This summer I am sure with the existing economic conditions many will be vacationing closer to home.  Living in the Hudson Valley is a blessing because there is so much beauty around us.  I have put together a show which highlights just a few fun activities that can be enjoyed on the banks of the Hudson River or on the Hudson River.  Here is hoping this will get you thinking about things to do this summer.         Jennifer Fivelsdal - JFIVE HOMES REALTY LLC - 845-758-6842- jennifer@jfivehomes.com www.jfivehomes.com or www.midhudsonhomevalue.com |subscribe to Blog Copyright © by Jennifer Fivelsdal, all rights reserved- 06/21/2008

Bathrooms are extremely important to buyers.  My buyers that are looking at homes for sale in Rhinebeck want the bathrooms in the homes they view to be bright, clean, updated and neutral.  It is my experience that buyers think bathroom renovations must cost a lot of money so they respond less enthusiastically to homes that need the bathrooms updated. When I suggest to sellers they update a bathroom before listing their home for sale in Rhinebeck they almost always reply "oh, that is just too expensive!" I recently recommended to a seller that they update their guest bathroom in a condo they were going to list.  I told them we could do it for less than $1,000 and that I thought it would make a big difference to buyers.  They agreed to do so if the renovation cost was kept to less than $1... 06/15/2008

Rhinebeck Real Estate As the weather gets warmer it seems there are more home sales in Rhinebeck NY. This is the trend we would like to see for the rest of the year.  Active listings ranged from $165,000. - $2,600,000. Below is the breakdown of real estate activities for your review                    TOWN OF RHINEBECK REAL ESTATE REPORT - May 2008                                              Categories Avg Listing Price DOM AVG SQFT AVG $/SQFT 48 Active $723,746 155 2685 $270 1 New $549,000 8 3133 $175 1 Offer $379,000 64 1990 $190 2 Offer still showing $874,500 237 3803 $230 1 Contract $549,900 25 2422 $227 5 Price Change $644,130 58 2910 $221 2 Extended   $1,036,950 292 2422 $227 5 Sold $766,580 201 3925 $195 Avg Sold  $727,400 AVG Sold $/SQFT $185                 VILLAGE OF RHINEBEC... 06/08/2008

Antique lovers!  Visit the Hudson Valley on Saturday May 24th and Sunday May 25th. The Dutchess County Fairgrounds is once again the site for the Rhinebeck Antiques Fair. This event will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $9 each day and will be held rain or shine. http://www.rhinebeckantiquesfair.com/ 05/11/2008

Looking for something to do tomorrow? Well, the Antique Car Show will be held  at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck. I really enjoy watching all the old cars go by. It is nice to see colors you wouldn't dare use today.  I see how proud and protective the owners of these vehicles are.   If you are not into cars you might want to check out the first dog point  event for the year in Red Hook check here for details.   Jennifer Fivelsdal - JFIVE HOMES REALTY LLC - 845-758-6842- jennifer@jfivehomes.com www.jfivehomes.com or www.midhudsonhomevalue.com |subscribe to Blog Copyright © by Jennifer Fivelsdal, all rights reserved 05/03/2008

Rhinebeck NY Real Estate for April 2008 This summer because of the high gas prices and weaker dollars many are expected to take a vacation closer to home.One favorite destination is Rhinebeck NY located just about 90 miles from New York City.  There are lots of things to do since it is located close to many local attractions. While in Rhinebeck, if you suddenly get the desire to purchase a second home don't panic, it has happened to many before.  I would be delighted to assist you with your search, and you can start your search immediately with no interferance by clicking one of the buttons below. The real estate report for Rhinebeck below covers last month's activity as well as the home sales for the first quarter of 2008                                                                 ... 05/03/2008

The Hudon Valley Green Fair On April 26th and 27th the Hudson Valley Green Fair was held at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck NY. The Dutchess County Board of Realtors had a booth at the fair and many local agents provided coverage. It was a great opportunity for real estate agents to get familar with some of the green products that impact the industry.  I spoke to many of the vendors such as: Spire Architecture a firm that specializes in green design. Decor & You - Cyndi West Decor Designer.  Agents- you might be interested in her Realtor "thank you" program. Archibald Heating and air conditioning a provider of Geothermal heating and cooling. Boyd Artesian Well Co. Geothermal Wells I next stopped by the local waste management company who had a gift for me.  A recycle bag and... 04/28/2008

