AFFORDABLE for under $350,000 Some of these homes need work others do not. These homes are all through out Westchester County and Putnam County. There are 2-5 bedroom home within an hour to New York City.And others a little further away for those that like to commute. You can call 845-590-5488 for faster service. These homes are all through out Westchester County and Putnam County. AFFORDABLE for under $350,000 Some of these homes need work others do not. 01/07/2015

Update on Homes in Yorktown Heights for sale for $450,000.00 or less! There are 61 Homes under $450,000 in Yorktown Heights.These home range from $235,000.00 for a one br to a 7 br for $424,500.00. The lowest price one is $200,000.00 and the most expensive one is $450,000.00. 16 are over $400,000.00 and 45 are under $400,000.00. There are 61 Homes in Yorktown Heights for sale for $450,000.00 or less! If you are looking for a home in this price range we can help you find the home of your dreams. Update on Homes in Yorktown Heights for sale for $450,000.00 or less! 01/07/2015

Ever since our first year of marriage, there’s always been something special to my wife and me about adding fresh cut flowers to our home decorating scheme and, to this day, mostly every week when I stop off at the A&P to pick up my copy of The Examiner, I look for the special bargains in the flower section. If I hadn’t become a reporter, then a PR guy and realtor, I know I would have been perfectly happy as a florist because I love coming home, choosing one of the many vases we keep under the sink and making a new and large floral arrangement, challenging myself to have each one look very different from any I’ve made before. Then I place it in the center of our kitchen island that has an overhead light that beams down directly on it where it will be sure to catch my wife’s attention wh... 01/05/2015

Each New Year’s I gaze into my crystal ball (I really have one, but let’s be real here) to predict what will happen in terms of market conditions and trends for the year ahead and I do it quite jauntily for two reasons. For one thing, I cheat and look at the crib sheets of what various experts of the housing industry have to say; then, at the end of the year, if I’m found to be way off in my predictions, I can blame them. Also, I figure, you’ll probably forget what I say a full year from now. Even I can’t remember what I said this time last year. Actually, many times I take a different position from what the experts say anyway, mainly because they speak globally and I speak locally, especially in terms of buying and selling forecasts. The New York metropolitan region is a different anim... 01/04/2015

Christmas has always been an important holiday to my wife Margaret and me. Never did we think, that after so many years of being ensconced in the same house where year after year we decorated our tree in the same living room in the same corner with the same decorations, that we would be moving the week before Christmas. We wanted to uphold the tradition of having a tree but hadn’t even half unpacked. However, inveterate holiday revelers that we are, we committed to having a traditional Christmas Eve family celebration with a decorated tree as always no matter what. Last week, as the movers were unloading boxes from their truck, I spotted that battered six-foot-long oblong box that I’ve re-taped for years and retrieved it before it was transported to storage. So here we are with all our ... 12/27/2014

Welcome to the 300th article written by The Home Guru for The Examiner over a six-year period. Actually the Guru gestated more than a dozen years ago, first for the former North County News, as a way to promote the start-up business of a fledgling real estate agent. You may find it of interest to reminisce with me about what has transpired for all of us as homeowners during that time and for me as a realtor sharing my observations of the housing industry with you. It was the tragedy of 9/11 that prompted me to take on a second job as a realtor as an adjunct to my public relations business. As a specialist in restaurant promotion, my business had taken a hit as had fine restaurants at that time. Also, not knowing how safe travel would be after the terrorist attacks, my wife and I made a ... 11/10/2014

Around this time of year, I start to see large paper bags filled with leaves parked by the roadside and I say to myself, what a waste! I just can’t understand why anyone would part with this rich resource in the life cycle of plant life. I love fallen leaves of red, brown and gold. I love their look, their smell, and the sound, if you listen carefully, as they fall gently from their branches to the ground. If they are just left there as is, true, they can cause damage to your lawn by blocking light from reaching the grass and inhibiting the evaporation of water, particularly if you have a lot of oak trees whose leaves decompose slowly. They also encourage the growth of mold and/or fungus which isn’t very friendly to grass. If you have walnut trees, that’s another problem in that they ha... 11/02/2014

