Lorraine Conoby

People are hurting bad this year. Every charity organizations need our help.

Our office is sponsoring a family this year; we are providing gifts for three children and a grocery gift certificate for Mom and Dad. It feels good to be able to help them.

Last month we collected food items for CAPTAIN of Clifton Park. They were so happy to receive our goods; that too felt good.

But it is not enough. This year, more than any year I can remember, I've been dropping more coins and bills in the Salvation Army container. Still not enough.

As I glanced through the pages of the Community News and the Clifton Park PennySaver, I was struck by how many articles were written about organizations who need more help.

Maybe you can lend a hand? The Food Banks are desperate for donations. CAPTAIN can use food, clothing and household goods. To locate a food bank near you go to: http://www.foodbankassocnys.org/

To assist CAPTAIN in their needs go to: http://www.captainyfs.com/

Did you hear about the Cookie Walk sponsored by The Clifton Park United Methodist Church on 10 Old Plank Road? It's really cool- go there donate money and you'll get home baked cookies. Visit them on 12/13/08.

Do you need a wreath- contact the Shen Rotary- you'll get a nice one and help them support Career Awareness and The Shen Dictionary Project. Contact Steve Ras at: sras@nycap.rr.com

If anyone has some news they wish me to post, just give me a call or email me at: Lconoby@weichertne.com

371-0090

Real Estate is very local. The market in Albany is very different from Saratoga Springs, and Clifton Park is very different from either of them.

Yes, the market was down a bit. There were 11% fewer sales this year than in 2007. Prices also declined a bit too. The average sales price is 10% lower this year than last.

I would not jump to the conclusion that the price for all homes fell by 10% however. There are several ways to examine these numbers. It is all together possible that Short Sales affected the average prices; and it too is very possible that first time buyers purchased homes in a lower price range than they did last year.

Each home is as different as my example about each marketplace. The only way to find out about your home value is to invite me in. I'll let you know what kind of offer to expect from a buyer; how long it will take to get an offer; and also provide you with a detailed marketing plan.

Many consumers look to the Internet to find out the answers to these questions. I think you would be making a mistake to trust sites like Zillow to provide you with an estimate on the value of your home. I checked some of the estimates on their site and they were way off base. Again, the best way to know what your home is worth is to invite me in.

Contact me anytime at my office : 518-371-0090

or on my SELL phone: 518-598-9081

I will be in Paris over the Christmas Holidays- so best not to phone me then!

Lorraine Conoby, GRI

Associate Broker

My gosh, there is so much going on in this area of New York State. Several year's ago, the region was coined "Tech Valley". At the time many residents and business people did not 'get it'. They scratched their collective heads while repeating the same questions: why here? why us? why now? will it every be? A great number of people gave answers, but few were listening.

The Saratoga Capital Region has always been a pretty place waiting to make it big. Saratoga Springs has an International brand- known for horse racing, mineral baths, a Victorian downtown, Skidmore College and an abundance of arts and culture.

Albany, the capitol of New York, is a nice small city. Naturally we're all a-buzz with Elliott Spitzer news now, but normally we don't have any national breaking news stories. Albany is a valley city, set between mountain ranges and the Hudson River. It's close to the Adirondack and Catskill Mountains, New York City and Boston--let me not forgot our close Canadian neighbors to the north- we love Montreal!

Back to why us for Tech Valley- our work force is educated; consider RPI, Russell Sage, Skidmore, SUNY Albany, Union College, Albany Law, Albany Medical College to name some, but not all. Our cost of living is relativity low. The region is beautiful and has so much to offer. There is room to expand. NYS is more than willing to provide tax breaks. Smart people who live here have vision. Technically, Tech Valley expands from the lower Hudson region up to the Canadian boarder. And, here we are, right in the middle of it all. In fact, SUNY-Albany has been a driving force in the nano-tech industry.

I just looked at year over year to date sales in my community--we have only 39 less sales this year than same period last year. Can you see it? We have something wonderful happening here.

Yet, my region, perhaps just like yours, has its fair share of buyers who sit on the fence. I understand how worried they are about increased costs of food, gas, clothing etc. I wish I had a magic mirror they could look into that would show them the future here. The big tech companies are coming soon; our surplus housing stock with disappear over-night; home prices will rise exponentially; and they home they want will, once again, be out of reach. I'm not feeling bad for me or my agents--we'll get along well with more listings and sales. I am worried about the first time and move up buyers who will have regrets down the road. Here, this is my mirror, take a

look...

Everything you want is waiting for you here...