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Buying a Home – Our Team will Help!

Houlihan & O'Malley Real Estate

So you’ve found the perfect home. Now what?

MAKE AN OFFER

First you will want to make an offer.  But an offer is more than just saying how much you want to pay for the house.  Your offer should include these four things:

  1. The price you are willing to pay
  2. Your preferred closing date
  3. How you will finance the purchase along with either a proof of funds (paying cash or a mortgage pre-approval, if financing)
  4. The contingencies of your offer (including inspections and mortgage approval)

COUNTER OFFERS

Once you’ve made your offer, you will most likely be met with a counter offer.  If, after successive counter offers, you and the seller reach an agreement on price and terms, it is called an “accepted offer.” This is a non-binding agreement that you will want to put into writing (i.e. signed contract) as soon as possible.  The seller’s attorney will then send your attorney the contract of sale and once both parties have signed, you have a fully-executed Contract of Sale.

SECURE YOUR FINANCING

Once you have a signed contract, you will need to formally apply for the mortgage. Your lender will order an appraisal of the property where your Realtor will meet the appraiser at the property and supply the appraiser with appropriate comparable sales.  When the loan is fully underwritten, your lender will provide you with a Mortgage Commitment letter.

CLOSE THE DEAL

After the contract is executed, you will need to do a title search to make sure there are no outstanding claims against the title of the property as well as obtain a homeowner’s insurance policy. Before the closing, you will have one last chance to walk through the property to make sure everything is the way it was when you made your offer.  At the actual closing, you will sign all the required paper work and pay all closing costs, legal fees, property adjustments, and transfer taxes. Then you’ll receive a copy of all the documents and finally, be given the keys to your new home.

If you or someone you know is deciding to buy a home, contact us today and take advantage of all the knowledge, experience, and professionalism Houlihan & O’Malley offers.

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New Real Estate Listings and New Real Estate Closings!

Bronxville Real Estate

Houlihan & O’Malley added 3 new listings waiting for the perfect buyer in the month of February:

5 Midland Gardens Unit #2-i, Bronxville, NY COOP- this fully renovated one bedroom in Midland Gardens, listed for $299,000, offers a great Manhattan alternative and is walkable to everything: Metro North, Soul Cycle, Starbucks, the Movie theater, restaurants, Pure Barre, and the Bronx River Parkway bike/run trail.

23 Chittenden, Tuckahoe, NY – this charming and wonderfully laid out 3-bedroom, 1.5 bath side hall colonial is listed for $459,000. Nestled in an ideal Crestwood location, the house is an easy walk to Metro North, shopping, and around the corner from Crestwood’s own storybook public library.

2 Wellyn Road, Bronxville, NY – this incredible 4-bedroom, 2.5 bath house listed at $1,095,000 has it all: living room with a fireplace, formal dining room, expansive kitchen, a family room with patio access, a mudroom in the back, master suite with luxe bathroom and large closets, and a great basement level rec room. Expanded and completely remodeled in 2005; the good life will be yours when you move in.

We also had 3 new contracts:

1200 Midland Avenue Unit 10F, Bronxville, NY COOP– Amazingly spacious Junior 4 layout in sought after Bronxville Knolls Tower; asking price of $189,000. This west facing home provides remarkable sunsets and the central location gives easy access to all major highways, the Metro North station at Fleetwood, as well as the Bee Line bus service to Manhattan.

5 Brooklands Unit #3K, Bronxville, NY COOP– This spacious and light-filled 3-bedroom, 2 bath unit is located on the top floor of a classic pre-war building; asking price of $364,000. The less than five-minute walk to Bronxville Village and the Metro North Station makes it a sought-after complex.

109 North Road, Eastchester, NY – beautiful 4-bedroom, 3 bath Bronxville Manor home on a large corner lot; asking price of $940,000. Includes modern eat in kitchen, formal living room with fireplace and an additional 1000 sq. feet in newly finished walk-out basement.

If you are ready to buy your dream home or sell your current home, contact the team at Houlihan & O’Malley and let’s get started!

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New Year, New Real Estate Closings! Here’s what happened in January…

Real Estate Closing

We are excited to have begun 2018 with 5  real estate closings in January.

