Please access my Westchester County Home Search page below to locate and research any and all homes, townhomes, condos, coops and apartments for sale and/or rent. You'll be able to search by location, type, size, amenities and price. Please contact me at 914-438-7556 if you have questions regarding a particular property or want to see it in person. I can arrange for it.
CLICK THIS LINK TO BEGIN YOUR WESTCHESTER COUNTY HOME SEARCH
Any real estate professional worth their pay will "comp" (compare) your home for sale to see what your immediate real estate market will bear for similar ones before coming up with an asking price suggestion for yours.
However, what makes another home a good "comp"?
A number of basic items must be in line with your home's features in order for the agent to utilize another home in your area as a "comp". These items are: same neighborhood, a similar street, the same school district, and similar lot and housing size and features. If all of these items align, then a "comp" can be used to suggest a current estimated value of your home. Using a home that is the same model in the same subdivision that sold just recently would be ideal of course. But this really happens only once in a while.
Most sellers really do not know how to locate and compare similar properties, which is one of the reasons why they hire an experienced agent. Good seller's agents take all of the work out of selling and marketing your home and they also give you solid and valid reasons to understand why you should be pricing your home at a specific price.
Naturally overall location, lot features, home size, upgrades, on site and nearby amenities, other extras and unique architectural details of the home all affect the listing price and how your home can be compared to "comps".
Taking a careful look at each of these items shows what people wanting to live in your area might be looking for when it comes to buying a home. For example, a higher sale price on a recently sold home that has an in-ground pool can indicate that this is an upscale family neighborhood and buyers put an increased value on such amenities. Your home may not have a pool but it might have other amenities along these lines: a tennis or basketball court, a dedicated gym, or a fantastic outdoor entertainment area.
Agents will always look at what makes your home stand out and what is similar to others in the neighborhood. They'll search for the best characteristics to showcase and then compare your home to others that have recently sold to see how yours stacks up from a buyer's perspective.
Reviewing the "comps" can also provide a lot of insights about sales trends in your neighborhood. Agents that work your neighborhood know what homes have sold when and for what price. They've been inside these homes and have seen their features and upgrades, or any flaws and drawbacks. They also know or can find out which homes were foreclosures or short sales.
Generally, many foreclosed homes are in very poor condition. However, many of the short sale properties can still be in good repair. Both of these types of sales usually occurred at discounted prices. So, if a "comp" is used from these sales categories, your agent must carefully cull out and evaluate the distinct differences that may or may not increase the value and therefore the listing price of your home.
New Home Builder confidence has continued to gain momentum this month, rising four points compared to last month reaching levels not seen since 2007. This is now the fourth consecutive month of confidence gains.
It seems that improved interest in new home buying has roused to get builders geared up again. Bob Nielsen, chairman of the NAHB, reports: "This good news comes on the heels of several months of gains in single-family housing starts and sales, and is yet another indication of the gradual but steady improvement that is beginning to take hold in an increasing number of housing markets nationwide... and that has been shown by our Improving Market Index."
Nevertheless, there remains a very strong concern among new home builders in the ability of potential buyers to qualify for mortgages. Over the past two weeks mortgage applications have shown an increase which seems to indicate that that buyers are finally coming back to the market.
Michael Fratantoni, Mortgage Bankers Association's Vice President of Research and Economics, said, "Interest rates dropped last week due to continuing anxieties regarding the fragile economic situation in Europe. With mortgage rates reaching new lows, refinance volume jumped and MBA's refinance index reached its highest level in the last six months. Purchase activity also increased as buyers returned to the market after the holiday season."
Let's see if this trend continues.
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Phyllis Lerner at 914-438-7556 |
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Text "20912" To 79564 |
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 William Raveis Legends Realty Group 37 Main Street Tarrytown, NY 10591 |
Congress voted at the end of December 2011 to extend the payroll tax deduction discount which is part of the "Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Re-authorization and Job Creation Act of 2010". This move continues the 2% cut for two more months by extending the act through the end of February of 2012.
In order to pay for the $33 billion cost of this program Congress is requiring Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and the FHA to increase their loan fees, essentially leaving newly to be home-owners to foot the bill.
Borrowers will have to pay now rates that are about .375% to .5% higher for conventional mortgages and also higher mortgage insurance premiums on FHA loans beginning April 1st of this year. This means that on, for example, a $200,000 conventional mortgage you will need to pay $750 to $1,000 in additional fees to buy the rate down to the interest rate you would have received before this program was extended. If you do not buy it down you'll have to pay tens of thousands in additional interest over the life of a 30 year conventional mortgage. This applies to all conventional mortgage products from any bank or lender.
Many lenders are already beginning to implement this rate increase with their rate locks. So, if you are currently floating your interest rate on a purchase or considering a refinance, lock in your rate now to possibly avoid this hike.
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Phyllis Lerner, Realtor, Broker, Co-Owner - William Raveis Legends Realty Group - Serving all Westchester County Communities - www.westchester-real-estate.us - 914.438.7556
Hello and thank you for visiting!
