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Townhomes are Easier and Eco-Friendly

admin — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 06:12:07 +0000

Townhomes, or townhouses as they are sometimes referred to, are generally described as multi-story residences that are constructed together in small clusters. As an example, a group of townhomes may consist of three, single-family units together on one lot. Each townhome may have up to three stories for a family to live in. There are many advantages to living in this type of housing.

Townhomes offer a certain sense of community. In most cases a townhome development will have an association in which dues are paid to support various amenities in the complex. Dues may cover maintenance fees, landscaping and miscellaneous improvements, and shared recreational features such as swimming pools and tennis courts. Some developments may even offer indoor fitness centers for its residents.

Because of the layout and construction methods used, townhomes generally offer much more square footage than a typical single-family rental. With the multi-story configuration, townhomes often times feel much larger than they actually are, lending a greater sense of privacy and freedom to the tenants.

Knowing that there is nobody living above you, or below you, offers residents a certain piece of mind. No need to worry about walking quietly on the floors, or listening to neighbors stomping around over your head.

For many tenents, no maintenance issues are a significant plus. For those living in areas where snow is part of life, shoveling and plowing are not a concern. Exterior maintenance, like painting and structural repairs, is generally covered in the association dues. In a nutshell, the tenant really only has to worry about the interior of the living space.

In general, townhomes are a very attractive option when searching for a place to live. They offer residents a safe, clean, and close-knit community atmosphere. It is a wonderful way for children to grow up.

Ready to move to florida?

admin — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 03:34:29 +0000

Many of us New Yorkers succumb to the age old stereotype – we grow old and eventually move down to Florida. But I have to admit, the tradition is not without its merits. My parents did the same, and I will very likely follow in their footsteps in the unlikely event that I too get old. After years and years of New York winters, crowded streets, noisy neighborhoods, and the hustle and bustle of the greatest city in the world, spending our later years relaxing near the beach sounds like a pretty nice way to go. And for those of us familiar with the escalating cost of housing, a move to Florida is not as much of a financial shock compared to someone moving from, say, North Dakota. Housing and condo prices in the most desirable area are in line with, or even cheaper than, similar area and units in New York and New Jersey.

In a similar fashion to New York, where moving farther south yields you better weather and more interesting people (I kid on the last part of course), the best weather and most interesting places are found in Southern Florida. Some of my favorite cities in all the United States include Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Juniper, and Cape Coral. The Tampa and Clearwater area is quite nice as well, but I dont attribute it the beauty of the aforementioned area. The cities are known for beautiful beaches with gorgeous condos and homes available to those looking to retire in the sun. Whats especially nice is the frequency and availability of buildings and complexes catering specifically to retired individuals and to the elderly.

The Fort Lauderdale area is an especially interesting area for those of us in New York. It has one of the largest populations of retired Yankees (not the players) in Florida and caters to a slightly older crowd than its rambunctious and energetic cousin to the south, Miami. Anyone looking to move there is blessed with great availability of Fort Lauderdale condos in all price ranges and with varying amenities. How close you choose to live to the shore, near popular attractions, etc will determine how much you will need to spend on a condo. But the beauty of retirement allows you to scale back the amount of space you need and settle for something that requires less upkeep.

Salvatore Induisi is a popular name in the Fort Lauderdale real estate industry and is an excellent resource for information on condos in and around the Fort Lauderdale area. The link above is a great place to start checking out what you can find in the area. The city is known for its lavish and comfortable condo complexes almost as much as for its beaches. Many condo complexes offer private beach access, pristine pools and the reliability of Florida sun. There are far worse places for you to spend your later years, for instance fighting the New York winters sitting in traffic.

The Skinny on Staten Island

admin — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:32:40 +0000

If the television series Mob Wives has scared you off from living in Staten Island, you may be surprised to know that Staten Island isn’t quite the mob family playground as it is depicted to be on T.V. Staten Island has plenty to offer young families, young adults and mature individuals alike. Read on for the top three benefits of living in Staten Island.

Suburban Living

Staten Island offers its residents a small slice of the suburban pie while still technically residing within the five boroughs of New York City. Unlike the tiny, claustrophobic apartments found in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens, Staten Island residents are afforded the luxury of a spacious home. Homes with a backyard, spacious interiors, sizable bedrooms, majestic kitchens and driveways are the norm rather than the exception in Staten Island. Considering the shortage of parking spaces available in New York City, many people would be ready to make the move to Staten Island for the simple fact that they can park their car in their driveway as soon as they come home from work rather than being forced to circle the block for a parking spot for over an hour. All of these factors contribute to the overall high quality of life in Staten Island, which makes for an ideal setting to raise a family.

Cost Effective

A one bedroom apartment in Long Island City, Queens rents for over $2,000, while a one bedroom in Battery Park, Manhattan can rent for well over $3,000. A three bedroom townhouse with garage and a fenced yard can be had for less than $1,800 in Staten Island, while a 3 bedroom detached home with garage, the newest appliances and a fenced yard can be yours for merely $2,400 per month. Staten Island Homes for sale are also priced significantly lower than homes in Brooklyn, Manhattan or Queens. Renting a full two-level home is practically unheard of within New York City. In Staten Island, the homes are spacious, affordable and fairly updated.

