By: Daniel Boxman of United Northern, NMLS ID# 1077102

Preparing yourself for a home purchase is very important. When you are investing in one of the biggest purchases of your life, you want to make sure you are ready. Here are things to consider that may help:

Look over your Financial Situation:

  1. Check your credit. Run your credit (if you haven’t in the last 3 months); you are entitled to a free credit report once a year. There are online sites such Credit Karma who do this for free, or you can even look into creating an account with one of the three big credit Bureaus (Experian, TransUnion, Equifax). Knowing your credit score will give you an idea if you are in good standing to buy a home. You will also be able to see if there are any issues…

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It seems like a wise investment to purchase an older, tad run-down property and you have the chance to fix it up and turn it into the home of your dreams or for resell. However, the renovation project that appears a quick montage in your imagination will actually take several months or years and thousands of dollars in real life. How can you make sure that you are making the right choice for you?

One of the main advantages of buying a fixer-upper property is that you will usually be able to get the property for a much cheaper price. But is it worth the time and money you will need to invest in the property?

Here Are Some Questions You Should Be Asking Yourself When Making Your Decision:

  • Do you (or your friends and family members) have the…

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Date Time Place Event Description Contact & Fee Info

Fri. - Sun., March 21-23, 2014

 

Art Lab Gallery, 1000 Richmond Terrace Summer Camps Children enjoy hands-on activities in drawing, painting and sculpture. Camps for ages 3-5, and another camp Picasso.  

 718-447-8667

www.artlab.info

AM, PM or full day session available.

Fri., March 21, 2014

9:00 am   -   2:00 pm New Dorp Moravian Church, 2205 Richmond Road Annual Easter Egg Hunt

 Don't Forget To Bring A Basket! Please bring a box of cookies to share!

Hunts take place Rain or Shine. 

 Church Office: 718-351-0090

www.newdorpmoravian.org 

$5.00 per child, Ages 1 – 10 Tickets must…

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South Shore Gold Course, Courtesy of americangolf.com

South Shore Golf Course, now called Grand Oaks Country Club, is located in Rossville. Once known as Blazing Star, the property was renamed Rossville in 1836 in honor of Colonel William E. Ross, a wealthy local landowner. This neighborhood is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Founded privately in 1930 as the Mayflower Country Club, South Shore Golf Course property was acquired by the City throughout 1966 until 1982. Until 1984, Parks managed the course and the adjoining restaurant. At that time, the American Golf Corporation took over the management of - the course, the ‘grill room’ snack bar, and the pro shop. 

In 1994, American Golf Corporation used $100,000 to…

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Tom Delese Kawing Chiu(l. to r.) Tom Delese, Tom Crimmins, Kawing Chiu

Yesterday, March 13, 2014, SIBOR hosted a recognition breakfast for top producers. Our very own Tom Delese received the first Rising Star Award, as well as Top Producer Bronze, for his accomplishments in the real estate community.

Delese, who has hosted the Halloween family photobooth on behalf of Tom Crimmins the past 3 years at the Staten Island Zoo, started his career as an Industrial Designer working as an educational toy and display designer. Delese then worked as a retail advertising account executive at Staten Island Advance for 34 years. In December 2011, Delese started working at Tom Crimmins Realty and continues at performing excellently as a NYS Licensed Real Estate…

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There are a number of myths floating around regarding the home buying process. Such misconceptions have kept many would-be homeowners from realizing the personal and financial rewards of owning a property.

To clear things up, here are a few myths about buying your first home that simply aren't true.

Myth #1 - "It's Cheaper To Rent Instead Of Own"

If you buy a property that is within your budget and your mortgage terms allow you to make comfortable monthly payments, the cost of rent can often be higher than mortgage payments. Sure, there are other expenses associated with owning a property that you wouldn't be responsible for if you were renting, but one thing that many people forget is the fact that renting does not allow you to build equity. The…

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Staten Island's real estate market is still on the upside. February had a small sale side decrease compared to last year's month.

Staten Island February 2014 Real EstateLast month, the Island had 209 sale sides with a monthly volume of $91,393,599. This differentiates to February 2013's 236 with a monthly volume of $91,187,983. 

Month Year Monthly Sales Monthly Volume Avg List $ Avg Sale $ Median Sold $ Avg DOM
February 2014 209 $91,393,599 $465,820 $437,289 $410,000 127

Staten Island wrapped January up with an average sale price of $437,289. This is a significant increase from the $386,389 that was raked in in February 2013. 

Month Year Monthly Sales Monthly Volume Avg List $ Avg Sale $ Median Sold $ Avg DOM
February

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The number one reason children under three years old visit the emergency room is accidental household injury. This can be avoided with supervision and a lot of baby-proofing. Follow these guidelines to make sure your little ones stay safe:

Think Like A Toddler

The first step is to your home is to think like your child. Numerous parents say: get down on your baby's level and crawl around. You’ll see just how dangerous it can be. Take note of exactly which countertops, cabinets, and tables are reachable from your child’s level. This establishes what needs to be protected.

Identify The Enemy

Kids bump their heads, that’s a fact of life. But there are bigger threats lurking in your house. Think of the first thing your child does when he or she…

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There are some unexpected problems when buying real estate.  Generally, these issues revolve around plumbing, wiring or sticking doors and windows.  Although they aren’t as expensive to fix, there’s always a possibility that they lead to bigger problems. 

Sticking Doors/Windows

Check the hinges and locks.  Spotting wear and tear on doors and windows is fairly easy. Squeaking hinges or locks that stick indicates wear on seals and metal. 

Although sticking doors and windows aren’t a big deal in and of themselves, these issues can be indications of moderate to severe foundation problems. If you find these issues in real estate, make your way to the basement and look for cracks or dips in the floors and walls. If you’re at all uneasy, have an…

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