The real estate market can make it easy or hard to sell a house. Many factors can contribute to that, like government incentives in the industry, the number of home buyers increasing or decreasing, and inventory available on the market. Additionally, how the economy is and how the purchasing power of the population is are other huge components in this equation. However, even though the market may be on your side, some people can not sell their house.
We’re going to find out which mistakes you’re making that are preventing you from selling your home. Don’t worry, this is more common than you think among sellers and agents.
1. Poor images
We’re in the digital era! So you have to put high-quality pictures of your house as a priority. If you don’t know how to take them, hire a professional photographer. It is nice to have some vídeos as well, and this way, it will be more fun for potential home buyers. For sure, this will make a huge difference in your sale.
The pictures should be clear, not dark. They should show the best angles of the house, and remember people like to see beautiful places. This connects us to another point — stage the house! You don’t want to take pictures of a dirty kitchen, a messy playroom, or pets on the couch. It’s important to know that people are different, but everybody loves a tidy place.
2. Withholding information
Sellers generally just write the address, value, and say that it is open for visits, but it’s not going to sell your house. What you should do is describe all parts of the house as much as possible — how many rooms, bathrooms, if it has a backyard, front yard, pool, how the kitchen is, etc. It’s crucial to tell potential buyers everything about the house to make them curious about the property.
Here is some information you could write about: What makes the house unique? What was your motivation when you bought the house? What is the architectural style? Mention every detail that makes the house amazing.
3. Hire a Broker/Agent
We all know sometimes we want to do it all by ourselves, but in some situations, hiring a professional is the best thing we can do when selling a house. An agent has the experience and the time to sell your house properly, which will make both the seller and buyer happy. The commissions that these agents get are worth it for you to get excellent service.
4. Restricting Access to the Property
If you want to sell the house, let people feel free to go there whenever they have time. It’s a big mistake to restrict hours, and do not forbid people from walking in some areas in the house, which can be perceived as rude or creepy.
5. Not Advertising
These days, everybody should know the power of advertising. If you’re putting your house out on the market, this is a step you must take if you want to succeed. Some of the options you can use for that are putting your house on various websites, such as classified ads, real estate, and social media.
6. Not Making Virtual Tours
This might not look so interesting at first, but since the COVID pandemic, virtual tours are more common than ever. People are first seeing homes online, and if they’re really interested, they will schedule a time to see the house. Making a nice video is fundamental to get more attention and offers from potential buyers.
Knowing about all these mistakes will make it is easier to avoid them. Now you can have a successful open house!
Going to open houses is a part of house hunting and a very exciting one. However, something that should be a fun part of your next step in life can be transformed into a nightmare if you don’t know how to act in these places.
Some of the common questions homebuyers ask are: Do I walk straight in? When do I ask questions? Is there a dress code? Can I bring the kids with me? We are going over these questions today, and we’re going to help you figure out how to deal with that, what you should do, and what you shouldn’t do.
What should a homebuyer do
1. Ask questions
That’s obvious advice, we know! But very frequently, when people are visiting houses, they get so excited with the houses that they forget to ask questions. It’s kind of funny but true! Remember, the agent is there to sell the house, so ask as many questions as possible. If you leave and still have questions, feel free to send them questions by email or phone.
2. Take pictures and videos
Even though nowadays the open listings have more images and videos, ask if you can take your own photos. It’s considered acceptable for would-be buyers to have some images from the house they are thinking about buying.
3. Check if something is broken
Check if everything is working in the house. Look around and see if there is anything broken, like doors, windows, open kitchen cupboards, and check the pressure in the faucets.
4. Make yourself at home
This is the house you’re envisioning to buy, so feeling comfortable is very important. Make yourself at home, imagine living in the place with your family, and feel free to sit down on the couch or at the counter in the kitchen. However, laying down on a bed is definitely off-limits.
5. No dress code
Our tip here is to dress in whatever you feel comfortable with. But remember, you’re going to see a house you want to buy, so it is nice to dress like someone who can afford a house, of course within your style.
What you shouldn’t do
1. Careful with kids
Usually, open houses are on weekends when families are relaxed and taking kids out for activities. There isn’t a rule, but it is polite to ask the agent if you can bring your kids for the open house, but only if you can watch them! It’s very rude to let kids mess around while people are looking at the house, remember that it’s not yours yet.
2. Criticizing the property loudly
It is very normal that the property won’t meet your expectations, but do not criticize it out loud. That is very impolite and makes everybody around feel uncomfortable. If the property is not what you want, check with the agent if they have another property, or you can use the faults to negotiate the price.
