Jackie Dzaluk, Licensed Real Estate SalespersonFiled under: Real Estate | Tags: bedford oak, Jackie Dzaluk, Katonah, living in katonah, Real Estate
For a new home buyer, there are so many alternatives to evaluate… And one of the most important is WHERE. In my 25 years of experience, I can share with you the many reasons people move to the Katonah Area. Our point of reference is Katonah, but there are many small towns and hamlets in Northern Westchester that meet similar criteria; desirable schools, natural beauty, proximity to trains and highways and small town charm.
The first remark which is nearly universal heard by newcomers, is in regard to the beauty of the area and its country feel, while being less than an hour from the city. . Horse farms dot the countryside, old growth trees line our roads, farmers’ old stone walls meander through neighborhoods of all sorts.There are horse trails, biking trails, miles and miles of hiking trails, lakes and nature preserves. Westchester County alone offers over 5,000 acres of parklands from an early 20th century gentleman’s farm (Muscoot Farm embracing nearly 800 acres!), to an arboretum (LasdonPark) to the extensive offerings of Wards Pound Ridge Reservation and the Sportsman Center at Blue Mountain.! While driving through our towns the many New York City reservoirs provide not only stunning viewsheds, but ensure that their environs remain undeveloped in order to keep the water quality pure.
Not into the outdoors? We have Caramoor, a center for summer music festivals, Jacob Burns, a state of the art film center in Pleasantville,,the Katonah Art Museum, and the John Jay Homestead. Not to mention our many fine restaurants. Among my favorites are John Pratts Inn (Yorktown Heights), John Michaels (Purdys) and Crabtree Kittle House (Chappaqua).
Each town has a park system with amenities such as swimming , tennis , ball fields ice skating in the winter and summer camps.
What is special is that while we feel we are living in the “country” we are less than an hour train ride to Manhattan. We may have hens and horses and llamas, or raise organic produce. Or maybe we have kids actively involved in many of the excellent sport teams at schools. Or perhaps we volunteer for many of the wonderful local organizations in our town. The best of Both worlds, a wholesome active quality of life on a small town scale proximity.
This a but a sampling of the array of activities that grace our communities. Some of us moved up here to raise our families, other to have a weekend home and others for the natural beauty and small town feeling.
Behold the stately Bedford Oak. Said to be over 500 years old, it is a symbol of our town. It is also a tree with a trust fund!
This beautiful photograph was taken by Chris Primavera
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37052474@N06
http://ChrisPrimavera.imagekind.com
Why Chickens ?
This is the first question some people (including my teenage daughter) have asked when I told them that I intended to keep chickens. After all, how expensive are eggs at the grocery store? This actually a more provocative query than it seems…. Horses, llamas, cows, chickens, bees you name it have been at home here in the Katonah area. Most recently there is a trend toward small scale backyard chickens, probable because they are fairly inexpensive, small and multipurpose. The process of acquiring a flock is great fun and has the potential of being an engaging family project. It begins with a visit to a hatchery website like Murray McMurray or My Pet Chicken to research the breeds and compose the flock. And how do these day old chicks arrive? Believe it or not, by US mail! The post office calls the moment they arrive to say that they have a box of singing chicks. The chicks then proceed to grow at an astronomical rate. Chia pets stand down! And the entertainment value is huge. I call it chicken TV. Go, sit and watch. For the kids it is both instant and delayed gratification there is always something new to see. Toss a worm in and watch the games begin as chicks play “keep away” from my treat! And come to think of it, why is that chick that I thought was a hen, crowing!
As the flock grows, so does the compost supply. One chick provides 25 lbs of it a year! Chickens are omnivores so left over veggies and other food from the kitchen are a go and get “recycled”. As for pest control, they have it covered, no chemicals needed. Ticks, grubs and so forth are tasty tidbits that augment their diet. Further, the garden is aerated by the chicks scratching. After 20 weeks or so, come the eggs. Each step of the way there is a nexus with something larger in the environment; from feeding to fertilizing to pest control and predator proofing. For some people, the hens become pets. And for the less sentimental, unruly roosters may make a visit to “camp freezer”. It’s almost Spring… time for the new spring chicks! So will I order more, or perhaps see if nature takes her course as one of my hens seems to be sitting in her eggs with great determination. Stay tuned…
Filed under: Real Estate | Tags: Houlihan Lawrence, Jackie Dzaluk, Katonah, Real Estate
Why Real Estate is Real – The Value of a Home
What was it that was so bad about 2002? Does anyone remember? How about your home value? Did you feel pretty good about it? Any anxiety?
Well, this puts into perspective today’s real estate market. Data shows that homes at this time, on average, are worth about the same as seven years ago.
Let’s all remember why it is we bought our homes in the first place instead of say, more stock or gold, or mutual funds. We wanted a place to live and raise our families. Perhaps, we wanted a yard for the children to play in, a kitchen and dining room where we could share family holidays. Maybe even a swimming pool for summer fun. We wanted a home.
Even if stocks are down, and Madoff made off with his clients savings, when you wake up in the morning, your feet find the floor next to your bed. Darn it if the kids aren’t in front of the TV in the family room and the dog isn’t begging for scraps in the kitchen. The school bus still comes 180 days a year. That’s why our homes and real estate are real. I am not an economist and am not going to bandy the virtues of whether or not a home is a good investment. But I will say that it’s a fabulous shelter from the weather and that no matter what the DOW is doing you still can sit at the breakfast table, read the paper and enjoy that cup of coffee.! It doesn’t shrink, disappear or run away.
Home ownership is a part of our lifecycle, and where our own memories of childhood lie, at first for us, then for our own children and so on. It’s our friends, our community, our schools and houses of worship. The reality is that the dollar value of a home only comes into play at three events; when it is bought, refinanced or sold. The ups and downs in between may cause angst or pride. The shifting barometer of values at some points affects every asset. But a home offers so much more!
