Rosalinda Morgan, "The Rose Lady", Brookville NY Real Estate Professional

Brookville, one of the most sought after address on the North Shore has a lot to offer clients with discriminating taste. Housing inventory in Brookville ranges from ranches to huge estate with plenty of choice in between. Price ranges from $1,299,000 to $12,900,000. Brookville is located south of Muttontown, north of Jericho, west of Syosset and east of Greenvale and Old Westbury. Brookville does not have its own post office but shares with Glen Head - 11545. Most of the properties in Brookville are on flat ground with very few exceptions that sit on a slope. Brookville does not have a shopping center and residents shop in nearby community in East Norwich and Oyster Bay or Greenvale. School districts for Brookville residents can be Jericho, Locust Valley or Oyster Bay-East Norwich. There is one private school in the area- Lutheran High School. Golf courses abound. Brookville is only minutes to major highways and Syosset branch of the Long Island Railroad is close by.

As of September 2, 2008, according to the Multiple Listing Service of Long Island, there are 31 homes for sale in Brookville in various architectural styles. There are 12 colonials, 5 contemporary, 2 estate, 3 expanded ranch, 2 other, 2 post modern, 3 ranch, 1 split and 1 split ranch.

Address Price Style BR Bath

6 Norgate Rd $1,299,000 Ranch 5 3

2419 Cedar Swamp Rd $1,399,000 Exp Ranch 5 4

85 Fruitledge Rd $1,449,000 Colonial 5 3.5

1 Ivy Ct $1,499,000 Colonial 5 3.5

19 Tappentown Ln $1,529,000 Split Ranch 4 3.5

21 Wenwood Dr $1,599,000 Split 4 3

5 Dogwood Hill $1,625,000 Ranch 4 3.5

2 Ferncote Ln $1,699,000 Exp Ranch 5 4

14 Quaker Ridge Dr $1,790,000 Colonial 5 3.5

3 Paddock Ct $1,890,000 Contemporary 5 4.5

10 Emerson Rd $1,949,000 Contemporary 4 4

14 Rolling Dr $2,095,000 Colonial 6 3.5

4 Country Rd $2,299,000 Colonial 5 4.5

23 Brookville Rd $2,299,000 Other 5 5.5

5 Mac Lean Dr $2,300,000 Contemporary 5 5.5

9 Cow Path $2,495,000 Other 5 4.5

30 Wood Acres Rd $2,495,000 Colonial 5 4.5

22 Ormond Park Rd $2,800,000 Ranch 4 5.55

6 Wood Crossing $2,800,000 Contemporary 6 7.55

4 Roads End $2,895,000 Colonial 4 3.5

14 Dogwood Hill $2,899,000 Exp Ranch 5 4.5

140 Wheatley Rd $2,925,000 Colonial 6 4.55

5 Rock Hill Ln $3,100,000 Post Modern 6 6.5

1 Evans Dr $3,100,000 Colonial 6 6.5

2323 Cedar Swamp Rd $3,175,000 Contemporary 6 5.55

63 Fruitledge Rd $3,225,000 Colonial 5 4.5

2 Green House Ln $3,395,000 Colonial 5 4.5

1 Woodhollow Ct $4,180,000 Post Modern 7 5.5

12 Emerson Rd $4,195,000 Estate 6 5.55

37 Brookville Rd $6,750,000 Colonial 6 6.55

11 Evans Dr $12,900,000 Estate 12 8.55

Copyright © 2008. By Rosalinda Morgan, "The Rose Lady". All rights reserved.. *HOMES FOR SALE IN BROOKVILLE - SEPTEMBER 2, 2008*

Contact Rosalinda Morgan, "The Rose Lady" if you are looking for homes to buy in Brookville, Muttontown, Oyster Bay, East Norwich, Oyster Bay Cove, Syosset and Laurel Hollow.

Planting Fields Arboretum, a 400 plus acres estate in Oyster Bay, NY was once the private enclave and home of Mr. & Mrs. William Robertson Coe and is now listed as a state historic park. There is so much to see on its grounds at every season. The open space, the great lawn, various gardens, and magnificent trees are everywhere. Besides the great trees, gardens and beautiful greenhouses, other buildings abound with a magnificent Tudor Revival Mansion as the centerpiece. The mansion called Coe Hall was built between 1918 and 1921 after the original home burned.

