Maybe not final, but it sounded good as a title to this blog. I am still working out New Year's resolutions in an attempt to improve the professional me. I took care of rushing last year by arriving early on a regular basis. That was part of the stress, but only a part. Closings I may actually have an idea - a creative idea - to make them easier on everyone, so I can put that away for a bit.
I realized today, as of course I have known for years, that there is a physical component to stress. I felt it three times today that I can delineate. I always make a list in the morning of tasks that need to be accomplished - actually it is just a reminder list of who needs a call or e-mail, or a text. I write in every day things like "office" and "hotsheet" just because I can then check them off or not let them get lost in the swirl of the day. There are long-term projects that take time, but I need to keep them in the forefront or they never get done. Today's (as it has been for weeks) was "database." And it got done - three hours of typing and looking up addresses, but it got done!
But when the list was written I noticed that I gravitated towards certain things and away from others. I did not want to call the client with the property for sale that hasn't sold. That is never a comfortable conversation, ever. I like all my clients, sellers and buyers, and that is rarely a problem. Certain properties at certain prices just do not sell in this market, and I am the bearer of that news.
Another time I felt my heart rate go up was dealing with technology. My e-mail got stuck - the ringer on my phone was turned off by mistake - the attachment I thought I had sent wasn't the right one. These things happen - they do - and then....
In the afternoon I had to go out to send a card that needed to get in the mail today. It was 14 degrees at the time, the car was covered with snow, and I had been sitting for hours working on the computer by the fire. I did not want to go out, but I did. As I pushed the snow I had so longed for off the Scion I told Boo who came along for the ride that we might miss our first day of walking in the new year. "Too cold!"
But I couldn't miss it. Once back I already had my vest on, I could easily trade out my jeans for heavy leggings, I found my ear-warmers, and way in the back of the closet I dragged out Alex's very old coat. We had gotten that probably 20 years ago when his friend Alexander came to visit from Saratoga! I felt warmed by it, and today I needed to feel the comfort of memories of the boys.
So we walked, Boo and I. He flushed four deer before we hit the back trail, the wind died enough to make it possible to walk into the open cornfield, and the only things cold were my feet. (Bob got me electric socks last year that I must dig out.) We came back jauntily, and while Boo pulled at the iceballs on his feet in front of the fire I filled the woodbox and made tea.
They say music eases stress. I think in my case it's exertion, pushing myself physically. A good day, the beginning of a new year with warm remembrances. And a starting place for the final frontier.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Monday, January 2, 2012
To Rent or Not to Rent
Before Bob took off for his job in Caz today he read me an article in the morning paper (http://www.syracuse.com/) about a company in St. Cloud that manages property. They were having so much trouble with dogs pooping and owners not scooping, that they began requiring DNA samples of all their tenants' dogs! In this way they could prove which dog and owner had left a deposit. Of course their resolve was tested - they have so far sent out 20 samples to the labs - but once caught the pets and owners have not re-offended.
I imagined the management company workers sitting around a hot cup of coffee (Minnesota) and dreaming this up. How can we get creative with this problem, they must have thought. They could have prohibited dogs from their complexes, but instead they came up with this solution. Bravo!
So what does the lowly home-owner do, Bob asked. He then regaled me with the vision of one of my owners directing me to scoop the poop and get it tested. Above and beyond the call of duty as a Realtor, I would think.
The issue this brings up is not the dog problem, but the renting aspect of real estate. Over the past few years as homes haven't sold, owners have decided to rent them out to pay at least some of the mortgage and/or taxes. My investors inform me they are doing a great business with their multi-families - houses are bought cheaply and rents are high, due to demand. They can pick and choose. This is not true for homeowners who have buildings in need of repair or in need of rents to cover higher mortgages or taxes. People who are willing to pay these amounts are generally moving on from one home to another with a bit of a breather in-between. Their expectations are high - as are the owners's expectations of their tenants. Complicating everything is the fact that both are primarily homeowners, not landlords and tenants.
