Hudson Valley Happenings Blog : June 2009

Wow can it really be summer?  It does not really feel like it with the cool wet weather we have had lately in New York but today is the official start of the season.  What are your plans?  

If you are thinking about taking advantage of the $8000 tax credit available to first time homebuyers then your plans should include finding a Buyer's Representative Real Estate Agent who can help you find a home and get into it before the current deadline of December 1st.  

It may seem like you have a lot of time but the clock is ticking.  The average time that I spend with Buyer Clients from first contact to closing is a minimum of two months and that is for someone lucky enough to find something the first day out.  Most Buyer Client's and I develop a long term relationship that can find us together for six months or so by the time they close.  With today being June 21st I see that there are less than six months left for the process unless congress extends the deadline.  I would not want to take the risk myself.



If you would like to find yourself cozy and warm in your first home with an extra $8000 to help you by the first day of winter don't hesitate to call me today.  If you are looking for your first house in the greater Hudson Valley of New York's Orange, Ulster, or Sullivan Counties I would love to be your Buyer Representative.  If you want to find a home anywhere else I can find you an Agent who will help you there.

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
For Buyer Tips and Local Information visit www.hudsonvalleyhappeningwithpaddypizappi.com     
Call or text to 845-800-7086 or email paddypizappi@realesolutions.com

About two and a half months ago I found myself in a bad state.  I am a stress eater and I found much to my dismay I had packed on many extra pounds due to the stress of everything.  I made a decision that I was not going to go any further down the road of the ever increasing sizes I kept convincing myself it was ok to buy.  I am pleased to say that from that day of decision I have gone from almost being forced into a size 18 to finding size 12 fits once again. In two and a half months by focusing on a goal and achieving small steps I have found my whole attitude about everything has improved.  I still have a way to go on this goal but other things are also looking brighter.  So today I am spreading a virus to you all.  I hope that you will catch it and it will help you to do great things.

I am finding so many people are feeling despondent these days.   It is almost like we are shell shocked and numb from the effects of this economic downturn.  It is seeping into every aspect of our lives.  Like anything else in life we can survive this.  We need to find the joy in little things and use that joy to spread over into other parts of our lives.  We need to focus on the things we can do to improve our quality of life as it is now.  

I tell my children as I tell myself that we can do anything that we put our minds to.  Even if the goal seems impossible we need to believe it is possible and start the journey towards it.  It is a faith that allows us to move mountains if we choose.  Oh I know that we can't truly achieve some of the things we originally set out to do but we can do a lot more than we would if we don't try.  The journey towards one goal might veer off into something else.  The energy that comes from pushing ourselves to do something new allows us to shine a little brighter in all aspects of our lives.   

So pick a goal.  It should be something exciting, big, and bright.  It doesn't have to be something that will ever actually happen but it needs to be something that you can work towards realistically.  That means no physically impossible tasks here like surviving underwater without oxygen or heading to the moon without a spaceship.  Now break that goal into managable  pieces.  What can you do in the next day, the next week, and next year that will help to get you to that point.  Now you have some achievable goals to work on and a seemingly impossible dream that just became more possible

I wish you each luck with your "impossible dream"  If you choose to be infected with enthusiasm and joy let me know what you are working towards and I will cheer you on.  This is the way our country became the great and wonderful place that it is and this is how we can each help to bring ourselves and our fellow citizens out of the blue funk we seem to be in.  

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

Has it happened to you?  I am talking about that feeling that a house is calling out for a buyer.  It is totally the opposite of the criteria they have given you.  It is more money than they want to spend.  It is in the wrong town but it almost compels you to send it to the buyer anyway.  

I can almost see my buyers face as they open the email and find this "totally wrong" listing in their inbox.  They read my explaination that I know this is totally not what they asked for but occaisionally something will come on the market that just speaks to me for one of my buyers.  They might even think "Oh Boy!  I have hooked up with a crazy Realtor this time for sure" but then they really look at the listing and maybe it calls out to them too.  A smile slowly spreads and they start to think it might just be... wait this is not what.... but it is special....  oh what the heck let's go see it anyway.

Finding the right house takes skill, determination, and just the right amount of luck.  It also takes an open mind to the possibilities:

• Real Estate Professionals who are looking out for the interests of thier buyers we need to look at each new listing as a possiblity not just the ones that match what the buyer tells us they need but the ones that somehow feel right for a buyer.  
• As Real Estate Buyers you need to be ready to look outside the box once in a while and it will help you to have a Buyer Representative to guide you both inside and occaisionally outside your comfort zone.

If you are ready to start looking at all the possibilities and wish to find a home in the Greater Hudson Valley of New York's Orange, Ulster, or Sullivan Counties just give me a call or send me an email.  If you would like to find an agent who can help you explore other areas of the country I can help you find someone whereever you want to be to be your guide.  Looking forward to helping you find that special place.

Buying Real Estate can be a confusing and uncertain time for anyone.  It is something that many people only do once or twice in their lives.  Why do the friends and relatives of people who are looking to purchase property think they are able to help with decisions that they have only worked through a time or two themselves?  Everyone it seems knows real estate and can give you the right advice on how to proceed.  I know that my friends and relatives all have their opinions of the best way to do everything. You can't believe the number of times that they have told me that they know better than I do about current market conditions, value of real estate, and how to handle negotiations. I will listen to them to hear their opinion but know that it is just that.  I want to have the best advise possible for the major issues in life.  I don't think that I would trust these advisers to help me through a difficult legal situation or medical issue without working with a professional in that field on my side.  I could not always be confident that they are aware of the most current information or that they have access to the right tools to help me through.  

With every transaction I have the pleasure of working on as a Buyer Representative I learn new things that can help my future clients.  I am continuously taking courses and keeping my skills updated with current information on real estate matters.  I sometimes wonder how some of the well meaning "advisers" of people selling or buying real estate can make recommendation based on the experiences from a single sale or purchase that occurred years ago or in a different area of the country.  I think that this is valuable information for the person to have but should not be given as "Expert Advice" and should not be the basis for offers or follow up on a real estate transaction that is happening right now and right here.

So I ask you, does your Aunt really know that you could have gotten the foreclosure for a lower price?  Is your Father going to know how the closing process works in a state he never bought a home in before?  Does Grandma's advice on how 'Pa and she purchased their first home really have any baring on today's mortgage and market conditions?  Even your best friend who just bought his first home won't be able to help you too much during your purchase because he has only had the one experience.  Would you trust someone who had just had the same surgery as you need to advise you on the course of treatment that was best for you?  I don't think I would.

If you would like to find out more about working with a Buyer Representative for your Real Estate purchase please don't hesitate to contact me.  If you are looking to buy real estate in Orange, Ulster, or Sullivan Counties in New York I would love to help you.  If you are looking anywhere else I will help you to find someone to be your guide where you want to be.