Hudson Valley Happenings Blog : July 2008

One Great Reason To Buy A House Before July 1, 2009!

First Time Homebuyers can be helped by the newly signed Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008
in the form of a tax credit of  $7500.  

This credit is available to first time homebuyers (this includes anyone who has not owned a principle residence for the past 3 years) and who's modified adjusted gross income falls below certain limits ($75000 for an individual or $150000 for a couple.)  The tax credit will be a direct deduction of the amount of tax you owe for the year it is claimed.  You should contact an accountant for exact interpretation of this law.  What a great help this would be in that first year of adjusting to owning a home.  

It is my understanding that the tax credit will need to be paid back so it is not a grant but more of an interest free loan.  You will begin repaying the credit two years after you take it.  Your $500 per year payments will be due with your income tax return and will continue until you sell the house or pay off the credit.  If you sell before the full amount is paid off you will owe the rest of the credit back if you sell at a profit.  If you do not make any money on the sale the remainder of this credit will be forgiven.

You must purchase a home before July 1, 2009 so you really should get moving.  This is a great reason to consider going ahead with the purchase of that new home!  I know a lot of you have been hesitating with the uncertainty of the market but I would not want you to miss out on this opportunity.  Inventory of available homes are up, interest rates are still low, and it is a buyer's market.  

For more information on what this can mean to you please contact me.  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.
I'm Paddy Pizappi - Work the Me and You'll be Happy!
845-800-7086
I'm Paddy Pizappi - Work with Me and You'll be Happy!

House Search

 

Click Here To Search For Properties In The Greater Hudson Valley

Paddy Pizappi, Associate Broker for Buyer Representation
 RJ Smith Realty - A Real Estate Solutions Company
Serving the Greater Hudson Valley of New York
from Pine Bush, NY at the corner of Orange, Ulster, and Sullivan Counties
Call or Text to 845-800-7086

Get Started With Your Own Rainmaker Blog Today Click Here To Ask Me How

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11 comments • Paddy Pizappi PineBush & Hudson Valley NY Real Estate • July 30 2008 02:44PM

Looking for a Home with a Buyer's Agent - It's All About You!!!

In my Multiple Listing Service any agent can set up an automatic feed of new listings and price reductions to be sent to their prospective buyer customers and clients.  Some real estate agents take advantage of this service and "set it and forget it" as it were.  They wonder why they get so few calls back from the buyers.  They ask why I am able to retain more buyer leads then they are.

The secret is I don't use the automatic feature.  I look at each listing that comes up in my buyer's search criteria and determine if it is right for them.  I only send those things that will really meet their needs. I try to send personalized messages with the listings I do forward on to the buyers like... "This one has a great view" or "I know you were looking for more closets".  This sets me apart from the other agents they may have spoken with who are bombarding them with listings that just won't work for them even though they match their criteria.  The agents are not taking the time to really focus on the individual needs of that buyer.  Acting as a buyer's agent is all about personalized service.  It starts at the very beginning and follows through to the end of the transaction.  

If you are looking for a new home or investment property and are not working with a buyer's agent you should reconsider adding this valuable player to your team. 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.
I'm Paddy Pizappi - Work the Me and You'll be Happy!
845-800-7086
I'm Paddy Pizappi - Work with Me and You'll be Happy!

House Search

 

Click Here To Search For Properties In The Greater Hudson Valley

Paddy Pizappi, Associate Broker for Buyer Representation
 RJ Smith Realty - A Real Estate Solutions Company
Serving the Greater Hudson Valley of New York
from Pine Bush, NY at the corner of Orange, Ulster, and Sullivan Counties
Call or Text to 845-800-7086

Get Started With Your Own Rainmaker Blog Today Click Here To Ask Me How

Subscribe to Hudson Valley Happenings With Paddy Pizappi via RSS feed 

20 comments • Paddy Pizappi PineBush & Hudson Valley NY Real Estate • July 30 2008 06:25AM

New York You Are Invited To Travel Back In Time- Aug 2nd and 3rd

There has been a lot of interest from my readers about the Civil War Re-enacting my family does.  I would love to invite those of you in the Greater Hudson Valley of New York to a re-enactment to see an event for yourselves.  
Our unit the 56th NY State Volunteer Infantry is co-sponsoring a weekend event at
Walnut Mountain Park in Liberty NY
on August 2nd and 3rd.    
The event will be open for spectators on Saturday and Sunday at 10 AM.  
There will be a special candlelight tour on Saturday night.  