I think the only reasonable answer to the Hamlet-esque question for both sides is to be certain of your goals and know that the road can be bumpy. Very bumpy at times. I rented a summer cottage (think no insulation) for seven school years in Saratoga. I called in my landlord when the pipes froze and one winter when we had so much snow the plow couldn't plow it. I was grateful to have 13 acres, a pool and a pond, privacy and great neighbors plus rent-free summers when we'd go home to the lake. They were thrilled to have us - we always paid our rent on time and left them alone. My goal was to raise Alex in a lovely safe setting; their goal was to rent the cottage on their estate over the winter months until the summer season. It worked well and we both remember those years fondly.
I wish all rentals could be that way!
I imagined the management company workers sitting around a hot cup of coffee (Minnesota) and dreaming this up. How can we get creative with this problem, they must have thought. They could have prohibited dogs from their complexes, but instead they came up with this solution. Bravo!
So what does the lowly home-owner do, Bob asked. He then regaled me with the vision of one of my owners directing me to scoop the poop and get it tested. Above and beyond the call of duty as a Realtor, I would think.
The issue this brings up is not the dog problem, but the renting aspect of real estate. Over the past few years as homes haven't sold, owners have decided to rent them out to pay at least some of the mortgage and/or taxes. My investors inform me they are doing a great business with their multi-families - houses are bought cheaply and rents are high, due to demand. They can pick and choose. This is not true for homeowners who have buildings in need of repair or in need of rents to cover higher mortgages or taxes. People who are willing to pay these amounts are generally moving on from one home to another with a bit of a breather in-between. Their expectations are high - as are the owners's expectations of their tenants. Complicating everything is the fact that both are primarily homeowners, not landlords and tenants.
I think the only reasonable answer to the Hamlet-esque question for both sides is to be certain of your goals and know that the road can be bumpy. Very bumpy at times. I rented a summer cottage (think no insulation) for seven school years in Saratoga. I called in my landlord when the pipes froze and one winter when we had so much snow the plow couldn't plow it. I was grateful to have 13 acres, a pool and a pond, privacy and great neighbors plus rent-free summers when we'd go home to the lake. They were thrilled to have us - we always paid our rent on time and left them alone. My goal was to raise Alex in a lovely safe setting; their goal was to rent the cottage on their estate over the winter months until the summer season. It worked well and we both remember those years fondly.
I wish all rentals could be that way!
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Good News!
I like starting off the new year with good news. After a lovely evening celebrating Bob's sister's birthday as well as the change in year, we got up late and had a simple breakfast. The sun streamed in - and yes, still no snow! - while we read the Post-Standard. In the business section Bob read an article to me that I want to share. If you would like to read the whole thing, please go to http://www.syracuse.com/.
There's a town in Western New York, Cattaraugus, that has the smallest bank in the entire state. It officially showed a profit of $5,000 last year and never has exceeded $50,000 in its 130-year history, according to Alan Feuer of the New York Times News Service who wrote this article. It exists to serve the people of this tiny village, and it serves them well.
One of the loans it made was to a farmer who needed $85,000 and who had no credit and annual earnings of under $3,000. But he was Amish, well-known to the community, and had sons who would help pay the loan. Another person lost his house to taxes so the bank president bought the house and leased it to him to repay the loan. People count here, not the bottom line.
This is the kind of bank of George Bailey fame in "It's a Wonderful Life", the bank that knows and cares about its customers. As we lose faith in banks and lending institutions - I know Bank of America has definitely earned my wrath in the past week - it is good to know there are places that continue to operate for people. As we start the new year, maybe we can bring some of that small town interdependency to all transactions. Start with faith that people will do the right thing, that they are not out just for themselves or to make life hard for others, but are contributing to the health and wealth of the community as a whole.
Good news is always welcome - and many thanks to the Bank of Cattaraugus for quietly leading the way.