Yes, it is a very good time to buy a home in Rhinebeck, NY or in one of the neighboring towns of Red Hook, Millbrook or Tivoli..  What makes it a Buyer's market in our area? 1.  Prices have not risen as dramatically as they have in the past years and have even declined somewhat; http://www.hvmag.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=B5549CFD24E64BAC93E11938AD51A18C&nm=Archives&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=509778CC36774CAB9080C48F5F3518B5 2. Inventory has remained on the market for a longer period of time and 3. Interest rates are hover at relatively low levels. What makes this opportunity right for you? The key to opening the door of your home in this buyer's market is the affordability factor and your financial disposition. As Shelly Ban... 04/14/2008

 Rhinebeck NY Real Estate During the period 3/1/08-3/31/08 there were: 37 Active Listing  Here is the breakdown:  0-99,000  - 1 100,000-199,000 - 1 200,000-299,000 - 1 300,000-399,000 - 5 400,000-499,000 - 5 500,000-599,000 - 6 600,000-699,000 - 6 700,000-799,000 - 2 900,000-999,000 - 3 1 million+ - 7   5 Accepted offers 200,000-299,000 - 3     400,000-499,000 - 1    700,000-799,000 - 1  million+ - 1 1 Contract 400,000-499,000 - 1 3 Price changes 300,000-399,000 - 1   600,000-699,000 - 1     million+ 1 2 Extended 400,000-499,000 - 3 The highest listed property was listed at $2,600,000 The lowest listed property was listed at $37,000 The average listing price was $708,915 The highest DOM was 707 days while the Average DOM was 196 days ****************************************************... 03/31/2008

Spring seems to be the time of year when you think Home - that place in the country perhaps Rhinebeck NY. I'll start looking in the real estate section and see what pops out. You see the home in the Rhinebeck vicinity Red Hook, Millbrook, and Tivoli NY that you fall in love with and make a call to find out about the home in the picture.  This might be one approach more like a romantic novel, however the ending might not be the happy ending that the princess lives happy ever after in the castle of her dreams. I would like to pose a prologue to this scenario- a focused thought process to create an opportunity for a happy ending; to some this may sound too realistic, pragmatic, down - to- earth. I strongly recommend a Buyers Checklist. http://www.dirtroadrealty.com/readytobuy/buyers.php  1... 03/31/2008

Tips for Selling your Rhinebeck NY Home So it is springtime and this is the season for listing Rhinebeck homes.  This year sellers will have to deal with the reality that this market is now a Buyer's market.  What  is a buyers market? this typically occurs when there is high inventory and it takes more than a 8 plus months to clear it.  With this in mind, to successfully sell your home this Spring there are many things you should ponder.  It is my view that fixing problems prior to listing will result in a higher return. Keep in mind that real estate is local, it is therefore important to pay attention to the local statistics to get a sense of what is happening in the marketplace. In this market you really need the assistance of a real estate agent.  And when you hire one please listen ... 03/29/2008

  According to Mid Hudson MLS there are 74 homes currently for sale in Rhinebeck, NY.  In 2007, 37 homes sold in Rhinebeck.  A quick calculation tells us there is currently 2 years worth of inventory on the market.  Mid Hudson MLS statistics also state that the median house price of homes sold in 2007 in Rhinebeck was 11.2% less than the median home that sold in 2006.  What does this mean for sellers? It means you have a lot of competition, buyers are expecting lower prices and your house for sale in Rhinebeck needs to stand out from the rest.       There are three things a seller must do to sell their home in todays market: Price it correctly Present it at its very best Give easy access  Pricing your home correctly involves several things. First, you need to have a good competitive mar... 03/19/2008

  With spring approaching we are all looking forward to getting our gardens going and to restore the general landscape after a very harsh winter and the damage done by the deer population.  This is even more important if you are considering selling your home this spring.  Thankfully, we have local garden centers such as The Phantom Gardener in Rhinebeck. Luanne Panarotti of The Phantom Gardener, Inc. told me, "The Phantom Gardener has everything you need to create and enjoy an organic home and sustainable landscape.   Our knowledgeable staff can help you choose from an unbeatable selection of herbaceous or woody plants, gifts and garden products.  In addition, we offer gardening workshops, and professional design and maintenance services.  Stop in and see what we mean when we say "Organ... 03/15/2008

