Mark Bergman

Guide to Home Buying Tax Credits

2010-03-19T12:11:00Z

Click the image to enlarge

Source: Fixr

New Underwriting Guidelines

2010-03-16T18:58:00Z

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· All borrowers' birth certificates will be required with pictures taken in the hospital with medical staff. Birth certificate with a live home delivery will not be eligible for first time home buyers.

· Marriage certificate with bridal dress will be required if both husband and wife are required to qualify for the loan.

· GFE will not require signature, but will require blood sampling from a recognized institution within three days of application.

· DNA test will be performed at closing to avoid any non-arms length transactions. Loan funding will be contingent upon satisfactory receipt of DNA results.

· Verification of deposit will be acceptable only if Bank representative is present at the closing.

· Copy of Pay stubs and W2 will only be acceptable through IRS and only with a wax-sealed envelope mailed directly to the lender.

· Seven witnesses from the neighborhood will be required as proof of primary residence in case borrower owns more than 1 property.

· All appraisers will be required to use masks and ear plugs at the time of inspection to avoid any personal influence by the borrower or broker for the appraised value.

· In order to correctly calculate DTI and true housing ratio a list of grocery items, monthly usage and brand names will be required with receipts and projected 12 month consumption chart.

· Closing will not occur without loan officer presence at settlement and loan officer picture will be taken at the closing in a mug shot format with loan number. Picture should meet standard guideline of 2 X 2 inch in color format with one facing and one side view.

· Loan officer picture will be attached to the Deed and note and will be made available for general public and security agencies in case borrower defaults on the loan.

in preparation for April Fool's Day!

Homestar Energy Efficiency Retrofit Program

2010-03-10T18:48:00Z

Update from the White House...

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

_______________________________________________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 2, 2010

FACT SHEET: HOMESTAR ENERGY EFFICIENCY RETROFIT PROGRAM

WASHINGTON--In his State of the Union address, the President called on Congress to pass a program of incentives for homeowners who make energy efficiency investments in their homes. Today, while touring a training facility at Savannah Technical College, the President outlined more details of a new "HOMESTAR" program that would help create jobs by encouraging American families to invest in energy saving home improvements. Consistent with the President's call for a HOMESTAR program, the Senate Democratic leadership included a proposal of this kind as part of their Jobs Agenda released on February 4, 2010. The President looks forward to continuing to work with Members of Congress, business, environmental and labor leaders to enact a HOMESTAR program into law.

Background on the HOMESTAR program

With unemployment in the construction sector near 25% and with substantial underutilized capacity in our manufacturing sector, the HOMESTAR program has the potential to jumpstart our economic recovery by boosting demand for energy efficiency products and installation services. For middle-class families, this program will help them save hundreds of dollars a year in energy costs while improving the comfort and value of their most important investment - their homes. In addition, the program would help reduce our economy's dependence on oil and support the development of an energy efficiency services sector in our economy. Key components of the HOMESTAR Program include:

Rebates delivered directly to consumers: Like the Cash for Clunkers program, consumers would be eligible for direct HOMESTAR rebates at the point of sale for a variety of energy-saving investments in their homes. A broad array of vendors, from small independent building material dealers, large national home improvement chains, energy efficiency installation professionals and utility energy efficiency programs (including rural utilities) would market the rebates, provide them directly to consumers and then be reimbursed by the federal government.
$1,000 - $1,500 Silver Star Rebates: Consumers looking to have simple upgrades performed in their homes would be eligible for 50% rebates up to $1,000 - $1,500 for doing any of a straightforward set of upgrades, including: insulation, duct sealing, water heaters, HVAC units, windows, roofing and doors. Under Silver Star, consumers can chose a combination of upgrades for rebates up to a maximum of $3,000 per home. Rebates would be limited to the most energy efficient categories of upgrades-focusing on products made primarily in the United States and installed by certified contractors.
$3000 Gold Star Rebates: Consumers interested in more comprehensive energy retrofits would be eligible for a $3,000 rebate for a whole home energy audit and subsequent retrofit tailored to achieve a 20% energy savings in their homes. Consumers could receive additional rebate amounts for energy savings in excess of 20%. Gold Star would build on existing whole home retrofit programs, like EPA's successful Home Performance with Energy Star program.
Oversight to Ensure Quality Installations: The program would require that contractors be certified to perform efficiency installations. Independent quality assurance providers would conduct field audits after work is completed to ensure proper installation so consumers receive energy savings from their upgrades. States would oversee the implementation of quality assurance to ensure that the program was moving the industry toward more robust standards and comprehensive energy retrofit practices.

Support for financing: The program would include support to State and local governments to provide financing options for consumers seeking to make efficiency investments in their homes. This will help ensure that consumers can afford to make these investments.

The program will result in the creation of tens of thousands of jobs while achieving substantial reductions in energy use - the equivalent of the entire output of three coal-fired power plants each year. Consumers in the program are anticipated to save between $200 - $500 per year in energy costs, while improving the comfort and value of their homes.

