Aren’t Open Houses are a fun way to find the home of your dreams?

If you are looking for a home with a dock – this weekend is great: Town and Country Agents are making it possible to see quite a few -priced right- waterfont homes with private docks on the North Fork- for your convenience-no appointments needed!

Our T&C agents are professionals who know the RE market – that’s their business. So do not hesitate to pick their brains while you visit their open houses. Remember-they know the best homes on the market: ask them for their favorite listings! 

Click here for this weekend’s Open Houses

The National Association of Realtors stated that its seasonally adjusted index of sales agreements for sales of previously owned homes fell from 110.9 to 77.6 April to May respectively, which was also 15.9% lower than the same month the year prior. This national statistic clearly shows the power of the government incentives which expired. What baffles me though, is why the government set up housing to take such a blow…

You don’t need to be a genius to know that in a fragile economy such as this incentives are like bandaids, and if you rip them off too soon you bleed! Sometimes the injury is even worse due to this action… From day 1 I questioned why they didn’t ‘phase out’ all incentive programs.

BIG MISTAKE!  I wonder what the next move is?

Fortunately, our little microsm of a market here in the East End is somewhat insulated and is not experiencing what other markets are but the over all buyer confidence in the old American Dream of ‘Home Ownership” is taking quite a beating here.

Will someone up there on that hill use their head please.. don’t rip off bandaids in this environment,, rather,, change the dressings wisely until we are out of the woods and the wound is healed.

Don’t miss out.. you’ll be kicking your self and talking about the house (or property) you should’ve, could’ve, would’ve bought "back in 2010!"

The stats are in, the number of home sale buyers who agree to purchase a previously occupied home rose sharply in February according to the National Association of Realtors– far greater than predictions– The seasonally adjusted index of "O&A’s" (offer & acceptance) rose 8.2% from January to a February reading of 97.6. January’s reading was 90.2.

Here on Long Island we saw 1,555 contracts in February which was a 28.5% increase from January’s 1,210 according to MLS. These MLSLI (Multiple Listing Service of Long Island) are comparable to the NAR (National Association of Realtors) report on O&A’s accross the country.

the spring selling season is off to the races… don’t get left in the dust!

It may seem so confusing with home sale reports coming at you from all different sources with all different results.

So what is a seller and buyer to do?? As a Real Estate Broker who has been publishing Market Reports for many years,, the answer to that is.. #1- know your source #2- get specific! Your source should be someone working in the field for a minimum of 10-20 years with great success AND the reports you review should be specific to your area of interest. In our Town & Country Home Sales Reports for the Hamptons and the North Fork, in addition to consolidating the numbers, I break each report down to inspect different markets with in each market then monitor the number of home sales, the median home sale price, total sales volume AND the number of home sales within 6 different price catagories. Visit www.1TownandCountry.com/Reports to view Quarterly and Year End Reports.

While nationally, reports have indicated home sales were down, the National Association of Realtors just published a report indicating MLS statistics show Long Island realized a 13.4% jump in home sales in February 2010 compared with the same period one year earlier.

In fact all of Long Island was up 13% year over year.

Such information is crutial for both buyers & sellers when entering negotiations. Buyers reading national home sale reports may believe they are the ONLY buyer and lose the house due to inappropriate information…

I always reccomend buyers and sellers do their home work and confer with experienced knowlegable professionals… after all it is one of your greatest purchases in life.

With the spring break behind us, the summer rental market is sizzling this year, quite a change from last year when many homeowners remained without viewings…or tenants, as the summer months came and went. There are many wonderful opportunities for your summer vacation rental and I’m finding them for customers for my next weekends customers.   

I’m here to report with great enthusiasm that things have changed dramatically for this coming summer season.  Properties are renting and homeowners and renters are delighted.  The surge of rental transactions despite previous weeks of snowstorms and hurricane like winds and rains has not dampened the spirits of those eager to see spring and summer ushered in.  Plans to enjoy the most wonderful beaches in America has created a "wave" of summer renters who are also seriously contemplating purchasing a home, as the interest rates remain steady, if only for a short time more.

As I do my research to look up listings and preview those I am about to show to rental customers, I am both pleased and a bit frustrated to find so many have already rented.  As a result, fewer homeowners are ringing my iPhone and asking me about the current rental market. Still there remain many fantastic summer rental properties that you will fall in love with…and may even decide you want to own!  

