I must admit I looked forward to writing this blog all day. After a class yesterday at the Greater Syracuse Association of Realtors on Fair Housing, an agent who doesn't usually sell in our market told me she had sold a home in Skaneateles. While it wasn't marked contingent yet, she urged me to tell others that things are selling again. While the statistics so far don't show it, we are getting somewhere.
There are currently 122 active single family listings in the Skaneateles area of the multiple listing service. Five of these are new this week, although four of those are actually re-lists with adjusted prices and a change of agent in some cases. There are no new contingent homes however I know of at least three that are waiting for sign-offs before being marked as such. Fourteen homes are pended, just waiting to close.
We still have only 3 closed properties, year-to date. Last year by this time there were 8; the year before there were 9. Am I worried? Not in the least! With what is still unpublished as sold, and the pending ones soon to close, we will be fine and on our way to the 80 - 85 homes I predicted would be closed at the beginning of the year.
One of my valued readers contributed the link to the article praising Syracuse as one of the 25 strongest markets in the United States. The easy way to find it is to go to http://www.forbes.com/ and type in "strong real estate cities." A list of articles will pop up and you can have your choice. Thank you, valued reader, for finding it for me!
I noticed today coming back from lunch in Syracuse that on Genesee Street there are at least three rental signs. Over the weekend I looked into rentals and was surprised to find there are currently 18 listed. Last year 36 were leased, which I find an amazing number. I never would have guessed. I know I did a booming business in rentals, both in Skaneateles and elsewhere, but I thought I might be the exception. Apparently not. People are renting instead of buying.
Once the stimulus plan is known, and if it contains a magical 4% guaranteed rate for mortgage loans, I see it all changing. I told someone today that might be in the offing, and she said she'd go buy something in Florida at that price. Will it apply to second homes - I have no idea. But simply knowing what it will be will make everyone feel more confident in their purchases.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
Sad Days
I opened the Post-Standard today to Jeff Kramer's column only to find a beautiful photo of Nate, his mongrel sometime columnist, a 70 pound companion. Nate had passed on in late January, and Kramer was reporting on his life and times.
I only knew Nate through the columns he wrote and a mutual friend, Lucy, an Old English sheepdog with whom he roamed the parks and byways of Central New York. But he reminded me of everyone's dogs who make life so much better. And since this comes on the heels of another friend's cat's unexpected passing, I wanted to devote a bit of time to what our animals bring us.
In the same e-mail batch that announced the white kitty's end on this earth Intrepid Janet wrote to tell me they had adopted another cat, oddly enough a white cat. For those of you who don't have animals, you may not understand the devotion people feel to their animals and this blog won't make sense.
Kramer's introduction to Syracuse was aided and abetted by Nate. Just as my mother climbed the hills of Thornden Park for 56 years with various dogs, so did Kramer. The city is uniquely suited for dogs and dog-walkers. If you go out in the early morning you will see them. It's as regular as night meets day, or the old Cheers refrain "Where everybody knows your name." Kramer became part of the city because of Nate. A huge man, some thought he was a strange one to be out there, but Nate gave him an introduction. And the parks became the meeting grounds, the dogs the raison d'etre.
My mother had to give up the park when she moved in with us, but we gave her her own private park on our acreage. She had a bench in the glade, and afternoons would find her walking with her rollator slowly, ever so slowly, with Koko following behind, to her bench to read or sit in the sun. Hermes, the white Himalayan, would join them once they got settled.
My mother is gone with Hermes and now Nate, but for all the other pets - Zoie, Luke, Chloe, Red and Ginger, Guinness, Lily, Cody, Tanner and our Boo and Oscar (who has taken over Hermes' spot on the computer desk) - we need to let them know how much we appreciate them. Koko, curled up at my feet now, will be 16 this summer. I'll give her an extra (soft) goody today in honor of Nate. Patience Brewster has a lovely card entitled "In Good Company." It's a picture of a dog with a halo looking upwards.
So when the Post-Standard announces that they are raising their prices substantially, I just think how much would be lost if it went out of print. I had time today at the breakfast table to grieve for Kramer and Nate, just as other days I've had time to laugh with them. Read the column online, www.syracuse.com, if you can't get the paper today. And thanks, Kramer, for letting us get to know Nate.
