Archive for the 'Community Issues' Category
Lakefront Changes on Keuka Lake
February 6th, 2010 categories: Community Issues, Information - Other Areas, Keuka Lake, Restaurants
As in most areas, there are usually landmarks that just seem to have been there forever. The same holds true for Keuka Lake in the Finger Lakes. There was once a little (and I mean little) store on the East side of Keuka Lake called “Froggys“. You knew you were there because it had a huge green frog outside of the store. Everyone knew what you were talking about when you said Froggys, and just as important, they knew what area of the lake you were referring to. The place was sold and the frog became history. Towards the end of its existence, the old store had become one of those places that made you question whether it was even open. You know, something you would see in the movies.
Along came a young forward thinking man that decided to tear the old place down, build a new, larger, cleaner and more updated facility, and offer a deli. Since this stretch of road covers around 20 miles from Penn Yan to Hammondsport without any other stores, I see this as a wise decision to rebuild. The name of the new facility is “The Olney Place” on Keuka, Market and Deli. The best part about it for the owner, is that it is opened seasonally allowing him to pursue other interests during the winter months when most lakefront properties sit empty.
Once Spring arrives, so do the lakefront owners. I am sure they will all be meeting at Olneys, grabbing a fresh cup of coffee or maybe even the sandwich “Special of the Day”, and then discussing everything they missed during the winter. The area will be bustling.
As someone that has brought clients there for a quick lunch and a nice cold drink between home viewings, I can tell you first hand, they do have great food there. The selection of sandwiches will make you hungry, even if you thought you were not. The store is clean and has a great selection of items for your lakeside needs.
So when you are driving around the lake this summer, or you are stopping by your lakefront home, stop into Olneys, pick up something cold to drink, grab a sandwich and then tell Seth that Mary sent you.
Finger Lakes Information brought to you by Mary St George
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The Foreclosure Hype
April 13th, 2008 categories: Community Issues, Real Estate News
With the depressed real estate market, new opportunities have opened up for the professional “scammers”. I read it in the newspaper, I hear the chatter on the radio and see the busy ads on TV. “Foreclosures are higher than ever, get in on your chance to buy these homes at ridiculously low prices - Call now for your free directory”
Even here in the Finger Lakes area, I receive calls and emails from potential clients that only want me to look for REO’s ( real estate owned by the lender through foreclosure) for them. I do not have a problem with that, because why not. If an investor is willing to roll up their sleeves and put some physical equity into a home, in a good market, they can make a decent return on their investment. The problem is when buyers that would normally look around for a home their fits their needs decides they only want to look for foreclosures. Yes, there has been an increase in foreclosures in our area, but not to the extent that the MLS (multiple listing service) is full of them. The other issue is that the foreclosures that are on the market are not suitable or desirable to the average home buyer. These homes are usually in the lower end of the market and in bad areas, definitely not your typical three bedroom 2 bath home.
There are also different ways to buy a foreclosed home.
- You can buy them at auction on the courthouse stairs - but I warn you against that unless you have a good title search attorney or you are knowledgeable yourself to research the property. When you buy a house on the courthouse steps you get the title and also any liens that may be attached to it.
- You can work with a Realtor to find REO’s - these homes have been taken back by the lender and the titles have been cleared. The lender will try to get the market value on the home, but depending how long it is listed, you will increase your negotiating power.
There are other areas of the country where foreclosures do dominate the market, but fortunately not in the Finger Lakes area. There are still many people with good paying jobs looking for decent homes and able to obtain conventional mortgages.
So if you really want to look for foreclosures, be prepared for what most of them are and work with a Realtor that is familiar with REO’s. Patience in finding a place and being financially prepared to place an offer are also key components.
Information for the Finger Lakes brought to you by Mary St.George
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Whoa ! Blow Me Away!
March 23rd, 2008 categories: Community Issues
The Wind Turbine That Could Have Blown Me Over ….Or Not ! Talk about topics full of hot air. With the introduction of wind turbines in Upstate NY,especially the Finger Lakes area, the division has started with those for and of course those against. In the past I have taken a back seat to these discussions, not clearly understanding the controversy. As I receive more information from different sides of the coin, I get a better understanding of of the issue at hand.
The Cohocton Wind Watch Group closely monitors the situation in Cohocton as well as in neighboring communities. If you visit their website you can see video of the installation of a wind turbine at various stages. This watch group has their own website and legal action campaign and are against the installation of any turbines in the area. Their concerns are:
- decrease in property value
- excessive noise
- unusable property
- damaged views of the landscape
There is also a group in Penn Yan, NY called the Progressives that contains members that are definitely against the installation of these wind catchers. Some of the members are afraid that the area will no longer maintain its natural beauty.
I always associated wind turbines with ecological groups, so it was very confusing to me to find out that it was these exact groups of people that are actually against the turbines.
During a visit to Costa Rica a few years ago, I took many pictures of the wind turbines especially when the sun was setting. I found a certain beauty in them rising from the hill tops against a rainbow of colors in the sky. Talking to many of the locals, I found they were proud of the way their country supplied energy. Along with the wind turbines, Costa Rica also harnesses hydro electric power.
So using wind turbines made sense to me, but I realized I had never seen any in the United States. It was only three years ago that I had never seen a turbine and now throughout the Finger Lakes I either hear controversy about them or can actually see them on the hills in Steuben County. On my way to a Resort Property business trip in Albany last month, I also noticed some of the turbines in the distance from the New York Thruway.
Mary St George keeping you informed about the Finger Lakes
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