Staten Island has numerous hidden gems. We spotlight locations or upcoming events that families may be interested in checking out or attending.

Every year, termites cause billions of dollars in home damages. These pests feed on wood, but also damage insulation, swimming pool liners and filtration systems. Acknowledging termites is important when buying or selling a home since a termite inspection/infestation report is normally a condition of sale. It's time to face termites head on before they ruin the biggest investment of your life.

When Is It Time to Start Preparing

Between the spring months of March and May, infestations are mostly discovered of winged termites, known as "swarmers," emerge inside homes due to warmer temperatures and rainfall. These termites will eventually drop to the ground, shed their wings, pair off with a mate, and attempt to begin new colonies in the soil. Winged…

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Buying or selling a Staten Island home, comes great responsibility. Your Staten Island real estate professional also has the same responsibility to uphold when it comes to equal housing opportunity.

What is Equal Housing Opportunity?

The Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) was established "to eliminate housing discrimination, promote economic opportunity, and achieve diverse, inclusive communities by leading the nation in the enforcement, administration, development, and public understanding of federal fair housing policies and laws."

How is Responsibility Shared?

Responsibility is held by home buyer, home seller and your Staten Island real estate professional.

Home sellers and landlords have a requirement under the law not…

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It's always nice to offer the greatest hospitality during an open house of your Staten Island home. There are a few don'ts that the homeowner should avoid when potential buyers come in for showings. It's obvious that you want to take pride in your home and let the buyers know every nook and cranny, but at the same time you don't want to sabotage the chances of a sale. 

Here are some tips to consider when being a smart seller during a sale:

  1. Don't be presence or attend. Give the buyers the chance to express both pros and cons about your house to their Staten Island real estate agent. Over sharing information about the home or neighborhood may persuade the buyers into looking elsewhere. The seller's agent will deliver feedback from buyer and broker…

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While the mall is being redone, and Tottenville is getting more shopping store, NYC Parks has added The Ocean Breeze Track and Field Athletic Complex to its roster. Located at 625 Father Capodanno Boulevard, is a two-story, $93 million, 135,000 square-foot, indoor track and field facility. 

"The facility will become a premier destination for athletic events, drawing competitors from around the region....The facility boasts commanding views of the nearby Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and  the Freedom Tower in lower Manhattan." (nycgovparks.com) Seating is equipped for 

There is a 200-meter hydraulic track with the fastest running surface. If you're training for the future Olympics, Ocean Breeze has an elite facility featuring lifting platforms for…

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A mortgage payment typically is one of the biggest payments that a person is responsible for. This financial responsibility might impact a person's budget significantly for several years to come. There are mortgage calculators online that can be used to estimate an affordable mortgage payment. However, it is important to start with a basic budget to determine more accurately how much mortgage payment is truly affordable before applying for a new mortgage.

List Income From All Sources

First, list all sources of income that is received regularly. This includes regular paychecks from both spouses, dividends, and annuities. Most budgets are prepared on a monthly basis, so ensure that the total amount of take-home for a typical month is included in the…

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In typical real estate transactions, the terms of purchase and other factors may be negotiated at different times throughout the process. For example, the contract may be negotiated at the time the original offer is made, but revisions to the contract may be negotiated after the property inspection has been completed.

Research All Factors

Researching includes everything from market conditions and how long the property has been on the market to how competitively priced the real estate is, how many other buyers there are and more. A successful negotiation may be about achieving specific, desired goals, but in most cases, there will be a bit of give and take on both parties' parts in order to find success. 

Understand All Motives And Influences

…

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Hoffman Island, Staten Island // courtesy: meadowblog.com

So you were walking the FDR Boardwalk this summer and always wondered what rested between us and Brooklyn. There are two artificial islands called Hoffman Island and Swinburne Island that rest undisturbed in the Lower New York Bay. The National Park Service currently manages both Islands for Gateway National Recreation Area.

In the 1870s, Hoffman and Swinburne were constructed from landfill, and designated as quarantine quarters for arriving immigrants who suffered from contagious diseases. Concrete walls served as barricades around island to prevent any epidemic from occuring. 

When WW1 occurred and the United States passed the Immigration Act in 1923, the number of immigrants decreased.…

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Technology is constantly changing, new apps are being created daily, and there's always a new update on your phone's software.  

Here are some up-to-date apps you can download that will get you through your next home renovation project:

ColorSnap: Remember those websites and games that used to show you what you would look like when different hairstyles? Well this app shows what your room will look like with a different paint job. "Capture color inspiration whenever—and wherever—it strikes. With ColorSnap®Visualizer from Sherwin-Williams, you have the power to take real-world colors and turn them into paint-color swatches—all on your smartphone." You can also upload a picture and the app will pick up on color schemes so you can match your living room…

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Are you tired of having to pay the toll to New Jersey to go to Menlo's AMC Dine-In Theater? Well, hopefully you won't have to anymore! Staten Island is on the up and up with new attractions from studio lots, to the Empire Outlets, and now - crossing fingers - AMC Dine-In Theater. Back in May 2013, silive reported an online survey of Staten Islanders expressing the interest in having our very own dine-in. 

Staten Island's Continuing Expansion

Ken Paulsen wrote, "although the survey references only AMC's unique dine-in offerings and brandings, the AMC spokesman, Ryan Noonan, said his company is not behind it. He did allow that the company is exploring setting up a dine-in movie house here, but nothing beyond that."

Remember, that this is back in…

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The island's first public high school, Curtis, was founded in February of 1904, as part of the city-wide plan to institute a public high school in each outlying borough. The school was named after well-known writer George William Curtis, who had moved to the neighborhood right before the start of the Civil War.

Architecture

Curtis High School, located in New Brighton, is an architectural feat! The century-old building with its massive square tower, made entirely of brick and limestone, resembles the Neo-Gothic style of architecture, present in Medieval Europe. The building was designated as one of the landmarks of New York City in 1982.

Education

Curtis has 10 specialized programs. It offers a wide array of both humanitarian and technical…

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