Staten Island home sellers are always asking … Are homes selling?  The answer to that question is short and sweet but maybe a little bittersweet.  This past weekend as a Realtor I hosted three open houses on my homes listed for sale.  The weather was cooperative as it was a beautiful weekend on Staten Island so the buyers were out.  After this weekend I can answer with confidence that yes homebuyers are out looking to buy and are purchasing homes.

To give you the buyers’ profile, almost all the buyers were first time buyers, and just starting to search for a home.  It seems to me that there are many buyers who may have been on the fence, or just waiting for the right time to buy.  The home buyers might have decided that the right time may have finally…

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Manhattan is New York City's hotspot for culture, commerce and entertainment.  Many people in Staten Island commute to Manhattan to work, and others may want to frequent the borough for its many attractions.  There are several ways to reach Manhattan from Staten Island, and some may be more convenient than others, depending on where you live.  

The Staten Island Railway

Staten Island is the only borough in New York that is not connected to the New York subway system.  However, the Staten Island Railway is included on official New York City subway maps, and riders can get a free transfer from the railway to the subway lines. 

The railway is not connected directly to the subway; rather it runs from the southwestern tip of the island in Tottenville to…

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Guest post written by Joanna Kielkucki

“Thank you for calling CVS Pharmacy, this is Joanna speaking. Flu Shots are Available. How May I Help You?” 

Since I started working at the CVS/Pharmacy in the Old Town neighborhood of Staten Island, I’ve said the above statement at least a couple hundred times.

Expected since the pharmacy is open 24/7, and winter calls for more illnesses, such as the flu.  Having a pharmacy that never closes is a really great thing for Staten Island, especially considering the tragedy that many fellow Islanders have faced post- Sandy.  This location at the intersection of Old Town Road and Hylan Boulevard is also easily accessible to the neighborhoods of South Beach, Arrochar, Grasmere, Emerson Hill and Dongan Hills. In…

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The following is a guest post by Richard Capuozzo, the first in a new series highlighting Staten Island business leaders and entrepreneurs:

Calling all aspiring photographers, or art enthusiasts on Staten Island.  Did you know that in the historic Snug Harbor neighborhood of Staten Island, there is a gallery which is a great venue for you to show off your talent, or stop by to see what other photographers are producing from behind their lens!  

Creative Photographers Guild is the only Art Gallery on Staten Island dedicated solely to Photography. We've been in existence for more than 5 years and were started by George Roos, a professional photographer based on Staten Island. George wanted to create a space where photographers could show their work and…

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Living in one of the 5 boroughs of New York City means there is no shortage of things to do during the holiday season. But if you’re not in the mood for a big trip into the city, there are plenty of things to do right here in Staten Island, not the least of which is a trip over to Historic Richmond Town. 

Decker Farm

This last remaining family style farm in New York City supplies area residents with fresh produce and home-baked goodies all year long. It’s also the perfect place to come for anything from mouth-watering appetizers to tasty deserts to really make your holiday table stand out. 

The hors d’oeuvres offered include artichoke baked clams, mushrooms stuffed with sausage and fresh mozzarella, mini lentil cakes and mini crab cakes, to name a…

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Another holiday season and another incredible party, this time at our new address, 60 Sand Lane. Every year we welcome clients, partners and fellow agents to the office for a big holiday party and this year's was not only the first in our new space, but it was one of the best we've had to date. 

Keep your eyes peeled for the video - we'll be posting it very soon so you can see the festivities in living color.

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For many reasons, rentals are in high demand in and around Staten Island these days.  And that means potential home sellers may have another option - renting out. If you think you’d like to rent out your home once you’ve moved into a new one, there are many factors to consider. This may well be the best option for your, but you need to make sure you know all the facts before you jump into this type of financial and legal arrangements. 

Understanding the Tax Implications 

When you rent out your home, you’ll enter a whole new arena of tax deductions and exemptions. You can, of course, still deduct the mortgage interest you pay each year (assuming you still have a mortgage) and the property tax payments you make. And you can also deduct just about any…

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Winter may have just started to set in, but spring is not far away and that means that, if the time has come to sell your home, you want to start preparing the house to look its best for any interested buyers. Here are Four tasks that can have the biggest visual impact when it comes time to show your home to prospective buyers. 

1. De-Personalize Your Home

When looking to buy a home, people like to think of themselves living in that space. It’s hard to do this when there are pictures of someone else’s family every where. Remove decorations and pictures that represent your family and apply neutral colors and decorations. If you have painted rooms bright colors, consider returning them to a neutral white before showing. 

2. Remove Clutter 

The heavy…

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The holidays are almost upon us and that means there will be a surge in electricity and energy bills as heating systems are turned on, Christmas lights are illuminated and guests arrive from around the area to share in the holiday cheer. If you’re excited for the holidays but would like to ensure that your bills don’t go through the roof as a result, here are some simple tips to keep energy consumption down this holiday season. 

Upgrade Your Lights

Christmas lights use a lot of power, but newer LED lights and decorations are much more efficient. In fact, LED lights use 8 times less electricity than standard lights, meaning you can either use a lot more of them or you can cut your electric bill by up to 85%. If you combine that with a timer to turn…

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There are a lot of things that we think will increase home value, but what actually does? Statistically speaking, the following changes are most likely to improve the value of your home substantially. The amount varies by where you live and the condition of the rest of your home, but consider these things first, before you start pouring money into renovations that may not be offset by the increase in value. 

  1. Kitchen - An updated kitchen is a huge boost in home value. From high efficiency appliances to clean, new tiles and sleek countertops - this can have a huge impact. 
  2. Bathroom - Bathrooms are a close second to the kitchen. You don’t need a new whirlpool, but new tile in the bath, new fixtures and low flow shower heads and toilets are all good…

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