New carbon monoxide detector law to take effect February 22

2010-02-16T15:20:00Z

New carbon monoxide detector law to take effect February 22

2/8/2010

Last year, Governor David Paterson signed a bill amending the Executive Law requiring carbon monoxide detectors in every 1-2 family property, apartments in a multiple dwelling, as well as all condominium and cooperative apartments only where the dwelling unit has appliances, devices or systems that may emit carbon monoxide or has an attached garage. Real estate licensees must be aware of the new law and advise clients and customers of the same. The new law, known as “Amanda’s Law” is set forth below as well as changes to the Fire code of New York indicating where carbon monoxide detectors should be located..

Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as "Amanda's law".
§ 2. Subdivision 5-a of section 378 of the executive law, as amended by chapter 202 of the laws of 2006, is amended to read as follows:

5-a. Standards for installation of carbon monoxide detectors requiring that every one or two-family dwelling, or any dwelling accommodation located in a building owned as a condominium or cooperative in the state or any multiple dwellings shall have installed an operable carbon monoxide detector of such manufacture, design and installation standards as are established by the council. Carbon monoxide detectors required by this section are required only where the dwelling unit has appliances, devices or systems that may emit carbon monoxide or has an attached garage. For purposes of this subdivision, multiple dwelling means a dwelling which is either rented, leased, let or hired out, to be occupied, or is occupied as the temporary or permanent residence or home of three or more families living independently of each other, including but not limited to the following: a tenement, flat house, maisonette apartment, apartment house, apartment hotel, tourist house, bachelor apartment, studio apartment, duplex apartment, kitchenette apartment, hotel, lodging house, rooming house, boarding house, boarding and nursery school, furnished room house, club, sorority house, fraternity house, college and school dormitory, convalescent, old age or nursing homes or residences. It shall also include a dwelling, two or more stories in height and with five or more boarders, roomers or lodgers residing with any one family. New construction shall mean a new facility or a separate building added to an existing facility.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law.

The following are the emergency rules adopted by the State Fire Prevention and Building Code Council in order to comply with legislation regarding carbon monoxide detectors known as “Amanda’s Law” which will go into effect on February 22, 2010. The requirements as they apply to the use of carbon monoxide detectors can be found below.

Subdivision (d) of section 1220.1 in Part 1220 of Title 19 NYCRR is amended by adding a new paragraph (13) to read as follows:

(13) 2007 RCNYS section RR313.4. For the purposes of applying the 2007 RCNYS in this State, the text of section RR313.4 in chapter R3 of the 2007 RCNYS shall be deemed to be amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

RR313.4 Carbon monoxide alarms. This section covers the installation, performance and maintenance of carbon monoxide alarms and their components in new and existing buildings. The requirements of this section shall apply to all new and all existing buildings, without regard to the date of construction of the building and without regard to whether such building shall or shall not have been offered for sale.

Exception: Compliance with this section is not required where no carbon monoxide source is located within or attached to the structure. However, compliance with this section is required if any carbon monoxide source is subsequently located within or attached to the structure.

For the purposes of this section RR313.4, the following terms will have the following meanings:

The term ‘carbon monoxide source’ includes fuel fired appliances, equipment, devices and systems; solid fuel burning appliances, equipment, devices and systems; all other appliances, equipment, devices and systems that may emit carbon monoxide; fireplaces; garages; and all other motor vehicle-related occupancies.

The term ‘dwelling unit’ means a single unit providing complete, independent living facilities for one or more persons, including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation.

The term ‘sleeping area’ means a room or space in which people sleep.

The term ‘sleeping unit’ means a room or space in which people sleep, which can also include permanent provisions for living, eating, and either sanitation or kitchen facilities but not both. Such rooms and spaces that are also part of a dwelling unit are not sleeping units.

In the case of a building constructed on or after January 1, 2008, a carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed in each of the following locations:

1. Within each dwelling unit or sleeping unit, on each story having a sleeping area.

2. Within each dwelling unit or sleeping unit, on each story where a carbon monoxide source is located.

One carbon monoxide alarm installed on a story of a dwelling unit or sleeping unit having both a sleeping area and a carbon monoxide source shall suffice for that story within that dwelling unit or sleeping unit.

In the case of a building constructed before January 1, 2008, a carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed in each of the following locations:

1. Within each dwelling unit or sleeping unit, on the lowest story having a sleeping area.

When more than one carbon monoxide alarm is required to be installed within an individual dwelling unit, the alarms shall be interconnected in such a manner that the actuation of one alarm will activate all of the alarms in the individual unit. The alarm shall be clearly audible in all sleeping areas over background noise levels with all intervening doors close.

Exception: Interconnection is not required where carbon monoxide alarms are permitted to be battery operated in accordance with section RR313.4.2.

All carbon monoxide alarms shall be listed and labeled as complying with UL 2034 or CAN/CSA 6.19, and shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's installation instructions and this code.

RR313.4.1 Prohibited locations. Carbon monoxide alarms shall not be located within or near the openings to garages, bathrooms or furnace rooms. Carbon monoxide alarms shall also not be located in or near locations specified as ‘prohibited,’ ‘not recommended’ or the like in the manufacturer’s installation instructions.

