Hi - I was contacted on Friday by a very nice gentleman, who had seen my name on the Internet (thank you Active Rain), and called me to ask my advice. His father had passed on, his mom was in Assisted living, he and another sibling are the Powers of Attorney.. what to do?  I met with him today, and we discussed marking those items he/his siblings would like, moving them out or separating them, my contacting  tag sale representatives, grieving his taxes (I do that free of charge and I have been 100% successful)-  BUT with no guarantees and hey - I am free...... in short -  he was feeling so overwhelmed with the process, he wanted to be able to stand back, hand over the keys (which he did), and rely on my judgment and expertise to better aid him in preparing  the lovely home for sale, and... 01/16/2011

I just made my very first cartoon!!!!!  I had so much fun - It is entitled 'The Open House.." I hope you all enjoy it....  We have all experienced similar situations, and yet we all plod on, hoping to fully represent the sellers and sell their house.... If you want to make your own cartoon... just go to xtranormal.com... and go from there! The possibilities are endless, and the fun is priceless!       New Rochelle is GREAT!   Best, Gay 01/16/2011

  As a Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), and Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE), it is always my pleasure to answer any questions from friends, referrals or neighbors with regard to the value of their respective homes. While many accept the information I give to them with regard to current price per square foot, how similar/dissimilar their home is in comparison, and proposed selling range, there are times when a seller will consider his/her house to be perfect, and when it comes to pricing or listing that home, the process can be a tad overwhelming for them. There are also many questions that the seller might ask,  and I have tried to address some of those (indignant but very important) questions as follows - after all selling is a process -  and I want the seller to ask... 01/12/2011

It is a new year, and you have your bonus (or have been saving hard), and it is time to buy the perfect house! (Please see my post on You Have the Perfect Home - is it time to adopt the Perfect Pet?). Here are some pointers that might help you in the process and questions I have been asked by the buyers I meet!1) When you choose the agent of your choice, have an earnest, honest discussion about what you are looking for: area, size, your needs. For instance. Do you need to walk to the train? To the bus?  Do you enjoy taking care of a garden or would you rather have it taken care of for you in a townhouse complex?  Do you have guests, parties and would like that extra bedroom? Will your nan come and stay or mom and you need a bedroom on the first floor? Do you have an uncle who is a cont... 01/12/2011

I live in the same town as the recently deceased Mr. Robert Merrill, famous Tenor who used to sing at the New York Yankees home games for many years, and who unfortunately passed away in 2004. His home was recently sold in 2010 for $1,375,000  (had to get that in!). Mr. Merrill was married to Roberta Peters, another famous opera singer, and New Rochelle was proud that they called this great city home. With baseball around the corner, I have to recall a story which I thought was humorous. As a parent, and being an involved parent, I would always volunteer on behalf of my children at either the PTA, the sports teams, Meals on Wheels, etc. One year, the baseball league were organizing a Baseball breakfast, and I had the idea of inviting Mr. Merrill to come and sing the National anthem befo... 01/10/2011

All classess are free but registration is required. Pop into the library to register and for more information (2nd Floor) or call (914) 632-7878 if you would like to partake in any of the following classes: “Internet for Beginners,” “Internet para Principiantes en Espanol (3CL),” “Intermediate Internet,” “How to Download Books and Audiobooks (3FL Bliss),” “How to Design & Create your own Business Cards,” “How to scan Documents & Upload Photos,” “Fundamentals of Microsoft Word,” “How to set up and Use an Email Account,” “Como abrir usar una cuenta de correo electronico (LL),” “Computer Basics: Mouse and Keyboard Skills (LL),” “Uso del Mouse y del Teclado (LL),” “Introduction al uso de Microsoft Word (LL),” “Introduction to Microsoft Word,” “How to write a Resume,” “How to write a Cover ... 01/08/2011

While away the winter at our local Library! January 7th, 2011 With the winter upon us, it is a great time to stay close to home, and perhaps partake in the wonderful programs our local library has to offer this year. The programs are free, are only available to New Rochelle residents, and are made possible by the Friends of the New Rochelle Public Library. All sessions are on a first come, first served basis. 1) This Sunday, 1/9/11 at 3 pm - enjoy some Brazilian music with the Nanny Assis Trio featuring some of Nanny’s own compositions. Nanny is known for his Bossa Nova, Samba and Baiao music. Seating is limited with only 145 seats, and a $2 contribution is suggested. 2) Nora Maher, a professonal musician and educator will introduce songs, finger plays and movement for children aged 12... 01/08/2011

