Tag: Columbia County NY

Susan Wendelboe Celebrates 14 Years With Beach & Bartolo Realtors

Susan Wendelboe was born and raised in England. After graduating from high school, she moved to Switzerland for several years, where she obtained her hotel certificate.

After traveling to different parts of the world, Susan arrived in New York City and attended the New York School of Interior Design, while working for the British American Chamber of Commerce. Susan attended Fordham University at Lincoln Center and graduated with a BA in English.

In 1973, she and her family bought a weekend house in Columbia County and began dabbling in the real estate market. In 1997 they decided to leave the city and make Old Chatham their full time home. Susan opened a small food and gift shop that she ran for several years but the love of real estate was too strong and before long she obtained her broker’s license and has been happily working in the business ever since.

Susan welcomes the opportunity to help you with any of your real estate needs, or simply to answer any Real Estate questions you may have. She can be reached at the office at 518-392-2700, or on her cell 518-755-9027.

Jeffrey McKinney Celebrates 6 Years With Beach & Bartolo Realtors

Jeff McKinney is an Associate Real Estate Broker, and Beach & Bartolo’s Sales Manager. Jeff takes an extremely proactive, and “hands-on” approach with all his clients, and is there for them through every step of the buying, selling, or renting process. In order to provide his clients with a high level of attention, he prefers to work with a small number of clients at a given time.

Jeff brings his background in T.V. and Online production, and content development to the Real Estate profession, which gives him a unique perspective on staging, photographing, and marketing his client’s properties. Jeff also combines social media savvy with proven Real Estate practices to help his clients sell their homes, and he has had proven success with helping homeowners sell previously “un-sellable” homes. When working with buyers, he makes it a personal mission to help clients find the home of their dreams.

Jeff was born in Philadelphia, PA, and made his way to NYC after graduating college. After a decade of weekend and holiday visits to Columbia County, Jeff left NYC in 2007, and became a permanent resident of this beautiful and unique region. At that time, he identified a lack of online resources covering the county, and some of its smaller towns, so he created one, ColumbiaCountyCurrent.com. The site provides visitors with regularly updated content that covers local news, arts and entertainment, calendar listings and a Real Estate section that provides Jeff’s clients with a unique means of showcasing their homes through feature-style home listings.

In his spare time, Jeff enjoys spending time with his family, a good happy hour drink with friends, listening to a great music playlist, and continuing to explore Columbia County, to find new and exciting locations.

Jeff welcomes the opportunity to help you with any of your real estate needs, or simply to answer any Real Estate questions you may have. He can be reached at the office at 518-392-2700 ext 111.

Marcy Heintz Celebrates 12 Years With Beach & Bartolo Realtors

With a background in accounting and bookkeeping, Marcy has over 20 years of experience in the real estate industry, covering every facet of the business from Residential to Land and Commercial sales as well.

She believes in helping buyers and sellers with honest, straight forward, one on one personal, professional service. Born in New York City, Marcy spent most of her life in Columbia County and currently resides in the town of Ghent. She was formerly on the Board of Directors for both the Columbia Northern Dutchess MLS Service, as well as, The Columbia Greene Board of Realtors and enjoys skiing, hiking, collecting antiques, supporting local charities, traveling and entertaining.

Marcy believes that combining ‘hard work, perseverance and a sense of humor” can help anyone achieve their goals in life.

Marcy welcomes the opportunity to help you with any of your real estate needs, or simply to answer any Real Estate questions you may have. She can be reached at the office at 518-392-2700 ext 106, or on her cell 518-821-8632.

Susan Wendelboe Celebrates 13 Years With Beach & Bartolo Realtors

Susan Wendelboe was born and raised in England. After graduating from high school, she moved to Switzerland for several years, where she obtained her hotel certificate.

After traveling to different parts of the world, Susan arrived in New York City and attended the New York School of Interior Design, while working for the British American Chamber of Commerce. Susan attended Fordham University at Lincoln Center and graduated with a BA in English.

