Niagara Falls is full of wonderful restaurants to select from: Top of the Falls Restaurant offers some of the best views of the falls, and is situated on Goat Island. (716) 278-0340. There is always the Como Restaurant – 2220 Pine Avenue Niagara Falls NY 14301 (716) 285-9341 Michael’s Restaurant & Pizzeria - 3011 Pine Ave., Niagara Falls, NY 14301 (716) 282-4043 Burgundy’s - 7001 Buffalo Ave., Niagara Falls, NY 14304 (716) 283-7612 Café Etc. - 466 Third Street, Niagara Falls, NY 14301 (716) 285-0801 Shadow Restaurant - 441 Third Street, Niagara Falls, NY 14301 (716) 205-0808 Fortuna’s Restaurant - 827 19th Street, Niagara Falls, NY 14301 (716) 282-2252 India Palace - 26 Niagara Street, Niagara Falls, NY 14303 (716) 285-7479 J.T. Wheatfield’s - 6935 Ward Road, Niagara Falls, NY 14304 (71... 04/27/2008

Niagara Falls will benefit from the upcoming rally for Harley-Davidson motorcycle owners which could pump more than $3 million into the local economy of the City of Niagara Falls and the surrounding area this summer.The organizers are expecting as many of 4,500 people at the 20th anniversary rally July 10-12.  1,000 HOG members have pre-registered for the rally.  Nothing comes in for less than $100 when buying Harley-Davidson products. It's expensive. You get a different class of rider. The rally is a strictly HOG-member only event and is not intended to involve the "outlaw" element that is often acquainted with biker crowd. It is interesting to note that the average Harley-Davidson owner in America today is over 40 and earning in excess of $70,000 per year.The event will start at Senec... 04/24/2008

 What to do with Niagara Falls NY? For years, this area has seen a steady flow of people that leave, and we watch as Ontario continues to develop and profit from our inaction. Do we as a community continue to stand by or do we take some action? Niagara Falls is the number 2 tourist destination in all of Canada. And Niagara Falls NY falls exactly where in the US priorities? Anyone else in the United States see a problem?Read also: Most Popular Attractions in the USAOk, so the drinking age won't change for obvious reason.   These ideas are just a start. Interested in helping Niagara Falls change for the better? Why not attend the next meeting of the Niagara Rises group and see how you can be part of the positive change in Niagara Falls.  The next meeting is:April 29th at the Days Inn Niag... 04/22/2008

Be the Banker! Yes, you read that title right… Why not be the Banker instead of the landlord here in Buffalo NY? For years we have been taught that owning rental property is the way to go. But what if you were the banker? All the profits and none of the headaches. Investing in mortgages in Buffalo is certainly not a new thing. Our team has studied hard to create a product and bring it to the Western New York market in such a way that the normal every day working person can participate and profit. Using our product, investment mortgages are not just for the big guys any more.   Buffalo Investors There is another way… It was our desire that a product be brought to the market that would offer the working person a chance to make better than average returns, with some sort of safety net as b... 04/04/2008

  Thanks Brian Brady for the introduction to Twitter....Read Also:  What is Twitter?I attended the first Buffalo Tweetup yesterday.   It was fun, and ActiveRain member get togethers are not the only one that find people taking tons of great pictures and friendships strengthened.  There were videos and podcasts.  I meet several great people and learned a few things while I was there.   Several ActiveRain members have already written about Twitter here, but I thought you might want to know about Twitter secrets:Twitter Blocks -- see the relationships between people and find new people.   My Twitter block is:  http://explore.twitter.com/blocks/#propertydiva which I found Missy Caulk at http://explore.twitter.com/blocks/#missycaulk and then you get the idea how you can find others...http://... 03/29/2008

Buyer Assistance Programs in Western New York There are times that potential home owners need assistance in purchasing a home in Western New York. But where does one start to look for that assistance? Here is a resource list of programs available to Western New Yorkers  Foreign Investors may have to shift focus My good friend in Florida, David A. Podgursky, writes a lot about Foreign Nationals and financing of Real Estate purchases. Due to the dwindling availability of loan products and lenders for Foreign Nationals to purchase real estate WNY, many Foreign National Real Estate Buyers in the US are having to change their focus... both in property and investment type.  Buffalo Service Day - Volunteer Opportunity March 29, 2008 Just found this and thought it would be an excellent thing to... 03/28/2008

Niagara Falls has a wide selection of Investment properties for sale.   Here is the current market report for the City of Niagara Falls including DeVeaux and LaSalle: As of today, there are 103 active listings and 15 pending/under contract listings in the City of Niagara Falls with an average list price of $50,139.  The highest list priced multi-family unit (2-4 units) is listed for $159,000 the lowest list price is $5,900.Since January 1, 2008 there has been a total of 15 closed multi-family units with an average sale price of $31,026 spending an average of 86 days on the Market (DOM).  Highest sold multi-family sold for $55,000 (283 DOM) and lowest sold multi-family sold for $6,000. There is great interest in investment properties in Western New York and Niagara Falls not only from lo... 03/25/2008

