DUTCHESS COUNTY REAL ESTATE

From the quiet surroundings of Poughkeepsie ...NY City is a just a commuter train away. For the Manhattan worker, finding affordable housing is becoming more and more of a challenge. Many people seek affordable housing solutions in the suburbs. The further out, the more affordable. Westchester, Bergen, Nassau and Putnam Counties were once highly regarded as the affordable suburban communities, and commuting became the great alternative from these nearby areas, so close to Manhattan. However, many home buyers have found themselves priced out of these increasingly expensive real estate markets too now. As housing prices increased in the New York City metropolitan area over the past several years - more home buyers have been moving even further out in search of affordable housing. And, many commuters I talk to don't even mind trading the longer commute times for the quality of life ...more house, more land and the American Dream!

So the Suburban Sprawl reached Dutchess County, NY - because real estate dollars go further here than in neighboring southern counties. And, all one has to do to be convinced is price homes in Westchester County and then price homes in Dutchess County. The savings is between 35-45% less. Even in buffering Putnam County, home values are higher - just cross the border into Dutchess and one can immediately see how much more house can be bought!

Don't think the gas prices have not scared people away from Dutchess either! For many people, the commuter trains are enjoyable. One can relax with a cup of coffee and newspaper before work or unwind with a little power nap at the end of a long business day. Why endure the stress of driving and fuel costs, when you can take the train? There are 4 active trains stations in Dutchess County:   

Hudson Line - with stations in Beacon, New Hamburg and Poughkeepsie 

Harlem Line- with a station in Pawling

Check out train schedules and fares by clicking on the link below:

http://as0.mta.info/mnr/stations/station_detail.cfm?key=5

Parking rates at the Poughkeepsie train station:

$34 -  1 month,    $91 - 3 months,   $169 - 6 months,   $289 - 12months ($24 per month)

Now, a word of warning - a round trip monthly train pass is $360 from Poughkeepsie to Grand Central - but once you recover from the sticker shock, you might realize that the real estate savings might be well worth a move north (and more and more, people are negotiating with their employers to work from home one or two days a week)!  

For more about living and commuting in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. click on the link to a NY Times article below:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/23/realestate/23livi.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Some days I have files which seem to be in a holding pattern. This is how I started today - waiting! Often, a transaction can get held up over the simplest detail, like an updated preapproval, or a signature from the 2nd spouse on an accepted/revised purchase offer. Why does it take so long for everybody to cross their T's and dot their I's? I must be especially thorough when I am representing a relocation company on a 3rd party sale. However, any client I represent deserves the same amount of attention to detail. What's frustrating is when the other party takes their time sending revisions or following up.  

This morning my files are spread out on my desk much like airplanes on a tarmac that are waiting for clearance to take off! This would be a very short business day for me - if only I had everything I needed first thing this morning. As much as I would like to be in control, there are others who have to pull through for me. So, here I sit - staring at my files, prepared to spring into action - each file is ready for take off ...all to a different destination!

I just received a call from another agent on a preapproval that he was expecting to receive last night - which he promised me first thing this morning. He just called to say he still does not have the letter and will have to personally stop by the mortgage company in a little while to get it. It's not like he is not puttting forth the effort - but, he too must rely on somebody else to pull through.

Meanwhile, I've set expectations during my last update with my clients. I'm glad they're the patient type. Some things are beyond my control. What's going on with our modern technology - why does everything still have to take so long? Why does a real estate agent have to resort to going to the mortgage company in person to get a preapproval letter? This is crazy!

All I want to do is move this file off my desk and get it to the attorney!

Is it too much to expect an on time departure?                                                    

I hope some of you won't mind a recycled post! I've never recycled a post before but I just joined a new group tonight - Diary of a Realtor. And, I thought this would be an appropriate first post to the group. It's short and sweet -  many of you can relate! Enjoy!  

I had a 12:30 hair appointment today and while the shampoo girl was was doing her thing she attempted to make small talk. "What are your plans for the rest of the day"? I told her I had to get back to work. She proceeded - "where do you work"? I hesitated - and then told her I was a real estate agent. I guess the question would have been easier for me, had she asked me what I do.

Where do I work?  Well, let's see...

I work at a real estate office....

I work at my home office....

I work at other people's homes....

I work from my car....

I work while walking land and evaluating it....

I sometimes work in my bathrobe....

I work while on vacation....

I work while getting a pedicure....

I work while at the grocery store....

I work while out to dinner with my husband or friends....

