Averill Park Real Estate Information

We went to the annual Summerfest last night and we had a great time - always spend more then we plan on of course - and eat way more then we should - but it was still a night to remember. Our friends Damian and Corrinne (who is Irish) came with their daughter Victoria and we really enjoyed the fireworks. There is another set of fireworks tonight at 9:15 if anyone missed them.

The Summerfest is sponsored and organized by the local Kiwanis Club of Sand Lake (I will be blogging about them later this month). They also serve beer and have a food tent. There are 1/2 dozen rides for small children and another 1/2 dozen for larger children and adults. There are also carnival games (hook the duck, shoot darts at balloons, make baskets) for money (is it me or does this seem so much more expensive every year?) to win cheap stuffed animals and blow-up toys. And of course you can get candy apples, cotton candy, freshly squeezed lemonade, sausage and peppers and my favorite, funnel cake. Last night we watched a small group of girls called the Emeralds of July - they were fun, singing poppy songs. Made me think of a live version of Kidz Bop. It was a bit colder then we expected so I purchased a nice black hoody with the word Irish embroidered on it - which made Corrinne smile We ended the night with the fireworks.

Enjoy the photos!

July 5th, 2008 | Tags: kiwanis, local area events, summerfest | Category: Community Reports, Just for Fun | Leave a comment

Unfortunately, like the rest of America, foreclosure is taking place in the Averill Park area as well. While these homes are often great for first time homebuyers they are often left in an indecent state and require the ability to see potential. They are also one of the saddest things to preview and show - they are often left quickly and many of the homeowners belongings are left behind - including personal belongings and furniture. You will see babies toys, pictures on the walls, and once loved clothing hanging in the closets.

Current bank-owned properties on the market:

54 Seneca Road, Averill Park, NY $109,900

What a great opportunity for someone who is handy looking for their first home, or maybe someone looking for a second residency. This home sits very close to Racquet/Reichards Lake, and offers a Lake View. What a peaceful retreat this could be, from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Settle down in the evening by taking a nice long walk down by the Lake! This home does need a lot of tlc, it has been let go a bit, currently has electric baseboard, and noticeable patching on the roof etc. Currently listed by Coldwell Banker Prime Properties.

July 3rd, 2008 | Tags: homes for sale, HUD Homes | Category: For Sale | Leave a comment

There aren’t a lot of rentals in the Averill Park area - I wish there were more because I am contacted about the possibility constantly! I can understand the need to rent with loans being tight and people needing the flexibility of renting. However, with prices dropping and many first time home buyer programs available it’s worth considering purchasing a house if you are thinking about renting.

I find Hot Pads rental page a great resource for information about renting. The student loans website also has some information about setting a budget for housing that I thought was a good resource.

At the time of this post Bovair Real Estate has 2 singlewides available for rent - one for $595 and one for $600. Both are 1 bedroom, 1 baths in country settings, and neither allows pets. If you are interested in setting up a showing to see them contact me at 518.281.4398.

June 30th, 2008 | Tags: renting | Category: For Sale | Leave a comment

The Sand Lake Center for the Arts is having it’s 5th year anniversary celebration on September 27, 2008 from 6-9 pm. Enjoy food from local restaurants and establishments.

I will repost closer to the date as well!

Sand Lake Center for the Arts 2008 - 2009 Season

Circle Theatre Players

The Good Doctor, Oct. 17 – 26
Go Back for Murder, Jan. 23 – Feb. 1
A Night at The Abbey Theater, Mar. 13 – 22
Smoke on the Mountain, May 8 – 17

Squire Jacob Coffeehouse

Jerimoth Hill – Sept. 20
Shakespeare in the Alley – Oct. 11
John Rossbach – Nov. 15

Gallery Shows

Averill Park Central School District Art Faculty Show, May 16 – Jun. 30
Julia Johnson Rothenberg, Jul. 1 – Aug. 15
Brunswick Center Services, Aug. 16 – Sept. 30

Sand Lake Center for the Arts - Circle Theatre Players, is a not for profit community arts center. The Center is a renovated, historically significant 1835 church with a fully equipped open performing space for theatrical productions, community meetings, concerts, workshops and classes; and is available for rent. The light-filled Gallery boasts original stained glass windows and exhibits artists’ work monthly and is open on Sundays from 1-4pm. The Gallery and Cafe are open one hour prior to events.
Volunteer opportunities abound and can be yours by contacting Managing Director, Debra Roy at info@slca-ctp.org.

The Center is air conditioned, handicapped accessible and has free parking.

