You Just Want To Sell Me Something . . .

Actually, you’re right—but I want to sell you what you want, not what I want. We’re talking about a home not a used car. In order for me to “sell” you that home, you must be “sold” yourself.

Experts suggest you find an agent that fits well with your personality. This professional relationship is central to good service and finding you the right property. You’ll want to work with a realtor you trust—one working to meet YOUR objectives.

The realtor actually helps you sell yourself by providing information relevant to your specific goals. The wide array of important details like, tax information, neighborhood pricing comparisons, school district locations, mortgage lenders, home inspectors, attorney or title company recommendations play an important role in the process. And, these services are only a few necessary components to consider when purchasing a property.

You want clear and relevant explanations to your questions. You want guidance in the negotiating arena; you want solid opinions based on experience. You want a personal accommodation indicating YOUR needs come first.

I won’t tell you how to spend your money, but I will work diligently to earn your trust by providing excellent and timely information. Buying a home is not a hard sell proposition in my book. I PROMISE NOT TO SELL YOU. I WILL PROVIDE SERVICE ALLOWING YOU TO SELL YOURSELF.

Want To Live Privately, Comfortably, and Affordably?

These are not idle words simply meant to peak your curiosity. These descriptive terms define the essence of what the Sullivan County Catskills of NY really mean to me.

Being married to a native daughter of these mountains gives me some perspective on the life style here. My very own dairy princess comes from a farming family in the Beechwoods Area of Western Sullivan County.

These Beechwoods, defined locally as the road that runs over the mountains between Jeffersonville, NY and Callicoon, NY (County Route 164) are home to majestic views, somewhat isolated property parcels, and my wife’s home farm.

Many second home residents have chosen to live on this rural route and extend their abodes to the surrounding hills, dales, and glens of this truly bucolic and serene landscape. Of course, the original families and local folks also share the bounty of this land.

The rural nature of Western Sullivan County lends itself to privacy. We have a small year round population which means fewer neighbors.

Comfort is a personal concept. I’m positive you have already interpreted how you want to relax. I am reinforcing that privacy and comfort are often critical factors in wanting to be here in the mountains.

Affordability is also a key element for those wanting privacy and comfort. Not much has changed since your parents and perhaps grandparents made off to the mountains in search of a cooler summer and a swim in the Delaware River.

Western Sullivan County, NY is awaiting your exploration. When you settle down here, be prepared for a slower, sweeter, and more affordable life style. You deserve it.

John and Marilyn

Where is Dimock, PA?

The natural gas market is heating up. New players, old players, and big money are lining up at our border. The implications are as large as the shale formation itself.

Where is Dimock, PA? It’s a little west of Montrose, PA. So? Well, if you want to keep up with how natural gas drilling may effect Sullivan County, NY, you’ll want to read this article from the Times-Hearld Record.

The Marcellus is a monolithic geological formation covering a large geographic area including Sullivan County, NY. It’s rich with untapped gas resources. Author Steve Israel does a good job explaining common themes surrounding gas exploration and how it may effect our core life style.

It's time to pull the trigger

Mortgage interest rates are climbing. Will these rates continue north, hover, or head south with the next round of terrible real estate news? Are you willing to gamble?

If you have a penchant for market timing and enjoy séances, you may be tempted to remain in orbit and view a home purchase from afar. Those who may be a bit more conservative and are shopping for real estate are advised to evaluate the current market carefully.

Hovering doesn’t count. Decisive action in real estate acquisition runs in two directions. It’s either time to buy or not to buy. That is not to say that taking a wait and see attitude implies lack of direction.

If you are a market timer, I suggest you jump ship and join the “I figure it this way right now crowd.” This camp is becoming less inclined to predict mortgage rates will retreat to the sub 5 percent level.

If rates continue to climb, serious buyers may miss the penultimate opportunity to cash in. Achieving the lowest price at the most attractive interest rate are perhaps the two most important financial considerations underpinning all real estate transactions.

Home sales are picking up; interest rates seem to be rising. Take a look at the last 3-month charts and see for yourself here and here. Sidelined cash needs to get back into the game quickly in order to catch low tide.

Cash buyers have always been king. Secondarily, those with FICO scores above 700 and a liquid 20% can get that conventional and quicker mortgage commitment. New homebuyers have the $8000 federal incentive (The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009) to get in the door before December 1, 2009.

So, you can gaze at your new home from afar. You can hover and continue to fence sit, or, you can pull the trigger and make a great deal. What say you?

John Kavaller: Licensed NYS Agent and Realtor
Catskill Sales Associates
http://www.catskillcountryrealestate.com/
http://www.catskillcountryrealestate.info/
845-482-3200 Ext. 13:
Office845-492-0261:
catskillsrealestate@gmail.com

Natural Gas Drilling Update

Natural gas drilling is an issue here in Sullivan County, NY-- perhaps a big one. The Marcellus Shale Formation may significantly impact just about everything in our little piece of God's Green Earth. Keeping current is prudent.

Supporters claim economic benefits while enviromentalists predict degradation. Leasing activity has slowed probably based on the slide in natural gas prices over the past nine or so months. Gas firms have, for the moment, packed up--but they may be back when the economy heats up.

The implications for real estate here are considerable. The debate will most likely continue for years to come. Check here from time to time to follow the thread. Here's a link to a brief article discussing one particular aspect of the drilling issue.

Catskill Real Estate Market April-May 2009

So what’s going on here in Catskills of Sullivan County, NY? The short answer is—not much. Across the board, recent sales indicate buyers still favor the sidelines, not the playing field.

I believe there is still a relevant disconnect on the selling side of the equation. Sellers seem unwilling to make peace with the current bottom fishing aspect of today’s market. With that being said----

The home buying atmosphere should be robust and flush with exuberant activity. Lower than low interest rates, good inventory, and the first time homebuyer’s credit which may be used as a down payment are among factors that support and should buoy the market. Yet these favorable circumstances are not bringing buyers to the closing table.

Warren Blumenthal, Owner/Broker of Catskill Sales Associates, Inc located in Jeffersonville, NY, attributes the lethargic conditions to two primary elements.

The buying community believes the market still has not bottomed. Potential buyers are concerned their jobs may disappear.

What bothers me is the fact that savvy buyers, in general, know they cannot call the exact bottom of any market. The macro economic prevailing winds certainly indicate a buy now signal. Why aren’t they at the table in droves?

Perhaps it is the second point Broker Blumenthal makes that is more telling. All the conditions may be favorable to buy now, but if the buyer fears losing his or her job, buying doesn’t make sense.

My crystal ball in the attic predicts the buyer’s market will remain. I suspect that if the economic doldrums persist, sellers will have to get more realistic pricing points on their listings or they’ll be paying taxes for another year.

Even if we are close or at a pricing bottom, buyers will simply kick the tires if they fear for their jobs. Stay tuned for the next post when I bring the ball out of my Victorian attic.

Good news for Sullivan County Real Estate

Welcome to the Catskills. Pull up a chair, relax, and participate. This blog is not moderated and solicits all opinions. Although primarily aimed at real estate issues within the greater Catskill Region of Sullivan County, New York, I welcome all input and comment relative to our area.

NYRI or New York Regional Interconnect project is dead. This means no major electrical infrastructure will mar the natural beauty of our region. This is no small victory for all property owners in Sullivan County, NY.

The proposed 190-mile grid plan could have taken one of several routes if approved, each one presenting substantial difficulty to those owners “in the way”. No one wants a 10 story monolithic tower placed in his or her back yard.

The NYRI threat is over. Come on up and see what the Catskill Mountains of Sullivan County, NY have to offer you. You won’t be disappointed.

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