3. Don’t bring drink or food
It’s common courtesy not to bring drinks like coffee or eat snacks inside the house that could spill and get dirty. Some open houses have coffee breaks, but limit yourself to the area where there is food and drink.
4. Snooping around
It may seem unnecessary to say, but don’t snoop around people’s houses. You can look at the closets, and see how deep the bathroom cupboard is, but it’s unacceptable to snoop around people’s personal possessions.
To conclude, it is smart to bring your ID in case you need to register at the door of the open house. Ask as many questions as you need, and be nice, as the agents are representing the owner of the house. Always remember, being polite is the key to success!
Renting an apartment can be a little tricky, so paying attention to details in this process will make the difference when you close the deal. Some of the common issues that tenants have are with parking, rules, and terms in the building, or too thin walls. Checking the building, the apartment, the neighbor, and the noise in the building are some of the things you should be careful with to avoid having future problems.
Here are some of the most important points to consider when you’re renting an apartment.
Set your budget
The first priority when you’re looking to rent a place is to set your budget. Looking at your financial situation is the first step to take. Our tip here is to write down your income, realize what you can afford — remember your rent should be one-third of your income or less —, and then start searching for what type of apartment you want.
Research the building
When looking for apartments, make sure to search online about them, and see what kinds of reviews or issues they have. If there is anything wrong with the complex, you can find that information on google. If there is any problem with the electricity or water pressure, you should know before signing the lease.
Parking space
If you are a car owner, having all the information about parking is very important. Some buildings don’t have a garage or parking space for every renter, so make sure you get all the information you need at this point to avoid unwelcome surprises when you park your car.
Negotiate
Negotiating terms and prices is a smart move to make when you’re renting an apartment. Get fully informed about the place — issues, how long the place has been on the market, how the neighbors are, all this can help you get a discount on the rent.
Check how thin the walls are
Living in an apartment, you’re going to have neighbors all around you — to the left, to the right, above and below, so if you appreciate quieter places, this tip is for you. Some modern buildings have soundproof walls, but old ones don’t. So if this is an issue for you, our tip here is to schedule an open house during the morning, when everybody is getting ready for work or school, and you will experience the normal level of noise. Another good time is on the weekends when people are usually at home.
Now you have the knowledge you need to rent an apartment and not have any unexpected surprises!
Nowadays, the housing market is full of unprecedented opportunities for those who want to sell or buy a house. We’ve seen a high demand of buyers and a record-low inventory, which means it is the perfect time for those who want to sell a house. Enjoying this wave is a smart decision. However, it is important to set things up before you put your house on the market, since no one wants mistakes to happen in this phase.
1. Pricing Correctly
This step is one of the most fundamental. Even with the housing market having low inventory, this does not mean the house is going to sell at the price we want. Having the right price for the house will save time in the selling process, and for sure, you will find the perfect buyer. Another smart idea is to get more bids for the house to create a competitive environment and increase the final sale price of the house. To make sure the house is evaluated correctly, call a real estate agent to help you set the right price and achieve your financial goals.
2. Stage the House
Here is the step to make the house look incredible, and putting in the right decoration will help sell the house. It’s important to stage with a buyer mind and not with a seller mind, which means you should decorate the house the way the future buyers will step in and visualize themselves living in that place.
The buyers want to see a place they can imagine, so it is important to not have personal items like pictures of the family, kid’s toys, etc. Leave the place organized and neat so that whoever enters can envision their desires there. A real estate agent can help with that as well.
3. Let the Emotion Out
Sometimes, it is not so easy to sell the house we’ve been living in for many years, and of course, we’re going to be emotionally attached to the place we have spent with our family or raising the kids. For some homeowners, it’s quite difficult to separate the emotional value from the market value of the house. In this case, it is necessary to hire a real estate agent to help you set the right price for the house.
After you follow these steps, your sale is going to be successful. We are sure that you are going to have the right price for the house and achieve your goals!
Looking for the best area to live is not an easy choice, and the process is almost as hard as finding the perfect house or apartment. Choosing the right neighborhood is important since you will live in this place for a long time, and if you are thinking about purchasing a house, this will be at the top of your list. Knowing about crime rates, amenities, excellent school districts, and access to playgrounds (if you have a family) is fundamental.
Photo: Hummingbird Group – Condominium in Middlesex – New Jersey
First, consider making a list of your or your family’s necessities. This way your search will be easier, you will visualize everything you need on paper, and to help you with your list, check out our post Creating a List to Find a New House.
