I usually use my websites as a barometer for internet interest in my listings, and the websites have also served as an indicator for holidays, the economy, etc. For instance, I will see a drop in visitors (those people who seek out the listing either by location, price, or house size, and then explore the photos for further detail), every major Holiday or stock market decline. Since it has always proved to be factual, I always use that fact when meeting with a potential seller. Not only do I explain in detail how I can market and sell their home, I also inform them of the feedback they will receive, and use the graphs from one of my websites to demonstrate just that.

I now have another great barometer into the economy, and public sentiment. The top 25 students at New Rochelle High School, and the colleges they choose to attend! If you will look at my earlier bogs (“New Rochelle College Bound Students 2007 versus 2008” and “ New Rochelle Class of 2009”) you will see - just as I did - that a year before the market really dropped, and there was a hint of anxiety in the air, that students were choosing less expensive schools, perhaps where they obtained higher scholarship awards. There were some that argued with me that since the Ivy League Schools have so much endowment money this was not so, but I feel and felt that there are many families and students who felt more comfortable in choosing a school that would cost less.

New Rochelle’s high school students have always excelled in my eye with exceptional programs. We are proud to have the Pave Program (Performing and Visual Arts Program). Pave students have a choice between PAVE I, PAVE II, PAVE III and PAVE IV where students can either choose a major or a split major in one or two of the arts (music, vocal, visual arts, theater or dance), and while there are different criteria for each program, the culmination is with the student obtaining 5 units of credit which fulfills the State Education Department requirement for a Fine Arts sequence.

The High School also boasts the on-site Museum of Arts and Culture, which is the only Regents-chartered museum in the State of New York. While featuring wonderful exhibits from the students, it also collaborates with other museums and cultural institutions offering outstanding, wonderful programs and exhibits for the entire City of New Rochelle and neighboring areas.

The students might not even have to be one of the top 25 in academia to rise to great achievements. This year, Dan Hoffmann, a graduating senior, was the Governor of the Northeast State of JSA (Junior State of America - The Junior Statesmen Foundation) for the 2009-2010 school year. Dan was his chapter’s president, the coordinator of the Westchester JSA Conference 2008-2009, and director of communications for the Northeast State JSA, 2008-2009. Dan was elected by the council of governors as its representative on the foundation’s board of trustees. He will be attending the University of Michigan.

My son, Brett, also graduates this year from the High School, and while he is 104 of the graduating class of 678 students, he has a GPA average of over 90 indicating that the graduating class is academically strong, bright, intelligent and accomplished young men and women. My gauge of the top 25 is not an indicator of the best schools for the best students but rather the schools these exceptional students choose to attend, and that there are many other exceptional students choosing exceptional schools also. Brett will be attending Muhlenberg College to play baseball. He obtained an academic scholarship, and as a Captain of the High School Varsity Baseball Team was awarded the Board of Education Scholar Athlete Award in the sport of Baseball, the Principal’s Scholar Athlete Award in baseball, the N.R.H.S. Scholar Athlete of the Year Award , the N.R.H.S. Spring 2010 Most Valuable Athlete Award, and the Louis Lise Memorial Award given by the New Rochelle Little League to a Varsity Baseball Team Player who has shown outstanding dedication and improvement. He is also a member of the National Honor Society. My point? Can you imagine what the other students that I have not listed have accomplished and the schools they are attending? Another student is attending Edinburgh University in Scotland!

This 2010 year, the top 25 students will be going to the following colleges and universities:

• Yale University
• Cornell University
• University of Virginia
• Yale University
• Washington University of St. Louis
• Villanova University
• Columbia University
• Carnegie Mellon University
• Cornell University
• Columbia University
• Syracuse University
• University of Chicago
• Columbia University
• Cornell University
• New York University
• Duke University
• Wellesley College
• Michigan University
• Brandeis University
• Northwestern University
• Cornell University
• University of Maryland
• McGill University
• Northwestern University
• Colgate University

My thoughts this year? I saw a large trend towards State schools in the last few years, but with the ever increasing numbers of students going to those schools, I think that students are following their hearts and returning to the Ivy League schools, etc…. So I do not see this as a result of the economy improving - although home sales have improved (in part to the foreclosure sales and first-time home buyer credits), but rather families and students alike wanting an excellent education as a result of the poor economy, and realizing that it doesn’t hurt to attend an Ivy League School. It is also wonderful to have exceptionally bright children and an award winning school district.

