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There were twenty properties reported as sold in the Sullivan County MLS. <a href="http://scmls.paragonrels.com/publink/default.aspx?GUID=4e0b144a-773d-45ef-a1d7-03886b4f97b4&Report=Yes" target="_blank">Click Here for Listings</a>Jducey1234http://www.blogger.com/profile/10810197915886891524noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4565383783306247975.post-24052328094331447002012-01-03T17:21:00.000-05:002012-01-03T17:21:39.761-05:00End of the Year and BPO'sSo we are at the start of the New Year. 2012—the apocalypse year. Its funny to me that people believe that the Mayan civilization would be able to predict the end of the world, however the use of the wheel somehow eluded them. I guess we will see though.<br />
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I am no longer going to apologize for my lack of blogging. It just gets old, and the few that do read this I’m sure find it half-hearted and patronizing. My new year’s resolution is to blog as much as I can, However, I will post the sold info weekly. That is what I have received the most flack for. My running commentary seems much less compelling then the stats of what has sold here in Sullivan County.<br />
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Year end for me was a lot of running around. Showings have slowed, however I have become more and more busy (perhaps I should have just used “busier”?) doing BPO’s—broker price opinions.<br />
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As the real estate market continues to sell in the red, more banks are turning to agents and brokers for “opinions” on price before they decide on a foreclosure or short sale offer. It really is no secret that all they are trying to do is save a few bucks where they can. A licensed real estate appraiser has more often than not undergone more extensive schooling, and is held to a much higher standard under the law when determining value of real property. Therefore their fees are quite a bit higher. <br />
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So banks have turned to agents and brokers for an “opinion”. They make it very clear that it is not an appraisal. However they do require three sold and three active comparables. They require all tax information and want a detailed explanation as to why you have come up with your “opinion.” Some even require adjustments for square footage and acreage differences. For all intents and purposes it is an appraisal. But why pay an appraiser four hundred when you can pay an agent one? <br />
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Forget the fact that it is on a property that was thirty percent overpriced when it was appraised three years ago and sold via a “no doc.”, variable rate mortgage to a family that had no chance of making the payments. Now let’s try to save a few hundred as we take the 70K hit on the foreclosure. Penny rich and dollar poor.<br />
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At any rate I am happy to do them. They are fairly easy, and are a nice steady stream of income over the last few months. It has had me all over the county, and I was even offered a bribe at one particular property. It was actually pretty surprising. I felt like I was on a John Stossel’s “What Would You Do?"<br />
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Most of these BPO’s are on the other side of the county, and driving through there, it has reinforced to me how depressed parts of Sullivan County really are. I have taken a bunch of photos and plan on doing a blog post on them at some point when I get a chance. I was going to post a few this week, but pictures of run-down, closed hotels and businesses just didn’t seem like the right first post of the new year. <br />
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Happy New Year to All!<br />
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There were 25 properties sold in the last thrity days here in Sullivan County. <br />
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<a href="http://scmls.paragonrels.com/publink/default.aspx?GUID=a4742afe-a19f-44a9-a1d4-cd9f462a0d84&Report=Yes">Click Here for Listings.</a><br />
<br />Jducey1234http://www.blogger.com/profile/10810197915886891524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4565383783306247975.post-44586828877400574722011-11-20T11:37:00.001-05:002011-11-20T12:17:56.008-05:00Sullivan County Vacant Land<br />
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Once again me being busy has made my blog suffer. I just haven’t had that two hour block where I can sit down and write a witty, compelling yarn. Having a twenty-month old is a surprising amount of work, and I also seem knee deep in short sale paperwork, or answering emails. <br />
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Vacant land has been the theme of the last month. Up here in Sullivan County, the fall always seems to bring attention to larger land lots, because many of the avid hunters that come here have a dream of owning their own large piece, and being able to hunt it with impunity. There are quite a few pieces of state owned land that people can hunt on, but just like any other “public” area, this brings others into the equation. Everyone knows how annoying the Speedo wearing cell phone guy is at the public beach. Well put him in the woods with a gun. That is the hunter’s equivalent.<br />
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No, the dream of sitting in your own tree stand, on your own twenty-five to fifty acre piece, as dawn arrives and the sun breaks over the mountains is pretty powerful. And pretty universal for those who are into hunting.<br />
