Isn’t it a great feeling to shampoo your hair and have it be clean and shiny again? You can give your house the same treat. Funny how problems and solutions sometimes come together. I had been noticing some dark vertical stains developing on the north side of my roof, and it seemed to happen over a short period of time. What IS that, I thought? Then, I noticed some whitish spots taking hold here and there on the shingles, and finally patches of green moss sprouting out. I’m under attack, I thought. Then, driving around in my neighborhood, I found another roof with the same problem on a relatively new house, then another and another. In each case, the problem made the house look old and uncared for. Soon after, I was watching the local news on TV and one of Mark Franzoso’s commercials ca... 11/05/2013

It’s a sure sign that you are getting up there in years when suddenly you find that you’re working with the second generation of family-owned businesses that have provided home maintenance services for many years. It happened with my tree service, my plumber, and now my lawn maintenance company. Just recently I received an introductory email from a young man named Leo Martino who introduced himself as the son of Roberto Martino whose landscaping company, Martino Landscape Contractors, has been maintaining our lawn for many years, how many I don’t remember, but when I looked on line for the company’s website I found that it had been established in 1989 and, honestly, I feel that I must have been one of its first customers. Leo suggested in his email that I consider a column about how a h... 11/04/2013

Third shift uptime - Agents on 1st and 2nd shift had 6 upcalls. First 4 agents got 6 calls. I am up with another agent. It is a good thing I don't wait for the phone to ring, how many upcalls can we get in a day?Already here for an hour and no calls yet, not even someone to make an appointment!They made 16 appointment earlier today, but not a call yet.Good thing I have some other things to do, like this blog, call some past and present clients, finished my 1800 peice post card mailing and answering some emails. Oh Well Maybe the Next Call Will be a CMA!!!!! 10/29/2013

Vacant Land Sales are up this year from last year! Last year from Jan 1 2012-Oct 29 2012 only three parcels sold in my area (area 1) This year from Jan 1 2012-Oct 29 2012we have already had 8 lots sold. Of the possible 16 sides this year, I have done 8 sides! That means I have 50% of the market in area 1!     10/29/2013

My lastest Activity In 2012, Thomas Santore set the industry standard. He SOLD more proerties in 2012 than in 2011. He currently has SOLD 20 properties, with 7 still in contract and 23 additional properties listed. Tom is the best in the business. Tom is backed by the area's leading #1 office Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Yorktown Heights, closing more transactions in the last 4 1/2 years in the area than any other office.Don't settle for anything less.Call Tom today for all your real estate needs! 845-590-5488 10/22/2013

Thomas Santore Lic Associate Real Estate Broker Testimonials Jim Pugliese2013-10-05 Jim Pugliese " Tom has great people skills, listens to his clients needs and delivers what they are looking for" 10/01/2013 Jim is one of the many Mortgage Brokers I have worked with, great guy. Thanks Jim! Michele Ready2013-09-30 Michele Ready Thomas is very professional making sure all the paperwork is completed and sent in on time. He has no problem going out of his way no matter what the day or time is to show property or assist in any way that he can to make either selling or buying a home." 09/30/2013 Another satisfied client Rich Vicinanza 2013-09-30 Rich Vicinanza I have known Tom Santore for over 15 years a have done the mortgage financing for many of exceptionally pleased clients Tom Santore h... 10/19/2013

Old Profile Contents About me:   COLDWELL BANKER RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGECOLDWELL BANKER COMMERCIAL NRT"KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE WORK" Westchester and Putnam County Real Estate   Coldwell Banker Commercial NRT   Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate   Vacant Land, Resale Homes, New Construction, Foreclosures, Multi-family and Commercial.   Coldwell Banker Real Estate. I've been in Real Estate and Construction for the past 35 Years. I am in my third year with Coldwell Banker and am now a member of Coldwell Banker Commercial NRT. For the previous seven years I was with CENTURY 21. Previously, I worked at Jonelle Real Estate where I was awarded the DIAMOND AWARD from WPMLS. In 2003 and 2004 I received the CENTURION AWARD, in 2005 and 2006 the Diamond Award from Century 21. This means that I c... 10/19/2013