There are times that potential home owners need assistance in purchasing a home in Western New York. But where does one start to look for that assistance? Here is a resource list of programs available to Western New Yorkers. Know about a program that is not listed here? Please let me know so I can add it!Down Payment Assistance and Mortgage Assistance Programs:HART - Allows you to buy a home with no money down.Nehemiah - Buy with no money down when combined with an FHA loan.Neighborhood Gold - Allows to buy a home with no money down.Bad Credit Loans - These types of mortgages are for individuals with: Bankruptcy in the last 2 years, Foreclosure in the last 3 years, Low credit scores below 620Highland Community Revitalization Committee, Inc. in Niagara Falls.  Contact their Director, Wil... 03/25/2008

Checklist to prepare your home for sale!Are you thinking of selling your home? Here are a few things that you can do before your home is listed to get it ready to shine in this highly competitive market. It is best to get these items completed before your home is seen by potential buyers. It also sets the stage for the photography of your home for all your advertising. It also has the you getting in the habit of having your home always ready for a showing.Read Also: How not to get caught off guard for a showingBad Real Estate PhotosGet Rid of the Clutter!Have a garage sale, donate a bunch of stuff to Goodwill and put anything unnecessary into storageCounters clear, refrigerator art gallery removed and make sure that all lights are workingIf you think it should be removed - REMOVE IT! Le... 03/25/2008

City of Niagara Falls Single Family Homes Market Report March 2008The City of Niagara Falls has pockets of development happening, businesses are coming back and the tourism industry is once again taking pride in Niagara Falls.   The following is the Market Conditions for Single Family Homes as of March 19, 2008 in all communities of the City of Niagara Falls including DeVeaux and LaSalle.There are currently 161 Active Listings, and 11 pending listings ranging in asking price from $7,900 to $329,900 with an average list price of $60,412 In the past 30 days there has been 17 closed sales with an average sold price of $50,595 (High $95,000 Low $12,500) Year to Day Closed Sales in the city of Niagara Falls has totaled 46 closed sales with an average sold price of $47,476 (High $95,000 Low $... 03/21/2008

Buyer Assistance Programs in Western New York There are times that potential home owners need assistance in purchasing a home in Western New York. But where does one start to look for that assistance? Here is a resource list of programs available to Western New Yorkers Join me on March 26 for a Historic Walking Tour of Niagara Falls On Wednesday March 26, 2008 I will be guiding a tour of Historic Downtown Niagara Falls with the group Niagara Rises and invite you to join us as we explore some of the rich architectural history of the homes in Downtown Niagara Falls. What is a Real Estate Appraisal? To protect the interest of their investors, the buyer's mortgage lender hires a licensed appraiser to give an independent, objective opinion of what the property is worth. The appraiser compare... 03/21/2008

If you are interested in joining us for this walk, here is the information about the tour:March 26, 20089:00 am - 10:30 amMeet at 1st Presbyterian Church311 Rainbow Blvd. | Niagara Falls NY Remember to wear comfortable walking shoes as we will be walking through Downtown Niagara Falls.  In case of rain, alternate date, will be Friday March 28th, same time and place.Are you interested in becoming part of the Historic Walking Tour Committee?  Do you have information regarding the many historic homes in Niagara Falls?   Then join the next meeting of Niagara Rises date and time of next meeting will be posted on their website.  If you are interested in learning more about Niagara Falls History, the Friends of the Local History Department are holding an open house at the Niagara Falls Public ... 03/19/2008

DeVeaux Single Family Homes For Sale Market Report March 13, 2008Let's start by looking at last year's number for January 1 - March 31, 2007:# Closed Sales in DeVeaux Section of Niagara Falls: 15Average Days on Market for Sold: 85DeVeaux Average Sold Price: $ 83,235.00DeVeaux Highest Sold Price: $ 190,000.00DeVeaux Lowest Sold Price: $ 29,999.00Let's look at the total of 2007 Homes for Sale in DeVeaux:Closed Sales: 49 with an Average Days on Market: 83DeVeaux Average Home Sold Price was $ 80,909.00Highest Sold Price: $ 190,000.00 and the Lowest Sold Price: $ 20,000.00Now let's look at what is happening in DeVeaux Section of Niagara Falls today March 13, 2008:# of Closed Sales in DeVeaux since January 1, 2008: 0# of currently pending sales in DeVeaux: 0# of Active DeVeaux Listings: 20 (i... 03/14/2008

  Mary Poppins Showing Advice   Having your WNY home for sale it can be tough, and keeping it in showing condition can be overwhelming.  Some of the best advice I can give you comes from Mary Poppins, keep it up as you go along.   And if you have a showing of your WNY home, hum this Julie Andrews classic while you prepare for the showing.  It might just relieve some of the stress as you get ready.  How can you not smile singing “A Spoonful of Sugar”? Quick Showing Checklist before you leave your home for a showing: Freshen the bathroom and put the toilet seat down and close the shower curtain Turn on soft music through the house light a single sented candle in the home Make sure all the window shades and curtains are open All lights are on Beds made, rooms tidy All dishes put away, coun... 03/09/2008

