WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER SETS RECORD VISITS FOR YEAR 7,017,658 VISITS! 2,098,003 VISITORS MADE 6 VISITS A DAY EVERY DAY. 63,330 UNIQUE VISITORS MADE 133,730 VISITS IN DECEMBER. WPCNR AVERAGED 17,284 VISITORS A WEEK, VISITING 31,270 TIMES.

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May Median Single-Family Home Sales Prices Rose by Double Digits in Almost All Regions;

Closed Sales Declined in Every Area Except Westchester

New Listings Grew in Rockland, Orange, and Sullivan Counties

WPCNR REALTY REALITY. From the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors. June 25, 2024:

Median sales prices for single-family homes saw double-digit increases in every county, with the exception of the Bronx, which experienced a slight drop of just 1.6%.

Westchester County reached a new high, with a median of $980,000 – a 16.3% increase over last year’s median home prices.

inside Westchester County

For the first time in months, sales of single-family homes increased slightly by 4.6%, and the median sales price advanced by 16.3% to a new high of $980,000. Last year at this time, the median price held at $842,500 and just last month it stood at $870,107.

The County’s condo market also experienced a boost of in sales at 16.5% and a 9.8% hike in the median sales price to $499,500.

Closed sales declined by 4.8% in the co-op market, however the median sales price grew by 10.1% to $205,000.

Drooping inventory: New listings for condos rose by 26.3% but declined by 15.8% for co-ops and 10% for single-family homes. Overall inventory for all property types declined, with co-ops seeing the largest decrease at 33.3%, followed by single-family homes at 21.3%. Months of supply was down 10.7% to just 2.5 months, and pending sales fell by 11.1%.

Closed sales in the condo markets for both the Bronx and Westchester rose by 18.8% and 16.5%, respectively.

Westchester’s condo and co-op median prices also increased by about 10%.

In Rockland County, the median condo price jumped 49.2% to $472,000, the Bronx median condo price grew 42% to $350,000.

Inventory plummeted in all areas except Sullivan County, which experienced a 5.8% increase. The Bronx scored the highest for overall pending sales for all property types with an 18.4% hike. Most of the other areas reported a decline in pending sales.

Today’s report by the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors (HGAR), based on data supplied by OneKey® MLS, reflects varying performance for inventory, with Westchester, Putnam and the Bronx declining, while Rockland, Orange and Sullivan new listings were on the rise.

“Due to strong demand and limited supply, home prices are continuing to rise in our area, ensuring the value of owning property and wealth creation for homeowners in the lower Hudson Valley,” said Lynda Fernandez, HGAR CEO. “New listings are increasing in half of our region, pointing to more homes coming onto the market, while rising pending sales signal an increase in future closed sales.”

Bronx County

Single-family home sales decreased slightly by 4.3% and the median sales price also dipped slightly by 1.6% to $610,000. Last month, the median was $617,500, and last year at this time, it was $620,000. Condo sales, however, rose by 18.8%, and prices by 42% with a new median of $350,000. This tops last month’s median of $285,000 and last year’s median of $246,500. However, sales in the co-op market saw a 6.8% decline and a 4.9% decrease in median sales price to $215,000. Last May’s median co-op sales price held steady at $226,000.

New Bronx listings for both condos and co-ops climbed by 26.7% and 15.7% respectively, while listings for single-family homes dropped by 15%. Overall inventory for all three housing types was down significantly, with condos seeing the largest decline at 36.8%. There were 34% fewer single-family homes on the market, and 15.9% fewer co-ops. As of May there were six months of supply, down by 21.1%  from last month. Overall pending sales for all property types were down by 12.8%.

Single-family home sales in Putnam County saw a decrease of 29.2% in May but condo sales rose by 62.5%. The median sales prices for single-family homes increased 13.5% to $565,000 – up from $498,000 in May of 2023. Condos also saw a hike in the median sales price by 6.9% to $369,000. No co-op sales were reported in May.

While Putnam typically has a very limited supply of condos, new listings for condos saw a 650% increase, to 15 condos, up from just two last May. Single-family home listings declined by 14%. Inventory for condos also rose significantly by 150% from six to 15. Months of supply for both property types was up by 3.7%, leaving just 2.8 months. Pending sales declined by 6.3%.

