Archive for the ‘About’ Category

Oceanside NY 11572 4Q Closed Real Estate Statistics

Monday, January 5th, 2009 by erik.reilly

Oceanside NY 11572 4Q Closed Real Estate Statistics

Field

Count

Mean
(Average)

Median

Mode

Low

High

Listing Price

43

$502,481

$485,000

$399,000

$295,000

$899,000

Original Price

43

$530,025

$499,000

$449,000

$309,000

$999,000

Sold Price

43

$467,058

$440,000

$360,000

$265,000

$775,000

% Difference

43

6.95

7.1

4

0

20.2

Taxes

43

$9,485

$9,300

$2,500

$2,500

16038.55

Bedrooms

43

3.5

3

3

2

5

Baths

43

2.1

2

2

1

3.5

Days On Market

43

119

100

85

3

426

(Calculations are done excluding zero-values except for %Difference)

Counts

Field

Value

Count

Town

Oceanside

43

Zip

11572

43

Zone

6

43

County

N

43

Last Status Change

CL

43

Style

Cape

9

Colonial

6

Exp Cape

1

Exp Ranch

2

Hi Ranch

7

Raised Ranch

1

Ranch

3

Splanch

5

Split

8

Tudor

1

Where they grew up and where they call home now: rags to riches celebrity real estate stories

Saturday, July 12th, 2008 by erik.reilly

Where they grew up and where they call home now: rags to riches celebrity real estate stories

Rags
to riches stories of hollywood celebrities - fid out how much the house
they grew up in cost and how much the one they live in now costs.

Eddie Murpphy's House

Eddie Murphy, See Home

Beverly Hills, CA - Eddie Murphy built a Mission-style $20 million mission in 2005.

Edward Regan “Eddie” Murphy (born April 3, 1961) is an Academy Award-nominated, Golden Globe-, Screen Actors Guild Award-winning American actor, film director, producer and comedian.
Murphy ranks as the number one grossing film star in history, having a
total of 33 films to date, his films grossing over $3.4 billion in the
US alone, averaging $104 million per film.[1] He was a regular cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1980 to 1984, and has worked as a
stand-up comedian. He has also enjoyed a minor singing career.

Murphy was born in Brooklyn, New York and grew up in the 1960’s where the median home price was $75,400.

Oprah's House

Oprah Winfrey, See Home

Oprah resides in a $55 mil home in Montecito, CA with 14 bathrooms and 10 fireplaces.

Oprah Gail Winfrey (born January 29, 1954), often referred to simply as Oprah, is an American television host, media mogul, and philanthropist. Her internationally-syndicated talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, has earned her multiple Emmy Awards and is the highest-rated talk show in the history of television.[2] She is also an influential book critic, an Academy Award-nominated actress, and a magazine publisher.

Oprah was born in rural Mississippi but grew up in an inner city Milwaukee neighborhood in the 1960’s where the median home price was $60,600.

Jennifer Lopez's House

J.Lo, See Home

Los Angeles, CA - J.Lo lives in a seven bedroom and fourteen bathroom, 12,217 sq. ft home in

Jennifer Lynn Lopez (born July 24, 1969),[1] popularly nicknamed J.Lo, is an American actress, singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer, fashion designer, and television producer. She is the richest person of Latin American descent in Hollywood according to Forbes, and the most influential Hispanic entertainer in America according to People en Español’s list of “100 Most Influential Hispanics”.[2]

Jennifer Lopez was born in the South Bronx, New York and grew up in the 1970’s where the median home price was $86,400.

John Travolta's Home

John Travolta, See Home

 

Ocala,
FL - John Travolta built this $2.5 million dollar Florida house at the
end of a private runway in Ocala, Florida, which includes parking for
his Boeing 707 and Gulfstream jets. Oh, and a 16-car garage.

John Joseph Travolta (born February 18, 1954) is an Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe Award-winning American actor, dancer, and singer, best known for his leading roles in films such as Saturday Night Fever, Grease, Pulp Fiction, Hairspray, and Battlefield Earth.

