Ellis Sotheby's International Realty
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Ellis Sotheby's International Realty

Ellis Sotheby's International Realty

Fundraiser for Arts Education & Edward Hopper House

by Ellis Sotheby's International Realty 0 Comments

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Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty and Edward Hopper House today announced they will host a fundraiser Oct. 15 to benefit arts education in local schools and at the Edward Hopper House in Nyack, New York.

The event will feature an online and live auction of several items, notably the opportunity to spend a night in Edward Hopper’s bedroom as reimagined by Architectural Digest featured designer Ernest de la Torre and architect Walter Cain, with dinner and breakfast for two included. Hopper is widely acknowledged as the most important realist painter of twentieth-century America.

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Guests will be invited to bid on the opportunity to attend a Nov. 20 brunch reception celebrating the American Art sale at the Sotheby’s Auction House in New York. The winner may bring up to 10 guests. There will be a specialist-led tour of the exhibition and they will be able to explore the Sotheby’s Worldwide Headquarters in New York, with auctions of 19th Century Paintings and Latin America: Modern and Contemporary Art also on view.

The event also will feature an Auction for a Cause to benefit arts education in Hudson Valley public schools. Richard Kendall, art historian and former curator at the Clark Art Institute, will be the guest speaker.

Judge Tompkins Estate, "Glen Iris" | Upper Nyack, New York | $3,495,000

Judge Tompkins Estate, “Glen Iris” | Upper Nyack, New York | $3,495,000

The fundraiser will be held at Glen Iris on the Hudson River, the home of New York Supreme Court Judge Arthur S. Tompkins during the first half of the last century and, later, Norman Rose, the late actor best known as the voice of fictitious coffee grower Juan Valdez in the Colombian coffee television commercials. The 8,200 square foot, move-in ready home currently is listed with Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty for $3.495 million.

 

“Funding for arts education has unfortunately been cut back through the years and we believe this curriculum is important in creating a well-rounded individual – or maybe even the next Edward Hopper!” said Richard Ellis, owner of Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty. “We have proudly served the Hudson Valley community for more than 30 years. This is our way of ensuring the next generation of residents has every opportunity to develop their artistic skills. The Hudson Valley has a rich history of nurturing great artists, and we are committed to continuing that tradition.”

The fundraiser will begin Oct. 15 at 4 p.m. at 401 N. Broadway, Nyack. Availability is limited. For more information, to request an invitation or make a donation, send an email to ellis.events@sothebysrealty.com.

“We hope this event will support the development of creative young minds by connecting with Edward Hopper’s world of inspiration that was nourished in his birthplace and flourished on his beloved Hudson River,” said Jennifer Patton, EdD, executive director of Edward Hopper House. “A portion of the monies raised will help establish arts education classroom space, exhibitions and teaching curriculum to support and inspire all our children. We are especially proud to be able to offer a lucky bidder the chance to spend a night in Edward Hopper’s bedroom − the first time we have offered such an opportunity. Designed in the period he lived, the room will provide the winner the chance to experience where Hopper’s art began.”

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Increased High-End Sales Point to a Robust Hudson Valley Luxury Real Estate Market

by Ellis Sotheby's International Realty 0 Comments

Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty today announced an increase in high-end sales year over year, pointing to a robust Hudson Valley luxury real estate market, particularly in Rockland’s Gold Coast, the Hudson River communities from Snedens Landing to Upper Nyack.

According to the Hudson Gateway Association of REALTORS® and non-Multiple Listing Service transactions, as of the first six months of 2016 Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty has 41.32 percent market share in Rockland County for sales greater than $1 million and 64.38 percent for sales greater than $2 million.

“The significance of these statistics is that they indicate a healthy growth in the high-end market,” said Richard Ellis, owner of Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty. “The luxury market sets the pace for the overall market, so these are all positive indications for the Hudson Valley.”

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This home at 14 Lawrence Lane in Palisades, New York, recently sold for $4,287,500, the highest year-to-date sale in the market. The sale was brokered by Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty of Nyack, New York.

Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty also held Rockland County’s highest sale year to date − 14 Lawrence Lane in Palisades − for $4,287,500. The home also was the second highest sale in Snedens Landing in five years. Three out of the top 10 agents who have sold single family homes in Rockland County for the same time period are affiliated with the brokerage.

“I am proud that my firm continues to hold the top position for single-family homes sold in Rockland County and in the river towns of Grandview, Nyack, Palisades, Piermont, South Nyack, Upper Grandview and Upper Nyack,” said Ellis. “Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty also holds the highest average sales price for single-family homes in Rockland County, at $1,154,407. As well, we are up 57 percent over last year, semi annually, year-over-year in dollar sales volume for closed transactions.”

