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White Plains, NY Real Estate News

By Ruthmarie Hicks
(Keller Williams NY Realty - 120 Bloomingdale Road #101, White Plains NY 10605)
When people living outside of Westchester County think of living in White Plains, their minds often quickly turn to the luxury downtown condos such as Trump Tower and the Ritz Carlton. But these condos are a relatively new development and people often overlook that White Plains NY homes have a high percentage of single family homes, many at the high end of the price spectrum. When local residents think of making a move and start looking for White Plains NY homes for sale, Gedney Farms is often on top of the list as a move-up location. Gedney Farms is a beautiful neighborhood with large rolling lawns and ample lot size. It’s a very quiet and private community similar to some of the finer neighborhoods of Scarsdale and Larchmont but without the steep price point. Located in the southern ...
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By Ruthmarie Hicks
(Keller Williams NY Realty - 120 Bloomingdale Road #101, White Plains NY 10605)
The power restoration process is slowly progressing.  Five days after the storm  there are still over 7000 county residents without power as of this morning.   Greenburgh town supervisor, Paul Feiner, will be writing the Public Service Commission asking them to investigate the methodology Con Ed used to commit de-energizing and restoration crews.  NYC appeared to be first in line for help while it was obvious that the lions share of the damage was in Westchester County. Personally, I was out of power for about 72 hours and the damage to my own property was consderable even though I had had the foresight to have a couple of vulnerable trees removed prior to the storm.    Several people I know were dependent on sump pumps to keep their basements dry. When the power went off – so did the ...
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By Ruthmarie Hicks
(Keller Williams NY Realty - 120 Bloomingdale Road #101, White Plains NY 10605)
Early Saturday evening,  much of Westchester NY was plunged into darkness by a major storm.  The storm was severe enough for me to cancel my last appointment.  It was nothing short of treacherous on the road.  I made it home safely and  counted my blessings. Then suddenly – ZAP!!! All the lights went as well as the heat (which is triggered electrically) As the storm raged on I heard an ominous THUD in the front yard.  A tree that I had had scheduled to be removed this next week had decided to beat its executioner to the punch and came down across my front lawn.  I was very fortunate that it didn’t hit my house. Because of the enormous amount of wet weather that we have had the roots of large trees have become rotted and the trees have literally been dropping willy nilly in every directi...
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By Ruthmarie Hicks
(Keller Williams NY Realty - 120 Bloomingdale Road #101, White Plains NY 10605)
Yes, these old Timberland boots were used as flower pots!  It’s an example of how out-of-the box thinking can transform something that would find its way into the the trash, can be turned into a spring time arrangement. Whether  buying or selling Westchester NY real estate, clients often need help with curb appeal.  When selling, landscaping creates an inviting atmosphere that invites buyers into the home.  Buyers, on the other hand,  are often eager to put their own personal stamp on their gardens and may often be at a loss as to what to do or where to go. Carlson’s in White Plains has expert advice and marvelous arrangments for both home and garden a like.  The arrangments can run the gamut from highly formal to totally funky.  I particularly like to go there during the different hol...
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By Ruthmarie Hicks
(Keller Williams NY Realty - 120 Bloomingdale Road #101, White Plains NY 10605)
People often ask me about fine dining in Westchester NY.  The New York City dining experience has been finding its way northward to Westchester County.  This might be news to Manhattanites – for whom Westchester has always seemed  to be some sort of backwater destination.    White Plains restaurants boast several transplants from Manhattan.   Downtown White Plains is  a location where high-end shopping and entertainment are the order of the day.  Now, there truly can only be one Manhattan – but  White Plains and other destinations in Westchester can no longer be considered truly suburban. Westchester is a mix of suburban life with NYC amenities. To that end, one of Manhattan’s most distinctive dining attractions, Via Quadronno,   opened its doors in White Plains at the corner of Renais...
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By Ruthmarie Hicks
(Keller Williams NY Realty - 120 Bloomingdale Road #101, White Plains NY 10605)
  For many on the East coast Friday was a snow day.  White Plains NY was no exception.  Let’s put it this way – people were not exactly calling me  for showings on Friday.  It took several hours for me to dig out – my walkways were covered with the white stuff.  I actually spent about an hour cutting back branches that were hanging so low, they were in danger of pulling down a couple of small trees. When I finally finished, I found that my Siberain Huskies (Jade, Tundra, & Buddy) were eager to play in the yard with me.  I grabbed the camera and decided to create a video from some of the photos.  Siberian Huskies and snow go together like ham and eggs.  They were having a ball and I think it shows. Enjoy the video, I put it together rather quickly, but I still think its fun!     To see t...
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By Ruthmarie Hicks
(Keller Williams NY Realty - 120 Bloomingdale Road #101, White Plains NY 10605)
OK, so crazy snow is now a part of our lives.  I mean seriously, I have seen enough of the white stuff for the next five years.  I usually like snow.  But I think that there can be too much of a good thing. Certainly the East Coast has had more than their fair share this year. New York had avoided the trouncing that the many of the mid-Atlantic states had been subjected to.  One big storm became a rain event for us.  But this time, we got hit! To Search for Homes and for further information go to my website/blog with free home search at The Westchester View.  I am always happy to answer your questions and you can speak to me directly on my moble phone: 914-374-5529.  