Online Search
Your first step is to search online about the community you want to live in. This includes Google street views, local parks, distance from the center of the city, your work, and last but definitely not least, look up the crime rate in the area. It’s paramount to know if you are moving to a safe place.
A nice neighborhood generally has exceptional schools, so if you have kids, this is essential for the area you are moving to. Pay attention to this and you will find a friendly community to raise your children!
Take a look around the neighborhood
Searching online about the community you want to live in is your first step, but after that, what you should do is to spend time in the area you want to move to. Look around, observe how the houses are, streets, traffic, cleanliness, sidewalks, if there are abandoned buildings, or people living in the streets. The secret here is to visit the neighborhood at different times of the day and the week, and you will see how it really is.
Traffic
Consider how far are you going to be from your work, your commute, how the traffic is in rush hour, or if you want to spend time in traffic. Second, take into account if there is easy access to public transportation — subways, bus stops, taxis, distance to the airport, etc. All that is important to keep in mind, this will be your daily life after all, so make sure that you have the best infrastructure, which will reduce stress in your everyday life.
Amenities
Do you like to have close access to grocery stores, restaurants, cafes, and the gym? If there are bars close to you, how noisy will it be on the weekends? Is the family-friendly neighborhood too quiet or does it have everything you need? Consider these questions, and it will save time in the future when running errands.
If you are the kind of person who likes to be involved with the community, it is nice to see if the area has libraries, activity centers, churches, etc.
Property Value
Whoever is purchasing a house, consider paying attention to the value of the house, how much it has increased in the last 5 years, and ask some real estate agent about projects for the future in the area. Regarding taxes, you need to know how much you will have to pay and how this will increase, so make sure that will be in your moving budget.
Now you have everything you need to find the perfect location to move to. Make sure you have all the items in your list checked off!
Since the start of the pandemic, Americans looking to buy a home have struggled with bidding wars and a limited number of houses for sale. But one area of the cutthroat real estate landscape is improving. It’s the luxury segment, where listings are up and homes are selling at a rapid clip.
The demand is so great that even “white elephants” – high-end homes that sat on the market for months before the pandemic began – are selling quickly as their owners willingly splurge on remodeling projects to spruce them up. The motivation is the hot market for premium properties, and an urge to make shabbier ones more alluring for buyers.
At a time of unprecedented shortages of available homes, improving sales of larger, high-end properties means that a few people are moving up the price ladder, and putting a limited number of less expensive houses on the market.” When larger homes sell, it means it is freeing up inventory in mid-market homes,” says Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Associated of Realtors. “There is a ripple effect, but it is small.”
For owners willing to spend thousands to make high-end properties “move-in ready,” those efforts are now often rewarded when buyers pay top dollar. Real estate agent JoJo Romeo and her client Edward Li JoJo Romeo, a real estate agent in Irvine, California, who specializes in luxury properties, has managed 12 such projects for sellers in the last year. In many cases, they were “white elephants.”
“Clients will say, ‘Oh the market’s really good. I want to get top dollar for my house,’” Romeo says. “And I say, ‘You’re not going to because it’s not turnkey.’”Edward Li decided in June 2019 that he wanted to sell the five-bedroom home he’d owned with his parents in Irvine, California, for 13 years. He listed the 3,600-square-foot property, which has a pool and is in the gated community of Turtle Ridge, for $3.49 million.
Eight months later, Li still had no offers. That’s when Romeo contacted him.“She’s like, ‘What’s the situation with this house?'” recalls Li, an engineering business consultant. She then insisted that he remodel.“‘ We’re catering to a high-end market where buyers just don’t want to fix anything,’” he remembers her saying. Li agreed. The home had been rented for over a decade and had a stain on the carpet and beige walls.
Edward Li’s former home before transformation.Edward Li’s former home after transformation.
After a $150,000 renovation, Romeo re-listed the home in July. It received three offers within the first week, then sold for $3.55 million. A confluence of trends is fueling the revived demand for high-end homes like Li’s. Affluent Americans want more space as they work, learn and entertain from home. They also have the means to buy, helped by higher savings, historically low mortgage rates and soaring stock prices that have padded their wealth and allowed them to offer large amounts of cash for new homes.
“There’s this heightened awareness of home and the high-net-worth individuals who were spending their time traveling are suddenly spending a lot of time at home,” says Diane Hartley, president of the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing in Dallas. “And now they want their homes bigger and better.”
