Miriam Bernstein REALTOR® New Orleans Real Estate

Having done a few short sales I can relate to what is in this article. Which also explains that Westchester County does not have the mortgage collapse of other areas but the numbers are growing.

"Is it possible for a homeowner who owes $725,000 on a mortgage to sell a house for only $560,000 and still walk away happy, or at least relieved? The answer is yes, if the transaction is a short sale - defined as selling for less than the mortgage owed, in a deal with the lender to forgive the rest of the debt and head off a foreclosure.

A last-ditch option for a homeowner in default, the short sale is increasingly being seen a valuable tool by sellers, buyers, real estate agents and lenders. But it does come with this caveat from real estate agents and lawyers: it is an intricate transaction, often taking many months to complete"

The Short Sale from The New York Times.

Miriam Bernstein, CRS, ABR, GRI, e-Pro, SRES
Associate Broker, Licensed in the State of New York
RE/MAX Prime Properties, Westchester County, New York 10583
www.MiriamBernstein.com
"Content of this blog is solely my opinion"

Yesterday in New York as I would imagine most people read about our Governor. Governor Spitzer has admitted wrongdoing, hired a very powerful legal team and is probably a bad boy. But it is worse than that. He prosecuted others for the very thing he is accused of. The Mann Act. He arranged for a "person" to travel to Washington from New York and paid expenses. He made suspicious deposits to his bank account always under the $10,000 that is reportable to the IRS. His movements were suspicius. Geeez, what was he thinking if he was thinking at all or what was he thinking with? I feel for his wife and kids, three teenage daughters whose lives have been turned upside down.

This leads me to the Presidential Campaign. Who are you going to believe? People say a lot of things. Change their views, get caught at things they shouldn't be doing. These are not isolated acts there are lots of Governors, Mayors, Senators who get caught up in stuff. Hilary Clinton too. Barack Obama too. John McCain too. Who should you believe and how can anyone be trusted. I guess you just trust them until you can't. Sad.

This leads me to REALTORs online. Who are you going to believe. Template sites, I am Number #1, I am the best, I listed more than anyone else, all of the these statements made by all sorts of people. Who are you going to believe?

That's why blogging and Active Rain is so important to the landscape. It takes the public past the platitudes and past the hyperbole. It gives an ongoing insight into who you might be dealing with. Let's you see past the bull.

Miriam Bernstein, CRS, ABR, GRI, e-Pro, SRES
Associate Broker, Licensed in the State of New York
RE/MAX Prime Properties, Westchester County, New York 10583
www.MiriamBernstein.com
"Content of this blog is solely my opinion"

It is a great time to buy or sell real estate in Westchester County, New York. If you are a seller prices have softened but not anywhere near what you are reading in the national newspaper or watching on television news. If you want or need to sell there are many qualified buyers ready, willing and able to buy your house. Many sellers have taken their homes off the market because of the weakened prices and this has created a shortage of available homes. This is all a good thing if you want to sell.

In a few weeks there will be many more houses coming on the market for sale and there will be a lot more competitiion. Do it now, do it smart and move on. Oh, and call me.

Miriam Bernstein, CRS, ABR, GRI, e-Pro, SRES
Associate Broker, Licensed in the State of New York
RE/MAX Prime Properties, Westchester County, New York 10583
www.MiriamBernstein.com
"Content of this blog is solely my opinion"

Single Family Homes in the Scarsdale School District. Prices have adjusted and based on the days on market and a shorter selling period that sellers are adjusting their prices.

January 1 - February 29, 2008

• 14 Houses Sold in the Scarsdale School District
• Average price was $1,323,429
• Median price was $1,284,500
• Days on Market was 170

January 1 - February 28, 2007

• 19 Houses Sold in the Scarsdale School District
• Average Price was $1,831,884
• Median price was $1,375,000
• Days on Market were 195

January 1 - February 28, 2006

• 25 Houses Sold in the Scarsdale School District
• Average Prices was $1,782,410
• Median price was $1,529,000
• Days on Market were 160

Disclaimer: These statistics were prepared by me using the Westchester MLS. These numbers were not prepared by the Westchester MLS.

Miriam Bernstein, CRS, ABR, GRI, e-Pro, SRES
Associate Broker, Licensed in the State of New York
RE/MAX Prime Properties, Westchester County, New York 10583
www.MiriamBernstein.com
"Content of this blog is solely my opinion"

For Single Family Houses in the Hastings School District:

January 1 - February 29, 2008

• 8 Single Family Houses sold
• Average price was $850,188
• Median price was $701,000
• Days on Market were 175

January 1 - February 28, 2007

• 13 Single Family Houses sold
• Average price was $784,692
• Median price was $805,000
• Days on Market were 207

January 1 - February 28, 2006

• 3 Single Family Houses sold
• Average price was $880,000
• Median price was $925,000
• Days on Market were 138

Disclaimer: These statistics were prepared by me using the Westchester Putnam MLS. This was not prepared by the WPMLS.

Miriam Bernstein, CRS, ABR, GRI, e-Pro, SRES
Associate Broker, Licensed in the State of New York
RE/MAX Prime Properties, Westchester County, New York 10583
www.MiriamBernstein.com
"Content of this blog is solely my opinion"