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Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty Welcomes Barbara ‘Bobbie’ Procida

by Ellis Sotheby's International Realty 0 Comments

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NYACK, N.Y. (Aug. 3, 2016) – Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty today announced that Barbara “Bobbie” Procida has joined the firm as a licensed real estate salesperson.

Bobbie Procida H&S_pp

Procida is a member of the National Association of Realtors®, the New York State Association of Realtors, the Realtors Political Action Committee and the Nyack Chamber of Commerce.  A lifelong resident of the New York metropolitan area, she is a native of Alpine, New Jersey.

“Bobbie’s in-depth knowledge of the communities and markets she serves makes her an asset to our team,” said Richard Ellis, owner of Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty.  “She is a passionate and dedicated professional whose enthusiasm is quite apparent upon meeting her and a skilled negotiator who works tirelessly on behalf of her clients to provide the highest level of service.

Procida earned a bachelor of science degree in nursing at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

“I am fortunate to work with a company that cares about my growth and success as much as I do,” said Procida.  “Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty provides what I need to build my business and maintain my productivity.  This offers exciting potential for both me and my clients.”

In addition to her professional skills, Procida enjoys kayaking on the Hudson River, ballroom dancing and golf.  She is also known as a strategic and successful Bergen County girls basketball coach for nearly 25 years.

About Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty

Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty is a leading luxury real estate broker located in the Hudson village of Nyack, approximately 22 miles from New York City at 76 North Broadway. The firm lists and sells extraordinary properties in New York’s Rockland and Orange counties, specializing in the Lower Hudson Valley, from Upper Nyack through Snedens Landing to Tuxedo Park. The firm, ranked fifth in Rockland County, sells the area’s most extraordinary real estate, from fine country estates, waterfront homes, historic properties, farm houses and contemporaries to Victorians, Greek Revivals and log cabins. It 40 percent market share for homes sold and pending sale over $1 million in Rockland County. Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty associates have extensive knowledge of the lower Hudson Valley, including Nyack, Piermont, Grandview, Palisades, Snedens Landing, New City, Tuxedo Park, Warwick, Goshen, Cornwall, Greenwood Lake, Pierson Lakes, Suffern, West Nyack, Blauvelt and Tappan.

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Click HERE to download an image of Barbara ‘Bobbie’ Procida.

CONTACT

Jennifer Zimmerman
RDR PR LLC
Jennifer@rdrpr.com
973-727-6040

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Style Setters: Victorian vs. Gothic Architecture

by Ellis Sotheby's International Realty 0 Comments

A stunning home can come in a variety of styles. Two that stand out are Victorian and Gothic revival. While the two styles are similar, here is advice for spotting the differences and learning the unique characteristics of both, with examples from right here in the Hudson Valley.

Victorian: Elaborate and Ornate

2 La Veta Place, Nyack, New York

2 La Veta Place, Nyack, New York

Victorian architecture began around 1830 and remained popular until about 1910, gaining its name from the reign of Queen Victoria. According to HGTV, “The Victorian era spawned several well-known styles, including Gothic revival, Italianate, Second Empire, Queen Anne, stick style, Romanesque style and shingle style. The Victorian styles evolved largely from the imposing, elaborate Gothic style, which appealed to the romantic Victorian idea that fashion, architecture and furnishings should be beautiful rather than practical.”

Because the architects of the day placed so much value on beauty, they combined ideas and elements of many other styles ─ like Gothic and Tudor ─ and created homes that were as unique as their owners. Here are just a few of the key elements common to those styles:

  • Shapely: “Unlike the boxy Greek revival style, Victorian homes have wings and bays in many directions,” says HGTV. Sandalwood in Nyack is a perfect example. This beautiful riverfront Queen Anne Victorian is breathtaking to behold and features original architectural details throughout.
  • All the trimmings: Decorative and elaborate trim is characteristic of Victorian homes.      
  • Pitch-perfect porch: Victorian homes, like Sandalwood, have large, wraparound porches. Sandalwood’s porch was the setting for many of the current owner’s glamorous parties attended by the era’s most famous stars, including Helen Hayes and Lillian Gish.
  • Color me perfect: Victorian homes feature bright and vibrant colors. The beautiful blue of Sandalwood is a perfect example. It is no wonder then that widely known artist Tony Oursler grew up in the home.