I work while babysitting my grandaughter....

I've worked while attending a party....

I work while taking a bath....

I work while doing personal chores....

Heck, .....I might even work while in the restroom

.........(now you know, I would never tell if I did!)  

Hey....WHERE DO YOU WORK??????

Friday, July 18, 2008 - Poughkeepsie Journal. - It doesn't get any better than this! I'd like to think everyday is a good news day. Well, at least today was and I dedicate this post to the Poughkeepsie Journal for the good news that appears on the front page of our local paper. Isn't this a great way to start the weekend? This is a reminder why Dutchess County is such a great place to live. You know it's a good palce to live when the headlines read as follows....

IBM - Quarter earnings one of the best  (our major area employer).

Balloon Festival - Local businesses to get boost (a fun weekend event is planned).

Backers tie police support to facility vote (Hyde Park is looking to upgrade police facilities in an effort to keep the community safe).

Skydiver hopes errant leg turns up (Ok, it's not great news for this guy, a local resident who lost his prostatic leg while skydiving - but at least he's not afraid to laugh about it - read the story for yourself by clikcing on the link below).

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080718/NEWS01/807180344&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL

Relocating to Dutchess County????

When I travel to other cities and watch the local news or read the papers, I often grow more thankful that I live in Dutchess County, with all the many little safe bedroom communities. It's Upstate NY, where people enjoy a slower pace, where people make eye contact and where a friendly hello from a stranger is the norm. If you're looking for a sense of security and strong community pride - Dutchess County is the place to relocate to!   

At least Real Estate is alive and well. When I signed onto my computer this morning to retrieve my email, I found an interesting news blurb regarding 25 things that are quickly disappearing from our country - from dial up Internet networking & land lines to cameras that uses film. I just have to wonder ...how many things do we view today as great conveniences or hi-tech solutions which could suddenly disappear a half century from now? We might think we live in a very advanced world now, but that's probably what our grandparents thought a few decades ago!  

http://www.walletpop.com/specials/top-25-things-vanishing-from-america?icid=100214839x1205495530x1200282778

Here is the count down of 25 things you may not be able to find in the U.S. for very much longer.

Pit Toilets (Out Houses)

Yellow pages

Classifieds

Movie Rental Stores

Dial Up Networking

Land Lines

Maryland Bay Blue Crabs

VCRs

Ash Trees

Ham Radio

Swimming Holes

Answering Machines

Cameras That Use Film

Incandescent Bulbs

Stand Alone Bowling Alleys

The Milkman

Hand Written Letters

Wild Horses

Personal Checks

Drive-In Theatres

Mumps & Measles

Honey Bees

News Magazine & TV News

Analog TV

The Family Farm

Are you overwhelmed by choices for summer reading? I am! Last night I got lost in the bookstore maze. It was hard to make up my mind.

And, then I started wondering if I'm having a hard time deciding much like my homebuyer clients - in a market of high inventory. In my case - it's just a a few paperback books, for cryin' out loud! Why was I so overwhelmed?  

I tend to gravitate towards reading during the slower months in real estate. I just love snowy days curled up by the fireplace with a good book and a cup of hot chocolate or tea. Or, you'll find me on my patio in the summer time, basking in the warmth of the sun and depending on what time of day I would prefer bottled water or a glass of wine! Of, course my cell phone is always nearby and I am so ready to spring into action if opportunity strikes. I use the slower months in real estate to unwind and recharge when I can - because the busy months have me so wired and I often find myself working 16 hour days. I told a seller client recently that I'll be going away in August for a week and he was kind enough to acknowledge this by saying "hey, you're certainly entitled to a vacation too"! I do appreciate a client who is not clinging to me and can understand that I am smart enough to arrange for competent coverage - usually my broker.

