When you desire to purchase properties offered at over a Million dollars, or you currently own property valued over a Million dollars and wish to sell, then you need to work with a luxury property agent.  These agents can work with your needs, and are networked with agents across the country to accommodate you.  The are trained in finding the right resources for you.  This could include:

• 1031 tax exchange professional
• travel – both local and long distance
• interpreters
• temporary lodging
• personal services
• shopping
• restaurants
• legal professionals

By utilizing an agent with Unique Global Estates, you know you will be receiving the service you expect and deserve when it comes to buying luxury real estate.

The Finger Lakes areas offer a great choice in luxury real estate. This could include a private residence on one of the lakes, or even something palatial just outside one of the major cities. If you are interested in purchasing a wonderful lake-view setting, there are many builders to choose from the will meet or exceed your standards to building a new residence custom built to your needs.  The two that I would recommend  are  Hough Builders and Ketmar Builders.

To view some of these homes, please visit their websites.  And if you are interested in the area, please give me a call.  I look forward to working with you.

Information brought to you by Mary St. George

Often, whether it is buying a home, remodeling or just decorating, we are asked by professionals “What is your style?”.  Some people blurt out what they think is the answer and others honestly admit that they just are not sure.  Knowing the answer can help the professionals develop a plan that you will definitely enjoy for years to come and will compliment your existing property.

There are so many terms out there when describing design; contemporary, traditional, English garden, cottage, modern, art deco etc. etc. etc.  You can visit sites like HGTV to  get a better understanding of design elements, see samples and even take a quiz.

It is not a big deal if you don’t have the slightest clue, in fact even if you do know your design style, I have a simple tip.  Always carry a camera or use the camera on your cell phone to develop an album of the styles that “you” like.   Your style may be a combination of a few styles, and that is just fine.  This little bit of individualism will let you stand out against the “cookie cutters” Nothing can be more boring than seeing  every one’s homes all appearing to have been put together by one person.

Add this album to a collection of pictures cut out from various magazines, along with notes referencing textures, colors and materials

Now when you decide to have the front of your home landscaped, you know what you want and more importantly, so does your landscaper.  Yes, you may still have to modify your your plans a bit, but it will be done with minimum stress and you will end up with a completed project that will let you say “WOW”.

Go ahead and Feng Shui your lakefront home with a little bit of traditional modernism, dusted with a nautical waterfront theme, planted in the middle of flowery garden cottage lot.

Are all the buyers on vacation? Did the buyers all move to Antigua?   With it being a buyers market, there sure seems to be a shortage of them.  Market conditions are showing that high end and resort buyers are out there, but the buyers of traditional family homes are lying in wait.

Here are some reasons why there should be a plenitude of buyers for traditional homes

• Currently interest rates are still low
• Prices on homes have fallen between 15 an 20 percent, some areas a little more or less
• Buyers have more tools and resources to work with
• Mortgage lenders are still issuing loans
• Real estate is still an equity builder

Some reasons buyers are still sitting on the fence:

• They are waiting for prices to fall further
• Some are waiting for the perfect foreclosure to come their way
• Too much inventory, making it difficult to make a decision
• Afraid they will not qualify under stricter standards
• Selling their current home will not bring them the market value they expect

Whatever the reasons are that you are encountering, we need to educate the buyers and encourage them to visit with a couple of lenders.  Most will be pleasantly surprised at the rates they can still obtain, and what there monthly costs will be.

Once the market gets back on track, we will likely see the interest rates begin to climb back up.  This indeed is the best time to buy a home,  especially for the first time home buyers – since they do no have a home to sell.

Information for you to use in the Finger Lakes area of Real Estate, brought to you by Mary St.George