Worried Ahout paying tax when you sell your home in a short sale? There is a little know loophole that may alow you to avoid paying the tax if you sell your home in a short sale. It is the insolvency exclusion, you’ll have to prove to the satisfaction of the IRS that your liabilities exceeded the value of your assets at the time your debt was cancelled. Cancelled debt is not included in income to the extent you were insolvent. Consult your tax expect to see if you qualify for it!!! Worried Ahout paying tax when you sell your home in a short sale? 10/18/2014

Are you MARKETING YOURSELF???? Self Marketing the way to go E-mails, we all like to use them. They are fast and convenient, but they require constant monituring. Put your e-mail address on everything you do and give people and check your mailbox 4-5 times a day. You should market yourself as the expert in your area. This requires constant direct mail contact with the information take keeps your potential clients up to date on what is going on in their neighborhood. All your marketing should have a point you want to get across. Kept this in mind when sellecting something to mail or E-mail. Are you MARKETING YOURSELF???? Self Marketing the way to go 10/18/2014

Is your property with WETLANDS on it BUILDABLE? Have you ever thought of selling your land with wetlands on it and wanted to know if it was buildable? If the land is in Westchester or Putnam Counties in New York, the changes of it being buildable are very slim. Any STRUCTURE, DRIVEWAY, WELL or SEPTIC SYSTEM must maintain a minimum set back from the wet land of 100 feet and sometimes (DEC protected wet land) requires a 200 foot set back. Sometimes you can get a "Wetland Waiver Permit"  But that can add 6 months to a year to your approval process, but sometimes it is well worth the wait and extra cost. This along with steep slope laws in most towns can make even a 1-5 acre parcel un-buildable. If you want to know if it is buildable you can have me look at it and I will give you a free eva... 10/16/2014

When I received a call from a 92-year-old gentleman telling me that he had read every one of my articles since I started writing as The Home Guru, I was quite flattered. And, when he told me that he wouldn’t consider having anyone else sell the house that he had lived in since he was married, I was delighted. But when he told me it was a Sears-Roebuck house, built from a kit, I was thrilled. I couldn’t wait to see it. My enthusiasm dampened a bit when he added, “But I warn you, to reach my home you must climb exactly 50 steps up from the street.” Okay, I’m game, I thought. If this 92-year-old can cut it, certainly I can, too. When I arrived at the home in the “quarry” neighborhood in North White Plains with my real estate partner Michael Pierce, we ventured the climb to the flat plateau... 10/15/2014

1020 SUNSET STREET | YORKTOWN HEIGHTS, NY RUN…don’t walk to this Southern Yorktown home that sits on 1 acre of level land on a cul-de-sac. It’s ready for you to move right in! Commute by Metro North RR, Mt. Kisco station and nearby Taconic State Parkway. Inside this young colonial has spacious rooms, 9′ first floor ceilings, hardwood floors, custom built-ins, 2nd floor bonus room and a full walk-out basement. The kitchen boasts cherry cabinetry, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. Outside the professionally landscaped grounds are complemented by a 20×40 in-ground pool, hot tub, playset and shed. The 12×16 deck with remote awning overlooks the pool and beautiful property with perennial plantings. Nearby shopping, transportation, schools, and fine dining. Nearby Turkey Mo... 10/15/2014

There are AFFORDABLE HOMES-Homes available under $350,000.00-  Some of these homes need work others do not. These homes are all through out Westchester County and Putnam County. Address all inquiries to tsan25@aol.com Inquiries must include name, address and contact phone numbers. You can also cal 845-590-5488 for faster service. These homes are all through out Westchester County and Putnam County. There are AFFORDABLE HOMES-Homes available under $350,000.00-  Some of these homes need work others do not.   10/15/2014

