Ulster County Real Estate Blog

3 Ways to Build an Ulster County Green Home

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 at 9:32am. 30 Views, 0 Comments.

Are you planning to build a new Ulster County home? If so, you might want to consider implementing a few “green” ideas throughout the construction process. Not only will this reduce your carbon footprint as well as your energy bill, but it will also increase the resale value of your home if you decide to put it on the market someday. While there are plenty of “green” construction strategies that you can put to use when building a new home, keeping these three strategies in mind will certainly get you rolling in the right direction.

Ulster Green Construction Strategy #1: Use Recycled and Renewable Materials

One of the easiest ways to make the construction process more eco-friendly is to simply use materials that are either recycled or renewable. While…

Read Full Post »

Optimizing Basic Allowance for Housing

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010 at 8:05am. 60 Views, 0 Comments.

Each month, the government issues a stipend to active duty military personnel stationed in the United States to alleviate the cost of housing. This stipend is known as Basic Allowance for Housing, or BAH, and is dictated by a service member's rank, geography, and number of dependents.

How Does the Government Determine BAH?

The greatest determinate of Basic Allowance for Housing is location. The government carefully reviews data sources and rental listings, and even interviews real estate agents to calculate the proper Basic Allowance of Housing for service members. The government's releases BAH rates once a year, usually in January, and even if a service member who is currently receiving BAH notices that their rank's BAH has…

Read Full Post »

Home Staging Ideas to Help Sell Your Home

Saturday, July 24th, 2010 at 11:54am. 79 Views, 1 Comments.

When it comes to selling a home, it is essential to do everything possible to make it stand out as much as possible. After all, the more your Hudson Valley home reaches out and grabs a potential buyer, the more likely he or she is to make an offer on the property. While making necessary repairs is certainly one aspect of giving a home the best chance of getting sold, prepping a home for sale requires more than just replacing broken appliances and painting dull, worn out walls. Rather, it requires giving the home a warm and inviting feel with the help of a few home staging ideas.

There are several steps you can take stage your home for sale, ranging from simply cleaning up clutter to adding the finishing touches that really make a house feel like a home.…

Read Full Post »

Home Buyer Tax Credit Extended for Those Already Contracted

Friday, July 23rd, 2010 at 1:10pm. 77 Views, 0 Comments.

For those who missed out on the Home Buyer Tax Credit, there is good news: the credit has once again received an extension. Enacted on July 2, the U.S. Home buyer Assistance and Improvement Act of 2010, which was largely backed by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, extends the closing deadline from June 30 to September 30 for buyers who had entered into a binding contract by the original April 30 deadline. Therefore, while it is still too late for those who didn’t get the ball rolling before the April deadline, those who had trouble with closing on the deal in time can still take advantage of the $8,000 maximum credit for first time buyers as well as the $6,500 credit for longtime homeowners who decided to purchase a new home.

In order to qualify for the…

Read Full Post »

Hudson Valley Wineries, an Upstate New York Treasure

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010 at 7:49am. 41 Views, 0 Comments.

The French Huguenots planted the first grape vines on the hillsides of the Hudson Highlands in 1677, and started the tradition of growing grapes and winemaking that continues today. Over 330 years later, the vintners and wineries of the Hudson Valley have taken measures to present this historic wine regions historic contributions to the growing and cultivating of fine grapes and the ancient art of winemaking, and to introduce the natural beauty, the outdoor recreation opportunities, historic sites, and all of the culinary treasures that goes along with everything that makes Hudson Valley real estate great.  Its communities, farms, lodging, restaurants and other contributions it makes to our lifestyle. The Hudson Valley Wine region, and the hudson valley…

Read Full Post »

Ulster County Mortgage Modification Tips On Income

Wednesday, July 14th, 2010 at 2:37pm. 40 Views, 0 Comments.

There is a backlog of hundreds of thousands of mortgage modifications and thousands more get submitted each day. Along with those applications, for thousands of honest and hard-working Americans go the best hopes of keeping their homes. So, getting the applications done right is a very important matter. Still, many...maybe even most of applicants who review their application with me before they submit it make mistakes in that section of the application. They get their own income wrong!

1. Include the correct income. Include the income from the folks signed on the loan. All other household income need only be included if you choose. Even if your spouse or partner or parents or kids contribute to the household income...just include their income if you need it…

Read Full Post »

An Overview of the VA Loan Program

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010 at 3:07pm. 48 Views, 0 Comments.

What is  VA Loan?

The VA Home Loan Guaranty Program , better known as a VA Loan, is offered through lenders and backed by the Department of Veteran Affairs. Most veterans and active military men and women can get one, and the loan can be used to purchase, build or improve a home.

Some of the most recognized benefits of the loan include no down payment, no private mortgage insurance and easier qualification standards.

Who is eligible?

• For at least 181 days during peacetime (active duty)
• For at least 90 days during war time (active duty)
• In the National Guard or Reserves for at least 6 years
• You are also eligible if your spouse died while serving in the line of duty

Read Full Post »

How to Save $Thousands$ When Buying an Ulster County Home

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 at 1:14pm. 182 Views, 0 Comments.

How to Save $Thousands$ When Buying an Ulster County Home

Most home buyers want pretty much the same thing - a house that suits their needs, and for the lowest possible price. In fact, studies have been done on this very subject, and it was discovered that most buyers who have been able to buy their dream home far below the seller's asking price, had a number of things in common.

I'd like to say it was all in the agent's cunning negotiating skills, but it was actually due to factors that occurred long before the offer was even submitted. In the article "HOMEBUYERS: How to Save Thousands When Buying an Ulster County Home," I outline in detail, the three commonalities that contributed to purchasing a home for virtually thousands of dollars below…

Read Full Post »

Who's Who in Ulster County?

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 at 1:05pm. 235 Views, 0 Comments.

Who's Who in Ulster County?

It's tough enough moving to a new place, but just wait until you need some work done - how do you know who is reliable? Even going to a restaurant can be hit-or-miss. Viewing the yellow pages or doing an internet search will give you a list, but it's up to you to decide what's good or bad.

All of the entries in the Ulster County Directory are handpicked, either from referrals, or because I know the owners personally. Simply search by subject, such as Builders and Contractors, Mortgage Professionals, or Local Attorneys. (see illustration below)

Click on each to get a list of applicable businesses, including contact information.(see below) 

This list is constantly growing, if you stumble upon a great eatery, or…

Read Full Post »