Hudson Valley Happenings Blog

I am hearing that interest rates are falling to the neighborhood of 4.5% for a 30 fixed rate.  What????

If you have been waiting for a better time to buy, hello it's here!  

Inventory is up.... so many people selling house and not enough buyers willing to take the plunge means that you will have a lot to choose from.  

Seller's have become realistic in pricing their properties and they are somewhat more flexible than they were in the past.... that does not mean they are giving things away but most of them will listen to offers with an open ear.  

And Interest rates like these.... it is unbelievable.  

So if you have been waiting to jump into the home ownership pool well.... Come on in.  I am waiting here to help you so give me a call today. 

The curtain is set to go up on the first production by the Pine Bush Performing Arts Academy, HONK!  I got to get a sneak peek at the dress rehearsal yesterday and you just don't want to miss this one.  It is filled with fun for children and adults alike.  Check out some of the scenes from this enjoyable musical celebration of acceptance,  The message clear that it takes all types of people (and animals) to make up this world and if everyone was the same what a boring place it would be!

Performances are today Thursday July 29 at 11:00 AM and 7:00 PM and again tomorrow morning, Friday July 30 at 11:00 AM at the Circleville Middle School Auditorium, 1951 Route 302, Circleville, NY.  Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students/seniors.  All proceeds will be used to continue this wonderful program next summer!  Come on out and see what these kids and their teachers have done!

The Greater Hudson Valley is a great place to live or to have a weekend place.  If you would like to start a search for a permanent residence or vacation home in the area I would love to help you.  Working with an experienced buyer's agent can help you to choose what is best for you.  I work in Orange, Ulster, or Sullivan County NY and I would love to be your Buyer's Agent. If you are looking elsewhere I would love to find someone in your chosen location to help you.  Give me a call  or send an email today.

In the craziness that was the market a few short years ago you did not have to really work towards the goal of owning a house.  Heck if you were breathing and could sign your name you could practically buy a house without a penny down and the banks would cover the closing costs in you mortgage.  Today not so much, right?  BUT I have been seeing a resurrection of home buyers who are working and saving for their dreams.  My latest offer came from a couple who I started talking to over a year ago.  They looked at a house with me back then and we talked about what they could afford. They had some work to do in order to afford a house they could be proud to own.

Well they called last week and we put in an offer on a lovely house this week.  It is much more house than they could have afforded before not only because they have saved a significant amount towards the down payment but because the prices and interest rates are very much in their favor right now.  I know that these are buyers who are going to have the pride in ownership that will translate into a great home for their young family.  

So if you are thinking that you have missed out on your chance to own a home because you can never come up with a down payment or have terrible credit or whatever you need to set a goal and start the journey.  If you truly want this you can find a way.  Give me a call wherever you live to discuss the steps you need to make in order to buy that first home.  I will be glad to help you out with a plan and a referral to a great Real Estate Professional in your area who will help you realize your dream.

This Summer has brought several new Summer Enrichment Academies to the Pine Bush Central School District high school students.  Yes in the times of budget cuts and less less less in most school districts, Pine Bush has increased the options for high school students to five program choices including the original Law and Leadership Academy, the Science Academy, the Literacy and Education Academy, the Aviation Academy, and the Performing Arts Academy.  All the Academies have been in session since the beginning of July and I am hearing great things about them.

The Performing Arts Academy is busy with rehearsals for this Summer's show "HONK!".  It is the story of the adventure of the ugly duckling and friends and is sure to be a hit with children and adults alike. Next week will be performances of this musical production so mark your calendars now for one of the 3 performances.  Opens on Thursday July 29th for two shows at 11:00 AM and 7:00 PM and one final chance to catch it before it's gone on Friday July 30th at 11:00 AM.  

HONK!

Thursday July 29th 11:00 AM and 7:00 PM
Friday July 30th 11:00 AM
Circleville Middle School Auditorium

Tickets
Adults $10
Students/Senior Citizens $8
Summer Camp Group Rates Available

Call 845-744-2031 X 5600 for information.

So take a break next week and see the great things our kids are doing here in Pine Bush!  I know you will love it!  

We all have DREAMS!  We want so many things.  There is that perfect dream house in your future but what about NOW?  You might be bemoaning the fact that you can't afford to have it all.  You might have turned away from looking for a house when the $8000 tax credit opportunity passed you by.  You might be waiting for things to turn around but the truth is waiting never got anyone anywhere.  You need to act!

