Lindenhurst NY Real Estate Century 21 AA Realty: February 2012

Lindenhurst NY Home For Sale

*****Home Currently Under Contract*****

This fabulous new construction colonial home is in the American Venice section of Lindenhurst NY. No expense has been spared by the builder! 5 Star Energy Rating which is the highest a home can be rated!

This new construction Lindenhurst NY home is nestled mid block on a cul-de-sac with three bedrooms, seven rooms and a fantastic Gourmet kitchen!

Energy Star Appliances (stainless steel):
Stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, washer, dryer, tankless water heater & HVAC system.

Double pane Energy Star insulated windows, Energy Star insulated doors, foam insulation which is more than an upgrade to standard insulation.

Custom moldings, red oak flooring throughout, Gourmet eat-in kitchen with higher-end cherry wood cabinetry, Shivakashi granite and porcelain back-splash tile.

Master Bedroom
Sprawling master-suite has french doors and a five-piece bathroom with porcelain tile.

Raised panel doors throughout and are solid, not hollow.

This Lindenhurst NY new construction home also has a five year tax abatement which is a savings of approximately $14,000.00 Call me today: (631) 703-0201 to find out the details.

Long Island Arts & Craft Shows 2012

Melville NY Art & Craft Festival
Where: Huntington Hilton, Melville NY
Date: February 26th, 2012
Time: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Admission: $5 for Adults; Children under 12 are free.
This is a one day show and you get to see first-hand all the upcoming new creations for the year!

Freeport NY Craft Fair
Where: Freeport Recreation Center
Date: March 3rd & 4th
Time: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Admission: Free
There will be a great variety of vendors and food! There will be arts & crafts, antiques, gift items, collectibles and more. This event is surely not to be missed!

Spring Craft Fair
Where: Holy Trinity Diocesan High School
Date: March 24th, 2012
Time: 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Admission: Free
There will be over 100 vendors! Crafts, new items, food, raffles and a bake sale! Who can resist a bake sale?

Great Neck Spring Festival
Where: Great Neck South High School
Date: March 25th, 2012
Time: 10:00 AM To 5:00 PM
Admission: Free

Spring Fling Fine Art & Craft Festival
Where: Garden City Field House
Date: March 31 to April 1st, 2012
Time: 10:00 AM To 5:00 PM
Admission: $5.00 Adults; Children under 12 are free.
There will be artisans selling hand crafted jewelry stained glass, turned wood, clothing, floral arrangements, gourmet foods, ceramics, and so much more. Chef Randy will be back to answer questions and you can sample his array of foods!

Rockville Centre Spring Festival
Where: LIRR Commuter Lot - Corner of Sunrise Highway & North Long Beach Road
Date: April 21st & 22nd, 2012
Time: 11:00 AM To 6:00 PM
Admission: Free
Gotta love the spring festivals that are held in the LIRR commuter lots. They can be huge! There will be arts & crafts, gift items, food (no fair is complete without food!). Sponsored by the Rockville Center Lions Club.

Merrick Spring Festival
Where: LIRR Parking Lot: 1 Broadcast Plaza Merrick NY
Date: April 28th & 29th, 2012
Time: 10:00 AM To 6:00 PM
Admission: Free
Another festival in a LIRR parking lot! Vendors include crafts, unusual gifts, not-for-profit companies and service vendors. There will be rides and food! This one is a great festival so don't miss out!

Bethpage Street Fair
Where: Shopping District: 1 Broadway, Bethpage
Date: May 6th, 2012
Time: 10:00 AM To 6:00 PM
Admission: Free
Be sure to stop by this street fair in Bethpage, NY! This is the 2nd annual street fair and there will be a lot of vendors and food!

It Was My First Time and I Didn't Like It

So there I was yesterday, being a good agent keeping an eye on the Lindenhurst NY condo market for my past seller. Looking to see what has recently sold so I can report back to her. Found a condo that sold for much higher than others sold for just a few months ago.

I'm looking at the interior photos which were very nice and couldn't believe what I was seeing and started talking to myself.....

"Why does that entry sign photo look familiar?" "Uh, and the pool photo even looks familiar." "Oh wonderful, these are my photos!"

How did I notice? See for yourself:

My photo is the one on the right. Wait until you see the next one:

Again, my photo is on the right. Now, my former seller's unit is on the second floor. The other unit that sold was on the first floor. That is what caught my attention in the first place. Also, the cars in the photo are the same. I also listed my seller's condo in July of 2010.