It is my goal as your full service real estate agent specializing in the Lower Hudson River Towns & Villages to provide you with superior service at all times. My local expertise and extensive real estate experience within Westchester County, especially Tarrytown, Sleepy Hollow, Briarcliff Manor, Pocantico Hills, Pleasantville, Dobbs Ferry, Irvington, Ossining, Croton-On-Hudson and Cortlandt Manor, will benefit you whether you are serious about buying or selling a home at this time, or are a returning client checking out the many homeowner resources I offer.
Buying a home? I look forward to helping you select and aquire the home of your dreams by taking time to listen to your needs and desires.
Selling a home? My real estate expertise and many effective marketing programs will give you the exposure and edge you need to sell your home quickly for top dollar.
Returning Client? I appreciate the opportunity to continue to serve you and hope you take advantage of the valuable resources I provide. Come back to visit often!
I consider these communities excellent places to reside and would love to share with you my enthusiasm for the various and unique neighborhoods within them. I pride myself on providing unparalleled service in a friendly, attentive and honest manner and look forward to developing a long-term relationship with you. Please feel free to contact me if you would like to discuss how I can best assist you with your real estate needs.
Sincerely,
Phyllis Lerner, Realtor
Co-Owner / Broker / CBR
William Raveis Legends Realty Group LLC
914-438-7556
www.phyllislerner.com or www.westchester-real-estate.us or www.phyllislerner.raveis.com
Legends Realty Group has become as of January 1st, 2011 the proud affiliate of William Raveis Real Estate enabling us to provide our clients with even better, completely customizable and more comprehensive services encompassing a broad range of realty, relocation, mortgage and insurance offerings.
Just A Little Bit About Me
I am a life long Westchester County resident and a licensed real estate agent and Realtor® specializing in the Lower Hudson River Towns & Villages.
These communities are excellent places to reside and I would love to share with you my enthusiasm for the various and unique neighborhoods within them. I pride myself on providing unparalleled, personalized service in a friendly, attentive and honest manner and look forward to developing a long-term relationship with my clients. To put it into other words: "Service is my #1 priority!" Please see my Client Testimonials, Virtual Tour for Buyers, and Virtual Tour for Sellers to get a better idea of the full scope and quality of the services I am offering.
Before I excelled in my real estate career, I spent over twenty-five years in key managerial, marketing and sales positions, representing, with much success and recognition, some of the top brands of the high end gift and collectibles industry, including W. Goebel, M.I. Hummel, Swarovski and Disney.
Buyers agent - First time home buyers - Investors - Sellers agent - Condos, co-ops, homes, luxury homes and estates - Residential & commercial real estate services - Covering all of Westchester County especially Tarrytown, Sleepy Hollow, Briarcliff Manor, Dobbs Ferry, Cortlandt Manor, Ossining, Pleasantville, Pocantico Hills, Scarborough, Irvington, Croton, Bronxville & White Plains
Certified Buyers Representative (CBR)
Top achievement awards from Westchester County Board of Realtors for 2003 & 2009 (Silver Awards), and for 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008 (Gold Awards), and 2007 & 2010 (Platinum Awards).
Voted 2010 & 2011 FIVE STAR Real Estate Agent by Westchester Magazine
Member of County Board of Realtors (WCBR)
Member of Empire Access Multiple Listing Service (EAMLS)
Member of Point2 National Listings Service (Point2Homes)
Member of New York State Association of Realtors (NYSAR)
Member of National Association of Realtors (NAR)
Member of Board of Pocantico Hills Resident Association (PHRA)
Member of Active Rain Realtor Network
Member of Trulia.com Real Estate Network
Member of Zillow.com Real Estate Network
Member of Realtor.com Real Estate Network
Just A Little Bit About William Raveis Legends Realty Group LLC
William Raveis Legends Realty Group LLC, is a dynamic, state-of-the-art Westchester County real estate brokerage located in Sleepy Hollow, New York.
The company was founded by the area's top-producing agents who bring a combined total of 100 years of experience with them. They wanted to attract the best and most respected real estate professionals in the industry and, by putting them under one roof, create a company that ensures superior service to individuals buying and selling homes. Their partnership is based on the belief that a better and different business model would empower them in their future ventures. They are actively involved in the community and can share a wealth of information and knowledge with their clients.
Charter members of William Raveis Legends Realty Group LLC are Mary Case Friedner, Phyllis Lerner, Karen Stroub, Robin Birrittella, Elvira Aloia, with managerial support from Marcene Hedayati.
"The Legend begins with the faces you have come to know and trust."
Real estate is one of the most exciting investments one can make and it should be a fun and rewarding experience. We are committed to the highest standards of practice and pride ourselves in the knowledge and experience our agents offer. We guarantee superior service because we adhere to strict training guidelines, demonstrate well-honed skills and practice all regulations vigorously. Our goal is to provide you with unsurpassed service at all times, so please do not hesitate to contact us and tell us about your real estate objectives!