SLCA is located at 2880 NY 43, 1/2 mile east of the blinking light in Averill Park, centrally located from Albany NY, Pittsfield MA and Bennington VT.

June 30th, 2008 | Tags: area events, center for the arts, local restaurants | Category: Community Reports | Leave a comment

As the market continues to settle real estate agents need to continue price reductions on homes that are currently listed. Pricing homes is not an exact science and we generally use a combination of several methods to determine the best listing price - we review homes that have recently been listed, those that have recently sold, and those that have recently gone under contract. We compare and contrast the houses on several dozen levels - including square footage, acreage, age, number of bedrooms, number of bathrooms, cosmetics, exterior amenities, heat source, road frontage, mechanical conditions, neighborhood, and more! We often determine a price per square foot and are able to get a price range based on that number - the more motivated a seller is the lower a price should be in the range. Unfortunately most people still believe their houses should be priced above the range.

What happens when a house needs a price reduction? Well, the longer a house sits on the market the staler a listing appears to be - and often buyers wonder what’s wrong with it? Generally a price reduction reintroduces the house to buyers looking for a property in the area and introduces the property to new buyers. It’s never fun to admit that our exact science is not exact, but as the market continues to fluctuate sellers need to as well.

398 Burden Lake Road, Averill Park NY, $299,900

Stamped Concrete Walk-way invites you in to this New Cape Cod nicely positioned on a 1.5 acre lot with lovely country views. Quality craftsmanship abounds in this spacious three + bedroom home. First floor Master Suite with soaking garden tub! Large eat in kitchen with stainless stove, dishwasher + breakfast bar. First Floor Laundry Rm, Living Rm with gas fireplace & upgraded Berber carpet. Two car garage, breezeway, and a relaxing private deck. Immediate Occupancy! Listed by Heartland Homes.

3010 NY RT 43, Averill Park, NY $153,900

Want to save gas? See this quaint 1830’s colonial in Averill Park village that is walking distance to Crystal Lake, shopping, church, schools, restaurants & post office. Recent renovations: wall between kitchen/Dining Room removed to create space, wood floors refinished + new linoleum, all cleaned & painted throughout with out compromising the original charm of this vintage home  bath off laundry room needs total rehab. Room for home business with private entryway. Yard has stream, bordering stonewall with lilacs, mature trees & room for garden. Listed by Bovair Properties.

June 29th, 2008 | Tags: homes for sale | Category: For Sale | Leave a comment

RISMEDIA, June 20, 2008-The Council of Real Estate Brokerage Managers (CRB) selected Mo Anderson, CRB, GRI of Austin, Texas as this year’s inductee into the Hall of Leaders. The award will be presented at a special reception and dinner during the REALTORS® Conference & Expo on Friday, November 7, 2008 at the Renaissance Orlando Resort.

Anderson joins an impressive group as a driving force in real estate. She established her first real estate office, a Century 21 franchise, in Edmond, Okla. in 1975, soon after it was the third top-producing office out of 7,500 Century 21 locations in North America. She joined Keller Williams in 1991, when she opened the first KW franchise outside of the state of Texas.

She quickly moved on to become the regional director for Oklahoma and co-owner of the two Keller Williams market centers in that state. In 1995, Anderson headed up Keller Williams and helped them grown from 35 to more than 600 offices. Since then she has served as president and CEO, and now vice chairman.

The Hall of Leaders Award was established to honor CRB Designees whose significant contributions continue to shape and influence the real estate industry locally and nationally. As with other past recipients of this award, Anderson is a committed and generous volunteer in many community causes. She is also a strong advocate for women in business and has been named twice as Oklahoma’s Women in Business Advocate of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration. She was also named a 2006 REALTOR® Magazine Good Neighbor nominee.

“Mo’s success is not by accident or luck. Passion, leadership and innovative vision are just a few of many characteristics that make her a respected industry leader. Her generosity of time and talent have enhanced the profession and her community. We are so pleased to honor her with this prestigious award,” says Ginny Shipe, CAE, chief executive officer of the Council of Real Estate Brokerage Managers. “Mo has absolutely demonstrated that leadership is about action not position.”

I had the honor of hearing Mo Anderson speak at the Family Reunion event in Atlanta Georgia this past February - she is an inspiration to us all. To read another article about Mo that appeared in the Austin, Texas business journal click here.