Mr. Coe loved nature and with unlimited funds at his disposal, he started his horticultural collection. Big trees were shipped from out of state and carried by barge thru Long Island Sound into Oyster Bay harbor. With Hicks Nursery transporting these magnificent trees, Mr. Coe made arrangement with the town to clear utility wires that were in the way to Planting Fields. From 1913 on, when Mr. Coe purchased the land, he sought the Olmstead Brothers, the noted landscape designers of New York Central Park for their expertise.

Mr. Coe bequeathed Planting Fields to the State of New York in hope that it would be preserved for future generation to enjoy. After he died in 1955, there was some doubt as to how to revitalize the gardens which were in decline. The Coe Foundation, along with the founding of the Friends of Planting Fields started a volunteer program geared to the renovation and care of the gardens.

In June, the roses in the rose gardens are in peak bloom. Within the park there is a main rose walk of eight long beds, rosebeds at the small manor house, roses climbing up the pillars in the courtyard of the mansion and an arbor of 32 arches covered with 64 ramblers and climbers. The arbor was created in 1908 and many of the original bushes still survive. .

There are also rosebeds in the Synoptic Garden, an alphabetical planting representing every class of plant, shrub and tree that can be grown in the area. It is superbly designed and stretches for five acres through wooded groves. Of course, there is a lovely planting of roses in the "R" section.

Last year, all hybrid tea roses in the main rose garden were pulled out and replaced with David Austin English Roses and other shrub roses as part of the state park system. Planting Fields is not allowed to spray chemicals anymore. Since hybrid tea roses need spraying to keep the plants free of diseases and insects, they decided to limit their rose plants to easy maintenance roses.

Copyright © 2008. By Rosalinda Morgan, "The Rose Lady". All rights reserved.. *PLANTING FIELDS ARBORETUM'S ROSE GARDEN IN OYSTER BAY, NY GOES GREEN*

Looking for a place to go this weekend? This weekend is a great opportunity to make a trip to Long Island's East End and discover the award-winning wines of Long Island. Not only will you be rewarded with the great wine experience, the drive is exhilarating. Out east, you'll find out that you are really in the back country. There are farms everywhere. Years ago, these farms were mostly potatoes and cornfields. Nowadays, they are sod farms and landscape trees. How things change. But still, you'll see historic towns, fishing villages, seafood restaurants and bed and breakfast establishments, flower and farm stalls and a proliferation of vineyards that dotted along the only main thoroughfare, the Main St. (Route 25). While you are there, you might as well go all the way to the end to Orient Point. There is not much there except a restaurant and the beach and the ferry that transport you to New London, Connecticut but at least you can say you have been to the end of the North Fork. You can cap your trip with a dinner at Claudio's Restaurant in Greenport.

Traveling to the South Fork on the weekend is horrendous. So my husband and I went to Southampton once during the week on a business related trip to Southampton Village Hall regarding my listing there. I was disappointed because somehow we missed the wineries on the South Fork. We did not see any of them.

The first grapevines were planted 35 years ago in Cutchogue on the North Fork of Long Island. Today the area boasts of so many vineyards that we are able to compete with California wines and French wines. The early vintners found that Long Island has the best climate and soil and growing conditions for excellent ingredients for quality wines. Long Island wines are both grown on the North Fork and the South Fork at the East End of Long Island. The vintners here used the age-old growing techniques with the state-of-the-art technology to produce the award-winning wines.

However, there is a hidden vineyard located around the most expensive neighborhood of Long island. Villa Banfi Vineyard is located in Brookville. One can see their vineyard on Hegeman's Lane off Route 25A going east toward Brookville Country Club. Although they do not have a vineyard tour, sometimes, they will open the main house for special dinner parties.

Going to the North Fork is a snap. You take the Long Island Expressway to the end and then take Route 25. Once you're on Route 25, at the second light, turn left to the end which is Sound Ave. By doing this route, you'll also avoid the traffic congestion at Riverhead. You might like to drop at Briarmere's Farm Stand and buy some pies. They are out of this world but I caution you, they are very expensive. Then follow that road and scattered about the road, you'll find vineyard after vineyard. Go to Martha Clara Vineyards before you turn right and head back to Route 25 where you'll see more vineyards. I like Pindar Vineyards very much. After that, I will try other vineyards. I find some vineyards have friendlier staff than others. All in all, you'll have a pleasant trip.

Copyright © 2008. By Rosalinda Morgan, "The Rose Lady". All rights reserved.. *LONG ISLAND VINEYARDS PRODUCE WORLD CLASS WINES*

Contact Rosalinda Morgan, "The Rose Lady" if you are looking for homes to buy in Oyster Bay, East Norwich, Oyster Bay Cove, Brookville, Muttontown, Syosset and Laurel Hollow.