Here are some comments from past and present clients of mine I like to share with you:
"My wife and I cannot express how thankful we are to Phyllis for finding us the HOME OF OUR DREAMS in Tarrytown, NY. We have moved ourselves and relocated with corporations over ten times across the country and we can attest that Phyllis is undeniably the best agent we have partnered with in so many ways. She is very patient and attentive. Phyllis worked for us for over one year to help us find our home and she consistently sent us listings that matched our needs. She is amazingly responsive and more often than not would pick-up phone calls right away or call back within 15 minutes... she made us feel as if we were her only customers! Phyllis went out out of her way to accommodate our busy corporate schedules. She met with us in the evening, weekends and even during the holidays. The most important quality Phyllis possesses that is so important in an agent is her high level of integrity and trust. We never felt pressured to place a bid on a home. She always balanced the pros versus the cons and provided us with an objective and unbiased assessment of each home we viewed with her. Even after we closed on our dream home, we continued to do business with her as she was successful and timely in renting our condo. Phyllis you are absolutely the BEST real estate agent and we thank you for all that you have done for us over the past few years." John & KumRae Lee
"Phyllis was diligent and flexible. She didn't use any pressure sales tactics, and didn't limit the houses we saw to the ones she, or her company, were trying to sell. She always went out of her way to do what needed to be done (which ended up being a lot on our case!). We felt completely comfortable working with her and would recommend her to anyone looking in the Hudson Valley area." Chris & Megan Whitten
"Dear Phyllis, words cannot express how grateful we are to have worked with you - you are kind, patient and very generous. We thank you so much from the bottom of our hearts - we could not have done this without you! We are so happy with our new home! Michele, Louis & Rosee
"Phyllis is warm, helpful, honest and committed. Everything you want and need in a real estate broker. Without her help and perseverance we would never have found the home we now love" Lisa & Paul Zedlovich
"I like to share our experience working with Phyllis Lerner. The search for our new home began three months ago prior to meeting Phyllis. During these three months, we had the trials and tribulations that come with house hunting. The agents we worked with would either show us homes that were desirable but clearly out of our communicated price range and vice versa. It was as if no one was listening. Shopping for your first home is filled with its own anxious moments to begin with and the attitudes of the agents were only exacerbating those nervous moments. That changed the day we met Phyllis Lerner. From the first conversation we had, it was obvious that what we wanted was important to her. She showed us three properties that instantly met our criteria. In addition to that, she was intimately familiar with the surrounding area; it felt as if we were getting the inside scoop with every turn we made! It just so happens, we purchased the first property she showed us. Each step of the way, Phyllis was honest and upfront about the next steps and the process. If she didn't know the answer to a specific question, she wouldn't pretend to answer; she would get back to us once she found out, in a timely fashion. Phyllis also has a very professional demeanor. That was never more obvious than during our closing. She was prepared and in control the entire time. The message here would be: buying a home, as we learned, can seem like an insurmountable burden at times. Instead of being one of these obstacles, Phyllis was a valued teammate who helped us to victory." Keith & Adrienne Johnson
"Phyllis Lerner provides the type of service that everyone wishes they could find in a real estate agent - she's diligent, patient, kind, observant of your likes and needs, and a strong advocate for her clients. Whether you're buying or selling, she delivers. She goes above and beyond for you. Once you've worked with her, you'll never want to deal with another agent again." Elizabeth & Brian Weinstein
"My wife and I recently had the good fortune to work with Phyllis Lerner in our attempt to sell our apartment and find a new home. She was professional, delightful, patient and fun to work with. We were able to sell our place (near ask) very quickly and found a new home that my wife and I both love. Throughout the process, Phyllis was truly a pleasure to work with. She was accessible and actually made the process enjoyable. We will absolutely call upon her again should we ever need a realtor's services." David and Heidi Lackowitz
"You are the first realtor I've worked with who actually listened and did not try to upsell or push us into something we would not be interested in" DP
"Phyllis listened carefully to our wants and needs for a new house. She only showed us places that fit our search profile. In the end Phyllis found us a home that she knew we would love." Robert & Brenda Misuraca
"Very knowledgeable, very responsible, and has high level of customer service. She listens and gives you what you want. Great pleasure to deal with. I have recommended her to family and some of my closest friends. She is different from other real estate agents and her commitment to the job, integrity and honesty are refreshing." H.J.S.
"We needed to relocate our growing family from Rockland to Westchester County without breaking the bank. Phyllis found us our dream home at a price we could afford. She also facilitated the sale of our old house through another realtor at our terms. We are extremely happy with our new home purchase and the way our old home was sold." Bob & Cindy Tolomeo
"Simply outstanding, effective and reliable service." Dave Burger & Joan Coffman
The best compliment I can receive is when you refer your friends and family to buy or sell their home with me. If someone you know is thinking of buying, selling or both please contact me at your earliest convenience, as I would be more than happy to take care of them with this very important transaction.
Please do not hesitate to contact me with your real estate objectives.
Phyllis Lerner
Co-Owner / Broker / Realtor
William Raveis Legends Realty Group LLC
914-438-7556
www.phyllislerner.com or www.westchester-real-estate.us or www.phyllislerner.raveis.com
Voted 2010 & 2011 FIVE STAR Real Estate Agent by Westchester Magazine
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