Please join me in Welcoming Mark Aakjar - Home Inspector for Westchester County NY. Mark Aakjar is a wonderful Inspector.  He really knows his stuff, and he is objective and balanced.  The realtors in Westchester county love working with him and recommend him to their clients and other realtors in the office.  He is extremely entreprenurial and just a lot of fun to be around. For all of these reasons, he is rapidly growing and coming close to being the #1 home inspector for Westchester County. He just wrote his first blog post here on Active Rain.  Please take a moment to welcome him to the Active Rain Family. 05/03/2011

 Hiring a qualified home inspector in Westchester NY is key in you or your clients' home buying purchase. Here are some common questions to ask when looking for a Home Inspector:   1. Is this your full time career? Lots of people over look this key question.  Many inspectors are not full time inspectors; in fact, most of the inspectors licensed in your area are part time or seasonal inspectors.   2. What type of insurance do you carry? Buying a home is stressful enough without having to worry about if your inspector were to mess up if you will be covered. E&O errors and omissions insurance is a great way to cover yourself and the home buyer 3. What type of report do you generate? Many inspectors are not very technically savvy and use word based reports or check list. Be sure to know wha... 05/03/2011

Two follow up pieces of news on topics I have blogged on recently:  Ossining voters have overwhelmingly rejected the $69,000,000 bond proposal for the expansion and renovation of the school buildings. I wrote a piece voicing my own opposition to the proposal, and evidently, other school district voters agreed with me by a 57%-43% margin. Over 2000 voted no, a little over 1500 voted in favor.  On April 8 I wrote a post supporting the closure of Sing Sing Prison in favor of more suitable use of the land. The news that local politicians were asking Governor Cuomo to close the place was the impetus for the piece. Unfortunately, the Journal News ran a story today on why that closure isn't likely. I can't say that I am shocked.  Sing Sing has been there forever in my life, so I can live with ... 04/10/2011

Wednesday's Journal News has a front page story on Ossining politicians urging Andrew Cuomo to close Sing Sing Prison. As a native of Ossining who worked a block away in a neighborhood market for years while in school, the idea gets my attention. Would closing Sing Sing make sense? Would it benefit Ossining?  It is an intriguing thought. Sing Sing has been there since the early 1800's. It employs 824 people. It is a piece of history. But it is also a product of a bygone era when putting prisons, landfills and nuclear power plants on prive riverfront real estate wasn't viewed as a bad idea. And when Sing Sing was built, it was considered to be in a distant and sparsly populated area. It is now in the middle of the village of Ossining.  Ossining loses $500,000 in taxes because of the exem... 04/08/2011

This is the market report for single family homes sold in the Ossining school district for the first quarter of 2011. All information is sourced fom the Empire Access Multiple Listing Service.  In the first quarter of 2011, there were 28 closings with a median sale price of $369,500.  In the first quarter of 2010, there were 44 closings with a median sale price of $442,000.  These are significant differences. I stopped doing monthly market reports because 30 day spans in these small communities had results all over the place. Quarterly reports had more statistical significance. Therefore, the decline in the number of closings and the lower price is not an anomoly.  23 homes are currently under contract at a median asking price of $449,500. This bodes better in terms of prices, but with ... 04/02/2011

The Sing Sing Gated Community... Our Residents Just Can't Leave!  If you're like me and you love waterfront property, privacy, terrific security and and homeowners association that doesn't admit just anybody, the Sing Sing Gated Community might just be for you.  Nestled on the banks of the scenic Hudson River in downtown Ossining, New York-my hometown- the Sing Sing gated community occupies 130 acres of prime riverfront real estate just a stone's throw from the Metro-North train station. A mere 30 miles from Grand Central, Sing Sing is "up the river" as they say from Gotham, a short ride on the Metro North Hudson line. Of course, it takes more than a train ride to get in.   Sing Sing is one of the oldest gated communities in New York (and the USA) and was actually built by the original ... 03/31/2011