Coe Hall, the manor house at Planting Fields will participate in the Smithsonian Magazine's Museum Day on Sept. 27, Saturday. On this day, museum around the country will open their doors free of charge to Smithsonian magazine readers and Smithsonian.com visitors. This is Coe Hall Museum fourth annual free Museum Day.

Coe Hall will open the first floor for a self guided tours with docents stationed in different rooms to answer questions and share their knowledge of Planting Fields and the Coe family. There is a special exhibit "Everett Shinn at Planting Fields" that visitors can sign up. Everett Shinn was commissioned by Mrs. Mai Rogers Coe to do a series of paintings for her bathroom suite at Coe Hall.

To gain free entry, visitors must present their Smithsonian Magazine's Museum Day Admission Card found in the September 2008 issue of the Smithsonian Magazine or it can be downloaded at www.smithsonian.com/museumday. Otherwise, admission is $3.50 per person, children 12 years or younger are free. There is a parking fee of $6.00. Museum hours are 12:00 noon to 3:30 pm.

To make a day of your visit, there is a dog show from 8 AM to 5 PM on the same day.

Purchasing a home is a nerve wracking experience and involves files and piles of paperwork. Looking for your dream house without knowing what it involves is not a good idea at all. As an informed buyer, you're in a better position to deal with all the intricacies of home buying process and making the right decision. This is the biggest purchase of your lifetime and you intend to do the right thing.

•1. Affordability - How much can you afford? Your best bet is to contact your accountant or mortgage broker who can advise you on what you can afford and what programs are available out there for you to take advantage of so you can buy your dream house. Once you know how much money you need to buy your new home and the amount you need for living expenses, then you are on your way to start looking.

•2. Finding the right house - most buyers are internet-savvy and start checking out what's available out there on the internet. If you know your price range, it will be easy to start. You have to decide on what location you want to look. The old adage still applies - LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. When looking, check for the structural integrity of the house, what changes you want to make to make it your own and the location of the property. You are the only one who can decide this thing. Your real estate agent is one to help you find the right house. Some buyers will buy any home as long as the price is right. Granted that it is a bargain so to speak, unless you intend to live there for a while, it does not matter. If you only want to live there for a few years, look at the resale angle for a quick turnover.

•3. Making the offer - In New York, we are required to present a formal offer in writing. Most real estate agents will provide you with their office form which the buyer has to fill up, sign and write in the name of the buyer's attorney and fax or phone number. Negotiations can go back and forth until both parties agree on the terms and conditions.

•4. Hiring an attorney - Once the offer is accepted, then the ball gets rolling pretty fast. The agents will have both attorneys work on the contract. You need an attorney to represent you. Outside of NY metropolitan area, real estate agents prepare the contract which makes for an easy closing. In NY metropolitan area, lawyers get a hold of the transaction and it is a standard procedure to have you represented by a real estate attorney who will advise you on all the legal angle of the transaction.

•5. Securing a mortgage - Now, it is time to shop for a mortgage. Most buyers are comfortable with their own mortgage broker, but I suggest getting another mortgage broker so you can get a comparison on mortgage rates. Using a mortgage broker is a better choice than going to the bank directly because a mortgage broker shops around for the best deal for you and usually they have contacts with several financial institutions.

•6. Home inspection - It is important to contact an engineer to arrange for home inspection. In New York, they have to be licensed. They will advise the new buyer if the house is structurally sound and up to code. If anything is illegal or need immediate attention, he will include them in his report. The buyer pays the inspector and price varies depending on the size of the house.

•7. The Closing - Closing dates depend on several things - the results of the home inspection, the date set on the contract and how fast the buyer can obtain the mortgage. If everything runs smoothly, then a closing date is set. You may be present at closing with your attorney and the sellers and their attorney. The real estate agent is also present just in case there is a problem. The real estate agent also wants to make sure she/he gets paid her commission. After signing and initialing like a million papers and after the lawyers write all the checks, you are handed the key to the house and you are now a homeowner.

Congratulations!

Copyright © 2008. By Rosalinda Morgan, "The Rose Lady". All rights reserved.. *UNDERSTANDING THE PROCESS OF BUYING A HOME*

Contact Rosalinda Morgan, "The Rose Lady" if you are looking for homes to buy in Oyster Bay, East Norwich, Oyster Bay Cove, Brookville, Muttontown, Syosset and Laurel Hollow.