Central Valley, NY

Better Homes and Gardens (BHG) Rand Realty recently celebrated its new Central Valley office location with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Formerly located at 2 Corporate Drive, the new Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty office at 229 Rt. 32 is half a mile north of the previous location and is more easily accessible. Additionally, the office has a warmer feel that better represents the Better Homes and Gardens brand.

Managing partners Joseph and Matt Rand led the ceremony, along with Barbara Meyer, Regional Vice President; Nick Germak, Vice President, Affiliated Services; Renee Zurlo, Regional Development Manager and Branch Leader; Jeff Winsper, Business Development Manager; Janet Farsetta, Vice President, Relocation; Ann Garti, Executive Officer, Orange County Association of Realtors and a variety of Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty agents and staff members that attended.

Anthony Stokes Pereira (845) 624-8100 Ext. 188

Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty

I can help you with every aspect of buying or selling your home because I'm experienced, because I am a Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty Real Estate Professional . . . and because I care.

As your Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty Sales Professional, I will provide you with the information you need to make an educated decision.

The relationship between a home buyer or seller and their agent is based on trust, shared goals and understanding. I strive to continually improve and to do this I listen and take the needs and wants into consideration.

For assistance with any of your real estate needs, please contact me, whether it's to get started on helping you realize your goals and dreams, or just to ask a question - no pressure, no hassle, no obligation - just a friendly conversation. I would welcome the opportunity to make a difference for you.

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate - Rand Realty, founded in 1984, is the No. 1 real estate brokerage in the Greater Hudson Valley with 25 offices serving Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Putnam and Dutchess counties. Rand has more than 800 sales associates, as well as a commercial real estate company (Rand Commercial Services), mortgage company (Rand Mortgage), title company (Hudson Abstract Services) and insurance agency (The Hudson Group Insurance Agency). The company’s Web sites are: randrealty.com, randcommercial.com, randmortgage.com, www.hudsonabstract.com and www.hudson-group.com. Rand Realty is also on Facebook and Twitter. Anthony Stokes Pereira web site www.anthonystokespereira.com . Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Now that June results are in, it's time to see how the real estate market is doing in Woodbury, NY (Orange County).

The following compares 2nd quarter 2011 to 2nd quarter 2010.

A quick assessment of the left hand chart above indicates selling prices have improved slightly in the Woodbury NY area over the last year, although houses are taking longer to sell (295 days on average, compared to 145 days a year ago.) The above also indicates sales in 2Q11 were flat from a year ago, and the number of listings taken remained relatively stable. It's important to keep in mind that 2nd quarter of 2010 included tax stimulus closings, so the above is not an apples to apples comparison. It does, however, suggest that 2011 is actually stronger than a year ago, since there is no tax stimulus in play this year.

In terms of the above right hand chart, which reflects total results in Orange County, NY, while prices remained relatively stable, the number of sales and total listings decreased in the last year, although this could be attributed to tax stimulus plans of 2010.

Bottom line, there is currently a healthy inventory of homes for sale (slightly under 200 homes in Woodbury and 3400 in Orange County). With the low mortgage interest rates, and great selection of homes, this is a perfect time for buyers in Woodbury and all of Orange County to purchase the home of their dreams!

So after seeing a post yesterday about a friend who had done a short video clip about one of her listings I pulled out my flip today.  And lo and behold I found some footage I had forgotten about.  At our office Christmas party I had done some quick filming and got some good clips, one of them being our broker playing the piano and singing.  What??  Prior to pulling out the flip that night and filming this, I never had a clue he did either.   Not only that, he does both extremely well.  Watch out American Idol we may have America's next star!

Central Valley - Last Sunday, January 10, Orange County Youth Symphony performed the orchestra's inaugural concert to thunderous applause. The orchestra performed Overture for Winds by Mendelssohn and Symphony No. 1 in C major by Beethoven.

The Orange County Symphony Orchestra, located in Monroe, was created to meet the growing needs of young, talented instrumental music students throughout the area. It provides them with a year-long experience playing major works of symphony orchestra literature. In Orange County, there had been no existing full orchestra programs in any school or community until now. Students have had to travel to places like New York City or New Paltz to enjoy the experience of playing full orchestra music.

The Orange County Youth Symphony officially started last August when Huadong Lu, founder of the OCYS, ran a two-week full orchestra summer camp. About 40 students joined the camp and worked for seven hours every day with professional coaches.

The camp culminated with a concert in which the students performed Schubert's Symphony 1 in B Flat major to wide acclaim.

In its first season, OCYS has already received strong support from music teachers, parents, students and the community.

There are now 50 members in the orchestra and currently there are several openings for young musicians in some sections.

Huadong Lu and Richard Regan are the co-directors and conductors of the orchestra. OCYS students perform two concerts a year. They must commit to attending ten rehearsals which are held on Sunday afternoons from 2 to 5 p.m.