Joseph Pettinella's blog

Love it or List it . . . A Fun TV Show! Should You Renovate Or Sell?

Cute homemade rustic birdhouse with love nest with a heart painted over the hole and two signs painted under the hole.  One says for rent and the other says lifetime lease.The premise of he show is that homeowners are faced with a decision … keep their current house and remodel it to fit their changed needs, or list it, sell it and move to another house that is already set up for them.  The show pits Hilary, an interior designer who wants to remodel the home to a point where the owners can’t resist but to stay in it, against David, a Real Estate Agent who wants simply to sell them another home that fits their needs better than their remodeled home ever could.

The decision is not an easy one for the Owners.  Many times the current house for a potential seller is comfortable and familiar.  Sometimes the school district is a factor, the owners needing to keep their kids in the same schools due to sports, academics, etc.  BUT, the square footage can be limited for their growing family or maybe the location has become less ideal.

Dutchess County Real Estate Market Update April 2016

Residential real estate sales activity in Dutchess County has continued to increase, and we're headed for the best sales year in many years.

Let's look at Single Family Detached homes separately from Single Family Attached homes to get a more detailed overview of how the different segments are performing.  We will be comparing the first four months of 2016 compared to the same period last year.

Dutchess County Single Family Detached Homes

Sales of single family detached homes in Dutchess County increased by a whopping 26.4%.  There were 604 closed sales by the end of April of this year compared to 478 last year.

Awesome Dutchess County Video by Th!nk Dutchess For Life

Awesome video of Dutchess County!  Truly a great place to live, work and play.  Great job TH!NK DUTCHESS FOR LIFE!

Summer In Manhattan -- 7 Cool Things To Do!

We have so many great venues and events for art enthusiasts and foodies in the Hudson Valley, but we also enjoy spending time in Manhattan experiencing the unique offerings only found in New York City.

Here are a few of our favorite things to do in Summer in the city:

ROOFTOP BARS:  One of the highest rooftop bars in the city, Bar 54, is on the 54th floor of the Hyatt Times Square.  Along with the breathtaking view, they serve up lite bites and seasonal drink specialties created by their outstanding mixologists.  For a more bohemian-chic hangout, visit Jane Hotel's 6th floor rooftop lounge in the West Village.  Enjoy incredible views of the Hudson River while sipping on one of their many delicious signature cocktails.

Some Of Hudson Valley's Best Fests For Foodies & Craft Brew Enthusiasts

The Hudson Valley is a go-to destination for local craft breweries and wineries as well as eclectic food and shopping.  The Spring, Summer and Fall are full of festivals and events that celebrate all that is unique about New York's Hudson Valley.  Check out a few of the special events to put on your no-miss list.

The Westchester Magazine Wine & Food Festival is a 5-day event starting on June 8 and is filled with unique dining experiences prepared by renowned chefs.  Over 100 restaurants and 200 wines are celebrated at several locations throughout the Valley.  There are even classes where kids can learn culinary skills.

Attention Home Buyers - Important Video - Wire Fraud Alert

Please watch this if you will be purchasing a home any time soon.  A real estate agent and/or a title company will not put sensitive or private information, like account numbers for wiring funds, in an email message.  

Be very cautious and aware that scammers may be posing as your agent or other trusted advisor.