You will be able to view Union and Confederate encampments, see a mock battle complete with artillery, shop at the sutlers, and learn about life during this volatile time in United States history.  
The unit that my family re-enacts with is a family unit.  This means that we modify history a bit by allowing families to camp with the troops.  While some families may have followed the troops; they would not have been able to stay on the same street (camp row) as the troops. However we can show you what might have been going on with the wives and children left behind by the war.
For more information on what re-enacting with the 56th is all about click here

I hope to see some of my readers up there this weekend.  The 56th will be camped past the sutler area, up the shale road into the woods.  Our unit will be behind the command on the left. Have a great weekend whatever you do and hope it does not rain!!!  
I'm Paddy Pizappi - Work with Me and You'll be Happy!

House Search

 

Click Here To Search For Properties In The Greater Hudson Valley

Paddy Pizappi, Associate Broker for Buyer Representation
 RJ Smith Realty - A Real Estate Solutions Company
Serving the Greater Hudson Valley of New York
from Pine Bush, NY at the corner of Orange, Ulster, and Sullivan Counties
Call or Text to 845-800-7086

Get Started With Your Own Rainmaker Blog Today Click Here To Ask Me How

Subscribe to Hudson Valley Happenings With Paddy Pizappi via RSS feed 

12 comments • Paddy Pizappi PineBush & Hudson Valley NY Real Estate • July 29 2008 05:17PM

A Great Resource For Middletown NY - Middletown's Thrall Library

One of the gems I often visit in the City of Middletown New York is the Middletown Thrall Library.  The library, is housed in a former train station which was built in 1896 and served passengers through 1983, has an extensive collection of books, periodicals, audio and video collections, a reading room, a computer center with many available stations, a children's library with many programs for chilren, and a performance/meeting room where they screen movies and have performances that are open to the public.  I was inspired to feature this wonderful resource by Jennifer Fivelsvel's blog Come Visit The Expanded Starr Library - Rhinebeck NY The library is available to use by the public and is a part of the Ramapo Catskill Library System which allows library patrons from many Orange, Ulster, and Sullivan County Libraries to check out books and other materials. 

Front of Thrall Library Middletown NY

  This is a view of the library from the municiple parking lot located off of North Street.

Thrall Library Station Sign

Here is the sign that explains the buildings unique style and former use.
I am seeing a lot of interest in the city of Middletown as a great location to buy a home.  If you are looking for a place with the vibrancy and excitement of  a city at a great price, look to Middletown, NY.  You will be glad you did.

There are options here in the Greater Hudson Valley of NY to meet everyone's needs.  We have urban, suburban, village and rural locations that can provide you with the perfect blend of country for you.  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.
I'm Paddy Pizappi - Work the Me and You'll be Happy!
845-800-7086
I'm Paddy Pizappi - Work with Me and You'll be Happy!

House Search

 

Click Here To Search For Properties In The Greater Hudson Valley

Paddy Pizappi, Associate Broker for Buyer Representation
 RJ Smith Realty - A Real Estate Solutions Company
Serving the Greater Hudson Valley of New York
from Pine Bush, NY at the corner of Orange, Ulster, and Sullivan Counties
Call or Text to 845-800-7086

Get Started With Your Own Rainmaker Blog Today Click Here To Ask Me How

Subscribe to Hudson Valley Happenings With Paddy Pizappi via RSS feed 

17 comments • Paddy Pizappi PineBush & Hudson Valley NY Real Estate • July 28 2008 06:51AM

Take a Break from the Beach and Tour Atalaya with Me!

As those of you who follow this blog may know, we also went out to the beach at Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet, SC one day on our vacation this summer.  As you enter the park you will drive over a causeway that divides a salt water march from a fresh water lagoon.  Look to your right to see some of the alligators that are present in the fresh water area only.  We go to the beach that you will reach if you bare right and park by the campground offices and beach showers.  The beach here is great but there are no lifeguards on duty so it is swim at your own risk.

See my blog Was That You? A Vacation Encounter With a Real Estate Twist for one of the experiences of this day.  As mentioned in that blog we toured Atalaya, which was built by Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington in the 1930s.  They bought four former rice plantations and built a winter home and sculpture garden. The sculptures and gardens can be toured at Brookgreen Gardens which is a separate property from the state park.  We did not tour Brookgreen yet but it is on our future trip plans.  