There are 85 Homes in Yorktown Heights for sale for $450,000.00 or less! These home range from a 1 br for $239,000.00 to a 7 br for $424,500.00. The lowest price one is $210,000.00 and the most expensive one is $449,900.00. 29 are over $400,000.00 and 56 are under $400,000.00. There are 85 Homes in Yorktown Heights for sale for $450,000.00 or less! If you are looking for a home in this price range we can help you find the home of your dreams. There are 85 Homes in Yorktown Heights for sale for $450,000.00 or less! 10/15/2014

  Some tips for selling your vacant land in Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess County. You need to do and get the following items; 1. locate your survey, if you do not have one get one done. 2. Get a copy of your deed. This can usually be gotten from the tax assessors office in your town. 3. Be aware of and deed restrictions and easements on the property. 4. If you have Board of Health Approval you will need a copy of the permit and map. If not, vacant land sells for 10 to 25% more with it, so it might be a good idea to get it done. 5. Find the right realtor® for the job. This means one with experience selling VANT LAND not just homes. Some tips for selling your vacant land in Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess County. You need to do and get the following items; 10/14/2014

Are You Selling Your Vacant Land, Fall is the perfect time to sell!!!! When most buyers look at vacant land in the Spring and Summer they have trouble envisioning what a home would look like on the Vacant Land. This is because the leaves and bushs block their vision of the property. When there are no leaves they can see the lay of the land and can better envision the location and layout of the property. Are You Selling Your Vacant Land, Fall is the perfect time to sell!!!! 10/14/2014

Well, I think the MARKET is BACK!!! How About YOU?   Well in the past 6 weeks I have 5 Clients that had put things on hold come back to the market.   I have gotten 28 calls on my cell from new clients.   Picked up 7 new clients on the up desk.   Do you think the MARKET is BACK????   I have put 8 new listings up. And just did two more CMA’s.   I have 3 Accepted offers for Buyers.   Do you think the MARKET is BACK????   I have seen 6 listings go into bidding wars and 5 go for more than asking.   There have been a lot of new listings that have come on the market and have accepted offers in the first 30 Days.   Some gone in the first week.   Well, I think the MARKET is BACK!!! How About YOU? 10/13/2014

If you are Selling or Buying Your Vacant LandLand Easements, How do they effect your purchase or sale? When you are looking to buy a parcel of Vacant Land, you'll want to make sure where the utility (power, water, septic or sewer and telephone) easements are if any. You'll also want to make sure that the road is public or private. These easements can sometimes hinder you ability to build. Utility easements will have an area around them included in the easement so the easement can be maintained. Also a huge Power Line easement will sometimes have setbacks required by the municipality. When you buy a lot, access to the lot may not be obvious. There may be other property between you and the main road. Any utilities in the area may have to cross another property to get to your lot. You need... 10/13/2014

My friend Dave Goldberg, the plumbing and heating supplier in upper Westchester, now retired from his own business, called me last week to tell me that he had joined the board of Freedom Gardens in Mohegan Lake in upper Westchester and asked me if I might visit it. He didn’t have to tell me what it was because I knew it as a small colony of homes for the disabled that I would drive by regularly during a period that I owned a “country” home in Putnam Valley, just 11 miles away from my regular home in Yorktown Heights. And just recently, on my town’s architectural review board, I participated in the review of its development of three new homes and club house. I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to explore housing needs for the disabled which surprisingly enough is a consideratio... 09/21/2014

Would you believe that 52 percent of American companies operate as home businesses, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration? My wife and I have occupied that category almost from the day we were married and perhaps, at least on my side of the family, it was ordained. I was fascinated when as a child my mother told me that my paternal grandfather had been a soda bottler in Philadelphia, and more interestingly, that his bottled sarsaparilla was delivered to and stocked by the corner store owned by the father of the wildly popular singer at the time, Mario Lanza. When I asked where the bottling plant was located, I was astonished to learn that it was based in the basement of my grandfather’s row home, and further, that the returned bottles were hand scrubbed with round brushes ... 09/17/2014