I only knew Nate through the columns he wrote and a mutual friend, Lucy, an Old English sheepdog with whom he roamed the parks and byways of Central New York. But he reminded me of everyone's dogs who make life so much better. And since this comes on the heels of another friend's cat's unexpected passing, I wanted to devote a bit of time to what our animals bring us.
In the same e-mail batch that announced the white kitty's end on this earth Intrepid Janet wrote to tell me they had adopted another cat, oddly enough a white cat. For those of you who don't have animals, you may not understand the devotion people feel to their animals and this blog won't make sense.
Kramer's introduction to Syracuse was aided and abetted by Nate. Just as my mother climbed the hills of Thornden Park for 56 years with various dogs, so did Kramer. The city is uniquely suited for dogs and dog-walkers. If you go out in the early morning you will see them. It's as regular as night meets day, or the old Cheers refrain "Where everybody knows your name." Kramer became part of the city because of Nate. A huge man, some thought he was a strange one to be out there, but Nate gave him an introduction. And the parks became the meeting grounds, the dogs the raison d'etre.
My mother had to give up the park when she moved in with us, but we gave her her own private park on our acreage. She had a bench in the glade, and afternoons would find her walking with her rollator slowly, ever so slowly, with Koko following behind, to her bench to read or sit in the sun. Hermes, the white Himalayan, would join them once they got settled.
My mother is gone with Hermes and now Nate, but for all the other pets - Zoie, Luke, Chloe, Red and Ginger, Guinness, Lily, Cody, Tanner and our Boo and Oscar (who has taken over Hermes' spot on the computer desk) - we need to let them know how much we appreciate them. Koko, curled up at my feet now, will be 16 this summer. I'll give her an extra (soft) goody today in honor of Nate. Patience Brewster has a lovely card entitled "In Good Company." It's a picture of a dog with a halo looking upwards.
So when the Post-Standard announces that they are raising their prices substantially, I just think how much would be lost if it went out of print. I had time today at the breakfast table to grieve for Kramer and Nate, just as other days I've had time to laugh with them. Read the column online, www.syracuse.com, if you can't get the paper today. And thanks, Kramer, for letting us get to know Nate.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Creativity in Upstate New York
There's a vague reference here to real estate, so please bear with me. I just need to send these three people's accomplishments out there so you can appreciate them, too.
Mike Quigley has a new book out: Childhood Without a Helmet: Stump City Two. His first book was a recollection of his earlychildhood in Stump City, an area in Skaneateles Falls located behind the current WelchAllyn facility. One of seven brothers and sisters, they scraped together a life of childhood dreams and stellar personalities. When my clients bought an incredible home in Stump City last year, I became even more enamored of Mike's writing. Their home is in the book - guess what they got for a closing present!
And now there's a new one - with the kids older and more irascible (or at least some of them). Great reading by the fire - it's our history, too.
If you'd like to hear Mike speak, he will be at Creekside on Thursday, March 5th at 7:00 PM. Go to http://www.creeksidebooks.com/ for updated information as the time gets closer. Or to buy the book, too!
One of our administrators at RE/MAX Masters shared with us a video her son, Michael Chapman, had made. We stood here in the office watching and listening and feeling again everything we had felt during the Inauguration. Please take a moment to see and hear this. The creator is a junior in college. Just click the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlVsAgMD7qo
Another wonderful aspect of life in upstate New York is the opportunity to meet again people who grew up here. I had a good friend through high school and college years, lost track of him ten years ago, and he re-surfaced out of the blue this past summer. His sister called me recently and I was able to tell her how much I had enjoyed her work which I'd seen in art galleries. She told me about her website - http://www.customcloth.com/ - and I invite you to enjoy it also. She will be have a new installation at the Delavan Gallery in Syracuse in March which I will pass along as the time gets closer.
One does not live by bread alone!
Mike Quigley has a new book out: Childhood Without a Helmet: Stump City Two. His first book was a recollection of his earlychildhood in Stump City, an area in Skaneateles Falls located behind the current WelchAllyn facility. One of seven brothers and sisters, they scraped together a life of childhood dreams and stellar personalities. When my clients bought an incredible home in Stump City last year, I became even more enamored of Mike's writing. Their home is in the book - guess what they got for a closing present!
And now there's a new one - with the kids older and more irascible (or at least some of them). Great reading by the fire - it's our history, too.