New Rochelle has wonderful, dedicated, caring teachers who give of themselves on a daily basis to help improve the lives, characters and scholastic achievements of its students.

New Rochelle is great!

Posted by:  Gay E. Rosen

Many years ago (ooops I am aging myself)… my husband and I, newly married, and rather excited at the thought of purchasing our first home, asked a friend and attorney who lived in Westchester, which town to move to and live in. He promptly said “New Rochelle” and then gave me the name of a prominent and well known Realtor in that area. So, eager, excited and quite expectant, we called that agent, and made our appointment to view some homes.

I remember the occasion as if it were yesterday… She was a seasoned lady, very nice, and she showed us three homes, declaring one to be overpriced, one priced just right and the other priced okay…. The first home was located in the Bayberry area, a development which was built in the 1950’s, ranches and split level homes, having access to a community swimming pool, tennis and summer camp for smaller children. We were informed that many families lived there, and the house featured a smaller kitchen, first floor master bedroom, and 2 bedrooms on the second floor. A nice home but nothing special. The second home was located on Quaker Ridge Road, a much trafficked street, but hey - we were coming from Lexington Avenue and 57th Street - THAT was a well trafficked street! The third home was located on Pine Brook Boulevard, another well trafficked street but she didn’t mention that at the time.

We did not do any homework. Back then, there wasn’t the internet, no search engines to assist anyone, no Zillow, Trulia, etc. and so you would trust the expert - the Realtor. We felt indebted to the agent and her time spent, and when she called us to ask us which decision we had made, we felt obligated to choose one of the three homes. We chose the house on Quaker Ridge Road. On nearly ¾ of an acre, a nice home but soon learned that it WAS a well trafficked street with people racing by at over the 40 mph speed limit.

We had chosen the house - which had a lovely backyard, because it was in our price range, and it had left us for money for furniture… In retrospect, had we applied that same money into a larger but not so nice home - but in the estate area (which at that time was some $40,000 more - bearing in mind our home only cost $79,000 at the time) we could have lived in an older grander home, renovating as money allowed, and the value would have increased at a much higher level than it had with the home we had purchased.

Some 14 years later, with a growing family, we wanted to move, and since that estate area still beckoned to us, we called the same Realtor as before….well, no more three homes and choose one, it was “drive by this street and if you like what you see at this price, I will show it to you….” We then became a touch smarter and realized that if the realtor could not take the time to show us homes, then she was not deserving of our services. We looked elsewhere.

When we sold our home, we obtained approximately $282,000 for it, and that same fixer upper in the estate area was then $433,000 so far greater than that original $40,000 differential of 14 years earlier. Not only that, but our well meaning friend had advised us to take a 25 year mortgage, and so after 14 years, we still owed some $40,000 and if we had purchased the larger house to begin with … we could have saved money there. Hindsight is a wonderful thing! We decided to take a 15 year mortgage with our second house but even at 6.75% interest rate, our mortgage payment was some $4000 more a month than the previous mortgage….

Well that is a mouthful but what does it all mean? If you are having trouble making your mortgage payments, and see yourself perhaps defaulting on your loan (being 30 or more days late in a mortgage payment) , and do not know whether you should file for bankruptcy, go into foreclosure, walk away from the house…there is another alternative - a short sale.

While you should always speak to your professional first be it your tax attorney, business manager or accountant or all of the above, if you are still considering a short sale after doing same, then you should speak to someone who has a designation in this area to better assist you. Someone who has the patience, the caring and understanding and one with great follow through.

As a Certified Distressed Property expert, it would be my pleasure to sit down with you and discuss how we could proceed to work together, along with your attorney, in helping to sell your home for a sale price that would hopefully be acceptable to your bank(s).

