J. Philip's Westchester Real Estate Blog

I have often said that nearby Pleasantville is aptly named. It borders Briarcliff Manor to the east and is idyllic: a picturesque, charming little village on the Harlem line of Metro North with shops, eateries, and culture. The latest feather in the village's cap is that GQ magazine voted it the second best smelling city in the world. 

Good for them. I'm no expert on aroma but I can tell you that living in Pleasantville would never stink. My first job ever, which paid for my junior prom in 1984, was washing dishes at Pace University. When I took a year sabbatical from life in 2000 before I got married I tended bar at Mediterraneo. As a matter of fact, I proposed to Ann over a nice meal from Mediterraneo, but it was takeout. They still get credit. I meet every other Friday at Jean Jacques with my networking group. And the Jacob Burns Center is Westchester County's premier theater for cultural films. 

We love to do business in Pleasantville. Stephanie Solano, one of our top agents, lives in Pleasantville and is a local expert. 

In 2011, 47 homes sold in Pleasantville at a median price of $495,000. 
There are currently 40 homes for sale in the Pleasantville school district at a median list price of $649,450.  

It is a great time to be a buyer, and if central Westchester County is a good location for you, you should check Pleasantville out. Better yet, reach out to Stephanie. (914) 645-2433

Previous posts on Pleasantville.

View homes for sale in Pleasantville with or without registration. 

Pleasantville Named Best Smelling 'City': MyFoxNY.com

What is market share in real estate? 

Market share could mean percentage of closed transactions in a given area. 
Market share could mean the percent of closed dollar volume in a given area.
Market share could be the amount of inventory for sale in a given area. 

At around 11am today, market share took on a different meaning. Even though I am based in Westchester County, I have three listings in Highland, New York in Ulster County. And as a working real estate broker with a family, there are times when the best way to balance things out is to multitask: we pile the kids in the car and have them come on a business-related trip. It could be to put up a sign, install a lockbox, or open a door for someone. I had a little bit of everything today. And once I was finished with my brief Sunday morning appointment, it was made known to me by my beloved that our children were in need of, um, facilities. 

Our little blessings are 9,8,7 and 4. Taking them to a restaurant is not fun. And we're a solid hour from home and hearth. Ann suggested perhaps heading back our listing that I was just in, but it was winterized; you never use the bathroom of a winterized house. What to do? 

But wait! I have other listings in this town! And one, whose owner I just spoke to on Friday, was close by. The owner was out of town for the weekend, so I gave her a quick call. A teacher and a lovely woman, she laughed heartily and gave her porcelain blessing. The kids were on the their best behavior, I checked on my listing, and the drive home was devoid of panic or bladder-driven drama. 

So that's not a bad litmus test. If you are in a town and you have a choice of three clients to call for a little help if nature calls, you've got yourself a little bit of market share. 

Incidentally, the house we were in was pretty awesome: a pre- war Victorian with amazing charm and woodwork- here is the link to see the photos on Homespotters. 1 Tillson Ave Highland, NY, 12528

When you hear a name like "Briarcliff Classic and Imported Car Service" you might envision a garage filled with Porches and Fiats with a temperamental guy in a beret acting more like a chef than a mechanic. With BCI, however, you'd be wrong. I remember Briarcliff Classic from when I was a kid in the 1970s and through the years in their out of the way place on Woodside Avenue and knew that nobody wore a beret, but it wasn't until this past week that I experienced firsthand how down to Earth and committed they are. 

I have a BMW which has always run well, but was completely dead one morning. It seemed like a simple dead battery, and after calling the dealership and hearing there was a wait I thought of BCI. They did work for us about 10 years ago, and I did recall they were good. I forgot how good. 

Curveballs tell you how people run their business. It wasn't a simple battery replacement, it was far more complicated, and the explanation I was given made some prior issues with the electronics of the car make sense. A fluid leak caused a chain reaction that would make even a new battery drain in a matter of hours. Everything was not just fixed, but explained. Throughout the process, the owner, Bob Millstein, remained in close touch with me. Anyone whose car has been held "hostage" at a McMechanic can relate to how nice that is. Bob is a genuine, funny guy, and as a business owner myself I was impressed with how important it was to Bob that my experience with his business go well. He took nothing for granted. 

Next was Ann's Mazda, and an inspection, new brakes and servicing we all done in a day. In the process (I have to admit that Bob and I tended to kibitz on more than cars whenever we spoke) I found that he graduated from the same high school as Ann. The renowned Stuyvesant High school in Manhattan, the crown jewel of the NYC magnet school system has some notable graduates- James Cagney, Eric Holder, some Nobel Laureates, you get the picture- produced not only my wife, but now my mechanic. Good stuff.

One cool thing they do here is something I never see at any mechanic- the office has a huge glass wall where you can see the work being done. Talk about transparency! Believe me when I tell you that you could eat off the floor. 