There's a town in Western New York, Cattaraugus, that has the smallest bank in the entire state. It officially showed a profit of $5,000 last year and never has exceeded $50,000 in its 130-year history, according to Alan Feuer of the New York Times News Service who wrote this article. It exists to serve the people of this tiny village, and it serves them well.
One of the loans it made was to a farmer who needed $85,000 and who had no credit and annual earnings of under $3,000. But he was Amish, well-known to the community, and had sons who would help pay the loan. Another person lost his house to taxes so the bank president bought the house and leased it to him to repay the loan. People count here, not the bottom line.
This is the kind of bank of George Bailey fame in "It's a Wonderful Life", the bank that knows and cares about its customers. As we lose faith in banks and lending institutions - I know Bank of America has definitely earned my wrath in the past week - it is good to know there are places that continue to operate for people. As we start the new year, maybe we can bring some of that small town interdependency to all transactions. Start with faith that people will do the right thing, that they are not out just for themselves or to make life hard for others, but are contributing to the health and wealth of the community as a whole.
Good news is always welcome - and many thanks to the Bank of Cattaraugus for quietly leading the way.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Predictions and Resolutions
As 2011 ends I must say it has been a banner year. I generally have great years that end in "1". Liam was born this year, ten years ago Bob proposed, ten years before that I started the process of finding my birthmother (at least conceptually). I could go on... My business this year was fantastic - thank you all! It was certainly the year of the referral - I think at least 10 of my deals involved agents sending people to me. It was also the year of driving, with many thanks to Bob, while negotiating deals. Thank you iPhone, too - I could not have done it without it!
We fell far short of my predicted 90 single family homes closed in 2011, probably at 70. I know I have a couple closings coming up early in the year so as always I will think positively that next year will be better. But I must also be more realistic, so I will predict 80 closed homes in the Skaneateles area next year.
I said SU football would be better than they were in 2010. Not. No bowl game for them, not even the late odd ones. But they did provide a wonderful throwback evening with their win over then-ranked West Virginia in the Dome. It was like going back in time...but then like all dreams, we had to wake up. Next year a bowl game, for sure!
I saw SU basketball going to the Final Four, but that was in my own head admittedly wishful thinking. This year they will go and they will win it all. Dion Waiters will be named the MVP of the tournament, even though he will still come off the bench.
Last year a small notation about not rushing appeared in my blog, a resolution in passing. I took it to heart though and concentrated on it. I allowed extra time and really limited that awful rushed feeling by being early. Alex's introduction to "Words with Friends" this past fall has been a great help. When I am early, I usually have plays to make thanks to him, Summer, Trish, and someone named Mr. Teach with whom I started playing and who thought I was someone else. Great way to pass the time - although please, not on an airplane!
This year is the year of organization. My desk has always been a mess - I tell Jolanta not to attempt to clean it, and she (probably most gratefully) doesn't. Not at the office - Patti Callahan, when she was the manager of Longley-Jones years ago, put it in my head that desks should be cleared when not in use to give a good impression of the office. So mine is - there - but at home...So Bob, who shared the drawers of his desk (my parents' old one) bought me a desk for Christmas. It's lovely! And it has HUGE drawers just ready to be filled with everything that is spread out around the house. I can see myself writing more because I can enjoy it.
I always talk about de-cluttering, but I will do it this year. Slowly things will leave - because it is a wonderful thing to give things away. I see some that will stay, at least a while longer that I can't yet bear to send away - my mother's mug with a photo of her cat Hermione (the Himalayan before Hermes) on it, all things Christmas, favorite books (T.S. Eliot, the J.M. Barrie first editions), that little black dress that I WILL get into again). But I can let more go. Bob started the thought process by saying he would give me $1,000 instead of doing more garage sales to try to reach this number. The Thrifty Shopper over in Auburn will see me weekly - I resolve!