But first, what is a short sale? A short sale is when a borrower owes more on the home that when combined with all of the closing costs, it amounts to more than the current market value. The bank enters into negotiation with the borrower to accept less than what is owed on the mortgage, and the buyer closes on the property making the sale “short.” Special criteria is required by the borrower such as demonstrated hardship.

During the process, I would be speaking on your behalf to the bank(s) ensuring that they have received all of your documentation, marketing your home actively, demonstrating to the bank that we are endeavoring to obtain the highest price possible for you, and to ensure that we only have qualified buyers who have the patience and stamina to wait the 120 days plus for the process to take place. It is important that the selling and listing agents are in close communication during the process, and you, the seller, would also feel comforted knowing that an agent like myself is following up on all areas. This is a traumatic time for you, and it is my responsibility as a CDPE to make the process as easy as I possibly can.

While there are no guarantees that your bank will accept a short sale, I would like to feel that if everything is in place, all of the paperwork (known as the package) submitted in a timely fashion, and there is great follow through between the agent and the bank then at least you know you tried your best…but in trying your best, you need the best…a CDPE.

Please contact me if you have any questions regarding a short sale and the alternatives.

Posted By: Gay Rosen

There was an interesting article in this past Sunday’s New York Times (4/11/2010) entitled “looking or Just Looking” and of course it was referring to Public Open Houses. I have always been a strong believer in holding public open houses for my clients, as I sincerely feel that it is a relaxed way in which to view a home albeit under the gentle guidance of the agent for obvious security reasons, and in truth, the premise does work. I am finding that many agents will send their clients to the open house, to hear detailed information from the listing agent which can only help. The customers and clients then feel comfortable placing their bid through their individual agents (and after those agents have diligently researched that particular property). I have sold quite a few homes in this fashion, and the majority were people who already had agents.

I usually offer visitors a memento; a pumpkin if it is Halloween, and chocolates for St. Valentine’s Day….seeds for Mother’s Day or just chocolates; it puts a smile on the visitor’s face, and the whole purpose is for the visitor to feel at ease and to sell the house!

I think we all have funny stories to tell from open houses too… I recently had a very nice gentleman enter the open house, and ask me (it was raining outside) whether I wanted him to take off his clothes. Since I was accompanied by other people, it was not threatening at all, and of course, he simply meant did I want him to take off his shoes - or perhaps he simply visits the doctor’s office too many times… but it was humorous at the time, and we all chuckled.

Some people are simply ‘killing time’ in between a child’s commitment like a Birthday party… My house is their entertainment I guess but it is a nice way to talk about real estate. Some people are getting decorating ideas, have just purchased and want to make sure they haven’t overpaid, and even others are about to place their home on the market and are looking at comparisons.

Sometimes, my listings are so simply gorgeous that I find people will visit for an hour or so, admire the home immensely, and then you discover that they are indeed “just looking!” but just couldn’t leave. One such home is located at 29 Malysana Lane in New Rochelle with year round waterviews. The photos are lovely, and have drawn people from New York City, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Connecticut, upstate New York - all to view this beautiful home. This particular house is 4904 square feet, features 5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths , a stunning kitchen with family room, and every time we enter the Master Bedroom and they see the deck with great views of the Long Island Sound, I hear “Wow.”

Another such home is located at 74 Forest Avenue. I had sold this home to a lovely young couple (now friends), and they had lovingly renovated the house over the past few years, installing marble throughout the basement and in the 4 Seasons Room, a $120,000 kitchen which interestingly mirrors 29 Malysana Lane…meaning that where one kitchen offers black granite, the other offers Carrera marble but both have white cabinetry that are designed to please. 74 Forest Avenue also has 5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths and is 4476 square feet. Both homes feature offices, 3 fireplaces and are well worth viewing (and buying).

An agent who was quoted in Sunday’s NYT article mentioned that only 20% of open house visitors actually buy that property…but I would further comment that people searching on the internet will see the open house advertisement, and then call their respective agents, and you will usually see a flurry of appointments directly after an open house from people who were too busy to visit at that time, and so who actually knows the correct statistics!

So, look for the open houses, come and visit, say ‘hello” and while I hope you will buy the house I represent that day, it is okay if you are the other 80%. I understand. If you would like more information regarding one of these 2 homes, please contact me!

