This Saturday at the SU-Georgetown basketball game at the Dome a record number of people will attend the game. They've managed to squeeze in another few seats to create a new record. The demand arises from the last Dome appearance for arch rival Georgetown while the two teams are in the rapidly descending Big East conference. SU leaves next year for the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Ten years ago SU won the NCAA Division I basketball championship with Carmelo Anthony as the star freshman. He left after one year and has certainly taken the NBA by storm. There is talk this year of him winning the MVP for bringing the Knicks back to prominence. He is a star, both for the NBA and our Olympic team.
His jersey will be retired on Saturday at halftime. I haven't seen official word that he will be at the game, but everyone I talk to says he will. And the Knicks aren't playing - I checked - so he most likely will be there. He has also contributed towards the building of the Carmelo Anthony training center on campus.
My rant. In the rafters where his jersey will come to rest is a banner celebrating the 2003 championship. Coach Boeheim is featured prominently as are Gerry McNamara (the incredible guard with amazing 3-point ability) and Carmelo. No one else. No rest of the team, just these three.
Not right, in my opinion. The team deserves to be there.
Adding to this is my tendency to like not the stars, but the guys who don't get the adulation. Currently I like Jerami Grant, a freshman who has great basketball knowledge and is working to pull it all together. But he's nowhere near a star. On the 2002-2003 team I loved a sophomore named Hakim Warrick. Long arms, great blocker, and quiet guy. The boards featured sayings like "Mac to Hak" when he and Gerry combined.
During the final game as the minutes wore down Hakim had an indelible block that was caught on film. I bet you could look it up now online. It virtually assured us the championship. But his photo - and I stress - the rest of the team - is not on the banner.
So that's my rant. He and other members of that team will be there Saturday to congratulate Carmelo and be congratulated themselves for their feat. I just wish it would be acknowledged that a TEAM won the championship, not just a few guys.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Happiness
Yesterday I went over to Grant Ave in Sennett to run some errands. On the way back I listened to NPR's Talk of the Nation. Neil Conan had a re-broadcast of an interview with Dan Buettner who wrote Thrive: Finding Happiness the Blue Zones Way. I was fascinated.
His contention is that there are places on earth in which people are happier than others, and that happiness is in some part a function of what you do and where you live. Since I was driving, I couldn't take notes. But as with any project that is heard only auditorily, I grasped at items to remember that meant something to me. So of course I compared our lives in Central New York with his happiness claims.
He cited four cities that were the happiest statistically on each continent. Singapore was one, and I must admit I didn't pay much attention as to the why, as well as a city in Mexico, I believe. (Yes, get the book, as will I!)
Denmark (must have been a city attached) was quite happy, even with their 70% tax rate (take that, New York!). Or actually because of the 70% tax rate. Everything is done for them - all education through college is paid for, all medical care...the stress level is quite low so therefore the happiness level is quite high. They also have an equality of class and opportunity. The highest salaries are not far from the lowest, therefore all people live relatively well without a class struggle. No mansions vs. shacks, so therefore no envy.
San Luis Obispo was the city in the United States. As it happens, I drove there on a February break probably 18 years ago, helping a psychologist who was moving there. I saw "road trip" of the highest order, with an ending for me in San Francisco to see an old friend, and went for it. But San Luis Obispo, although on the ocean, was not what I had imagined, at least not in February! Trailers dotted the hillside, stores were sweet and small but mostly closed against the cold wind (but any place can have a bad day!)....Apparently a mayor was elected years ago who went about changing the culture to make it more stress-free - bike paths, community areas, etc. - and it seems to have worked. The residents exude well-being.
We have a great deal of the elements here in Central New York. We have short commutes, cited as a huge factor in contentment. We have access to the outdoors - easy access. We are close to water which seems to be important on the happiness scale. Safety is also a prime ingredient. And frankly, most of these boil down to reduction of stress...and you can find that here, near the water and outside in all weather.
His contention is that there are places on earth in which people are happier than others, and that happiness is in some part a function of what you do and where you live. Since I was driving, I couldn't take notes. But as with any project that is heard only auditorily, I grasped at items to remember that meant something to me. So of course I compared our lives in Central New York with his happiness claims.