So, as I was browsing the display of books last night I became very frustrated with my inability to decide. In the summer, on vacation especially - I prefer the not so challenging book choices. I'll be sitting by a pool or on the beach next month while the sun fries my brain. I'll be listening to the soothing sounds of the ocean and fading in and out - maybe even napping. I'll also have the pleasant distraction of a 17 month old grandchild but with 4 other adults we'll be sharing the responsibility of chasing after her and I'll have some time for reading. Aside from all that, there's just something about the comings and goings of a busy pool or the beach - the many activities and people. I am a people watcher! And, my attention span will be short. So, with all these distractions and with so many interesting books I need something easy. No, not Danielle Steele - Pleeeze! Too predictable and just a little too shallow - every story takes place in San Francisco, NY or Paris which is ok, but not every time! Plus I don't really like syrupy romantic novels anyway. I like mystery and intrigue, but Mary Higgins Clark is, oh - so elementary and after a few of her novels I'm figuring out the ending. James Patterson and John Grisham are a better fit for my summer reading style but I've read so many and I am burnt out on those guys too. Some authors have a certain style and once you read a couple of their books the rest are the same old, same old thing. Although, I am currently reading Grisham's Innocent Man and liking it because it's different than his others - a true story for a change. My husband likes Syracuse grad Tim Green but I think that's because he played football for his favorite college team. He also suggests Steven King - too gruesome to read, although I love his movies which are a little milder. My daughter turned me on to Jodi Picoult last summer with My Sister's Keeper - I cried so hard! It was a different style - about family crisis. One daughter is a leukemia patient, the other conceived to save her life and not by choice she becomes a bone marrow donor. Without giving away too much - it became a book that I just couldn't put down. So, I picked another Jodi Picoult last night. But, I'll need 3 more books to get me through 8 days of vacation - something different. Maybe I can rely on my AR friends - any thoughts?

Now, getting back to my buyer clients. I totally understand their situation! So many choices! How to decide? In Dutchess County, my MLS has 2268 available listings. No, not all of these are in the same price range. But, in the 325-375k range (our average price point) - there is 329 listings for the average buyer to select from. No wonder they're so confused - it's almost like being in a bookstore and trying to find the ideal book! But, they're spending bigger money. And, buying a home is not as simple as making the wrong decision about a book and hating it. You can throw a book away! NO, buying a house is a decision that somebody has to live with for a long, long time! So what - if one of my buyer clients needs to see 50 homes before they make a decision! I totally understand this and as long as they are loyal to me (in the form of a buyer contract), I will be dedicated to their home search. You can take all the time you want if you are pre-approved and have signed a contract for me to be your sole agent who will represent you during your house hunting and home purchase. See, I get overwhelmed too when making the simplest of decisions! I know I can't just rush somebody into making a decision that they wil have to live with for a long time, live in for a long time, take care of for a long time, and work very hard every day for a long time to afford!   

Not having a cell phone can be a major handicap for a real estate agent. I can't seem to remember life without a cell phone. And, any time I have ever had cell phone issues or have misplaced my phone I can remember the experience so vividly. It's a feeling of panic, almost the same way you get when you're standing in front of a cashier at the store and can't find your wallet or credit card.

I panic every time I misplace my phone. Usually, I am home when I discover my cell phone missing and soon realize it's still inside the car parked in the garage. Other cell phone fiascos are not so simple! The vivid memories I have...let's see! There was the time I couldn't find my phone and two days went by while I was thinking it would show up somewhere - it did, at the bottom of the washing machine! I was out of town for a funeral once when my cell phone died and I had to go to the nearest mall and get a new one. Then last fall, on a camping trip with friends one of the little girls spilled her hot chocolate on a table where my phone had just so happened to be resting - the chocolaty liquid mess was cleaned up quickly but my cell phone sat in it a few seconds too long. I tried to save it, but it was too late. And, I had to be careful to not say anything because I didn't want her getting into trouble with her mom. The funniest time is when I went to a Chamber of Commerce after hours function and checked my coat not realizing my cell phone was in the pocket. I had been socializing and never missed my phone until somebody started wondering about one of our colleagues who we later found out was simply running late. I knew I should place a call to check on her. When I finally figured out that  my cell phone was probably in my coat pocket I headed to the coat room where all the coats looked the same after a couple of glasses of wine. I didn't have my tag to claim my coat by number. So, I had the coat-check gal call my cell phone and that is how I found my coat (and phone)! Viola! Saved by the bell ringtone! Yes, I gave her a nice tip!

I wonder if one day soon I might have to report to CPPS - Cell Phone Protective Services. I would feel better knowing that I am not the only absent minded cell phone user! Tell me about your cell phone fiasco! - You'll make me feel better!    

Help - I've become a bit of a hotel snob! I don't mean to be. I am just obsessed with picking the perfect vacation spot. And, being that I was a travel agent and also worked in both the airline and hotel business, I tend to be a finicky traveler. Making matters worse, my husband is a 32 year hotel industry veteran and my son just entered into the field 3-4 years ago. You can say we have high standards when it comes to picking the perfect hotel resort! Rightfully, we are hotel connoisseurs. I don't remember going on a vacation where we didn't check out and compare nearby resorts - like homebuyers with buyer remorse. Even when the kids were small, they became part of our ritual as we went lobby hopping to check out the other places - maybe to reassure ourselves that we picked the right resort. But, some people are just fascinated with architectural details - I guess this is a trait that carries over into my own career in real estate. Now I know why home buyers have the urge to satisfy their curiosity by looking at additional homes even after they think they found "the perfect one".  