Come on out and select from our many hundreds of beautiful homes for rent…from a small summer cottage to a luxurious estate…we have them all!  I’m here to show you your dream retreat!   Remember, last year is just that…last year…we’re a happy Hamptons again!

Susan McGraw Keber  Associate Broker SVP  Town & Country Real Estate  Southampton Office

In this internet driven business world, Town & Country Real Estate has once again raised the bar for all others!

We are pleased to announce our latest aquisitions of www.HamptonsRealEstateInfo.com , www.NorthForkRealEstateInfo.com and www.ShelterIslandRealEstateInfo.com .

These 3 very important URLs or web addresses not only increase Town & Country’s exposure on the internet exponentially, which will drive buyers and sellers to our www.1TownandCountry.com , but shall increase business dramatically for our select group of dynamic real estate professionals.

These web sites, just as www.1TownandCountry.com has become, will be portholes for all information regarding real estate in each unique area… THE resource centers for buyers, sellers and agents alike when researching homes, land, commercial and rentals.

We look forward to servicing your real estate needs on the Eastern End of Long Island, NY, USA

Town & Country Real Estate, your local real estate resource!

The island’s name provides the essence of this wonderful island get-away: Shelter.

Shelter from the elements historically, Shelter to practice religion for the Methodists in the late 19th century , but nowadays more importantly Shelter from the hassle of our daily life… The island has succeeded to escape the urbanization of the rest of Long Island, and, along with the North Fork, reflects more of the lifestyle of the New Englanders who settled the place, than of the typical Urban dwellers sprawlingly urbanizing the surrounds of New York City. Locals will frown upon divulging this secret in a blog. I am counting they are not online….

So how can you become a part of this special place? Let me divulge the secret of the state of the real estate market here later in this blog: its a great time to buy a piece of paradise…

Count on getting to know the 2250 or so locals who live on this 8000 Acre island, most of which is set aside as a Nature Conservancy Preserve (and Mashomack preserve), by name: if you do it right they will know your’s. Not to worry, New England privacy -maybe reservedness-  is respected and developed into an art on Shelter Island. The island, maybe for that reason, is home to many a quiet celebrity, enjoy the natural beauty of this spectacular place.

The Ferries from Shelter Island to and from either Sag Harbor or Greenport jealously guard the privacy of Shelter Island – the only way to get on or off , protecting the likes of this golden oldie victorian overlooking Deering Harbor.

Summer Rentals provide a great way for people not from the island to get to spend some time. A room at the Rams Head Inn with its great lawn makes you a part of a Merchant Ivory movie scene.

In Summer you will meet Itzhak Perlman who leads a summer camp master class for the world’s most talented musicians-to-be. You can attend practice picknicking at his lawn or attend one of many regional concerts.

"Vine Cafe" and hangout for beautiful people, "Sunset Beach" at gorgeous Crescent Beach overlooking Southold Bay will provide entertainment and people watching, not quite as ostentatious as in the Hamptons, but much more refined. But do not be surprised to meet Grandma’s bridge partners having lunch while movie stars engage in romance at a table in the back….away from it all, protected from the paparazzi, the newst Shelter this Island now provides.

The town fathers have enacted laws making it very difficult to find Real Estate for sale on Shelter Island; no for sale signs can be placed by Realtors. Saturday Mornings you may be lucky to find some temporary Open House signs providing you with a glimpse of what could be your’s…before its really Beach Time. Realtors are not listing their properties on MLS in general. Values have not suffered from these practices, until now.

I personally have not seen value such as today’s on the Island of Protection, Shelter Island. From small shacks to brand new homes, from multimillion dollar waterfronts to a piece of land overlooking small creeks, opportunity is knocking loudly……

So talk to someone who knows the Island to help unveil its secrets. Now this is enjoyable house hunting. And become a part of Shelter Island, live longer, let Town and Country help you, providing you with Concierge service!

Remember you learned about this great secret at Town & Country’s blog first: a leg up on all the people searching for fabulous real estate opportunities: one for the record books:

(And don’t forget about us when you become rich and famous…..) this is a bit of a long blog: the secret is at the end of the blog!  Shhhh don’t tell anyone…….

The charming and historic maritime village of Greenport, judged by the number and caliber of new business openings lately, this Town is booming. Without any exaggeration. Much of the news centers around the theme of what everybody loves on the North Fork: Fish(ing), Food (Agritourism) and Wine, and the places to go and stay to take it all in. Greenport is in the center of all that is happening in the North Fork, New York’s Wine Country.

