Westchester County Real Estate Blog

4 Questions Agents Ask Other Agents When House-Hunting for Themselves

Real estate agents are perceptive. They’re trained to ask an array of thoughtful questions that most homebuyers may not think about when purchasing property — questions requiring insightful answers that can curtail costly mistakes. So what are the top items on a real estate agent’s list when she’s shopping for her own home? And what makes these questions important, especially in a seller’s market?

I got the inside scoop on what homebuyers should be asking to help them avoid surprises, ensure their comfort and happiness in their new home, and help protect their investment in the years to come.

“Why is the owner selling?”

Buyers should be acutely aware of the potential risks associated with their purchase, says Rachel King, a licensed associate real estate broker at Serhant on Long Island. For example, are the owners selling because they’re...

Congratulations, You Bought A Home - Here's What You Need to Do Now

What should first-time homeowners know as they settle into their homes?

Congratulations, you bought a home! You overcame a myriad of homebuying obstacles to achieve the American dream. You also fixed your monthly housing payments and will hopefully be building equity for years to come. Now that you’re a homeowner, what comes next?

You might be itching to take down a non-load-bearing wall and start redecorating. However, there are a few more practical (i.e., way less fun) things to add to your to-do list first. Below are six steps new homeowners should take before they break out the sledgehammer.

1. Say hello to your neighbors

You might need more than to borrow a cup of sugar from your neighbors. These folks are an invaluable source of local knowledge. They’re likely aware of any problems and quirks in your shared building/complex/block,...

6 Outdated Habits To Lose If You Plan To Sell Your Home This Year

With a new year comes the urge to kick bad habits to the curb—hence the popularity of “Dry January,” for instance. But too much bubbly is hardly where our vices end.

If you’ve decided to sell your home this year, then it’s high time to make sure you’re in the right mindset to make it happen. Because let’s face it: Even in the best market conditions, selling a home can be a complex and stressful process where sellers might unknowingly make decisions that could backfire and kill the deal.

Here are a few things that should go out with the old year and what to do instead that will get your home sold for the price and terms you want.

Outdated Habit No. 1: Trying to Sell Your House on Your Own

If you believe the home-selling process is as complicated as it is, you might think adding another person to the mix—in the form of a real estate...

In or Out? The Pandemic Trends That Are Here To Stay and the Ones That Are So Over

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a mad race for more space. Everyone seemed to want a larger house on more land where they could spread out, set up a home office and gym, and safely entertain friends and family on their terraces, decks, and patios.

Many of those home trends that took off are still going strong. Others, meanwhile, are going the way of social distancing. While the needs that arose during the pandemic may have shifted, many of the trends they inspired haven’t been lost. Many believe that the pandemic created significant changes in design and construction. So which trends are here to stay—and which have fallen out of favor as the pandemic ended?

Homes are Getting Smaller

The No. 1 thing on the wish list of most folks during the most claustrophobic days of the pandemic was more space. However, in the aftermath of those years, mortgage rates shot up and home prices stayed high, making larger...

The Things No One Tells You About Selling Your House

Buying a home is a momentous time in one’s life and, accordingly, congratulatory pats on the back abound — as does unsolicited advice. Everyone has insight about everything from how to pick the perfect house to saving money on home repairs. 

However, there’s not nearly as much fanfare when it comes time to sell your house. In fact, where information was so readily given when you were buying your home, you’ll likely find you have to hunt down advice when you decide to sell. And we’re not just talking about the standard stuff like staging. Rather, here are a few lesser known tidbits that could come in handy.

Yes, you could have to pay taxes on the sale

There’s good news, and there’s bad news. Let’s rip off the Band-Aid and get the bad out of the way, shall we? It’s entirely possible you will have to pay taxes on the sale of your home. The good news, though,...

7 Things You Don’t Actually Need to Worry About During Your House Hunt

Buying a home is stressful even in the best buyer’s market conditions. But when homes are flying off the shelf at a record pace, with bidding wars and crowded open houses to boot, it becomes downright overwhelming. Fortunately, there are a few elements of homebuying stress you can cross off your list. Here are a few *low-priority* things you don’t actually need to worry about, from landscaping to pricing.

Specifics aside, above all else, try to surround yourself with seriously thoughtful and experienced experts who have your best interests in mind. You can’t be aware of everything at all times, so the second-best option is aligning with a strong team, first and foremost consisting of a knowledgeable Realtor, lender, and home inspector. Your Realtor will then rely on a strong attorney, title company, lender and appraiser.  

Trying to Time the Market Perfectly

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18 Things Homebuyers Should Consider Before Making an Offer

Buying a home is a big-time undertaking, and knowing what to look for before making an offer can be a little unnerving for anyone on the hunt, especially first-time homebuyers.Whether you’re considering living in an urban, suburban or rural area, make sure, first and foremost, that it’s safe and clean and that you’re OK with the noise and traffic levels. Location is just one factor. To help with the rest, we made a list of 18 more things homebuyers should check off before putting an offer on a property. 

  1. Neighborhood: Are neighboring homes and yards well-kept, or do they seem run-down and neglected? Are the streets and sidewalks in good condition, or are they littered with trash and debris? A well-maintained neighborhood can indicate that people take pride in their community and are willing to work together to keep it looking nice.

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11 Things Everyone Should Have Somewhere in Their Backyard

11 Things Everyone Should Have Somewhere in Their Backyard

A backyard is one of those all-American goals. You dream of having a space to gather friends, grow a garden, and run around with your dog. But if you’re a first time homeowner or renter, you may open your back door to reveal an empty patch of grass that needs some attention before it can become the relaxing retreat where you spend every evening. There are plants that need tending and entertaining spaces to create. There’s weeding to be done and birds and bees to feed. So whether you have a green thumb and can’t wait to dig in the dirt, or you’d prefer to focus on the yard games and accessories that will make your house the place to be on the weekends, here are the 11 things everyone should have somewhere in their backyard.

1. Native Plants or Pollinator Flowers

You’ve probably heard about the push...

Do Starter Homes Still Exist?

Historically, people buying their first home have gravitated toward houses that are smaller and more affordable. 

For starters, the more modest square footage of these so-called “starter homes” makes them easier to maintain for first-time homeowners, who may be accustomed to a landlord taking care of everything from clogged drains to yard work. Perhaps more importantly, these cheaper houses actually fit into new homebuyers’ budgets — often, they’re all that a single professional or young couple can realistically afford.

The thinking used to be that eventually these young, upstart homeowners would outgrow their starter home and, as they advanced in their careers, could afford to move into a larger space. But in today’s ridiculously hot housing market — where buyers are lining up around the block for showings and homes are selling for tens, even hundreds of thousands of dollars over the asking price — do “starter homes”...

Sellers Beware! Five White Lies That Could Hurt Your Chances of Selling Your Home

We’ve all come to accept—and perhaps even expect—some of the “enhanced language” that sellers often use in real estate listings.

You know the ones we’re talking about: “Cozy” can be code for small, “charming” likely means old, “efficient” often stands in for small, and “unique” might suggest it’s hard to sell.

Yes, some sellers use language to smooth over a home’s rough spots. But when homeowners veer into actual untruths, it’s a problem.

It’s one thing to hide clutter and spruce up the living room furniture to prepare the home to sell, but it’s another thing entirely when sellers outright fib to potential buyers. Read on to get the lowdown on how white lies can torpedo a sale.

Fudging the truth or telling a lie?

So what’s the difference between...