Hudson Valley Happenings Blog : January 2010

Pine Bush Central School District's 2010-2011 budget is being formulated and reviewed during the next few months.  Last night there was a community input forum at the Pine Bush High School. With cuts that the State of New York is proposing and the drop in revenues from other sources, the School Board and Superintendent will be looking at ways to save money.

Pine Bush High School Had A well Attended Forum Last Night

The Pine Bush Central School District is one of those districts that home buyers want to move to.  They offer a good well rounded curriculum and a huge variety of enrichment programs both in school and extra curricular.  Take some time to browse the school district website and review the most recent NYS school report card to learn more about Pine Bush.
 
I often hear people who feel overburdened with taxes in general say that they don't have children in the schools so why should they care about or approve the budget when it is voted on.  It is important to all community residents to maintain the excellence of the school district as it does affect the saleability and value of your property.  If the school's become less desirable to potential buyers you will loose some of the value of your property.  

There are several more community input forums scheduled in the coming months.  Be sure to get out to one and hear the presentations.  Your voice can be heard there if you have input.  Your questions can be addressed.  

Upcoming Community Forums

Monday, February 8, 2010 Pakanasink Cafeteria - Approximately 6:00pm

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 Circleville Middle... School Auditorium
PTA Parent Forum - 5:30pm
Budget Forum - Approximately 6:00pm

Monday, March 1, 2010 Pine Bush Elementary School Cafeteria - 6:00pm

Wednesday, March 10, 2010 Crispell Middle School Cafeteria
Crispell PTA - General Meeting at 7:00pm
Budget Forum - Approximately 7:30pm

Your home is most likely largest investment.  By helping to maintain a great school program in the district you are caring for your investment.  Don't let shortsightedness or misunderstanding devalue the future of your investment.  Get out to these forums and help to prepare a budget that will be fair to all our students, maintain our fine programs and your property value, and most of all pass when the budget vote occurs during the Pine Bush School Board Election on May 18, 2010

For more information about your current home value or for help in finding a home in the area give me a call, send a text, or email me today.

This post is about those light bulb moments.  Why was that sent to me and what am I going to do about it?  I think we have all had them, those bits of brilliance or insight that somehow push their way to the surface of our muddled brains and make us stop for a moment.

When we have one of those moments we can choose to ignore them completely, I can remember such a moment when I ignored a flash or inspiration that told me not to go out as a teen and I ended up in a car wreck.  Ignoring can cost you even if it does not total your car.  You may find yourself wondering why you did not act when you thought you should.

We can also note the idea and put it away for later action.  How many times have you done that and realized you missed the golden opportunity for something?  There is a reason these flashes come to us when they do.  Delaying may cause you to miss the boat.

I had such a flash about business over the weekend, and no it wasn't a hot flash so no menopause jokes please.  I will be looking into the potential this week and let you all know once I decide if it was a new direction or a flash in the pan of no real value.

So be it resolved that next time you are just sitting there minding your own business and you see a flash of brilliance that you will act on it.  Take a look at the idea and see where it goes.

These are but a few of the things to do on this Sunday in Orange County New York. For more events see the Orange County Tourism Site. 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.

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.

Main Street Pine Bush AKA State Route 52 is the heart of this village.  Here is where the Harvest Festival, the awesome Halloween Celebration, the Festival of Lights, and so much more happens.  

As you enter the Village of Pine Bush, NY one of the first things you may notice is the old time street lamps that line the sidewalks on both sides of the road.  

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You will see a wonderful mix of shops and service providers.  We will be visiting many of them as we explore the Village of Pine Bush NY

 

If you come to town you can check for upcoming events on the bulletin board provided by the Pine Bush Area Chamber of Commerce.  It is located right next to the Cultural Center. 

Lucky me I get to come to the Village of Pine Bush often,

RJ Smith Realty is right here in a lovely Victorian house at 155 Main Street.

If you would like to keep up to date on local Pine Bush events and share your thoughts about the Village please join the group Pine Bush Area People and Places on Facebook  

This series of posts will allow you to visit Pine Bush, NY.  You will learn about local businesses and recreational opportunities.  You will see the schools and discover the great organizations that are present here. If you live in the area please take some time to visit and shop locally.  If you are looking for a new permanent or vacation home this might be just the spot for you.  We are close enough to commute to New York City but far enough away from the hustle and bustle for a quiet country home.