At the start of the pandemic, stay-at-home orders prevented buyers from house-hunting and discouraged sellers from listing properties. But that changed in May 2020, when online, socially distanced viewings started taking off.In the months that followed, demand far outpaced supply, and U.S. housing gained about $2.5 trillion in value for 2020 – the most in a single year since 2005, according to a Zillow analysis.
“People view real estate in a more special way than before and that is a change in preference we are seeing in all segments of the U.S. housing market,” says Yun, the NAR economist. Fast forward to 2021. The typical luxury home on sale during the first quarter spent 61 days on the market – 38 fewer days than during the same period in 2020, according to Redfin. That compares with 26 fewer days for expensive homes, 18 fewer days for midpriced homes, and 14 fewer days for affordable homes, according to Redfin.
The number of homes that sold for more than $1 million rose by 81% in February, according to the National Association of Realtors. In the Midwest, the number doubled in the same period. In the Northeast, volume increased by 98%. In the South, it was up by 94%.
It’s not just pricey renovations like Li’s that get results. Patrick Ryan, a real estate agent in Chicago, spent $3,000 to fix up a single-family listing in the Wicker Park neighborhood. Despite being new, the dwelling hadn’t sold“I found they hadn’t flushed the toilets in eight months,” Ryan says. “So they had rings on them. It looked like a foreclosed property.”He had the home painted and professionally cleaned. And with the addition of a few flowers on the porch, the listing went into contract in four days for $1.72 million, or 97% of the asking price in August.“If you were trying to sell your car,” Ryan says, “you would go get it detailed.”
Overall, the supply shortage in the luxury market is less severe than in other price tiers, partly because more high-end homeowners are putting their properties up for sale. New listings of luxury homes grew 15.8% year over year in the first quarter, while listings in most other price tiers declined, according to Redfin.
Only by building more homes in other price tiers can inventory levels build up sufficiently to help first-time buyers, who are still struggling to find homes in the current market, says Yun, the economist with NAR. Given that supply is meeting demand in the luxury market, home sellers could view sprucing up their homes as a way to stand out from the crowd. Li says that while he’s glad he spent the extra money on fixing up the house, it was a dilemma, nevertheless.” I think I sold it too soon,” he says with a laugh.
Settled in the late 1600s, this Litchfield County town is more densely populated than its neighbors, with a quaint downtown and more full-time residents.
Shortly before the pandemic, Brad and Courtney Akin began hunting for a weekend getaway from their two-bedroom rental in Queens. It wasn’t long before they fell in love with a converted barn and grain silo, built in 1800, in the town of Woodbury, Conn., on the southern edge of Litchfield County. By the time they closed on the property, Covid-19 was raging, so they crammed what they could carry from their apartment into a U-Haul and drove with their son, who was almost 2, to their new home. And that’s where they’ve spent much of their time since.
Mr. Akin, 36, is an associate business manager at a Manhattan-based financial services firm for musicians; Ms. Akin, 32, is a marketing manager for a media company in Manhattan. Both have been working remotely, happily ensconced in their 3,045-square-foot, four-bedroom post-and-beam house. They paid $370,000 for the property, which sits on 1.34 wooded acres. This spring, they tapped some of their maple trees to make syrup.
It’s not that they don’t miss New York and all the city offers. They have held onto their apartment, but as Ms. Akin put it, “Everything looks different now — this is our refuge.
Rustic beauty and peace are qualities that many Woodbury residents appreciate, whether they live there part-time or full-time. Barbara K. Perkinson, Woodbury’s first selectman, estimated that of the town’s roughly 9,700 residents, weekenders make up 10 to 15 percent.
What distinguishes the town from neighbors that are less densely populated and heavier on weekenders — specifically Roxbury and Washington — is its quaint downtown. Stretching about two miles, it is lined with mostly locally owned small businesses, shops and restaurants — some in plazas, some in restored antique homes. This area is part of what earned Woodbury its 2020 Reader’s Digest designation as Connecticut’s “most charming small town.”
Another aspect of Woodbury’s charm is its sense of history. Settled in the late 1600s, the town is infused with its past, evident in the numerous 19th-, 18th- and even 17th-century homes that pepper its leafy streets, and in the names of several of those streets that commemorate its founders.
The Farm sells G.M.O.-free produce at its farm stand, in its store and through its C.S.A. Credit: Stefano Ukmar for The New York Times
The Akins have been pleased to find plenty of red hearts honoring health care workers and anti-hate signs planted on lawns, as well as an active “Justice Woodbury” Facebook page and a weekly Black Lives Matter rally downtown. “They’re there literally every Sunday,” Mr. Akin said of the rallies. “People drive by and honk their horns.”