RR313.4.2 Power source. The required carbon monoxide alarms shall receive their primary power from the building wiring when such wiring is served from a commercial source or an on-site electrical power system, and when primary power is interrupted, shall receive power from a battery. Wiring shall be permanent and without a disconnecting switch other than those required for overcurrent protection.

Exception. Carbon monoxide alarms shall be permitted to be battery operated when installed in buildings without commercial power or an on-site electrical power system or in buildings constructed before January 1, 2008.

RR313.4.3 Maintenance. Carbon monoxide alarms shall be maintained in an operative condition at all times, shall be replaced or repaired where defective, and shall be replaced when they cease to operate as intended.

RR313.4.4 Disabling of alarms. Carbon monoxide alarms shall not be removed or disabled, except for service or repair purposes.

RR313.4.5 One-family dwellings converted to bed and breakfast dwellings. One-family dwellings converted to bed and breakfast dwellings shall have carbon monoxide alarms installed in accordance with the requirements of section F611 of the Fire Code of New York State.

RR313.4.6 Buildings under custody, licensure, supervision or jurisdiction of a department or agency of the State of New York. A building which is under the custody, licensure, supervision or jurisdiction of a department or agency of the State of New York and which is regulated as a one-or two-family dwelling or multiple single-family dwelling (townhouse), in accordance with established laws or regulations of such department or agency, shall have carbon monoxide alarms installed in accordance with the stricter of the requirements of this section or the requirements of section F611 of the Fire Code of New York State.

Subdivision (d) of section 1225.1 in Part 1220 of Title 19 NYCRR is amended by adding a new paragraph (3) to read as follows:

(3) 2007 FCNYS section F611. For the purposes of applying the 2007 FCNYS in this State, the text of section F611 in chapter F6 of the 2007 FCNYS shall be deemed to be amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

F611 CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS

F611.1 General. This section covers the application, installation, performance and maintenance of carbon monoxide alarms and their components in new and existing buildings and structures. The requirements of this section shall apply to all new buildings and structures and to all existing buildings and structures, without regard to the date of construction of the building or structure and without regard to whether such building or structure shall or shall not have been offered for sale.

F611.1.1 Definitions. For the purposes of this §F611, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

Carbon monoxide source. The term ‘carbon monoxide source’ includes fuel fired appliances, equipment, devices and systems; solid fuel burning appliances, equipment, devices and systems; all other appliances, equipment, devices and systems that may emit carbon monoxide; fireplaces; garages; and all other motor vehicle-related occupancies.

Dwelling unit. The term ‘dwelling unit’ means a single unit providing complete, independent living facilities for one or more persons, including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation.

Existing buildings and structures. The term ‘existing buildings and structures’ means buildings and structures constructed before January 1, 2008.

Multiple dwelling. The term ‘multiple dwelling’ means a dwelling which is either rented, leased, let or hired out, to be occupied, or is occupied as the temporary or permanent residence or home of three or more families living independently of each other, including but not limited to the following: a tenement, flat house, maisonette apartment, apartment house, apartment hotel, tourist house, bachelor apartment, studio apartment, duplex apartment, kitchenette apartment, hotel, lodging house, rooming house, boarding house, boarding and nursery school, furnished room house, club, sorority house, fraternity house, college and school dormitory, convalescent, old age or nursing homes or residences, and a dwelling, two or more stories in height, and with five or more boarders, roomers or lodgers residing with any one family.

New buildings and structures. The term ‘new buildings and structures’ means buildings and structures constructed after December 31, 2007.

The term ‘sleeping area’ means a room or space in which people sleep.

The term ‘sleeping unit’ means a room or space in which people sleep, which can also include permanent provisions for living, eating, and either sanitation or kitchen facilities but not both. Such rooms and spaces that are also part of a dwelling unit are not sleeping units.

F611.2 Equipment. Carbon monoxide alarms shall be listed and labeled as complying with UL 2034 or CAN/CSA 6.19, and shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's installation instructions and this section.

F611.2.1 Combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are permitted, provided the alarm is listed for such use. Combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms shall have distinctly different alarm signals for smoke or carbon monoxide alarm activation.

F611.3 Where required. Single and multiple station carbon monoxide alarms shall be provided in the locations described in this section.
            Exception: Compliance with this section is not required where no carbon monoxide source is located within or attached to the structure. However, compliance with this section is required if any carbon monoxide source is subsequently located within or attached to the structure.

F611.3.1 New buildings and structures: one-and two-family dwellings, multiple single-family dwellings (townhouses), and buildings owned as a condominium or cooperative and containing dwelling accommodations. A carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed in each of the following locations:
            1. Within each dwelling unit or sleeping unit, on each story having a sleeping area.
            2. Within each dwelling unit or sleeping unit, on each story where a carbon monoxide source is located.
            One carbon monoxide alarm installed on a story of a dwelling unit or sleeping unit having both a sleeping area and a carbon monoxide source shall suffice for that story within that dwelling unit or sleeping unit.