Proximity to Hot Spots

One of the most beneficial aspects of living in Staten Island is its proximity to Manhattan. As every New Yorker knows, most of the highest paying jobs are located within Manhattan. Therefore with just a short drive or ferry ride away, you can be in the city for a night on the town or for a day of work. If your preferred nightlife scene is in Brooklyn, the Verrazano Bridge can have you in Red Hook or Brooklyn Heights in no time at all. However it is important to note that Staten Island does have its own vibrant night life scene. And let’s not forget, for those Italian food lovers out there, you will find the best lasagna recipe here in NY.

Searching for New York Apartments

admin — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 20:45:01 +0000

The internet is a great tool for searching for New York Apartments. You can search for apartments by location, price, number of bedrooms, or any combination of these things. You can also look for things like fireplaces, pools, and any other perks that you may seek from an apartment rental property. Many apartment rental sites offer multi directional photos of the apartment for rent and also for the rental property.
This makes it easy to get a general idea of the places you are looking at without having to waste gas or time. You also don’t have to dressed up when using the internet to search for New York apartments. Once you have found apartments that you find acceptable you can then choose to contact them and schedule a visit. This comes in very handy when searching for New York apartments as this city is always busy.
You can also use the internet as a way of comparing prices from one area of the city to another. If you are on a strict budget this will come in very handy during your search for New York apartments. There are many websites that offer reviews from current residents so that you can get an idea of what people who are living there think about the complex and management services. They may tell you if the pool is kept clean and if maintenance works on a timely basis.
You should remember to take your time when searching for New York apartments as there are many options available and once you sign a lease you will be there for that length of time. New York apartments may be kid friendly or situated more for adults. Whatever your looking for, there will be a New York apartment that suits your needs and wants in a price range that is competitive.

How to Come Across New York Houses at an Affordable Price

admin — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 20:44:33 +0000

New York houses can be extremely expensive so you have to know where to look to find houses in your price range. There may be parts of the state that are bad areas but good price ranges, and there also may be areas that are really nice but the price range may be extremely high for your budget. Also take into consideration water, sewer, trash and electricity as well as entertainment costs. There are many simple ways we don’t realize to save on the water and electric bill. There are also great Dish Network specials available to customize your entertainment package. You need to be able to find the balance in between without being in debt after you make the deposit.

There could be some bad areas where you would not look for New York houses even though those areas may have the price range you are looking for. Especially if you have children, you need to pick out New York houses in areas where you would feel comfortable having them go outside and play. To keep a look out for areas you would not feel comfortable, it would be a great idea for you to take a tour around the place you are planning on moving to so you can get an idea on what type of New York houses to potentially buy or rent.

You are not going to come across the first house you see and decide that is the best choice for you and your family because you have to compare and contrast the New York houses to see which ones you like the best. You may want to live in the really nice neighbourhoods but those areas might have New York houses that are too pricey for your budget. To save time, rule out all of the houses you have seen that you know you cannot afford and stick with all the ones you come across that may be a potential home and would fit all of your criteria.

The budget may not be the only thing you are thinking about when looking at New York houses. You may also want to see how the condition is and if there are fences involved so your children will be able to play outside in the safety of your own home as well as any animals you may have that you can let them run around free in the backyard if you decide to purchase a house.

How to Obtain a New York Real Estate License?

admin — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 20:44:11 +0000

New York real estate market can be profitable to those motivated professionals that love getting rewarded for their efforts. This practice is personally a gratifying task, because the basic aim to help in selling or buying a property is just like working towards achieving people’s goals. You need to possess high level of understanding about New York real estate law, professional ethics, independent contracting, landlord-tenant issues, fiduciary duties, brokerage relationships and, procedures and regulations regarding real estate industry in this state.

Continuing education is also required by New York real estate market even after you start practice. The state offers a qualifying course to real estate salespersons which is of 75 hours. It should be attempted before starting practice and can be completed from any state-approved schools. This is a paid course that requires minimum passing score of 70 percent to get certified.

You will sit in school exam as well as in state exam to become a qualified salesperson in New York real estate market. You need to find a suitable sponsoring broker; because this is the only way to achieve a license from this state. Get connected to any sponsoring brokerage and get details about costs, commission split and office space to start practice. You may be charged a desk fee by some brokers.

Official licensing examination of the New York real estate market is conducted by New York Department of State. After getting a sponsored broker, get registered to sit in this examination. This is an online test. You will be assigned a test site for examination after registration, where you will sit in for online examination. You need to produce Summary of Submission along with photo identification at the test site to sit into examination.

Overall 1 œ hours are given to candidates to complete 75 questions. All the questions are MCQs. Finally, you can apply for New York real estate license after passing this test. The pass slip will have to attach with license acquiring application.