This list was originally posted by Joe Lambert of Brewster on

City-data.com and Facebook.

1. The Village of Brewster is the closest place to White Plains, Stamford and NYC in Putnam County.
2. Reasonably priced beautiful homes (Dutch Colonials, Queen Ann Victorians, Craftsman styles and more) in $200k-450k range (we took at hit like the rest of the area in housing prices).
3. Really easy commute: leave your car in a driveway and walk to the train station, which equals to huge savings in gas and time.

Today I rediscovered one of the best kept secrets on the cultural scene of Northern Westchester. I am talking about the Schoolhouse Theater in Croton Falls. I did attend one play there last year, and remember that I was very impressed with the quality of performance, promised myself to come back this year, and forgot all about it.  Well, I was talking to an associate of mine the other day, and she mentioned that she just saw a theater production at a Schoolhouse Theater the previous night. What a great timing – I had no plans whatsoever for this Saturday night, the husband was in agreement, children were all taken care of, and so, despite the terrible stormy weather, we were all set for taking in some culture!

The Schoolhouse Theater was formerly a Croton Falls elementary school. In 1983 the school building was transformed into an Arts Center, providing studio and gallery space to visual artists. In 1987, the first play brought from New York – Bedroom Farce – was a great success, and that’s how the Schoolhouse Theater was born. The list of actors and authors, who helped to put the Schoolhouse on the map, includes Karen Valentine, Polly Draper, David Margulies, Joyce Carol Oates, Hilma Wolitzer, Sybille Pearson, and the late Paul Zindel among others.

The real estate market in Brewster showed some healthy signs in February 2010. Namely, the number of closings shot up 33% comparing with January 2010, and the number of all properties currently listed for sale decreased 4%. Of course, it is not much in a greater scheme of things, and the absorption rate (or the number of months it will take to sell all inventory in Brewster without anything new coming on the market) is still high, but one can always hope, right?

Lately, while in the office scheduling appointments and answering the inquiries from potential buyers, I noticed a great increase of activity. Just a few weeks ago, on a good day we were making 2-5 appointments a day, now it can be up to 15-20. Those are for real estate agents showing their clients properties and making offers! More prospective buyers are also calling in and inquiring about our listings. These are definitely the signs of improvement.

Now, let’s get back to Brewster real estate market snapshot. Remember that the data below is for single family houses only in Brewster school district.

Signs of spring market in Northern Westchester/Putnam real estate:

• showing houses on Saturday;
• going back for a second showing on Sunday at 7:45 am (!);
• getting two inquiries from buyers while answering the phones in the office on Sunday;
• taking new clients out on Sunday to look at rentals;
• making an offer on a bank-owned property on Sunday night and getting it accepted on Monday;
• showing houses on Tuesday morning (that’s today);
• having 3 separate sets of clients scheduled for Wednesday (tomorrow), with first one at 9:30 am and last one at 7 pm!

The pace of sales has slowed down considerably in Somers’ Heritage Hills in February 2010. There were only 3 sales recorded in February ’10 as opposed to 9 sales in January ’10 and 16 in December ’09! Of course, we could blame the cold and wet weather in February, however, it usually takes 30-45 days from accepted offer to the closing table, so the contracts would have to be signed much earlier than February…

The current inventory in Heritage Hills consists of 38 units on the market, and absorption rate now stands at 4 months (this is how long it will take to sell off everything that’s currently listed without any new units coming on the market). Sellers’ market in Heritage Hills as I proclaimed just a few months ago, is now officially gone and history.

Your home for the summer?

68 Cooledge Drive, Brewster NY 10509

68 Cooledge Drive

Seasonal Rental (May – August 2010)

Cape Cod: 3 BR/2 BTH/1476 sq ft/0.34 acres

Terms: Furnished, all utilities included

Price: $2,000/month

MLS #3006240

This comfortable and well taken care of home is located in Brewster (NY), within walking distance to Lake Tonetta. It is offered for rent for summer 2010 starting in May.

Here are the quick February ’10 numbers of real estate sales in Northern Westchester and Putnam counties (detailed breakdown by individual school district is coming soon).

Farm in Northern Westchester

Northern Westchester (Somers, North Salem, Katonah, Bedford, Chappaqua)

Single Family Homes Units Sold: 36
Single Family Homes Average Sales Price: $1,173,351
Single Family Homes Median Sales Price: $950,000
Single Family Homes Average Days on Market: 187

“Fewer People Late Paying Mortgage” New York Times 2/20/10

“Beginning of the end for housing crisis? Delinquency rate and foreclosure starts drop; loans in foreclosure hit new high” Market Watch 2/28/10

“The math on mortgage relief. How lenders decide whether to modify your mortgage” Market Watch 2/19/10

“Should you buy now before mortgage rates rise?” New York Times 2/17/10

“Take Three: Will Congress Extend the Home Buyer Tax Credit?” Wall Street Journal 2/22/10

“Duck! Watch out for falling home prices” CNN Money, 2/25/10

“Housing Prices Fall at Slower Pace” Wall Street Journal 2/24/10

“Dry Your Eyes and Lower the Price” New York Times 2/17/10

“Selling or Buying a Home With a Loan Under Water” New York Times 2/22/10

WELCOME HOME TO

99 Cherry Hill Road in Carmel!

99 Cherry Hill Rd, Carmel NY 10512

Style: Cape Cod, built 1956

Size: 2297 sq ft, 4 Bedrooms with 2 Full Baths

Lot size: 2 flat park-like acres

Parking: 2 car detached garage

Offered for sale at $449,000 (MLS #2928165)