I just wrote this to an associate of mine who has a seller that is dragging her feet about listing her house now, although she has seen several properties she would like to (and can) buy.

“I think, with somewhat kid gloves, you need to push the “don’t wait agenda”. In reality, whatever she perceives she is going to gain on the sell side by waiting, it will be realized 10 fold by buying now and taking advantage of the rock bottom prices and low interest rates. I don’t know if you saw the NYSAR press release, but although volume went down significantly (after the craziness of the tax rebate) prices actually went UP in NY in the second quarter of the year. I don’t think this is signaling a housing recovery by any means, by I think its another blatant signal that we are in the bottom now. When lay people realize it…it will be after the fact, when prices have already gone up, along with the interest rates.

According to the National Association of REALTORS, 100 out of 155 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) had higher median existing single-family home prices in the second quarter of 2010 compared to the second quarter of 2009.

In New York State, the median sales price of existing single‐family homes sold in the second quarter of 2010 increased 11.7 percent from a year ago. However, in the entire Northeast region, the median existing single-family home price declined 3.2 percent to $238,000 in the second quarter from a year earlier. http://www.nysar.com

An inaugural Festa Italiana during the Feast of the Assumption to benefit many of  Peekskill’s diverse charities.  Food, drink, live music, games, Rides and stuff for the kids. Check it out!  http://www.peekskillfestival.com/

The Hudson Valley Hospital Center in Cortlandt recently had the grand opening its 100 mil renovation.  See http://hvhc.org/mediaVideo071910_miner.asp for more information.

Now in its 14th year, Peekskill Celebration is the largest festival in the Hudson Valley, attracting over 20,000 people from as far away as New Jersey and Connecticut and as close by as Cortlandt Manor and Putnam Valley. Following a one-year-only change in date, Peekskill Celebration returns in 2010 to its traditional first weekend in August 6 – 8. Admission to Riverfront Green Park is free. Family entertainment, unrivaled fireworks sponsored by Entergy, colorful Dragon Boat Races, fantastic food, and so much more are the annual hallmarks of Peekskill Celebration. http://www.peekskillcelebration.com/

Van Cortlandt Manor, located at 525 South Riverside Ave., in Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y., will host its annual “River Day,” on Sunday, Aug. 1, from noon to 6 p.m.

During this special celebration, visitors of all ages will have the chance to enjoy various hands-on activities, including kayak rides, 18th century-style pole fishing, boat building and cooking, as well as many other demonstrations, live music, interactive workshops for kids and games that teach about water and river ecology.

The event will also feature two theatrical performances. From 2 to 3 p.m., the Arm-of-the-Sea theater group will use poetry, painted puppet figures and beautiful mask characters for their production of “City that Drinks the Mountain Sky,” while the Hudson River Ramblers will be performing “Once Upon the Hudson,” a tour of more than 400 years of river heritage through authentic songs and primary source based stories, from 3 to 4 p.m.

Call 914-631-8200 or go to www.hudsonvalley.org.

The New York state housing market continued its strong start to 2010 as second quarter sales, helped by a record-setting June sales total, jumped more than 71 percent from the first quarter, according to preliminary single-family sales data accumulated by the New York State Association of REALTORS. The 2010 second quarter statewide median sales price grew by nearly 12 percent compared to the 2009 second quarter, despite falling by 5 percent from the first quarter of 2010.  http://www.nysar.com/content/press/pressreleases.htm?view=22&news_id=659&news=5

Cortlandt, NY – Kathleen A. (Kathy) Kane with Weichert Realtors has been awarded the Accredited Buyer’s Representation (ABR) designation by the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council (REBAC) of the National Association of Realtors (NAR).  You may contact REBAC at 800-648-6224 or visit the REBAC website – www.REBAC.net for more information.

The National Association of REALTORS® today expressed thanks on behalf of America’s homebuyers to three Senators for introducing a measure to extend the present home buyer tax credit closing deadline to Sept. 30 http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2010061102?OpenDocument

Pending home sales rose in April, marking the third straight month of increase according to a recent report from National Association of Realtors. While the extension of the tax credit may have something to do with the latest growth in sales, the market may be heading towards a normal level according to recent reports.