If you'd like to hear Mike speak, he will be at Creekside on Thursday, March 5th at 7:00 PM. Go to http://www.creeksidebooks.com/ for updated information as the time gets closer. Or to buy the book, too!
One of our administrators at RE/MAX Masters shared with us a video her son, Michael Chapman, had made. We stood here in the office watching and listening and feeling again everything we had felt during the Inauguration. Please take a moment to see and hear this. The creator is a junior in college. Just click the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlVsAgMD7qo
Another wonderful aspect of life in upstate New York is the opportunity to meet again people who grew up here. I had a good friend through high school and college years, lost track of him ten years ago, and he re-surfaced out of the blue this past summer. His sister called me recently and I was able to tell her how much I had enjoyed her work which I'd seen in art galleries. She told me about her website - http://www.customcloth.com/ - and I invite you to enjoy it also. She will be have a new installation at the Delavan Gallery in Syracuse in March which I will pass along as the time gets closer.
One does not live by bread alone!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Skaneateles Real Estate - The Weekly Update
Seems we have hit a bit of stasis, but now that the Super Bowl is over, the snow turning to ice, and Billings, Montana posting 56 degree weather today which is certain to head our way in the next week - things will change.
There are currently 117 active listings, the same as last week. Three new ones came on but they are all re-lists. All three dropped their prices, ranging from a high of almost 25% from the original list price to a mere 5%. Two are under $200,000 and the third is waterfront/lake rights over $500,000. No property is immune from price reductions, it seems.
There are 6 properties marked contingent, two of which are new. Both are village homes in the $350,000 - $500,000 range. One was listed for a year and dropped the price 10% and the other must have had the right price (I know it had the right location) because it sold in a week. It will be interesting to see what the actual sale prices are; generally the quicker the sale, the closer to the list price.
Eleven properties are pended. As I "turn the pages" I see every one with startling green grass!
We now have 3 closed single family homes in 2009. The new one sold for almost 30% under the original list price, almost 20 months after it was first listed. For some reason the under $300,000 homes seem to be taking the bigger hit in price reductions. I can only surmise that it's because the buyers are less likely to be in a position to take a chance. They are more dependent on jobs and have fewer assets. If anyone else has a competing theory please chime in!
I thought it would be interesting to break down the number of active listings this week and see what actually was out there. I saw a long list of "Calemad" new homes for sale, the road in the subdivision just outside the county line but in Skaneateles Schools. There are altogether 33 active homes I would call new construction - built between 2006 and 2009. Waterfront homes - both on the water and lake rights - come in at 40. That leaves village and town existing houses at 44. I'll keep an eye on these divisions, each about a third of the total active listings as the months go by. My guess: waterfront sales will outdistance existing homes and leave new construction far behind. Anyone else have a differing viewpoint? But again, a lot of it is in the pricing!
There are currently 117 active listings, the same as last week. Three new ones came on but they are all re-lists. All three dropped their prices, ranging from a high of almost 25% from the original list price to a mere 5%. Two are under $200,000 and the third is waterfront/lake rights over $500,000. No property is immune from price reductions, it seems.
There are 6 properties marked contingent, two of which are new. Both are village homes in the $350,000 - $500,000 range. One was listed for a year and dropped the price 10% and the other must have had the right price (I know it had the right location) because it sold in a week. It will be interesting to see what the actual sale prices are; generally the quicker the sale, the closer to the list price.
Eleven properties are pended. As I "turn the pages" I see every one with startling green grass!
We now have 3 closed single family homes in 2009. The new one sold for almost 30% under the original list price, almost 20 months after it was first listed. For some reason the under $300,000 homes seem to be taking the bigger hit in price reductions. I can only surmise that it's because the buyers are less likely to be in a position to take a chance. They are more dependent on jobs and have fewer assets. If anyone else has a competing theory please chime in!
I thought it would be interesting to break down the number of active listings this week and see what actually was out there. I saw a long list of "Calemad" new homes for sale, the road in the subdivision just outside the county line but in Skaneateles Schools. There are altogether 33 active homes I would call new construction - built between 2006 and 2009. Waterfront homes - both on the water and lake rights - come in at 40. That leaves village and town existing houses at 44. I'll keep an eye on these divisions, each about a third of the total active listings as the months go by. My guess: waterfront sales will outdistance existing homes and leave new construction far behind. Anyone else have a differing viewpoint? But again, a lot of it is in the pricing!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Skaneateles Real Estate - The Weekly Update
There's not a lot on paper going on, but I can assure you homes are selling! I had a brokers' open today at my lovely Highland Ave home (open Saturday, 12:00 to 2:00 during Winterfest) and everyone was talking about what's selling and what great homes are for sale.