Nestled on a quiet street corner of the Campwoods neighborhood in Ossining is an old school, kid friendly cafe with an old fashioned counter, and wallet friendly prices. I just spent of of the nicer afternoons with Catherine, and the highlight was our time at the Wobble Cafe. Catherine had a strawberry smoothie and PB and J and Dad enjoyed his chocolate shake & BLT. I loved the atmosphere- the old fashioned cash register, the counter with a jar of rock candy, and the play area in back with the toys and couch. These places are rare.  The menu is more than peanut butter and jelly- they serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, with an enticing, yummy bistro styled selection and according to their website the chef studied under Emeril! Not bad!  Wobble Cafe is located at 21 Campwoods Road in Ossi... 03/29/2011

$295,000 will get you a solid 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath colonial in the village. The one we just closed on yesterday was built in the 1980s at the end of a dead end street in the Sparta neighborhood, walking distance from the Arcadian Shoping Center and the Jug Tavern. It boasted a finished walkout basement with sliding doors to a patio, a 2-car garage, gorgeous landscaping, a formal dining room, hardwood floors, central vaccum, and plenty of closet space.  We wish the new homeowners luck in their new home, and we wish our seller client Evelyn much happiness in her new life now that the home is sold and closed. We'll remain in touch.  If you'd like to find yourself a nice home like this one in Ossining or the surrounding area, get yourself a free Listingbook account and search the MLS databas... 03/11/2011

Are you looking for laminate flooring for your home in Ossining NY? We know it can be challenging to figure out which flooring is right for your space and whether a laminate floor is right for you. Which wood species and color will look best? Which ones work with your budget? Who should you have install the laminate floors? What is a floating floor? Well here's where we can help. We make finding laminate 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 explain what a floating floor is and, we'll help you figure out whether laminate flooring makes sense for you and your budget. If you want, we can even show you hardwood... 03/06/2011

Tonight, the Ossining school board will vote on putting a $69,000,000 bond for school expansions and renovations up for referendum.  $69,000,000.00. The issue the district is facing is how to house the growing population of students they serve, which is a good thing. The solution, to spend almost $70 million, strikes me as not such a good thing. A few hundred extra students should not cost $70 million. Not too long ago, the high school was renovated extensively when the baby boom addition was found to have structural problems. The building was expanded later as well. Park school has had a recent addition. Presumably, all of the schools have been responsibly maintained. The superintendent of schools has characterized the initiative as "counterintuitive." I love the salesmanship. But the ... 02/09/2011

The story of the "Leatherman" is a beloved piece of local history. I first learned of the Leatherman when I was in the Boy Scouts, probably around age 12 or 13.  In the late 1800's, a peculiar traveling drifter appeared in Westchester and Western Connecticut clothed completely in a suit of leather. He made the same trip every 34 days in a 360 mile loop that included towns in Westchester, Putnam and western Connecticut. He seldom spoke, never slept indoors, and was by and large a friendly mystery.  And they say that people could set their clocks by his arrival in their town. People would give him food and some assistance, but he spoke little and had a background that is by and large unknown to us even today. He just traveled his path, roughly 10 miles a day, and slept in caves and shelte... 01/30/2011

When my parents moved up to Ossining from Yonkers in 1957, they missed St Theresa’s, less than a mile away in Briarcliff, and somehow found St Ann's. There, they met Monsignor Marino, who said that yes, they lived in the parish. And for 40 years, as my brothers and I attended St Ann school, my mother was active in the Parents Guild (she was the one who changed the name from the "mother's guild," liberated woman that she was) & choir while my father was a lector. My dad always laughed that the pastor was glad they never made that left turn that day.  The baby boom prompted the parish to start a school in about 1960, and my oldest brother was in St Ann's first graduating class of 1965. I graduated in 1981, and by my time arrived the school was suffering from the tough times of that perio... 01/29/2011

Are you looking for carpeting for your home in Ossining NY? Whether you're looking for carpeting for your bedroom, living room, family room or basement or even the whole house, we know it can be challenging to find the right carpet. How do you know which type of carpet is best for each setting? Which is right for your home and your budget? Which types are better for steps and high traffic areas? Which colors work best? Which ones last longer and which hide or repel dirt the best? Who should you have install your carpet? There's really a lot to consider and sometimes it gets overwhelming and more confusing when you go to a store. Well here's where we can help. We make finding carpeting simple. We "bring the store to your door." That way, you can see the samples in your own lighting - the... 01/25/2011

