The Hamlet of Hewlett by Chana Bienstock

As I point my compass eastward, I find myself in Hewlett, Long Island. Hewlett, in reality is not a town, but a hamlet in Nassau County. The population exceeds 7,000. There are, however, villages within Hewlett itself. They are Hewlett Bay Park, Hewlett Harbor and Hewlett Neck. Hewlett was named after George Hewlett, who came to America from Buckinghamshire, England in the late 1600’s. It was renamed Fenhurst in 1892, only to be name Hewlett once again by a descendant of George Hewlett who donated land to the LIRR on the condition that the name be reinstated.

What attracts someone to move to Hewlett? It’s no secret the Hewlett/Woodmere school district boasts its excellent scores as one of the top school district in the state of New York. Students who graduate from Hewlett/Woodmere high schools are usually accepted to the most prestigious colleges and universities in the nation. The area also has a beautiful new library. Now, in its 60th year, the library contains over 200, 000 books. It caters to both Hewlett and Woodmere residents with its many programs geared for toddlers, children, teens, adults and seniors.

Another attraction I truly enjoy in Hewlett is Grant Park. Located on Sheriden Blvd. off of Broadway, it is a very easy commute from Brooklyn, Queens and West Hempstead. We enjoy the park all year round, be it ice skating in the winter or running through the sprinklers on a hot summer day. There is a playground geared for different age groups and a beautiful bike path for the older ones to enjoy the scenic route around the entire park.

Hewlett Bay is also a great place to visit during the summer. There is a pool, a playground and of course the bay which leads into the Atlantic. The cost is quite low for Nassau County residents. The bay has something for everyone.

Hewlett is also known for its beautiful homes. Most homes in the area are older built on magnificent properties. Prices of the homes for sales are quite vast. It can range anywhere from 400,000 to $4 million. I would recommend touring the villages of Hewlett Bay Park, Hewlett Harbor and Hewlett Neck and view the spectacular architecture of the homes. Whether by bike, auto or foot, it is surely worth the tour.

Hewlett is a beautiful neighborhood where its residents feel a strong sense of community and are very proud of their town. They take pride of their residences, streets and parks and I must say, it really does show!

Cedarhurst, Then & Now- By Ann Bienstock

Since the List publication is primarily distributed in the Five Towns area, I have decided to write about the history of the Five Towns, focusing each week on one particular town. Despite its name, though, none of the communities are actually towns. The Five Towns is actually a conglomerate of the “towns” of Cedarhurst, Lawrence, Inwood, Hewlett & Woodmere. It was because of their similarities that they were combined into this group. However, by the year 1910, the population of Cedarhurst had expanded to such great proportion that on September 16th, it became an incorporated village. It had its own court system, board of trustees, tax department and building department. The Village of Lawrence also eventually became an incorporated village. The remaining three towns have remained hamlets. This week, I will concentrate on Cedarhurst.

The village of Cedarhurst was originally settled before the War of Independence. According to local lore, Cedarhurst took its name from the grove (‘hurst’) of cedar trees near the post office. It was first inhabited by Native Americans and then by farmers, slaves and wealthy landowners from Great Britain. The entire Five Towns are surrounding Cedarhurst was occupied by British troops.

Cedarhurst today has over 6000 residents and resides over one square mile. It is a vital commercial area and a cultural hub of the South Shore of Long Island. It is knows for its historic museums, public & private golf and tennis clubs, and four season recreational facilities. It offers quick access to beaches, and is within close proximity to an international airport. Finally, it attracts Long Islanders from its surrounding towns; be it for the famous fashion and dining center found on Central Avenue or its Tuesday night concerts series situated in the Cedarhurst Park.

I was privileged to recently interview Mayor Andrew J. Parise, the mayor, (otherwise knows as Town President). Hearing his personal biography as well as hearing the village’s history was quite fascinating.