Now, if the agent doesn't enter their own listings into the MLS then someone in their office did this. Either way, I emailed the agent letting them know that photo stealing is not allowed anywhere, anytime. And, if I was asked permission in the first place, I would have said yes. Have not heard back yet and I know I won't hear back from anyone ever.

I also know that it's a $1,000 fine that the MLS would impose if I press this forward but I am not going to do that.

I work hard when taking photos. I can take a minimum of 35 photos for a new listing so I have a lot to choose from to show my clients' homes in the best light.

This was my first time dealing with something like this and I didn't like it!

Hear me now, do not take my photos without permission!

Lindenhurst NY Homes Under Contract 2009 - 2011

The Lindenhurst NY real estate market for homes under contract in the last quarter of 2011 ended off better than I expected.

61 Lindenhurst NY homes went under contract and so far 45 have closed. The remaining 16 went under contract towards the end of 2011 so there is the overflow into 2012.

The listing prices range from $119,000 to $499,000. So far, the sold prices range from $144,000 to $450,000 which are the homes that closed in 2011.

So, why is this under contract chart important to you? It shows that buyers are out in Lindenhurst NY buying more homes in 2011 than the last two years. Housing prices in Lindenhurst NY are for the most part at the bottom and educated buyers know this and are taking advantage of it and they should. Couple that with historically low mortgage rates and this is why we have a buying frenzy going on right now and it's only the beginning!

As a Lindenhurst NY real estate agent, I'm already feeling the effects of the spring selling/buying season. I just got one short sale home in Lindenhurst NY under contract and another one just about to go under contract. Open houses have been busy and my phone is ringing. I can only imagine how much busier it will be come April!

If you want to know what your Lindenhurst NY home is worth in today's market, call me today (631) 703-0201 for a free, no obligation market analysis appointment!

Lindenhurst NY Short Sale Market Report - 2008-January 2012

The Lindenhurst NY short sale market in 2011 almost stayed the same compared to 2010. In 2010, 55 homes were listed as short sales and 30 sold. 50 homes in Lindenhurst NY were listed as short sales in 2011 and 33 sold.

2012 will be interesting. Short sales will continue to be around for a while. I have to assume right now that 2012 for short sales in Lindenhurst NY will be around the same as in 2010 and 2011.

If you have been considering to short sale your Lindenhurst NY home as an option but are not sure what it entails, call me today (631) 703-0201 to make a confidential, no-obligation appointment to see if a short sale is right for you and your family.

The Only Person I Sleep with is My Husband

It's funny how buyers get advice that is old-school. Family and friends mean well but inaccurate information can lead to misunderstandings.

In January of 2009, I met with a nice couple who were first time home buyers. During my consultation with them, I let them know that I can refer them to great mortgage brokers, home inspectors and real estate attorneys that will get the job done without breaking the bank.

Upon hearing that, the husband said the following, "we were told to not use anyone the Realtor® "sleeps" with". I knew exactly what they meant and I said, "the only person I sleep with is my husband". Good thing they both laughed at that one!

I explained that real estate was different 20+ years ago then it is now. My job as a buyer's agent is to make sure you have a great team behind you and that includes mortgage brokers, home inspectors and real estate attorneys. If you blindly pick anyone, that could cause problems, delays and cost you more money than necessary. If you already have someone in mind that you trust, then it's all good!

In the end, they bought the home of their dreams and are living happily ever after.

Lindenhurst NY Waterfront Homes - You Will Miss The Boat If You Wait To List Your Home

A few times a day I check my website visitor stats to see the activity. Potential buyers are already looking for waterfront homes for sale in Lindenhurst NY:

There are different types of waterfront homes in Lindenhurst NY: Bayfront and Canal location. Bayfront for the most part gives you spectacular views of the Great South Bay.

View Map of Great South Bay on Long Island in a larger map

Canal homes are just that. They are on the canal and your neighbors can be very close to each other. You do get bulkheading with canal homes so if you want a boat or jet ski, go for it! Just make sure the boat isn't larger than your dock space.

