Yearly Archives: 2015

Featured Property: 1081 Palmer Avenue, Larchmont, NY 10538

Get settled in right away in this 2-story raised ranch-style home located along Palmer Avenue in the lovely village of Larchmont in the town of Mamaroneck.

Built in 1966, the house has been extensively renovated with many modern features.

The price of the house is $995,000.

Exterior features

The property consists of a 0.16-acre lot with ample backyard space and trees all around.

The house features brick and vinyl finishing on the exterior surfaces, as well as a fenced level backyard with patio, garden, and parking driveway.

It sits on Palmer Avenue, a tree-lined street that is a short distance to the town center, Central School, and the shopping and dining district on West Boston Post Road / U.S. Route 1.

Interior features

The spacious 2,432-square-feet home has 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and a new eat-in kitchen with island, granite countertops, and stainless steel appliances.

The lower level includes a family room, office, laundry room, and attached 2-car garage.

The first floor has the kitchen, bedrooms, and master bedroom with walk-in closet, Jacuzzi tub, and separate shower area.

Living areas sport hardwood floors, while bathrooms have elegant above-counter vessel sinks with modern fixtures.

About Mamaroneck

Mamaroneck has been named one of the Best Places to Live in New York for its low unemployment rate and the good quality of life of its residents.

It’s one of the oldest towns in Westchester County, distinguished by its diverse population and picturesque surroundings. It’s also about less than an hour and 30 minutes from Manhattan on the commute.

Mamaroneck is known too for offering extensive residential options including luxury lakefront homes on the Long Island Sound, co-ops, and this featured single-family home.

For more information on this property, contact Vivan Chen from GioHomes Real Estate at (914) 946-1067 to schedule a viewing, or request for additional details.

10 of the best neighborhoods in Westchester County

Just north of New York City, Westchester County is an ideal location for suburbanites who commute to work in Manhattan some 30 miles away.

Westchester is a charming community. Its 900,000 residents live across 49 towns, all offering a wealth of housing options to suit every need.

Here’s just a few of the best neighborhoods found in Westchester County:

1. Dobbs Ferry
Offering a truly diverse selection of homes ranging from classic Victorians to mid-century split-levels, to condos and million-dollar estates, this river town has been regarded as a warm and comfortable place to live.

2. Fleetwood
This busy and diverse neighborhood in North Mount Vernon has numerous vintage homes as well as pre- and post-war buildings. Convenient commuting remains Fleetwood’s biggest draw, since it’s just blocks away from the Metro-North station, and it’s right off Exit 8 on the Cross County.

3. Irvington
This unassuming river town named after Washington Irving is pretty near perfect, with a charming Main Street, burgeoning dining scene, and stunning river views. You’ll find sprawling park estates, elegant brick Colonials, and stately historical homes from among a diverse array of residences.

Partial View of Mamaroneck Harbor

4. Mamaroneck

This historic harbor-side village with a diverse population and an array of shops and restaurants offers a lot of residential options, from co-op apartments to multi-million-dollar waterfront homes on the Long Island Sound – making Mamaroneck an attractive place to live for people of different incomes.

5. Mount Kisco
Downtown streets lined with a mix of big chains and small mom and pop stores offers shoppers the best of both worlds. It makes this diverse community one of the more desirable places to live in Westchester County, especially with its affordable home prices.

6. New Rochelle
Residents of New Rochelle have long praised the town’s ethnic diversity, community spirit, school system, and economic mix. It’s one of those places where the old and new, and the hip and traditional co-exist harmoniously. The same qualities can be seen in the town’s real estate, which range from sprawling multimillion dollar acreage to turn-of-the-century single family homes on tree-lined streets.

7. Ossining
One of the more affordable places to buy a home, Ossining also has low property taxes and above average schools. It’s also got a charming downtown area and an impressive number of structures that are on the National Register of Historic Places.

8. Rye
With 6 square miles of land and 14 square miles of water, Rye City is the smallest city in Westchester County – but it’s the wealthiest and most historic. Almost three-quarters of the homes are single-family residences, and the area has been described as having the “cuteness of a village, but it is a city.”

9. Tarrytown
Blending lovely small-town charm with modern diversity, Tarrytown bustles with appealing antique shops, art galleries, specialty stores, gourmet eateries, and a great music hall. Forbes Magazine did the right thing by including Tarrytown in their list of America’s 10 Prettiest Towns.

10. White Plains
The only municipality with a real skyline, White Plains owes its transformation to urban planners. They turned the town into a vibrant city, with an abundance of condominium apartments. Liveability has gone up, along with high walkability to nearby amenities, like having a Walmart a block away from a Ritz-Carlton.

Find out more on the best neighborhoods to live in Westchester County by getting in touch with us at the GioHomes Team today.

