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Long Island Waterfront Homes ~ Mid-Year Market Trends Report ~ June 2008

Adam Waldman - Long Island REALTOR® (Westcott Group Real Estate Company) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 08:51:57 -0500

Long Island Waterfront Homes Mid-Year Market Trends Report

There are several different types of waterfront homes on Long Island (ocean, bay, sound, river, canal, lake), and each has its own appeal. Waterfront homes can be found throughout Long Island in a variety of towns, price ranges and bodies of water.

Because of the vast offerings, it is a bit more challenging to perform a simple analysis of the overall trend for waterfront homes. This waterfront market report is a recap of the first half of the year. The information provided will include the number of new waterfront listings that came on the market during the month of June, in addition to the number waterfront homes that closed within the month. Average listing prices and sales prices will also be provided, along with a trend analysis. For this report, I have included the data from the first and second quarter of 2008 and 2007 as well.

If you have any questions about waterfront homes on Long Island, please feel free to contact me directly. If you would like to stay current with the waterfront market on Long Island, you can either check back each week for my weekly update of new listings, or send me an e-mail requesting to be put onto an e-mail list to receive the updates automatically. My contact information is listed at the bottom of the page.

The following is the market data for the first half of the year for both 2007 and 2008. As I mentioned earlier, the disparity between waterfront home prices on Long Island makes doing the market trend analysis a bit of a challenge, which is why the report is broken down by price ranges, rather than location. The price ranges are as follows: under $1 million, $1,000,000 - $1,999,999 and $2 million and over. Using these price ranges allows me to provide a more accurate depiction of the market than grouping all waterfront homes in one general category.

These trends are for the market, and do not necessarily translate to any individual home. If you are thinking about selling your waterfront home, you should have a market analysis done for your particular home. If you are looking to purchase a waterfront home, I strongly suggest hiring a buyer's agent to help you "navigate the waters" of the current real estate market.

LONG ISLAND WATERFRONT HOMES - UNDER $1 MILLION

TREND ANALYSIS: Inventory is the key number that is driving the waterfront home market. By way of comparison, the inventory has grown significantly since 2007. The rise in inventory has put pressure on home prices, the ratio between sales price and listing price and days on market. While there have been more closings of waterfront homes in this price range than there were in 2007, the amount of new listings at the mid-year point has nearly doubled.

CONCLUSION: Waterfront homeowners that are motivated to sell their homes must take into account that there has been a dramatic rise in inventory, and there is a lot of competition for homebuyers. Now, more than ever, it is essential to price your home for today's market conditions. The only homes that sell are going to be the ones that are priced properly.

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS for homebuyers looking to purchase a waterfront home for under $1 million. Inventory is up and prices are down. Given the uncertainty surrounding the current mortgage market, homebuyers would be wise to take advantage of the opportunity that is being presented right now.

LONG ISLAND WATERFRONT HOMES - $1,000,000 - $1,999,999

TREND ANALYSIS: The inventory is on the rise, but at a more modest rate than waterfront homes under $1 million. Despite the rise in inventory, there hasn't been a notable decline in average sales price. Since there is a limited amount of activity in this price range, the numbers can be easily skewed by having more homes sell closer to the high or low end of the range. Waterfront homes in this price range are staying on the market longer than 2007, although the June numbers did show improvement.

CONCLUSION: Waterfront homeowners in this price range should take note of the increase in inventory, as it creates more competition for the homebuyers that are out there. This is not the time to be putting your home on the market to "test the waters."

Homebuyers that are looking for a waterfront home in this price range should look at this as a good opportunity. There is a greater selection of homes to choose from, and the prices have come down a bit since 2007.

LONG ISLAND WATERFRONT HOMES - OVER $2 MILLION

TREND ANALYSIS: This segment of the waterfront home market is the most difficult to analyze because there is a very limited amount of data. Aside from the lack of data, there is also the fact that waterfront homes can sell for well above $2 million, and any multi-million home sale can create vast fluctuations.

CONCLUSION: While analyzing the overall segment of the market is challenging, there is some information that can be gathered. The inventory of homes is on the rise, although not be a large margin. The average days on market is on the rise, although this was not the case for the June 2008 closings. The ratio between sales price and list price has widened.

Homeowners and homebuyers should seek out professional advice as to the current market value of a home.

About The Author

Adam Waldman is a Long Island Residential Real Estate Professional who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate on Long Island, from bank owned homes to new construction to waterfront property, and everything in between. Adam is a Relocation Specialist that has created a network of real estate professionals throughout the country in an effort to assist relocating Long Islanders in their transition to new areas. These professionals are experts in the field of relocation and can serve many purposes beyond a simple home search. In addition to being a Relocation Specialist, Adam also holds the designations of Certified Buyer Representative (CBR), Senior Residential Specialist (SRES) and e-PRO.

Please visit www.TheLIReloGuy.com for your relocation needs and www.AdamWaldman.com for your local needs.

Adam Waldman - RE/MAX Best - 631-357-2036 - adam@AdamWaldman.com

Long Island Supermarkets

Adam Waldman - Long Island REALTOR® (Westcott Group Real Estate Company) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 22:50:00 -0500

When moving to a new area, one of the top priorities for most people is knowing where the supermarkets are located. This is true whether you are moving across Long Island, from another state or even from another country. The following is a list of the supermarkets that can be found on Long Island, with a brief description of each. The name of each supermarket is a link to their website. At the end of each description, you will find a link to a store locator for that supermarket.

REGIONAL SUPERMARKET CHAINS

King Kullen - A family owned business that started with one store in 1930, and has grown to be one of the largest supermarket chains on Long Island. The King Kullen website is truly innovative. Check out the King Kullen interactive shopping list. This helpful tool will allow you to search through the weekly circular and simply click on the items that you want to add to your shopping list. This store locator will help you to find the nearest King Kullen.

Waldbaum's - One look at the map of Long Island featuring Waldbaum's logos will show that most Long Islanders live in close proximity to a Waldbaum's supermarket. The Waldbaum's website features Kraft articles, food safety tips, entertaining guides and more. The Waldbaum's store locator features an interactive mapping tool.

Shop Rite - With over 200 stores in the Northeast, Shop Rite uses its buying power to pass along savings to its customers. This retailer-owned cooperative is comprised of 43 members who individually own and operate supermarkets under the Shop Rite name. Beyond groceries, you can also order pool & patio furniture, electronics, DVD's and much more on Shop Rite's website, and pick up the items at the closest store. This store locator will help you to find the nearest Shop Rite.