Travolta  was born in Englewood, New Jersey and grew up in the 1960’s where the median home price was $76,900.

Billie Joel's House

Billy Joel, See Home

Miami, FL - Billy Joel’s $35 million dollar, 7 bedroom modernist Miami mansion sits on a private island.

William Joseph Martin “Billy” Joel (born May 9, 1949) is an American pianist and singer-songwriter. He released his first hit song, “Piano Man“, in 1973. According to the RIAA, he is the sixth best-selling recording artist in the United States.[1]

Born in the Bronx, New York, Joel was raised in Hicksville, New York during the 1950’s where the median home price was $61,500.

Will Smith's House

Will Smith, See Home

Los
Angeles - The Fresh Prince renovated this Calabasas castle, worth
nearly $20 million. It has its own lake. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have their
own full-sized basketball and tennis courts too!

Willard Christopher “Will” Smith, Jr. (born September 25, 1968) is an American actor and rapper. He is one of a small group of people who have enjoyed success in three major entertainment media in the United States. Newsweek has called him the most powerful actor on the planet.[1] Smith has been nominated for a Golden Globe, two Academy Awards, and has won multiple Grammys.

Will Smith was born and raised in West Philadelphia and Germantown in Northwest Philadelphia during the 1970’s where the median home price was $52,200.

Halle Berry's House

Halle Berry, See Home

Malibu, CA - Halle Berry’s owns an $8 million estate in Malibu, CA. Nearly every room has a coastline view. 

Halle Maria Berry (IPA:; born August 14, 1966)[1] is an American actress, former fashion model and beauty queen. Berry has received Emmy and Golden Globe awards for Introducing Dorothy Dandridge,[2] and an Academy Award for Best Actress in 2002 for her performance in Monster’s Ball, becoming the first and still only woman of African-American descent to have won the award for Best Actress.

Halle was born in Cleveland Ohio and grew up in the 1970s where the median home price was $67,600.

 

Brad Pitt's House

Brad Pitt, See Home

Malibu, FL - Brad Pitt’s cliffside crib in Malibu, just $4.5 million.

William Bradley “Brad” Pitt (born December 18, 1963) is an American actor, film producer, and social activist. He became famous during the mid 1990s after starring in several major Hollywood films.[1] Pitt received a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination for his role in the 1995 film Twelve Monkeys.[1]

Pitt was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma and grew up during the 1970s where the median home price was $42,600.

Ryan Seacrest's House

Ryan Seacrest, See Home

Los Angeles, CA - Ryan Seacrest recently purchased Kevin Costner’s Los Angeles home for $11.5 million.

Ryan John Seacrest is an American television/radio host and television producer.His first big break after college was him hosting a small radio station called Star 94. Then, He rose to fame as the host of American Idol, and he has since gone on to host E! News Live, Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, as well as such radio shows as On Air with Ryan Seacrest on KIIS-FM in Los Angeles and American Top 40.

Ryan Seacrest was born on Christmas Eve in Dunwoody, Georgia and grew up during the 1980’s $73,000.

Sylvester Stallone's House

Sylvester Stallone, See Home

Beverly Park, CA - Sylvester Stallone’s owns a $10 million 15,121 sq. ft. mansion in Beverly Park.

Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone[1] (born July 6, 1946) is an Academy Award-nominated American actor, director, producer and screenwriter. One of the biggest box office draws in the world from the ’70s to the early ’90s, Stallone is an international icon of machismo and Hollywood action heroism. He has played two characters who have becomea part of the American cultural lexicon: Rocky Balboa, the boxer who overcame all odds to become a champion, and John Rambo, a sensitive soldier who specialized in violent rescues and revenge.