There are currently 117 active listings in the Skaneateles area. This does not include those listings in the Skaneateles School District that the agents, for whatever reason, have listed solely in surrounding towns like Spafford and Sennett. One new listing came on this week: new construction in Butters Farm for the amazing low price of under $400,000. Not large, but a ranch. Interesting.
One home officially has been marked contingent this week, a new listing that came on since the first of the year and was scooped up by a lucky buyer who apparently beat out other offers. Another that was never marked contingent went immediately to pending. Both are in the higher range (above $400,000).
Not a single home closed, leaving us with only two closed properties this year. I checked last year for the same period: 4. The year before: 7. Thinking I was on to something I went back another year: 2. Oh well. But that intrigued me - what kind of years did the numbers suggest? It turns out that Skaneateles closed consistently around the same number of homes: 2007 (103), 2006 (107), 2005 (110). Of course last year was an anomaly - only 66 closed.
So with the number of sales unpublished as yet and the ones I know about, I think we will have a decent year again. It will be interesting to follow and see how we get to the 100 mark. Home sales were up nationally 6.5% last month and because of the low mortgage rates they are expected to continue. Good news for our economy! And for Skaneateles!
There are currently 117 active listings in the Skaneateles area. This does not include those listings in the Skaneateles School District that the agents, for whatever reason, have listed solely in surrounding towns like Spafford and Sennett. One new listing came on this week: new construction in Butters Farm for the amazing low price of under $400,000. Not large, but a ranch. Interesting.
One home officially has been marked contingent this week, a new listing that came on since the first of the year and was scooped up by a lucky buyer who apparently beat out other offers. Another that was never marked contingent went immediately to pending. Both are in the higher range (above $400,000).
Not a single home closed, leaving us with only two closed properties this year. I checked last year for the same period: 4. The year before: 7. Thinking I was on to something I went back another year: 2. Oh well. But that intrigued me - what kind of years did the numbers suggest? It turns out that Skaneateles closed consistently around the same number of homes: 2007 (103), 2006 (107), 2005 (110). Of course last year was an anomaly - only 66 closed.
So with the number of sales unpublished as yet and the ones I know about, I think we will have a decent year again. It will be interesting to follow and see how we get to the 100 mark. Home sales were up nationally 6.5% last month and because of the low mortgage rates they are expected to continue. Good news for our economy! And for Skaneateles!
Monday, January 26, 2009
How to Sell a House - Part Four - The Visit
Now the Realtor arrives! You've done your best, the house is immaculate, and you have set aside a couple hours without the TV and minimal distractions to speak with a professional. This is an important moment - to go forth and sell or back off and think some more. But if you've done what I suggested up to this point then you will more than likely continue the process.
I can only speak for myself about this part. I know some Realtors come in with the list of what they've sold, tell you what to do and sign you up on the spot. They tell you the price your house will sell for and for the life of me I don't know how they do that. It always seems odd to me that anyone can know, but many Realtors say they do. Not getting that price 99% of the time doesn't seem to faze them.
If you've decided that I am The One, I will tour the house, make suggestions minimally (because after all, you probably have done it already) and listen to your suggestions. If you are willing to get rid of the old refrigerator and buy a new one I will agree. Who wouldn't? When it comes to granite and new bathrooms, numbers must be checked to see if it's worthwhile. Often the time it takes to do a construction job, no matter how worthy, might mean the sale. Waiting until the snow flies is not a good option. But no one sees into the future - all you know are the present conditions.
After touring I will sit with the homeowners and go over the paperwork. I want everyone to know what is being contracted for here. No guarantees, but I promise to do what I say I will. Often there's a timelime - brokers open, public open house, ads in the Journal and the Post-Standard (Sunday and Thursday), post cards to my past, present and future clients and referral agents. Since the RE/MAX office is in Skaneateles we have window displays and a booklet offered to people passing by (especially on Fridays when Doug's has a line out the door!)
The contracts I write are usually for six months, longer if it's land. I say that if my services are not what you want you can withdraw - then I hold myself accountable to make sure I provide excellent service. I can't guarantee a house will sell - I wish I could!