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I also think land ownership is a deep, ingrained desire. Owning you own space, and inviting those who you want, and denying the rest is a basic human (or perhaps even primate) trait. “I own all that I can see!” This kind of stuff has been around for centuries.<br />
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I have mentioned it before, but by far land here in Sullivan County is cheaper than I have ever seen it since I started selling real estate. I have compiled a list of my five favorites. These are all larger land lots, that I feel are really good bargains in today’s market. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8ruHb0axOQkUoeF-4PoCcEASlZVXP2U_omBhWFTYeU9DBIBpamrUvYPUxZNMl2Ta2uL7dsFt1FVbYs7R1uPCXwo1MtYR9p9qU5M_YWBPKZTlstaX7icDO59zO1GiG5iWNKfgGCaqZqA-/s1600/SCMLS32883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8ruHb0axOQkUoeF-4PoCcEASlZVXP2U_omBhWFTYeU9DBIBpamrUvYPUxZNMl2Ta2uL7dsFt1FVbYs7R1uPCXwo1MtYR9p9qU5M_YWBPKZTlstaX7icDO59zO1GiG5iWNKfgGCaqZqA-/s200/SCMLS32883.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">50 acres 99K</td></tr>
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I featured this piece last week. This is a foreclosure near Callicoon Center. It is fifty acres with a bunch of frontage on Nort Branch Creek, and a really nice pond. This is one of those pieces that would have had a 450K price tag on it in '07. This piece has just been surveyed, so that cost would not be needed upon purchase. Half wooded and half open fields.<br /><a href="http://www.jduceyrealestate.com/Web/AR412475/ListingSearch/details/?mls_id=NY-SCAOR&mls_no=32883&display_page=1&lpp=20&index=1&total_listings=1&from=results">Link</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn35KSoeQCfRSPlwDr_7WnOok28gDWYisWHMK1qCN3gSYfYWWzOb93frpRCk0CeBUmrwsdcb9nfI0IpPgakTu_yd1Y5B_8iuRgxvVZcI680uBx4bGALeJSh743QQA9tml9dGFXbOQYR_iG/s1600/SCMLS25170E.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn35KSoeQCfRSPlwDr_7WnOok28gDWYisWHMK1qCN3gSYfYWWzOb93frpRCk0CeBUmrwsdcb9nfI0IpPgakTu_yd1Y5B_8iuRgxvVZcI680uBx4bGALeJSh743QQA9tml9dGFXbOQYR_iG/s200/SCMLS25170E.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">41 acres for 99K</td></tr>
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This piece is located just outside of Jeffersonville, within ten minutes of Bethel Woods. I have shown this piece a few times to hunters, and the concern was houses in the immediate vicinity. This is a great, flat piece of land however, also with a little stream. It has been on the market for over two years, with the original price well over 200K. It is sub dividable. <br />
<a href="http://www.jduceyrealestate.com/Web/AR412475/ListingSearch/details/?mls_id=NY-SCAOR&mls_no=25170&display_page=1&lpp=20&index=1&total_listings=1&from=results">Link</a> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoaXmmO1-QhbMEAkz9ex3N6aRFu_2fVYEqRmzO-Rmo6iz7459K1nZZpPo4DjGc-ONrbUSqAmoVHjkTNouTcy2bwqEU2ifs1eDhWp3oCmUlXUbnPcdE6-nfjePKF8idQQL-I7D5RMCURxTu/s1600/SCMLS32650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoaXmmO1-QhbMEAkz9ex3N6aRFu_2fVYEqRmzO-Rmo6iz7459K1nZZpPo4DjGc-ONrbUSqAmoVHjkTNouTcy2bwqEU2ifs1eDhWp3oCmUlXUbnPcdE6-nfjePKF8idQQL-I7D5RMCURxTu/s200/SCMLS32650.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">37 acres 225K</td></tr>
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How much is a view worth? This 37 acre piece is priced higher than some of the others, but it has the best long range views from a piece for sale that I have seen in a long time. It is located just outside of Jeffersonville, by the desirable Beechwoods area. It has only been on the market for a few months, and they have already dropped the price some, showing motivation. Really nice open piece. <br />
<a href="http://www.jduceyrealestate.com/Web/AR412475/ListingSearch/details/?mls_id=NY-SCAOR&mls_no=32650&display_page=1&lpp=20&index=1&total_listings=1&from=results">Link</a> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFwgxcSLUIEGI3Rc-xXvTWhoDymnbeDB8j0Yf6_0KSwxs0zSHqkH8Mm4Mhs17DeUMhvCWEwV9H0_si3x5R-m-KtbjVXM7DaWRc2iWvs2gFJXNfuijSmtqfHgcGq0msrVg-mLRwO0ZYQH10/s1600/SCMLS21228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFwgxcSLUIEGI3Rc-xXvTWhoDymnbeDB8j0Yf6_0KSwxs0zSHqkH8Mm4Mhs17DeUMhvCWEwV9H0_si3x5R-m-KtbjVXM7DaWRc2iWvs2gFJXNfuijSmtqfHgcGq0msrVg-mLRwO0ZYQH10/s200/SCMLS21228.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">70 acres for 279K</td></tr>
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This is another open piece with long range views, almost but not quite as nice as the one in Jeff. It is lot more acreage however, just under seventy. This piece is located outside of White Sulpher Springs, as you go up the mountain towards Livingston Manor. It has been on the market a whopping 1500 days. Original price tag? 995K. It is now listed for 279K. Can you say sellers fatigue? <br />
<a href="http://www.jduceyrealestate.com/Web/AR412475/ListingSearch/details/?mls_id=NY-SCAOR&mls_no=21228&display_page=1&lpp=20&index=1&total_listings=1&from=results">Link</a> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlOe92wJ7g_cxmWzO3UtQ5UJkD61RJPNdRIRVQWQT3VBaC-LK2KlHGwNfy-nsVQoJ6iU-ugbhFIS_smtRrOn3CL1tPf5K3AgVGoSVOhKt30iJG5p2XjMIxPYfrcoTGzJTHEe0DdCDnKZHi/s1600/SCMLS32780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlOe92wJ7g_cxmWzO3UtQ5UJkD61RJPNdRIRVQWQT3VBaC-LK2KlHGwNfy-nsVQoJ6iU-ugbhFIS_smtRrOn3CL1tPf5K3AgVGoSVOhKt30iJG5p2XjMIxPYfrcoTGzJTHEe0DdCDnKZHi/s200/SCMLS32780.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">130 acres 349K</td></tr>