I resolve to do the same amount of business that I did this year but net more money in the end with less stress. The banks are awful, as I have said, so expectations must be lowered. Sixty days to closing is a thing of the past. We all try so hard, and whether it's the bank or the attorneys or other deals very rarely do we hit 60 days any more. I resolve to find a way to make each and every closing less hectic.
I want to work smarter and by doing so spend more time with friends. I met a friend for coffee at Creekside before Christmas, and we had six harrowing months to catch up on with each other. My friends are important, and I want to enjoy them. Remember "When I Say No I Feel Guilty"? I do! But by saying no to some things, I will be saying yes to others.
I did spend more time at the lake (another resolution) and I plan to be there even more this year, thanks to my iPhone. As technology improves it allows for greater freedom. But since I love this area so much it makes very little sense for me to travel far and wide. A new car is coming - wait and see! - and driving that will be my vacation.
As this year ends and another begins, I am so thankful for everyone in my life and I look forward to a spectacular 2012.
We fell far short of my predicted 90 single family homes closed in 2011, probably at 70. I know I have a couple closings coming up early in the year so as always I will think positively that next year will be better. But I must also be more realistic, so I will predict 80 closed homes in the Skaneateles area next year.
I said SU football would be better than they were in 2010. Not. No bowl game for them, not even the late odd ones. But they did provide a wonderful throwback evening with their win over then-ranked West Virginia in the Dome. It was like going back in time...but then like all dreams, we had to wake up. Next year a bowl game, for sure!
I saw SU basketball going to the Final Four, but that was in my own head admittedly wishful thinking. This year they will go and they will win it all. Dion Waiters will be named the MVP of the tournament, even though he will still come off the bench.
Last year a small notation about not rushing appeared in my blog, a resolution in passing. I took it to heart though and concentrated on it. I allowed extra time and really limited that awful rushed feeling by being early. Alex's introduction to "Words with Friends" this past fall has been a great help. When I am early, I usually have plays to make thanks to him, Summer, Trish, and someone named Mr. Teach with whom I started playing and who thought I was someone else. Great way to pass the time - although please, not on an airplane!
I always talk about de-cluttering, but I will do it this year. Slowly things will leave - because it is a wonderful thing to give things away. I see some that will stay, at least a while longer that I can't yet bear to send away - my mother's mug with a photo of her cat Hermione (the Himalayan before Hermes) on it, all things Christmas, favorite books (T.S. Eliot, the J.M. Barrie first editions), that little black dress that I WILL get into again). But I can let more go. Bob started the thought process by saying he would give me $1,000 instead of doing more garage sales to try to reach this number. The Thrifty Shopper over in Auburn will see me weekly - I resolve!
I resolve to do the same amount of business that I did this year but net more money in the end with less stress. The banks are awful, as I have said, so expectations must be lowered. Sixty days to closing is a thing of the past. We all try so hard, and whether it's the bank or the attorneys or other deals very rarely do we hit 60 days any more. I resolve to find a way to make each and every closing less hectic.
I want to work smarter and by doing so spend more time with friends. I met a friend for coffee at Creekside before Christmas, and we had six harrowing months to catch up on with each other. My friends are important, and I want to enjoy them. Remember "When I Say No I Feel Guilty"? I do! But by saying no to some things, I will be saying yes to others.
I did spend more time at the lake (another resolution) and I plan to be there even more this year, thanks to my iPhone. As technology improves it allows for greater freedom. But since I love this area so much it makes very little sense for me to travel far and wide. A new car is coming - wait and see! - and driving that will be my vacation.
As this year ends and another begins, I am so thankful for everyone in my life and I look forward to a spectacular 2012.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Skaneateles Real Estate - Christmas Edition
What a great last two weeks it's been! Alex, Rachel and Liam came to visit for Christmas. Before that there were the cookies to make - I am guessing I did somewhere in the neighborhood of 12 dozen. I had a marvelous time shopping at the mall and in the village, and with the weather cooperating I think it was easy. Not the same spirit, when snowflakes fall and lights reflect off the snow, but a good time buying gifts that it turned out they actually liked!