Pathmark - Considered to be one of the pioneers in the "super center" concept, combining traditional grocery items with non-food items such as small appliances. Pathmark was the first supermarket in the Northeast to be open 24/7, and also one of the early adopters of scanning registers at checkout. Pathmark is the exclusive retailer of Wild Oats natural, organic foods. This store locator will help you to find the nearest Pathmark.

Stop & Shop - Wide aisles in a clean, easy-to-shop environment offering many full service departments (foods-to-go, pharmacy, florist, branch banking, bakery, deli, photo processing, salad bar, bookstore and small appliances). Stop & Shop's super sized stores offer toys, party goods, home accessories and office supplies. Many of the stores have partnered with Dunkin' Donuts with an in-store presence. This store locator will help you to find the nearest Stop & Shop.

REGIONAL SUPERMARKET CHAINS WITH LIMITED LOCATIONS ON LONG ISLAND

IGA - IGA stands for Independent Grocers Alliance. The company was founded in 1926 when a group of 100 retailers joined forces, making it the world's largest voluntary supermarket chain. The company slogan is "Hometown Proud Supermarkets." Check out the IGA homepage to search for the nearest location.

Key Food - A supermarket chain that strives to offer the highest quality foods for the lowest possible price, Key Food has over 100 stores across the tri-state area, although there are only 5 locations on Long Island (Kings Park, Garden City, Woodmere, Valley Stream and Floral Park). Click here for the addresses of the Long Island locations.

NATIONAL SUPERMARKET CHAINS WITH LIMITED LOCATIONS ON LONG ISLAND

Trader Joe's - Beyond a grocery store, Trader Joe's offers the basics, in addition to imported cheeses, organic produce and hand-tossed pizzas from Italy. Great food at a great value. Trader Joe's offers a unique product guarantee... "We tried it, we liked it, if you don't, bring it back for a full refund, no questions asked." Trader Joe's has locations around the country, including 6 locations on Long Island (Commack, Hewlett, Lake Grove, Oceanside, Merrick, Plainview). Click here for Trader Joe's locations.

Whole Foods Market - National supermarket specialty store has two locations on Long Island (Jericho and Manhasset). Their motto is... "Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet." Whole Foods sells high quality natural and organic products. They feature foods that have no artificial preservatives, colors, sweeteners or hydrogenated fats. Click here for the addresses of the Long Island locations.

SPECIALTY STORES / SMALL SUPERMARKET CHAINS

Uncle Giuseppe's - Specialty store focused on quality Italian food with three locations on Long Island (Smithtown, East Meadow and Port Washington). The deli and bakery departments are the highlight of the store, in addition to the ready-to-eat and heat-and-eat entrees. Meats, cheeses, baked goods, catering and more. The website for Uncle Giuseppe's is up and running while awaiting the launch of a new and improved website. Check out their home page for store locations.

Fairway Market - There is only one location on Long Island (in Plainview), but the customers come from far beyond the Plainview area to shop at Fairway. High quality produce, meats, cheeses, baked goods, coffee and more. Plenty to choose from for the health conscious shopper as well. Check out their website for store contact information.

Wild By Nature - An independent subsidiary of King Kullen, Wild By Nature is a full size, full service natural food marketplace, promoting well-being by supplying fresh, wholesome foods and natural healthcare products. Click here for directions to Wild By Nature's four locations (East Setauket, Huntington, Hampton Bays, Oceanside).

Giunta's Meat Farms - Small chain Long Island specialty store has four Suffolk County locations (Commack, Lake Ronkonkoma, Port Jefferson, Medford). Known for top quality produce, meats and deli. Click here for maps and directions to each location.

Pat's Meat Farms - The motto of this local specialty chain is... "Give the consumer a superior product with unsurpassed service at an affordable price." Pat's Meat Farms currently has 2 locations on Long Island (East Northport and Farmingdale), and plans to open several more locations in the near future. Click here for directions to each location.

About The Author

Adam Waldman is a Long Island Residential Real Estate Professional that can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate on Long Island, from bank owned homes to new construction to waterfront property, and everything in between. Adam is a Relocation Specialist that has created a network of real estate professionals throughout the country in an effort to assist relocating Long Islanders in their transition to new areas. These professionals are experts in the field of relocation and can serve many purposes beyond a simple home search. In addition to being a Relocation Specialist, Adam also holds the designations of Certified Buyer Representative (CBR), Senior Residential Specialist (SRES) and e-PRO.

Please visit www.TheLIReloGuy.com for your relocation needs and www.AdamWaldman.com for your local needs.

Adam Waldman - RE/MAX Best - 631-357-2036 - adam@AdamWaldman.com

Do You Hire Professional Photographers?

Adam Waldman - Long Island REALTOR® (Westcott Group Real Estate Company) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 23:45:16 -0500

While reading a recent post entitled Would YOU Say Something? by Kathy Passarette, a Long Island Staging Professional, it got me to thinking about REALTORS®, photography and MLS photos. In Kathy's post, she was questioning whether or not to mention to a local REALTOR® that the photos of a particular listing on MLS didn't show the home in the best light.

Being a Long Island REALTOR®, I know that it is a challenge to get people to pay a professional stager to prepare their home for sale on Long Island. However, even if we cannot convince the homeowners to pay for staging, we should at least take it upon ourselves to have them get their home into "show-ready" condition before photographs are taken for MLS and all marketing materials.

Some homeowners do whatever it takes to get the home into "show-ready" condition, and yet the photos that potential buyers see still don't do the home any justice, and there is a simple explanation for this. Many REALTORS® take their own photos of their listings instead of letting a professional photographer take them. In my opinion, this is a mistake. Of course, there is always an exception to any rule, and there may be a number of REALTORS® out there that take outstanding photos. Generally speaking though, this is not the case.

As REALTORS®, we can clearly see the pitfalls that people make when they decide to sell their home on their own. After all, we are professionally trained to do what a FSBO may only do once or twice in a lifetime. How can they possibly be as effective as we are when marketing their home? The answer is...they can't! This is not to say that all FSBO's are doomed to fail, or that they all will receive much lower offers than they would if they used a REALTOR®, although the statistics do show that this is true in most cases.

Can a FSBO sell their home on their own? Yes, some of them can. Can a REALTOR® take professional looking photos of a home? Some of us can, but most of us don't. Our job is to market a home, and while photography is part of marketing a home properly, it is not something that we do often enough to qualify us as professionals.

I'd like to share with you some examples of homes photographed by REALTORS® and also by a professional photographer. These are not exaggerated examples for effect. Both of these homes were previously listed and expired. When I took over each listing, I had the homes photographed by a professional photographer, who also put together the virtual tour. The cost for the total package for each was less than the cost to run a photo ad in the local newspaper for two days.

