Bedford NY Real Estate | Robert Paul Talks Life in Bedford NY

Last year, 66-year-old Lauren Knoblauch sold or donated nearly everything she owned, from her two-bedroom home on a suburban Seattle lake to her furniture and many of her clothes. She moved everything else, two small carloads’ worth, into her new home: a downtown apartment that, at less than 150 sq. ft., is smaller than the average U.S. master bedroom. The move came as Knoblauch, who works in inmate rehabilitation, pondered her impending retirement. “I started thinking about what I was passionate about,” she said. “I wanted to see opera in Europe, to spend money on what was exciting to me.” Her new apartment, which costs $575 a month — less than half the $1,400 average for a Seattle one-bedroom — puts her about 20 minutes from Symphony Hall by foot and a short bus ride from the Opera House. With new financial flexibility, she’s traveled to Germany and Ireland to see opera performances. “I’m loving it,” she says. The burgeoning tiny house and micro-apartment movements, which ge...

Life was different when this traditional foursquare home near Boston was built in the early 1900s. Back then, rooms were separate and had clear assignments: The kitchen was for cooking, the dining room was for eating and so on. In those days, windows let in cold air during the winter, so they tended to be smaller and less embracing of a view.  This home had been remodeled over the years, and each refresh had added details that were not age- or architecturally appropriate and took the home away from the plain-spoken look of an American  foursquare . The new owners wanted to bring back some of the original details (or what could have been original) and add modern touches, so they hired Robert S. MacNeille, design principal and president of Carpenter & MacNeille. Carpenter & MacNeille Photos by  Michael J. Lee Houzz at a Glance Who lives here:  A couple Location:  A coastal community north of Boston Size:  2,900 square feet (269.4 squ...

Consumers ages 18-29 with a student loan in repayment generally are able to gain access to new loans and perform as well or better on those new loans as similarly aged consumers without student loans, according to a new study by TransUnion.  . Furthermore, the study found that in only three to six years, student-loan consumers in their 20s have been observed to pass similarly aged consumers without a student loan in overall loan participation rates on mortgages, auto loans and credit cards. “Going to school impacts young consumers’ access to credit; while in school, students may be less likely to have a job and generate the income necessary for loan approval. However, most catch up once they leave school-and their ability to catch up has not changed over the past decade,” said Steve Chaouki, executive vice president and the head of TransUnion’s financial services business unit. “Our study demonstrates that consumers in their 20s with student loans in repayment-that is, once they...

Which of the following statements were made today by Standard & Poor’s David Blitzer about the December Case Shiller price indices? “Gains are slowing from month-to-month and the strongest part of the recovery in home values may be over. Year-over-year values for the two monthly Composites weakened and the quarterly National Index barely improved. The seasonally adjusted data also exhibit some softness and loss of momentum.” “The housing recovery is faltering. While prices and sales of existing homes are close to normal, construction and new home sales remain weak. Before the current business cycle, any time housing starts were at their current level of about one million at annual rates, the economy was in a recession” Actually, both of them were.  Can you guess which quote was an analysis of December 2013 and which was an analysis of December 2014? The first was 2013.  Despite Blitzer’s warnings, Case Shiller indices went on to record annual gain ranging from 4.3...

Many homebuyers are drawn to the lure of the fixer-upper. And with good reason, at least on paper. But the “buy low, sell high” ethos of fixer-uppers isn’t exactly a guarantee. There are plenty of people who snagged the worst house in a great neighborhood and turned it into their dream home. You’re just as likely to find overworked and overspent homeowners ready to run from their money pits . Committing to a fixer-upper is a big decision, one that can impact your financial picture for years to come. Before you start swinging a hammer, you’ll first need to find a way to finance your purchase. You may need a specialized mortgage product to buy a fixer-upper. Some lenders and loan types want properties in “move-in ready” condition, which can obviously pose a problem. Here are a few options to consider. FHA 203k The Federal Housing Administration offers a government-backed rehab loan that allows buyers to finance renovations based on the property’s projected value. There...

Millennials are being dissected more intensely than a frog in a high school biology class. The reasons behind why they move, where they move to and what is stopping them from moving is analyzed, picked through and then reported on to the industry to help cater to what they want. But as one of two millennials in our editorial department — the other being Ben Lane — it's clear that our lives are drastically different. As Ben's recent blog on the topic stated: It’s the group that everyone can’t seem to stop talking about. Millennials this. Millennials that. Millennials have taken over. And the worst offender of all seems to be CNBC. First and foremost, all millennials are not alike, no matter how many times CNBC tells me they are. Look, I understand why millennials are important and why they get talked about. Heck, I’m a millennial myself, although just barely…on the upper end of the scale, I should say. And we are not the only two in the industry who don’t fit into the...

Homebuyers held off purchasing homes in June due to rising home prices, Credit Suisse reported in their monthly traffic survey of real estate agents. "Comments from agents in June suggest that buyers are growing increasingly discouraged by economic and employment conditions, and as a result, have made the decision to hold-off on purchases—particularly at current prices," the company reported. Out of the 40 markets surveyed, 32 saw lower than expected traffic, five were in line with expectations and three saw better than expected traffic. Those numbers were all a decline from May, when only 28 were below expectations and five saw better than expected traffic. The only three markets that saw better than expected traffic last month were Columbus, Ohio, Ft. Myers, Florida, and Dallas. Some of the weakest markets were San Diego, New York/Northern New Jersey and Phoenix, which all saw Buyer Traffic Index levels below 30 (50 is neutral, where the traffic met expectations)...