Gothic Revival: Classic and Distinctive

64 Ludlow Lane, Snedens Landing, New York

64 Ludlow Lane, Snedens Landing, New York

According to architecture.com, the Gothic revival movement was “a conscious movement that began in England to revive Gothic forms, mostly in the second half of the 18th century and throughout the 19th century. The late-18th century examples were often domestic and highly decorative…” The style remained popular until about 1870.

Architecture.com indicates several elements common to Gothic Revival homes:

  • To the point: Gothic Revivals feature pointed arches and windows, like those at Seven Oaks in Palisades.
  • Straight and tall: There is a strong vertical emphasis in these types of homes. This is evident when looking at Seven Oaks, which was built in 1862 and towers over the landscape.
  • Rich colors: VIbrant colors and decoration can be found in the Gothic Revival style. The stately brown-grey of Seven Oaks is set against darker window shades with a colorful underside to the porch roof.
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Rockland County Luxury Real Estate Market Sees Record Sales

by Ellis Sotheby's International Realty 0 Comments

Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty today announced a record-breaking 2015 in sales and predicted continued market growth in Rockland County this year.

Last year the firm captured 25 percent market share for homes that sold or were pending sale for over $1 million in Rockland County. In addition, it handled five of six sales valued at $2 million or more in the county.

Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty was the only broker with sales of $3 million or more in Rockland County. During 2015 and the last 10 of 11 years, it achieved the highest selling price of any single property in the county.

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1 Castle Road, Piermont | $5,025,000 USD | Sold: September 2015

“Last year saw many achievements for our firm, demonstrating our continuing success in the luxury market and deep knowledge of the beautiful areas we have proudly served for 30 years,” said Richard Ellis, owner of Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty.

“All indicators point to a growth market for 2016, given more units are selling, especially in the high end,” he said “We have not truly seen an overall increase in price, but I expect our market will turn that corner this year.”

The Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors ranked Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty fifth for 2015 Rockland County sales, based on dollar volume, with an average selling price of $781,000 ─ one of the Multiple Listing Service’s highest. The firm also is affiliated with two of the MLS’ top 10 selling agents in 2015: Hamid Moghadam and Richard Ellis.

“We are seeing an increase in clients looking for luxury properties priced greater than $1 million,” Ellis said. “The Hudson River communities continue to be hot markets. More New Yorkers are choosing to search Rockland and Orange counties for properties, and many buyers ─ including international buyers ─ are initiating their property searches based on lifestyle and home features.”

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Nancy Bashian Bunin Named Business Development Director

by Ellis Sotheby's International Realty 0 Comments

Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty today announced the appointment of Nancy Bashian Bunin as director, business development, responsible for leading the firm’s recruiting and retention efforts and growing market share.

“Nancy is a seasoned professional experienced in direct sales and sales management,” said Richard Ellis, owner of Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty. “She will tap into her vast experience- notably her eight years with the Sotheby’s International Realty brand- and understanding of an agent’s needs to recruit, retain and train top sales associates. Her diverse background affords her valuable insight into how to help agents build their businesses.  Her efforts will help us maintain and grow our number one market share position in Rockland’s luxury real estate sales over $1 million.”

A 20-year industry veteran, Bunin began her association with the Sotheby’s International Realty® brand in 2006 when she joined Prominent Properties Sotheby’s International Realty in Tenafly, New Jersey, as broker associate and office manager, driving the growth of the start-up office to number one on the New Jersey Multiple Listing Service in 2011.  She served the company until 2014.

Bunin previously served Keller Williams Valley Realty in its Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, office as team leader and chief executive officer. In that role, she oversaw the office’s development and growth.  She also recruited, retained, coached and supervised all associates and staff and opened the brand’s Tenafly office.

Bunin began her real estate career in 1996, obtaining her real estate license followed by her broker’s license. A lifelong resident of Bergen County, New Jersey, she holds a master’s of public administration degree in health policy, planning and administration at New York University’s Graduate School of Public Administration.  She is recognized as a top producer and award-winning professional, earning recognition for her sales and customer service while an agent with several top-tier real estate companies throughout her career.

 

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A View of Rockland County’s Luxury Real Estate Market

by Ellis Sotheby's International Realty 0 Comments

HamidWith 30 years’ experience in residential and commercial real estate, Hamid Moghadam has witnessed first-hand how the Rockland and Orange county markets have changed. He earned his masters’ degree in mechanical engineering from the City College of New York and worked for the Metropolitan Transit Authority as a project manager for 12 years before becoming a full-time associate broker with Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty. Hamid is ranked fifth among Rockland county’s top 25 agents in 2015 with sales over $25 million. In today’s blog, we sit down with Hamid to get his unique perspective on the market.