  • 42 Pondfield Road West, 5F, Bronxville PO/Yonkers, NY-this recently updated one bedroom co-op sold for $165,000. Located right near the Bronxville Metro North Station, Bronx River bike/jogging path, shops, movies, restaurants, Starbucks and Soul Cycle!

  • 14 Leewood Circle. Unit #7R, Eastchester, NY-this delightful, roomy 2 bedroom unit sold for $269,000. Great location, only .6 miles from the Metro North Crestwood train station and very close to the Hutch, Cross County and Bronx River Parkways.

  • 94 Waverly Avenue, Eastchester, NY-beautiful, 4 bedroom, 2 bath 1931 English Tudor home sold for $725,000. Set back on a large corner lot in desirable Bronxville Manor.

  • 180 Bronxville Road, Bronxville PO/Yonkers, NY-this lovely center hall colonial in perfect condition sold for $665,000. Just a 10 minute walk to the Bronxville Metro North station and all that Bronxville has to offer.

  • 198 Hollywood Avenue, Tuckahoe, NY-Picture perfect Crestwood Colonial located on one of the most desirable blocks in Crestwood sold for $609,000. Easy walk to local schools, parks, shopping and to the Crestwood Metro North station.

We are looking forward to another great year helping you with all your real estate needs.  If you are ready to buy your dream home or sell your current home, contact the team at Houlihan & O’Malley and let’s get started!

 

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Why consider moving to the Bronxville area?

Bronxville, NY

Picturesque and pristine, Bronxville, NY is one of the country’s best places to live with beautiful green spaces, excellent restaurants, great shopping, and fun community events.

Check out our list of great things to do in the area:

PARKS

Get some fresh air at Bronxville’s over 70 acres of parkland.  Go for a walk or a bike ride at the scenic Bronx River Parkway. Take horseback riding lessons at Twin Lakes Farms or enjoy the butterfly garden and bird sanctuary at The Nature Preserve.

DOWNTOWN

Explore quaint downtown lined with local boutiques, eateries, a bookstore, and movie theater. Wanting an adventure outside Bronxville? Walk to the Metro-North train station at its convenient downtown location.

RESTAURANTS

An absolutely amazing array of restaurants and food options are available in the village.  Enjoy lunch on the outdoor patio at Scalini Osteria, have a nice dinner at Sammy’s Downtown Bistro & Bar, or meet up for a drink at Bistro 143.

SUMMER CONCERT SERIES

Bring a blanket and chairs and enjoy family fun, live music, and dancing under the stars every Wednesday night during the summer months.  Presented by the Bronxville Chamber of Commerce.

Not only is Bronxville a beautiful place to live with great outdoor recreation but it also boasts excellent schools and a great community to raise a family, making Bronxville real estate a desirable investment.

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Thinking of Selling Your Home?

Westchester County Real Estate

There are several things to think about when selling your home.  Our team of expert real estate agents can help you with making important decisions and making the process run smoothly for you.  Here are a few items we can help with.

  • What is a realistic asking price that the current market will support?
  • How should you market your home to maximize exposure to buyers?
  • How should you stage your house for showings?
  • What current market changes could affect your property’s sale?
  • How to pre-qualify potential buyers.
  • Keep you promptly informed of feedback from all showings and open houses.
  • Promptly present and offer advice on all offers.
  • Negotiate on your behalf to get the highest possible price and best terms for you.
  • Manage all of the contract paperwork, title and transaction details with your appointed attorney.

Houlihan & O’Malley is committed to all of our clients’ successful real estate transactions.  We give every client our complete attention to detail and help them make smart decisions.  We have a proven track record of success in selling and buying homes and would be glad to help you!

For more advice on selling your home, please visit our Sellers Guide, or call us 914.337.7888.

To view some of our recent sales , please visit –  https://www.houlihanomalley.com/recently-solds/

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Houlihan & O’Malley Close out 2017 with a Great December!

Bronxville

We enjoyed a great December to close out the year.  Our team had 5 closings.

298 Crestwood Avenue – we rented this beautiful 3 bedroom/1.5 bathroom home in the Crestwood section of Yonkers for $3600/month. Its close proximity to Metro North and only a 30 minute ride to Grand Central makes it a very convenient location.