And not much was happening in real estate in Skaneateles. There are only 110 active listings of which 31 are in the village and 24 are waterfront. Only two new listings came on in the past two weeks - one is a re-list and the other is a builder's "to-be-built" in Parkside off West Elizabeth Street. Of the six homes marked contingent, only one is new, a waterfront priced under $350,000. There are no new additions to the "under contract, do not show" or pending categories.
The real news is the end of year closings. We have had four - wow! - since December 15th. Three are in the village, and all took reductions of varying amounts; two came down in price by 20% and the other two by 10% from their original list prices. But all closed within eight months of listing, which incudes the 60 to 75 days it generally takes after the offer is made. We now have 68 sold and closed homes in the Skaneateles area of the multiple listing service for the year. I am sure there must be one or two others that will show up in the next week or so. Next year I will provide an analysis and the final closings.
So enjoy the New Year and the celebrations! Drive carefully, sing loudly, and revel in our lack of snow but look forward to a very snowy January which will find you safe and warm.
And not much was happening in real estate in Skaneateles. There are only 110 active listings of which 31 are in the village and 24 are waterfront. Only two new listings came on in the past two weeks - one is a re-list and the other is a builder's "to-be-built" in Parkside off West Elizabeth Street. Of the six homes marked contingent, only one is new, a waterfront priced under $350,000. There are no new additions to the "under contract, do not show" or pending categories.
The real news is the end of year closings. We have had four - wow! - since December 15th. Three are in the village, and all took reductions of varying amounts; two came down in price by 20% and the other two by 10% from their original list prices. But all closed within eight months of listing, which incudes the 60 to 75 days it generally takes after the offer is made. We now have 68 sold and closed homes in the Skaneateles area of the multiple listing service for the year. I am sure there must be one or two others that will show up in the next week or so. Next year I will provide an analysis and the final closings.
So enjoy the New Year and the celebrations! Drive carefully, sing loudly, and revel in our lack of snow but look forward to a very snowy January which will find you safe and warm.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Skaneateles Real Estate - The Weekly Update
This is the cookie edition. I started last week for our annual family Christmas, having pulled together my Christmas cards and gotten them out. I needed to bake, which is my way of relaxing. Not the eating - just the baking. The first ones - other than a quick rolled cookie cutter cookie - was a new recipe I wanted to try out. I had found it in the Post Standard (http://www.syracuse.com/) on their annual page of contributions of favorite recipes. It is peppermint - Rachel loves peppermint - and it was great. They baked up beautifully and, I am told, they taste great. I will make more and the next time add a chocolate kiss in the middle. Yum!
There are currently 114 active listings in the Skaneateles area of the multiple listing service, of which 32 are in the village and 26 are considered waterfront. Three new listings came on - well, two are re-lists but one is a very pretty Village home priced in the mid-$300,000.
There are still six homes marked contingent, and eight marked pending. In the "under contract, do not show" there is a new waterfront property - excellent! Maybe a Christmas present? I have known that to happen.....
We now have 64 sold and closed properties for the year. Two new ones were just added - both in the Village. Each started much higher and then came down and finally were sold. They demonstrate that there are great deals out there, just waiting for your offer.
Enjoy the next week - go see some houses - buy the presents, bake the cookies, enjoy the lack of snow (over 50 inches last year by this time!) and celebrate the holidays in style!
There are currently 114 active listings in the Skaneateles area of the multiple listing service, of which 32 are in the village and 26 are considered waterfront. Three new listings came on - well, two are re-lists but one is a very pretty Village home priced in the mid-$300,000.
There are still six homes marked contingent, and eight marked pending. In the "under contract, do not show" there is a new waterfront property - excellent! Maybe a Christmas present? I have known that to happen.....
We now have 64 sold and closed properties for the year. Two new ones were just added - both in the Village. Each started much higher and then came down and finally were sold. They demonstrate that there are great deals out there, just waiting for your offer.