June 29th, 2008 | Tags: Keller Williams | Category: General Info, Just for Fun | Leave a comment

This is one of my favorite family-style restaurants in the area - and it’s also fun at night when they bring in the live bands. But don’t expect a seat at those events - everyone I have gone to is standing room only! We love to go with the kids, and I highly recommend their ribs and sweet potato fries. The atmosphere is very rustic, my kids are always slightly amazed and at the same time disgusted at all of the taxidermy in the rafters.

Anyway about the cookoff:

The Towne Tavern in Averill Park will be hosting its third “Iron Chef”-style cookoff among members of its kitchen staff from 4 to 9 p.m. on Sunday, June 29.

Three teams will each have beef, chicken, pork and fish available to them, and on the morning of the event will be given a secret ingredient that they all must incorporate into a dinner entree without using cookbooks or other outside assistance.

Diners will receive soup or salad, a portion of each of the three entrees and a ballot to vote on their favorite. The winners get their names on Towne Tavern’s “Iron Chef” plaque.

The price to dine and participate as an “Iron Chef” voter will be less than $20 per person, and reservations are required; call 674-3040. The Towne Tavern is located at 2850 Route 43 in Averill Park.

June 28th, 2008 | Tags: area events, area restaurants | Category: Community Reports, Neighbors, Real Estate Rap | Leave a comment

Here are some new listings that have come across my desk recently that I thought were worth mentioning -

8523 MILLER HILL RD, AVERILL PARK NY, $224,800

PRIVATE COUNTRY SETTING AWAITS YOU. THIS SPACIOUS SPLIT LEVEL FEATURES AN OPEN FLOWING FLOOR PLAN WITH 2 STORY KITCHEN WITH OAK CABINETS, HARDWOOD FLOORS, & 2 SKY LIGHTS. FORMAL LIVING ROOM HAS WOOD BURNING FIRE PLACE, 1ST FLOOR MASTER HAS FULL BATH, BUILT IN SHELVES, AND WOODSTOVE AS WELL. FINISHED BASEMENT FEATURES REC ROOM AND OFFICE OR STORAGE ROOM. NEWER ROOF, UPGRADED SEPTIC WITHIN LAST 2 WEEKS, BRICK PATIO, ABOVE GROUND POOL, AND 1 ACRE LEVEL WOODED LOT. Listed by Re/Max Park Place.

9 Seneca Drive, Averill Park, NY $329,900

Fabulous home in prestigous Algonquin Estates. Enjoy this country setting with seasonal mountainous views. 3rd floor would be perfect for an in-law apartment or in home office setting. Bruce oak hardwood floors, Anderson windows, pine woodwork, huge deck overlooking parklike setting yard. Listed by Realty USA.

20 Petticoat Lane, Troy NY $249,900

Move right into this well maintained 3 bedroom, 2 bath ranch on an over 1 acre lot. Located at the end of a dead end cul-de-sac, features include: new kitchen and bath, screened porch, finished basement and an inground pool. Listed by Coldwell Banker Prime Properties.

June 27th, 2008 | Tags: homes for sale | Category: For Sale | Leave a comment

Struggling borrowers hold out for affordable loan

By Inman News, Wednesday, June 25, 2008.

$300 billion FHA expansion clears Senate hurdle
A plan to expand FHA loan guarantee programs by $300 billion to help troubled borrowers refinance into more affordable loans cleared a procedural hurdle Tuesday, as the Senate voted 83-9 to move forward on a debate. The “Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008” would also create a new regulator for mortgage financers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and assess them more than $700 million a year to cover the cost of expanding Federal Housing Administration loan guarantee programs.

Read the rest of the article about changes in the mortgage industry here.

June 25th, 2008 | Tags: mortgages | Category: Mortgages and Financing | Leave a comment

Katie Powers sent this over to me via email - thanks Katie!

When school’s out, kids around the country visit selected Regal Theatres for the Free Family Film Festival. It’s a fun-filled nine weeks of movies for kids and parents. Since 1991, Regal has provided this service to the community, and best of all it’s FREE!

Selected G & PG movies start at 10AM each Tuesday and Wednesday during the festival. First-come, first-served seating is limited to theatre capacity. The Free Family Film Festival is safe, lots of fun and a great way for kids to spend a weekday morning in the summer.