I also offer a home inspection for listings. I think it's important to know if there's anything major that needs correcting now. Repairs always balloon in price in negotiations. Last fall we learned that a roof needed replacing. One potential buyer estimated $15,000, but we were prepared and showed her a $7,000 estimate that the roofer guaranteed for three months. And the best part is if an inspection comes back with only minor adjustments needed. Buyers then feel safe in buying. (Of course the option is always there for them to get their own inspection, and some do. But we then have talking points.)
Part of the paperwork is a sellers' property disclosure which asks wonderful questions like "What is the amperage?" "Are these public or private poles?" "How often do you pump your septic system?" "Is anything buried on your property?" New York State has deemed these three pages, legal size, are necessary. If you do not complete them the buyer receives a $500 credit at closing. Downstate sellers are more often told by their attorneys not to complete them; upstate everyone generally does. The fourth page is additional information - the meat, as it were: "How old is the furnace?" "How much do you pay in utilities?" "What improvements have you made in the past five years?"
The latter is what you, the seller, uses to justify pricing. Homes have increased in value - but how much? Just because you paid $180,000 five years ago does not mean that your home is automatically worth 5% more. Show why it is, what you did..... But here's the rub! Even if you put in $20,000 worth of improvements, that does not automatically mean you will get it back in the sales price. The best thing you can do is list what you did and let the market tell you if it's enough. But list everything!
At the end of the two hours I leave with a plan in hand of how to sell the house. It's not always smooth - in fact, it rarely is, especially in these times. I want my listings to sell in the first month and if it goes beyond that I get impatient, as do most sellers. But we must work together to bring about the sale. By the way - now is an EXCELLENT time to buy!
I can only speak for myself about this part. I know some Realtors come in with the list of what they've sold, tell you what to do and sign you up on the spot. They tell you the price your house will sell for and for the life of me I don't know how they do that. It always seems odd to me that anyone can know, but many Realtors say they do. Not getting that price 99% of the time doesn't seem to faze them.
If you've decided that I am The One, I will tour the house, make suggestions minimally (because after all, you probably have done it already) and listen to your suggestions. If you are willing to get rid of the old refrigerator and buy a new one I will agree. Who wouldn't? When it comes to granite and new bathrooms, numbers must be checked to see if it's worthwhile. Often the time it takes to do a construction job, no matter how worthy, might mean the sale. Waiting until the snow flies is not a good option. But no one sees into the future - all you know are the present conditions.
After touring I will sit with the homeowners and go over the paperwork. I want everyone to know what is being contracted for here. No guarantees, but I promise to do what I say I will. Often there's a timelime - brokers open, public open house, ads in the Journal and the Post-Standard (Sunday and Thursday), post cards to my past, present and future clients and referral agents. Since the RE/MAX office is in Skaneateles we have window displays and a booklet offered to people passing by (especially on Fridays when Doug's has a line out the door!)
The contracts I write are usually for six months, longer if it's land. I say that if my services are not what you want you can withdraw - then I hold myself accountable to make sure I provide excellent service. I can't guarantee a house will sell - I wish I could!
I also offer a home inspection for listings. I think it's important to know if there's anything major that needs correcting now. Repairs always balloon in price in negotiations. Last fall we learned that a roof needed replacing. One potential buyer estimated $15,000, but we were prepared and showed her a $7,000 estimate that the roofer guaranteed for three months. And the best part is if an inspection comes back with only minor adjustments needed. Buyers then feel safe in buying. (Of course the option is always there for them to get their own inspection, and some do. But we then have talking points.)
Part of the paperwork is a sellers' property disclosure which asks wonderful questions like "What is the amperage?" "Are these public or private poles?" "How often do you pump your septic system?" "Is anything buried on your property?" New York State has deemed these three pages, legal size, are necessary. If you do not complete them the buyer receives a $500 credit at closing. Downstate sellers are more often told by their attorneys not to complete them; upstate everyone generally does. The fourth page is additional information - the meat, as it were: "How old is the furnace?" "How much do you pay in utilities?" "What improvements have you made in the past five years?"