He cited four cities that were the happiest statistically on each continent. Singapore was one, and I must admit I didn't pay much attention as to the why, as well as a city in Mexico, I believe. (Yes, get the book, as will I!)
Denmark (must have been a city attached) was quite happy, even with their 70% tax rate (take that, New York!). Or actually because of the 70% tax rate. Everything is done for them - all education through college is paid for, all medical care...the stress level is quite low so therefore the happiness level is quite high. They also have an equality of class and opportunity. The highest salaries are not far from the lowest, therefore all people live relatively well without a class struggle. No mansions vs. shacks, so therefore no envy.
San Luis Obispo was the city in the United States. As it happens, I drove there on a February break probably 18 years ago, helping a psychologist who was moving there. I saw "road trip" of the highest order, with an ending for me in San Francisco to see an old friend, and went for it. But San Luis Obispo, although on the ocean, was not what I had imagined, at least not in February! Trailers dotted the hillside, stores were sweet and small but mostly closed against the cold wind (but any place can have a bad day!)....Apparently a mayor was elected years ago who went about changing the culture to make it more stress-free - bike paths, community areas, etc. - and it seems to have worked. The residents exude well-being.
We have a great deal of the elements here in Central New York. We have short commutes, cited as a huge factor in contentment. We have access to the outdoors - easy access. We are close to water which seems to be important on the happiness scale. Safety is also a prime ingredient. And frankly, most of these boil down to reduction of stress...and you can find that here, near the water and outside in all weather.
Monday, February 18, 2013
Monday Morning Organization Thoughts
Since I started this whole blog with the idea of describing what life as a Realtor is like in this area, I want to share a bit of how I organize my week. Or try to. I spoke with an agent yesterday who was bemoaning the fact that she had to work on Sunday (!) and had wanted to take Monday off but couldn't. I understand to a point, and I know how it all can overrun the the best of plans, but planning is necessary to conquer "it." "It" in this case being a career in real estate.
I start off Mondays as "domestic Monday." I usually have worked Sunday - open houses, people who can only get in on the weekend, etc. But somehow Monday mornings have turned out to be a good time to get some things done. I do the bills, do the wash (nice to work at home), and run errands - post office, Kinney's, store sometimes. The day falls apart rapidly after 10:00, but I can generally get the bills and banking done.
Today is no exception. The photo is the view out the back of my office (that I call a studio). It beckons and Sheba and I will certainly walk out sometime today. But until then I will work through my morning.
Bills and banking, setting the timer for 45 minutes. When it goes off, I take a five minute break and do the wash. Good exercise, up and down those stairs! And a clearing of the head.
Another 45 minute section - the hotsheet, office voicemail check, and then work e-mails. Then another break, during which these days I eat a banana which is my "coffee break."
From then on it might be errands or continuing onto the e-mails until lunch - but timed, so I don't get lost. This is a suggestion I got from the Buffini Turning Point last June which has worked tremendously.
And so the timer says my 15 minutes to blog are up - and I will start the day!
I start off Mondays as "domestic Monday." I usually have worked Sunday - open houses, people who can only get in on the weekend, etc. But somehow Monday mornings have turned out to be a good time to get some things done. I do the bills, do the wash (nice to work at home), and run errands - post office, Kinney's, store sometimes. The day falls apart rapidly after 10:00, but I can generally get the bills and banking done.
Today is no exception. The photo is the view out the back of my office (that I call a studio). It beckons and Sheba and I will certainly walk out sometime today. But until then I will work through my morning.
Bills and banking, setting the timer for 45 minutes. When it goes off, I take a five minute break and do the wash. Good exercise, up and down those stairs! And a clearing of the head.
Another 45 minute section - the hotsheet, office voicemail check, and then work e-mails. Then another break, during which these days I eat a banana which is my "coffee break."
From then on it might be errands or continuing onto the e-mails until lunch - but timed, so I don't get lost. This is a suggestion I got from the Buffini Turning Point last June which has worked tremendously.
And so the timer says my 15 minutes to blog are up - and I will start the day!