“OK, maybe not everybody here votes the same way,” he continued, acknowledging a townwide voting record that skews Republican. “But this town cares.”
What You’ll Find
Shaped like a rectangle with a jagged eastern side, Woodbury is bisected from its southern border to its northeastern corner by Route 6, also known as Main Street South and Main Street North, and the site of the downtown corridor. The rest of the town is primarily residential, its roads meandering past three rivers — the Pomperaug, Weekeepeemee and Nonnewaug — and more than 3,000 acres of parks, preserves and farmland.
RaeAnn Walcott, Woodbury’s assessor, said the town has 3,477 single-family homes. In addition to the antique houses, they include 20th-century ranches, raised ranches and Capes, and, in a few subdivisions, large 21st-century colonials.
85 OWL RIDGE ROAD | A four-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bathroom house, built in 2007 on 2.02 acres, listed for $1.65 million. 203-578-0397 Credit: Stefano Ukmar for The New York Times
There are also 42 two-family homes and eight three-family homes, plus 712 condominiums in seven complexes, among them the 400-unit Woodlake. There are 31 rental buildings, most with four to 12 units; the two largest have 56 and 74 units.
What You’ll Pay
Pels Matthews, an agent with William Raveis Real Estate, said homes in Woodbury sell from the $100,000s for a one-bedroom condo, up to $2 million. “Most of the single-family houses on the market are between $350,000 and $1 million,” he said, noting that Woodbury doesn’t command the premium prices that Roxbury and Washington do. “There are some nice estates here, but there are no $5 million homes.”
As it is elsewhere, inventory is unusually low, and the market “is unbelievable,” said Timothy S. Drakeley, a broker at Drakeley Real Estate, with “significant activity in every price range.”
Bidding wars and over-asking-price sales have become common. Mr. Drakeley cited a house listed recently for $649,000: “We had three offers within three days, each one over $670,000.”
87 CARMEL HILL ROAD | A five-bedroom house with five full and two half bathrooms, built in 1988 on 2.38 acres, listed for $790,000. 203-982-2303 Credit: Stefano Ukmar for The New York Times
According to information provided and compiled by SmartMLS, Inc., as of May 3, there were 29 single-family homes on the market, from a 2,018-square-foot, three-bedroom 1760 colonial on 4.1 acres, listed for $195,900, to a 2,416-square-foot, four-bedroom 1845 colonial on 33 acres, with a pool and pool house, listed for $1.899 million. Three multifamily homes were available: a 906-square-foot two-bedroom for $368,500; a 2,434-square-foot two-bedroom for $449,900; and a 5,600-square-foot five-bedroom for $724,900. One condominium was on the market, a 546-square-foot one-bedroom, for $125,000, as was one rental, a 3,159-square foot, four-bedroom house, for $18,000 a month.Prices are up across the board. The median sale price for a single-family home during the 12-month period ending May 3 was $392,500, up from $356,000 during the previous 12 months. The median price for a multifamily home was $313,750, up from $277,500. The median sale price for a condominium was $145,000, up from $127,500. And the median monthly rental was $1,500, up from $1,400.
The Vibe
Because of its variety of housing, Woodbury is more socioeconomically diverse than many of its Litchfield County neighbors. Mr. Drakeley, a lifelong resident, said the community is a mix of families who have stayed for generations and transplants from New York City, Westchester County and more built-up places nearby, like Southbury, Watertown and Waterbury. Ms. Perkinson described Woodbury as having “a hometown feel, where everybody knows everybody.”
74 MIDDLE QUARTER ROAD | A four-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom house on 4.7 acres, built in 1835, listed for $599,000. 203-948-5255 Credit: Stefano Ukmar for The New York Times
Residents might bump into one another downtown, at the Canfield Corner Pharmacy or the popular New Morning Market and Vitality Center, one of two supermarkets in town. They might grab a craft beer at Woodbury Brewing Company or see a play at the nonprofit Community Theatre at Woodbury (once post-pandemic performances resume).Outdoor enthusiasts can explore the trails in several town-owned parks, including Hollow Park, with ball fields and a path along the Pomperaug River, and Orenaug Park, which has a rock-climbing section and an observation tower. Or they can hike to the scenic Nonnewaug Falls or wander in the 2,400-acre Flanders Nature Center and Land Trust, which maintains seven nature preserves, six of them in Woodbury. And for nearly three decades, Woodbury has held one of the state’s largest Earth Day celebrations (this year, it was a pandemic-safe hybrid version).