New Rochelle's Down to Earth Farmers Market is back And today is Opening Day, 8:30 am-2:30 pm! North Avenue, at Huguenot Park, in front of New Rochelle High School To celebrate the season, join us for great music by the band, John Whoever and Who Are They, Etc. from 11:30 am-1:30 pm . Vendors for 2014 Season: Alex's Tomato Farm: Father and son lead up this family-owned farm. They'll have strawberries, summer squash, kohlrabi, beets, hot house tomatoes, starter plants for the garden, and much more. Brookside Farm - Pasture-raised meat, poultry, and eggs. Dagele Brothers Produce : Seasonal vegetables from the renowned "Black Dirt" region of Orange County, NY. **NEW VENDOR ** - e-Desserts : Scones, cakes, and bars featuring what's in season from local farms. e-Desserts is named after the owner's two children who inspired her to ...

Coined by a group of landscaping and water industry pros in 1981, xeriscaping was developed to promote water conservation following the drought of 1977. For many years, xeriscaping was confined to desert and high desert environments. However, the trend migrated further north as more and more individuals stared looking for low-maintenance, water-saving landscaping solutions. It’s easy to look at a well-xeriscaped yard and be deceived by its simplicity. However, don’t get tricked into thinking you can jump into the project without careful planning. The trick to xeriscaping is to design a plan that conserves water but looks good doing it. To accomplish this, you’ll need to do a few things. First, you’ll need to properly prepare the soil to ensure it’s not too sandy or composed of heavy clay. Next, you’ll need to choose plants that work for your soil conditions, yard layout, and environmental factors. From here you’ll need to make sure everything is properly irrigated (yes, even drought...

Freddie Mac ( OTCQB : FMCC ) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS ® ), showing average fixed mortgage rates largely flat compared to the previous week amid light economic reports. News Facts 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.14 percent with an average 0.5 point for the week ending June 5, 2014 , up from last week when it averaged 4.12 percent. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 3.91 percent. 15-year FRM this week averaged 3.23 percent with an average 0.5 point, up from last week when it averaged 3.21 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 3.03 percent. 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 2.93 percent this week with an average 0.4 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.96 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 2.74 percent. 1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 2.40 percent this week with an average 0.4 point, down from last week when it averaged...

Despite a decrease in overall foreclosure activity, bank repossessions in April increased 4 percent from the previous month, although they were still down 14 percent from a year ago. There were a total of 30,056 bank repossessions nationwide in April. Bank repossessions increased from the previous month in 26 states and were up from a year ago in 16 states, including New York (142 percent increase), Oregon (91 percent increase), New Jersey (58 percent increase), Illinois (55 percent increase), Indiana (52 percent increase), Maryland (45 percent increase), Connecticut (44 percent increase), California (27 percent increase), and Nevada (15 percent increase). “The rise in bank repossessions in many states is a sign that those markets are working through the final remnants of foreclosures left over from the recent housing crisis,” said Daren Blomquist, vice president at RealtyTrac. “Many of these bank-owned homes are bottom-of-the-barrel properties in terms of location or condition, ...

409 Bridge Lane, Sagaponack 24 images <div class="gallery loaded"><a href="http://hamptons.curbed.com/archives/2014/05/09/breezy_elegance_in_sagaponack_for_765m.php"><img src="http://cdn.cstatic.net/images/gridfs/536cd144f92ea12cc0025521/34864.jpg" width="500" height="334"></a><br /><a href="http://hamptons.curbed.com/archives/2014/05/09/breezy_elegance_in_sagaponack_for_765m.php" style="font-size: 9px; text-align: center;">Click here to view the full photogallery.</a></div> We're crazy in love with the subtle charm of this property. The exterior is all classic summer house , with awnings, a dining pergola, apple trees, hedges, a heated saltwater pool and even a vintage shed. Inside, it's all understated elegance, from the beamed ceilings, to the planked doors, to the vintage bathroom fixtures. The kitchen is perfection , with pro appliances, more vinta...

With the weather warming and flowers blooming, May is a wonderful time to prepare your home for a season of indoor-outdoor living. Spruce up your outdoor kitchen, boost curb appeal, do a fire safety check and more — here are 10 home tasks to consider doing this month. Matthew Bolt Graphic Design Save to Ideabook Email Photo 1. Touch up interior paint. This is one of those tasks that sounds far more daunting than it really is. A plastic cup filled with paint and a small brush are all you need to make minor touch-ups to most rooms. A few minutes covering up scuff marks and stains can make a world of difference! If you have small holes (from moving artwork, for example), fill them with putty and allow it to dry for at least a day before painting. Mina Brinkey Save to Ideabook Email Photo 2. Restain the deck and repaint the porch. Freshen up your porch and deck this month by applying a new coat of paint or stain. A once-a-year refresh will help extend the...