Sunday, February 17, 2013
The Sometime Update - February 5th through February 17th
After hearing from a couple people that they've been reading my blog, I have felt the guilt for not writing more. So I will, as I always say. I need to put in a regular time - but then that time can be swept away by clients because they ALWAYS come first. Still, I am in the office on a Sunday having written an offer, I do have a fabulous new listing, and I need to step it up a notch.
Without further preamble...There are currently only 74 active listings in the Skaneateles area of the multiple listing service. That's right - only 74. We closed many more than that last year, so it means that inventory is WAAAAAAY down. Of these, 18 are in the Village and another 18 are considered waterfront.
In the under contract category, 19 are waiting to close. Three new ones were added to the list in the past two weeks, two in the town and one waterfront. Yes indeedy, waterfront does sell in the winter! How else can they be ready when summer rolls around?
So far we have 7 closed properties for the year. Two are new, a Village home that was quite a bargain (in my lowly opinion) and a multi-acre town property. Once we get to 20 I will publish the list.
Okay - I promise myself (and you!) 7 more posts by the end of the month!
Without further preamble...There are currently only 74 active listings in the Skaneateles area of the multiple listing service. That's right - only 74. We closed many more than that last year, so it means that inventory is WAAAAAAY down. Of these, 18 are in the Village and another 18 are considered waterfront.
In the under contract category, 19 are waiting to close. Three new ones were added to the list in the past two weeks, two in the town and one waterfront. Yes indeedy, waterfront does sell in the winter! How else can they be ready when summer rolls around?
So far we have 7 closed properties for the year. Two are new, a Village home that was quite a bargain (in my lowly opinion) and a multi-acre town property. Once we get to 20 I will publish the list.
Okay - I promise myself (and you!) 7 more posts by the end of the month!
Monday, February 4, 2013
Skaneateles Real Estate - The Sometime Update (1/17 thru 2/4)
Usually I like to predict what will happen. I think ahead, weigh some factors, and come up with numbers concerning closings and listings, what will sell and what won't. It's kind of like when a seller asks me "What do you think our house will sell for?" I say to him/her that I don't have an answer. But when it comes to predictions I come up with what I think are answers. After last year I can't do that, not even in jest. It was a grand year - and one I hope - but can't predict - gets repeated this year.
I haven't written in a while because as you'll see, not a whole lot has happened. It's snowed and gotten cold, then we had a day of spring, and it got cold again. Really cold! My poor Sheba and Charlie had trouble walking. Charlie I can carry....Sheba, even with the loss of 20 fat pounds, is not the carrying type. They both celebrate this week one year of life with us.
Currently there are only 76 active listings in the Skaneateles area of the multiple listing service. I went back and looked at last year's update around this time - I was loving there being only 91 listings! The joy of so few listings is that it puts the onus on the buyer. It's hard when there are so many to choose from, but when there are only a few that fit a person's needs, then the choosing is made much easier. I think we are back to the days of "Here are the five homes that meet your criteria...please decide on one soon because it may not be here tomorrow." Because it's winter, that doesn't always play out...but one of my best months when I first started was February. Buyers had to buy, and so they did.
Carrying this through, 18 are in the Village and 20 are waterfront. Both numbers are usually within a few digits of each other, and so it is again, even with the numbers so low. I can assure you that people are looking...I have walked in to Ten Mile Point five times since the beginning of the year.
Six new homes have come on the market...actually all six are re-lists. All, most with a reduced price. People are looking for deals, and some of these are definitely itching to be sold.
Five have moved into the under contract categories. All except one have been on the market a while - again, people are looking a finding deals. One came on and was snapped up - the price was literally "let's get it gone." And it was, within days.
We also have our first closings. Five - ranging from down the lake "country" to 2 in the Village, then also a bank-owned property and a gorgeous estate. It is hard to characterize and appraise our homes in Skaneateles - they are so unique. Five is a great number, just one less from last year's "6" at this time. Compare that to 2011 when there were only two closings, and 2010 when there were none.
I said I wouldn't predict...but this is going to be another great year!
I haven't written in a while because as you'll see, not a whole lot has happened. It's snowed and gotten cold, then we had a day of spring, and it got cold again. Really cold! My poor Sheba and Charlie had trouble walking. Charlie I can carry....Sheba, even with the loss of 20 fat pounds, is not the carrying type. They both celebrate this week one year of life with us.