 

What major changes have you seen in the market over your 30 years in real estate?

Buyers from New York City looking in the $1 million- and-up range are attracted to the river towns like Nyack and Piermont. They are looking for privacy and a more secluded area like those found in the western part of Rockland County.

6 Tompkins Court

6 Tompkins Court, Upper Nyack

Our school system also has improved a lot over the years, and today Rockland has some of the top schools in the United States. Public transportation has grown and developed, and you can be sure the new Tappan Zee Bridge will serve to further solidify Rockland as one of best places to live near New York City.  

What sale have you been most proud of over the course of your career?
Pretty Penney

Pretty Penny Estate

I am proud to have sold the former estate of legendary actress Helen Hayes, known as Pretty Penny, twice. It last sold in 2006 for $5.8 million. The six-bedroom home is one of the best-known properties in the lower Hudson valley, hosting the likes of President Ronald Reagan, actresses Marilyn Monroe and Rosalind Russell, Hollywood power couple Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier and composer Cole Porter. Edward Hopper even painted it in 1939.

 

 

Lords Castle

Lord’s Castle

I also sold the most expensive home in Piermont, known as Lord’s Castle, this September for $5.025 million. At 18 acres and 15,000 square feet, the home was built in 1845 for Eleazar Lord, the first president of the Erie Railroad. It has 30 rooms and 15 fireplaces as well as massive stone archways and Beaux-Arts columns.

 

Your wife, Flora, also is a real estate agent. How do you balance two industry professionals in one house?

Flora joined me in the business 15 years ago and is a certified Eco Broker. She is very successful at what she does. I find that we help each other in different ways in the course of day-to-day business. She truly is my right-hand lady and provides tremendous support for my everyday business in addition to handling her own work.

Rumor has it you are an outstanding cook. What are some of the top kitchen amenities out there today?
Chipman

4 Chipman Road, Palisades

For starters, any cook needs to have a kitchen stocked with the proper accessories: Good pots and pans, spices and quality products. You also need space and storage, and top-of-the-line appliances certainly don’t hurt! One of my favorite listings, 4 Chipman Road in Palisades, features the perfect gourmet kitchen for both the professional and at-home chef. The kitchen’s state-of-art design features a farm sink and soapstone counters, which offer a smooth matte feel, are resistant to acid etching and are great for baking.

As any chef will tell you, a proper dining place is essential to presenting the final product. For me, no meal is complete without a nice glass of wine to enjoy with my lovely wife and close friends.

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Tuxedo Park: Life Behind the Gilded Gates

by Ellis Sotheby's International Realty 1 Comment

Barbara-du-PontTuxedo Park, New York, a refined and private community less than an hour from New York City, dates back to the 1880s and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In this blog, we will go on a virtual tour of the market with Barbara du Pont, a veritable expert on the gated enclave’s real estate sales, trends and historic homes. She is responsible for the two highest sales in Tuxedo Park since 2006.

 

 

What is so compelling about Tuxedo Park that residents often enter the market as secondary residents and then transition to full-time?

Tuxedo Park is simply a magical place. Descriptions and even pictures cannot do it justice. People who come to look at houses are captivated by the beauty of the scenery: the serenity of the three lakes, hills and winding roads, vistas of private gardens and untamed natural surroundings. “The Park” has a rich history and surprisingly diverse inventory of houses, many of them designed by famous architects from the Gilded Age, but also converted stables and carriage houses as well as a sampling of contemporary homes.

Luxury homes for sale in Tuxedo Park

4 Ridge Road, Tuxedo Park, New York

But it is not just about the landscape and homes. Tuxedo Park is a wonderful community to live in. It is small enough that you feel part of a community. You can, as many residents do, get involved in local government and institutions. While the residents are welcoming, they also respect one another’s privacy. Some start out with Tuxedo Park as a weekend and summer retreat and then decide that The Park is really their primary residence, possibly keeping a pied-à-terre in the city or just moving here full time. It is no accident that many residents have moved two, three and even four times within The Park, choosing to upsize, downsize, move for lake views or lake front. But they stay in the community throughout lifecycle changes.

How long have you been serving the market, and how have you seen it change over the years?