F611.3.2 New buildings and structures: Group I-1 occupancies. A carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed in the each of following locations:
            1. On each story having a sleeping area.
            2. On each story where a carbon monoxide source is located.
One carbon monoxide alarm installed on a story having both a sleeping area and a carbon monoxide source shall suffice for that story.

F611.3.3 New buildings and structures: Group R occupancies not covered by section F611.3.1 or section F611.3.2, nursery schools (with sleeping units) not covered by section F611.3.1 or §F611.3.2, bed and breakfast uses not covered by section F611.3.1 or section F611.3.2, and multiple dwellings not covered by section F611.3.1 or section F611.3.2. A carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed in each of the following locations:

1. In each dwelling unit or sleeping unit where a carbon monoxide source is located. In a multiple-story dwelling unit or sleeping unit, a carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed on each story having a sleeping area and on each story where a carbon monoxide source is located. One carbon monoxide alarm installed on a story having both a sleeping area and a carbon monoxide source shall suffice for that story.

2. In each dwelling unit or sleeping unit that is on the same story as a carbon monoxide source.

F611.3.4 Existing buildings and structures: one-and two-family dwellings, multiple single-family dwellings (townhouses), and buildings owned as a condominium or cooperative and containing dwelling accommodations. A carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed within each dwelling unit or sleeping unit on the lowest story having a sleeping area.

F611.3.5 Existing buildings and structures: Group I-1 occupancies. A carbon monoxide alarms shall be installed on each story having a sleeping area.

F611.3.6 Existing buildings and structures: Group R occupancies not covered by section F611.3.4 or section F611.3.5, nursery schools (with sleeping units) not covered by section F611.3.4 or section F611.3.5, bed and breakfast uses not covered by section F611.3.4 or section F611.3.5, and multiple dwellings not covered by section F611.3.4 or section F611.3.5. A carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed in each of the following locations:

1. In each dwelling unit or sleeping unit where a carbon monoxide source is located. In a multiple-story dwelling unit or sleeping unit, a carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed on the lowest story having a sleeping area.

2. In each dwelling unit or sleeping unit that is on the same story as a carbon monoxide source.

F611.3.7 Work completed within one-and two-family dwellings, multiple single-family dwellings (townhouses), buildings owned as a condominium or cooperative and containing dwelling accommodations, Group R occupancies, bed and breakfast uses not covered by section F611.3.8, and multiple dwellings not covered by section F611.3.8. Where work includes the addition or installation of a carbon monoxide source, the construction of a chimney, or the connection of the building to a garage or to any other motor vehicle-related occupancy, a carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed within each dwelling unit or sleeping unit on the lowest story having a sleeping area.

F611.3.8 Work completed within Group I-1 occupancy. Where work includes the addition or installation of a carbon monoxide source, the construction of a chimney, or the connection of the building to a garage or to any other motor vehicle-related occupancy, a carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed on each story having a sleeping area.

F611.4 Prohibited locations. Carbon monoxide alarms shall not be located within or near the openings to garages, bathrooms, or furnace rooms. Carbon monoxide alarms shall also not be located in or near locations specified as ‘prohibited,’ ‘not recommended’ or the like in the manufacturer’s installation instructions.

F611.5 Power source. When the building wiring is served from a commercial or on-site power source, carbon monoxide alarms shall receive their primary power from the building wiring and, when primary power is interrupted, shall receive power from a battery. Wiring shall be permanent and without a disconnecting switch other than those required for overcurrent protection.

Exceptions:

1. Carbon monoxide alarms installed in buildings without a commercial or on-site power source shall be permitted to be battery operated.

2. In existing buildings and structures, cord-type, direct plug, or battery-operated carbon monoxide alarms shall be permitted.

F611.6 Interconnection. When more than one carbon monoxide alarm is required to be installed within an individual dwelling unit or sleeping unit, the alarms shall be interconnected.

Exception: Interconnection is not required where cord-type, direct plug, or battery-operated carbon monoxide alarms are permitted.

F611.7 Maintenance. Carbon monoxide alarms shall be maintained in an operative condition at all times, shall be replaced or repaired where defective, and shall be replaced when they cease to operate as intended.

F611.8 Disabling of alarms. Carbon monoxide alarms shall not be removed or disabled, except for service or repair purposes.”

Year of Hard Choices

2010-01-18T16:24:00Z

Over the last year I've had the opportunity to participate in radio interviews and blog on North Country Public Radio about what it has been like to live through the recession. Today NCPR aired a follow-up interview You may listen to my interview with Jonathan Brown at:

http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/15089/lessons-learned-from-a-year-of-hard-choices-in-adirondack-real-estate

BBQ in North Creek

2009-12-20T20:40:00Z

A roadside BBQ opened up Saturday morning. Named J Bobs Tennesee BBQ, it's located directly across the road (Rte 28) from my office. Watch for a portable smoker and a food service van with a serving window. I've only had their smoked wings so far, but they are large and the meat is fall off the bone tender. The owner is a nice guy who owns a restaurant in Ballston Spa. His planned schedule is Thursday-Sunday 11am to 7pm. It sounds as if closing time may be a bit flexible as he tests the market. Might be open more days during the holiday weeks. Take dinner home after skiing or back to your vacation home. It's great to have another dining option.

