For young people finding a “find” in Staten Island real estate’s fast market can be daunting. But, it doesn’t have to be. 

As a prudent young person, you have doubtlessly come to learn that home-ownership is a key element in upward mobility, financial freedom and planning for one’s future. 

It’s true! Your parents were right! Stop paying someone else’s mortgage.

That said you may also face the stark realities of saving for a first home, and less than ideal credit scores. 

Many decide to opt for something smaller, a more doable dose: a condo.

Staten Island has gorgeous multimillion dollar homes and lavish luxury apartments, but we also have quaint condo communities nestled in pockets of good neighborhoods, where

On a very convenient block in Stapleton, one of the older waterfront neighborhoods of Staten Island dating back to the 1830's, Casandra Properties finalized the transaction on a truly unique home in the historic neighborhood that once boasted a naval base for the US military, for top dollar! With buyers' demand in the history-rich area increasing, coupled with the legal two-family home's impressive 7-vehicle capacity on the property itself, large fenced-in yard complete with a gazebo and playground, and ability to offset the mortgage cost, successfully securing the astounding price was no surprise! With all the new developments springing up in and around the area, the neighborhood is becoming a base for smart investing and won't be slowing down any time

132-138 Lynhurst Avenue, 93-97 Chestnut Avenue

New York City has lost millions of square feet of industrial space due to rezonings over the past decade. According to a report published by Ariel Property Advisors in 2017, the majority of these rezonings took place in Manhattan, which lost 4.54 million square feet of industrial space, and Brooklyn, which lost 4.12 million square feet. The objective of the rezonings is to encourage new residential development, as well as commercial projects. Quite obviously, this has created an increased need for industrial buildings across the boroughs, as manufacturing companies and the like are searching for spaces to run their businesses. 

As a result, Staten Island has increasingly become a preferred option to

You’re young, possibly in love, settling down and looking forward to the Great American Dream of owning your own home. But then reality hits: As a millennial, you face some bigger challenges than your parents did.

Home prices in the New York metropolitan area are high – and keep increasing. Salaries for younger employees often remain stagnant. And perhaps the biggest downer is that damn student loan which takes big bucks out of your monthly paycheck.

Let’s say you are working with a real estate agent and find the perfect starter home. Your agent can help you find a mortgage broker, or you can search on your own through banks and mortgage agencies. Your financial qualifications will be examined, including:

1.    Do you pre-qualify for a mortgage?

 Selling your home is an intricate and multifaceted process.

One of the main components that a sale is contingent on is a home inspection. You and your buyer can reach an agreement on an accepted offer but if the inspection goes south, the deal can fall through. Prepare your home for inspection by following these tips:

1. Check all of your appliances. Make sure that these appliances are in good and working order. 

2. Leave your utilities connected. This is a vital part of the inspection because the utilities are needed to assess the working condition of your home. It is important to leave pilot lights lit for your utilities. Any misstep in preparation can delay the inspection process which will in turn delay closing. Even if the

Selling a home seems like it could be quite simple.  

Put a “For Sale” sign up in front of the house, take some pictures, post it to the sites that list houses for sale, and then wait for the offers to come in. Technically that could work and I’m sure it has for some.  But if you are looking to get the most value for your home it takes a bit more than that. Here at Casandra Properties, we use the latest marketing technology to make sure your property gets maximum exposure.  

Visibility, in my opinion, is the most important factor when it comes to selling a home for the most value. 

Take the beverage industry for example.  Why do Pepsi and Coca-Cola sell so much more soda than RC Cola?  Because you never see RC Cola being advertised

The benefits of marketing your home for sale are endless. Marketing is an essential part of every business in every industry. Market awareness of your home is the most pivotal part of the sale of the property. Without marketing, there may be no sale! Marketing consists of pricing, the actual presentation of your property, and the methods, platforms, and mediums used to make the market aware of your listing. When it comes to selling your home, working with an agent to properly market your home will maximize your property’s exposure to different markets of consumers. Increasing the number of eyes on your property will benefit the sales process, and eventually your wallet! Here are the key benefits of marketing your home:

Create competition.

When

Real estate is a balancing act, if you put too much money into your home when you are getting ready to sell you may not recoup the costs, but do too little and you may have to settle for a lower price. Here are some upgrades that will get you the most bang for your buck. 

Class up the Kitchen 

The kitchen is the most important room in the house, but don't spend thousands redoing it. You want to update, not renovate. Repair leaky faucets, light fixtures, anything with a knob or handle, and cosmetics things like a burn mark on the counter. You will spend less and reap the benefits of a polished well cared for kitchen. 

Beautify the Bathroom

The bathroom is another high focus area for potential buyers. Just like in the kitchen, update

Whether you start your day at a coffee shop, fueling up for the day or need that midafternoon boost to make it through the day, coffee shops hold an important role in any neighborhood. They add a sense of community! Not only does coffee shop culture allow small businesses to be supported by their communities, it also gives people a communal space where they can find consistency, comfort, coziness,  conversation, snacks, music, literature, sometimes local arts acts, and of course great coffee! Good coffee shops tend to be a community hub for local art and culture. In this way, independent coffee shops become a reflection of their community and those who they serve. The character of the coffee shop mirrors that of the community and caters to the need of

Well, let's name some pitfalls that can occur in the home-buying process. 

 Waiting for a better deal.

There is an emphasis on getting a good deal when it comes to buying real estate, or anything for that matter! But, what is a good deal? You should aim to pay within a ballpark of prices based on comparable listings in the market. If you are anywhere within that ballpark, then consider yourself successful. To wait until you can find a steal may be unrealistic and leave you waiting for a long time. If you love a home enough, it’s not about getting the best deal. Rather, it’s about paying a price that you’re comfortable with for a place that you love! When you win the bid, you won’t even remember those extra thousands that you may have paid when