29 Malysana Lane, New Rochelle, NY 10805 - Glorious Water views, Private Gated Community, Private Beach - Priced at $2,339,000

74 Forest Avenue, New Rochelle, NY 10804 - Located in the desirous Forest Heights, New Rochelle - Priced at $1,475,000

Posted By: Gay Rosen

Tiffany era stained glass windows await you at this circa 1912, 3220 Sq. Ft. Victorian Historic home, but only thanks to Mr. James Welker. When James purchased this home in 2003, it was in sorry disrepair. James and his partner had to painstakenly, and more importantly, lovingly restore the home room by room. James quipped that they both had to live in the library for nearly a year while the renovations took place. Was it worth it? It was featured on the 2006 Accent on New Rochelle House Tour, and awarded one of the first prestigious Heritage Awards from New Rochelle, this labor intensive, restored 5 bedroom, 3.5 bath home has much to offer. While the architectural detailing remains throughout, as do the Dutch and pocket doors, hardwood floors, and those gorgeous stained windows, you can also enjoy the central air conditioning, the dramatic new kitchen with black granite counters with blue specks, the blue glass backsplash, and the hand-crafted walnut cabinets. Enjoy the griddle on the 6 Burner Viking stove, the 2 sinks, Frigidaire Refrigerator, slate floors, and of course those high ceilings throughout! The formal dining room features a fireplace, the living room also has a fireplace and gas pellet stove, and the entrance foyer enchants with its bench seating and great light. The master bedroom suite offers great charm, and do not forget the third floor guest suite. The welcoming porch with drapery, are all special and unique touches that make this home one of a kind. New roof, electrical upgrade, copper plumbing, 4 year old oil burner. Yes, thanks to James, you can now have it all. Just 35 minutes from NYC.

Please contact me if you would like any more information with regard to this charming home. Priced at just $569,000 the price is as alluring as the home.

Click here for more information. Click here for a virtual tour.

Posted By: Gay Rosen

What does that mean? Well, when you purchase a home in New Rochelle’s Historic District and then realize that the home requires renovation within, then you have the privilege of living in this desirous Historic area and also enjoy the labors of renovation and what that implies. In this case, the home is at 14 The Boulevard, and features 3 bedrooms - but a first floor den with closet could easily be a guest room, new Armstrong windows, new hardwood flooring, skylights in the family room/sun room, new kitchen with granite counters which match the gracious and dramatic black granite fireplace, 2505 square feet of living space, and more. The bathrooms also have been renovated, and there is great closet and storage space. The home has an open layout, is quite modern within, and yet the home setback on its 0.239 acreage looks quite rustic from the front with two pillars gracing the long driveway. A goldfish pond in the front yard has been a source of enjoyment for the family too! The home is listed at $669,000.

 

Click here for a virtual tour. Click here for more details on the home.

If you would like more information about this or any property in the New Rochelle area, please feel free to contact me.

Posted By: Gay Rosen

Do you like to leave your building and within a few steps you are at the Sound Shore? Or does a stroll around Glen Island thrill you? Being across the street from the New York Athletic Club isn’t bad either nor is looking out over the Pelham Country Club.

What about playing tennis on the building’s tennis court? Or going for a swim at the swimming pool in the summer? And in the winter you could go for a work-out in the gym?

Not bad for a sports enthusiast. Where can you do all of this? There is the perfect condo for sale at 703 Pelham Road in New Rochelle. It’s on the market for $383,999. And there will be an Open House this Sunday (1/17) from 11:00am to 2:00pm. The apartment is meticulous…two bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a nice living room/dining room and a great kitchen. Most of the floors are hardwood covered and it has a 24-hour concierge. In other words, your parcels and laundry are taken care off. And in addition, your visitors are always announced. The ideal way of living. Oh, did I forget, it has two parking spots side by side in the downstairs garage. So if you are not the sporty-type…you don’t even have to step outside!

Posted By: H. Juergen Hess

As I look from the second floor balcony (or the kitchen, music room, second and third bedrooms, office, family room or patio for that matter), I see an endless vista of water, sun and sky. The view is calming, yet dramatic, it reflects peace, tranquility and total luxury.