With changing market conditions it is important to keep abreast of the real estate market if you are considering buying or selling a house this year.  The market also affects other industries or services in a community.So what did the Rhinebeck real estate market look like over the past four weeks?Here is a snapshot. Town of RhinebeckCategoriesAvg Listing PriceDOMAVG SQGTAVG $/SQFT39 Active729,49819926002813 New584,633432191873 Offers720,00036038441871 Price Change399,9009124001671 Sold599,0005234160144AVG Sale $580,000AvG$/SQFT  139    Rhinebeck Town HallDid you know? - In 2006 there were 73 houses in the MLS that sold in the Rhinebeck area.  In 2007 there were 37.  Based on last year's sales, at present between the village and town there is more than a year's worth of inventory.  Alth... 03/01/2008

 It is not unusual for someone relocating to the northern Dutchess area to ask where do people shop? If you Live in the Northern Dutchess area, Red Hook and Rhinebeck, you will quickly notice the absence of the popular stores and malls.  Yes, I consider the quality of life to be among the best, with great open space and a slower pace of life.  Most of us need to shop, so, if the quality of life is so great would the residents have to travel to Poughkeepsie, which is over a half and hour away, just to shop?  Thankfully, this is not the case, all you need to do is get on the Kingston Rhinecliff bridge and in a matter of minutes you will be on the other side of the Hudson in Ulster County where you can shop till you drop.I remember back in the early nineties when IBM closed some of its fac... 02/18/2008

       It is with great pleasure that I showcase small businesses in my marketplace. Since various occasions for buying gifts happen all year long I wanted to bring the Rhinebeck Gift Basket  online store to your attention.  These days we are all so busy that we don't always have time to shop. So, it's good to know that you can, from the comfort of your home,  buy a gift basket on-line - even at the last minute.  There are may types of gift baskets to select from for almost any occasion you can think of. They make great gifts for your clients.                                                          The site is operated by Deborah Wright who will also make custom baskets at your request.  These baskets could include a taste of the Hudson Valley (locally produced, and award-winning wines... 02/12/2008

Rhinebeck Town Hall, Rhinebeck, NY   Rhinebeck, Dutchess County, NY - Homes for Sale January 2008 Market Analysis   Currently (as of February 2, 2008) in the town and Village of Rhinebeck in Dutchess County there are 65 homes for sale.  36 homes for sale are located in the Town of Rhinebeck and 29 are in the village of Rhinebeck.   A video tour of Rhinebeck and the ability to search for homes in the Rhinebeck area are available to you by clicking on the links in this article. I have displayed the data I collected in table format below for easy reading.  The strict average and median prices are increased by a few high end homes in each area.  For that reason I have included the average and median prices excluding the home over $1,000,000.  I believe this better reflects the housing mark... 02/10/2008

In the Northeast winter can be severe and take a big toll on the landscape.  If selling your home this spring is one of your goals it might be a good time to pay some attention to the plants on your property.  We all know how important curb appeal is; I have taken buyers to a listing and just based on the outside they decided to forego the showing. One Item that should be addressed at this time is the trees, if we did not address them during the fall season.  Many shrubs and trees need to be pruned for various reasons. Broken Branches Height control Disease Reshaping Just to name a few. The thing to remember is that to be effective there is a timetable that has to be followed.  Pruning of most trees needs to be addressed during the dormant period. Here is a great article by Marie Iannot... 02/10/2008

Wow! If you love European architecture, specifically Dutch architecture, you must see the new project being built by Hudson Valley Development Group in Clinton, New York.  My husband and I visited the model home there on Saturday.  The community is called Brook In Waterland and the model home there is just amazing!  Eventually there will be about 23 homes in the community built in the traditional "post and beam" style with a working farm and vineyard. The devolper is working in tandem with the Winnakee Land Trust to be sure the land surrounding the community is preserved to be enjoyed by everyone who lives there.  The 23 homes will each be on about 1.5-2 acres and all the remaining lan, about 150 acres,  will used for the farm, vineyard and walking trails. Everything in the homes is don... 01/28/2008

       Rhinebeck,NY  located in Northern Dutchess County in the beautiful Mid Hudson Valley has several options for condominium living.  The Woods is a complex located on Astor Drive in the Village of Rhinebeck.  The complex has 167 units, consisting of one and two bedroom units.  There is a single level unit with two bedrooms and a two story unit with two bedrooms and an open den/office area. The one bedroom unit is a two story unit with a bedroom and an open den/office area. The Woods has an outdoor pool with lifeguard, a tennis court and a clubhouse.  There are seven ponds on the property which are home to a flock of geese that return every year.  One of the best features of The Woods is that you have the ability to walk into the Village of Rhinebeck on sidewalks that start at The Wo... 01/22/2008