Available at our local Library... broadband@yourlibrary proudly presents.... There are such wonderful programs at the library - all for you to take advantage of….Assistance in Finding and Applying for a Job: A job readiness Coach - on a drop-in basis on Mondays from 10-1 p.m. and on Saturdays 1-4 p.m. Go to the BTOP Help Center on the Second Floor.Assistance with Completing E-Forms for food stamps and other benefits, on-line job applications, immigration papers, etc. A trained librarian is available to meet and help you also on a drop-in basis on Thursdays 6-8 p.m., and on Fridays 1-3 p.m. This is also on the second floor, BTOP Help Center.Assistance finding Social Service Resources and Benefits. A bi-lingual social worker/intern will be available on a drop-in basis on Mondays 1:30-5:3... 01/08/2011

The tax rates were increased as of 1/1/2011, and I thought I would start by mentioning what they are. We obviously must have taxes to cover the city’s costs. The sewer tax (still 2010) is 12.161, the 2010-2011 school tax rate is 633.435, the 2010 county tax rate is 127.605, the 2010 city tax rate is 175.099 and the 2010-2011 Library tax rate is 14.557. Where the tax rates vary is dependent upon where you reside in New Rochelle. For instance, if your home is in the New Rochelle sewer district then the 2010 tax rate is 25.075, Mamaroneck Sewer district is 21.880 and the Hutchinson Sewer District is 20.348.The total for each district is as follows:Hutchinson (02) 983.205 Mamaroneck (01) 984.737 and New Rochelle (00) 987.932. Last year, those rates were Hutchinson 947.357, Mamaroneck 949.4... 01/04/2011

  Every town has those special celebreties be they from the work-force, sports, stage or screen, and New Rochelle is no exception. Here are a few of the famous people who have either lived or are living in my great city: * Peter Lind Hayes and Mary Healy - They lived in a beautiful home on Mount Tom Road until the mid 1970s - and I had the pleasure of selling their former home earlier last year for $1.6M. Stars of both stage and screen, they lived in New Rochelle for over 40 years, and entertained the public for many more .* Ruby Dee and the late Ossie Davis - Both were/are long time philanthropists, actors, and there is currently a theater named after Mr. Davis at our Public Library.* Jay Leno - Yes the Jay Leno - but only for a few months and then his family moved away!* Andrea McArdl... 01/04/2011

There are so many agents out there, and if your local stats define the actual working (successful) agents as being even a small portion or so of those licensed (as in the Westchester area), you are STILL competing against those other agents when you go to a listing appointment. Are you resting on your laurels?, on your company's laurels? or you treating each listing appointment as if it were your first, and are you  delivering a written marketing plan to the sellers defining what you will be doing on their behalf? I sincerely feel that we cannot call ourselves listing agents but rather agents who market the properties... and it is the MARKETING that will sell the home - in addition to price, condition, etc.... but every home requires marketing, and that will set you apart in 2011! Remem... 01/02/2011

Are you looking for hardwood flooring for your home in New Rochelle, NY? Or, if you already have hardwood flooring, we can stain and refinish it for you. We know it can be challenging to find the right hardwood. How do you know which type of hardwood is right for you and your home? Which wood species and color will look best and last longest? Which ones work with your budget? Who should you have install the hardwood floors? Well here's where we can help. We make finding hardwood flooring simple. We "bring the store to your door." That way, you can see the samples in your own lighting - the way it will look in real life. We'll help you color coordinate with your paint and furniture colors. We'll help you find hardwoods that stand up well to pets or work well in kitchens. Just let us know... 12/30/2010

Dear Susan Sarandon: You are an excellent Oscar & award winning actress, but as a Realtor, could I possibly mention that you must have had some terrible experiences to portray a real estate agent in Wall Street 2 as a pushy, self-centered persona? From your wardrobe (loud brassy handbag, and clothing), basically confirmed in many people's minds what a real estate agent is like - when that is far from the truth! Please feel free to call me (and I can easily refer you to some people in the Active Rain network) if you would like an excellent Realtor in the Westchester (or US) area who are very professional! Yikes!!!! I just viewed the movie this past weekend, and it always amazes me that people choose to portray real estate agents in a certain way. Sylvia Myles was also in the movie, and s... 12/29/2010