The town has a longstanding reputation as the antiques capital of Connecticut, but with some of its antiques stores shuttering, that has shifted. Now some locals call it “Foodbury,” for its wealth of restaurants. Favorites include the farm-to-table Good News Restaurant and Bar; the historic 1754 House restaurant and tavern; and Dottie’s, a must-visit stop on doughnut tours.
The Schools
Woodbury is served by Regional School District 14, which also serves the adjacent town of Bethlehem. Of the district’s roughly 1,650 students, nearly two-thirds live in Woodbury.
Children in prekindergarten through fifth grade attend one of two schools: Mitchell Elementary School, in Woodbury, or Bethlehem Elementary School, in Bethlehem. Enrollment in prekindergarten, an integrated special education program for 3- and 4-year-olds, is determined by lottery, and tuition is charged.
Located near the border with neighboring Bethlehem, Nonnewaug Falls is part of a 50-acre park with hiking trails. Credit: Stefano Ukmar for The New York Times
Students in sixth through eighth grade go to Woodbury Middle School before moving on to Nonnewaug High School; both schools are in Woodbury. Last fall, a three-year, $64 million renovation was completed at the high school, which includes the acclaimed Ellis Clark Regional Agriscience and Technology Center.
Data from the Connecticut State Department of Education’s Edsight portal indicated that on the 2018-19 Smarter Balanced assessments, 67.7 percent of the district’s fourth grade students were proficient in English language arts and 69.7 percent were proficient in math; statewide equivalents were 54.6 percent and 52.5 percent. Mean SAT scores for the 2020 graduating class were 528 in evidence-based reading and writing, and 512 in math, aligned with the College Board’s statewide means of 527 and 512.
The Commute
Woodbury residents might commute to nearby cities like Waterbury, a little more than 10 miles east; Danbury, 22 miles southwest; Torrington, 25 miles northeast; New Haven, 25 miles southeast; or Hartford, 41 miles northeast.
The commute to Manhattan, more than 80 miles southwest, is a long one, although some make the trip a few times a week. Those traveling to the city can head to Interstates 84 and 684 for the drive, which takes less than two hours, depending on traffic. Or they can drive more than 30 minutes southwest into New York to catch Metro-North Railroad’s Harlem line at Brewster, where trains to and from Grand Central Terminal take 79 to 107 minutes. Round-trip fares are $40 peak, $30 off-peak and $437 monthly; presently, all trains are considered off-peak.
The Glebe House Museum and Gertrude Jekyll Garden is a public historic site. The house (named for its location on the glebe, or the parish priest’s farmland) dates to 1740 and is considered the birthplace of the Episcopal Church in the United States. Credit – Stefano Ukmar for The New York Times
The History
In the middle of the 20th century, the area around Woodbury was a haven for a small group of Surrealist artists. Alexander Calder, whose work found influences in Surrealism, lived in Roxbury. André Masson had a home in New Preston, and Arshile Gorky lived in Sherman. The painter Muriel Streeter and her husband, Julien Levy, a dealer in Surrealist art, lived in Bridgewater. And shortly after they married in 1940, Yves Tanguy and Kay Sage settled in Woodbury.
Mr. Tanguy, who came to the United States from France, painted disquieting dreamscapes populated with biomorphic abstractions, while Ms. Sage, the daughter of a New York State senator, set her geometric forms and architectural imagery in desolate landscapes. In 1946, the couple bought a 19th-century farmhouse and barn on Old Town Farm Road and converted the barn into side-by-side studios. After Mr. Tanguy’s death in 1955, Ms. Sage remained there until she took her life in 1963. The home and barn still stand.
It is very exciting when you finally find the perfect house, in the right neighborhood, that fits your budget, and is the way you’ve planned. However, paying attention to additional costs is crucial, the asking price is just the beginning. Many costs come after the asking price and can leave a lot of homebuyers in the dark, so let’s get started!
For most home buyers, the spending doesn’t stop with the down payment. You will have house insurance, closing costs like apparel and land fees, but these you will see coming. The problem is dealing with the ones you don’t know about.
One of the major facts that add up costs is how the last homeowner left the house. Does the house come complete, or do you have to buy a new oven, refrigerator, or stove? These are some of the costs you may encounter as well, and you should consider negotiating the price of the house.
Here is a very important tip: When you find your house, hire a home inspector (that will cost money, too!) that can check the house for you and see if there are any hidden problems. This professional can discover structural and plumbing issues, electrical wiring, weak foundations, and more that you can’t find yourself.