Customer Service and Loyalty in the North Country

2009-12-19T18:39:00Z

The last couple of nights we've experienced sub-zero temperatures. -16 the night before last and a balmy -8 last night. On the way home from a night out, I had a gut feeling that I should check one of my client's homes. They had experienced furnace problems last weekend and felt confident that they had solved them. Since low temps stress everything man-made and otherwise, I was concerned. At 9:30 I found the house at 28 degrees and the furnace wouildn't fire. I called all of my heating contractor resources. The one that I reached refused to come out of his home in an adjoining town that starts with M and ends with a. I was informed that he would only provide emergency service for customers who had used him for routine maintenance. I explained that the owners just closed on the house and hadn't had an opportunity to order his preventive maintenance. He still refused to help. I wonder what would happen if I felt that way when my ambulance pager goes off in the middle of the night? I called 3 others with no answer. Apparently the cell phone for my "go to guy" acted up and didn't ring when I tried him. Trying him again at 7am I awakened him, gave him directions and he was here in 60 minutes. (He lives a good 30 minutes away). Problem solved and heat within 20 minutes of arrival.

Buckman Family Fuels in Chestertown is the only fuel oil dealer that I recommend because of this great service. They do excellent routine maintenance and they respond when called for an emergency! I first met them about 10 years ago when I called on them for an emergency fuel delivery at a home I was sharing. I wasn't a customer and the owner of the house had let the oil run out by mistake. His dealer at the time miscalculated and wouldn't make a Saturday morning delivery. Buckman's saved me then too. These guys just do it right without fail!

Gore Shuttle and the great gold parking controversy

2009-12-14T17:26:00Z

From the Adirondack Almanack (www.adirondackalmanack.com

Monday, December 14, 2009

North Creek-Gore Mountain-Ski Bowl Shuttle Slated

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A public transportation shuttle is being established in North Creek with hopes of more closely linking Gore Mountain with the village of North Creek. The shuttle will also make a stop at the historic North Creek Ski Bowl allowing skiers and boarders to take a single trail down and shuttle back up. Additional trails are expected to be open next winter.

Locally owned Brant Lake Taxi & Transport Service will operate the shuttle, which is being paid for by hotel occupancy tax receipts and local businesses. The free shuttle will run just 39 days during the ski season beginning December 19th, including weekends and holiday weeks, from 8 am to 4:30 pm, with a break for the driver's lunchtime.

Gore Mountain spokesperson Emily Stanton told the Glens Falls Post-Star that the shuttle will provide access to North Creek village for Gore visitors who arrive at the mountain by chartered bus.

Additionally, a controversial "Gold Parking" program has been getting a lot of discussion on the lifts and in the lodges. About 200 spaces have been set aside for paid parking. The $10 fee has led to quite a debate over at skiadk.com and the Gore Facebook page.

NYS State Police: Your Local Private Security

2009-12-09T14:54:00Z

From the Adirondack Almanac.....

Wednesday, December 09, 2009

NYS State Police: Your Local Private Security Firm

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A strange thing happened after a wind storm a couple of weeks ago. I saw a New York State Police car show up at my neighbor's camp. The trooper got out, and carried into the nearby woods the fairly large top of a tree that had fallen in front of the building. It took him four or five trips to get all the branches into the woods. When he was done, he climbed back into his car and drove away.

So what was the State Trooper doing clearing my neighbor's yard of blowdown? Turns out, my neighbor is one of many part-time residents in the region who get New York State Police protection for seasonal camps as a part of the State Police's Posted Property Program. A program, that "has been around longer than anyone currently with our agency can remember," according to a State Police spokesperson. Homes so designated are posted with the sign you see here.

"As a service to the public, we post and inspect summer homes, summer camps and similar buildings that are unoccupied from October 1 to May 1," I was told in an e-mail, "this merely entails occasional checks of the property when a trooper is on patrol in the area of the property."

The next time I saw a trooper make a stop at the cabin across the way (he was checking the door handle), I asked why he cleared that downed treetop. He told me he had cleared the debris because he didn't want the house to appear unoccupied. He also told me that he stops every time he patrols the area - I've seen him show up every few days, and no doubt have missed a few of his visits.

According to the State Police spokesperson, the agency does not post buildings located in villages that have an organized police departments, buildings that are not secure, or summer motels, hotels or other commercial property. Presumably they are required to protect their own property by using a local security firm.

I suspect the State Police keep the program pretty hush-hush. After all, it wouldn't take too many folks taking advantage of their free home security program to keep police too busy for speed traps or safety belt road blocks.

According to the State Police, property owners who want their tax supported local security services between October and May should send a letter to their local Troop Commander and include the following information:

—the exact location of the property

—the owner's name, winter address and a phone number where they can be contacted in an emergency, and

—if there is a caretaker, their name, address and phone number(s)

Oh . . . and don't forget to call the security folks in town and let them know you've found someone better—someone who actually keeps the yard clear, and carries a gun.