A Tale of Two Houses

Tuesday, July 8th, 2008 by erik.reilly

A Tale of Two Houses

 

 Inconvenient truth

House #1 A 20-room mansion ( not including 8
bathrooms ) heated by natural gas. Add on a pool ( and a pool house)
and a separate guest house, all heated by gas. In one month this
residence consumes more energy than the average American household does
in a year. The average bill for electricity and natural gas runs over
$2400. per month. In natural gas alone, this property co nsumes more
than 20 times the national average for an American home. This house is
not situated in a Northern or Midwestern “snow belt” area. It’s in the
South.

green house in texas

 

House #2 Designed by an architecture professor at a
leading national university. This house incorporates every “green”
feature current home construction can provide. The house is 4,000
square feet ( 4 bedrooms ) and is nestled on a high prairie in the
American southwest. A central closet in the house holds geothermal
heat-pumps drawing ground water through pipes sunk 300 feet into the
ground.
 
The water (usually 67 degrees F.) heats the
house in the winter and cools it in the summe r. The system uses no
fossil fuels such as oil or natural gas and it consumes one-quarter the
electricity required for a conventional heating/cooling system.
Rainwater from the roof is collected and funneled into a 25,000-gallon
underground cistern. Wastewater from showers, sinks and toilets goes
into underground purifying tanks and then into the cistern. The
collected water then irrigates the land surrounding the hou se.
Surrounding flowers and shrubs native to the area enable the property
to blend into the surrounding rural landscape.

Now, for the clincher:

HOUSE #1 is outside of Nashville , Tennessee ; it is the abode of the “environmentalist” AlGore.

HOUSE #2 is on a ranch near Crawford , Texas; is the residence of the President of the UnitedStates, George W. Bush.

Is this an “inconvenient truth?”

You can verify it at: http://www.snopes.com/politics/bush/house.asp

New York State housing sales up from February

Friday, June 20th, 2008 by erik.reilly

Empire State housing sales up from February

Albany -
April 23, 2008 - Sales of existing single-family homes in New York
State in March increased by more than 10 percent compared to February,
but lagged behind March 2007, according to preliminary single-family
sales data accumulated by the New York State Association of REALTORS.

New York
REALTORS sold 5,035 existing single-family homes in March 2008, a
10.1-percent increase compared to the 4,575 sales recorded in February.
The March sales total represents a 29-percent decrease compared to the
March 2007 total of 7,094.

The March
2008 median selling price of $210,000 represents a 6.7-percent decrease
from the February median of $225,000. The March 2008 median selling
price represents a 14.7-percent decrease compared to the March 2007
median of $246,150.

In March
2008 sales gains were reported in 31 counties compared to February,
while just four experienced growth compared to March 2007.

Thirty-one
counties reported gains in median selling price in March 2008 compared
to February 2008, while 20 posted gains compared to March 2007.

“With a
more than 10 percent increase in sales of existing single-family homes
in March compared to February, the New York State housing market is
performing better than the national housing market,” said Duncan R.
MacKenzie, NYSAR chief executive officer. “While changes in the median
selling price fared better on a national level, New York’s median price
continues to remain above the national median.” 

The New
York State Association of REALTORS is a not-for-profit trade
organization representing more than 61,000 of New York state’s real
estate professionals. The term REALTOR is a registered trademark, which
identifies real estate professionals who subscribe to a strict code of
ethics as members of the National Association of REALTORS. These
REALTORS are also members of the New York State Association of REALTORS
as well as their local board or association of REALTORS.

Stage your home for sale

Monday, June 9th, 2008 by erik.reilly

Your Home At Center Stage

 Staged livingroom picture


In
Hollywood they are called stylists. They are fashion professionals who
help celebrities shine by outfitting them in the right clothes and
accessories. In the world of home buying and selling, real estate
professionals fill the same role, but in this case the “star” is your
home. Here are five things you can do to stage your home for sale.

Staging
is an important part of the home sale process.Staging is presenting
your home in its best and most appealing light to the majority of
buyers. In the end, it may even lead to less time on the market and a
better sales price.
1. De-clutter and de-personalize: Remove all
clutter and reduce the number of personal pictures and mementos. You do
not have to purge everything, but packing away items at a friend’s
house or in storage might be a good idea.