Crossgates Stadium 18
120 B Washington Avenue Extension
Albany , NY 12203
518-456-2326

07/01/2008-07/03/2008

Curious George (G)
Bee Movie (PG)

07/08/2008-07/10/2008

Clifford’s Really Big Movie (G)
Surf’s Up (PG)

07/15/2008-07/17/2008

Arctic Tale (G)
Open Season (PG)

07/22/2008-07/24/2008

Wallace And Gromit (G)
Nancy Drew (PG)

07/29/2008-07/31/2008

Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium (G)
The Ant Bully (PG)

08/05/2008-08/07/2008

Mr. Bean’s Holiday (G)
Evan Almighty (PG)

08/12/2008-08/14/2008

Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything - Veggie Tales (G)
Water Horse: Legend Of The Deep (PG)

08/19/2008-08/21/2008

Everyone’s Hero (G)
Happy Feet (PG)

08/26/2008-08/28/2008

Charlotte’s Web (G)
Alvin And The Chipmunks (PG)

June 23rd, 2008 | Tags: children's activities, summer activities | Category: Community Reports, General Info | Leave a comment

I think this is very interesting - I wonder what other trends we will see locally because of the gas prices. I know that green homes (especially interest in solar panels), working from home (I am doing it more these days), and more environmentally-friendly-while-being-financially-sound ideas are springing out of the woodwork because of the increase in gas prices. The Associated Press recently wrote about how home buying trends are adjusting to the prices as well:

In his hunt for a new home, Demetrius Stroud crunched the numbers to find out that, with gas prices climbing, moving near an Amtrak station is the best thing for his wallet.

Stroud was looking in Elk Grove., Calif. - about 85 miles away from his job in the San Francisco Bay Area - because homes there are more affordable. But with gas at $4.50 and a car that gets about 22 miles per gallon, Stroud would be pumping $560 a month into his tank.

So instead he made an offer on a home near the train station in Davis, which will shave $160 off his commuting costs.

(Read the rest of the article here).

June 21st, 2008 | Tags: environment, gas prices | Category: Community Reports, General Info, Signs of the Times | Leave a comment

I know I am not looking forward to seeing myself nearly naked, with nothing but a thin piece of lycra covering my middle sections. So I have decided to do something about it - not only am I eating better (yeah veggies!) but I have decided to quit smoking (by Alley’s 10th birthday in July) and start working out.

My exercise regimen of choice? Nia, being taught locally by area resident Richele Corbo.

Nia stands for Neuromuscular Intergrative Action, or Non-Impact Aerobics … some even enjoy calling it Nirvana in Action. Nia is a unique blend of the martial arts (tae kwon do, tai chi, & aikido), the dance arts (Modern, jazz and Duncan dance) and the healing arts (yoga, Alexander Technique and the Feldenkrais Method), a cardiovascular workout that is more about the pleasure our body seeks rather than particular foot patterns. Diverse music and soft lighting sets the tone as barefoot participants “step in” to their Nia experience, leaving behind the distractions of the day, ready to give their full attention to the language of their body-sensation. The hour-long class consists of 3 levels of instruction with the teacher showing a variety of movement options for the beginner, intermediate or more athletic student. Utilizing steps, stances, punches, strikes and Freedance students connect to their mind, body, spirit and emotions in a welcoming atmosphere appreciating uniqueness of expression and ability levels. The energy level in a Nia class is clearly cardiovascular, with emphasis on strength, muscle tone & flexibility, mobility and agility.

Richele Corbo is a certified Nia Blue Belt Instructor, who has taught at Hudson Valley Community College, the East Greenbush and Empire Plaza YMCAs, Averill Park Adult Education, The Center for Nia and Yoga (downtown Albany) and The Fitness Coach in West Sand Lake. Her present schedule of Nia classes are listed below:

(All photos are property of Nia Technique, Inc.)

The Fitness Coach, Mall 43 , West Sand Lake
Mon. evenings 6:15-7:15pm
Tues. mornings 10:30-11:30
Sat. midday 11:30-12:30pm

East Greenbush YMCA
Tues. morning 7-8am
Thurs. midday 11:30-12:30pm

Empire Plaza YMCA
Tues. 5-6pm

The Center for Nia and Yoga
Wed. 9:30-10:30am

Richele’s family consists of her husband Michael, and their three sons: Jackson, 15, Daniel, 12 and Lucas, 7. They moved here 4 years ago from downstate New York and immediately began the search for a top school district before they even considered looking at houses. Once the Corbos located a school district they were pleased with, they visited several of the schools and happily chose the Averill Park School District. Presently all three of the boys are enrolled in school: the eldest in the High School, the middle son at Algonquin Middle School and the youngest at Poestenkill Elementary. The Corbo family is grateful to be part of a growing and welcoming community here in Averill Park.

Thanks for contributing to the blog Richele!