So you dream of your castle with all the bells and whistles but you can build towards that home by finding a place that you can afford now with the things you NEED now.  Do you really need 4 bedrooms right now?  Most of the young couples I work with don't need that much space.  Does the desire to be off in your own world have you stuck in an apartment because you don't want to buy a townhouse that you can afford and be stuck with neighbors close by? Well I have news for you while you stay in your apartment someone else bought the townhouse and is building equity instead of collecting rent receipts. You are both sharing walls with someone else but they are taking steps towards the dream house and you are still dreaming.  There are so many options for you today.  Don't sit around dreaming of someday.... seize the opportunity now!

And what about missing that tax credit?  Right now interest rates are so low it is unbelievable.  Your dollars will go a lot further today than they would have gone even a few short months ago when you could have qualified for that credit.  Don't sit there waiting for the next hand out.... get out there and give yourself a hand up to that future dream home.

Find a place that meets your needs today and make the commitment to tomorrow that buying it represents.  I will help you find that perfect "for now" home and will keep your dream in mind for the future.

Hello Pine Bush, NY!  I know it's only July but I wanted to remind you that our annual Harvest Festival is in the planning stages and you can reserve a spot for your business or organization now!  This year's Pine Bush Harvest Festival will be held on Saturday Sept 18th from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM (raindate Sept. 19th) If you have never been to this Pine Bush party on Main Street before let me tell you it is a lot of fun.  Main Street is shut down to traffic for a couple blocks and becomes a pedestrian walkway.  There are several stages set up where local performers and students from the schools and various after local programs for dance and cheerleading show their stuff!  Lots of food, chances to play games, and a wide variety of booths selling everything from art to clothing and beyond.

 Pine Bush is a great community to consider if you are looking for a new place to live.  I would be more than happy to discuss your wants and needs and help you decide if it is a place you could call home.  Working with an experienced buyer's agent can help you to choose what is best for you.  If you are looking for a home in Orange, Ulster, or Sullivan County NY I would love to be your Buyer's Agent.  If you are looking elsewhere I would love to find someone in your chosen location to help you.  Give me a call or send an email today.

If you liked the historic postcards above and would like to see more send me an email and I will provide you with a link to view historic postcards from several local towns and villages.  I also have a link to obtain historical maps from locations in the Greater Hudson Valley and beyond.  

A nationwide wedding This is awesome!

Join the Navy and See the World!  No really, I remember this as one of the all time classics in tag line advertisements. Short, sweet and it says what it's target audience wants to hear. Well joining Mary Kay can help you to expand and enrich your world and no one will be shooting at you.  

I know that many women today are sitting there wondering how they are going to get through another day.  They may have bills to pay with no way to pay them.  They may be facing a world through the clouded lens of abuse or low self esteem.  They may have children who they have hopes and dreams for but don't have it in them to provide the encouragement and example for their kids to follow.  They may not have such problems but are just be bored with the same old same old. 

Those of us in real estate are facing very tough times as the market adjusts and finds its footing.  Perhaps you are thinking that you just can't keep selling real estate because you just are not making the money you need to make.  Well here is an opportunity to work with some great people on a great Team and still get to keep working your real estate career!  I am finding this side business to be just the ticket to re-energizing my main career in Real Estate.  There are so many tie-in possibilities too.  Closing gifts, getting to know your new neighborhood skin care parties, helping new homeowners find extra income they need to make ends meet, and the list goes on and on.

There are just as many reasons to join Mary Kay as there are excuses not to.  But if you truly want to change your circumstances, if you really need to build self confidence or your bank account, if you need to have contact with exciting friends who are working towards better futures for themselves then you should give me a call! You can join my Team no matter where you live and you can keep doing the real estate job you love while making the money you need.

Well here in Pine Bush New York we have a wonderful organization called Focus on Youth Initiative that is a collaboration between a wide variety of community members to help youth with asset building.  I have been a member of this great organization for several years and the quarterly meetings are a great place to learn all the wonderful things that kids in Pine Bush are doing these days. Now you can visit our brand new website to find out the who, what, and where of this organization and learn what is available to help our youth thrive in today's world.

This website was developed by a team of high school students,  Mitchell Moliterni, Austin Angelo, and Marcus Camacho assisted by Dave Smith of Real Estate Solutions and FYI member.  Check it out to see what a great job they did!

    Community support for building healthy lifestyles with our youth, through asset building principles and by enhancing relationships among kids, parents, schools, government, law enforcement, clergy, business and other youth based organizations to develop common goals towards the positive development of our youth.

So the next time you are wondering what is up with kids these days you can go check out the FYI website or join us at a quarterly meeting and see the great things the youth of Pine Bush Central School District are up to.  Our community is making strides to develop a great tomorrow for our young people.