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There were a few I was flip-flopping on for the last one, but I picked this one for the sheer size of it. It is 130 acres down in Glen Spey off of Kalin-Weber. This is another piece that has been on the market forever. I believe the original tag on this one was around 800K. It is now 349K Or just under 3K an acre. Being less than two hours to NYC makes this one a pretty good deal. <br />
<a href="http://www.jduceyrealestate.com/Web/AR412475/ListingSearch/details/?mls_id=NY-SCAOR&mls_no=32780&display_page=1&lpp=20&index=1&total_listings=1&from=results">Link</a> <br />
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There were four properties reported sold in the Sullivan County MLS in the last seven days. <a href="http://scmls.paragonrels.com/publink/default.aspx?GUID=22e6f804-f2b3-4915-957a-88d785905803&Report=Yes">Click Here</a> <br />
<br />Jducey1234http://www.blogger.com/profile/10810197915886891524noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4565383783306247975.post-86334536108353814512011-11-15T11:27:00.001-05:002011-11-15T11:47:36.205-05:00Short Sales in Sullivan County<br />
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Two of my four deals currently going on are short sales, and two deals already completed this year have been short sales. It seems the inevitable changes that life brings continues, but now as more people are upside down on their mortgages than ever before, being able to pick up and move is not so easy. <br />
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So more and more people are going the short sale route. What was once the root canal of the real estate world is really not that painful anymore. The last one I did was forty-five days from offer to full acceptance. Soup to nuts as my Dad would say.<br />
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Some sellers may consider letting a property go into foreclosure rather than a short sale. With a foreclosure, especially with the backlog that still exists with big banks, a seller could stay in the property, essentially rent free, for well over year before being forced to evacuate. But that fact alone does not mean a foreclosure is better. With a short sale, yes the home will be listed, added to the MLS, people will tromp through, break appointments and invade your privacy. All the inconvenience of selling a home will be present. And what are you left with? A clean slate.<br />
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<strong>Basics of a Short Sale</strong><br />
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Short sales happen when a lender agrees to accept less than the amount owed against the home because there is not enough equity to sell and pay all costs of sale.<br />
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<strong>How is the Seller’s Credit Affected?</strong><br />
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According to Allan Franks, division manager at Citi Mortgage, sellers will take a bigger hit on their credit report by going through foreclosure or giving the lender a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure. Franks says the points lost on a FICO score are as follows:<br />
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Foreclosure or Deed-in-Lieu of Foreclosure<strong>--</strong>Both of these solutions affect credit the same. Sellers will take a hit of 250 to 280 points. This means if a seller’s FICO score before foreclosure was 680, it could dip as low as 400. <br />
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Short Sale<strong>--</strong>The affect of a short sale on a seller’s credit report is much less damaging. The ding on credit will show up as a pre-foreclosure in redemption status, Franks says, which will result in a loss of 80 to 100 points. This means a short sale with a previous FICO of 680 will see it fall to 580 to 600. <br />
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<strong>Waiting Period Before Buying Another Home</strong><br />
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Foreclosure or Deed-in-Lieu of Foreclosure--Franks says a seller who wants to buy another home after foreclosure will end up waiting about 36 months before a lender will offer any kind of interest rate that makes sense. <br />
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Short Sale--The good news for short sale sellers is the wait is much shorter before buying another home. “They can buy again in about 18 months at a good interest rate,” says Franks.<br />
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<strong>Short Sale / Foreclosure Deficiency Judgments</strong><br />
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The bad news is a seller could be subject to a deficiency judgment for the difference between the loan amount and the amount paid. In New York, purchase money loans are not subject to deficiency judgments; however, hard money loans, equity loans and refinances are. Other states have laws regarding personal guarantees, which could also result in a deficiency judgment if the home owner is personally liable for loan repayment.<br />
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The lender has sole discretion whether to pursue a deficiency judgment in those instances when the judgment is permitted. To determine whether a pending foreclosure or short sale is subject to a deficiency judgment, talk to a real estate lawyer. At no point should you move forward with a short sale if a deficiency judgment is a possibility. <br />