Upper Hudson Bike Trail

2009-11-27T14:41:00Z

I recently began working on a new community project. Here is some of our recent press and a link to a website with lots of good information:

Proposed three-county rail trail gets planning aid

By DAYELIN ROMAN droman@poststar.com | Posted: Thursday, November 26, 2009 8:30 pm

While Warren County supervisors wrestled over how to fix a section of railroad track in Riparius last summer after it was washed out, Curtis Austin dreamed up a plan to use 29 miles of rails from North Creek to Tahawus.

"It would be an awesome trail," he said. "This one goes into the heart of the Adirondacks."

Austin, a Chestertown resident and former manager and engineer for General Electric, formed the Friends of the Upper Hudson Rail Trail, and is working toward building a bike path where unused rail lines now sit.

Recently, the project was chosen to receive assistance from Parks and Trails New York in the form of planning, fundraising, grant writing and other activities.

"They'll be free consultants," Austin said. "It's an extremely valuable thing."

The D&H Rail Trail in Granville was also chosen, and will get help with promoting the trail.

The Upper Hudson Rail Trail would wind through the Adirondack Mountains and along the Hudson River in three counties -- Warren, Essex and Hamilton -- from North Creek to Indian Lake and Tahawus, a hamlet in the town of Newcomb.

Austin said the line is full of history, as it was long used by mines in the area and is near the setting for a hiking trip by then-Vice President Theodore Roosevelt soon after he learned of President William McKinley's death.

Using the line for a bike trail is not in itself a new idea, but the Friends have committed themselves to making it happen, Austin said, and have set a target date of June 4, 2014, to open the path.

In the meantime, Austin said, he is working toward the two main steps to get the project in motion.

The first is gaining control of the railway.

"Rails are legally messy," Austin said.

In this case, Austin said National Lead Industries owns it, and are willing to part with it.

The next step is the actual construction of the trail, which Austin estimates would cost about $7.25 million if it is paved.

"Step two is almost too far to look at," he said.

Somewhere in between, clearance must be gained from the Adirondack Park Agency.

The group has gained the support of Johnsburg Town Supervisor Sterling Goodspeed, who said the project is at an early stage, but there is much support for it.

"The timing couldn't be better," he said.

Goodspeed said county officials originally planned to join the rail with the Upper Hudson River Railroad, which departs from North Creek. But with the economic troubles at the county level, any funding for that has dried up.

"You have this beautiful expanse of wilderness - not developable as a railroad," he said. "That proposed use is not realistic anymore."

And having a bike trail begin where the tourist train ends will also be an economic boon to the town, Goodspeed said, granting not only an option for a bike trail, but access to high peaks camping.

"I think it's another piece of the puzzle," he said. "There's unique opportunities there."

But Goodspeed said there are plenty of hurdles to overcome, including legal issues with purchasing the line and engineering complexities with the bridge that crosses over the Hudson.

But Austin said he just wants a bike path in the area.

The Friends have set up a Web site at www.upperhudson.org, with maps and information on the trail.

"It's meant to be used by as many people as possible," Austin said. "This is the sort of trail people travel to come to."

New York's REALTORS applaud Senators Schumer and Gillibrand for their leadership on homebuyer tax credit extension

2009-11-05T17:38:00Z

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New York's REALTORS applaud Senators Schumer and Gillibrand for their leadership on homebuyer tax credit extension

Statement from NYSAR President Daniel J. Hartnett

On behalf of the 56,000 members of the New York State Association of REALTORS, today I express our sincere gratitude to Senator Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand for their vision and leadership in addressing the continued recovery of our housing industry and, ultimately, our economy.

Yesterday, Senators Schumer and Gillibrand voted to approve the extension and expansion of the homebuyer tax credit that was included in a wide-ranging piece of Senate legislation that extended unemployment benefits. Both Senators have a long-history of supporting REALTOR issues, and none in recent history has been more important than this tax credit. REALTORS know that the tax credit is working to revitalize the housing market and position it to once again lead our economic recovery.

The legislation extends the availability of the tax credit to purchases before May 1, 2010. Prospective purchasers with binding contracts in place as of April 30, 2010 will be allowed an additional 60 days to complete the transaction. The credit will remain $8,000 for first-time buyers, while repeat buyers who purchase between December 1, 2009 and May 1, 2010 will be eligible for a credit of $6,500. Repeat buyers must have lived in their homes consecutively for 5 of the previous 8 years. Income limits are expanded to $125,000 on a single return and $225,000 on a joint return.

We are hopeful that the House will pass this legislation in the near future and that President Obama will sign it into law.

Upper Hudson Rail Trail

2009-10-22T14:45:00Z

A new group calling itself the "Friends of the Upper Hudson Rail Trail" has just formed to advance a project of creating a bike and walk trail from North Creek to Newcomb along the unused railroad tracks. This looks like a wonderful project that will offer 29 miles of traffic free biking with moderate grades and spectacular scenery. Check out their website http://upperhudson.org/

SONYMA Offers Mortgage Credit Certificate Program

2009-09-18T21:42:00Z

New York State's Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) Program is an alternative way for SONYMA to assist first-time homebuyers. With an MCC, 20% of your annual mortgage interest can be converted into a tax credit and deducted dollar for dollar from your Federal income tax liability. The remaining 80% of mortgage interest continues to qualify as an itemized tax deduction. The credit can be taken to reduce your tax burden every year for the life of the mortgage loan as long as you continue to live in the home. The feasibility of the MCC and the degree to which it can provide housing assistance is totally dependent upon the extent to which you have a Federal tax liability, which can be offset by the MCC tax credit.