Another cool thing we have discovered is that BCI gets social media and the web- their website is very sharp, and Bob has even recently started a blog. None of that helps if you have a bad experience, but it is clear to me that there is a reason they have been open since 1974- they get it, and they aren't resting on their laurels even a little. Since I spend a great deal of time in my car in my chosen field, a resource like is is crucial. If you have a classic or imported car and you truly want white glove service, this is the place to go. 

Briarcliff Classic and Imported Auto Service
90 Woodside Avenue
Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510
(914) 762-1200
www.BriarcliffClassic.com 

This morning in New Windsor, New York, I had the privilege of witnessing the Orange County Association of Realtors overwhelming vote in favor of merging their association with WPAR (Westchester-Putnam) and ROCBOR (Rockland) to form the new Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors. This was the third and final "yea" vote between the three boards, and paves the way for an offical merger commencing January 1, 2012. 

OCAR's leadership did an outstanding job of educating the membership on the merits of the merger proposal, from a well done YouTube video by president Ron Garafalo to office meetings, informational mailings and even social media. No one could say they didn't know the details unless they really weren't paying attention. And from the discussion I saw, membership clearly paid attention. 

I should mention that in 2005 when I started the company, I joined OCAR before joining the then Westchester Board of Realtors. There was a thought that Ann and I might move our family to Washingtonville or Goshen. I have worked in Orange County and been a member of the Greater Hudson Valley MLS ever since. We remained in Westchester, but I know firsthand that the association is an excellent group with strong leadership, and it will make HGAR better. 

I have written previously on the Westchester and Rockland votes posts why I believe this is good for the public. I'll indulge in a selfish motive of why I was so in favor of the merger: in the future, when the respective contracts run out with the vendors, the two MLS systems will be consolidated into one Multiple Listing Service. With the natural crossover between our market areas, this will benefit all brokerages, but for firms like mine that pay for two separate MLS systems, it will make a positive difference in managing overhead. The best reason for consolidation is economics. This is smart economics for sure. 

48 powerless hours and two chilly nights where the temperature in our home hit the 40's can affect a guy. Like many people who lost power in the worst October snowstorm ever to hit Westchester County, we had to "camp" a little in our home, getting acclimated with flashlights, candles, sleeping bags and fireplaces. Two powerless nights were rough in different ways; the first night was out of routine for the children, especially Gregory, who is on the spectrum for autism. The second night was better for the kids, even a bit more fun, but virtually sleepless for me, because it was bloody cold and I was constantly feeding the fireplace every 90 minutes for some ambient heat. 

With the lights out in our neighborhood that long, we decided that even after power returned that the kids should trick or treat in the old neighborhood, Ossining's renowned Indian Village, where I grew up and where we spent the first 6 years of our marriage. Even though we were "carpet bagging," it was, I have to say, nothing short of awesome to have people I have known all my life pour affection (and candy) on my children. Some of these people were there way back when I was trick or treating!

It gave me get a deeper appreciation for two things I already held dear- the roof over my head and the community where I live. I am lucky to live in my home in Chilmark. I was lucky to be raised in the Indian Village in Ossining. And I love my neighbors in both places. 

The roof over my head has been an itch I couldn't scratch lately. I wanted to replace our bay window this past summer but we didn't. We need to paint the interior from the wear and tear of 4 crazy children. I had a leak in a bathroom that caused some sheet rock damage I haven't yet fixed in my kitchen. It ever ends. And I will either fix that stuff now or later but after experiencing what it's like to "squat" in my own place I'll never let it make me forget to be thankful for shelter. 

Earlier today I almost blew through a stop sign and ended up being pulled over by a police officer. There had been flag men there for weeks who just left, so I absent-mindedly "went" and then recalled, almost too late, that the stop sign remained. And who would be the officer to pull me over but one I knew, who once went to my home to make sure all was OK. And he didn't pull me over to ticket me- just to make sure I was OK. He knew our neighborhood was dark for two days and we were out of sorts. That's the community I live in. 

So, from the good folks who patted my children's head tonight who also patted their dad's 40 years ago, to the cops and my home's happily-returned heartbeat, I have to say that I am one lucky guy. I live in a wonderful place. And I'll never take my home or neighbors for granted. My home may not be 2011 fabulous, but it is mine, and it is warm again. And my neighbors? Never a cold moment there. 

Westchester County is a special place. And Briarcliff and Ossining are the special placiest of all! 

This afternoon at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Suffern, the membership of the Rockland County Board of Realtors voted overwhelmingly to merge their organization with the Westchester-Putnam and Orange Associations. This was the second thumbs up in three days, as Westchester-Putnam had a similar yes-vote on Monday. Orange will vote on Tuesday. 

You might ask why this is significant to the public. What do consumers care about all this inside baseball stuff? They still have to pay their X% when the house sells no matter who licks the stamps on the stationary. Perhaps. But then again, the public really does not understand the importance of a vibrant and healthy trade organization, it's impact on the industry, or the benefits to the consumer. And it is our fault for not getting the word out. 

