Hudson Valley Happenings Blog : October 2009

Did you know that there are things that may come with the house you are buying that could add to the bottom line at the closing table?  Depending on what type of heating fuel you use there could be a charge for the remaining fuel being left behind by the seller.  Many people who move into more rural areas from cities where they are used to natural gas being piped in as needed may not be prepared for what can be  a $1000 + charge for heating fuels at the closing table. Understand that you would have to pay for fuel sometime but if you are unprepared it can come as a shock.  Somewhere along the line it was most likely mentioned that the fuel cost would be paid at closing but the full understanding of what that means may not have hit home. The last thing you need is for $1000 to keep you from being able to close on your house.  Make sure you understand the closing costs as explained to you and ask questions if you don't understand.  

As a home buyers it is important to understand what is involved in buying the house you are interested in.  Having a Buyer's Representative who will make sure you understand the home buying process in the location you are planning to live is important.   A Buyer's Representative will be there with you through search, offer, negotiations, inspections, and closing.  If you are working with a Listing Agent you will be missing out on personal representation and you may not fully understand what is what.

If you are looking to buy in Orange, Ulster, or Sullivan Counties of the Greater Hudson Valley and Catskill Regions of New York I would love to be your Buyer's Agent. If you live anywhere else in the world I can find you a great agent to help you where you want to live.  

Attention Greater Hudson Valley Of NY Area Bride's To Be.....

While you are there please stop and visit my booth where I will be promoting using your wedding to help provide the down payment for your first home.  Did you know you could ask your guests for cash presents and put them in a dedicated account to be used as a down payment and or closing costs?  This year there are so many great incentives to buy your first home.  Interest rates are low, inventory is high, and there are several grant programs that you may qualify for.  There are also some saving club programs that can get you as much as $7500 in $4 to $1 matching funds for your savings.  

Hey you have to live somewhere so you might as well be putting your money into your own home if you can.  Stop and visit or give me a call for more information on how to use your wedding gifts to help buy your first home.

If you are looking to buy in the Greater Hudson Valley of New York I would love to be your Buyer's Agent.  If you live anywhere else in the world I can find you a great agent to help you where you want to live.  Good luck to you as you plan your wedding and your future life together.

Last Day for Oktoberfest at Bear Mountain State Park.  Food, music, dancing, and more.  12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Come to The Forest of Fear at Sterling Forest, 600 Rt 17A, Tuxedo, NY and be scared out of your socks.  There is a 26 Room Slaughter House, Vintage Carnival Rides, and all sorts of surprises.  Open  Dusk - 10:00 PM

Middletown NY - Farmer's Market is on Erie Way between Cottage and Grove Streets From 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Pine Bush NY - Farmer's Market just off Main Street Pine Bush NY From 9:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Port Jervis NY - Farmer's Market in the Front Street Municipal Lot From 8:00 Am - 2:00 PM

Tuxedo NY - Farmer's Market at 240 Route 17 From 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Sugar Loaf NY - Farmer's market at Romer's Alley across from the Barnsider on King's Highway.  Starts at 11:00 AM

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.

Orange County New York Homeowners who find themselves struggling to pay mortgage payments or in danger of foreclosure have a wonderful resource available to them through the Orange County Rural Development Advisory Corporation (RDAC) which has recently moved offices to Pine Bush New York.  At this week's office meeting we heard a presentation from Faith Piatt, a Housing and Financial Services Coordinator for the organization.  I just loved the quote on her business card:

"Orange County Rural Development Advisory Corporation (RDAC) works to build a more stable living environment for Orange County, NY residents. through a variety of housing development programs and counseling services we assist and empower homeowners and renters alike." From the OCRDAC website

There are several programs available for homeowners through this not for profit organization.  All are available at no cost to the homeowner.

Programs to help homeowners who are finding making mortgage payments difficult due to loan adjustment, loss of income, change in family structure, etc.  