The 2011 Intel Science Semifinalists have been announced, and 18 students from Westchester County qualified. Of the 18, eight were from Ossining High school. This ties Ossining with the renowned Bronx High School for Science as the school with the most qualified students. In all, only 300 students nationwide are chosen as semifinalists, and a mere 40 go on to be finalists.  A few years ago, Ossining sent 4 seniors to Harvard, an number that astounded people across Westchester.  Local semifinalists also hailed from Yorktown, White Plains, Mamaroneck, Scarsdale, Byram Hills, Edgemont, Horace Greeley and Riverdale Country school.  A hearty congratulations to all, and a big hat tip to the students and faculty at Ossining High School. You should be proud of your accomplishment!  01/13/2011

Merry Christmas from New York.  One of the things I love about where I live is a Christmas Eve tradition in my old neighborhood where the people line the streets with candles. It is a sight to behold in person, and even though it was late on a Christmas Eve, you can see other cars driving through in the video to see the lights for themselves. I always loved this as a child, and I was jazzed to show it to Catherine, my 6 year old daughter, for the first time tonight. We live in the adjacent neighborhood now.  I have blogged about this "Indian Village" neighborhood tradition before, but this is the first time I ever posted a video of the lights.  12/24/2010

  This market report is for single family home activity in the Ossining school district for October of 2010. All information is derived from the Empire Access (formerly Westchester-Putnam) Multiple Listing Service.  Ossining is a bouncing ball. Last month the median price was $535,000. November's median was less than $370,000. The true picture is somewhere in the middle; November was just down. November of 2009 was far stronger, but with 30 pending sales at a median asking price well into the 400's, December will ensure that Ossining finishes the year on a high note.    136 active listings is down a touch, but December this time of year is typically a low ebb for inventory.  A down month, but plenty of evidence that it isn't down for long.   Previous postings on Ossining.   You can sear... 12/03/2010

The time around Thanksgiving and Christmas is typically when the inventory is often at its lowest level in general, as people tend to get more into the holidays. Homes buying often resumes after the holidays, and there is a phrase that says that spring begins January 2nd in real estate. This past July, Ossining had 146 active single family home listings available on the MLS. One week short of December, Ossining now has 144 active and available listings for sale. Inventory has not gone down, indicating that buyers continue to have excellent choices in the so called "off season" and probably a more motivated pool of sellers as well. People who love Ossining are attracted to the river views, close proximity to Teatown, Maryknoll, good shopping, beautiful homes, lovely downtown, and of cour... 11/24/2010

  This market report is for single family home activity in the Ossining school district for October of 2010. All information is derived from the Empire Access (formerly Westchester-Putnam) Multiple Listing Service.  After a poor September, Ossining rebounded nicely with 11 closed sales at a swollen median price of $535,000. Volume was actually down from October 2009, however, so it appears that the place is accustomed to strong Octobers.   While not as robust as the prvious October transaction-total-wise, 27 pending sales are very healthy (up from 22 last month), and the available inventory of 144 homes offers prospective home buyers lots of choice.  Overall a very solid month given the economy.  Previous postings on Ossining.   You can search for a home in Ossining by getting yourself ... 11/03/2010

Ossining has always had its share of problems through the years, and among them, since I was young, was always the blighted downtown area. The story goes that Ossining always had a vibrant, prosperous downtown until the early 1960's, when Arcadian Gardens shopping center was opened on the south side of the village, and all the commerce abandoned Main Street. By the time I was a kid in the 1970's Main Street was a crumbling mess. Village governments came and went, but no one ever seemed to be able to bring sustainable development. In the late 70's federal money underwrote a large urban renewal project, which gave many of the old buildings a facelift and needed restoration, but it brought no real change beyond the cosmetic.  The Ossining Post office was moved in the 90's from South Highla... 10/30/2010

Ossining NY Hardwood Flooring - We make it simple. Choosing hardwood flooring for your home in Ossining NY may seem like a daunting task.  How do you know what type of hardwood or what color?  How do you find a flooring contractor you can trust?  Where do you even start? Well that's where we come in.  At Floor Coverings International, we make the process simple.  We "bring the store to your door."  Seeing the samples in you own lighting is important, and finding a color that works with your paint and furniture is important - you just can't get that in a store.  So, that's why we come to you. We provide guidance on the right type of flooring and help you pick the colors.  We provide you with a comprehensive list of references (over 30) and you can check out our Angies List reviews to see... 10/28/2010