The mayor of Cedarhurst was born & raised in one of the five towns; Inwood. He attended Inwood grammar school, Lawrence Middle School and graduated from Lawrence High School. Immediately after graduation, he enlisted into the army where he so valiantly fought in World War II for three harsh years. He fought in many countries such as France, Germany and Czechoslovakia. The numerous medals of honor hanging in his office in the Village Hall are a testimony of his bravery, courage and devotion to his country. Mr. Parise moved to Cedarhust in 1946 where he currently resides. During those years, the area was mostly wooded lands where wealthy landowners from Great Britain resided. Mr. Parise lived in a stable house owned by Lord Estate. Each estate consisted of a few acres of land.

Mayor Parise was always involved in politics; on the local level and well as the state. He was active in the VFW and community affaris and chief of staff in the Town of Hempstead of seven different administrations. He was asked to join on the village board in 1971 and was involved ever since.

The mayor has been very instrumental in revolutionizing the Village of Cedarhurst. Projects such as the Cedarhurst Memorial Plaza, the Cedarhurst Park Revitalization Program, the revitalization of the business district and the Tuesday night concerts under the gazebo are example of activities spearheaded by the mayor. The mayor constantly tours the village keeping a watchful eye on the business district and does his best to fill vacant shops, while keeping its roads well lit and clean.

Cedarhurst is a “great place to live, work and play.” It is an upscale village with many amenities available for everyone. Yet, it is still small enough that people know one another. Cedarhurst is certainly a unique village where it has kept its old world charm of yesteryear combined with its modern characteristics and technology of today.

Ten Characteristics of a Great Realtor

Ten Characteristics of a Great Realtor

1) A great Realtor has time for you. They manage your home sale or purchase personally and are the single point of contact for you. They answer your calls within a few hours (or minutes) and make you feel as though yours is the only home sale or purchase on which they are working. Your sale is never delegated to an assistant for important tasks.

2) A great Realtor shows you how they are going to market your house using a completely integrated marketing plan that includes, print, a strong internet presence, and word of mouth. Over 90% of first time home buyers go to the internet first. What kind of internet marketing do they do? How updated and easy to navigate is their website? How many hits does their site get on a daily basis?

3) The best Realtors are honest about the price they expect your home to command. The Realtor who tells you your house has the highest value is not necessarily the Realtor who will get you the most money. It is well known among Realtors that there are Realtors who ‘buy the listing’ by telling you an artificially indefensible number you want to hear, not one that the market may bear.

4) Hire a Realtor who walks the walk, not just one who talks the talk. It is amazing the number of Realtors who rent the house in which they live. A December 2008 study by Realtor magazine said only 41% of all Realtors own investment property. Would you hire a stock broker who owned no stock? Until a Realtor has been in your shoes, they cannot fully advise you.

5) A great Realtor belongs to a reputable brokerage. The brokerage represents the Realtor’s support structure for you. Do they have a market presence that can attract buyers? Do they offer their Realtors legal support, training and advertising assistance that can insure your house is sold in a legally sound manner and for the highest price? Most importantly, what do past clients have to say about them? Do they have a Testimonials page on their site or the ability to give multiple recent referrals?

6) A great Realtor earns every cent of their commission and strives to keep it as vehemently as they strives to get you the highest possible price for your home. If Discount Realtors are so quick to discount their own fees, how do you think they will be in standing up for you during a hard negotiation to get you a great price for your home?

7) A great Realtor knows your neighborhood. They can quote the statistics of what is selling, why and where. They know the schools, the stores, the places of worship, the traffic patterns and what the hot issues for the town are. They know how far the parks are from your home. In short, they know everything about your neighborhood so they can do the best job of selling your home.

8) A great Realtor has a track record of successful negotiations. When you interview a Realtor, ask them to recount a story or two about a really tough negotiation they have had and how they succeeded in getting what their client wanted. If you get a deer in the headlight type response to this question pick another Realtor.

9) A great Realtor probably has some statistics to prove they're the #1 Realtor in their area. Ask them to provide 3rd party documentation of how many sales they've done in the last year or so, and have them compare it to other Realtors in your area. If they cannot provide this information to you, or don't want to, then they have something to hide.