For details, click here to read our term sheet for the program.

The benefits of an MCC to a first-time homebuyer can be significant. For example, for a mortgage of $200,000 with an interest rate of 5.5%, the mortgage interest paid in the first year is $10,933. With an MCC, 20% of interest, $2,186, can be converted to a direct tax credit, a savings of $182 per month. Note that the MCC amount will decrease slightly each year as the amount of interest paid decreases. To calculate your potential savings with an MCC, click here.

Federal law prohibits SONYMA from combining MCCs with its own mortgages. However, MCCs can be used with other fixed-rate mortgages that lenders offer, such as:

Conventional loans (Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac);
FHA-insured loans;
VA-guaranteed loans; or
Other fixed-rate products.

To take advantage of this program, you must file IRS Form 8396 with your Federal tax return for each year.

Mortgagor(s) receiving an MCC can also take advantage of the $8,000 Federal tax credit - which is available for loans closed by November 30, 2009.

All SONYMA Mortgage Credit Certificate Program participants must meet certain Household Income and Purchase Price limits.

SONYMA's Purchase Price Limits.
SONYMA's Household Income Limits.
Learn about special incentives in Target Areas.

How Do I Apply?

To apply for the Mortgage Credit Certificate program you must:

Contact one of our MCC Participating Lenders; and
Apply for a Mortgage Credit Certificate at the same time you apply for a mortgage from one of our MCC participating lenders listed above.
If you are approved for an MCC, you can take a dollar-for-dollar tax credit equal to 20% of your annual mortgage interest costs when you file your Federal income tax return.
The remaining 80% in annual mortgage interest costs remains tax deductible.

All SONYMA Mortgage Credit Certificate Program participants are subject to the Federal Recapture Tax.

SONYMA's Mortgage Credit Certificate Federal Recapture Tax Provisions.

Click here for more MCC FAQ's.

RealtyTrac Review

2009-09-18T15:22:00Z

Product Review: RealtyTrac

By Inman_News

Created 2009-09-18 00:00

RealtyTrac screenshot

Editor's note: This product review focuses on a free trial of RealtyTrac.com, an online real estate site that maintains information on U.S. properties in a foreclosure process. The site also features information on bank-owned, for-sale-by-owner, resale, new construction and multiple listing service properties.

Click here [1] for a description of the product rating and review process. Please send your feedback, and recommendations for products to review, to productreview@inman.com [2].

Product: RealtyTrac.com seven-day free trial.

About: RealtyTrac, an online real estate site, offers information on more than 1.5 million properties and attracts about 3 million unique monthly visitors. The company's data has been used by several government agencies to aid in evaluating foreclosure trends, and RealtyTrac also supplies data through partnerships with a range of real estate Web sites, including Yahoo Real Estate and The Wall Street Journal's Real Estate Journal. The company was founded in 1996.

Cost: The company offers some free property information, with more detailed information and additional tools available through a paid subscription. The base price for a monthly subscription is $59.95, though the site currently advertises that discount pricing is available. In a recent test the site offered a $49.95 monthly subscription rate, and in an earlier test the offer was for a $39.95 monthly subscription. Also, the site offers a seven-day free trial.

Review team: Deb Agliano [3] (leader), Anita S. Crum [4], Mark Bergman [5].

Ratings: Ease 83, Value 73, Power 75 (100 is the highest possible score in each category).

RealtyTrac.com, which offers access to a range of property information including data on foreclosure and bank-owned properties, received highest marks from a three-member product review team for its ease of use.

The reviewers tested the site's features and functionality during a seven-day trial period that began in late July. All of the reviewers are active real estate professionals and are not employed by Inman News.

Deb "DebOnTheWeb" Agliano, the team leader, gave RealtyTrac 90 (out of a maximum 100) points for "Ease," which measures the site's learning curve and ease of use. "Ease" is one of three categories that team members use in evaluating products.

"The Web site is straightforward. Put in your search criteria and you get a list of properties. There should be no learning curve," Agliano wrote in her review.

She noted that the site allows users to save searches and to view a list of recently viewed properties.

But she said she found examples of erroneous data. "As with all foreclosure Web sites, there are inaccuracies. I found one home under the bank-owned tab of my search that showed that no sales price had been set yet for the property. However, I found the same house under the next tab, 'Homes For Sale,' with its correct list price."

Agliano's lowest rating, a 70, was in the "Value" category, which is a measure of how helpful and useful the site is to real estate professionals and to consumers/clients.