A helpful checklist for buyers and sellers

Buying a home is going to be one of the biggest financial decisions you are going to make in your lifetime. Therefore, it’s best to prepare yourself to ensure that you end up with a worthwhile piece of property that suits your needs.

What you need to know before buying a house

Before you even start looking for a house, get pre-qualified
This is important because once you’re pre-qualified, you’ll know exactly how much you can afford – which will help a lot in narrowing down your choices.

Secure pre-approval
Homebuyers with pre-approved loans have an edge over other buyers. If you know the types of mortgage options available to you. you can be sure that the loan product you’ve chosen is really the right one for you.
Know what you want in a home
It helps to make a list. Write down the features you deem essential, nice to have but can do without, and so on. Knowing what you want at the outset will save you the time and trouble of searching homes that aren’t even in the neighborhood of your requirements.
Choose the right real estate professional
You can buy a home without the help of a real estate agent, sure. But there’s nothing like the security of having an experienced and knowledgeable professional by your side to help with your decisions.

Questions you need to consider before selling your home

If you’re thinking of placing your home on the market, downsizing, or relocating to a new neighborhood, make sure you’ve answered the questions below:

Is selling your house really an option?
Before you decide to put your home on the market, find out if selling is the best option for you. Keep in mind that depending on the state of the market, selling your home could take longer than you anticipated. Make sure that this is what you really want before you embark on the process.
Are you doing it alone?
Find the right real estate agent to help you sell your home. Of course, you can close the deal yourself, but you will be depriving yourself of the advice, guidance, and marketing experience that a seasoned professional can provide.
Do you know exactly how much your home is worth?
Check out the prices of homes similar to yours and get your home inspection done. Once you know if your home has defects that you need to correct and improve, so you can price your property accordingly.
Does your home look appealing at first sight?
First impressions count a lot, so make your home as appealing as possible. You can undertake simple repairs and upgrades, and give your home a through scrub down so it looks clean and inviting. A little elbow grease can make a huge difference in the quality of offers that you’ll get.

Connect with our team today so we can assist you with all your home buying and selling needs.

Job market in Westchester

It is a solid year of improvement for Westchester’s unemployment rate, and the future looks rosy at 4.6%. According to the New York State Department of Labor, Westchester has the third lowest rate in the Hudson Valley area and eighth overall in the New York State. Rates are calculated using procedures set by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

This marks as a significant improvement from 2014’s grim score of 6.6% as of July. At that time, national unemployment was at 6.1%.

The decrease in unemployment bodes well for the market. This year, jobs are expected to spike; even the post-summer employment rate trend is expected to remain robust.

Businesses are hiring

Industries such as retail, services, and health care are among the top sectors in the industry that are on a hiring spree.

Other sectors actively hiring include business services and accounting, according to 2014 figures.

White Plains continues to post the highest number of employment opportunities. Trailing behind are Yonkers and Tarrytown.

Rates rise and plunge

Despite the optimism engendered by the low rate of unemployment, the job market in Westchester still needs to improve to make sure unemployment numbers continue to decline.

From May to June, there has been little improvement – mirroring the trend statewide.

In April, Westchester’s unemployment rate dipped to a low 4.4% but returned to the “normal”4.6%a month later, where it has remained stagnant until June.

Bucking the trend of higher unemployment

Statewide, however, Westchester is bucking the trend of higher unemployment rates compared to its neighbors.

Already, the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corp. intends to help smaller entrepreneurs in the area with a $50,000 grant coming from the New York State Electric and Gas Corp.

This is to further stimulate the local business in the area and meet their growing market’s needs.

Top travel essentials when exploring Westchester County

To explore all 431 square miles of Westchester County, you need to pack the following:

1. A pair of comfortable and sturdy shoes

You’ll do a lot of walking in Westchester County, so a nice pair of shoes that will keep your feet comfortable is a must. Do take into account the activities you have lined up. Are you going to an outdoor arts and music festival? If so, wear a pair of Wellingtons or any other footwear that you don’t mind getting grungy.

2. Your gadgets and devices

Capture moments. Whether through your phone, your tablet, your point-and-shoot, an all-terrain GoPro, or a DSLR is completely up to you. Documenting the experience is just as fun as living it, so pack your preferred gadgets.

3. Your chargers

With all those battery-sucking devices, remember to bring with you chargers and other gadgetry lifelines like power banks, extra memory cards, and so on, Make sure your phone or tablet doesn’t die on youor that you run out of space on your DSLR halfway through the tour.

4. A travel first-aid kit

While Westchester County is far from remote or treacherous, a first- aid kit is always useful. Get one of those easily stashable, compact kits.You’ll never know what little mishaps may happen. If you’re outdoorsy, a first-aid kit is even more of a necessity if you plan on biking, hiking, and or running through Westchester County’s choice trails and outdoor recreation spots.