Now for your tour of Atalaya with me.

the roadway

This is the long roadway that leads from the house to the sculpture garden.  The gardens themselves are on the opposite side of Hwy 17 today.

The Tower

Atalaya means the tower and the house is named for this tower which was the first thing the Huntingtons built.  The entire structure is brick and mortar built in the style of  a Moorish Castle.  The tower actually housed a fresh water system which was very innovative for the time.  The bricks were placed in an open pattern to encourage bats to roost there because Huntington had noticed that bats helped to keep mosquitoes away.

Courtyard

This is a view of the left side of the courtyard.  The house surrounds the tower in the courtyard.

Stairs to roof

These steps allowed the Huntingtons to stand on top of the roof and view the ocean from the house.  

View from inside LR

This is a view of the courtyard from the inside of the living room.  The interior of the house is empty today.  It faced much abuse over the years before the state leased the property from Brookhaven Gardens.  They have cleaned it up and it is truly amazing.  

I hope you will take some time to visit this National Landmark location if you every get to the Myrtle Beach area.  You can go through the house on your own.  Children love to go through the empty hallways and make noises that echo as they bounce form wall to wall.  The tour schedule is available at the website for Huntington Beach State Park.  
I'm Paddy Pizappi - Work with Me and You'll be Happy!

House Search

 

Click Here To Search For Properties In The Greater Hudson Valley

Paddy Pizappi, Associate Broker for Buyer Representation
 RJ Smith Realty - A Real Estate Solutions Company
Serving the Greater Hudson Valley of New York
from Pine Bush, NY at the corner of Orange, Ulster, and Sullivan Counties
Call or Text to 845-800-7086

Get Started With Your Own Rainmaker Blog Today Click Here To Ask Me How

Subscribe to Hudson Valley Happenings With Paddy Pizappi via RSS feed 

16 comments • Paddy Pizappi PineBush & Hudson Valley NY Real Estate • July 28 2008 06:10AM

A Tour Of Fort Sumter, Charleston SC With the Pizappi Family

One of our trips during our South Carolina vacation this summer was to visit Fort Sumter,
the site of the first shots fired in the Civil War.  

Sumter Sign


We were excited to finally get there as we had been attempting to make this trip many times and literally missed the boat the last time we were there. The tour boats only leave 3 times a day from two locations and we got there just as the last tour had left the last time we wanted to go.  Needless to say, I did my research this time and we headed out to Charleston early in the day to catch the first tour at 9:30.  No simple task with 4 teenagers to get up and moving but we did it!

Charleston Shoreline
It was a fun and interesting half hour ride out to the fort from the dock near the South Carolina Aquarium.

Charleston Bridge

The boat passed by many picturesque landmarks and the story of the construction and history of the fort was told.
    
Family at the fort

Here is the whole family plus one (our son's girlfriend) at the fort. 
 
Officer's Quarters

A view of the excavated framework of the officer's quarters which were the focus of the bombardment as the powder magazines were on either side.

Cannon set in position

One of the connons set in defensive position.

Kids by cannon

My children at the fort.

This was a great tour for any family or individual interested in the history of the Civil War.  There is a museum at the fort where you can view the original flag that flew over Sumter during the first attack on the Union by the Confederates and many other items of interest.  If you go in the summer I would suggest going early in the morning as it got really hot by the time we returned to Charleston at 11:30 or so.  Thanks for taking a short tour with the Pizappi Family.
I'm Paddy Pizappi - Work with Me and You'll be Happy!

House Search

 

Click Here To Search For Properties In The Greater Hudson Valley

Paddy Pizappi, Associate Broker for Buyer Representation
 RJ Smith Realty - A Real Estate Solutions Company
Serving the Greater Hudson Valley of New York
from Pine Bush, NY at the corner of Orange, Ulster, and Sullivan Counties
Call or Text to 845-800-7086

Get Started With Your Own Rainmaker Blog Today Click Here To Ask Me How

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10 comments • Paddy Pizappi PineBush & Hudson Valley NY Real Estate • July 27 2008 03:33PM

A Visit To Charleston SC With The Pizappi Family

I love Charleston SC.  It is one of the most beautiful cities in the country in my opinion.
We usually try to make a trip to Charleston at least once during our South Carolina vacation breaks. 
We often visit the City Market which has been operating  since the late 1700's.  