If your house is on sewer, you may think that this piece about septics has no application to you, but as I understand it, as many as a third of us within the reach of this newspaper are on septic. And if you’re not, you may someday fall in love with a house that is, like I did. Recently, when I started a home search for new clients, my first directive was, “Don’t show us anything that isn’t on sewer.” And yet, the couple preferred homes with privacy in more remote locations where, more often than not, there are no sewer lines. As I become more a veteran in the real estate business, I tend more to gently nudge clients if I feel it’s for their own good. So, in response to that preference, I asked, “Why not? A septic system is not something to fear.” The fact that my own 18th century house... 10/17/2013

When I was an aspiring actor doing summer stock, I appeared in the musical “Where’s Charley?” a funny farce by Frank Loesser and George Abbott set at the turn of the last century. One of the cute numbers sung by Amy, the ingénue, predicted such inventions as wireless telegraphy, horseless carriages that fly, and stereopticons that move. What a simple time and what simple dreams for a better future, I thought. At that time, in the 1960s, all I dreamed about was to someday have a color TV so that I could sit comfortably at home, watching movies in living color. I never dreamed of the kind of technology that would allow me to see from home what the rest of the world was doing, nor could I imagine that surveillance technology might allow the rest of the world to see what I was doing at home... 09/16/2013

Just recently I listed a raised ranch in Yorktown Heights that is set up perfectly as a multigenerational house, with independent living space for a separate or related family on each level.  Thinking about the prospects who might be interested in buying it, I am aware that there is a much bigger market for this kind of living arrangement today, but it also brought back many personal memories. When the Germans invaded Lithuania during World War II, my wife’s father and mother had to escape their native land because my father-in-law was wanted as a high-ranking army officer and surely would have been executed, but both of their sets of parents and most of their siblings chose to remain.  Only after 30 years when the Iron Curtain fell was my wife’s grandmother able to come to America to r... 09/10/2013

Outgassing. If you don’t know what it is, as I didn’t until recently, it might sound like one of those little slips in bodily function that all humans occasionally have, only outside. But it’s more serious than that. With its unfortunate name, outgassing, sometimes called offgassing, is the release of a gas that has been trapped or absorbed in a solid or liquid material. The process occurs all the time in nature, but for us at home it refers to the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from our new home furnishings and coverings. We don’t want to be breathing in VOCs because they include a variety of chemicals that can have short or long term adverse health effects. The problem reached national attention after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast in 2005. The Federal Emergency... 09/03/2013

Ah, the ways of nature and how we roll with them on our own properties can be challenging indeed. Recently I read an article online warning of nine plants we should never have on our properties because of their invasive nature, literally taking over the landscape. I was reminded that of the nine deadly sinners, I currently harbor three of them. In order of viciousness in bullying their way into the landscape, they are: wisteria, bamboo and trumpet vine. Wisteria was here when I arrived. Bamboo and trumpet vine I invited in, the first because I think it’s beautiful and the latter, to quickly cover an aging stockade fence. On the same day, I read about how a different kind of predator, the animal kind, specifically white-tailed deer, was removing everything from what is known as the "unde... 08/27/2013

  Do you think the MARKET is BACK????   Well in the past 3 weeks I have 9 Clients that had put things on hold come back to the market.   I have gotten 8 calls on my cell from new clients.   Picked up 5 clients on the up desk.   Do you think the MARKET is BACK????   I have put 5 new listings up. And just did three more CMA’s.   I have 3 Accepted offers for Buyers.   Do you think the MARKET is BACK????   I have seen 7 listings go into bidding wars and 5 go for more than asking.   There have been a lot of new listings that has come on the market and have accepted offers in the first 30 Days.   Some gone in the first week.   Do you think the MARKET is BACK????   04/28/2013