10) A great Realtor gives you a defensible, comprehensive market analysis to support their price and marketing recommendation.



If you are selling your home and you're looking for an honest broker who cares about you and your home, and will tell you the truth about your homes value before you sign up, who goes the extra mile showing your home even when it's an off-hour or on short notice and performs above and beyond the norm, please call us.


If you are a buyer, and you're tired of being shown houses above your price range, being misled about details, or being harrassed to make an offer--please call us. We do not believe the formula to success is to be a pushy as possible. We are transaction facilitators helping make the home-buying process easier on both sides.

We are bound by the Realtors Code of Ethics and we adhere to it at all times. Click on this link to read the Realtors Code of Ethics.

http://www.realtor.org/mempolweb.nsf/pages/code

We are Members of MLS, The Long Island Board of Realtors, New York State Association of Realtor and the National Association of Realtors.

Our commission structure is competitive and we utilize the latest technology combined with personalized service .

We pride ourselves as a Full Service Agency and more! Our services include but not limited to:

-Detailed Comparative Marketing Report showing the recent sales in your immediate neighborhood to determine the highest price of the house
-Customized Marketing Plan
-Your home will be pre-inspected by a NYS licensed Home Inspector to head-off potential deal-killers at the very end. A copy of the report will be made available to all qualified buyers.
-Existing customers contacted from the pre-approved & qualified buyers pool of the agency
-Advertising in the leading papers, the internet and our website
-Direct Mailing & Neighborhood Signs
-Open Houses
-Pre purchase consultation & screening of buyers to determine the best offer and terms

The Time is NOW!

The Time is NOW- By Ann Bienstock


I am getting many phone calls each day from consumers looking for a “good deal”. If you are one of those investors who believe in the “buy low & sell high” philosophy, then I think now is a good time to consider buying that property you’ve been eyeing. Surf the web and check out the abundance of foreclosures and short sales (homes which lenders have not yet seized). Housing prices have pretty much bottomed out and interest rates are historically low. This combination set a buyer in the driver’s seat.

If you plan to buy an investment property and hold on to it for many years, you can be pretty confident you will see positive results. According to the National Council of Real Estate Investment, the average annual return for apartment investments is about 12%, compared to 9.5% for stocks, 5.1% for bonds and currently, you can yield a whopping 1.75% from bank CD’s!

Before you take the plunge, try to remember a few pointers:

• Educate yourself – if you buy the property for a “quick flip”, make sure the area isn’t flooded with similar homes. Be sure you can get a buyer. For a long term investment, make sure the rent will cover the mortgage payment, and other expenses.
• Don’t buy the property for more than its worth in the current market.
• Know your finances – banks are tough these days. Tighten your credit and have all your finances are in place so as not to delay your purchase. Good deals go quickly.
• Buyer Beware – most investment properties are sold “as is”. Do your due diligence and thoroughly inspect the property so you can calculate for improvements.


Now, go start searching for those hot deals and watch your money grow!!

Spring Into Action

SPRING INTO ACTION- By Ann Bienstock


We still have snow on the ground, yet the calendar shows that spring is approaching real soon. Sellers commonly start marketing their homes in the beginning of spring. The weather is pleasant, the buyers are bountiful. The only drawback of the busy spring selling season is the competition from so many homes available. The goal here is to make your home stick out from the others and sell it fast while getting the best price without burying yourself with unnecessary expenses.