REALTOR PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER

Home # 1

Home # 2

As you can see, there is a noticeable difference between the photos. The professional photographer brought the homes to life, and made each room feel very large, while the photos by REALTORS® did very little to show the homes in their true light. This doesn't mean that they are not good at what they do. It simply shows that there are people that are better at certain things, and there is no shame in delegating.

It is widely accepted that the most effective executives are the ones that surround themselves with people that are better than them at certain aspects of their job. Just like a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, a marketing campaign is only as strong as its weakest link. Arguably, the most important part of the marketing campaign (outside of price) is visual. If the photos that you are using are not the best that they can be, then you are placing yourself, and more importantly, your homeowner, at a disadvantage.

So why do REALTORS® choose not to hire a professional photographer? There are two main reasons that I can think of, and they are as follows:

[1] COST - Why pay for something that you can do for free? I'm sure that most FSBO's would agree with this statement.

[2] CONTROL - Many REALTORS® have trouble delegating because they feel that they can do it better themselves. Again, the FSBO's are probably in full agreement on this one.

We are in a competitive marketplace right now. Many homes are expiring from the market each day. Do you want your listings to be the ones that sell, or the ones that sit and eventually expire? One simple solution to making your listings stand out is to have them be the most appealing looking homes on MLS. By the way, both of the examples listed above ended up selling for very close to asking price, in a relatively short amount of time, in a declining market.

If you're looking for a point of differentiation when going on a listing appointment, tell the homeowners that you'll be hiring a professional photographer to take pictures of their home. The odds are that your competition won't be making that same promise.

Long Island Bank Owned Homes

Adam Waldman - Long Island REALTOR® (Westcott Group Real Estate Company) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 09:08:06 -0500

Bank owned homes on Long Island are sparking the interest of many first-time homebuyers and investors alike. At the height of the housing market, prices on Long Island were often times out of reach for the first-time homebuyer, and investors had a difficult time finding homes that they could purchase and rent out without having a negative cash flow.

The increase of bank owned homes on Long Island has created a window of opportunity for many people, in particular the first-time homebuyer. Until recently, many first-time homebuyers felt like they would never have the chance to own a home on Long Island, and started relocating to other parts of the country where homes are more affordable. Plenty of people are still choosing this option, but a number of first-time homebuyers that want to stay on Long Island now have the opportunity to do so, largely because of the availability of bank owned homes.

This is an important development in the Long Island housing market, and it should have a ripple effect which eventually leads to a stronger housing market for the following reasons:

[1] The biggest drag on the Long Island housing market has been the "bottleneck" that has occurred due to a lack of first-time homebuyers. First-time homebuyers entering the market allow people in starter homes to move up to their next home. The sales cycle starts with first-time homebuyers and progresses upwards. I personally witnessed this phenomenon when the sale of a starter home fell through over a few thousand dollars, abruptly halting a move by four families looking to move on Long Island.

[2] The availability of bank owned homes has brought out buyers that have been sitting on the sidelines waiting for the "right" time to buy.

[3] Once buyers get into the mindset of being ready to buy a home, they usually continue their search even if they don't feel that a bank owned home suits their needs.

For those homebuyers and investors that are interested in buying a bank owned home on Long Island, I have put together a list of towns and price ranges where bank owned homes are available. Each week, I will release a list of new bank owned homes that have come on the market in various price ranges and towns, broken down by counties (NASSAU COUNTY, SUFFOLK COUNTY).

To make this list a bit more dynamic, I have created each town as a link. If you click on the name of any town, it will take you directly to information about the community. In most cases, you will be able to find demographic information, census bureau information, average household income and more!

$1 million and over

SUFFOLK COUNTY

West Islip

$750,000 - $999,999

SUFFOLK COUNTY

Dix Hills

Smithtown

East Northport

NASSAU COUNTY

Glen Cove

Port Washington

$500,000 - $749,999

SUFFOLK COUNTY

NASSAU COUNTY

$400,000 - $499,999

SUFFOLK COUNTY

NASSAU COUNTY

$300,000 - $399,999

SUFFOLK COUNTY

NASSAU COUNTY

$200,000 - $299,999

SUFFOLK COUNTY

Port Jefferson Station

NASSAU COUNTY

$100,000 - $199,999

SUFFOLK COUNTY

NASSAU COUNTY

About The Author

Adam Waldman is a Long Island Residential Real Estate Professional that can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate on Long Island, from bank owned homes to new construction to waterfront property, and everything in between. Adam is also a Relocation Specialist that has created a network of real estate professionals throughout the country in an effort to assist relocating Long Islanders in their transition to new areas. These professionals are experts in the field of relocation and can serve many purposes beyond a simple home search.

Please visit www.TheLIReloGuy.com for your relocation needs and www.AdamWaldman.com for your local needs.

Adam Waldman - RE/MAX Best - 631-357-2036 - adam@AdamWaldman.com

Tide Loads of Hope

Adam Waldman - Long Island REALTOR® (Westcott Group Real Estate Company) — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 08:11:56 -0600

We've all seen the devastation that Mother Nature can cause, from hurricanes to earthquakes, wildfires and beyond. Often times, families are left with destroyed homes, or badly damaged homes and no power for a very long time.

"In the wake of disasters, small comforts make a big difference." This headline can be found on the Tide Loads of Hope homepage. If you're not familiar with Tide Loads of Hope, it's all about helping others during their time of need. Tide is partnering with America's Second Harvest to bring the Tide CleanStart Truck (a free mobile laundry facility) to families in need.

This program was launched in November of 2005 after Hurricane Katrina, where they provided over 10,000 loads of free laundry at Camp Hope in Metarie, Louisiana. If you'd like to see a video journal of the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts please click here. The foundation of Tide Loads of Hope is built around what was achieved during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

The CleanStart truck has now moved on to the Mountainview Community Church in Ramona, CA, to assist the victims of the California wildfires. The CleanStart truck has the capacity to do 300 wash and dry cycles each day (the amount of laundry that a single family does in a year). Ideally, the CleanStart truck would finish its job in California and then be done, but realistically, it will be needed again. When the need arises, the CleanStart truck will be mobilized to the area in need.

Tide is also doing their part to assist in the rebuilding efforts for families affected by Hurricane Katrina and the California wildfires by selling Tide Vintage T-Shirts. The cost of these t-shirts is only $15, and all of the profits are donated towards the rebuilding efforts for those families in need. There has been such overwhelming support for this program that the initial shipment of t-shirts has already sold out. There is a new shipment arriving in January, but since these shirts are limited edition, this will be the last shipment of shirts.

