Real Estate Blog - July, 2017

Mortgage Time? So, What Exactly is PMI?

When you're shopping around for a mortgage, you’ll come across the acronym PMI. Mortgage insurance or private mortgage insurance–PMI for short, is put in place to protect the mortgage company if you should default on their loan.

Here’s the scoop:

A common rule if thumb for buying a home is to have 20% or more for a down payment. The more you can put down, the less your monthly mortgage payment. So what happens if you don’t have 20% or more set aside? You’ll most likely be forced to add PMI to your monthly payments until the total equity of the home reaches 20%. Private mortgage insurance is typically between 0.5% to 1% of the entire loan amount on an annual basis. In most cases, PMI can help you qualify for a loan that you might not…

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Places to Stay While House Hunting in The Hudson Valley

Good move. You've contacted us and are scheduled to see an array of homes in the area. But where to stay while you home shop?  Here are a few places to give you that special Hudson Valley experience.  

The Villa at Saugerties / Saugerties NY  

A truly luxurious escape, The Villa at Saugerties is a Mediterranean modern oasis located in the Hudson Valley's Catskill Mountains. Walking along the grounds you will come to love this meticulously renovated 4-bedroom retreat.  With amenities that include Egyptian cotton sheets, a 40-foot pool, a mini-vineyard, air-conditioning, wi-fi, satellite TV, multi-course breakfast and gourmet barn dinners – The Villa at Saugerties redefines what a bed and breakfast can be. 

INQUIRIES / 845.246.5440
159 Fawn…

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Woodstock NY Charming Farmhouse with 2 Studios for Sale

Beautiful farmhouse for sale in Woodstock, NY. Only minutes to Tinker Street, this remarkable Woodstock compound was one of the earliest buildings settled in this area. With two studio buildings on nearly 3 acres that are framed in with stone walls and woods, you will love being home! 

2013-2019 Glasco Turnpike, Woodstock NY / $629K - See Full Listing HERE

Enter the home through a screened in porch, perfect for dining in warm weather and convenient to both outdoor barbecue and kitchen. The eat-in kitchen faces the morning sun, and a pantry keeps everything in its place including a washer and dryer.

The living room has a custom, hand-carved fireplace, original wood beams, and ample built-in bookshelves lining the walls.  

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Looking to Buy Your First Home? NY First Home Initiative Could Make It Easier

You've got lots to juggle between family, home, and work. Here's some good news! Saving to purchase a first home in New York could soon get way easier if Governor Andrew Cuomo signs a bill on his desk into law. Modeled after the state’s 529 college education savings program, the NY First Home initiative would enable New York individuals and couples to set up a NY-tax-free savings accounts and deposit up to $5,000 ($10,000 for couples) per year.

The amount you deposit would count as a state income tax deduction. The only requirement is that you apply the savings and any interest earned towards the purchase or construction of a first home in New York State. The bill was backed by the NY State Association of Realtors (of which we’re a proud…

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The Real Deal with the Extraordinary Visions of Antony Gibbon

THE NOOK / Inspired by elements of the Teepee Structure, The Nook is a rustic Cabin alternative 

You can’t help but stop whatever you’re doing when you witness the work of Antony Gibbon. His love of design and passion for biomimicry converge to create the most astonishing designs. (Biomimicry is an approach to innovation that seeks sustainable solutions to human challenges by emulating nature's time-tested patterns and strategies.) Antony's extraordinary vision touches product design, interiors, structures, and architecture. I stumbled upon his work online and hope to one day see one of his structures in person. We're honored to have one one in the Hudson Valley!  For this post, we're focusing on Antony's treehouse structures. Before we…

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Land Grab! Part 2: Living on 5 Acres in a Stunning, Contemporary RV

This is part two of our Land Grab series where we think outside the box to help you find the home of your dreams. Let's say you aren't falling in love with any of the homes that are on the market. We'd like to propose buying land in your favorite Hudson Valley town, like this one in Pine Bush, NY.

You can add a temporary home until you choose to build out your full size abode. But, with tiny houses being so popular you may very well enjoy living in a small home for your weekend getaway - especially if you consider the price. Here we have over 5 acres for $75,000 and a mid-century inspired contemporary ESCAPE RV that starts at $109K. You are almost there for less than $200K! And there is always the option to build out a full-size home down the…

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Land Grab! Part 1: Building Your Dream Home in Stages

There you go again - wistfully daydreaming of your future home. You're ready to buy, but after weeks of looking for that perfect combo of location, price, and style – you begin to wonder if your dream will ever come true. Consider this: How about buying a beautiful parcel of land and building something to suit your style?  Or, how about a less expensive, temporary solution like securing the land and adding a tiny house, a yurt, or even a mobile home.  Explore our three-part series for some creative ideas on how to get the home of your dreams. 

Here we have a great property in Saugerties NY. With over 19 acres you can add a prefab home like this gorgeous Lindal model - the Cascade 2493. 

19 Acres in Saugerties NY / See Full Listing HERE /…

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