Buffalo Home Show Now through March 9th at the Convention Center  Currently at the Convention Center is the Buffalo Home Show, running through March 9th.  Exhibitors include:Kitchens & Baths Landscaping Lighting Outdoor Living Remodeling Windows & Doors Appliances Builders Decks & Patios Flooring Home Furnishings & Accessories Interior Design  Special Appearances by:Meet HGTV's Lee SnijdersMeet ‘The Fixie Chick' Brenna Hartmann! Meet ‘Metro Hippie' Josh Foss  Show Dates & Hours:Saturday,March110:00 am-9:00 pmSunday,March210:00 am-6:00 pmMonday,March35:00 pm-9:00 pmTuesday,March45:00 pm-9:00 pmWednesday,March55:00 pm-9:00 pmThursday,March65:00 pm-9:00 pmFriday,March710:00 am-9:00 pmSaturday,March810:00 am-9:00 pmSunday,March910:00 am-6:00 pmAdmission:Adults $9 Children 6-12 $5 Under 5 Fr... 03/07/2008

  Spring is heading our way!   Saturday it is time to Spring Ahead!   Time to change your smoke dectector's battery!  And it is time to start looking at those seed catalogs for our spring gardens!   Yes it might be snowing outside today, but it will pass...Do You have the Credit Score Blues? The video is a bit cheeky, but it explains in very basic details how your credit score will affect your ability to purchase with credit. Your credit score can range from 300 to 900. Basically your credit score is determined by a formula that is calculated that is proprietary information and owned by Fair Isaac. It takes into consideration many factors to make up your score. Excellent reasons to not purchase a Home We always talk about about what a great time it is to purchase a home in WNY, but ther... 03/07/2008

DeFranco Real Estate Corp has been busy.  We are happy to announce in February we have two homes that went under contract and we gained 3 new listing!   And we are exciting about the month of March!  Here is a brief recap of some of the articles we presented this month: You need to have a REAL person, who knows the market in an area give you a true value of the home. Before you go checking your home on Zillow, remember their Zestimates are ESTIMATES. They don't have all the data that Realtors and Appraisers have. In Niagara Falls, they don't know that in order to build the courthouse that several homes are no longer, or the area by the Casino is more valuable because of the projects in the works. They don't know what is happening in Buffalo, like the potential for eminent domain by the ... 02/29/2008

Colleen came to me with a complete set of powerful questions when we discussed her joining my team.  For those of you considering a change or unhappy where you are, here are a set of questions that you should ask every prospective Broker that you may interview with beyond the commission split:Does your company have an Agent Policy Manual? (If they answer "I keep meaning to do that" is not a good answer, NO is even worse!)May I speak to some of your agents? (No -- Red Flag, Yes, be wary of their motivations -- the ones that they tell you to speak with)What training do you offer, are there costs associated?May I have an attorney review the contact I will sign with you firm?What are your (Broker) requirements of an agent?I have a question - who do I go to? (If they lay out a clear policy a... 02/29/2008

WNY News Sources  Thursday, November 1st, 2007 AM Radio StationsRadio Wyre (local media discussion board)WBEN RadioWGR Sports Radio 55WHLD Radio - AMWelcome to WRUBFM Radio StationsKiss 98.5 - Home PageWBFO, Your NPR StationWBNY 91.3fm - Local Music Show - Buffalo, NYWEDG 103.3 The Edge - Buffalo, NYWGRF 96.9FM Buffalo, N.Y. 97RockWHTT Oldies 104WYRK-FM - Buffalo's #1 Station for Country MusicTelevision StationsWGRZ-TV Buffalo,NYWIVB-TV Buffalo,NYWKBW-TV \Your HomeTown AdvantageWestern New York Public BroadcastingWelcome to FOX 29, WUTV, BuffaloWelcome to WB49 - WNYO-TV - Buffalo, NYPrint Media & OtherBuffalo NewsNiagara GazetteBusiness First of BuffaloAmherst BeeGriffin Online (Canisius College)Evening Observer - Dunkirk, N.Y.Post Home PagePolish American Journalhttp://www.buffalo.edu/... 02/29/2008

Why is it so hard to find a good Property Manager in Western New York? The truth be told Property Management is not as easy as some may think.  It takes an incredible amount of dedication and experience to do it well.  It also requires New York State Licensing to work as a Property Manager in New York.   There are a lot of people out there that say they are a Property Manager, but ask them for their license, and you find that they don't have one.   Too often we run into Property Managers that are lazy and take the easy way.  Well folks those are two roads that lead to nowhere fast!In this business it is important to know what you are good at and what you should refer out.   Over the last several weeks several of our clients have found that they are in need of a Property Manager.  We wan... 02/29/2008