Before joining the real estate profession, I was involved with screen printing of t-shirts, amongst other apparel items. I can tell you with absolute certainty that most of the $15 is going towards helping others in need. In fact, I would venture to say that at least $12 of every purchase is going towards the rebuilding efforts for the victims of Hurricane Katrina and the California wildfires.

Since joining Active Rain, I have become friends with people that were affected by each of these disasters, which has only made me appreciate Tide's efforts even more. We should all be thankful that companies like Tide go the extra mile to help people. Who knows? It's possible that any one of us could be in need of Tide's assistance in the future.

About The Author

Adam Waldman is a Long Island Residential Real Estate and Relocation Specialist that can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate on Long Island or any place else in the country by connecting you with a relocation professional in your destination of choice. Many Long Islanders have chosen to relocate to other parts of the country, but often times they don't have anyone to turn to for assistance. Realizing that this was an underserved market, Adam Waldman has created a team of professionals throughout the country to ensure that relocating Long Islanders enjoy a smooth transition to their new area. These professionals are experts in the field of relocation and can serve many purposes beyond a simple home search. Please visit www.TheLIReloGuy.com for your relocation needs and www.AdamWaldman.com for your local needs.

Adam Waldman - RE/MAX Best - 631-357-2036 - adam@AdamWaldman.com

Long Island Real Estate ~ Mid-Year Market Trends Report ~ 2008

Adam Waldman - Long Island REALTOR® (Westcott Group Real Estate Company) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 16:22:01 -0500

The following is a Long Island Real Estate Market Trend Report featuring mid-year statistical trends from six school districts in Suffolk County and six school districts in Nassau County.

The market reports provide a year-over-year comparison (2007 vs. 2008) of June home sales, in addition to year-over-year comparisons of the first quarter and second quarter statistics. Broken down by school district, the mid-year market trends reports provides information about listing price, sales price and average days on market.

By looking back at the year-to-date sales, you will be able to determine the real estate trends in most markets. Some of the luxury markets have less transactions, and wider price fluctuations, so the trend is not always as clear.

In addition to the market trend reports for the 12 school districts across Nassau and Suffolk County, you can also track the trends of Waterfront homes, New Construction and Bank Owned Homes.

Below, you will find links to each of the 12 mid-year market reports.

SUFFOLK COUNTY

Hauppauge School District Homes ~ Mid-Year Market Trend Report ~ June 2008

Commack School District Homes ~ Mid-Year Market Trend Report ~ June 2008

Smithtown School District Homes ~ Mid-Year Market Trend Report ~ June 2008

Three Village School District Homes ~ Mid-Year Market Trend Report ~ June 2008

Kings Park School District Homes ~ Mid-Year Market Trend Report ~ June 2008

Half Hollow Hills School District Homes ~ Mid-Year Market Trend Report ~ June 2008

NASSAU COUNTY

Syosset School District Homes ~ Mid-Year Market Trend Report ~ June 2008

Jericho School District Homes ~ Mid-Year Market Trend Report ~ June 2008

Plainview - Old Bethpage School District Homes ~ Mid-Year Market Trend Report ~ June 2008

Hicksville School District Homes ~ Mid-Year Market Trend Report ~ June 2008

Levittown School District Homes ~ Mid-Year Market Trend Report ~ June 2008

Bethpage School District Homes ~ Mid-Year Market Trend Report ~ June 2008

Long Island Waterfront Homes

Long Island Waterfront Homes ~ Mid-Year Market Trends Report ~ June 2008

Long Island New Construction Homes

Long Island New Construction Homes ~ Mid-Year Market Trends Report ~ 2008

Long Island Bank Owned Homes

Long Island Bank Owned Homes ~ Mid-Year Market Trends Report ~ 2008

Hauppauge School District Homes ~ Mid-Year Market Trend Report ~ June 2008

Adam Waldman - Long Island REALTOR® (Westcott Group Real Estate Company) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 21:29:56 -0500

Hauppauge School District Homes Market Trend Report - June 2008 - Mid-Year Recap. This report shows a statistical comparison between the months of April, May and June 2008, in addition to a year-over-year comparison. For the mid-year recap, the first and second quarter averages are listed as well for both 2008 and 2007. This report provides information about homes sold in the Hauppauge School District including: location of homes, list price, sold price and days on market.

While the monthly reports provide a relatively small sampling of homes, which often times results in extreme fluctuations that may or may not be indicative of the market trend for the Hauppauge School District, a look at the mid-year trends will be more indicative of the current market trend.

This report is designed to give factual information about sales in the Hauppauge School District. As is the case with many school districts on Long Island, the Hauppauge School District has a very broad spectrum of home prices (starter, mid-level, luxury), and the value of individual homes cannot be determined by evaluating broad market trends. If you are interested in finding out the market value for your particular home, you should consider having an actual market analysis done.

These reports are done by school district rather than town because school districts play a very important role in home prices on Long Island.

Below the actual data you will find an analysis of the real estate trends for homes in the Hauppauge School District.

JUNE 2008 HOME SALES

JUNE 2007 HOME SALES

YEAR-OVER-YEAR COMPARISONS

MARKET TREND ANALYSIS:

The June numbers stayed relatively unchanged from May. Overall, the June numbers are higher than the average so far for the year. The most positive sign was that there were more closings and fewer homes coming on the market than eariler in the quarter. The ratio of list price to sales price for the month of June was slightly lower than the rest of the year. The average days on market remained in the range of the numbers for the year.

CONCLUSION:

Overall, the numbers are down in comparison to 2007. However, it should be noted that there is a limited amount of supply and closings to base these conclusions on. Because of the limited amount of closings, these numbers can be easily skewed, especially when you factor in the disparity between prices at the high end of the market and the low end of the market for the area. The most notable trend is that homes are staying on the market longer in the Hauppauge School District.

Home sellers are not facing a great deal of competition in the area, although there is some. One of the reasons that the inventory might be lower in the area is because homeowners have a relatively low tax base compared to other areas of Long Island due to the money that is generated by the Hauppauge Industrial Park. Despite the tax base and the low inventory, homebuyers are still looking for value in the current buyer's market. Home sellers that are motivated to sell their home should set realistic asking prices.

Homebuyers that are looking to buy in the area have more homes to choose from than last year, but the supply is still fairly limited in comparison to other areas of Long Island. While the average prices may have come down a bit, the numbers can be easily skewed by the sale of some high priced homes in 2007 or lower priced homes in 2008. With changes likely coming in the mortgage market, and rates still near historic lows, it is a great time to be buying in the Hauppauge School District.