  It's that time of the year again! Our Annual Friends of Karen Golf Outing IS at the Salem Golf Club in North Salem, NY. This is our 7th Year. We broke our record last year and would like to do it again this year. We are looking for Sponsors, gofers and donations for the silent auction and raffles. Please see below information on how to sign up or donate. It's that time of the year again! WE HAD SOME GREAT Donations and a FEW GOLFERS SIGN UP LAST YEAR and Some GREAT ITEMS FOR THE AUCTION. LET’S DO IT AGAIN!! Below is our 2 page flier. It's that time of the year again!   04/26/2013

Do you own a large parcel of vacant land??? We need large parcels of vacant land in Westchester County!!! I have a cash buyer for Vacant Land over 40 Acres in Westchester County. It needs to be buildable for 20 or more Single Family Homesor 30 Condos. Do you own a large parcel of vacant land??? We will get all approvals to prove buildabilty at our expense. Please contact me at 845-590-5488 Thomas Santore Do you own a large parcel of vacant land???   04/19/2013

  Why do I do these crazy SHORT SALES????? I seem to do a few short sales, and tend to enjoy the negotiations with the bank. I have my Attorney negotiate any leans. But one of the ones I am doing now, is with Chase. We put in an offer 12 weeks ago. The negotiator we had on the offer told me to get the total to the bank up to a certain amount and we would be good. Well less than two days later we submitted a new HUD1 with what they told me I needed to be at, thought we had a deal!  Why do I do these crazy SHORT SALES????? A day went by and got a message through Equator.com and was told if I have another offer to send it in through Equator.com. The bank decided this updated HUD1 was a whole new offer, so we had to resubmit the whole thing again. No problem, I got this done the next day. T... 04/17/2013

Coldwell Banker Leads All Competition For Past Four Years!! The Statistics are in. We have Sold and Rented more Homes in the last four year in our area, know as area 1. When You Are Ready To Make a Move, Either to SELL, BUY or RENT Call the Office That Moves the Most!!! Coldwell Banker Leads All Competition For Past Four Years!!   Coldwell Banker Leads All Competition For Past Four Years!! 04/06/2013

  Marketing Tips #19, Westchester County Real Estate   63. Are you getting all you can out of your Outgoing Referrals? You should be telling anyone you know that you are in Real Estate. Never assume they know what you do. You will be surprised who is moving to a different area.   64. How do you treat incoming Referrals? A lot of agents do not give it their all when they know they have to give up some commission. What they don't realize is that it is business that they would not have had at all, and it is extra money in their pocket if they make it work.   65. Make your referral fees worth the other agent participating. If not then they will not won't to send you the extra business.   Marketing Tips #19, Westchester County Real Estate   Marketing Tips #18, Westchester County Real Estate!... 04/02/2013

  UPDATE ON AFFORDABLE HOMES IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY Inventory has decreased to 275 to 270. This is not a very big decrease but considering this is the beginning of the spring market and we normally see an increase this is very significant! So now if you need a 3 BR home under $350,000.00 in Westchester County you better act now. As more homes are going into contract the inventory will be getting smaller as more homes are getting accepted offers than are coming on the market! Come Now to Putnam County.We have 270 3 BR homes available under $350,000.00 in Putnam County BUTNOTFORLONG!!!! These homes are all throughout Westchester County. If you are looking in Westchester County and need a 3 BR Home you are in LUCK. We have as of right now only 270 3 Bedroom Homes that can be show immediatel... 04/02/2013

  Update onCelebrating Easter???   Well the buyer showed up early!   They have a handicapped child. The home we looked at was in great condition. BUT!!This home won't work because there is no way to make it handicap accessible. We hit it off pretty good and he had another home he would like to see in another town.   I will call him in the morning and make arrangements to see that one and maybe 3 or 4 other ones I just found.   I think they will be great buyers; they are in contract on the home they own now. This will be a great buyer, approved and ready to go.   For those of you that wished me luck, THANK YOUIT WORKED OUTGREAT!!!!   Update onCelebrating Easter???   03/31/2013