Another expenditure that may be added to your home is your own comfort. Do you want to replace something in the house? Remodeling, changing some decoration objects, replacing some furniture, or bedding. All these are nice upgrades to make when you move in to a new place, which brings new energy, but you have to consider if it will fit in your budget.
The solution for all these additional expenses is to plan ahead. Start your planning before the house hunting, organize your budget, and make a list of priorities that you need in the house so that you can be prepared for those expenses. Following our steps, you’ll succeed in your purchase!
Across the Big Apple, these posh properties equally embrace design and the environment
Luxury living in New York is going the way of green. A small but increasing number of new buildings in the city are built with sustainability in mind and have an eye on design at the same time.
A decade ago, sustainable apartments were unheard of in New York, according to Steven James, the CEO of Douglas Elliman, New York City. “Today, the idea is not totally commonplace but definitely increasing, especially in very upscale high-rises where no expense was spared during the construction,” he says.
Douglas Elliman lists several thousand residences a month in the city, says James, and around 5% include eco-friendly features, compared with virtually zero five years ago. “We’re talking about properties that run well into the seven figures,” he says.
Located in the heart of FiDi, 77 Greenwich 15D boasts eco-friendly interiors designed by AD100 architect Deborah Berke
77 Greenwich, 15D
77 Greenwich is a 42-story tower in the Financial District with interiors by AD 100–ranked Deborah Berke and a pleated glass wall façade that provides panoramic water views from each of the 90 apartments. The condominium, slated to open this summer, is around 30% more energy efficient than standard buildings in the city because of features like glass in lieu of artificial light and a variable-flow heating and cooling system that’s twice as efficient as regular systems. Each residence also has air filters that provide a dedicated outdoor air supply. Amenities include a roof deck, children’s playroom, gym and bike room. This 15th floor unit has 2 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, light wood floors, marble baths and unobstructed Hudson River views. All of the appliances are energy efficient.\
Price: $2.075 million
Bed/Baths: 2 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
Square Footage:1,371
The Lantern House in Chelsea features interiors by Thomas Heatherwick marking his first residential project in the states
Lantern House, Penthouse 1019
Located in Chelsea, Lantern House is Thomas Heatherwick’s first residential project in North America and will be ready for occupancy this summer. Human health and clean living are top priorities: Every unit features a high-efficiency water filtration system, air filters to minimize contaminants, an energy-efficient heating and cooling system, and insulated window frames that minimize the use of air conditioning and heat. Lantern House amenities include a pool, gym, garden and roof deck. This penthouse is notable for its oversized bay windows overlooking the city skyline, high ceilings, an airy great room with a fireplace, and a 900-square-foot rooftop terrace on the second floor with a kitchen and refrigerator. The en suite bedrooms are generously sized while the master suite is in its own wing and has two walk- in closets.
Price: $12.97 million
Bed/Baths: 4 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms
Square Footage: 2,810 plus a 900-square-foot terrace.
70 Little West 12th Street 23B in the Visonnaire building boasts lots of green features including a rooftop garden.
70 Little West 12th Street, 23B
In Battery Park City, the Visionaire is a LEED-certified glass tower that has a light footprint but doesn’t skimp on design. The building was partly constructed with recyclable materials, and half were sourced from within a 500-mile radius. Additional green elements include a high-efficiency air filtration system, the use of natural gas, eco-friendly paints in the public spaces and apartments, and native landscaping in the rooftop gardens, which are not treated with pesticides and are irrigated using harvested rainwater. Amenities include a rooftop terrace, lounge, gym, and pool. With two bedrooms and baths, this apartment sees plenty of natural light thanks to the floor to ceiling windows, spanning 45 feet long. The views of the city and Hudson River are hard to beat, and the open kitchen cum living area is ideal for entertaining.
Price: $2.24 million
Bed/Baths: 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Square Footage: 1,311.
50 Clinton Street 3C on the Lower East Side comes with 10 foot high ceilings filled with natural light
50 Clinton Street, 3-C
Constructed in 2016, this Lower East Side condominium has several appealing amenities including a gym, a rooftop terrace with grills, and a bike room. Reminiscent of a stylish European flat, this third-floor residence with 10-foot-high ceilings is full of eco-friendly features such as solar shades that help minimize energy use, energy-efficient appliances, an emphasis on natural light, and LED lighting. The unit has large windows with views of lower New York and a kitchen counter with barstools. The master bathroom is a retreat with its chevron-patterned white marble, soaking tub. and floor-to-ceiling glass shower.