About The Author

Please visit www.TheLIReloGuy.com for your relocation needs and www.AdamWaldman.com for your local needs.

Adam Waldman - RE/MAX Best - 631-357-2036 - adam@AdamWaldman.com

Long Island Homebuyers ~ Buyer Representation vs. Dealing Directly with Listing Agents

Adam Waldman - Long Island REALTOR® (Westcott Group Real Estate Company) — Tue, 20 May 2008 09:55:38 -0500

Long Island Homebuyers ~ Buyer Representation introduced the concept of buyer representation on Long Island. The follow-up post provided an in-depth look at the differences between "client" and "customer" relationships, and how it affects the Long Island homebuyer. This series resumes with a look into one of the most common misconceptions amongst homebuyers.

Many Long Island homebuyers have come to believe that the best chance to get a good deal on a home is to work directly with listing agents to make purchase offers. This couldn't be further from the truth. Listing agreements create a fiduciary relationship between the listing agent and the home seller. As such, listing agents are obligated to protect the interests of the sellers that hire them, which includes obtaining the highest possible price for their listings. This obligation is placed on EVERY listing agent, without exception.

For one reason or another, many homebuyers on Long Island have convinced themselves that they are somehow more in control of the home buying process if they call listing agents directly and / or go from open house to open house on their own. But what does this really accomplish?

MORE WORK - Homebuyers that choose this approach create more work for themselves by having to find the homes on their own.

LESS INFORMATION - The only information that these homebuyers receive is the information that the listing agents are offering. While the listing agents are obligated to give fair and honest dealings, they are also obligated NOT to give away information that could help a buyer obtain the home for a lower price (such as the homeowner's motivation for selling).

NO COUNSEL - The listing agent is prohibited by law from giving any advice on whether or not the home fits the homebuyers' needs. It is their fiduciary duty to get the listed home sold.

NO CONFIDENTIALITY - Homebuyers are often willing to share too much information about themselves to listing agents. If the listing agent has been told by the homebuyer how much they would pay for the home, or what the buyer's motivation is for buying the home, they are obligated to share that information with their clients - the sellers. Any information gathered by the listing agent about potential homebuyers is likely to be used against those same homebuyers during the negotiation process.

NO LOYALTY - Listing agents are duty-bound to place the interests of their clients above all others, including their own interests. Since listing agents are loyal to their clients, it is impossible for them to also be loyal to homebuyers that choose to deal with them directly.

There are a few common reasons that Long Island homebuyers choose to deal directly with listing agents, rather than hiring their own representation. Unfortunately for these homebuyers, the perceived benefits in dealing directly with listing agents are not actual benefits.

The following are some myths and realities of dealing directly with listing agents:

MYTH # 1:

Buyers that buy homes through listing agents save money because listing agents will take a lower commission if they do both sides of the transaction.

REALITY:

Some agents will reduce their commission for both sides of the transaction, but many others will not. Those that are willing to reduce their commission are still obligated to try and obtain the highest possible price for the home, whereas a buyer's agent is obligated to try and get the best possible price for their buyer clients.

MYTH # 2:

Buyers that obligate themselves to work with only one agent have no control over the home buying process.

REALITY:

Dealing exclusively with listing agents actually gives buyers less control than they have if they work with a buyer's agent. ALL agents are duty-bound to obey the lawful and ethical instructions of their client. The listing agents' clients are the home sellers, so they must protect the interests of the sellers. One of the ways that this is accomplished is by keeping confidential any information that would give the buyer leverage during negotiations.

SUMMARY:

While many homebuyers on Long Island think that working directly with listing agents is to their advantage, the fact of the matter is that the exact opposite is true. Homebuyers that choose to hire their own agent have the benefit of having their interests protected. Although some listing agents may agree to a reduced commission if they sell the home themselves, they are still obligated to try and obtain the highest possible price for the home. A buyer's agent is obligated to help the buyer client obtain a home for the lowest possible price, and does so by providing statistical information and analytical analysis to their client. Homebuyers that are interested in saving money should absolutely consider hiring their own representation.

The next post in the series will reveal why buyer clients have the largest selection of homes to choose from when searching for a home.

About The Author

Please visit www.TheLIReloGuy.com for your relocation needs and www.AdamWaldman.com for your local needs.

Adam Waldman - RE/MAX Best - 631-357-2036 - adam@AdamWaldman.com

Buyer Representation ~ Addressing Buyer Concerns

Adam Waldman - Long Island REALTOR® (Westcott Group Real Estate Company) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:03:06 -0500

In the previous post in this series, "Long Island Homebuyers ~ Buyer Representation," it was discussed that buyer clients have access to information that could give them leverage in contract negotiations. So far in this series, it has been discussed (in detail), why it is better for buyers to have their own representation. However, despite all of the advantages that buyer clients have over buyer customers, there are still some common concerns that many Long Island homebuyers share about being contractually obligated to a buyer's agent.

Long Island homebuyers are accustomed to having the freedom to work with as many agents as they would like to. Buyers that are comfortable working with a single agent, without having a buyer broker agreement, are missing out on the advantages of having buyer representation. This may be a case of not knowing about their options, or it may be a choice to not be contractually obligated to one particular agent.

The following is a look at some of the most common concerns that Long Island homebuyers have about buyer representation.

THE CONTRACT - Homebuyers sometimes feel that they have limited flexibility if they are under contract with one agent, asking questions like..."What if things don't work out? How long will I be "stuck" with this agent?" With proper due diligence, this shouldn't be an issue.

First of all, the contract length is negotiable, as are the contract terms. Often times, there will be a termination clause added to the contract to allow either party the right to cancel the contract. Since this is decided between an agent and a client, there is no "rule of thumb" that can be elaborated upon in this post.

If you are a homebuyer, and you want to make sure that you and the buyer's agent are a good fit, you should interview them the same way that you would if you were listing your home with an agent. During the interview, any concerns about the contract should be addressed.

COMPETING CLIENTS - When homebuyers choose to have buyer representation, they want to make sure that their interests are protected, and rightfully so. So what happens when a buyer client is interested in the same home that another client of the buyer agent is also interested in? Very simply, both clients should receive the same level of service, which includes the following:

Confidentiality - The buyer agent owes all buyer clients confidentiality. Neither client will be told what the other client is offering, should both clients be bidding on the same home.

Disclosure - The buyer agent should provide all of the same information to each client in a timely manner. While the information won't be provided in the same e-mail or phone call, it should be done at around the same time to ensure fairness to both parties.