298 Crestwood, Tuckahoe, NY

 

294 Bronxville Road, #6H, Bronxville PO – great co-op apartment sold for $310,000. 2 bedroom/1 bathroom, close to park and railroad

198 Hollywood Avenue – charming single family home in Crestwood sold for $609,000. 3 bedroom/1.5 bathroom home with large living room, fireplace and updated kitchen is close to railroad, park and school.

198 Hollywood Ave, Tuckahoe, NY

 

10 Old Mamaroneck Road, #7L, White Plains – we sold this co-op apartment for $290,000. Features included all new floors and kitchen, residents only fitness area and a doorman.

 

188 Chittenden Avenue, Crestwood – Beautiful 3 bedroom/3.5 bathroom Tudor home sold for $580,000. This single family home also has a full basement and is close to park, school and railroad.

188 Chittenden Ave, Tuckahoe

We also listed a new single family rental-69 Rossmore Avenue, Bronxville PO/Yonkers, just steps away from the center of the Village.

 

 

And found the buyer for 356 Pondfield Road in Bronxville; currently in contract.

We are all excited for a great 2018 and are here to help you with all your real estate needs!  Contact the team at Houlihan & O’Malley if you are ready to buy your dream home or sell your current home.

 

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Top Real Estate Tips for Finding Your Perfect Home in Bronxville

Bronxville, NY

Are you thinking of buying a piece of property in the Bronxville area soon? If so, use these tips to help make the process as easy as possible for you.

  1. Make a written list of what it is you want in your home. This will help you with your search and help your agent show you relevant properties.
  2. Make sure you can afford the home. Many people get excited by the prospect of owning, but they do not factor in other costs, such as taxes and utilities. You need to know the true costs of buying.  And now you have to be sure of the effect of the new tax law.
  3. Check out the neighborhood. While anyone can talk about how great a neighborhood is in an online listing, you will want to visit the location to see for yourself. Is it convenient? Is it safe? What can you walk to?
  4. Get pre-approved for a loan, this shows sellers that you are a serious buyer and will help when you make an offer and will strengthen your position in the negotiation.
  5. Work with a quality agent who truly knows and understands the Bronxville area.
  6. Don’t get frustrated if it takes you longer than you thought to find the perfect property.  When looking, it takes time to find the right place to call home.

At Houlihan & O’Malley, all of our Real Estate Agents are very knowledgeable of the Bronxville area and surrounding neighborhoods.  Each of our clients’ receive the highest level of professional and personal service.  We will help you find the right home at the right price and help you close in a timely and efficient manner.

For more information on our company or to contact us, visit www.houlihanomalley.com or call 914.337.7888.  Also, feel free to drop in to our office!

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What happened at Houlihan & O’Malley in November?

November was a busy month! Our industrious agents got five properties into contract:

12 Stokes Road 2A – we found the buyer for this co-op in the Bryn Mawr Ridge complex in Yonkers right across Central Avenue from the Will Library and the City tennis courts.

42 Pondfield Road West 5F – a one bedroom co-op in the Bronxville PO area of Yonkers. The asking price was $175,000.

192 Crestwood Avenue – a house in the Crestwood section of Yonkers. It was our listing and came on the market on Oct 30 with an asking price of $639,000. We had multiple bids and were in contract at more than the asking price in three weeks and we found the buyer too!

 

180 Bronxville Road in the Bronxville PO area of Yonkers, a single family house that went into contract with an asking price of $679,00 after 2 months on the market.

 

94 Waverly Avenue in Eastchester – a single family house went into contract with an asking price of $739,000 after several price reductions and eight months on the market.

 

During November we closed on our listing at 451 Odell Avenue in Yonkers. The house had a listing price of $439,000 but we had several offers right away and the property closed for $460,000!

 

Our listing at 57 Manhattan Avenue in the Crestwood section of Yonkers, a single family house closed at $584,000 after six months on the market and two price reductions.

