Michael's Blog

As if the budget deficit isn't enough, Westchester County is asking Yonkers residents to fork over an additional 23.6% in tax dollars. The increase can be attributed to the Westchester 2008 Budget and a spike in property values. Westchester County is a pretty complex county when it comes to calculating home values. Since each municipality has its own unique way of calculating values, the county has implemented a unique formula, a.k.a. the state equalization rate. Maybe I am a bit naive, but Yonkers has one of the lowest Median Household Incomes (As of 1999, and I understand its a city), how could this be?...

Yonkers, Peekskill, and White Plains round out the top 3 in tax increases for Westchester County.

Comments and Suggestions are always welcomed...

MICHAEL A. BROWN - REALTOR® WESTCHESTER COUNTY & THE BRONX

The Yonkers Budget is due the middle of next month and its not looking too good. New York State is facing a $5 billion budget deficit, America is singing recession, and I spend more money on gas than food. Insane!!

The City of Yonkers could become a city in jeopardy if it doesn't get any help from the state, home owners, President Bush, Yonkers Raceway, or for God's sake, anywhere! LOL. My biggest concern is the school district budget which predicts a short fall of $22 million and more than 400 layoffs. Also Insane!! The city plans to throw its weight around using its teacher's union, the fourth-largest in the state, to lobby on its behalf...

Is the casino adding any revenue to the city? What about all of the new construction projects? Help...

Comments and suggesttions are always welcome...

MICHAEL BROWN - REALTOR® WESTCHESTER COUNTY NEW YORK

What has been a normal practice by foreclosure bail out investors is becoming more popular in today's everyday transactions...

SHORT SALES!

A short sale is an option often used to escape foreclosure and happens when a seller is selling his/her property for less than owed. The sale has to be approved by the lender and the outstanding debt will be forgiven by the lender. It is a process that takes longer than a normal transaction and involves some patience.

There was an article this Sunday in the NY Times, see link: The Virtues of Short Sales

The key I found to these types of transactions are constant communication w/lender, organization and timely response from your seller when documents are requested.

As usual, comments and suggestions are always welcomed...

www.RealtorMichaelBrown.com

I think the NY Times read my last blog  (check it out here)...

"The Metro-North station has been restored to its 1911 Beaux Arts self; its reputation as a locus for prostitution and drug dealing is now a memory.

Leading out to the water, a Victorian-era pier - less than a decade ago a site where homeless people gathered - is a New York Water Taxi embarkation point for Wall Street. It is also home to a glass-enclosed 260-seat restaurant overlooking the Palisades and other Hudson River marvels"

To read more from the NY Times article featuring the development in Downtown Yonkers, see link below:

Living In Yonkers:  The Waterfront District

Picture Slide Show of the Waterfront in Yonkers

 The opening sentence describes the progress very well "LIKE a caterpillar undergoing a metamorphosis, the down-and-out industrial waterfront of Yonkers is shedding its old skin." One of my concerns which was also shared by local Realtor/trustee of the Yonkers Historical Society/member of the City Council's Green Policy Task Force, Nortrud Wolf Spero, "upscale is nice but an area should retain its diversity".

Links to other Yonkers Sites:

The City of Yonkers Official Site

Historic River Towns - Yonkers

Facts and Demographics - Yonkers

Comments and questions are always welcome.  To visit my website and to search for properties in Westchester County:

Michael Brown Property Search Site

I love the City of Yonkers! As the 4 largest city in New York State (by population as of 2005) it has so much to offer. It has loads of businesses, industrial entities, shopping and entertainment. It is also one of the closest cities in Westchester County to NYC.

On Feb. 26th, 2008 Mayor Amicone hosted a public forum on downtown development in Yonkers which I regretably missed, outlining the future of Yonkers. Featured were the  plans for a state-of-the-art ballpark at chicken island and the opening of Saw Mill River.

Downtown Yonkers is amazing, it has really come a long way. Awesome new restaurants, shops, metro north station uplift and tons of great waterfront coops/condos and homes. Blocks that have been known for late night summer hang outs are ghost towns at dusk. I still wonder why it hasn't taken off like the White Plains developments. Is there still a stigma?