Neither client should expect to receive preferential treatment by the buyer agent. In fact, the process should be handled in the same manner that a listing agent would use if a particular buyer was interested in more than one of the agent's listings.

DUAL AGENCY - The situation may arise where a buyer client is interested in making an offer on one of the listings in the buyer agent's office. Since all listings are technically with the brokerage, and not with the agent, this would create a dual agency situation. As long as this is disclosed to both the buyer and the seller, it is perfectly legal in New York State for this to occur.

The listing agent cannot be the buyer agent in the same transaction. Should buyer clients be interested in one of their buyer agent's listings, the broker would have to designate another agent to represent one of the parties. This is because it would be impossible for one agent to provide the same level of service to both the buyer and the seller.

It is best to discuss this situation upon signing a buyer representation agreement to see how the situation will be worked out. In my opinion, the fairest way to handle this type of scenario is to have the agent continue to represent the client that has been with him the longest, regardless of whether it is the buyer or the seller. The broker would be responsible for designating another agent with comparable skills to represent either the buyer or the seller.

It is important to note that all confidential information that was learned about the client by the buyer / listing agent is to remain confidential, and cannot be used during the negotiation process.

This situation occurs far less than most people would expect. While it is a legitimate concern, it is one that can be overcome as long as all of the proper disclosures are made.

There is one more concern that most Long Island Homebuyers have about buyer representation - COMPENSATION. The issue of how buyer agents are compensated will be addressed in the next part of this series.

About The Author

Please visit www.TheLIReloGuy.com for your relocation needs and www.AdamWaldman.com for your local needs.

Adam Waldman - RE/MAX Best - 631-357-2036 - adam@AdamWaldman.com

Long Island FSBO’s and the Multiple Listing Service

Adam Waldman - Long Island REALTOR® (Westcott Group Real Estate Company) — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 07:00:43 -0600

There used to be a time when homeowners that decided to sell their home on their own had no access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), and thus the majority of their marketing consisted of a newspaper ad and a sign on the lawn. Needless to say, this only provided FSBO's with a limited amount of exposure.

Eventually, FSBO websites started popping up, but this didn't do much to add to the visibility of FSBO homes as these sites generally have relatively low traffic. The people that do come to these sites tend to be consumers looking for a "deal" (since they know that there is no broker fee), or agents that are trying to get the FSBO to list their home with them.

The most effective exposure that most homes get is through the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), because this is how REALTORS® find out about homes on the market. This was not a marketing tool that FSBO's had available to them previously because the local MLS can only be accessed by Long Island Board Of REALTORS® (LIBOR) members.

This has changed recently as brokers with new business models have created an entryway for FSBO's to get on to MLS, but this is the only function that most of these brokers serve. Many times these brokers aren't even located in New York, much less Long Island. The logical question that FSBO's should ask themselves before choosing this option is "does being on MLS alone level the playing field enough to allow me to compete with the all of the other homes on the market, more specifically, the MLS?"

In my opinion, it doesn't, and here are the reasons why...

YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR

FSBO's that choose these brokers might not realize that many of the services that are provided by full-service brokers will become the responsibility of the FSBO, including:

Staging the home
Advertising the home
Writing copy for the MLS listing
Taking photos for the MLS listing
Pricing the home
Scheduling appointments
Being available to show the home
Holding open houses
Tracking market trends for price adjustments
Tracking the average days on market in the area
Qualifying buyers
Negotiating with buyers

Should a FSBO get this far, they would then have to do the following on their own:

Be present during the buyer's home inspection
Track the buyer's mortgage application progress
Schedule a walk-through before closing
Schedule the closing (through a real estate attorney)

Essentially, the sellers that choose a brokerage that doesn't provide other services besides placing the home on MLS are basically still FSBO's because they must take on the role that an agent or broker usually does. While their home gets exposed to other agents, it is not necessarily in the most effective way possible.

If you are a Long Island homeowner that is considering selling your home on your own, or if you are considering using a broker that offers no services beyond being listed on MLS, I would suggest doing your research first.

This is the first post in a multi-part series designed to educate Long Islanders about the potential pitfalls of selling a home on their own, or with a broker that offers no service beyond the MLS listing.

Please check back next week for part 2 of this series.

About The Author

Adam Waldman - RE/MAX Best - 631-357-2036 - adam@AdamWaldman.com

Buyer Representation ~ Compensating the Buyer Agent ~ Myths vs. Reality

Adam Waldman - Long Island REALTOR® (Westcott Group Real Estate Company) — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 12:25:34 -0500

In the last part of this series - Long Island Homebuyers ~ Buyer Representation - we started to address some concerns that Long Island homebuyers may have about buyer representation, including: signing a contract, competing clients and dual agency. All of those issues are important, but perhaps the biggest concern about buyer representation is the issue of compensation.

Most people believe that the brokers / agents are compensated by the seller, but this is not actually the case. Although the seller is the one that agrees to have the compensation come out of the proceeds of the sale, the fact of the matter is that all of the broker fees come off of the top of the transaction. One could argue that the buyers are the ones that are actually paying the fees, since they are the only ones that bring money to the closing table. In reality, the whole issue of compensation really comes down to upfront, out-of-pocket expenses.

Let's explore some of the myths and realities about buyer agent compensation.

MYTH # 1: "I will have to pay the buyer agent's fee out of my own pocket."

REALITY: Since the buyers are the only ones that are bringing money to the closing table, the fee is already being paid by the buyers. While it may appear that the sellers are paying the fee, the reality is that the buyers pay the fee and roll it into their mortgage.

Many homes on MLS actually offer the same compensation to both buyer agents and seller agents. When this is not the case, the offer can be structured so that the fees come out of the proceeds of the sale. The only real issue is negotiating this arrangement with the sellers, but it can be done during the presentation of the offer.

Ultimately, buyer agent compensation is normally negotiated into the offer price, treated as a closing cost to the seller, and incorporated into the buyer's mortgage.

MYTH # 2: "If my agent is paid a percentage of the sales price, it is in their best interest to get me to pay the highest possible price."

REALITY: It is the buyer agent's duty to negotiate on your behalf to try and help you obtain the home for the lowest possible price. Failure to do so goes against the buyer agent's fiduciary duties, and could result in severe punishment. Even if it weren't a punishable offense, the bottom line to the agent is negligible, and the risk of losing future referrals is bad business. Please see below for a hypothetic example of compensation calculations.

A buyer client is interested in a home with an asking price of $475,000.

For the purposes of this example, let's say that the compensation to the buyer's agent is 3%.