Rockland County

Rockland’s co-op market, while small, saw the largest drop in closed sales from last year, by 81.8%. This time last May there were 11 closed co-op sales, as opposed to just two this year. Closed sales for condos also declined by 28.9%, and 10.4% for single-family homes. Again, co-ops were the big winners when it came to price increases – the market realized a 158.4% gain on median sales prices to $307,500, up from just $119,000 in May of 2023 and $140,000 from last month. Condos saw a 49.2% increase in median sales prices to $472,500, as compared to $316,750 last year. Single-family homes experienced a 19.5% growth in median sales prices to $776,000.

New listings for condos grew by 24.5%, and 4.9% for single-family homes. Co-op listings, however, dropped by 18.2%. Inventory for all three property types declined , with co-ops seeing the largest drop at 50%. Months of supply for all property types was down 10.3% to 2.6 months, while pending sales were up by 13%.

Orange County

In Orange County, sales of single-family homes declined by 13.2% and condos by 20%. However, condos saw a 21.4% increase in the median sales price to $312,50 – up from $257,500 last year. Single-family homes also got a boost in the median sales price to $442,500, which is 2.9% higher than last year. There was just one co-op sale in May at $140,000, as co-ops properties are limited in Orange County.

New listings for condos rose by 13% and 6% for single-family homes. Inventory dropped by 30.2% for condos and 15.2% for single-family residences. Months of supply increased 3% in May to 3.4 months, but pending sales declined by 7.4%.

Sullivan County

While Sullivan County’s single-family home sales declined 12.9% in May, the median sales price grew 27.5% to $347,500, over last year’s median of $272,500. There was just one condo sale at $230,000 and no co-op sales during the month.

New listings for single-family homes advanced by 16.7% and inventory increased by 5.8%.  As of May, Sullivan had the largest months of supply at 6.4 months, an increase of 20.8% over last month., Pending sales of single-family homes also increased at a rate of 8.8%.

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ENTRANCE

THE FABULOUS REMODELED BATHHOUSE AND POOL…STEP BACK INTO 1929

THE DRAGON (COASTER) AWAITS THRILLS SCREAMS  AND TO THE RIGHT THE LOG PLUME

THE SWEEP OF RYE BEACH PLAYLAND 2024 RYE NEW YORK USA

THE INLAND SEA: LONG ISLAND SOUND GLEAMING IN THIS MORNING’S SUN

THE FABULOUS FISHING PIER AND TIE UP BASIN AT LOW TIDE THIS MORNING.

MY FAVORITE RIDE SINCE I WAS 4 THE PLAYLAND EXPRESS

PEDAL SWANS AND DRAGONS NEW THIS YEAR ON THE PLAYLAND LAGOON

THE SUMMER HEAT ATTRACTED HUGH CROWDS THIS WEEKEND AND PLAYLAND IS NOW OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK AND SHOULD WITH NEW RESTAURANTS AND ATTRACTIONS SHOULD BRING BACK AROUND 600,000 IN ATTENDANCE THIS YEAR IF THE WEATHER HOLDS.

STANDARD AMUSEMENTS HAS THE NEARLY 100 YEAR OLD PARK LOOKING BRAND NEW AND CLEAN WITH EXTENSIVE FRIENDLY STAFF.

COME ON DOWN! OR COME ON UP!

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White Plains Public Library is the cool place to be this afternoon to come and meet Maria Tavares and see her her big, glorious colorful paintings bigger than life that grab you with intense bold colors and make their subjects just leap out into your soul. The prolific Ms. Tavares is bold, emotional, her paintings of people make them personalities you want to meet, her paintings of objects you know extend them out of their landscape and captures the spirit anew. See these catch-the-eye paintings that you’ll want to linger with awile.

Why do I write this? When I left the White Plains TV Studios Friday the exhibition was just being prepared and the out front and look at me charisma STOPPED ME. I had to look.  On this sweltering afternoon coming up the exhibition is the coolest place you can feel cool and see cool too.  These are portraits that show how the artist felt about her subjects as she painted them which  gives her brush the spirit of the living.

