Tom Crimmins Realty Blog

Silver Lake Park

The original Silver Lake was known as Fresh Pond, up until 1860. During the 19th century, a casino and saloon once existed on the property and several companies harvested ice. The lake's body of water was used for boating and ice skating. In February 1897, Silver Lake hosted the National Skating Amateur Championship races.

When the population was growing, Silver Lake Park was created for families and their children to have recreational grounds to play on. 

As ice harvesting became old news, the lake was drained and converted to a working reservoir by the Board of Water Supply in 1913. Less than five years later, Silver Lake Reservoir became the endpoint of the city’s Catskill water supply system. 

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Staten Island in the 1860s

April 1864 — Staten Island Savings Bank is founded in Stapleton

Staten Island Savings Bank was founded by Francis George Shaw and numerous other men, as a mutual savings bank in 1864. The Savings Bank opened for business three years later and became Staten Island’s first successful bank.

For over it's first 60 years, Staten Island Savings Bank remained a local bank but as business continued to expand in the twentieth century, it began to open branches in other communities on the island. The first branch was opened in St. George in 1931. Branches in New Dorp, Castleton Corners and Grasmere followed years after.

March 17, 1865 — Pioneer photographer Elizabeth Alice Austen is born in Rosebank.

Alice Austen was one of America's earliest and most…

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Don't Get Caught Off Guard With Closing Costs

Home sale closing costs can take you by surprise. Here is an estimate of what a buyer or seller can expect in the way of residential closing costs - but always be sure to discuss this with your real estate attorney or mortgage rep.

Closing Costs are fees for final property transfer not included in the price of the property. Typical closing costs include charges for the mortgage loan such as origination fees, discount points, appraisal fee, survey, title insurance, legal fees, real estate professional fees, prepayment of taxes and insurance, and real estate transfer taxes. 

Here are the breakdowns:

A buyer utilizing a loan can expect between 4.5 and 6% of the purchase price depending on the loan amount.

A buyer paying all cash can expect…

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2013 Real Estate Market Recap

Home sales have substantially increased on Staten Island due to various factors. Buyer confidence is back, sellers are in acceptance for realistic asking prices, and historically low interest rates wrap up the formula of strengthened sales. 

"The key to real estate success in Staten Island, aside from having a seasonal professional staff," said Tom and Suzanne Crimmins, owners of Tom Crimmins Realty LTD.. "Is a well managed and maintained Internet website, aggressive Internet advertising, social media and good old school sale marketing."

Tom Crimmins Realty experienced a phenomenal year. Personal sales increased from 218 sale sides in 2012 to 386 in 2013. These numbers do not include their rentals or Brooklyn sales.

According to Tom Crimmins,…

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Don't Turn Your Buyers Away With These Curb Appeal Mistakes

When it comes to selling your home, curb appeal refers to the “first impression” that your house gives when a buyer approaches it from the driveway or the street. First impressions are important and even if the inside of the home is perfect, the outer appearance can really affect a buyer’s perception.

If you are trying to sell your property, look out for these common curb appeal mistakes:

Garden Decorations

You might think that your decorative lawn ornaments are cute, but your potential buyers don’t necessarily have the same taste. If you have a few gnomes living in your garden, you might want to hide them away for a while when your home goes on the market.

Dying Flowers

Adding flowers to your front yard can improve your curb appeal, until…

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Veterans Park

Veterans Park is the oldest park on Staten Island. First mapped in 1836; thirty years later, the town became known as Port Richmond. In 1898, this open area was named Port Richmond Park.

In the 1920s, a police booth was built in the park courtesy of the Police Department and Parks. In 1949, the park was renamed by local law as a tribute to American veterans. Once an iron fenced property, it is now open for the public.

A granite water fountain stands in the Park as a monument honoring Eugene G. Putnam in 1915. Putnam was the school principal of P.S. 20 for over 15 years. 

The Park has a second monument; a bolder with a plaque comemorating  John Sullivan is located on the Park Avenue side. In the summer of 1777, he was an American Revolutionary War…

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Why January Is The Best Month For House Hunting

Have you made it your New Year’s resolution to find that perfect home for you and your family? You might have thought that you needed to wait until spring to start house shopping, but the fact is that January is a great time to begin.

House hunting in January offers a number of advantages that will work in your favour. Here are some of the main reasons:

Desperate Seller

If the home is on the market at this time of year, there is a chance that the home sale is somewhat urgent. If they were not desperate, they might pull their home out of the market and wait until spring to try again. With a motivated seller you are more likely to get a better price.

A Dedicated Realtor

Your realtor will have more time on their hands at this time of the year,…

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...Featuring Our Luxury Homes

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Our staff are experts in the real estate market; the seasoned staff are also leaders in sales and have an immense knowledge in the prestigious high end luxury market. 

High end homes are located all throughout Staten Island. There are many unique styles of homes at vast price ranges, which makes the high end luxury market on Staten Island is a must see! 

The market is looking up, so let us help you find the luxury home you have been dreaming of.  Browse all of Staten Island's luxury homes now.

Here are a few of our homes:

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Jan. 21, 1856 — Staten Island Historical Society forms

Staten Island Historical Society is an independent nonprofit cultural organization. The purpose of the Staten Island Historical Society is to provide the public exhibits of the American experience, referring to the colonial period to today.

The Society accomplished this by opening and operating Historic Richmond Town; Staten Island Historical Society's headquarters and offices are located in the heart of Historic RIchmond Town. Original Staten Island homes and buildings, like the Voorlezer's House, were moved and preserved to the area. Historic Richmond Town is a remarkable living history village and museum complex that evokes 350 years of the history and culture of New York City.

The Society also supports numerous publications, exhibitions,…

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Why Should My Clients Lock In Their Interest Rates

Interest rates fluctuate frequently, often depending on the news. If you are considering refinancing your home, your loan officer may suggest locking in the interest rate on your loan. There are some valid reasons why this is a good idea including:

Saving Money Over The Long-term

Over the life of a loan, an increase of as little as one-quarter of a percent can cost thousands of extra dollars. Spending a small amount of money now to lock in a rate can save money over the life of the loan. Your loan officer will explain the difference in rate increases initially, over a year and over the life of the loan.

You May Not Qualify At Higher Rates 

Whether you are considering refinancing your property or you are buying a new home, you may discover your…

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