The buyer agent's CMA shows that comparable homes have sold for $450k, $460k and $470k.

If the buyer client gets an offer of $450k accepted, the compensation to the buyer's agent would be $13,500 ($450k x 3%).

If the buyer client gets an offer of $470k accepted, the compensation to the buyer's agent would be $14,100 ($470k x 3%).

The net difference in compensation to the buyer's agent is ONLY $600. This amount must be split with the broker of the buyer's agent.

The above example assumes that the buyer agent was compensated based on the percentage of the sales price. While this is the most common method of compensation, it is certainly not the only one.

In the next post in this series, we will explore all of the various methods that can be used to compensate a buyer's agent.

About The Author

Please visit www.TheLIReloGuy.com for your relocation needs and www.AdamWaldman.com for your local needs.

Adam Waldman - RE/MAX Best - 631-357-2036 - adam@AdamWaldman.com

Is Your Word Your Bond?

Adam Waldman - Long Island REALTOR® (Westcott Group Real Estate Company) — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 11:09:51 -0500

Often times in this profession we deal with some really great people, and it makes you feel good to have them in your life. Sometimes, clients become personal friends after going through the home buying and/or selling process together because you get to know them as people and not as transactions, and they get to know you the same way.

However, if you're in this profession long enough (or maybe not so long), you also get to see the side of people that disappoints you, and makes you question your ability to see people for who they really are.

I believe that honesty and loyalty are two of the finest qualities that a person can have. As REALTORS®, our code of ethics requires us to have these qualities when dealing with the public. Unfortunately, the public has no such requirement when dealing with us, and we often times are blatantly deceived. Perhaps because of our low approval rating as a profession (recent Harris poll), the public feels that we don't deserve the same courtesy that is afforded to other professions.

Here is my latest example of being blatantly deceived:

I met with a homeowner, by referral, to discuss listing his home. I came recommended by his girlfriend who works for a seller that I am currently representing. In under a week, we received nearly a full price offer for this particular seller's home, so there was a history of success. By the homeowner's request, our first meeting was for me to just come and see his home and have some brief conversation, but that this was not to be a listing presentation. He asked if we could do the listing presentation when he got back in town this coming Friday. I agreed, and told him that I was going to preview some comparable homes in the area for him while he was on vacation so that we can get his home priced competitively in the market. He did mention that he was going to be interviewing one other REALTOR®, which I totally understood.

As I was leaving, he looked me in the eye, shook my hand, and said "give me a call next Friday and we can get together over the weekend for the listing presentation."

This morning, when I was about to schedule the preview appointments, I came across his newly listed home, which left me a little shocked, and very disappointed that he didn't even have the courtesy to call me to let me know that he decided to go with another REALTOR®, knowing full well that I was planning on taking time out of my day, using my gas to go previewing homes for his benefit. Luckily, I saw the listing before setting the appointments, but I feel that he showed no regard for me as a professional, and showed no personal courtesy. He was a hard-working, seemingly stand-up guy, but I guess his word was NOT his bond.

Is your word your bond? Think about how great honesty and loyalty feels when you are receiving it, and aspire to give it in return.

A Day In The Park (Hoyt Farm, Commack, NY)

Adam Waldman - Long Island REALTOR® (Westcott Group Real Estate Company) — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 12:51:48 -0500

Some places are just great places to spend the day. As a child, it's easy to find fun wherever a playground is located, but as an adult, it takes more than just a playground to make us want to stick around. Hoyt Farm in Commack happens to be a place that offers the best of both worlds. There are two large playgrounds located in the same general area, and they are a perfect blend between classic and modern.

The modern playground features a colorful unit that has many different areas to climb on, slide down, etc. The classic playground, which is the one that has been there since I was a kid, features the old standards (swings, rocking horses, monkey bars, etc.). Colors are few and far between in this mostly gray steel playground featuring a sand floor to absorb the impact of any falls. What kid could resist coming to a place like this? Not many, I'm sure.

During the summer months, the park offers another added bonus in the form of a water playground that it a perfect way to cool down. Refreshingly cool water flows, sprays, mists and rains from a variety of different colorful structures. The kids can spend hours running in and out of the water. Oh, and by the way, so can the adults! This water playground is fairly new, so it wasn't available when I was a kid. Well, many years after taking my field trips to Hoyt Farm, the kid in me came out on Labor Day as I ran in and out of the water with my son. I just had to be careful not to bump in to the other parents that had joined in on the fun!

All of the playgrounds feature ample seating areas so that parents can keep an eye on their children. There are also a large number of picnic tables and barbeque pits. The picnic tables situated under a covered pavilion are generally reserved for special gatherings.

Beyond the playgrounds is a great open space with a softball field and plenty of grass for all kinds of sports. Right after college, my high school friends and I would gather on the open area to have some pretty spirited games of flag-football. It was a great place to play football, and since we all grew up going to the park, it kind of felt like it was our home field. Marriage, children and relocation slowly eroded this regular game, but the park will always be nostalgic to me, as a lot of great memories were created there.

Perhaps the most interesting part of this park is the fact that it is located inside a nature preserve. Commack is a great place to be, but it is certainly not known for its open spaces which makes Hoyt Farm even more special. There is a Nature Center and Museum located in the protected woods. You'll feel like you've left Long Island as you walk the trails through wooded acres, passing by chickens roaming freely, pigs, ducks, geese and turkeys in pens, and there's even a cow.

This trip to Hoyt Farm on Labor Day may have been the most memorable yet. It was a day spent with my family as a kind of sendoff to my son who started Kindergarten today. Our walk through the woods together will be a memory that will last a lifetime, as will the time spent running through the cold water in the water playground. If you're looking for a place to spend a nice day with the family, to have a picnic, to romp through cold water on a hot summer's day, or even to just walk the trails and escape from the fast-paced life on Long Island, Hoyt Farm is definitely a place to visit. You'll be glad that you did.

About The Author

Adam Waldman, RE/MAX Best, 631-357-2036, adam@AdamWaldman.com

Long Island Restaurant Review - American Roadside Burgers - Smithtown, New York

Adam Waldman - Long Island REALTOR® (Westcott Group Real Estate Company) — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 14:57:30 -0600

                                                             TAKE A BITE...LONG ISLAND


As you walk in the door of American Roadside in Smithtown, you are made to feel welcome with a friendly greeting. Having heard some good things about this restaurant, my wife and I decided to give it a try. The restaurant is pretty unique, and before we finished with our meal, we had instantly decided that this was our kind of place.