Take for example the Greenport Harbor Brewing company opened this summer…just behind Front Street, next to what looks like a Wild West Jail building where Greenport’s mischievous would have been housed temporarily in the past, the hustle-bustle tourist part of the Town.

A bit further down Main Street, just past Frank Purita’s  D’Latte (where you will enjoy the best Italian Gelato West of Rome) Nello Balan, culinary celebrity in Manhattan and South Hampton, is re-opening the former "Isle de Beaute" restaurant as "Seaweed".  Construction is underway there, and ground was broken for the large scale renovation at the site just accross the street where Nello will open a Hotel

 One of my favorite restaurateur’s on the North Fork, Dennis McDermott (FOH) and Hank Tomashevski (who scored a 7 year hit with the Frisky Oyster Restaurant ) opened Frisky Oyster Bar on Front Street…. with dining "al fresco" finally on Front Street overlooking the Carroussel and Souhold Bay/Greenport Harbor.

Mayor Kapell oversaw years of redevelopment of the Greenport Waterfront resulting in a quite attractive and family friendly down town in this spectacular yet cozy Maritime Town.

Family style "This little Italian Place" opened this week on Front Street with Southold’s favourite Italian Son, Joe Pagano returning to cooking family style Italian food and again, finally al fresco dining! And all these great places from simple to expensive are all walking distance in a 3 or 4 block area of Greenport’s waterfront Down-town. And don’t forget the welcome additions from previous years: (without getting into the Starbucks love-it or hate-it discussion) : The Loft (& Harborfront Deli), Barbeque Bill’s,and if you didn’t bring something appropriate to wear -whatever that means on the North Fork- ladies: visit Mint Boutique!!!

So now the catch-all secret: Greenport Real Estate, with the most charming fixer uppers on quiet, tree-lined avenues looking for tender love and restoring care, galant Victorians entirely restored, or glorious waterfronts, Greenport real estate has never been more affordable, is basically "ON SALE".

Check out also the special incentives for First Time Home Buyers, which bring these fixer uppers entirely within financial reach – you may be very pleasantly surprised! Call Town and Country’s family of local Real Estate professionals for more information, or email me at jbischoff@1townandcountry.com.

Buy a home now in Greenport. You’ll be glad you did. Before anyone else finds out what’s been happening!

Greg Sandor and Paul Wegimont think outside of the box: Bridge Vineyards opened a tasting room in Brooklyn in February of 2008 -read the article by Robin Raisfeld and Rob Patronite, New York Magazine’s Restaurant Openings section for their North Fork wines from their Cutchogue vineyard.

As mentioned in various press releases and articles, The U.S open in Bethpage next month has chosen the Bridge Vineyards 2007 Estate Chardonnay and same vintage Merlot (made from grapes grown in the Cutchogue vineyard) as the only wine that will be sold in the Hospitality tents… a big deal. After only a few years of hard and smart work this is a crowning achievement and people should take notice.

To quote my friend Chris Baiz -owner of one of the North Fork most beautiful bay-front vineyards- "The Old Field" and president of the Long Island Wine Council from an article in the Suffolk Times: "Bridge Vineyard’s gain is the entire  North Fork Wine Industry’s gain".

Remember when Mondavi and Gallo were the only producers of jug wines in Napa and Sonoma and people were saying California wines would never compete with European wines….only a few decades back? The North Fork has now arrived as a wine region and agri-tourism destination.

Time to re-visit the North Fork and its vineyards if you haven’t had that wonderful experience in while! Visit www.northfork.org for any travel info you may need.

And of course, this wouldn’t be me if I wouldn’t just remind you about that happened to the values of Napa and Sonoma Real Estate as the wine region became a success…And in California you don’t even have the wonderful waterfronts we are so blessed with on the North Fork and in the Hamptons with worldclass beaches, fishing and epicurean lifestyle dining, only an hour and a half or so from Manhattan’s Midtown tunnel. You can take the Jitney or the Train, or take a leisurely drive.

So let the locals at Town and Country show you around and explain what the North Fork is all about these days; you’ll fall in love and want to own a piece of it! Or try it out by renting for the Summer. Either way, email me for any information jbischoff@1townandcountry.com or call me at 631 765 0500