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By Ruthmarie Hicks
(Keller Williams NY Realty - 120 Bloomingdale Road #101, White Plains NY 10605)
January was a quiet month for snow.  Westchester NY weather  was cold, but after months when I thought it would never stop raining – we had a reprieve on the amount precipitation.  The result was a calm January.  A lot of residents had their fingers crossed for February – but it was not to be.  And although we all grumbled about digging out, my pups were as pleased as punch to have some quality time with the white stuff.   I was out with them this afternoon watching the cavort and play like they had never seen snow before and it was a lot of fun to see.  I took a few pictures with the idea of making a new video, but this time, they didn’t come out the way I anticipated.  So I’m settling for a remix of the video I prepared in December of them playing in the first snow of the season.  Th...
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By Jennie Norris, Denver Regions Premier Home Staging Resource,
(Sensational Home Staging)
The Accredited Staging Professional (ASP) Course from Stagedhomes.com  - the industry leader in Home Staging Training - is coming to the WHITE PLAINS, NY - March 9-11th, 2010. This class is being offered for both Realtors and Home Stagers that would like to earn both a professional Accreditation and Designation for Home Staging.  Realtors attend the first 2 days (March 9-10) and learn about Home Staging as a listing and marketing tool, as well as things they can do to help their own clients prepare their houses for sale.  They become members of the International Association of Home Staging Professioanls (IAHSP) - the only professional association that serves only Home Stagers and the Home Staging industry, and has standards of membership that begin with education.  No other association ...
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By Ruthmarie Hicks
(Keller Williams NY Realty - 120 Bloomingdale Road #101, White Plains NY 10605)
Gedney Farms White Plains NY: When buyers are looking for high-end single family homes in White Plains NY – A home with plenty of green space and old-world charm – Gedney Farms is the first neighborhood that comes to mind.  Gedney Farms was named after John Gedney  who bought the land in 1740.   Gedney Farms was a working farm that remained within the Gedney family right through the Civil War.  It has long ceased to be farmland and is now a well established neighborhood. Through much of the Gedney area the  zoning is for no more than three homes per acre, so most lots have at least .33 acres of land  which for lower Westchester is very difficult to find at a decent price.   The roads are fairly narrow the wind around giving the feeling of country roads. No checkerboard streets here!  T...
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By Anthony Stokes-Pereira, Realtor
(Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty)
Festival of French Song / 2/3/10 Details: Downtown Music, a nonprofit performing arts organization located in the heart of White Plains, is pleased to present this half-hour lunchtime concert. Nathalie Parker, soprano and Mory Ortman, piano, perform music of Faure, Bizet, Debussy and Poulenc. Hours: 12:10pm - 12:40pm Cost: Free Location:  Grace Church   33 Church Street       White Plains, NY  10601 Organization: Downtown MusicAdditional Information:  914-248-1112 Website: http://www.DTMusic.org Anthony Stokes Pereira of 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 R...
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By Ruthmarie Hicks
(Keller Williams NY Realty - 120 Bloomingdale Road #101, White Plains NY 10605)
Buying a condo in White Plains NY can be very expensive. Cooperatives offer a viable alternative and financially stable complexes are great investments.  But for those who own dogs, relatively few are pet-friendly. Here is one of the premier cooperative complexes of White Plains – and the best part is that its pet-friendly. The Surrey Strathmore  is a complex of six mid-rise buildings which surround a courtyard.  This is perhaps one of the more upscale  cooperatives in White Plains.  Built in 1939, the complex boasts some of the graces of a by-gone era.  The ceilings are 9 ft high, and graceful archways separate living room, dining room and kitchen areas.  Each unit has at least one of the Surrey Starthmore’s signature curio nooks. The floor plan is excellent. Located at the Southern e...
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By Ruthmarie Hicks
(Keller Williams NY Realty - 120 Bloomingdale Road #101, White Plains NY 10605)
The housing market in White Plains has taken a drubbing since the stock market crash of 2008.  Although some adjacent areas are showing small signs of stabilization, the same can not be said for the city of White Plains. This is ironic because White Plains was at the epicenter of the housing boom for Westchester County. White Plains  NY Cooperatives: Cooperative prices were actually up slightly over the same period in 2008.  However, this slight uptick might be do to an increase in the proportion of 2 BR units in the sales statistics.  The previous quarter showed a grim 17% price reduction and recent sales in specific complexes indicates that this downward trend is continuing.  Since 2 BR units are suddenly far more affordable, buyers are finding that they can afford a larger unit.  Sa...
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By Ruthmarie Hicks
(Keller Williams NY Realty - 120 Bloomingdale Road #101, White Plains NY 10605)
The Residences of Jefferson Place is a condominium complex with a split personality. The complex spans on square block between Livingston Ave. and Rutherford Ave. in White Plains, NY with units on 300 Mamaroneck Ave. and 31 Greenridge Ave. Jefferson Place is located a scant half -mile from Trump Tower, the Ritz Carlton and the White Plains City Center.  The city side – facing Mamaroneck Ave. is an eight-story urban mid-rise with a sophisticated brick façade. The façade reflects the growing urbanization of the city and is just steps away from all the shopping and dining that downtown White Plains has to offer. The suburban side of the complex on Greenridge Ave. gives a bow to the Highlands community where it resides. The units on Greenridge are three story walkup condos that have an oute...