At American Roadside, you get to experience a cross between a typical pub-style restaurant and a fast food establishment. After you are greeted, you place your own order at the register. Once you have placed your order, you will be asked "In the House" (to stay) or "On the Road" (to go).

If you are dining in, you are handed a ticket with your order number on it to place on your table.  When your order is ready, your food is brought out to you. It takes a bit longer than fast food because your order is prepared fresh, but the service is very good. However, our food came much faster than it would have if we had gone to a pub-style restaurant. While we were waiting for our food, we washed our hands in the large sink that is in the back of the restaurant, which was a pleasant departure from our usual hand sanitizer pre-dining ritual.

The menu has a nice selection (click here to see the menu), but like most people, we were there for the hamburgers. With each hamburger order, you have a wide array of free toppings to choose from. Both of us really enjoyed the hamburgers as well as our side order of American Fries. The portions of food are sizable, the prices are reasonable and the food is great. The drinks come in a fairly large cup and the refills are free. You help yourself at the soda fountain like a fast food restaurant. We washed down our meal with Bosco Chocolate Soda, which was a decadent treat for us.

Since we were already in the decadent mindset, we decided to end the meal with an order of Lug Nuts (fried dough-warm with powdered sugar, much like a zeppole). The cost of this delicious dessert is only $1.25, so it is well worth the money. Splitting one order was more than enough for us. While you're dining there is music playing in the background at a level that allows you to carry on a conversation without having to raise your voice, but loud enough so that you can enjoy it.

Overall, it seems as though American Roadside has filled a void in the market between fast food and full service restaurants. If you're not in the mood to wait around, but would like more ambience and better food than a fast food restaurant, I would highly recommend checking out American Roadside. Don't forget to grab one of the complimentary "Slo Poke" caramel candies that are on display on top of the wooden barrels by the door on your way out. This sweet treat literally melts in your mouth.

For directions to American Roadside, please click here.

About The Author
Adam Waldman is a Long Island Residential Real Estate and Relocation Specialist that can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate on Long Island or any place else in the country by connecting you with a relocation professional in your destination of choice. Many Long Islanders have chosen to relocate to other parts of the country, but often times they don't have anyone to turn to for assistance. Realizing that this was an underserved market, Adam Waldman has created a team of professionals throughout the country to ensure that relocating Long Islanders enjoy a smooth transition to their new area. These professionals are experts in the field of relocation and can serve many purposes beyond a simple home search. Please visit www.TheLIReloGuy.com for your relocation needs and www.AdamWaldman.com for your local needs.
Adam Waldman - RE/MAX Best - 631-357-2036 - adam@AdamWaldman.com

Robert Moses Beach ~ Field 3

Adam Waldman - Long Island REALTOR® (Westcott Group Real Estate Company) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 06:29:54 -0500

This past weekend, Robert Moses State Park celebrated its 100th Anniversary, with a number of events being held at each field of the beach. Since Robert Moses is the beach that I have always gone to, I decided to pack up the family and head out to check out the celebration. Things didn't go exactly as planned, as the little one's nap prevented us from getting to the beach in time to see the exhibits or take the free ferry boat ride. But it didn't matter. We still made it out to the beach during the celebration weekend, and it ended up being a great day.

We arrived at the beach at around four o'clock, long after most people had already headed for home. Although the exhibits were being packed up, we stopped to check out the newly renovated facility building at Field 3. Everything was clean and new, including the bathrooms. One nice feature that was added is a family bathroom, perfect for those traveling with little ones. After snapping a few pictures, we proceeded to the beach.

As we reached the sand, we kicked off our shoes and felt the cool white sand beneath our feet. The little one was visibly excited, and it occurred to me that the beach may very well be her favorite place to visit. Before I could even get the blanket and chairs set up, the kids were splashing around with my wife in a pool of water that had formed on the beach from the rising tide. If there is one thing that can take your mind off of life's pressures, it is watching the endless smile of a toddler and listening to her shrieks of excitement and joy as she frolics on the beach.

Before long, my son and I headed down to the ocean. He loves to play along the shoreline and let the waves crash into him. As the waves hit the beach a pool of warm white foam was left behind. There is something very peaceful about staring out into the vastness of the ocean, while the waves wash over your feet. The ocean has a way of drawing you in and making you never want to leave, so I understand why it is hard for my son to walk away, and why my daughter faces down wave after wave even though most of them would knock her off of her feet if we let go of her hand.

After a while, we were able to coax the kids back up to the blanket. Ah...time to relax and enjoy the beach! Wait, scratch that. Time to dig a big hole with a tiny shovel, so that we can recreate the pool of water that the kids were playing in when we first arrived. Of course, the tide will never reach the hole, so it's up to daddy to bring pails of water to fill the pool. After two trips and four buckets, I convinced my son that we were only making wet sand, and not a pool. He understood, and agreed to play in the wet sand.

Now, I can sit back, relax and stare out at the ocean....for about 30 seconds. The little one is off and running unencumbered through the sand, as most of the other beachgoers had already called it a day. The only thing stopping her from running to the concession stand is me or my wife, although in all fairness, my son did a lot of the chasing and told us not to worry because he was "trained for this." I'm not exactly sure where he got his training, but his help was greatly appreciated.

Watching the two of them together playing on the beach is one of those moments that puts a smile and your face, and reminds you how good life can be. Is going to the beach with kids as relaxing as the old days when I used to go with my friends? Definitely not! But I wouldn't have it any other way.

If you're like me, and you prefer to avoid crowds and extreme heat, you'll love going to Robert Moses after 4pm. My wife even found it to be a little chilly. Must be a woman thing, as I never seem to get cold at the beach. Field 3 is a great spot, because the beach isn't too deep, and the new and greatly improved facility building is the best one around.

We may have missed the official celebration of the 100^th anniversary, but we celebrated it in our own way as a family, at a beach that has been "home" to me ever since I was a kid.

About The Author
Adam Waldman is a Long Island Residential Real Estate Professional that can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate on Long Island, from bank owned homes to new construction to waterfront property, and everything in between. Adam is a Relocation Specialist that has created a network of real estate professionals throughout the country in an effort to assist relocating Long Islanders in their transition to new areas. These professionals are experts in the field of relocation and can serve many purposes beyond a simple home search. In addition to being a Relocation Specialist, Adam also holds the designations of Certified Buyer Representative (CBR), Senior Residential Specialist (SRES) and e-PRO.
Please visit www.TheLIReloGuy.com for your relocation needs and www.AdamWaldman.com for your local needs.
Adam Waldman - RE/MAX Best - 631-357-2036 - adam@AdamWaldman.com