Scammed!
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- Category: Real Estate
A young couple and their extended family had a surprise encounter with two Scarsdale realtors on Superbowl Sunday, causing the couple to quickly realize they were the victims of a sinister scheme.
Realtors Anne Moretti and Janice Rothman had scheduled an open house at 956 Post Road on Sunday to give potential buyers a look at the home. Armed with balloons and open house signs, they pulled up to the house to find a Penske moving truck and a large group of people unloading possessions into the home. Perplexed, Ms. Moretti, the listing agent for the house, asked the family why they were on the premises. To her surprise they claimed that they had rented the home from the owner and were now moving in.
Moretti immediately got on the phone to the homeowner, Mr. Johannes Elsevier, who confirmed that the house was not for rent and that he had not entered into a rental agreement with anyone. She summoned the police who arrived to intervene. David Arena, who was in the process of moving into the home explained that he had found the listing for the home on Craig’s List and emailed Thomas Peter who identified himself as the owner. Arena was instructed to wire $3,000, which was the first month’s rent and a security deposit, to Mr. Peter in Logos, Nigeria. When the monies were received he received the house key in the mail.
But how did this so called “Mr. Peter” get access to a key? Police questioned Elsevier, who now lives in a nursing home in Mt. Vernon. Elsevier told them that he leaves a house key in the shed on a string so that the cleaning lady and handymen can get in. Sure enough, when Moretti checked the shed she found a string, but no key!
Arena’s wife showed police copies of the emails and Western Union wire transfer receipts and the Scarsdale Police instructed them to file a report with the Stamford, Ct. police where they currently live with Arena’s parents. Police will investigate in the hope of recovering the couple’s $3,000 deposit. Moretti has changed the locks on the house and turned on the alarm to prevent any further mishaps.
When contacted, Arena explained that he was deeply embarrassed by the incident. His parents, cousins and wife’s family and friends had all assembled to help with the move, and it was a big shock and disappointment to all that they had been scammed. When contacted, Arena said, “thank God for our family … if it wasn’t for them we would be living in our car.”
If anyone knows of a reasonably-priced rental available in Scarsdale, please contact the site at scarsdalecomments@gmail.com. Perhaps this heart-broken young couple can move here after all.
Home Sales February, 2010
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Sold: 46 Montrose Road: Timeless stone side-hall Colonial on a quiet tree-lined street in Greenacres. Hardwood floors, French doors, wood-burning fireplace, Pella windows and more. Wonderful flow as entry hall leads to living room large enough for a grand piano. Modern eat-in-kitchen with radiant heat floors. Huge attic and ample storage. Lower level playroom/exercise space. Private patio and fully-fenced, flat backyard.
List Price: $799,900
Sale Price: $780,000
119 Carthage Road: Spacious five bedroom, 3.5 bath home on a quiet street. Featuring an updated kitchen, hardwood floors, a flexible layout, and a lovely family room leading to a brick patio. Deck overlooks a private level property.
List Price: $1,395,000
Sale Price: $1,300,000
Estimated Taxes: $28,501
172 Clarence Road: Stunning sun-filled colonial with vaulted entry foyer and family room with fireplace and sliders to deck. Spacious modern eat-in kitchen with door to deck. Enjoy a private park like setting of .25 acres of manicured lawns. 9 foot ceilings on 1st floor, and 11 foot tray ceiling in master bedroom. Large master bath with double sink and jacuzzi. 3 additional bedrooms. Full basement and attic storage
List Price: $995,000
Sale Price: $970,000
Estimated Tax: $22,356
On the Market: 15 Cooper Road: Unique Victorian Colonial located in the Grange has large rooms: six bedrooms, 3.1 baths, 2 fireplaces and charming center hall with lead windows. Private front patio, set among magnificent trees.
List Price: $1,970,000
10 Kent Road: Kitchen, renovated in 2005 includes granite countertops, Viking and Bosch appliances and limestone floors opening to a huge family room with fireplace and dining area. Bathrooms renovated with natural stone and new fixtures, new 2-zone hydro-air heat and central a/c, hot water heater, wireless alarm system and underground sprinkler. New roof installed in 2002. 1,300 square feet of legal finished famly space in basement and 3rd floor make this a 4500+ square foot house
List Price: $1,775,000
More January Home Sales
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260 Fort Hill Road: Majestic home built in 2005 on 1.5 acres in Edgemont. Two story entry and Turkish stone floor. One-of-a-kind moldings throughout. State-of-the-art kitchen with wet bar and butler’s pantry. Fifty-foot swimming pool.
List Price: $4,950,000
Sale Price: $4,236,250
Estimated Tax: $58,286
50 Ogden Road: A blast from the past: 1951 custom built ranch with slate roof and circular driveway in the heart of Fox Meadow. Open floor plan with a large living room with oversized windows and dramatic stone fireplace, dining room, den with custom built-ins and wet-bar, Master bedroom with windows overlooking back yard, bath and second bedroom also with en-suite bathroom. Lower level bedroom and bath, laundry and large two- car attached garage.
List price: $1,395,000
Sale Price: $1,200,000
Estimated Taxes $36,528
968 Post Road: Charming 1921 Colonial set back from street on the Post Road. House sits on one quarter acre with a large, private back yard. Expansive deck directly off the kitchen.
List Price: $729,000
Sale Price: $677,500
Estimate Taxes $14,619
17 Stratton Road: Charming stone front Tudor in Quaker Ridge with curb appeal. Oversized living room with fireplace, den, and elegant dining room. Slate roof, hard wood floors.