June 19th, 2008 | Tags: area residents, exercise locally | Category: Community Reports, Just for Fun, Neighbors | Comments (1)

Recently the school sent home a list of Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders in the school district. They do this annually, it’s not like we had a large increase in the offender population recently or anything.

As a licensed real estate salesperson I am not allowed to tell people where sex offenders live in relation to a house they are interested in purchasing. However I can direct any interested party to several websites that track the movements of these people. The obvious first site is the official Department of Criminal Justice website. From the site:

New York State’s Megan’s Law became effective in 1996, and was expanded in 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006 and requires a sex offender convicted for a registerable sex offense to register with the State’s Sex Offender Registry; currently there are over 40 registerable offenses and more than 23,000 registered sex offenders living in New York State.

There are three ways to obtain information about sex offenders in New York State:

1. New York State’s Sex offender Information Line: (800) 262-3257. You will need the name of the offender and one of the following four identifiers: an exact address, a complete date of birth, a driver’s license number or a social security number.
2. The New York State Subdirectory. There, interested individuals can search for level 2 and 3 offenders by name, county or zip code.
3. The local law enforcement agency where the offender currently resides, can, if it chooses, release information on sex offenders residing in the community.

Sex offenders are classified by risk level:

• Level one (low risk);
• Level two (medium risk); and
• Level three (high risk).

Level 1 offenders are required to register for a minimum of twenty years, and level 2 and 3 offenders for life (view details).

Police and law enforcement have access to information on all sex offenders (levels 1, 2 and 3). However, under the law, information on level 1 (low-risk) offenders is not available on the public website. Only level 2 and 3 offenders are listed on the public website.

I found a list of commonly asked questions about Megan’s Law and the movements associated with the protection of children here. This site not only has a lot of links to videos and articles about sex offenses but it also has some food for thought regarding whether the registry has helped control or limit offenses or if it has created a mobmentality. Very interesting and thought provoking. As a mom and a believer in human rights for all humans it really made me think.

Common Sense Advocated by Victim’s Mother

In 1989, 11 year old Jacob Wetterling was kidnapped and never seen again. His mother, Patty Wetterlilng, was instrumental in the 1994 passage of the federal Jacob Wetterling Act which required states to establish sex offender registries. She recently said: “The challenge is, you can’t treat all sex offenders the same; they’re not.” The Jacob Wetterling Foundation advises: “Community Notification is not about chasing sex offenders out of our neighborhoods. We all face the challenge of building new communities, which recognize that sex offenders live and work among us. Experts state that sex offenders are less likely to re-offend if they live and work in an environment free of harassment… If we are going to make our communities safer, we need to use this law to our benefit. We need offenders to succeed, because if they don’t, that means there will be another victim.” Read more…

June 18th, 2008 | Tags: sex offenders | Category: Community Reports, General Info, Real Estate Rap, School Reports | Leave a comment

I was reminded that today is a great day to spread the love from one of the many blogs I read on a daily basis - the Real Estate Zebra.

There are many people in my office who wonder how I am able to find the time to blog and where I get my ideas. Well, time is always short, but the people at wordpress.com have made the time by being able to schedule post publishing for when the post would be most relevant - for example, I wrote the Memorial Day post several weeks before and scheduled it for Memorial Day. Therefore I can write and schedule many posts for future dates - keeping the content relevant and time-sensitive and allowing me to schedule large blocks of time (generally after the kids go to sleep) to write. I also use my camera in my always-with-me pink Treo (serviced by verizon and created by palm) and take pictures when the mood strikes. I then upload them to my website via the easy to use wordpress interface and save them for another day. When I see something that intrigues me, a boat for sale (great illustration for the lakefront homes in the area), garage sale merchandise (an illustration for area events), people fishing and boating (again the lakefront homes), my daughter horse back riding or a flag waving in the sun - they are there when I need them.

Ideas are all around me for blogging, although I generally try to make them relevant to my cause - that is, the homes for sale in the Averill Park NY area. But it’s not hard - the area sells itself with its award-winning school district, natural attractions and fantastic people. Meeting area residents is something I do everyday - and I love to profile them and recommend those that I have had good experience with. I think of it like blogging karma

And of course I read other area real estate blogs daily to see what is happening in their neck of the woods. Although real estate is primarily local, nationwide we have similar peaks and valleys in the market and creative ideas about marketing homes and meeting prospective clients. What might work in Chicago or Seattle can certainly be tried here in the Capital District of New York state with success as well. Check out my page for real estate agents online to see some of my favorites.

June 18th, 2008 | Tags: blogging, general real estate | Category: General Info, Just for Fun | Comments (1)