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If you’re a seller trying to decide whether to let a home go through foreclosure versus attempting a short sale, salvaging your credit is the main advantage to doing a short sale. But seek legal and tax advice before making that decision.<br />
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I haven't done a "pick of the week" in a while but this piece in Callicoon Center is a steal. 50 acres with a stream and a pond for 99K <a href="http://www.jduceyrealestate.com/Web/AR412475/ListingSearch/details/?mls_id=NY-SCAOR&mls_no=32883&display_page=1&lpp=20&index=1&total_listings=1&from=results">Land Piece</a><br />
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There were nine single family homes listed as sold in the Sullivan County MLS in the last ten days. <a href="http://scmls.paragonrels.com/publink/default.aspx?GUID=d2dd1e89-ae16-4137-b0c0-290bcd1fc6b2&Report=Yes">Click Here for Listings</a><br />
<br />Jducey1234http://www.blogger.com/profile/10810197915886891524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4565383783306247975.post-4658150653033567482011-11-02T18:48:00.000-04:002011-11-02T18:48:37.710-04:00Favorite Farmhouse Listings<br />
We had our first snow of the year, (I am sure pretty much everyone on the northeastern part of the country already knows this). Sullivan County didn’t get hit as hard as other areas though. I had about eight inches on my back porch, and in and around Monticello I heard just over a foot. No major power outages or anything, I even showed some hunting property on Sat., before the flakes began to fly.<br />
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I have remained fairly busy over the last week, I am getting a lot of hits on my website. Most of those hits have been about farmhouses. It seems that the trend (at least for me) is back to the country farmhouse getaway. The good news is, there are a few good—priced right properties out there. Properties that just a few years ago, would have had astronomical price tags on them. However, here at the end of 2011, getting a nice farmhouse for under 250K is doable. I have compiled a list of my favorites below.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEzPWn_2T5H66HIBOEG4d4GJKx8se419cojMEeSvKOGWsgW6H4f99A4-7ltBld-PUceeeu4zzQf7EPPwfaRUbgzDV0rgvkgDdr7w-hwMg1iNS7EU5rkPQRWlxKIJAU7UUc1Zs7_0WiAIl/s1600/SCMLS32501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEzPWn_2T5H66HIBOEG4d4GJKx8se419cojMEeSvKOGWsgW6H4f99A4-7ltBld-PUceeeu4zzQf7EPPwfaRUbgzDV0rgvkgDdr7w-hwMg1iNS7EU5rkPQRWlxKIJAU7UUc1Zs7_0WiAIl/s200/SCMLS32501.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
32501—Priced very nicely at $179,000, this is an almost 3,000 sq. foot turn of the century farmhouse in Callicoon Center. A lot of the original elements remain, although there is some evidence of paneling and drop ceilings. The bones of the house are great, however. Although it is on 1.6 acres, it is located basically in the town of Callicoon Center, which may be a turn off for some, but an advantage for others. <a href="http://www.jduceyrealestate.com/Web/AR412475/ListingSearch/details/?mls_id=NY-SCAOR&mls_no=32501&display_page=1&lpp=20&index=1&total_listings=1&from=results">Click Here for Listing.</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5eq2WM62j2Ly9I0EEXRq32govtUqv7nm7PB9p6Z0ht9O-Jq3C3f-Ue4niiVaZ11eC1-ilUqdWhbB6hGM86hT9ZvL_tjTMgxAkzHoDRiNKeA4ZQ-6arn3c6rxwUERnDtc6xreK3bIzfaaY/s1600/SCMLS31170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="126" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5eq2WM62j2Ly9I0EEXRq32govtUqv7nm7PB9p6Z0ht9O-Jq3C3f-Ue4niiVaZ11eC1-ilUqdWhbB6hGM86hT9ZvL_tjTMgxAkzHoDRiNKeA4ZQ-6arn3c6rxwUERnDtc6xreK3bIzfaaY/s200/SCMLS31170.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
31170—This brick farmhouse on almost eight acres is one of my favorite active listings, and I am surprised it has not been snapped up yet. Built in 1949, it has four bedrooms, great original hardwood floors and cast iron radiators. The property is flat and open with apple trees and a great barn. This is a unique property at a good price (210,000), just outside of Narrowsburg on a quiet road. <a href="http://www.jduceyrealestate.com/Web/AR412475/ListingSearch/details/?mls_id=NY-SCAOR&mls_no=31170&display_page=1&lpp=20&index=1&total_listings=1&from=results">Click Here for Listing</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUFjMC5UBUGM_NnRUXxIgXbmYnDhLtnu-YA8ddfAl7fS0rn0mOi-oOlAQSlxzqUZJhMc9g0nh0RitZTJ2kqAqmQj5TCEHKS8AsrPvdjsW6dV-sNY-hcbHSEp9cl1Da8Q8xFSxppni_O1JM/s1600/SCMLS32255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUFjMC5UBUGM_NnRUXxIgXbmYnDhLtnu-YA8ddfAl7fS0rn0mOi-oOlAQSlxzqUZJhMc9g0nh0RitZTJ2kqAqmQj5TCEHKS8AsrPvdjsW6dV-sNY-hcbHSEp9cl1Da8Q8xFSxppni_O1JM/s200/SCMLS32255.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
32255—Built in 1890, this is a great little farmhouse in Obernburg with some really nice long range views. Like so many others, it was paneled and carpeted at some point, but the current owners have done a great job minimizing and re-doing. It is on a road that is somewhat busier than others, which may be a drawback for some. <a href="http://www.jduceyrealestate.com/Web/AR412475/ListingSearch/details/?mls_id=NY-SCAOR&mls_no=32255&display_page=1&lpp=20&index=1&total_listings=1&from=results">Click Here for Listing</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIifZn_-H3dQ9ltU-RESNET-D0nHNSizrHHUDbdOlZaB4UdIly6cnMXkCQEVx6UPEtOg8R5Xn5VcyypYSUP2hVjO1AwL7t4oi02mTM3z1sQ4I9_t5GH-rtAeKqBKDvR0xQe3sN3k3MSblL/s1600/SCMLS32639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIifZn_-H3dQ9ltU-RESNET-D0nHNSizrHHUDbdOlZaB4UdIly6cnMXkCQEVx6UPEtOg8R5Xn5VcyypYSUP2hVjO1AwL7t4oi02mTM3z1sQ4I9_t5GH-rtAeKqBKDvR0xQe3sN3k3MSblL/s200/SCMLS32639.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
