Tom Crimmins Realty Blog

The Three R’s Of Fixing Historic Homes For Sale

It is not a foreign fact that Staten Island has numerous homes that have historic background. These homes may also seem like a good opportunity for a fixer-upper. Before you do, you need to learn the three R’s of fixing up historic homes and their differences.

The three R’s are restoration, renovation and repair.  Some of the differences are minor, but they can make all the difference in cost, time and problems.

Restoration

“Restoration” literally means returning something to its original state. 

Restoring historic homes on Staten Island that are for sale may involve city and state programs.  It’s essential that you check to see if the home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) or if it’s located in a historic district. …

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Sports Park

In 1907, Moritz and Elsa Glauber owned 35-acres of land. That land now consists of Sports Park, Toad Hall Playground, and Todt Hill Houses. The City obtained the property in 1958, as well as the Clove Lakes Expressway. 

"In February 1991, Parks signed a license agreement with Eagle Recreation Management for the construction and operation of a miniature golf course, batting cage, snack bar, and pro shop for a 10-year term. Playworld USA, Inc. temporarily operated the facility from the beginning of May 1998, to the very end of December 1998. The concessionaire is Staten Island Hockey. Under the terms of their contract, signed the following year, Staten Island Hockey refurbished the miniature golf course, installed new battings cage equipment, improved…

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January 2014 Staten Island Real Estate Market Recap

Staten Island's real estate market is starting out with a bang this year!

Last month, the Island had 268 sale sides with a monthly volume of $118,014,021. compared to January 2013's 236 with a monthly volume of $91,031,346. 

Staten Island wrapped January up with an average sale price of $440,350. This is an increase from the $385,726 that was raked in in January 2013. 

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How To Get The Full Asking Price When Selling Your Home

Selling your home may feel like a complex process (unless you're working with Tom Crimmins Realty) and there are a lot of factors that you will need to consider. Your goal will be to sell your home in a timely manner, while getting the highest price you can. However, many properties sell at a discount because the buyer is able to negotiate a lower price on the property.

Although it is impossible to guarantee that you will receive your full asking price when you sell your home, there are things that you can do to increase the likelihood of this happening. You will need to have a strategy that attracts highly motivated buyers and improves competition.

Here are some tips to keep in mind that will help you to get the full asking price when you are…

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Staten Island in the Early 1880s

September 1880 - Nation’s first lawn tennis tournament is played in New Brighton.  

Tennis was introduced to North America from Bermuda by Mary Outerbridge in March 1874. With the help of Outerbridge's brother, the first lawn tennis court was set up in West Brighton. “Staten Island Cricket and Baseball Club” was set up and was located on an estate that was originally named Livingston Park.

The first national tennis tournament in America, the Davis Cup, was held at the club on September 1, 1880. In 1906, the club's name was changed to the Staten Island Cricket and Tennis Club, and changed a second time in 1931 to the Staten Island Cricket Club. In 1930, the city bought the estate and renamed the property Walker Park. Walker Park is in memory of…

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Tips For Selling Your Home In The New Year

Many people think that selling a home during the winter season is a bad idea. Most people are not in the home buying mood because they are thinking about the holidays. Also, buyers will think that you are desperate and they will give you offers that are less than list price.

However, there are some advantages to selling your home over the holidays and into the new year. There will be less homes on the market, so there won’t be as much competition. Also, buyers will likely be on their holidays from work, so they will have much more time to view properties and look around at homes. Another factor is mood – buyers will generally be feeling more cheery and relaxed over the holidays, which will result in them being more likely to make the decision to buy a…

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Home Decor Tips and Trends

In order to keep your home decor looking fresh and up to date, it’s important to pay attention to the trends as they shift and change. 

Planning to redecorate this year? Consider these trends to pay attention to.

Getting Personal

Social media has made a big bang in 2013, and it is following into 2014. People are able to share their interests through pictures and inspire others with DIY ideas.

Printstagram turns your Instagram pictures into prints for frames, posters, calendars, and more.

Hang these pictures of family and friends or even scenery on the walls. Postcards or letters you may have collected and saved over the years will also add a personal touch. 

If you're looking for more pop culture rather than personal, an amazing website…

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Google Zeitgeist Wraps Up 2013

Hourly to daily, trends are constantly changing but we can always rely on Google to keep track of what users are searching for. From ObamaCare to the Government Shutdown and the Royal Baby to Taylor Swift's relationships, Google compressed 2013's search engine trends regarding major events, pop culture and terms in its Zeitgeist. 

BatKid stole our hearts, whereas the Boston Marathon bombing and the death of Nelson Mandela broke them. Miley Cyrus managed to become the most searched person. Courtesy of pop culture, Oxford Dictionaries Online added words such as 'twerk', 'selfie', and 'derp.' 'What is ObamaCare?' was the seventh most popular term. Viewers bid farewell to their favorite TV show characters in Breaking Bad to 30 Rock. Playstation 4 went up…

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4 Tips To Save For That Down Payment

When you take out a mortgage on your new home as a first time homebuyer, the more you can pay as a down payment the better. The down payment on a mortgage reduces the principle of the loan and means that you will be paying tens of thousands less in interest payments over the life of the loan.

Most financial experts recommend that you should save up at least 20% of the value of the home as a down payment. Depending on the value of the home that you want to buy, this can be a serious chunk of money. You will need some strategies for saving big. Here are some tips to help you get closer to that down payment:

Make A Separate Savings Account

No matter how much you have already saved for your down payment, create a new savings account to put the money…

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Staten Island Is Hit With A Second Snowstorm This Winter

New York experienced its second snowstorm since the beginning of the year.

On Tuesday, January 21: we were hit with an early blast when snow started to come down around 8 a.m. and sanitation trucks seemed to have been invisible on the streets. 

Mayor De Blasio’s spokeswoman Marti Adams claimed the city does not dispatch plows until there is two inches of accumulation.

There have been reports that a number of streets on the Island still looked unplowed as of Thursday morning. Islanders called 311 seeking assistance for untouched side street such as, Greanleaf and Delafield Avenue by Blessed Sacrament where parents drop their children off. 

According to the New York Post: The city’s 311 help line had been swamped by nearly 125,000 calls,…

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