2. Go for an updated
look: If you have well-worn, wall-to-wall carpet, rip it up and replace
it. If your kitchen cabinets are dated, spruce them up with new paint.
Making your home look its best may take some money and some elbow
grease.

3. Create a warm and cozy environment: You want your
home to have a welcoming feel. Rearrange seating to create conversation
areas. You want buyers to want to stay and relax.

4. Lighten
up: Use table lamps to create a warm glow and mirrors to reflect the
light around the room. Open up blinds and shades to let the sunshine
in. A fresh coat of paint in an inviting, neutral tone will play up the
sense of light and warmth.

5. Use accessories: Accent pillows,
throw blankets, fresh cut flowers, bowls of polished fruit and artfully
arranged books, can help you complete the sophisticated and inviting
scene. Remember, you want buyers to imagine themselves living in this
setting.

Your real estate professional is your greatest resource
when it comes to preparing your home for sale. Work with them to create
the home of your buyer’s dreams.

Long Island real Estate Buyers having the upper hand in negotiations

Saturday, May 3rd, 2008 by erik.reilly

 

Long Island Real Estate Buyers having The Upper Hand in negotiations


When
there are more homes for sale than the market demands, the advantage in
the real estate transaction shifts to the buyer. Often called a
“buyer’s market,” it means the purchasing party holds most of the
power. Add to that a softening economy, higher unemployment rates and
escalating prices, and the buyer is in a real position of strength.

Now
the question becomes, “How can I use the current market condition and
my favorable position in it to my advantage?” Here are four ways you
can capitalize on that power position.

In recent months the
real estate market in many parts of the country has softened. There are
simply more homes available for purchase than consumer demand requires.
However, that does not mean you should sit back until conditions
improve. Now is the time when you should prepare for the future.

Price
- This is the most obvious and perhaps the most important place buyers
can exercise their advantage. In such a market, buyers may have the
opportunity to bid below asking price, especially if a property has
languished for several weeks without an offer. A proactive approach
will allow you to space out the projects and the related costs.

Timetable
- In a market without bidding wars and multiple offers, sellers may be
willing to make allowances to keep their buyer satisfied. If you have
specific timing needs make them part of the negotiations.

Repairs
- The home inspector may recommend certain upgrades or repairs after
his review. Consider asking the seller to make these changes or to
reduce the asking price to pay for these extra costs. In different
market conditions, the seller would probably refuse, but in a buyer’s
market, they might be more inclined to make concessions.

The Extras -
Think about requesting additional items, such as window treatments and
furniture, to be included in the sales price. Although it is nice to be
in the party with the upper hand, a word of caution. Don’t be greedy.
Follow your real estate professional’s lead about what is appropriate
and what would be overstepping your bounds. The idea is to use the
market conditions to your benefit, not to make the transaction
difficult. Remember, if you take your demands too far, it could
jeopardize the sale.

A Change In Direction


When you set your asking price, it was with the belief that the home
was worth and could ultimately earn that amount. However, if it is
several weeks later and there have been no offers, or only a very few
and those far under your price point, it could be time to take action.
Discuss
with your agent whether or not you should reduce your asking price.
Many sellers might feel discouraged at this prospect, but lowering the
price to the right amount, at the right time, could work to your
advantage.

It indicates to potential buyers that you
understand the market conditions and are willing to make compromises
when warranted. It also shows that you are truly motivated to sell the
property. Both characteristics can be very appealing to buyers and
their agents

Once you decide to reduce the price, work with
your real estate professional to make the most of the decision. For
instance, he can run tailored marketing including ads tagged, “Just
Reduced” or “New Price.” He can contact all prospective buyers that
visited your open houses or toured the home and let them know about the
reduction. He can reach out to his professional network and let his
colleagues know that, “This terrific home is now available for even
less!”

Also, it is important to remember that lowering the
price may open your home to a segment of buyers who were previously
locked out by the higher threshold.