In 1973, she and her family bought a weekend house in Columbia County and began dabbling in the real estate market. In 1997 they decided to leave the city and make Old Chatham their full time home. Susan opened a small food and gift shop that she ran for several years but the love of real estate was too strong and before long she obtained her broker’s license and has been happily working in the business ever since.

Susan welcomes the opportunity to help you with any of your real estate needs, or simply to answer any Real Estate questions you may have. She can be reached at the office at 518-392-2700, or on her cell 518-755-9027.

Marcy Heintz Celebrates 11 Years With Beach & Bartolo Realtors

With a background in accounting and bookkeeping, Marcy has over 20 years of experience in the real estate industry, covering every facet of the business from Residential to Land and Commercial sales as well.

She believes in helping buyers and sellers with honest, straight forward, one on one personal, professional service. Born in New York City, Marcy spent most of her life in Columbia County and currently resides in the town of Ghent. She was formerly on the Board of Directors for both the Columbia Northern Dutchess MLS Service, as well as, The Columbia Greene Board of Realtors and enjoys skiing, hiking, collecting antiques, supporting local charities, traveling and entertaining.

Marcy believes that combining ‘hard work, perseverance and a sense of humor” can help anyone achieve their goals in life.

Marcy welcomes the opportunity to help you with any of your real estate needs, or simply to answer any Real Estate questions you may have. She can be reached at the office at 518-392-2700, or on her cell 518-821-8632.

Susan Wendelboe Celebrates 12 Years With Beach & Bartolo Realtors

Susan Wendelboe was born and raised in England. After graduating from high school, she moved to Switzerland for several years, where she obtained her hotel certificate.

After traveling to different parts of the world, Susan arrived in New York City and attended the New York School of Interior Design, while working for the British American Chamber of Commerce. Susan attended Fordham University at Lincoln Center and graduated with a BA in English.

In 1973, she and her family bought a weekend house in Columbia County and began dabbling in the real estate market. In 1997 they decided to leave the city and make Old Chatham their full time home. Susan opened a small food and gift shop that she ran for several years but the love of real estate was too strong and before long she obtained her broker’s license and has been happily working in the business ever since.

Susan welcomes the opportunity to help you with any of your real estate needs, or simply to answer any Real Estate questions you may have. She can be reached at the office at 518-392-2700, or on her cell 518-755-9027.

Marcy Heintz Celebrates Ten Years With Beach & Bartolo Realtors

With a background in accounting and bookkeeping, Marcy has over 20 years of experience in the real estate industry, covering every facet of the business from Residential to Land and Commercial sales as well.

She believes in helping buyers and sellers with honest, straight forward, one on one personal, professional service. Born in New York City, Marcy spent most of her life in Columbia County and currently resides in the town of Ghent. She was formerly on the Board of Directors for both the Columbia Northern Dutchess MLS Service, as well as, The Columbia Greene Board of Realtors and enjoys skiing, hiking, collecting antiques, supporting local charities, traveling and entertaining.

Marcy believes that combining ‘hard work, perseverance and a sense of humor” can help anyone achieve their goals in life.

Marcy welcomes the opportunity to help you with any of your real estate needs, or simply to answer any Real Estate questions you may have. She can be reached at the office at 518-392-2700, or on her cell 518-821-8632.

Susan Wendelboe Celebrates Eleven Years With Beach & Bartolo Realtors

Susan Wendelboe was born and raised in England. After graduating from high school, she moved to Switzerland for several years, where she obtained her hotel certificate.

After traveling to different parts of the world, Susan arrived in New York City and attended the New York School of Interior Design, while working for the British American Chamber of Commerce. Susan attended Fordham University at Lincoln Center and graduated with a BA in English.

In 1973, she and her family bought a weekend house in Columbia County and began dabbling in the real estate market. In 1997 they decided to leave the city and make Old Chatham their full time home. Susan opened a small food and gift shop that she ran for several years but the love of real estate was too strong and before long she obtained her broker’s license and has been happily working in the business ever since.

Susan welcomes the opportunity to help you with any of your real estate needs, or simply to answer any Real Estate questions you may have. She can be reached at the office at 518-392-2700, or on her cell 518-755-9027.