Where is this view? 29 Malysana Lane in New Rochelle - that’s where you can purchase a 5 bedroom 5459 square foot home that is just 3 years new with year-round water views! Elegant custom craftsmanship and detailing describe this simply stunning home overlooking the Long Island Sound.

It is being offered at a mere $2,499,000 and yet so much is included within. A radiant heated marble floor greets you as you enter this warm and inviting home that was designed and built for comfort, family, and grand entertaining if that is your desire.

It is quite interesting to note that the “House of Tudor” which reigned England from 1485 to 1603 has, in a sense, become the “Tudor House” to many of us…of course, we all recall Henry the VIII and his 8 wives, but on an everyday occurrence, we see so many Tudor Homes and as a Realtor, I wanted to find out why the popularity?

As it happens, the Tudor style home became a sign of a man’s wealth. To own a Tudor home,and especially to have a well designed garden accompanying the Tudor home, was the epitome of elegance and wealth back in the good old days of the 15th and 16th Centuries in England.

People would compete with each other with regard to the size, and grandeur displayed. It is interesting to note that the Tudor homes in England are traditionally white with half timbers which means they were built with wooden frames, and wattle and daub (wet clay and sticks) were used to fill in the spaces between. The English Tudors are white with black painted half-timbers, and yet in America, we traditionally see white with brown painted timbers, and with stucco and perhaps some brick work. A Tudor home will traditionally feature dormers, a large fireplace, and some Tudors will have a “stepped” appearance by which the upper floor will overhand the lower level. This originated when, in the 15th century, the people would pour out their chamber pots onto the streets, and rather than throw the contents onto the passersby, it would be thrown into the center of the street hopefully avoiding them. Fortunately, a warning call would usually precipitate the casting of the contents of the pot! Some 500 year old Tudor homes are still remaining in England. However, having grown up on an Island in the English Thames Estuary where we had original 17th Century Dutch cottages with thatched roofs (and tiny, tiny rooms), Tudor-style homes were an everyday occurrence to me.

Perhaps because the Tudor home signified wealth, luxury, etc…it is no surprise that Tudor homes are still very popular to many people. As a Realtor, I have two lovely yet different homes currently available on the market. One is located at 51 Old Orchard Road in New Rochelle and this 4 bedroom, charming and pristine home is available for just $678,000. Over 2000 square feet, and located close to shops, transportation and fine dining. The owners have lovingly maintained this home and it shows! The fenced-in backyard is perfect for Fido.

Click here for a virtual tour.

The second Tudor home is being offered at $1,690,000 and is a spectacular home overlooking the Pelham Golf Course. 4 bedrooms, with radiant heated floors in the lower level (a stunning room with a spa for 2, steam shower, and beautiful wet bar), as well as a gourmet kitchen, open layout with new floors, windows, and so many new updates - it must be seen to be appreciated.

Click here for a virtual tour.

If you would like to see either of these 2 homes, please call me. It would be my pleasure to show one or both to you!

Posted By: Gay Rosen

Year round water views from this simply spectacular 5459 square foot 5 bedroom, 4.5 bathroom home located at 29 Malysana Lane, New Rochelle, with gated entry and private beach made me look to the surrounding history of the area. After all, I am British, was brought up surrounded by historical facts, what of this area?

As I sat reflecting on the quiet solitude of the wondrous water views from the home, I saw Davids Island, Glen Island and then the large Mediterranean home to my far right…I was seated in a wonderful home with all of the modern conveniences, radiant heated floors, custom designed throughout with no expense spared, but what of the view…was the view worthy?

Well, the Astors thought so. “The Paddocks” was a mansion built by Colonel Delancey Astor Kane and his wife, Eleanor Iselin on the Davenport neck of New Rochelle. They had a panoramic view of the Long Island Sound, Fort Slocum on Davids Island, and a few of their siblings also purchased in the area. Kane, the great-grandson of John Jacob Astor inherited some ten million dollars, and his wife, Eleanor, daughter of Adrian Iselin, Sr. was also quite wealthy. Kane invented the stage coach for pleasure riding and called it the “Tally Ho Stage coach.” Their home became the Colony Club which was torn down in the 1980s, and is now the site of the Surf Club on Davenport Avenue. So, it would appear that the tradition of enjoyment and luxury has been passed on to another generation albeit in club fashion.