32639—I guess not technically a farmhouse because a farmer never lived there, but this home, built in 2002 has all the bell and whistles of a farmhouse. The views from the porch are phenomenal, and it has a nice pond. Taxes are a bit steep at $7,500 <a href="http://www.jduceyrealestate.com/Web/AR412475/ListingSearch/details/?mls_id=NY-SCAOR&mls_no=32255&display_page=1&lpp=20&index=1&total_listings=1&from=results">Click Here for Listings</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkbtiakeRwzJfXcOCEh1X1wiJBGQ_t3On_RVzAp0e7zU9pv_RHg424gd5cRm9B2slYA5qCQNx68LsCFBx4_Sw8ALqVefxvLI7_tQn3uCI23Nea1ODqLJ_uiLMpqFqAY-sBvk48pc9Z9C6f/s1600/SCMLS30587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkbtiakeRwzJfXcOCEh1X1wiJBGQ_t3On_RVzAp0e7zU9pv_RHg424gd5cRm9B2slYA5qCQNx68LsCFBx4_Sw8ALqVefxvLI7_tQn3uCI23Nea1ODqLJ_uiLMpqFqAY-sBvk48pc9Z9C6f/s200/SCMLS30587.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
30587—Probably my favorite active farmhouse listing. This is a pre-Civil War farmhouse on 13 acres, with a huge barn and a carriage house. House has been done impeccably. You put this house in Fairfield County and the price tag is a million dollars. Here in Sullivan? $249,000. Click Here for listings. <a href="http://www.jduceyrealestate.com/Web/AR412475/ListingSearch/details/?mls_id=NY-SCAOR&mls_no=30587&display_page=1&lpp=20&index=1&total_listings=1&from=results">Click Here for Listings</a><br />
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There were fifteen properties reported sold in the Sullivan County MLS. <a href="http://scmls.paragonrels.com/publink/default.aspx?GUID=a62af564-5761-49ac-8385-cacf4c72bcf7&Report=Yes">Sullivan County Solds</a>Jducey1234http://www.blogger.com/profile/10810197915886891524noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4565383783306247975.post-26395110192033509172011-10-23T10:52:00.001-04:002011-10-23T10:52:07.470-04:00Smallwood and Multiple Offers<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgsd_6if8V6LFmAwCJoX8m0zSY3r0aXqNEH9znHkfWWkG2N6ysju7loy1btRYK-KCBjBaeau_yvyERl0EAOC4DKWaZo3D1Lf1a5zKj1WBpn3DerGF4Rvex0JfO0kzEd6WQtn5b8QALU4H/s1600/DSCN2278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgsd_6if8V6LFmAwCJoX8m0zSY3r0aXqNEH9znHkfWWkG2N6ysju7loy1btRYK-KCBjBaeau_yvyERl0EAOC4DKWaZo3D1Lf1a5zKj1WBpn3DerGF4Rvex0JfO0kzEd6WQtn5b8QALU4H/s320/DSCN2278.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smallwood Streamfront Cabin 129K</td></tr>
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I had an inspection in Smallwood yesterday, but no scheduled
showings this weekend. That is in stark contrast to last week, where both days
were chalk full, and on Saturday I met six different customers. The day was
fruitful however. I ended last weekend with four offers.</div>
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Three were on the same house, however. It is a short sale
that I have listed, and have had listed for almost four months. When we first
put it on the market, it got a bit of mild interest, but then tailed off, and
despite the fact that I dropped the price a few times, and marketed the hell out of it, it sat without a whole
lot of activity.</div>
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Well last week, I dropped it another ten thousand, and all
of the sudden I started getting calls on it. I had to squeeze in four different
showings on Sat. morning, and of course—feast or famine—three of the four
showings resulted in offers.</div>
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This is the first time I have been in a multiple offer
situation like this. And believe me I am not complaining. I think most brokers
would love to be in this predicament, but unfortunately I liked all three
couples, and all three really liked the property. So we asked for everyone’s
highest and best by Tuesday—and on Wednesday I was in the odd position of
calling two of them with bad news. I felt like Simon Cowell sitting at the desk
after the contestants make the long elevator ride. It was a weird feeling and
no fun at all.</div>
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But the couple that did “win” are very happy. This is a special
property, and hopefully the bank will agree to the short sale. </div>
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The other offer I received was from a couple that has been
looking for awhile in Smallwood. I had shown a few houses in Smallwood prior to
this, but with these buyers we looked at between 10-15 homes. I was pleasantly surprised
at Smallwood, and I plan on recommending this area more to people who are
looking for affordable second home getaways.</div>
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Smallwood is a hamlet in <st1:city w:st="on">Bethel</st1:city>,
tucked in between <st1:placename w:st="on">White</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Lake</st1:placetype> and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Swinging</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Bridge</st1:placetype></st1:place>. It was originally
settled in the 1800’s by eastern European immigrants, but it was not until A.N
Smallwood came along in 1928 that it began to change into what it is today—A rural
country escape, small, modest <st1:place w:st="on">Adirondack</st1:place> style
cabins hidden away under giant pine trees. <a href="http://www.smallwoodcivicassociation.org/24.html">Click Here for a History of Smallwood</a>. As the years have gone on, more substantial—year round homes have been
built. However Smallwood still has that feel of a working class summer retreat.