 

We had a new listing in November which is a remarkable house in the Waccabuc section of the town of Lewisboro. The house is new construction so the buyer will be able to select some of the finishes. The asking price is $1,350,000. Although the house is not lake front, it has stunning views of Lake Waccabuc.

Although it was a busy month, we still had plenty of time for family, friends and turkey!

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REALTORS Conference & Expo, ‘The Sky’s the Limit’

Houlihan Realtors

Joe Houlihan recently attended the REALTORS Conference & Expo held in Chicago November 3-6, 2017.  Here is his take away of the experience.

So I’d like to mention a few highlights about my trip to Chicago for the NAR (National Association of Realtors) Conference

Over 20,000 REALTORS from all over the world convened at the huge convention center at McCormick Place.  The center is amazing and the NAR convention only took up one portion of it.  Needless to say, did lots of walking to all the courses, exhibits & entertainment.  Hundreds of one to two hour classes and panels were offered on a wide range of topics including REALTOR safety, floor plan technology, lending innovations, REALTOR training techniques and many, many more.

Over 400 vendors participated in the REALTOR Expo.  Some ‘booths’ were actually elaborate mini theaters where new products and technologies were demonstrated.  All of them had something to offer to REALTORS who want to expand their businesses.

Five agents received REALTOR Magazine’s ‘2017 Good Neighbor Award.’  Each winner demonstrated how one person can make a difference in the lives of others through volunteer work. Each winner’s charity received a $10,000 grant.  REALTORS to be proud of.

I personally met Sal Giunta former United States Army soldier and the first living person since the Vietnam War to receive the U.S. military’s highest decoration for valor, the ‘Medal of Honor’.  He was awarded this prestigious award for his actions on October 25, 2007 in Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley.  He fearlessly advanced on the enemy and provided aid to his fallen comrades. His actions saved the lives of multiple paratroopers and changed the course of the battle. He is a humble & impressive young man. Sal talked about his family and what it meant to be part of the team of soldiers that were his comrades.

Houlihan Realtors

Twenty-three time Gold Medalist Michael Phelps was the key note ‘speaker’ who actually did a sit down with incoming 2018 NAR President Elizabeth Mendenhall.   Their conversation shed light on what it takes to be the winner that he is. His is an amazing story with lots of ups and many downs.

Celebrity entertainment was John Fogarty, known for his many ballads including ‘Bad Moon Rising’ & ‘Fortunate Son’; he still sounds good.

Overall, it was a great conference and expo.  I ran into some people I knew and made some new friends.  But, most of all, I learned a lot.

I definitely plan on attending next year’s conference & expo in Boston, MA.

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Third Quarter Sales Report

Westchester County

2016 was a record for the number of transactions in Westchester County.  Both the 1st and 2nd quarters of 2017 exceeded the respective numbers in 2016.  The 2017 3rd quarter level of transactions dropped slightly from the 2016 numbers indicating that 2017 will not surpass last year’s volume.  2017 will finish strongly with a level of activity that will be a minimum of 5,700 sales.

Westchester County Real Estate

Bronxville

The 3rd quarter ended with 42 year to date sales of single family homes in Bronxville Village.  This is exactly the number of sales achieved for calendar year 2016.  There are currently 10 additional properties under contract indicating that 2017 volume will exceed both 2015 and 2016.

Bronxville PO/ Yonkers

48 single family homes changed hands through the 3rd quarter in this section of Yonkers representing strong activity that we have seen for the past few years.  It appears that 2017 total activity will be greater than the previous two years but will fail to reach the record setting 2014 numbers.

Tuckahoe PO/ Yonkers – Crestwood

This portion of Yonkers remains sought after for its unique character and affordability.  2017 will exceed 2016 but is hampered by a lack of inventory that we see in certain markets in Southern Westchester.

Tuckahoe Real Estate

Eastchester

This market remains strong and is one of those that suffer from a lack of inventory.  This year’s activity will exceed both 2015 and 2016 sales but will not reach the record setting volume achieved in 2014.

Eastchester Real Estate

Tuckahoe

2017 will be the fifth year in a row that will achieve volume of 45-47 homes.  This amazingly consistent result is indicative of a strong market with excellent appeal to a wide range of buyers.

For more information to if your interested in buying or selling contact us.