Did you know that the local New Rochelle Humane Society (which services 17 neighboring towns) is offering a 50% discount on all adoption fees for those wonderful senior homeless pets or those who have been in the shelter for 4 months or more?It’s also not too late to post your beloved pet’s name in the Memory Tree which will be on display at the New Rochelle Humane Society from December 1 through January 4! With only a $5 donation, the Humane Society will write the name of your loved one (or a friend’s loved one) on a white or red ribbon and place it on the tree. Or, you can make a donation in a friend’s name and the Humane Society will send a card to the lucky recipient.The New Rochelle Humane Society receives approximately 50% of its funds through servicing the surrounding towns, and... 12/20/2010

I had to write a follow-up to this blog I had posted back in October.... It actually took 4 months in which to close on this property in New Rochelle....  the buyers blamed the bank (of course), but when one of the buyers worked for that bank, and they had a baby in between.... I do not know.. I did obtain another bid in between but the attorney thought it in our client's best interests to stay with this buyer... But enough about that.....  You have a great listing agent but let me tell you about ME...   In this past post, I had written how the agent in calling my client after the inspection (so he could return home with his mom), starting selling himself as THE best buyer's agent.... My client thought it was very funny as the agent was so blatant, and told me everything afterwards... N... 12/19/2010

When I first started in real estate in New Rochelle, we were allowed to call anyone and everyone, and were taught to regularly call our sphere of influence. Since I was always a reserved person, that was a hard but (at the time) necessary adjustment. I found that while I knew so many people in the city, most were just hard-working people, had lived in the city for over 5 generations, and as one person told me "Gay, they will have to carry me out of my house feet first, we are never moving.." I advertised in the local paper for 2 years, and my friends would joke that I was 'everywhere' but I can recall only getting one phone call as a result... I have tried buying the zip code on the MLS - nada, zip happened (other than the $2200 expenditure)...Some would say that the 'drip' program has... 12/19/2010

  I love to give at the Holidays, and made wine back in the early ’90s. My thought was to make a nice wine with less sulphites just as they do in Italy, and delved into making a cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, merlot…but it ended up being the worst wine….Oh well, I tried….It was fun stomping on the grapes, and using all of the fun equipment. Over the years, I would make raspberry liqueurs, peach wine, cherry brandy….. all given to my friends with my silly tongue-in-cheek labels. I sold a home this year at 103 Mount Tom Road in New Rochelle, and the owner and I became friends. I noticed that she would have the most wonderful displays of a cherry liqueur on her counter in wonderful jars that looked both rustic and interesting. So, I asked her for the recipe…which was simple. She hails fro... 12/17/2010

I think that nothing better describes the Holidays more than the smell of fresh gingerbread baking in the oven, and then the gingerbread houses and displays as a result of that hard work! I count myself lucky to have had some really great clients, and as a measure of my appreciation, I sometimes drop off a gingerbread house - to both surprise and hopefully delight! I think that in this season of giving, nothing is more rewarding than making something from the heart and given with love. May I take this opportunity to wish you all a wonderful Holiday season, and a bountiful and prosperous 2011.New Rochelle is GREAT! Here are some gingerbread toy shops - complete with toys on display through the windows.... and some Victorian Caroliers..... "It's the Season"    (to both buy and sell!). 12/16/2010

  I have done my share of traveling to the various colleges over the years,  and looking at the various program guides or course catalogs, and have been suitably impressed. I find myself being equally impressed with our local High School in New Rochelle. Some might comment on how large our high school is (approximately 3300 students), but because of its size, the faculty is able to offer such subjects as: 1) English 4 Honors (and of course English 2 Regents) 2) Journalism, College writing, Shakespeare, British literature 3) Mandarin (1 and 11) 4) French 5 and French AP 5) Italian, Spanish, French Honors 3, Italian Honors 5, Latin 4 Honors and Latin AP 6) Classical Greek 7) Architectural classes (4) in Design, design and drawing, computer aided residential drawing, presentation 8) AB an... 12/15/2010

Robert Cox - Diehard Blogger - WVOX Radio Show Host and Managing Editor -"Talk of the Sound" December 13th, 2010 Robert Cox is a diehard blogger…. so much so that he took on the New York Times way back when and won… having them change their policy about retracting opinions on the Op Ed page…. For the last 2 years, Robert has been the conscience of New Rochelle on his “Talk of the Sound” blogsite where he is the Managing Editor, and which only focuses on New Rochelle and what happens within. Robert will be the first person to inform you that he is seeking both positive and negative comments (“otherwise how can a city grow!’) and while some could describe him as being confrontational, he would rather mention that he is just investigating and putting forth the facts to help our city grow.... 12/14/2010