If you are looking for a second home on a budget, you should definitely consider
Smallwood. Although the pictures do not do it justice, <a href="http://www.jduceyrealestate.com/Web/AR412475/ListingSearch/details/?mls_id=NY-SCAOR&mls_no=31669&display_page=1&lpp=20&index=1&total_listings=1&from=results">Click Here for Smallwood Streamfront</a> </div>
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There were 19 properties reported sold in the Sullivan County MLS in the last ten days. <a href="http://scmls.paragonrels.com/publink/default.aspx?GUID=2e72b88d-149d-46d4-a96e-df1b96d1b0cc&Report=Yes">Click Here for Solds.</a></div>Jducey1234http://www.blogger.com/profile/10810197915886891524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4565383783306247975.post-89347921849484075562011-10-11T11:38:00.000-04:002011-10-11T11:38:17.722-04:00Fall in Sullivan County<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sonoma Falls in Livingston Manor</td></tr>
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Peak fall foliage is just around the corner. This year will probably not be as spectacular as some, because we have had all the rain this year, which has knocked off a lot of the leaves before they could reach full potential. However over the next seven to ten days, most of <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Sullivan</placename> <placename w:st="on">County</placename></place> will be in prime color. The cold nights mixed with the warm days are making the middle of our autumn season quite enjoyable. If anyone is thinking about coming up this weekend for a sightseeing trip, I would think that you will not be disappointed. </div>
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There are quite a few activities and events going on throughout the fall. It really is not a matter of what you should do while here, but what you should skip, because it is not possible to cram it all into one weekend.</div>
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<place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Sonoma</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Falls</placetype></place> in Livingston Manor is a great place to stop by if you are in the area. They have an old fashioned cider press set up in a barn, a country store that sells fresh produce and fruits, hayrides and a pumpkin patch for the kids, and some pretty spectacular water falls, with hiking trails—definitely a good spot to spend that afternoon. <a href="http://www.sonomafallsny.com/index.html">Cider Mill.</a></div>
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Bethel Woods has its rustic craft show this weekend. <span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-clip: initial; background-color: #faf9f4; background-origin: initial; color: black;">This expanded specialty craft event will showcase wood carvings, handmade furniture, pottery, accessories and accents for the home. They also have large tents filled with local fruits and produce. <a href="http://bethelwoodscenter.org/home.aspx">Bethel Woods</a></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-clip: initial; background-color: #faf9f4; background-origin: initial; color: black;">Segway Tours in <place w:st="on">Woodridge</place> has fall foliage tours throughout Oct. <a href="http://www.woodridgesegwaytours.com/tours/">Fall Foliage Tours</a></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-clip: initial; background-color: #faf9f4; background-origin: initial; color: black;">All farmers markets are in full swing, and will continue throughout Oct. as well. <a href="http://www.sullivancountyfarmersmarkets.org/">Farmers Markets.</a></span></span></div>
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Calkins Creamery will be having an in-store tasting and demonstration this weekend Calkins Creamery is a small, farmstead cheese operation on Highland Farm in Wayne County, Pennsylvania. Emily Montgomery, the cheesemaker, produces an array of raw milk aged cheeses as well as fresh, pasteurized cheeses. Emily's father and brother, Bill & Zack, operate the 6th generation family farm. Cheese are aged at the creamery and underground in the caves at neighboring Calkins Creek Vineyard. <a href="http://www.calkinscreamery.com/">Creamery Link</a><br />
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There will also be two Halloween parades. One in Callicoon on Oct. 29th at 1PM, and one on the 30th in Jeffersonville at 6PM. Another great activity for the kids.<br />
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There were eight single family homes reported sold in the Sullivan County MLS in the last 14 days. <a href="http://scmls.paragonrels.com/publink/default.aspx?GUID=094d5e30-27f7-43ef-b007-c87f3d442f91&Report=Yes">Click Here for Listings</a></div>
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<br />Jducey1234http://www.blogger.com/profile/10810197915886891524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4565383783306247975.post-13130352626055258702011-09-18T12:24:00.000-04:002011-09-18T12:27:02.831-04:00Deed RestrictionsWe don’t have very many subdivisions with extensive deed restrictions here in Sullivan County, and the ones we do have generally are pretty lackadaisical. Mostly you see no trailers or mobile homes, or no further subdivision. That is pretty much the extent of it.<br />
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However apparently in Spring Texas, they take their deed restrictions very seriously. Now I get it—the role of the deed restrictions are to protect the property values of the homes in the subdivision. The deed restrictions spell out what you can and can not do to or with your home, often including what color you can paint your house, or what type of mailbox you can install—Conformity equals value I suppose.<br />
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The Sardo family who live in just such a subdivision are learning all about deed restrictions and lawsuits. The Sardo family own a pot-bellied pig and according to the Thicket at Cypresswood’s deed restrictions no animals, livestock, poultry, reptiles, or insects of any kind shall be raised, bred or kept on any lot in the subdivision. The Board of the Home Owners Association (HOA) for the Thicket at Cypresswood has informed the Sardo family they are in violation of deed restrictions and Wilbur, the pot-bellied pig, must find a new home. The Sardo family says Wilbur is a pet and not livestock and thus they are suing their HOA to keep their pig.<br />
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Who will win? Who knows. But there will be a lot of money spent on lawsuits over a pig. A much loved pig, I might add. There has probably never been any pig with more Facebook friends than Wilbur. At last count and still growing Wilbur had over 5,000 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WilburSardo">Facebook</a> friends.<br />
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After hearing this story I jumped on the computer to research other odd deed restrictions. Apparently as long as the restrictive covenants do not break any local or federal laws, you can pretty much put in what ever you want. There is a house in Tennessee that has a giant statue of a cat in the front yard. Subsequent owners have been unable to remove it because it is in the deed that it must remain. Other strange restrictions include a stripper pole in a Las Vegas home, and a home in Colorado that must remain a deep purple. <br />
