Posts in category 'Real Estate Blogs'
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17
The Real Deal on Rising Rates: What It Means for Your Home-Buying Plans
You've taken all the necessary steps to get ready to buy a home. You've saved for a down payment, improved your credit score, got all your financial documentation in line, and figured out what price range you can afford. And then the interest rates went up. Is your dream of homeownership now unachievable?
According to recent data from realtor.com®, the share of first-time buyers planning to buy a home this spring fell sharply when mortgage rates began to rise toward the end of 2016. According to realtor.com®'s January survey of active homebuyers, 44 percent of buyers planning to buy in spring 2017 are first-time buyers. This has dropped significantly since the survey was conducted in October, when 55 percent of buyers planning a spring purchase indicated they were looking for their first home.
However, with inventory shortag...
10
5 Things to Pay Attention to on a Walk-Through
You've done your research online and narrowed down the neighborhoods and homes you're most interested in. The next step? Visit your top picks in person. But what should you look for? What real estate information will you be able to determine live that you couldn't find in the photos and details you already looked at online? Here's a list of what to look for when on a walk-through:
The neighborhood. Sure, you found out all about school quality, crime stats, proximity to transportation and more during your online research, but nothing compares to being there. Take a look at traffic patterns, the condition of surrounding homes, the neighbors, their yards, etc. After you've toured the house, take a few minutes for a quick stroll around the block. This will give you a much better sense of the neighborhood you may c...
9
Important Contact Numbers
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Significant snowfall and strong winds are expected to impact our area starting early tomorrow morning. With this storm approaching, I wanted to make sure you had the following phone numbers in case you need assistance or information:
Emergencies: Dial 911
To report power outages or downed power lines:
• PSEG 24 hour hotline: (800) 490-0075
To report gas outages or gas safety emergencies:
• National Grid 24 hour hotline: (800) 490-0045
Information on mass transit service:
• MTA/LIRR/NYC Transit: www.mta.info
• LIRR 24 hour travel information center: 718-217-5477
• NICE Bus travel information: 516-228-4000
• NYC Transit travel information: 718-330-1234
Up to the minute information about traffic conditions on Long Island's major roads:
• NYS Department of Transportation's 511 service: www.511ny.org or call 511.
To report snow plowing issues or downed trees:
Town maintained roads
• Town of North Hempstead: 311
• Town of Hempstead: 516-489-5000
• Town of Oyster Bay: 516-677-5757
Village maintained roads
• Baxter Estates: 516-767-0096
• Bellerose: 516-354-1000
• East Hills: 516-621-5600
• East Williston: 516-746-0782
• Floral Park: 516-326-6300
• Flower Hill: 516-627- 5000
• Great Neck: 516-482-0019
• Great Neck Estates: 516-482-8283
• Great Neck Plaza: 516-482-4500
• Kensington: 516-482-4409
• Kings Point: 516-504-1000
• Lake Success: 516-482-4411
• Manorhaven: 516-883-7000
• Mineola: 516-746-0750
• Munsey Park: 516-365-7790
• New Hyde Park: 516-354-0022
• North Hills: 516-627-3451
• Old Westbury: 516-626-0800
• Plandome: 516-627-1748
• Plandome Heights: 516-627-1136
• Plandome Manor: 516-627-3701
• Port Washington North: 516-883-5900
• Roslyn: 516-621-1961
• Roslyn Estates: 516-621-3541
• Roslyn Harbor: 516-621-0368
• Russell Gardens: 516-482-8246
• Saddle Rock: 516-482-9400
• Sands Point: 516-883-3044
• South Floral Park: 516-352-8047
• Stewart Manor: 516-354-1800
• Thomaston: 516-482-3110
• Westbury: 516-334-1700
• Williston Park: 516-746-2193
County maintained roads
• Nassau County non-emergency hotline: 800-315-5153
State maintained roads
• NYS Department of Transportation: 631-904-3050
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27
Home Issues That May Secretly Cost You Hundreds
It's no secret that being a homeowner is a financial commitment. However, there may be places in your home that are secretly upping your expenses. Read on for a rundown of those secret money leaks, courtesy of Gentec Services.
Air leaks. One of the biggest energy drains on a home is air leakage, which means the conditioned air in your home exits through cracks and leaks and is replaced by unconditioned air from the outside. While windows are the top culprit, air can come in anywhere your heating and cooling system runs or any place that the exterior structure of the home has been joined together. Leaks can be sealed with caulk, weather stripping or spray foam insulation.
Insulation. Pay special attention to the attic, basement or crawlspace, and all exterior walls. Since heating and cooling are...
12
The New Normal? Mortgage Rates Sink Again
Mortgage rates again sunk this week after topping out at the end of 2016, with the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaging 4.12 percent with an average 0.5 point, according to Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®). The trend, now in its second week, marks a new normal for rates, which rose above 4 percent in a nine-week streak following the election.
"After absorbing a mixed December jobs report, the 10-year Treasury yield fell eight basis points," says Sean Becketti, Freddie Mac chief economist. "The 30-year mortgage rate moved in tandem with Treasury yields falling eight basis points to 4.12 percent, the second decline since the presidential election. The December jobs report showed 156,000 jobs added, barely meeting many experts...