So, after consulting with Irene Hunt of Hunt Travel/Poughkeepsie, NY (who is our travel agent and my old boss) http://www.hunttravel.com/ - I am hoping her recommendation will be just what we are looking for - a place that meets our expectations. Heck, we aren't buying a house but thousands of dollars is soon to be spent on two rooms and a vacation that I hope will turn to pleasant memories! We're not buying a house but we will be living in this place for a week. And, it will be our first vacation as a family of 6. We have not had a major family vacation in 3 years, and now there is a son-in-law and granddaughter accompanying us. We can't wait to continue our tradition of making family vacation memories that will now include the new additions to our family. For me, an annual family vacation is just as important as celebrating one's birthday or a major holiday - maybe better. There's nothing like hanging out with family, in a relaxed environment and no worries. In fact, I probably find vacationing more enjoyable than a hectic Christmas gathering.   

Despite Irene's 30 something years of experience, I can't help but be a little nervous. We know already from our other vactaion experiences that all-inclusive food is usually not good, but it is plentiful and we will be there primarily for family bonding, R&R and ocean breezes. Besides, I'm not opposed to eating cheeseburgers in paradise! And, drinks are free - served poolside! Of course, the rooms will get the white glove treatment, I'm sure - I'll leave that up to the hotel VP, who has a kinder and gentler way to go about complaining - and from how I understand it we are going to a place where loud, rude Americans with attitudes (especially New Yorkers) are not appreciated.

My daughter and I have been scanning the reviews on www.tripadvisor.com - I highly recommend this website to anybody planning a vacation. But, unfortunately even the best resorts get bad reviews sometimes. And, so we are nervous about these mixed reviews. 

As I await vacation time - 6 weeks away, I can't help but think that this is how I feel when I am purcahsing a house! Am I anticiapating fun or a fear of the unknown? I know that once I arrive, one little detail, especially any lack of cleanliness could have me up all night. Is this what a homebuyer feels like before they close on a house? Gosh, I hope we picked the right place!

I received an email today which separates out technical advances and differences between generations - those who are under 30 and those above 30 years old. And, this got me thinking about how it compares to the real estate proffession - differences between agents who have been in business for decades compared to agents who have not. I am not a multi-decade agent but I did purchase my first house in the early 80's and a few years later it was my Realtor father who sold it. I do remember looking through those big, fat, thick MLS books with only one exterior photo which looked like a house mug shot! In the old days, buyers would have to go into the real estate office in person and flip through these books to determine what houses they wanted to see. I remember my first agent telling me to not give those black and white photo any merit, since the inside could be picture perfect and I might never know it unless I physically inspected it. Today, as agents we are spoiled. We can just email the listings to our clients with interior photos - how easy is that? I do remember my father having to drive to his client's homes in snowstorms to present offers because there was no fax, or email back then. Cell phones were not available either, which made getting in touch with people very difficult. An agent would have to hope to not get a busy signal because there was no call-waiting, and if somebody was not home there was no answering machine to be able to leave a message. If an agent was on the road and had to make a call to their office, the nearest gas station was a best bet for a pay-phone (I think it was still a dime in the early 80's). I am not a multi-decade agent but I do remember enough of an earlier era and I can appreciate the hi-tech world we live in so much more. I can also give credit to the agents who have decades of experience because I know as new technology was introduced they had to learn and keep up with the advances to be able to continue competing. If you are an old-timer in this business, my hat's off to you! I am dedicating this post to the oldies but goodies of the real estate proffession! 

I hope you can enjoy the email I received that inspired me today...

THE SPOILED UNDER-30 CROWD!!!
If you are 30 or older you will think this is hilarious!!!!

When I was a kid, adults used to bore me to tears
With their tedious diatribes about how hard things were
When they were growing up; what with walking
Twenty-five miles to school every morning ... Uphill BOTH ways

Yadda, yadda, yadda

And I remember promising myself that when I grew up,
There was no way in hell I was going to lay 
A bunch of crap like that on kids about how hard I had it
And how easy they've got it!
But now that... I'm over the ripe old age of
Thirty, I can't help but look around and notice the youth of today.