Currently there are only 76 active listings in the Skaneateles area of the multiple listing service. I went back and looked at last year's update around this time - I was loving there being only 91 listings! The joy of so few listings is that it puts the onus on the buyer. It's hard when there are so many to choose from, but when there are only a few that fit a person's needs, then the choosing is made much easier. I think we are back to the days of "Here are the five homes that meet your criteria...please decide on one soon because it may not be here tomorrow." Because it's winter, that doesn't always play out...but one of my best months when I first started was February. Buyers had to buy, and so they did.
Carrying this through, 18 are in the Village and 20 are waterfront. Both numbers are usually within a few digits of each other, and so it is again, even with the numbers so low. I can assure you that people are looking...I have walked in to Ten Mile Point five times since the beginning of the year.
Six new homes have come on the market...actually all six are re-lists. All, most with a reduced price. People are looking for deals, and some of these are definitely itching to be sold.
Five have moved into the under contract categories. All except one have been on the market a while - again, people are looking a finding deals. One came on and was snapped up - the price was literally "let's get it gone." And it was, within days.
We also have our first closings. Five - ranging from down the lake "country" to 2 in the Village, then also a bank-owned property and a gorgeous estate. It is hard to characterize and appraise our homes in Skaneateles - they are so unique. Five is a great number, just one less from last year's "6" at this time. Compare that to 2011 when there were only two closings, and 2010 when there were none.
I said I wouldn't predict...but this is going to be another great year!
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Skaneateles Real Estate - 2012 Analysis and Update
So before I start getting into updates, I need to put last year to rest. If I can - the energy was huge, as they say, and the stats too.
We had a record 127 closings. Of those, 40 were in the Village and 24 were waterfront. In the past, the numbers for Village and waterfront have been similar. Suffice it to say that the number was about the same for waterfront, just Village and Town jumped up.
The lowest priced property to close went for $25,000 in the Town. The Village number was $127,000 and surprisingly waterfront was lower at $110,000. Of course, that was made up by having the highest priced property to sell - 1.6 million. The Village's highest priced home was $850,000. This past year there were only 2 homes that sold for over a million, a reflection I believe of the reduction of overall prices. Most Village and Town homes closed around 10% under the list price. The median list price overall was $295,000.
So on to a new year, an exciting year because currently there are only 76 active listings in the Skaneateles area of the multiple listing service. Of these, 19 are in the Village and 19 are considered waterfront. Five new listings and three re-lists have come on the market since the first of the year. They range in price from a non-waterfront home listed at 1.6M to a home in the town in the low $200,000s. Two more are waterfront.
No closings yet, but they will come.
The sales continue! Fifteen homes are in the under contract category, and six of these are new since the beginning of the year. Half are waterfront, and I will make a wager out of the clear blue that this year waterfront will be higher than Village. I have no idea, but with three showings in the past four days of Ten Mile Point I know there are people out there looking, getting ready to spend a summer on the lake. Like that camp listed at $250,000, there are other great buys.
Let's make 2013 as profitable as 2012!
We had a record 127 closings. Of those, 40 were in the Village and 24 were waterfront. In the past, the numbers for Village and waterfront have been similar. Suffice it to say that the number was about the same for waterfront, just Village and Town jumped up.
The lowest priced property to close went for $25,000 in the Town. The Village number was $127,000 and surprisingly waterfront was lower at $110,000. Of course, that was made up by having the highest priced property to sell - 1.6 million. The Village's highest priced home was $850,000. This past year there were only 2 homes that sold for over a million, a reflection I believe of the reduction of overall prices. Most Village and Town homes closed around 10% under the list price. The median list price overall was $295,000.
So on to a new year, an exciting year because currently there are only 76 active listings in the Skaneateles area of the multiple listing service. Of these, 19 are in the Village and 19 are considered waterfront. Five new listings and three re-lists have come on the market since the first of the year. They range in price from a non-waterfront home listed at 1.6M to a home in the town in the low $200,000s. Two more are waterfront.
No closings yet, but they will come.