List Price: $799,000
Sale Price: $720,000
Estimated Taxes: $21,290
Real Estate Stats 2009 vs. 2008 and this Week's Sales
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How did sales of Scarsdale real estate in 2009 compare to sales in 2008? Here's a report from Anne Dowd Moretti, Associate Broker at Julia B. Fee.
In the Scarsdale school district, 160 single family home were sold in 2009, versus 142 units in 2008, representing an increase of 18 homes sold, or 12.7%. However, the average sales price, declined in 2009, to $1,472,366 from the average sales price in 2008 which was $1,596,343, representing a decline of 7.8% for 2009. As expected, the average days a home was on the market elongated to 184 days in 2009, from 166 in 2008.
The total dollar value of all single family home sales in the Scarsdale School District in 2009 was $235,578,517 in comparison to $226,680,649 in 2008. This is not surprising, given the fact that 18 extra homes sold this past year. Looking ahead to 2010, the expectation is that prices will remain somewhat stagnant, but will not erode further, except perhaps for homes in the $2 million plus market.
It is interesting to note that sales in the lower end sector, i.e. homes valued at up to $1 million, increased a whopping 52 percent over 2008, as first time home buyers and people who previously looked in other communities found Scarsdale suddenly affordable. The surrounding school districts, including Eastchester, New Rochelle, and even our sister community, Edgemont, suffered significantly more in terms of property values. Scarsdale has been relatively resilient during what has been one of the most significant economic downturns in decades. Our strong schools, combined with our community reputation continues to attract international consumers, as well as locals returning to the community where they grew up! This new mix of customers will benefit from lower interest rates and affordable prices as we gather momentum in 2010.
Anne Dowd Moretti
Associate Broker
Julia B. Fee
Sothebys International Realty
28 Chase Road
Scarsdale, NY 10583
914-815-0057
Here's what sold this week:
26 Autenreith Road: Fabulous nearly-new Colonial in prime Fox Meadow location. Amenities include oak floors, three fireplaces, large gourmet kitchen with granite island, breakfast bar and top-of-the-line appliances. Glass doors overlook stone patio & park-like yard. Spectacular master bedroom suite with sitting room, tray ceiling, and luxurious master bath.
List Price: $2,295,430
Sale Price:$2,275,000
Estimated Taxes: $46,346
176 Clarence Road: Adorable Cape Colonial in lovely Edgewood neighborhood. Perfect starter home with master bedroom on main level. Beautifully landscaped level quarter acre lot offers privacy and tranquil wooded setting. One car detached garage includes extra room with studio.
List Price: $649,000
Sale Price: $621,000
Estimated Taxes: $13,835
22 Stonehouse Road: Colonial set on beautiful corner lot on quiet cul de sac in Fox Meadow. Imported marble fireplace and beautiful hardwood floors. Great possibilities.
List Price: $1,150,000
Sale Price: $1,000,000
Estimated Taxes: $23,644
20 Quentin Road: Well maintained colonial situated on quiet .32 acres. Hardwood floors, new recessed lighting and two zone CAC. . New alarm, new garage walls and garage tech cabinets. New walkway and fence.
List Price: $1,185,000
Sale Price: $1,157,500
Estimated Taxes: $24,450
70 Greendale Road: Five bedroom, four bath, brick center hall colonial situated on .35 level acres; extensive plantings and mature trees for added privacy. Living room with woodburning fireplace, Cherry wood mantle, den, formal dining room and new kitchen: Silestone countertops. Hardwood floors. Each bedroom with adjoining bath.
List Price: $995,000
Sale Price: $925,000
Estimated Tax: $22,427
How Will The Market Fare in 2010?
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What's in store for 2010? Realtor Jonathan Lerner offers his top ten predictions for the Scarsdale real estate market for the upcoming year.
10) The worst is over, the real estate market has hit bottom in Scarsdale and we will now even see some slight appreciation.
9) Out with bad credit… borrowers whose FICO (credit) scores are below 625 will not be able to obtain a loan. Lenders will be making loans with best terms to those whose scores are above 725.
8) The “move up” market will stay soft as owners choose not to sell what they own, though in the past, owners have typically moved up every five to seven years. Current owners, especially those who bought their homes in the past five years, don’t have enough equity to move. With fewer “move up buyers,” the driving force behind sales will be first-time buyers.
7) Builders will not build… in the early 2000’s builders were riding high. They could build on “spec” and sell before the dust cleared. Now, unless a builder has a buyer ready to purchase, builders will not begin the work.
6) Builders will go on a diet, making mini-mansions fashionable. The trend will be to build smaller, less expensive homes that appeal to first-time buyers and to those hoping to downsize.
5) Summer will bring a slump in housing sales. The home buyer tax credit was extended through April 30, 2010 with the stipulation that the sale closes by June 30, 2010. Since these tax credits are unlikely to be renewed, sales will drop mid-summer and interest rates may rise.
4) Inventory will fall as sellers smarten up and cancel listings that don’t sell. However, falling inventory will not drive up prices.
3) Due to the decline in sales, several of the local real estate agents will close their doors. This will reduce competition however inexperienced agents may find themselves without jobs.
2) With less inventory, more buyers will find themselves competing over attractive listings. Sellers of premium quality homes could receive ten or more offers. While these multiple offers may drive up pricing to the fair market value, buyers will not over pay.
1) Engel & Völkers will complete its brand new Scarsdale office and move to it's home in the historic Heathcote Train Station at the Five Corners.
Jonathan Lerner is the Managing Director for Engel & Völkers - a worldwide real estate agency with over 400 property shops located in 32 countries. Contact him at 914-723-5555 ow visit their website at www.engelvoelkers.com/us/scarsdale/