• First impressions count – keep exterior freshly painted. Power-wash if necessary. The walkway to front door should be clear and welcoming. Grass and shrubs should be trimmed. Front door should not be warped or have paint peeling or chipped. All outside lights should be functioning correctly.
• Clean up! – This takes a trip to Target or Costco, but it is vital in selling a home. Nothing turns away a buyer more than a house which looks neglected. Throw out or donate worn out sofas, armchairs, toys, old books and newspapers. Make sure there’s easy walkway around furniture. Shampoo carpet and polish wood floors.
• Paint – putting a fresh coat of paint on walls and moldings definitely make your home more appealing and shows a buyer you care. Remember, keep colors neutral.
• Fix code violations – make sure you don’t have any open permits from any construction you may have done over the years. Call your building department if you are unsure. This might be a bit costly, but it would be quite difficult to sell your home without proper permits.
• Inspect your home – this means exactly that! It’s worthwhile to hire a professional home inspector so he can examine your home and advise you on which repairs he feels are priority or which are just cosmetic.
• Put appliances under home warranty – this gives buyers more confidence, especially when dealing with an older home. Don’t forget, most first time home buyers don’t have extra cash to replace old appliances when they make their purchase, so this is a good incentive.
• Freshen up kitchen & bath – get rid of mildew stains and re-caulk old tiles. If you have a bit extra money, replace toilets in bathrooms (if they are very old), update light fixtures and sinks in both kitchen and baths. This shouldn’t cost too much, but surely makes quite a difference.


These are just a few ideas to start getting your home ready for sale this coming spring season. Feel free to contact me anytime for more tips and great ideas. With these helpful hints, you are definitely on your way to having the “sold” sign on your yard.

Buying or Selling a Home? Here’s why you should consider working with a realty agency

In these days, it seems you can do anything online. Getting answers and information is easier than ever and buying real-estate also seems like an easy job. Just hop on to craigslist, look for anything that seems like a dream house, get the price and call up the agents to schedule a visit.

But when buying a house, working with many agents can get you into a loop, it might put you in a new home, but you lack the trusting relationship of a long term client. Teaming with a professional agent and asking him to work on your behalf makes you a preferred client, which means you will receive loyalty, full disclosure, and probably the best price available, which is not so obvious when you work on your own.

Same goes for selling a house. While FSBO (For Sale by Owner) is not necessarily a bad way to go, homeowners typically do not get the same prices as professional agents. Even after factoring in agent's fees, the amount of work it takes to sell a home tends to make an agent a worthwhile investment. An experienced realtor deals only with qualified buyers with serious intentions of making a purchase. You won’t spend your time dealing with buyers who are not pre-screened or pre-qualified and it’s easy for an agent to direct the potential buyer to places in the house that can attract him most and increase the chances of a sale.

So, if you are looking to buy or sell a home in the Five Towns area and you need a reliable real estate agency, you should probably know that since 2007, Five Towns Miller Realty has been involved in more real estate transactions in the area than any other realtor. When you need a Nassau County home choose a realtor you can trust, hop online and visit www.fivetownsrealtor.com today.

Museum Row is just around the corner – Make yourself a Nassau County day

Museum Row in Garden City is a one stop destination for long island’s best museums. All you need is your family, a day off and a train ticket.

One of the main attractions in Museum Row is The Cradle of Aviation museum. It’s a home to one of Charles Lindberg’s aircrafts and more than 70 aircraft and spacecraft exhibits that celebrates Long Island’s contribution to the world of aviation.


Your kids will love Long Island Children’s Museum that’s located in a short walking distance. LICM is a hands-on museum for kids and their grown ups, with over 40,000 square feet of indoors and outdoors interactive fun.


And if that wasn’t enough, try the Firefighters Museum and stroll amongst old fire trucks, lean about the local volunteer fire service and take a lesson in fire safety.

To end the day, hop on the Historic Nunley’s Carousel that was built in 1912 and recently moved to its new home in museum row:



If If you're thinking about moving to Garden city in Nassau County or anywhere else in the Greater Five Towns of Long Island, including Cedarhurst, Woodmere, North Woodmere, Woodsburgh, Lawrence, Hewlett, Inwood and the eastern end of Far Rockaway, then go go online to www.fivetownsrealtor.com.

The experienced staff at Five Towns Miller Realty, Inc. has completed more transaction than any brokerage in the Five Towns area. So if you’re planning on buying or selling a property, give us a call and we’ll help you find that dream house of yours.