I was in the multi-association work group that explored and shaped the merger initiative. One of the themes of our meetings was that bigger is not automatically better. And it was that sentiment that made us want to make sure that our work made us better first, bigger second. The leadership, by laws, and operations of the new Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors will be more efficient, better serve the members' needs, and more attuned to addressing the challenges that face our industry. 

We will have a larger pool to choose leadership our ranks. Quality leadership sets the tone for the organization. We will be more tech savvy, more forward thinking, and more in touch with what consumers want and need. 

We will have improved buying power to keep costs down for the products and services our members use to conduct business. Costs savings means stronger companies with more resources to market their listings. 

We will have a continued high bar for our professional standards. The Realtor Code of Ethics is not PR- it governs the standards and practices of members for fair play, advocacy for our clients, the consumers, and keeps the playing field level and fair. 

We will eradicate the mythical boundaries that hinder the mobility of buyers to move from points south to points north. It is well known that wealth in our region often flows from New York city, which borders Westchester county. One association is far better than three for facilitating that commerce. 

A bigger organization that is more solvent means a better organization that can focus on fair play and good business. And that is good for consumers. That is why I am excited.

Today was the annual meeting of the Westchester-Putnam Association of Realtors (WPAR), and it was not your typical annual meeting. Elections were held for both the Association and the Empire Access MLS, and Yours Truly was confirmed for a 3rd term as MLS Vice President. Among my duties in the past few months was to be on the committee to discuss the proposed merger of the WPAR, Rockland County Board, and Orange County Association (OCAR) to form the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors (HGAR). Today, by an overwhelming margin, our membership approved the merger. 

There was a tiny burp of skepticism by a small few in the discussion phase prior to the vote, and the incendiary questions asked by those few did belie a rather stark lack of knowledge about the initiative. In a room of perhaps 1,000, I counted about 4 dissenting votes, however, and that was that. The consensus will be on the right side of history. Board mergers are a growing trend due to the economy and contracting membership, but the upside is far beyond mere cost measures. 

The new, larger association will actually save money by having more bargaining power for services as we go forward, such as our next MLS provider contract, VOW and IDX services, and whatever other value added things we can procure for membership such as lockbox services and maybe insurance (I can hope). 

The new, larger association will have a stronger voice in Albany and Washington, as state and US representatives in our midst will have more than a single county constituent trade organization voting bloc. Our NYSAR delegation will be larger and stronger as well. 

The new larger association will eventually have a consolidated Multiple Listing Service, which will save overhead for those companies that conduct business on both ides of the river. 

The new larger association will be good for consumers. Local Realtor associations are the voice of homeowners and their interests. We fight against onerous transfer taxes charged at closing. We are fighting to preserve the mortgage interest deduction. We fight to keep affordable housing mortgages available in the face of reactionary politicians who propose ever harder downpayment and underwriting requirements. Whether you wish to buy or want to sell, that is huge. 

I truly believe that if both rank and file members and consumers really knew how hard the association works to preserve their interests, public perception of our industry would undergo a renaissance overnight. 

What can you get for $540,000 in Tuckahoe, New York? I'm so glad you asked! $540,000 can get you a pretty, pre-war tudor on a quiet residential street in the Tuckahoe school district just a hop skip and a jump from New Rochelle and Bronxville. If you are like our client, you'll get an 1840 square foot 3 bedroom with a deck, garage, granite and stainless steel kitchen and a ton of classic charm. 

Our client closed on the one pictured just this past week, and it also has a finished basement, beautifully landscaped yard, woodburning fireplace, formal dining room, den, and lots of period woodwork. We wish Mary many happy healthy years there and will definitely remain in touch. 

Tuckahoe is a great area to live. Located on the Metro-north Harlem line, it is an easy commute from both Manhattan and the Bronx. It is also located very close to all that southern Westchester offers- shopping and culture in Yonkers and White Plains, lunch in Scasdale or Bronxville, and striking distance to the Sound Shore. Log onto WestchesterDreamHome.com to find your own little slice of Heaven right here in The 914. 

Our team is growing, which is good, but the quality of people we are adding to our family of producers is very high, and that is great.

Anton Gromov has joined our team, and he's not your average story. Anton is from Russia, and is therefore fluent in Russian. He's a new licensee, and when he was researching firms to join, came to conclude that he should talk to me about our brokerage. We clicked. Anton is a family man with two young ones, and cut his teeth in Manhattan property managment for the past decade. It is not surprising that he'd gravitate toward the investment property niche, an area that is near and dear to my own heart as well.

Husband, father with youngters, investment properties...yeah, I'd say we could relate to each other.

Anton will cover Westchester County residential real estate and is a great resource for anyone seeking a Russian speaking real estate agent. We look forward to watching him grow a book of happy buyers, sellers and investors.

To reach Anton, call him directly on his cell at (212) 300-5115 or email him at anton@jphilip.com.