Wow. You have to see them, folks, and with a cool refreshment in your hand, what better thing to do on  a hot summer’s day. You do not even have to use sun blocker…but the art will uplift your souls.

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WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2024. News & Comment By Professor Stephen Rolandi. June 20, 2024:

 By this time next week, we should know the outcome of the Democratic Party’s marquee primary that has received national interest and has been estimated to be one of the most expensive primaries to date (over $ 20 million).

The primary pits the incumbent Congressman, Jamal Bowman against Westchester County’s popular and term limited County Executive, Georg Latimer. One could say it is almost a “referendum” between the centrist Democrats (Latimer) and the progressive wing of the Democratic Party (Bowman).

As a result of re-apportionment, New York’s 16 C.D. looks somewhat different from the prior 16 C.D. The bulk of the district lies in southern Westchester County, with a small portion contained in the Bronx (county and borough) of New York City.

The ethnic make-up of the 16 C.D. is approximately 40% white, and 60% persons of color — Spanish speaking persons account for 29% and African-Americans 21%. In the Democratic primary, approximately 40% of voters are of the Jewish faith.

The District’s configuration is strongly Democratic, but not as overwhelmingly Democratic as other congressional districts in New York City.

In my view, County Executive Latimer has run a textbook campaign, while Rep. Bowman has had to defend his two term record; and advocate strongly held views on the conflict in Gaza.

Mr. Bowman received only 54% of the vote against several opponents in the 2022 primary.

Mr. Latimer has a strong record as County executive and prior legislative experience in southern Westchester; Rep. Bowman enjoys significant support from younger voters in the 16 C.D.

Bottom line: I forecast George Latimer winning the primary 55% to Bowman’s 45%.    

(Professor Stephen Rolandi previously served as Deputy Commissioner for the New York State Division of Human Rights. A political scientist, he is an Adjunct Professor of Public Administration at Pace University and John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY).

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White Plains, NY (June 2024) The Hudson Gateway Association of REALTORS® (HGAR), along with six other REALTOR® Associations, recently held their 3^rd  Annual Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Summit at the Newark Liberty International Airport Marriott in Newark, NJ.

HGAR teamed up with the National Association of REALTORS®, the New York State Association of REALTORS®, the New Jersey REALTORS®, the North Central Jersey Association of REALTORS®, the Greater Bergen Association of REALORS® and the Greater Rochester Association of REALTORS® to create this two-day presentation.

The goal of the Summit was to build curiosity while exploring understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusions within personal and professional careers. It was also designed to help attendees develop the skills needed to be successful and create actionable steps towards impactful change.

This year’s keynote speaker, Thasunda Brown Duckett, Time Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People of 2024” and President and CEO of TIAA, shared the stage with Michelle Mills Clement, CEO of Chicago Association of REALTORS®, where they discussed financial inclusion, retirement, building generational wealth, and importance of financial inclusion.

Duckett is determined to put more underserved Americans on a path to financial health and resilience. She helped launch Advancing Black Pathways, an initiative to help more Black Americans achieve sustained economic success. She’s also striving to help the 40% of all Americans at risk of running out of their retirement savings.

The first day of the Summit launched with Bias Override, an approved continuing education course to combat bias in the industry led by certified instructor Matt Difanis. The next day included close to 20 speakers and panelists on various topics.

“With over 200 attendees from several associations mainly from New York and New Jersey, this year’s DEI Summit was our best yet,” said Freddimir Garcia, HGAR’s DEI Officer. “It was uplifting and invigorating to hear a strong support of DEI from our keynote speaker, Thasunda Brown Duckett and Michelle Mills Clement, among others.” The topics covered included advocacy, appraisal bias, advancing DEI, and on the field challenges with the “-isms.”

“This powerful and innovative summit is the leading Realtor DEI event in the Northeast,” added HGAR CEO Lynda Fernandez.  “It engages members of participating Associations, while advancing DEI throughout the region’s real estate markets through collaboration and by securing top speakers and industry leaders who address the latest topics and issues impacting DEI.”