5. Bring Ziploc bags

Ziploc or resealable plastic bags are especially handy for treks, whether in the country or in more urban environs. These bags keep sandwiches fresh, protect your gadgets from getting wet, and are great for sealing in smelly socks or sweat-stained tees. What other ways have you used resalable bags while on a trip?

Featured Property: 32 Elvis Blvd, Chester NY (Open House on Sunday, Sept 27th)

Located in the beautiful Town of Chester, this one-of-a-kind Colonial home offers residents a harmonious mix of privacy, convenience, and relaxation.

It’s roomy in this lovely home, which features:

4 bedrooms
1 partial and 2 full bathrooms
Over 2,300 square feet of living space

The residence is currently available for $385,000.

Features

Open House on Sunday, Sep 27, 2015 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM

A beautifully manicured lawn and wrap-around front porch provides a warm welcome after a long day at work. Gorgeous interiors flow throughout this lovely home, with hardwood floors, wall-to-wall carpets, and bright and airy living spaces.

The home’s well-designed eat-in kitchen comes with high-quality stainless steel appliances, custom wood cabinetry, and solid surface countertops. The kitchen opens up to a large family room and a formal dining room, which are perfect for entertaining guests, hosting a dinner party, or spending quality time with your family.

The cozy master suite offers the perfect environment to get a good night’s rest, and is equipped with a gorgeous master bath complete with a tub and a shower enclosure.

The home comes with an unfinished basement that boasts 660 square feet of space, excellent for storage purposes. For homeowners who don’t really require that much extra space, the basement can also be turned into a home theater, a game room, reading room, or whatever else the owners have in mind.

Those who love spending time outdoors are sure to be delighted with the home’s many great outdoor features. The expansive backyard comes with an open-air patio area which is ideal for barbeques, get-togethers, and other occasions. There’s an above-ground pool with a sun deck, perfect for a cool, relaxing dip during the summer. For families with children, the backyard has more than enough space for a playground area.

If you’d like to learn more about this fantastic property, call GioHomes today at 914-946-1067, or send us an email at [email protected]

How to avoid legal hassles when buying and selling a home

Buying or selling a home is clearly a milestone.

For one that’s buying a house, it can signify a step toward stability.

For one that’s selling, it closes a chapter in one’s life.

Either way, a real estate transaction marks both a beginning and an end. Because acquiring and letting go can be a trying and emotional time, it can be easy to overlook the practicalities of such transactions.

That is why it is important to seek professional help when you’re about to close the sale on your home or if you intend to sell it.
Real estate professionals will know how to avoid legal hassles arising from property transactions – sparing you bother and grief.

How a real estate agent can help you

Though researching on your ownis helpful, a qualified and expert real estate agent can take care of the following correctly and efficiently:

Help you with the paperwork on such things as disclosures and other liability issues
Oversee home inspections
Assist you in mortgage selections
Help secure the right buyer for your property

How a lawyer can help you

Getting the help of a lawyer familiar with local real estate laws is also a step in the right direction. For buyers and sellers, know that your lawyer can assist you in the following ways:

Meeting and dealing with the property broker
Managing tax consequencesand related issues
Looking for financing
Insuring the property title
Checking the property’s zoning and survey
Reviewing the property’s disclosure
Preparing the seller’s contract
Reviewing the title report ordered by the buyer
Preparing the closing documents which includes the deed and the transfer tax returns
Calculating the closing costs.
Representing you in closin

Getting a professional Realtor to help you takes the fuss out of buying or selling a home—and assures you that no legal trouble related to your transaction will hound you in the future.

Golfing in and around Westchester County

Golf enthusiasts won’t have a hard time searching for a place to practice their swings and their putts, thanks to plenty of public and private golf facilities in and around Westchester County.

Saxon Woods Golf Course

Mamaroneck Road, Scarsdale

Open since 1931, this public golf facility is home to an 18-hole, 6,293-yard course for a par of 72. Golfing season is all year round, inviting enthusiasts to check out its fun course designed by Joe Williams and Tom Winton. A golf academy is situated within the grounds for beginners or those who seek to improve their skill level and tee shots.

Hudson Hills Golf Course

Croton Dam Road, Ossining

Dubbed as one of the best facilities in Westchester County, Hudson Hills offers golf lovers a challenging course and scenic views. The 7,000-yard, par-71, 18-hole championship golf course designed by Mark A. Mungeam offers an exceptional golf experience.

Pelham Bay and Split Rock Golf Course

Shore Road, Bronx

Going to Pelham Bay and Split Rock will require you to take a trip south of Westchester County, but it’s worth your while. Located in Pelham Bay Park, this is the only 36-hole golf facility in the Big Apple. Beginners and advanced players are welcome to try out the Pelham course, with its expansive fairways and links-style layout. The John Van Kleek-designed Split Rock course, on the other hand, is more challenging and, at the same time, rewarding.