It is always interesting to learn about a community, its history, and I think it also helps to understand the naming of streets, parks and the essence of a city. New Rochelle, home of the Huguenots (French Protestants) after they fled France is no different.

Imagine a water-fronted area (Davenport Neck), where glacial grooves can still be seen on the rocks, part of the Manhattan Schist formation. The grooves used to be horizontal, but now pitch almost vertically to the south. You will find pegmatite (a coarse kind of granite), quartz and feldspar which indicates that the rock cooled slowly. As a point of interest, the New Rochelle rowing club utilizes a dyke made of the same rock material on Pine Island which is just off the shore of Davenport Park. The rock formations in this area are so interesting that to the expert eye, one can see how the glaciers coursed through the area north to south many millions of years ago.

Did you know that Colonel Lathers - who was born in Ireland on Christmas Day 1821 - came over when he was just 6 months old, later became Colonel of the thirty-first Regiment of South Carolina in 1841 under a commission from Gov. Pierce Butler, at about the same time was chosen Senior Warden of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the Parish Prince George Winyah, from which he took the name Winyah Park for his beautiful estate in New Rochelle?

He came to New Rochelle in 1843 as an agent of cotton manufacturers, and in a short period of time built the largest cotton export and domestic business in the city.

In December, 1860, in connection with 17 other prominent figures (Washington Hunt, William B. Astor, James W. Beekman), he called a peace meeting at his office, 33/35 Pine Street. 300 men responded. He then went south with General Dix who presented his famous address on anti-secession resolutions adopted. Colonel Lathers spoke abroad in his defense of the Union. At the close of the war, his home in Charleston was the scene of the first friendly union of high officers from both sides, among them General McDowell and General Barnum. His parlours at Winyah Park and his country seat, Abbey Lodge, located in Pittsfield, MA became the scenes of many friendly meetings of those who had been extreme on both sides.

Col. Lathers had six children, and was an honorary member of Flandreau Post, No. 509 in New Rochelle. He died on September 17th, 1903 in New York City, as his mansion in New Rochelle, a notable landmark, was burnt down on May 5th, 1897. Many paintings and antiques were lost in this 35 room mansion. The fire was thought to have been caused by a turpentine soaked rag left in the lamp-room.

Now for my segue! I recently sold a wonderful 3 bedroom town-house located in Lathers Park, New Rochelle… If you are seeking a townhouse, single family house, or any property, please feel free to contact me with your real estate needs!

www.GayRosen.com

Posted By: Gay Rosen

Yes, as unbelievable as that may seem in today’s real estate market, such was the dictate given in the 1800s in New Rochelle when it was decided to develop some 70 acres of farmland, woods, orchard and un-drained marshland what was the then the outer edge of New Rochelle in Westchester County.

It is always interesting to find out how an area was developed. And New Rochelle’s Historic District is no different. In the early 1800s, an insurance company found that it had inherited through foreclosure, some 70 plus acres of land, and was then faced with the predicament - “what do we do with it?” The insurance company contemplated personal sacrifices in order to escape from the heavy tax burden of the property. They had thought to create small city lots but the grading of that would have been too expensive, and they didn’t know whether there would be interest in residence properties there, but with mounting interest charges, they realized that some form of action was required. It was decided to convert the land into a park, a well thought out community where there would be standards of size, and so they consulted with a landscape architect, Nathan P. Barrett, and civil engineer, Horace F. Crosby whose determinations were that if additional monies were spent to create the community, then success would surely follow. The cost at that time was reputed to be about $75,000 and it was believed that much money had been saved by allowing the natural rock formations to remain where possible. Quite astutely, they realized that the businessmen would wish easy access to the trains, and so rather than have a central entrance on North Avenue to the park and community, they utilized the southwest corner which would offer the most direct route to New York.