Lindenhurst NY Waterfront Homes currently For Sale

On the Market Waterfront Homes in Lindenhurst NY in 2011
January 2011 - 1
February 2011 - 0
March 2011 - 0
April 2011 - 1
May, 2011 - 5
June, 2011 - 0

Sold Lindenhurst NY Waterfront Homes in 2011
January 2011 - 3 sold for $392,000 (Contemporary style), $400,000 (Bayfront), $400,000 (Bayfront)
February  2011 - 1 sold for $275,100 (located in the Copiague School District)
March 2011 - 3 sold for $315,000, $346,500 and $625,000 (Bayfront)
April 2011 - 1 sold for $220,000 (2 bedroom)
May 2011 - 2 one homes sold for $190,000 (1 bedroom home) and the other for $435,000 (Bayfront)
June 2011 - 2 one home sold for $336,000 and the other for $450,000 (Bayfront)
July 2011 - 0
August 2011 - 0
September 2011 - 1 sold for $315,000
October 2011 - 0
November 2011 - 0
December 2011 - 1 sold for $350,000

In my opinion, the best time to list a Lindenhurst NY waterfront home would be in March. You may not get a lot of activity at first but sometimes all it takes is just one buyer that loves it and you get it sold.

The tricky part is, if the seller has school-aged children and the buyer does not, the seller doesn't want to move a few months before school ends and usually an agreement can be made between the buyer and seller as to when closing can take place. I find most buyers are accommodating with this situation.

Call me today to find out how much your Lindenhurst NY waterfront home is worth in today's real estate market!

What Does Real Estate and A Box Of Chocolates Have In Common?

I will never forget the first time I prospected expired listings in September 2009. The very first door I knocked on had recently expired in Lindenhurst NY and had listed with numerous real estate agents over the last four years. I knew it was going to be a challenge but didn’t expect what I was greeted with.......

It was just short of 11:15 a.m. and when I knocked the homeownerflew open the screen door and screamed at me, “do you know what F’ing time it is?!?!?” I replied, “yes, it’s 11:15”. “I’m sorry, is it too early for you?” I then put a smile on my face and told her to have a good day and thanked her for her time.

As I was walking back to my car, I heard footsteps behind me. I turn around and was almost nose to nose with the homeowner. I told her to back away or I call 911. I get in my car and just said “NEXT! since I had 11 more expireds to go to.

For the rest of the day I was greeted with a few luke-warmhomeowners and the rest couldn’t have been any nicer. I even had an elderly woman invite me in for tea and cookies and of course I did. How could I say no? She was the nicest one of all and I enjoyed her company and she appreciated me sitting down with her. To this day, I visit her once a month and we both look forward to it. At this point in time, she can’t sell yet and when she is, I will miss her so I’m in no rush to list her home and she knows this.


Being a real estate agent, I get to meet all kinds of interesting people. Most are nice. Some are frustrated with this market which is understandable.

Just goes to show you how real estate is just like a box of chocolates. You never know what you are going to get!

Lindenhurst NY Short Sale Sold!

This Lindenhurst NY Short Sale sold and we closed on it today. It was my very first listing and my very first short sale.

I took the listing on February 10th, 2010. Almost two years. Lost a few buyers here and there and this one took eight months under contract to get to closing. The buyers almost walked a few times. Read my post to find out how I didn't lose these buyers: Thank You Sherry at Bank of America.

This Lindenhurst NY home is a Colonial and a Legal 2 by CO. Meaning, the entire home does not have to be owner occupied. The Town of Babylon and Village of Lindenhurst NY do not give homes Legal 2 by CO anymore due to they do not want the town to become a rental haven.

So here we are, a happy seller who avoided foreclosure and happy buyers who bought themselves a great investment property. They already started doing work on their new home.

All I know is I will be getting a good nights sleep tonight knowing my seller is happy and can now move on with their life. Life is good!

Thank You Sheri at Bank of America - One Less Homeowner in Foreclosure

This is one Lindenhurst NY short sale I will never forget.

After eight months under contract the buyer was going to walk. Frustrated, I wrote a blog post venting at how the short sale process at Bank of America was taking way too long. it wasn't normal.

Two weeks later I received a call on a Friday night from Sheri at Bank of America. Sheri stated that she could try and help move the process along. Since it was too late to call her back, I called her the following Monday morning.

First thing that Monday, I called Sheri. She looked at the file and I explained to her what was going on and not going on. She was able to see what I was talking about. Without promises, she told me she would see what she could do. Of course I was apprehensive but still had faith since I never give up without a fight about everything. And besides, my goal was to make sure my seller didn't go into foreclosure. I worked too hard for that to happen. I couldn't let my seller down.

A few days later, I had a short sale approval letter from Bank of America! I still couldn't believe it.

Today is Monday, February 6th, 2012 and we closed successfully without any glitches, hitches and witches.

Thank you Sheri for doing what you did. I will never forget this day. Because of my blog post, you reached out to me. Because of your help, I have one homeowner who will not have a foreclosure on their credit.