I have been a resident for almost 20 years and have been in the real estate business for the last decade. In that time there have been three significant changes, all for the better. First, while the residents span all ages, younger couples have moved here, adding to the vitality of the community. Second, some of the most beautiful historic houses saw a time of neglect over the years, and under new ownership there has been a resurgence of thoughtful, high-quality restorations, which is thrilling to see. Finally – and here is the best news for prospective buyers – prices have come down significantly in the last eight to 10 years, making Tuxedo Park not only affordable, but an outstanding value compared with other markets.

Why is now a good time to invest in Tuxedo Park real estate?

The timing now is really in favor of buyers. While prices in other markets around the New York metro area have already ratcheted up, Tuxedo Park is still a bargain. While sales fell off dramatically during the recession, prices were slower to come down and inventory surged. Now we see sellers cutting prices to record lows in order to move their houses, creating some amazing values for buyers, with a wide range of prices and styles, from small converted stables and carriage houses to large mansions and everything in between.

Take us on a tour of the market through your favorite listings.

18 Summit In a tour of Tuxedo Park, 18 Summit Road is our first stop. Perched on a hill, it offers breathtaking views of Tuxedo Lake. The home itself is exquisitely constructed, with an easy flow and spacious rooms for gracious entertaining.

 

 

57 Look out blogOur next stop is 57 Lookout Road, a striking contemporary built atop the stone foundation of Pierre Lorillard’s 1890 massive stable on a seven-acre, gently sloping hillside. Its winding drive ends at nine-foot stone walls, which are interspersed with graceful arches that enclose the courtyard, affording the ultimate in privacy.

 

 

21 Lookout blogNext is 21 Lookout Road, a beautifully renovated home on two acres, with a tennis court and room to play among majestic trees and gently sloping lawns. The home offers open space and an easy flow.

 

 

 

4 Ridge Road blogPerhaps the best example of historic, classic Tuxedo Park architecture is the next stop on our tour: 4 Ridge Road. Built in 1898 and lovingly preserved and maintained, it offers an air of elegance, from the marble foyer to the original hardwood floors. The ballroom was added in the early 1900s.

 

 

Ice House blogThe last stop on our tour is another great example of historic Tuxedo Park. The Ice House on 2.6 acres at 62 Circuit Road was once part of the legendary Henry S. Poor estate. It is anchored by the original stone ice house, built in 1899 and now a spacious living room.

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Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty Event Supports Nyack’s Homeless

by Ellis Sotheby's International Realty 0 Comments

Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty today announced it raised nearly $5,000 for the Nyack Homeless Project at a recent open house held for the organization.

A main attraction for the Nov. 14 event was the venue itself, The Whitney House in the Snedens Landing community of Palisades, New York, where actress Angelina Jolie spent part of her childhood.

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Eugene Kohn, center, owner of The Whitney House in the Snedens Landing community of Palisades, New York, gives a tour to Jane Pauley and her husband , Garry Trudeau, during a Nov. 14 open house sponsored by Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty that served as a fundraiser for the Nyack Homeless Project.

“We are so proud to be able to make a meaningful donation to such a well-deserving organization that does so much to help our community, especially at this time of year,” said Richard Ellis, the property’s co-listing agent and owner of Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty.  “We believe it is so important to give back to our beautiful community, which gives so much to us.”

More than 40 guests enjoyed a menu prepared by Chef Peter Kelly of Xavier’s at Piermont, New York, and a presentation on mid-century architecture by Nicolai Ouroussoff, former architecture critic for The New York Times.

The evening concluded with a performance by Maestro Eugene Kohn, the home’s owner and renowned conductor, who accompanied acclaimed tenor Nelson Ebo.

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Nelson Ebo, right, sang operatic tributes in Italian, Russian and English, accompanied by Kohn on the piano. The event raised nearly $5,000 for the Nyack Homeless Project.

Donations for the Nyack Homeless Project were collected throughout the evening, and a silent auction contributed to the total raised.

“The Nyack Homeless Project, a grassroots, nonsectarian, nonprofit volunteer organization, this year will directly donate to over 30 organizations, shelters and pantries in Rockland County that will benefit men, women, teens, families, children and infants,” said Litany Burns, the organization’s cofounder and director.

“We thank Rich Ellis and Brandon Wagner of Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty as well as everyone who attended the open house last weekend for their generous donations on behalf of so many adults lacking winter coats and toiletries, parents in need of food for families, pre-school children and teens without warm hats and gloves, and soup kitchens in short supply,” she said.

26 Woods Road, Snedens Landing

26 Woods Road, Snedens Landing

The four-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath Whitney House currently is listed for $2.049 million through Ellis and co-listing agent Brandon Wagner.  For more information on the Nyack Homeless Project, visit www.nyackhp.org.

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