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On a more sobering note (although obviously no longer enforced as law now prohibits) there are deeds here in Sullivan County that restrict resale to “non-Caucasians and Jews.” <br />
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There were 11 single family homes sold in Sullivan County in the last seven days according to the Sullivan County MLS <a href="http://scmls.fnismls.com/publink/default.aspx?GUID=db322a05-63fe-476a-8010-b63f05411f55&Report=Yes">Click Here for Listings</a><br />
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<br />Jducey1234http://www.blogger.com/profile/10810197915886891524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4565383783306247975.post-15881508814361697282011-08-29T12:18:00.000-04:002011-08-29T12:18:55.966-04:00Irene in PicturesAll my weekend appointments canceled in anticipation of the storm, so the last few days have not revolved around real estate. I couldn't take the network news coverage much past Sat. morning. The buildup was ridiculous. I know it was a category 1 hurricane, and nothing like this has hit the east cost in thirty years, but sixteen mind numbing hours of batten-down-the-hatches coverage? Bloomburg and Christie got plenty of face time. Every time I put on the t.v. it was one or the other. <br />
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Well our power went out early Sunday morning, but the real crux of the storm did not hit my section of Sullivan County until probably between 2 and 5 PM. It was blustery and rainy before that, but the winds really kicked into high gear around 2, and blew pretty steady for the next few hours.<br />
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By that time I had some major cabin fever, so I headed out to see what damage Irene had done. Nothing really major. We had a bunch of trees down, and the Delaware and all the streams were pretty flooded. We got our power back here in Callicoon pretty quickly, but as I write this Monday morning, many in our areas are still out.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delaware River above Hankins</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking Downstream</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tree down on Obernburg Hill</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Volunteer fireman cleaning up CR 121 above Hankins</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the mountain on CR 121. You can't really tell by the picture, but the clouds were moving, and the wind was really blowing. Christie would have told me to get the hell off the mountain.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Callicoon Creek</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBIv2TWdQs6hOTwsapxkqwYQ8KQEA99qE_QIFuN7BfJN_mAgXFkiLIQEusRQj_Sn9is8gBuLgECsh_UakOd0msmtNYlvuSPW7PnTUzwAKOt4TeUTbzbFhTnmdfueleTJJHmxEkppWPKWy8/s1600/DSCN2001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBIv2TWdQs6hOTwsapxkqwYQ8KQEA99qE_QIFuN7BfJN_mAgXFkiLIQEusRQj_Sn9is8gBuLgECsh_UakOd0msmtNYlvuSPW7PnTUzwAKOt4TeUTbzbFhTnmdfueleTJJHmxEkppWPKWy8/s400/DSCN2001.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeffersonville Creek</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trees and debris in Callicoon</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hankins Creek</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another tree on a wire in Milses above McGurrins. For a moment I thought about trying to make it, but that is not how I want end the legacy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Somebody had already cleared a way through. Fremont Township</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another of the Delaware. It crested at 2AM Monday. No big issues</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: left;"></div>There were eight properties listed as sold in the Sullivan County MLS in the last seven days. <a href="http://scmls.fnismls.com/publink/default.aspx?GUID=eb90ee15-1a77-4abd-a617-38986908ffc1&Report=Yes">Click Here for Report</a><br />
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My pick of the week is one of my listings. It is an old farmhouse on Menderis Road in Swan Lake on five acres. This really is a special spot. It is very secluded, and it has an old post and beam barn, huge blueberry bushes and apple trees and grapevines. It is a short sale, and we currently have it listed at 169K. It is a great price, but I have only had one showing on it since I listed it last month. Someone is going to come along and fall in love with this property. <a href="http://www.jduceyrealestate.com/Web/AR412475/FeaturedListings/details/5042950?listing_id=6149685&IDXSESS=qehe5uq2kojea2ndtklip437v0">Swan Lake Farmhouse</a><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"></div> Jducey1234http://www.blogger.com/profile/10810197915886891524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4565383783306247975.post-59947123403398284602011-08-22T16:07:00.000-04:002011-08-22T16:07:47.090-04:00Trains<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmNa1JjoRRM5CQqjGWzzMv5wnaGB1SbFDXkNo7iJsCt8fxDPKHd0YuKE7wO_v8_-AEDe14lIGG7TYNHlqsMxBIdt6s7Egl8_S8wt1r2Z-UO84sfe6gqDifm-nCt0gKxyHa6qZ7xX2NOQSq/s1600/Train1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmNa1JjoRRM5CQqjGWzzMv5wnaGB1SbFDXkNo7iJsCt8fxDPKHd0YuKE7wO_v8_-AEDe14lIGG7TYNHlqsMxBIdt6s7Egl8_S8wt1r2Z-UO84sfe6gqDifm-nCt0gKxyHa6qZ7xX2NOQSq/s320/Train1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Once again my blog post is later than I would have liked, but the fact of the matter is, I have had a very busy week. I got offers on both of my lakefront listings this week, after a summer selling season of little action. Both weekend days were full of appointments, as well as some showings during the week. It is like people realized it is Aug. and they better get in gear. <br />
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Both of my showings this weekend were Manhattanites, mid thirties, looking for a second home. What was different about both couples is they were not necessarily looking for privacy. They were looking for convenience. It was a little surprising, because I have gotten used to seclusion being sort of the mantra for the urban searchers. For many they want to be tucked away among the trees, out of sight from Fri. until Sunday. <br />
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Well it seems as I encounter more of these thirty-something shoppers, their priorities are different. First of all many do not own cars. Now if you are to buy in Sullivan County, you have to own a car. (Or rent one every weekend.) So I have had a few buyers who are looking for a house and car at the same time. However the issue is, many want to entertain in their upstate home, and most of their friends don’t have cars. So rather than having a house out in the woods, where house guests will be essentially trapped for the duration, dependant on the hosts to go anywhere, they are looking for closer, even in-town homes, where a guest can get up earlier than everyone else if they choose, and stroll into town for a bagel and coffee. <br />