Price: $2.05 million
Bed/Baths: 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Square Footage: 1,128
Charlotte of the Upper West Side contains 7 full floor units each crafted with sustainably sourced materials
Charlotte of the Upper West Side
One of the first new residential buildings to be constructed in the Central Park Historic District in the past 30 years, Charlotte of the Upper West Side has seven sustainably designed full-floor residences; listings will be live this spring. Each features its own energy recovery ventilation system that delivers fresh filtered outside air to each room of the home and is crafted with sustainably sourced materials; the wood frames, trims, flooring and millwork, for example, are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) as meeting its worldwide standards of environmentally responsible forest management. The showpiece in all the units is the sprawling kitchen-living-dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows. All the bedrooms are airy while the master suites have 20-foot terraces overlooking the private garden. The building’s amenities include a gym, a pet spa, and additional storage for each residence.
Price: Starting from $11 million
Bed/Baths: Starting from 4 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms
Square Footage: Starting from approximately 3,750 square feet, plus private outdoor space
The panoramic views at 2 River Terrace 18D
2 River Terrace, 18D
Situated in Battery Park City, Riverhouse is a LEED-certified condominium with low carbon features such as twice-filtered air, filtered water, sustainable construction materials, and nontoxic paints. The apartments all have energy-efficient appliances, teak cabinets made with sustainably sourced wood, insulated windows, and an abundance of natural light, which helps cut down on energy use. Amenities include a gym, a pet spa, a library, a lounge, a yoga studio, and a pool. With a loftlike feel, this three-bedroom, 3.5-bath home is notable for its high ceilings and has a large entry hall plus an open design living room cum kitchen. The master bath is a standout with its frameless glass shower, soaking tub, and teakwood marble finishes.
Since Matthew Turner was laid off in October, he estimates he’s applied to close to 600 jobs, with no luck.
Nearly as difficult has been his hunt for rental assistance.
Turner’s contacted many local organizations in North Carolina where he lives, but has been denied or left on waitlists by all of them. He and his husband, Gerard, have depleted their savings and don’t know how they’re going to come up with May’s rent for their Raleigh apartment.
“It’s incredibly stressful,” Turner, 48, said. “You don’t know what else to do.”
Congress has allocated a total of more than $45 billion in rental assistance after the coronavirus pandemic cost millions of Americans their jobs and left as many as 1 in 5 renters unable to keep up with their housing payments, including close to a third of African American renters.
However, the rollout of the relief funds isn’t coming fast enough for many, and evictions continue despite a national ban on the proceedings.
So far, states and their local programs are in the process of distributing $16 billion of the $25 billion in rental assistance passed in December, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition.
In May, the Department of the Treasury will begin sending to states and localities the additional $21 billion in rental assistance allocated in March’s stimulus package.
As of early April, three months after the $25 billion in relief was passed, some 20 states have yet to open a program to give out the aid.
That has left tenants across the country stuck in line for the assistance.
“Wait times for rent relief in Massachusetts are still weeks to months,” said Helen Matthews, communications manager at City Life/Vida Urbana, a nonprofit in Boston.
The delays are due to the fact that states are figuring out how to distribute an unprecedented amount of money, experts say. In addition, housing advocates say that some states are unnecessarily slowing things by imposing arduous documentation requirements for tenants to qualify.
Another issue is that state programs have the option of giving the money directly to a renter if their landlord refuses to participate, but most aren’t doing so, said Diane Yentel, president and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition. (Some landlords don’t want to agree to certain terms of accepting the assistance, which can include not raising rent or evicting their tenant for a period of time.)
Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has banned most evictions through the end of June, many landlords are pushing out tenants anyway.
Since the CDC ban went into effect in September, The Eviction Lab at Princeton University has identified more than 217,000 evictions in just the five states and 19 cities that it tracks. Some federal judges have questioned the CDC’s authority to ban evictions, and an advisory body to the Texas courts this month issued guidance saying judges didn’t need to enforce the moratorium.
Unable to rely on the eviction ban for protection, struggling renters in Texas have also not had much luck getting rental assistance.
A report published this month on Texas’ rent relief program found that out of more than 176,000 people who’ve begun applying for financial assistance there, only 250 applications have been approved with payments sent out.
“If it takes you 45 days to get money, and 44 days to get evicted, what was the point of the money?” said Mark A. Melton, a lawyer who has been representing tenants pro bono during the pandemic.
“It’s like drowning in the ocean and being 12 inches away from a lifeline, but no one is helping to push it your way.”