Enjoy the next week - go see some houses - buy the presents, bake the cookies, enjoy the lack of snow (over 50 inches last year by this time!) and celebrate the holidays in style!
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Skaneateles Real Estate - The Weekly Update
We saw Hugo, the film in 3-D, last week. I doubt a film's setting was ever so powerful for me. Maybe it was the beginning of the real estate bug, but when I was younger I would attend plays and sketch out the sets. My playbills contained drawings, all the way back to Stratford and probably before. Now that 3-D has "come into the picture," as it were, my interest is even more pronounced. If I do leave for France, it will be that film that sent me packing.
But back to the prosaic, and a cold drizzly day in Central New York. When the snow comes it will be welcome. There are currently only 115 active listings in the single family homes Skaneateles area of the multiple listing service. Of these, 32 are in the village, 28 are waterfront, and a new subset of waterfront in the village has two homes. One actually new listing (at least not for a long while) came on - a little home listed around $100,000. Two others that have "been out there" in various forms also re-appeared with lower prices.
The contingency category shows three new "sales." (Not closed until they are CLOSED!) A marvelous waterfront property, new construction in the village, and a home I swore would sell last summer but only did now (in the village also) were marked as contingent. I am sure everyone is thrilled - buyers, sellers, agents...
There was also movement in the "under contract, do not show" category. A home that has been on the market for a bit in the village now shows a "U" in the listings, as does a "to-be-built" in the town.
We also have a newly closed house in the town, purchased rapidly and closed within about 5% of its list price. That brings to 62 the actual number of sold single family homes this year.
Now, our dear friend of the blog, JT, has raised the "median" versus "mean" discussion again. The Post-Standard publishes on occasion the average (mean) prices of homes in the individual towns. Skaneateles is once again in the mid-$400,000 range, but that is misleading, she says, and I agree. We had a HUGE sale of waterfront-village property a few months back and that has skewed the numbers tremendously. The median list price of SOLD homes is still hovering around the $300,000 level - which means that there were an equal number of homes listed above the price as well as below the price. A look at the actual sales prices of these homes shows the same approximately. The current median price of active homes is $400,000 - certainly a discrepancy between reality and the active market price. Thanks, JT!
Closed for $3,000,000 earlier this year.
But back to the prosaic, and a cold drizzly day in Central New York. When the snow comes it will be welcome. There are currently only 115 active listings in the single family homes Skaneateles area of the multiple listing service. Of these, 32 are in the village, 28 are waterfront, and a new subset of waterfront in the village has two homes. One actually new listing (at least not for a long while) came on - a little home listed around $100,000. Two others that have "been out there" in various forms also re-appeared with lower prices.
The contingency category shows three new "sales." (Not closed until they are CLOSED!) A marvelous waterfront property, new construction in the village, and a home I swore would sell last summer but only did now (in the village also) were marked as contingent. I am sure everyone is thrilled - buyers, sellers, agents...
There was also movement in the "under contract, do not show" category. A home that has been on the market for a bit in the village now shows a "U" in the listings, as does a "to-be-built" in the town.
We also have a newly closed house in the town, purchased rapidly and closed within about 5% of its list price. That brings to 62 the actual number of sold single family homes this year.
Now, our dear friend of the blog, JT, has raised the "median" versus "mean" discussion again. The Post-Standard publishes on occasion the average (mean) prices of homes in the individual towns. Skaneateles is once again in the mid-$400,000 range, but that is misleading, she says, and I agree. We had a HUGE sale of waterfront-village property a few months back and that has skewed the numbers tremendously. The median list price of SOLD homes is still hovering around the $300,000 level - which means that there were an equal number of homes listed above the price as well as below the price. A look at the actual sales prices of these homes shows the same approximately. The current median price of active homes is $400,000 - certainly a discrepancy between reality and the active market price. Thanks, JT!
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