You've got it so easy! I mean, compared to my
Childhood, you live in a damn Utopia!
And I hate to say it but you kids today you
Don't know how good you've got it!

I mean, when I was a kid we didn't have The Internet.
If we wanted to know something,
We had to go to the damn library and
Look it up ourselves, in the card catalog!!
There was no email!! We had to actually write
Somebody a letter - with a pen!
Then you had to walk all the way across the street and
Put it in the mailbox and it would take like a week to get there!

There were no MP3's or Napsters! You wanted to
Steal music, you had to hitchhike to the damn record store and shoplift it yourself!
Or you had to wait around all day to tape it off the radio and the DJ'd usually talk over the
Beginning and @#*% it all up!
We didn't have fancy crap like Call Waiting! If you
Were on the phone and somebody else called they got a busy signal, that's it!

And we didn't have fancy Caller ID Boxes either!
When the phone rang, you
Had no idea who it was! It could be your school,
Your mom, your boss, your
Bookie, your drug dealer, a collections agent, you
Just didn't know!!! You had
To pick it up and take your chances, mister!

We didn't have any fancy Sony Playstation video
Games with high-resolution
3-D graphics! We had the Atari 2600! With games
Like 'Space Invaders' and 'asteroids'. Your guy was a little square! You 
Actually had to use your
Imagination!! And there were no multiple levels or
Screens, it was just one screen - Forever!

And you could never win. The game just kept getting
Harder and harder and Faster and faster until you died! - Just like LIFE!

When you went to the movie theater there no such
Thing as stadium seating!
All the seats were the same height! If a tall guy
Or some old broad with a hat
Sat in front of you and you couldn't see - you were Just screwed!

Sure, we had cable television, but back then that
Was only like 15 channels
And there was no on screen menu and no remote
Control! You had to use a
Little book called a TV Guide to find out what was On!

You were screwed when it Came to channel surfing! You had to get off
Your ass and walk over to the TV to change the
Channel and there was no
Cartoon Network either! You cou ld only get cartoons
On Saturday Morning. Do you Hear what I'm saying!?!
We had to wait ALL WEEK
For cartoons, you spoiled
Little rat-bastards!

And we didn't have microwaves, if we wanted to heat
Something up we had to
Use the stove or go build a frigging fire ..
Imagine that! If we wanted
Popcorn, we had to use that stupid Jiffy Pop thing
And shake it over the stove
Forever like an idiot.

That's exactly what I'm talking about! You kids
Today have got it too easy.
You're spoiled. You guys wouldn't have lasted
Five minutes back in 1980!

  

So, what's an agent to do when her instinct tells her a deal might be going south? My clients vacated last week. Fortunately, they were cashed out by the relo company and have been able to move into their new home in another state. Technically, it's relo's home now until closing, since they aquired it from the transferee. The sale was contingent on the sale of the buyer's home. The buyer has a commitment letter, but the buyer's buyer does not. It was due on 6/15. The closing was to be 6/30. In NY everything is worded "On or About". Most people don't start panicking until it gets close to a 30 day period. But, since the other agent was not too upfront in the beginning stages and now is being aloof about the situation - I am getting nervous. OK, we're in contract and the transferees instructed me while they were still living there that they did not want to show for back-up offers. I respected that decision. But they're gone now and the house belongs to relo - as of last week. This has been weighing on me, Do I take it out of pending status? I could tick off the other agent and the buyer, but why would that matter now - we're in contract! I would have to disclose to anybody showing the property that there is a contract, but I have no problem doing so. Wait, not so fast...I didn't have to change the status in MLS! See, last night I got a call from another agent. And, so the conversation goes like this...

What's up with the transaction? 

Ummm, shaky - do you have an interested buyer?

Yes, they'd like to see it tomorrow night.

OK, I'll put a lock box on - go ahead, it's under contract and almost out of contract - please..bring me a back-up!

...So, that was easy, the other agent called me this evening, asking me where I wanted her to fax the offer to. Heaven??? I'll be in Back-Up Offer Heaven! Yeah, fax it there! ...We had a nice discussion about her buyer having nothing to sell (good), being able to close ASAP (great), and putting 20% down (awesome). I also told her that it will require a corporate decision which won't come until Monday. No problem, the buyer will wait!  

Come Monday, maybe there will need to be an ultimatum. Perhaps it's time to shake things up! One thing's for sure - if the deal goes south, I'll be a super hero!    

Come Monday....call me a Parrot Head, but I love that Jimmy Buffet song!