Entrance to Market
Market Hall was built in 1841 and now houses a Confederate Museum.  The market itself is set up with covered booths that sell candy and treats, clothing and jewelery, handbags, and those famous low country baskets that you can see being woven right there.




On this trip we ate lunch at the Southend Brewery and Smokehouse located on East Bay St.

Girls at Lunch

All the tables have white paper and crayons are available.  We had fun with them!

View from 3rd Floor

Here's the view from the third floor of the Southend Brewery.

Fasmily on Battery

We took the trolley bus down to the Battery which has so many beautiful houses.

 Gate and front doorGate and Garden

The iron work in Charleston is beautiful as are the gardens.

Horse Tour

Many tourists take tours in carriages.  We have not done that yet but maybe someday.
All in all it was a great day in Charleston.  I hope you enjoyed this brief tour with the Pizappis.
 
I'm Paddy Pizappi - Work with Me and You'll be Happy!

House Search

 

Click Here To Search For Properties In The Greater Hudson Valley

Paddy Pizappi, Associate Broker for Buyer Representation
 RJ Smith Realty - A Real Estate Solutions Company
Serving the Greater Hudson Valley of New York
from Pine Bush, NY at the corner of Orange, Ulster, and Sullivan Counties
Call or Text to 845-800-7086

Get Started With Your Own Rainmaker Blog Today Click Here To Ask Me How

Subscribe to Hudson Valley Happenings With Paddy Pizappi via RSS feed 

23 comments • Paddy Pizappi PineBush & Hudson Valley NY Real Estate • July 27 2008 03:15PM

To Do Orange County NY Sunday July 27

Sunday July 27 in Orange County NY

Special Events

Last Day to Visit the Orange County Fair 2008
This is the last weekend to visit the Orange County Fair Middletown, NY Opens at 1:00 PM.  They are offering a pay one price option for admission and rides this year and a coupon is available at the above linked website.  Lot's to do with animals, shows, rides, and games.
Call 845-343-4826 or click on link above for more information
Hear the The West Point Concert Band Play Music by John Williams 
Come early for the pre-concert warm up program featuring Middletown's Jenna Espisito in Family Excursion's.  Free concert as part of the "Music Under the Stars" program at the United States Military Academy Trophy Point Amphitheater,West Point, NY 7:30 PM
Click on link above for further information

Sunday Farmer's Markets

Warwick Valley Farmer's Market
Sunday 9:00 - 2:00 Located in the South Street Parking lot, Warwick, NY

West Point/Town of Highlands Farmer's Market
Sunday 9:00 - 2:30 Located in the Municipal lot, Main St., near Visitor's Center, Highland, NY

There are literally thousands of things to do on this last Sunday in June in Orange County New York.  
Get up and head out for some fun.  

The greater Hudson Valley is a great place to live or have a second home.  If you would like a link to a Greater Hudson Valley almanac that is packed with information to help you decide if this is the place for you, give me a call or send me an email.  

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.

I'm Paddy Pizappi - Work the Me and You'll be Happy!
845-800-7086

I'm Paddy Pizappi - Work with Me and You'll be Happy!

House Search

 

Click Here To Search For Properties In The Greater Hudson Valley

Paddy Pizappi, Associate Broker for Buyer Representation
 RJ Smith Realty - A Real Estate Solutions Company
Serving the Greater Hudson Valley of New York
from Pine Bush, NY at the corner of Orange, Ulster, and Sullivan Counties
Call or Text to 845-800-7086

Get Started With Your Own Rainmaker Blog Today Click Here To Ask Me How

Subscribe to Hudson Valley Happenings With Paddy Pizappi via RSS feed 

3 comments • Paddy Pizappi PineBush & Hudson Valley NY Real Estate • July 27 2008 07:04AM

To Do In Orange County NY - Saturday July 26, 2008

Saturday July 26, 2008 in Orange County NY

Special Events

Last Chance to Visit the Orange County Fair 2008
This is the last weekend to visit the Orange County Fair Middletown, NY Opens at 1:00 PM.  They are offering a pay one price option for admission and rides this year and a coupon is available at the above linked website.  Lot's to do with animals, shows, rides, and games.
Call 845-343-4826 or click on link above for more infomation

A Chance to View and Make Sculptures for Children
Come to Storm King Art Center , Mountainville, NY from 2:00 - 4:00 PM for your children to be lead by Browning Kay in observing the massive sculptures and then creating temporary scultures of their own to place on the lawns of this outdoor museum.
Call 845-534-3115 or click on link above for more infomation
 
 Music in the Grove - Walden NY   
Come listen to some music at Wooster's Grove on East Main Street Walden NY.  Starts at 6:30 PM
Call 845-778-2617 for more information
Saturday Farmer's Markets
Take advantage of the wonderful variety of produce available at many markets located throughout the county.