Dunwoodie Golf Course

Wasylenko Ln, Yonkers

Located at the top of Dunwoodie Heights in Yonkers, this golf course is best known for its steep and dramatic topography. Adding to the challenge is the mix of wide landscapes and narrow fairways in this 18-hole golf course. Dunwoodie will definitely test an individual’s skills.

Sprain Lake Golf Course

Grassy Sprain Road, Yonkers

Sprain Lake’s 18-hole golf course designed by Tom Winton features challenging holes and a rolling terrain sure to excite skilled golfers. To add more thrills, areas requiring difficult shots and water hazards dot the course. Sprain Lake Golf Course is perfect for those who prefer a linear, back-and-forth style of play.

Dining out in Westchester County

Foodies and drink connoisseurs, listen up! We’ve compiled the best dining establishments in Westchester County. Check out the list below.

Aquario Restaurant

East Lake St., West Harrison

The authentic flavors of Brazilian and Portuguese dishes are captured in Aquario, located in East Lake Street, West Harrison. Whether you crave seafood, poultry, or the tenderest of steak cuts, Aquario knows how to deliver. Check out their superb wine selection as well.

La Panetière

Photo courtesy of La Panetiere website.

Milton Road, Rye

Transport yourself to Southern France as you step inside La Panetière, named Best French Restaurant in 2011 by Westchester Magazine. Quintessential French favorites include pot-au-feu or stew, foie gras confit, and baked escargot. All are made using only the freshest ingredients. Oenophiles will find something to accompany their meal with from La Panetière’s impressive wine cellar.

Alba’s Ristorante

North Main St., Port Chester

Fans of Northern Italian cooking will love Alba’s, where the food is as authentic as the land that inspired it. Named after Italy’s white truffle region, the ristorante is a family-run business that treats its food and wine collection with the respect it deserves.

Underhills Crossing

Pondfield Road, Bronxville

Photo courtesy of Underhills Crossing Facebook page.

Featuring American nouvelle cuisine with French elements, Underhills Crossing is beloved by patrons for its unique flair and SoHo vibe. Whether you drop by Underhills for lunch or dinner, this handsome establishment will not disappoint with its well-chosen seafood menu.

Sonora

Rectory St., Port Chester

With renowned chef and cookbook author Rafael Palomina at its helm, Sonora serves the best Nuevo Latino food in Port Chester. Make sure to reserve yourself a table as people flock to the restaurant for its lobster and mango ceviche, seafood paella, and dulce de leche cheesecake.

Mulino’s of Westchester

Court St., White Plains

A White Plains institution, Mulino’s traditional Italian fare and elegantlydecorated interiors continue to attract food and wine lovers from all over the country. Delicious, authentic food, a great ambiance, and an attentive waitstaff make the overall dining experience at Mulino’s truly one for the books.

X20 Xaviars on the Hudson

Water Grant St, Yonkers

Craving all-time American favorites infused with international flavors? Head over to X20 Xaviars, where the food is as great as its location. Situated on a Victorian pier on the Hudson River, X20 Xaviars offers diners a sophisticated and memorable dining experience.

Fun-filled events in Westchester County

Residents of Westchester County can look forward to a calendar filled with unforgettable local events perfect for visitors of all ages. This vibrant community makes every event an opportunity to add to the town’s collective memory and becomes a way for locals to meet their new neighbors.

In addition to the events mentioned on this page, the following are also worth checking out:

SOWE Music Festival

Image courtesy of SOWE website.

The Southern Westchester Music Festival, more popularly known as the SOWE Music Festival is a celebration filled with food, entertainment, family activities, and of course, music.

The festival features multiple stages where some of the country’s top artists perform, along with an endless flow of delicious food and drinks.

This year’s music festival takes place on Saturday, September 19th, at Harbor Island Park in Mamaroneck, NY. Among this year’s performers are the legendary David Johansen, Grammy winning songwriter Marc Cohn, as well as a good mix of up-and-coming performers, veteran musicians, an international act from Iceland, among many others.

Jazz Fest

Organized by ArtsWestchester and the City of White Plains, the Jazz Fest is a four-day music festival culminating in an outdoor Jazz & Food Festival on Mamaroneck Avenue. Visitors can head to one of the many stages or live music venues to watch some of their favorite jazz artists perform.

This year’s Jazz Fest takes place on September 24-27, 2015.

Image courtesy of Artswestchester.org

 CORNucopia

Held in Sleepy Hollow’s Philipsburg Manor in Historic Hudson Valley, CORNucopia is a fun, corn-themed festival great for people of all ages.

Visitors will find no shortage of corn treats and goodies at the festival, which include everything from corn chili, sweet corn ice cream, cornbread, corn salsa and chips, and even corn whiskey.

Kids can navigate their way through the “Maize Maze” and partake in a corn-husking contest or lend a hand in creating a giant corn mural.