HEY ANN-MY TAXES KEEP GOING UP AND I AM THINKING ABOUT GRIEVING THEM.  GOOD IDEA?

HEY ANN – Every year it seems I am paying more and more taxes and no new services to justify them.  I have heard about grieving your taxes with the town.  Is it worth the effort?

Taxes are the bane of our existence and like the old expression says, there is nothing guaranteed except death and taxes.  The big problem in our communities is that there is very little commercial or industrial property generating tax revenue.  The burden falls on the shoulders of home owners.  Each year, these small municipalities have increases in expenses, most mandated by the government and we are the ones who have to pay.

Grievance Day, the one day a year when we can go before the Town Boards with documents showing the value of our property is lower than the new assessment, is usually disappointing.  I have found hiring an attorney to represent the home owner is usually very effective.  The attorney appears at grievance day and, as a rule, has no better luck.  Then part two of the process kicks in where the attorney can represent you before an independent arbitrator to plead your case.  That is where the best result is obtained. If the assessment is excessive, the adjustment can be made then. There is a third step if you are not satisfied and that is for your attorney to appeal to the NYState Supreme Court.  The municipalities do not want to hire attorneys for that appearance so they are usually reasonable in accepting the arbitrated number.

There is a downside to grieving taxes.  If you continually reduce the assessment to reduce your taxes and, at some time put your house on the market for what you and your agent feel is a correct price, you may find a disconnect.  If there is a wide difference between your assessment and your listing price, buyers will feel the house is overpriced and you will limit the inquiries.  I have a listing in mind right now where the homeowner had, over a period of years, reduced the assessment and it is now almost $300,000 below the listing price for the house.  No wonder they have had only 2 showings in a year.  You can guess what advice I have given them.  So, be careful of the double edged sword.

Please feel free to ask me about your property.  There is no obligation and a free market evaluation is always a good way to start your planning whether for now,  for the future or for estate planning.  It will be my pleasure to be a resource for you.

For More Information about Ann Levitt CLICK HERE

HEY ANN-We have been looking for a house for almost two years. What are we doing wrong?

HEY ANN- We would love to find a second home in Columbia County but cannot seem to find one that fits.  Can you make any suggestions that will make our dream come true?

First, I am going to make an educated guess about your house hunting approach.  With the ability to research real estate on Zillow and Trulia and dozens of other real estate sites, you have probably decided that you will contact the listing agent for each of the properties that sound interesting.  Your analysis is that the agent knows the house well and can be more informative.  Of course, this leads to you making a number of appointments on your house hunting day with a number of different agents.  When you speak to the listing agent, you make them aware that you are looking at a number of other properties so you want to firm up your schedule.  You have now lost the best opportunity you might ever have of finding the right home. Seriously!!

A real estate agent is a resource that is not always appreciated.  A good agent, when first meeting or emailing a buyer, will try to find out what the buyer is looking for-location, size of home, amenities, price range, cultural and recreational interests, condition of home, financial prequalifications.  And then the agent will, with his or her knowledge of the market, send listings to the buyer that seem to match what they have provided.  And these listings are from a variety of real estate offices, not just the listing agent’s office.  Once they start the search, the agent will get a deeper understanding of the buyer and may decide that the selected listings don’t match and a new set of parameters will be in place.

My favorite line is “I love rejection” because as houses are rejected, we can get closer to the house that will fit.  I have stopped in the middle of a day with buyers when, after the first few houses, I realize what they said did not match what their reactions were to those homes.  I have cancelled the balance of the day and told them next time we will find your home.  And it usually works that way.

What you are missing in your approach is having a resource that gets to know you, and knows you are loyal to that person in that their work on your behalf is appreciated.  Real estate agents spend a lot of time with clients, researching, emailing, showing properties, covering inspections and pay day is not until the actual closing.  Once you understand that the relationship will get you to your goal, it is time to get going with your real estate “advisor.”  Let me know when you find that dream house.

For More Information about Ann Levitt CLICK HERE