The sales continue! Fifteen homes are in the under contract category, and six of these are new since the beginning of the year. Half are waterfront, and I will make a wager out of the clear blue that this year waterfront will be higher than Village. I have no idea, but with three showings in the past four days of Ten Mile Point I know there are people out there looking, getting ready to spend a summer on the lake. Like that camp listed at $250,000, there are other great buys.
Let's make 2013 as profitable as 2012!
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Closing out 2012
What a great way to end the old year and bring in the new! The following are the Sixth Twenty homes to sell in the Skaneateles area in 2012, plus an extra seven homes to close the year. One hundred twenty-seven single family residences - amazing! 127! By way of comparison, in 2011 there were only 71 closings the entire year.
In no particular order:
2575 East Lake Road - Town of Skaneateles - $710,000
2098 West Lake Road - Town of Skaneateles - $217,000
44 East Lake Road - Village of Skaneateles - $220,000
35 Calemad Drive - Town of Sennett - $395.000
3878 Highland Drive - Town of Skaneateles - $281,000
1650 Coon Hill Road - Town of Skaneateles - $160,000
5 Woodmere Terrace - Village of Skaneateles - $580,000
8A Gayle Road - Village of Skaneateles - $775,000
3395 East Lake Road - Town of Skaneateles - $1,650,000
4416 Jordan Road - Town of Skaneateles - $145,000
5 Tallcott Lane - Village of Skaneateles - $584,000
1022 Butters Farm Lane - Town of Skaneateles - $400,000
4388 State Street Road - Town of Skaneateles - $280,000
2595 Benson Road - Town of Skaneateles - $167,280
4234 Jordan Road - Town of Skaneateles - $87,100
3408 Rickard Road - Town of Skaneateles - $189,000
74 Onondaga Street - Town of Skaneateles - $268,000
7 Heather Woods Court - Village of Skaneateles - $295,000
3916 East Street - Town of Skaneateles - $389,900
1515 Coon Hill Road - Town of Skaneateles - $185,000
2505 East Lake Road - Town of Skaneateles - $990,000
1390 Thornton Heights - Town of Skaneateles - $285,000
1083 Jewett Road - Town of Skaneateles - $235,000
4630 Phillips Road - Skaneateles Falls - $101,760
3145 East Lake Road - Town of Skaneateles - $804,300
51 Leitch Avenue - Village of Skaneateles - $295,000
3915 Highland Avenue - Town of Skaneateles - $198,900
In no particular order:
2575 East Lake Road - Town of Skaneateles - $710,000
2098 West Lake Road - Town of Skaneateles - $217,000
44 East Lake Road - Village of Skaneateles - $220,000
35 Calemad Drive - Town of Sennett - $395.000
3878 Highland Drive - Town of Skaneateles - $281,000
1650 Coon Hill Road - Town of Skaneateles - $160,000
5 Woodmere Terrace - Village of Skaneateles - $580,000
8A Gayle Road - Village of Skaneateles - $775,000
3395 East Lake Road - Town of Skaneateles - $1,650,000
4416 Jordan Road - Town of Skaneateles - $145,000
5 Tallcott Lane - Village of Skaneateles - $584,000
1022 Butters Farm Lane - Town of Skaneateles - $400,000
4388 State Street Road - Town of Skaneateles - $280,000
2595 Benson Road - Town of Skaneateles - $167,280
4234 Jordan Road - Town of Skaneateles - $87,100
3408 Rickard Road - Town of Skaneateles - $189,000
74 Onondaga Street - Town of Skaneateles - $268,000
7 Heather Woods Court - Village of Skaneateles - $295,000
3916 East Street - Town of Skaneateles - $389,900
1515 Coon Hill Road - Town of Skaneateles - $185,000
2505 East Lake Road - Town of Skaneateles - $990,000
1390 Thornton Heights - Town of Skaneateles - $285,000
1083 Jewett Road - Town of Skaneateles - $235,000
4630 Phillips Road - Skaneateles Falls - $101,760
3145 East Lake Road - Town of Skaneateles - $804,300
51 Leitch Avenue - Village of Skaneateles - $295,000
3915 Highland Avenue - Town of Skaneateles - $198,900
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