RealtyTrac has "a good library of information for people looking to learn more about buying foreclosed properties" and does "a good job of pulling together information from a variety of sources so that you can have a list of preforeclosures and foreclosures without spending a lot of time," she stated in her review. ...CONTINUED

[pagebreak]

But the quality of the information is a "weakness in value," and she said she was disappointed by the site's choice of comparable sales for a foreclosure property she examined.

"There are plenty of comps in the same city, but of the five comps the system showed me, only one was in the same city, making the information virtually worthless," Agliano stated.

For "Power," a measure of the power of the site's features and its innovation, scalability, advanced features and potential for changing the industry, Agliano gave RealtyTrac a rating of 80.

Its strengths include its large database of properties and "interesting statistical information" available through a "Trends" tab. Also, Agliano noted that agents can sign on as a RealtyTrac "affiliate" to add a foreclosure search on their own Web sites. She also noted that the "search feature was consistently slow each time I tried to use it," whether she was using the Firefox or Internet Explorer browser.

Like Agliano, review team member Anita S. Crum offered the highest score -- a 90 -- for RealtyTrac's ease of use.

"The average user should develop a comfort level within 30 minutes, a more proficient user within 10-15 minutes," she said.

The search is prominently featured on the main page of the Web site, and the "overall layout and presentation is good and easy to follow," she stated, adding that the availability of personal search results on the main page "is even nicer" and the ability to save notes on individual properties "is a definite plus."

Crum said that many links opened up as pop-up windows, which "was a little annoying" and "too reminiscent of advertising pop-ups, which, in a way, many of these were."

Some items listed under a "Tools & Services" section at the site "were either links to third-party vendors or to other data and services provided by RealtyTrac at an additional cost," she also noted.

And there were many sponsored links at the bottom of the page, she said. "I stopped bothering to 'page-down' all the way after the first few times of seeing it."

For "Value," Crum rated the site as an 85. The information on preforeclosure properties "could especially be useful to investors" who seek to purchase homes before they are listed for sale, she stated in here review.

Like Agliano, Crum said the site's "Trends" section provides interesting information, including charts and graphs.

And she agreed with Agliano that "As with other foreclosure information sites, this site also suffers from a degree of inaccuracy in data. Not all the properties I reviewed were current on status; however, the percentage of inaccuracies noted were less than those of other sites I have used in the past."

She added, "As an industry professional with access to other methods of obtaining information, I find this product to have limited reliability," while it "does provide a good general overview and some helpful tools but not anything I couldn't produce through other means."

She said a Home Value Analysis Feature at the site "was a nice surprise," and showed a median home value about 4.3 percent below that of a local MLS report. ...CONTINUED

[pagebreak]

A tool at the site offers "Renter Alerts" -- a service that tracks a property for 12 months and provides notification "if your landlord goes into foreclosure," Crum stated.

And she said the e-mail alerts offered by the site "were a nice touch" and "its strengths lay, in part, on the amount of good information available in general."

A foreclosure prevention section at the site "was a little disappointing," Crum said, adding that a "get help now" section leads to a form that requests information "from an unidentified third-party source."

And a "find and agent" section at the site also leads to an online form requesting information from the user.

A "contact owner" button at the site, available on preforeclosure properties, "did not seem to work for me," Crum stated, and the "contact agent" feature for bank-owned (REO) properties "does not actually connect you to the listing agent but rather sends you to (an online) form."

RealtyTrac is "a good research tool for checking trends in a particular area and for doing preliminary research of properties," though "I don't foresee this product replacing anything currently used by the industry unless it can ensure more accurate data," she concluded.

Mark Bergman, another review team member, said entry-level users may prefer basic, "preformatted searches" using the site, while more experienced users "may enter very targeted, detailed searches" such as county-specific searches.

Bergman said he was distracted by the volume of ads at the site: "From the time of signup one is bombarded with offers and adds for services ... so many ads on a paid site is obnoxious."

He offered the lowest ratings in all three categories among the three reviewers: a 70 for "Ease" and 65 for "Value" and for "Power."

Like the other reviewers, Bergman questioned the accuracy of the information provided at the site. "Accuracy of the information presented is inconsistent," and "MLS updates or connections are inconsistent," adding that the site should seek to acquire "complete and accurate (Internet Data Exchange) feeds."

He also stated in his review that the information provided at the site doesn't empower users "with enough information to go out and buy or sell foreclosures," though he acknowledged, too, "I have no doubt that tracking foreclosures is, at best, a real challenge for any service provider."

Even so, he added, "I've used other foreclosure tracking sites that are superior."

Click below to view individual reviews: [7]

Deb Agliano [7]
Alicia S. Crum
Mark Bergman [9]

For details on the Inman News Product Review process, please click below:

Inman News Product Review Rules [1]

Oscar's Smoke House

2009-09-04T22:18:00Z

Breaking news - as of 6pm today- Oscar's Smoke House in Warrensburg is an active structure fire. Reports from scene indicate that it is already a total loss. This is one of my favorite businesses in the area. I'm sure that may of my clients and customers will miss them. Let's hope that they recover and rebuild quickly. The best news is that there have been no reports of injuries so...hopefully everyone got out of the building safely and hopefully all of our fire and EMS crews will finish this disaster without injury.