• Practical Mortgage Navigation - A program to help homeowners figure out solutions to budget squeezes that effect their mortgage.  Participants will gain: 
  • An understanding of your mortgage
  •  Identification of any problems and possible solutions
  •  An understanding of the various types of budgets and their effectiveness

• Foreclosure/Default Counciling - This program helps homeowners in so many ways.  The councilors will review your situation, offer possible solutions, help with your mortgage company contacts, and more.  To be eligible you must complete an intake packet available online or by speaking with an intake operator at ORDAC Call 845-524-HOME (4663)

Other programs which can be accessed through this organization that may be useful to individual homeowners include:

• Pre and Post Purchase Counciling : Helping potential or brand new homeowners to understand the ins and outs of homeownership
• Restore : A program to help low income seniors to make emergency repairs to homes that are unsafe. (Source: NYS Division of Housing and Community Renewal)
• Access to HOME : A program that helps low to moderate income disabled homeowners and tenants make adaptations to dwellings to allow better access or function.  (Source: NYS Division of Housing and Community Renewal)
• Credit Counciling : Helping consumers understand credit and reach financial goals (Source: NeighborWorks Training Institute)
• Reverse Mortgage Counciling : Helping seniors understand what reverse mortgages are, how reverse mortgages work, and your options for receiving money.

So don't throw in the towel just yet.  There is hope and help available.  Call Today 845-524-HOME!

It is Homecoming Week at Pine Bush High School.  They have a full week of Spirit Building activties and events.  The week will feature the annual Pine Bush Homecoming Football Game with Monroe-Woodbury on Friday Night and a Pine Bush Homecoming Carnival on Saturday Oct 24th Update - Due to the prediction of Rain the Homecoming Carnival will be held on Sunday Oct 25th from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

So far the week has been highlighted by themed days to get the kids in the celebration mood.  Today was "DECADE DAY" and the idea was to dress up as a student from any decade.  Of course my girls went for this opportunity to dress up. As they walked into school I saw several decades represented.  So cool to see everyone coming together to celebrate homecoming.  You can feel the enthusiasm that the students are showing for school and community.  

Tomorrow is BLUE and GOLD Day and of course the football game.  Yeah PINE BUSH!

If you would like to be part of a community that has this kind of spirit let me be your guide to finding a great home for you and your family.  Click the link below to check out local listings.  Limit your search area to Pine Bush Central School District if you would like or expand it to other local school districts.  I would be happy to help you in any of the areas that I serve here in the Greater Hudson Valley.  

Lucky Me!  I live in a beautiful area.  Many people visit the Greater Hudson Valley and the Catskill Region every year just to see what I can see everyday. There is so much to see and do here.  We have hiking, biking, trail riding, lakes, rivers, small villages with crafts and festivals to share, cities with museums and cultural events.  You can have this all with a short commute to New York City.  

If you have never visited this area and plan to come up some weekend. check out my To Do Orange County NY posts on most every Saturday or Sunday to find some great activities for your weekend visits or stuff to do if you find yourself at home here in the area with nothing to do.  Other local resources for fun events in my neck of the woods include each of  the three counties' tourism sites, Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster (Click on the county name to access the site).  Here you will find information on local attractions, events, and so much more.  

One resource for inspiration for a weekend visit can be found at the Shawangunk Mountain Regional Partnership website.  This organization manages the 88 mile loop of roadway defines an area that has been designated by New York State as a Scenic Byway.  What a beautiful brochure and web site they have created to celebrate the region.  Check out the site here and you will see some more awesome places to visit.

Hope to see you up here in my neck of the woods sometime soon. This is a wonderful area to consider for a full time or weekend residence if you work in the New York City metropolitan area.  Many of New York's Finest make this area home.  I work as a Real Estate Buyer's agent in the Greater Hudson Valley.  I would be happy to assist you in your search for a place of your own.  Call, text or email me today.  Click here to search for properties even if it's just out of curiosity.  You may be surprised at the affordablity of many of our area listings today.  

Hey everyone I am putting on the Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month!  Thanks to Ann Cummings and Mike Mueller I am the proud owner of a Pinked Out Profile Picture.  I will be wearing this Pink Ribbon all month here and will be adding it as my profile picture on every other internet presence I have.  If you are on FaceBook become a fan of this page.  I urge all of my readers to go to the Breast Cancer Site daily to click on the link to Give Free Mammograms provided by sponsors. It won't cost you anything but a moment of your time.  It is also time for all you ladies who need to schedule that Mammogram for yourselves to do it.  

This Information is from Breast Cancer Site:

If detected early, the five-year survival rate for breast cancer exceeds 96%. Mammograms are among the best early detection methods, yet 13 million U.S. women 40 years of age or older have never had a mammogram.

The National Cancer Institute and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommend that women in their forties and older have mammograms every one to two years. A complete early detection plan also includes regular clinical breast examinations by a trained medical professional. Monthly breast self-exams are suggested in addition."