The latter is what you, the seller, uses to justify pricing. Homes have increased in value - but how much? Just because you paid $180,000 five years ago does not mean that your home is automatically worth 5% more. Show why it is, what you did..... But here's the rub! Even if you put in $20,000 worth of improvements, that does not automatically mean you will get it back in the sales price. The best thing you can do is list what you did and let the market tell you if it's enough. But list everything!
At the end of the two hours I leave with a plan in hand of how to sell the house. It's not always smooth - in fact, it rarely is, especially in these times. I want my listings to sell in the first month and if it goes beyond that I get impatient, as do most sellers. But we must work together to bring about the sale. By the way - now is an EXCELLENT time to buy!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Skaneateles Real Estate - The Weekly Update
All right - so I'm late a day....there was this historic inauguration and I stayed glued to the TV... then wrote an offer, took a listing...little things like that....but I apologize!
There are currently 121 active listings in the Skaneateles area of the multiple listing service. An amazing 10 of them are new this week - well, 8 are brand new, 2 are re-lists. A further breakdown shows three in the village and the rest in the town, with one of these in the Marcellus School District. If you come from outside upstate New York you might be surprised to see this overlap, but it exists everywhere. You could be in Cayuga County, Skaneateles Schools, Town of Sennett and have an Auburn (or Skaneateles) phone exchange.
There were no new sales in either the contingent or pending areas, but thankfully my lovely 11 Onondaga is now officially pended because the commitment came through to everyone. I can say with good conviction that the sellers and buyers and agents involved are thrilled!
We have one new closing and it's a village home that has seen much coming and going. It closed for under the price of its sale not too long ago and almost $30,000 under its assessed value. We now have two closings, year-to-date, but if my level of activity is any indication we will have more and soon.
So - if one of those 121 active homes doesn't appeal to you there are also three multi-families, two in the village and one just outside on the market. It's a great way to buy a home and let someone else help you with the mortgage. Prices range from $200,000 to $300,000.
There are also fifteen condos out there in various stages of construction. You can be on the water for 1.4M or overlooking it for half that price. It's a good way to visit in the summer and have someone else take care of it in the winter. Unless you want to be here and go ice-fishing (shanties are on the lake), ski locally, or skate in Clinton Square in downtown Syracuse under the Christmas Tree.
But if you want to build your dream house you have 89 lots to choose from. Think of that number - a few years ago it was hard to find buildable land. One of the new construction listings today came on at $342,000 for one of those lots. A full four bedrooms, 2.5 baths and two acres, included in the price! Competition is getting stiff!
I hear from everyone that there is movement at last. I know the appraisers are busy - but is it refinancing with these great low, low rates (4.3%!) or new purchases?
There are currently 121 active listings in the Skaneateles area of the multiple listing service. An amazing 10 of them are new this week - well, 8 are brand new, 2 are re-lists. A further breakdown shows three in the village and the rest in the town, with one of these in the Marcellus School District. If you come from outside upstate New York you might be surprised to see this overlap, but it exists everywhere. You could be in Cayuga County, Skaneateles Schools, Town of Sennett and have an Auburn (or Skaneateles) phone exchange.
There were no new sales in either the contingent or pending areas, but thankfully my lovely 11 Onondaga is now officially pended because the commitment came through to everyone. I can say with good conviction that the sellers and buyers and agents involved are thrilled!
We have one new closing and it's a village home that has seen much coming and going. It closed for under the price of its sale not too long ago and almost $30,000 under its assessed value. We now have two closings, year-to-date, but if my level of activity is any indication we will have more and soon.
So - if one of those 121 active homes doesn't appeal to you there are also three multi-families, two in the village and one just outside on the market. It's a great way to buy a home and let someone else help you with the mortgage. Prices range from $200,000 to $300,000.
There are also fifteen condos out there in various stages of construction. You can be on the water for 1.4M or overlooking it for half that price. It's a good way to visit in the summer and have someone else take care of it in the winter. Unless you want to be here and go ice-fishing (shanties are on the lake), ski locally, or skate in Clinton Square in downtown Syracuse under the Christmas Tree.
But if you want to build your dream house you have 89 lots to choose from. Think of that number - a few years ago it was hard to find buildable land. One of the new construction listings today came on at $342,000 for one of those lots. A full four bedrooms, 2.5 baths and two acres, included in the price! Competition is getting stiff!
I hear from everyone that there is movement at last. I know the appraisers are busy - but is it refinancing with these great low, low rates (4.3%!) or new purchases?
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