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Also both buyers I took out this weekend are considering the Ulster/Greene county areas. There are a lot of reasons why they like Sullivan County better (besides price--we are on average 25% cheaper) one made the comment that our area has a “country feeling” that those more populous areas have lost. However what those areas do have is a train. This is a huge draw for thirty-something buyers. Guests can hop a train to Rhinbeck, or Kingston, and be picked up at the train station. Even a day trip visit is possible with a 90 minute scenic Hudson Valley train ride.<br />
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I think this is another example of how our county is lagging behind. Yes we are dependant on tourism, and we have made strides in making our county more attractive to visitors. However there is a train route in place, and twice a day a locomotive carrying what looks like garbage and roofing supplies, chugs through Callicoon. I know there had been big plans a few years back <a href="http://www.sc-democrat.com/news/001January/20/olympia.htm">(Train article)</a> to bring the trains back through. However like so many others, they fizzled with little fanfare. <br />
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I have done very little research on the history of the train line that ran up the Delaware in the last century. I do know it was the lifeblood, and many of the towns around us would never have existed if it weren't for the train. Callicoon was originally Callicoon Depot, and the entire town sprung up around the station. <a href="http://www.thebluecomet.com/elerie5.html">This link</a> gives a little more info on the history of the train lines.<br />
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What would it take to bring a passenger train to Sullivan County? I don’t think it will happen without some sort of government subsidy. Conrail, the owner of the railway that snakes its way up the Delaware from Port Jervis to Hancock, makes its revenue from freight. Commuter or passenger revenue can not compete. A private venture like the one proposed by Mr. Wilson I believe is just to grand of an undertaking for the private sector. No, we need a local elected official to go on a mission. Someone with a little influence who can persuade those that frown on gas drilling and gambling, that perhaps a Sullivan County renaissance is as simple as a once a day commuter train from NYC.<br />
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There were eight listings reported sold in the Sullivan County MLS. <a href="http://scmls.fnismls.com/publink/default.aspx?GUID=88d2c26b-1cba-4b75-9901-62be1bcc6708&Report=Yes">Click Here for Sold listings</a><br />
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My house of the week is one of the in-town houses that I showedd this weekend. It is pretty big four bedroom completely redone farmhouse on Mill Street, right by the brook in Jeffersonville. It has two cool barns on the property, and it is set underneath a bunch of giant pine trees. The grounds are private despite being in-town, and you hear the constant sound of the brook anytime you are outside. The interior has been done with great attention to detail. It really needs to be seen to be appreciated. The pictures do not do it justice.Recently they have dropped th price to 249K, which I think is a great price. <a href="http://www.jduceyrealestate.com/Web/AR412475/ListingSearch/details/?mls_id=NY-SCAOR&mls_no=30765&display_page=1&lpp=20&index=1&total_listings=1&from=results">Jeffersonville House</a><br />
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Jducey1234http://www.blogger.com/profile/10810197915886891524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4565383783306247975.post-14929308725595375712011-08-14T11:51:00.000-04:002011-08-14T11:51:46.857-04:00Seller FrustrationSo everyone knows how crappy the real estate market is in this country. The media loves doom and gloom, and there is at least one news piece daily that reminds me of this. And despite recent glimmers of hope, it remains in the doldrums, and most experts agree that it will stay that way for some time. It has been discussed ad nauseam, tight banks, nervous buyers, high taxes and gas prices, whatever is the driving force that is keeping things tight, it would appear that it will remain this way for some time. I believe like most things in life, it is a self-fulfilling prophecy, and the more it is discussed and dissected and moaned about, the more it will stay the same.<br />
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Since I represent both buyers and sellers, I am seeing it from both sides. Right now I have a handful of listings that are not selling, and despite my best efforts, are continuing to languish. Now this is not an aberration. Less than one in four homes listed on the Sullivan County MLS will sell. That is the cold hard facts of this market. If you list your home today, there is an 80% chance it won’t sell in the next calendar year. Now these stats include the unmotivated, test-the-waters sellers, which although much less than at the peak of the market, still litter our MLS, but it is a sobering fact to bring up during a listing presentation. <br />
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So what does this mean to sellers? Your home must not just be a good deal, it has to be head and shoulders above the others. It must have a wow factor that sets it aside from the twenty other homes that a prospective buyer can pick to look at. And even then, this does not guarantee a sale. Every week I call my sellers, and we have discussions of what we can do differently. How can we make this house stand out from the others? For many we are at or close to the bottom for price, a few we have dropped into the short sale category, and all feel frustrated. Their lives are on hold as we search for a buyer. I feel for them, and it is often frustrating to see little to no response on some of these homes that a few years ago would have been snatched up quickly.<br />
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At any rate, there is still buying and selling going on. People are still moving, switching jobs, needing more room for growing families, and buying second home getaways. It is the process of how they are doing that which has changed. And who can blame buyers? The landscape is completley different than a few years ago. Buyers can wait, and nibble, and choose carefully. There is very little competition, and multiple offers are a thing of the past. Yes it is a buyers market, no doubt about it.<br />
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There were seven single family homes reported sold in the Sullivan County MLS for this week. <a href="http://scmls.fnismls.com/publink/default.aspx?GUID=ff2f35cd-be43-4d00-a250-4c340ff65105&Report=Yes">Click Here</a><br />
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My pick of the week is along the same vein as homes that don't sell. It is an almost 2,000 square foot redone ranch in Narrowsburg. This is a nice home, and although it is on a small lot, it has appeal to both a second and primary home buyer. It just recently expired off the MLS after a year. Original price was $199,000 and they dropped it to $179,000. This is just another example of how just being a good home, priced competitively, isn't necessarily enough to get your home sold. <a href="http://scmls.fnismls.com/publink/default.aspx?GUID=763e14a2-942b-429d-8cc0-b5d34f36aa3a&Report=Yes">Click Here</a><br />
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Jducey1234http://www.blogger.com/profile/10810197915886891524noreply@blogger.com0