It was a tough first quarter for the Hudson Valley Real Estate market - and the real estate market nationwide, as the pandemic put the majority of the economy on hold, while everyone sat tight in response to the large economic and socio-economic effects felt throughout the country due to COVID-19. While we are slowly emerging from quarantine, many people are shifting their lifestyles to reflect this new way of life.  As companies continue to have staff work remotely, many have chosen to take this opportunity to move out from more urban areas, and into less densely populated areas. The...

Crises can become complicated situations to navigate, especially with clients. They often can bring out fear, stress, anxiety, which makes everyone feel on edge and uncertain. With an unpredictable climate, maintaining a strong client- REALTOR® relationship is more important than ever. As people are looking to move out of densely populated urban areas and into more open spaces, maintaining these relationships is even more important for REALTORS® in Ulster and the Mid- Hudson Valley area. When building and maintaining business relationships in a crisis, make sure you take note of the advice below.  Humanize your company: Crisis brings uncertainty, and...

With the new Fair Housing Regulations going into effect June 20th, and in light of the current climate addressing race within the United States, Fair Housing should be on all REALTORS® radars. In addition to the new regulations that went into effect last week, the National Association of REALTORS®  (NAR) and the Department of Housing and Development (HUD) met last week to offer additional resources and commitments to help REALTORS® across the country ensure Fair Housing updates and regulations are being met in their everyday real estate work.   Additional commitments and resources that will be included in the NAR’s &...

Don’t overlook these exterior features while touring a property. As the Mid-Hudson Valley region has safely entered Phase II, it’s important to remember that as we slowly move towards back our normal routines, to still practice social distancing and be mindful of limiting the amount of physical contact you have while looking at homes. If you are able to clearly look at the interior of a home from the outside, and get a good feel for the interior of the house from looking inside, this is still the safest way to look at houses. Here are some key exterior features...

Here's the scoop on trending interior paint colors in 2020! It’s been a different spring than most of us had anticipated, and chances are we have spent much more time analyzing our homes layout, decor and the colors our walls are painted. Painting the interior of our homes is something we can do while we are spending the majority of our time at home, and if done right, can be a cost effective way to give a house a fresh, modern look. A question on a lot of people's minds right now is what are trending interior paint colors for...

As the Mid- Hudson Valley has successfully begun the re-opening process by entering Phase I, Phase II could commence as early as June 9th if everything goes to plan. With Phase II potentially happening next week, this is great news for REALTORS®. Since the Real Estate Industry is part of Phase II of the re-opening process, this would allow REALTORS® to begin working in a greater capacity than the last three months. While this is a great development, it is important to maintain a level of safety while beginning to start in-person contact, both in offices and when showing properties....

Change up your home decor this spring by repurposing what is already in your house! With the warmer weather, longer days and flowers and trees in full bloom, spring has officially arrived in the Mid Hudson Valley. As we pack up our winter essentials to make room for our spring wardrobe, it's also the perfect time to give our homes a refresh. While we are still practicing social distancing and spending most of our time at our homes, it’s the perfect time to make some improvements to our homes by working with what we already have. Here are some ideas...

Now that we've passed May 15th, certain businesses and activities will be able to open back up. There will still be safety guidelines in place, such as wearing masks, social distancing, and limiting the amount of people allowed in or near a business, in order to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 as we start to move back to normal life. While everything is still up in the air as to whether or not we will be able to move in phases, here is some REALTOR® info after NY PAUSE as we navigate the next chapter post COVID-19 lockdown.  As...

While the stay at home order for New York State is currently set to lift May 15th, for many, this may seem like there is light finally at the end of the tunnel. We have all been adjusting to the ‘new normal’ for the past two months, and for many, this has not been an easy adjustment. Especially for the Real Estate Industry, where stay at home orders have meant no in-person showings or open houses, and working with clients via video calls and virtual tours. In seeing the silver lining during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has given REALTORS® time...

As we round out Fair Housing month, which is celebrated each April, it is important to note the updates to from the New York Department of State regarding Fair Housing and Advertising Regulations in the Real Estate Market. As we are still in a statewide lockdown, this gives us an opportunity to take the time to read about all the Real Estate industry news, in the safety of our own homes. With the Long Island Fair Housing Real Estate investigation coming to light in January 2020, it is even more important now to ensure REALTORS® understand all parts of the...