Click Here To See The Houses Currently Listed For Sale In Town of Crawford Pine Bush Schools

I would love to help you search for a new home in the area.  I can set up a search for your specific needs and create a web page just for you to keep track of the homes you want to see.  In the meantime enjoy your visit to Pine Bush, New York.

Pine Bush, NY -  Come on out to support your favorite bands at the Pine Bush High School's Mixed Select Choir's fund raiser "BATTLE OF THE BANDS" at 7:00 PM this Friday.  

Homebuyers who are trying to purchase foreclosed or rehabilitated affordable New York homes just got a hand up from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.  This week HUD released a surprise announcement that they are temporarily granting a waiver to modify regulations on resale of foreclosed properties.  You see most people hoping to buy properties that are bank owned after foreclosure or were bought and rehabilitated by investors have been locked out if they are using an FHA mortgage.  The FHA Regulations stated that an FHA mortgage was not to be used on properties owned by the seller for less than 90 days.  Because of this regulation banks and rehabbers were not likely to accept an offer from a buyer who was using FHA financing.  The bank or rehabber would be required to hold the property for over 3 months and those additional months simply cost too much.  The goal of the bank or rehabber is to be in and out quickly and FHA guidelines did not allow for that.  This kept affordable homes out of the reach of many New York househunters.

 
In making this announcement HUD Secretary Donovan stated "As a result of the tightened credit market, FHA-insured mortgage financing is often the only means of financing available to potential homebuyers.  FHA has an unprecedented opportunity to fulfill its mission by helping many homebuyers find affordable housing while contributing to neighborhood stabilization."  You can read the full press release by clicking here.

The temporary waiver goes into effect on February 1, 2010 and remains in effect for one year.  There are very strict guidelines for the waiver which must be followed.  It is important to speak with a lender who offers FHA mortgages and will be able to provide you with the most current information on this and other FHA regulations and changes.

If you have been boxed out of buying  an affordable New York home in the past due to the seller refusing to wait long enough to qualify for an FHA mortgage you may be in luck.  Speak with your mortgage representative today to see if the waiver can help you.  

If you are currently looking for an affordable home in New York State's Orange, Ulster, or Sullivan Counties give me a call, send a text, or email me today.  I would love to help you negotiate the path to your new front door.

The Village of Pine Bush, NY is located in the Town of Crawford.  It is in Orange County New York but is near the corner of Orange, Ulster, and Sullivan Counties. The Village is located at the intersection of Route 302 and Route 52 about 10 miles from Route 17 (future I-86) exit 119. It is approximately 70 miles from New York City. The village center has a wide variety of stores, quaint restaurants, and other businesses. This series of posts will bring you through the village and let you learn all that this place has to offer, Pine Bush, NY is a wonderful warm place to visit and to live.

Pine Bush, NY is the heart of the Town of Crawford which was settled in the mid to late 1700's,  and incorporated in 1832. The picture above is a historical postcard view of a portion of Main Street. If you come to visit you will see many of the same buildings today, as a matter of fact my office, RJ Smith Realty, is the building on the right. The village has done much to bring back that historic feeling by installing antique styled lighting along Main Street.

This series of posts will allow you to visit Pine Bush, NY.  You will learn about local businesses and recreational opportunities.  You will see the schools and discover the great organizations that are present here. If you live in the area please take some time to visit and shop locally.  If you are looking for a new permanent or vacation home this might be just the spot for you.  We are close enough to commute to New York City but far enough away from the hustle and bustle for a quiet country home.

Click Here To See The Houses Currently Listed For Sale In Town of Crawford Pine Bush Schools

I would love to help you search for a new home in the area.  I can set up a search for your specific needs and create a web page just for you to keep track of the homes you want to see.  In the meantime enjoy your visit to Pine Bush, New York.

For Further Information 845-928-5384

These are but a few of the things to do on this Sunday in Orange County New York. For more events see the Orange County Tourism Site. 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.