Middletown Farmer's Market
Saturdays 8:00 - 1:00 Located in on Erie Way from Grove and Cottage Streets, Middletown NY

PINE BUSH FARMER'S MARKET
Saturdays from 9:00 - 2:00 Located in the Municipal parking lot on the corner of Depot & New Streets, Pine Bush NY

TriState Farmer's Market Newburgh NY
Saturday 8:00 - 2:00 Located in the parking lot between Ball & Front Streets, Newburgh, NY
 
Tuxedo Farmer's Market
Saturday 9:00 - 2:00 Located at the Tuxedo Train Station 240 Rt 17N Tuxedo, NY
There are literally thousands of things to do on this last weekend of July in Orange County New York.  
Get up and head out for some fun.  

The greater Hudson Valley is a great place to live or have a second home.  If you would like a link to a Greater Hudson Valley almanac that is packed with information to help you decide if this is the place for you, give me a call or send me an email.  

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.

I'm Paddy Pizappi - Work the Me and You'll be Happy!
845-800-7086



I'm Paddy Pizappi - Work with Me and You'll be Happy!

House Search

 

Click Here To Search For Properties In The Greater Hudson Valley

Paddy Pizappi, Associate Broker for Buyer Representation
 RJ Smith Realty - A Real Estate Solutions Company
Serving the Greater Hudson Valley of New York
from Pine Bush, NY at the corner of Orange, Ulster, and Sullivan Counties
Call or Text to 845-800-7086

Get Started With Your Own Rainmaker Blog Today Click Here To Ask Me How

Subscribe to Hudson Valley Happenings With Paddy Pizappi via RSS feed 

7 comments • Paddy Pizappi PineBush & Hudson Valley NY Real Estate • July 26 2008 06:07AM

Was That You? A Vacation Encounter With a Real Estate Twist

Have you ever seen someone in a totally different place then you expect to see them?  When we were on vacation last week we went to Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet, SC for a day at the beach.  I promise vacation photos are on the way but I had to share this strange story with you today because of a phone call I received yesterday.

While we were eating lunch at the picnic tables behind the dunes my son's girlfriend looked at the family gathered at the next table and said "I think that girl went to school with us."  I thought- well you know a lot of people look like other people and said as much but she kept saying that she was almost sure.  Then I saw one of the men at the table had a Pine Bush T-shirt on. OMG- it was a family from our home area!  I told the kids to go say hi but they said they really did not remember the girl's name and would have been embarrassed to say something without knowing that much (this will seem strange to you who don't know that the class they graduated with was almost 600 kids large).  Anyway later we were getting ready to take a tour of the Spanish-style castle Atalaya, former winter home and studio of noted American sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington (AWESOME) and the family passed by us to hear we were from Pine Bush and gave a shout out.  After that the kids finally remembered the girl's name but the family was gone by the time we were done with the tour.

Fast forward to yesterday when I got a call to set up an appraisal appointment for a property I am acting as buyer's agent for in a sale.  The appraiser said his name and you guessed it - the same last name as the girl on the beach.  I said "Were you in  South Carolina last week?"  He said "Was that you?" and we were both stunned.  Not only did we see another family from our home in a different and distant location, eat lunch right next to them, and tour the same house but we now will be working on the same deal.  

It is truly a small world and you never know who you will meet.  I am just glad I wasn't being wild and crazy when I saw him down there.  It could have been embarrassing!  

I'm Paddy Pizappi - Work with Me and You'll be Happy!

House Search

 

Click Here To Search For Properties In The Greater Hudson Valley

Paddy Pizappi, Associate Broker for Buyer Representation
 RJ Smith Realty - A Real Estate Solutions Company
Serving the Greater Hudson Valley of New York
from Pine Bush, NY at the corner of Orange, Ulster, and Sullivan Counties
Call or Text to 845-800-7086

Get Started With Your Own Rainmaker Blog Today Click Here To Ask Me How

Subscribe to Hudson Valley Happenings With Paddy Pizappi via RSS feed 

27 comments • Paddy Pizappi PineBush & Hudson Valley NY Real Estate • July 25 2008 05:59AM