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By Ruthmarie Hicks
(Keller Williams NY Realty - 120 Bloomingdale Road #101, White Plains NY 10605)
Located in the heart of downtown White Plains NY – the Broadlawn is one of the most desirable cooperatives in White Plains.   Located at 20 North Broadway – the Broadlawn is centrally located within a block of the White Plains City Center, and Trump Tower.  you can easily leave the car behind and walk to shopping, fine dining, entertainment and the train.  With the likes of New York transplants such as BLT Steakhouse and Via Quadronno and Level 42 at the Ritz Carlton just a short stroll away, the lifestyle  at the Broadlawn has a distinctly urban upscale feel. The White Plains Performing Arts Center is also just a short walk away. As for shopping the Westchester mall as well as the City Center mall  along with  major supermarkets including Whole Foods are all a comfortable walk away. N...
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By Ruthmarie Hicks
(Keller Williams NY Realty - 120 Bloomingdale Road #101, White Plains NY 10605)
Located in the heart of downtown White Plains NY – Trump Tower White Plains (10 City Place)  is right in the center of everything in the heart of the downtown area of White Plains NY.  Located steps from City Center and a block from the Ritz Carlton, you can’t be any closer to the action if you tried.   You can easily leave the car behind and walk to shopping, fine dining, entertainment and the train.  With the likes of New York transplants such as BLT Steakhouse and Via Quadronno and Level 42 at the Ritz Carlton just a short stroll away, the lifestyle  at the Broadlawn has a distinctly urban upscale feel. The White Plains Performing Arts Center is also just a short walk away. As for shopping the Westchester mall as well as the City Center mall  along with  major supermarkets including...
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By Ruthmarie Hicks
(Keller Williams NY Realty - 120 Bloomingdale Road #101, White Plains NY 10605)
This a story about selling your home during a housing recession. Sellers with homes listed today will be able to identify with some of the antics that buyers in a bear market will pull.  But this is about a listing that was active 14 years ago in 1996 – during another deep housing recession.   I wasn’t a real estate agent at the time,  I was a seller.  My mother had just died after a prolonged illness and I was listing her house for sale.  The house in question was a beautiful 1932 Tudor sitting on prime property with sweeping golf course views in wonderful residential area in White Plains.  There was a good deal of emotion involved since the home in question had been designed by my Grandmother and built by my Grandfather. Although I wasn’t an agent  I was smart enough to read the news...
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By Ruthmarie Hicks
(Keller Williams NY Realty - 120 Bloomingdale Road #101, White Plains NY 10605)
Happy New Year Everyone… Westchester is one of those places where there is a New Years celebration to fit any mood.  To prove the point, during the course of the day and evening I decided to keep a photo journal of sorts of my New Year’s Eve.  I pulled my favorites for posting.  For those who prefer a more contemplative mood, there was plenty to do and see in lower Westchester.  You could walk the trails, take a drive, wonder around the towns and villages. For those who prefer to party – downtown White Plains had its annual ball drop and New Year’s party.  My personal preference leans towards the more quite and reflective celebration.  But that didn’t stop me from attending the annual ball drop and fire works in downtown White Plains.  Unfortunately, my camera didn’t catch the firework...
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By Anthony Stokes-Pereira, Realtor
(Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty)
Anthony Stokes Pereira, Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty is pleased to present this compilation of winter and Holiday events throughout the Hudson Valley. From our family to yours, we wish you a healthy, safe and festive holiday season! Please call and verify dates/times of events. To suggest events for inclusion in the holiday guide, please email your event and contact information to: anthony.stokespereira@randrealty.com  WHITE PLAINS, WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY COMMUNITY EVENTS, December  27, 28, 29 White Plains, December  27, 28, 29 - Slam Dunk Basketball Tournament - Boys and girls high school basketball tournament. Times and teams to be announced. Admission $5. Parking $4.  Westchester CountyCenter 198 Central Ave. (914) 995-4050. Important Links Search Open Houses Home Valuator Wh...
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By Anthony Stokes-Pereira, Realtor
(Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty)
Anthony Stokes Pereira, Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty is pleased to present this compilation of winter and Holiday events throughout the Hudson Valley. From our family to yours, we wish you a healthy, safe and festive holiday season! Please call and verify dates/times of events. To suggest events for inclusion in the holiday guide, please email your event and contact information to: anthony.stokespereira@randrealty.com  WHITE PLAINS, WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY COMMUNITY EVENTS, January 3, 2010, 10-3 PM White Plains, January 3, 2010, 10-3 PM - Indoor Farmers Market at the Westchester County Center. Enjoy fresh produce, baked goods, cheeses, maple syrup, honey & jams, meats, wines, diary products. All products are grown and produced by New York State farmers and vendors. Live entertain...
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