Diana Santos' Blog

~ Public Open House tomorrow ~ Sunday 12:00 to 2:30 ~

 BLACKBERRY VILLAGE ~ 3202 Village Drive ~ Brewster NY 10509

Come view this wonderful - totally renovated condo close to all - along with 3 other units that will be hosting a Public Open House...

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~  CLICK Here to View Listing Sheet  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

    or  ~ CLICK to View all 4 Listings ~

I'd like to introduce you to my new listing -

    Striking Burgundy colored Cape facing Ball Pond

A 2 bedroom ~ 1 bath Cape in New Fairfield, CT.  With new appliances, updated bath, a new well pump, hardwood floors, water views of Ball Pondand just minutes to the New Fairfield Schools and shops, including the Danbury Fair Mall - Making for an easy commute, the Brewster/Patterson New York border as well as I-84 & I-684 are close by!

     Kitchen with new stainless steel appliances

Living Room with hardwood floors and...

 A wood burning stove to help cut heating costs

      1st Floor Bedroom with hard wood floors

2nd Floor Bedroom with hardwood floors and...

  an Office or Nursery area

      A Secret Garden...

   and a Hop & a Skip to Ball Pond...

    where you can swim, canoe, kayak and go fishing!

    ****************CLICK to view LISTING SHEET****************

Call today for more information or to set up an appointment to view this lovely home ~ Diana ~ cell: 203-648-2619

Home for Sale in Brookfield Connecticut – Spacious Colonial with 4 to 5 Bedrooms ~ 2-1/2 Baths ~ over 2,904 Square Feet ~ 2 Car Garage ~ 2.25 acres – Asking Price $435,000

  ************CLICK to view Listing Sheet************

   150 Pocono Road ~ Brookfield, CT 06804

  Kitchen

  Dinning Area with Hardwood Floors

 Living Room with Fireplace and Hardwood Floors

  New 1st Floor Bath

    Dinning Room with Hardwood Floors

         2nd Floor Office

  2nd Floor Den

   Huge Walk-Up Attic with Sky Lights just waiting to be finished!

Deck over looking private – level Yard

     Back Yard

This home also has a partial finished basement – a Breezeway leading from the 2 car garage – is convenient to all and just minutes to I-84 for an easy commute!

For more information on the town of Brookfield ~ CLICK ~ and Candlewood Lake ~ CLICK ~

 Call to set up an appointment: Diana – Cell: 203-648-2619

HERITAGE HILLS is located in the town of Somers, NY in Westchester County and borders Putnam County.  Somers is conveniently located near I-684 and the Metro North Commuter Railroad which can be used in either neighboring towns of Purdy's, Goldens Bridge or Katonah.

 Heritage Village has a philosophy of luxury and village living with over 2,500 condominiums on 1,100 acres of rolling , wooded countryside with spacious views of which almost 40% is retained as open space.

The complex is divided into East Hill and West Hill.  Throughout the community, there are swimming pools, tennis courts, paddle tennis courts and the privately run Somers Pointe Golf Club located in Heritage Hills with an 18-hole and 9-hole course.

The main activities center has an art studio, a private library and a theatre.  There are clubs offering woodworking, gardening and sculpting. 

There is also a Fitness center with excercise equipment, whirlpool bath and sauna.

So much to do within or take advantage of Heritage Hills Shuttle Service to the nearby restaurants and shopping areas as well as the Metro North Commuter Station.

As of 2/27/09 - there are 44 units available for sale - ranging from 1 to 3 bedrooms for $259,900 to $849,000.

I will be visiting the complex again later this week - and hopefully, I won't get lost again!

WON'T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?

Whether your home is currently on the market - or your thinking of selling your home - or have no plans for selling at all - Living in a Clutter Free Home is wonderful!  Less Mess... equals Less Stress!

supershoppertoo - Flickr.com

When my 5 kids were little, and mornings getting ready for school could get crazy.  If you have children - 1 child - or maybe just yourself to get together in the am - being organized was and is key to having enough time for a good breakfast, no need for shouting and stressing and things going as smoothly as possible!  Everyone wondered why I had so much patience.  Alot came from again, being neat, organized and clutter free.  Just think how upset one gets when you can't find your car keys - or your left shoe!  If everything gets put in their place, this could be avoided.

  Mickelodeon - Flickr.com

Even now, with my kids being 20, 18, 16, 15 and 13 years old, I insist on that way of life.  I think it's great that they're able to get up, have their clothes picked out from the night before, everything needed to get ready is at their fingertips so no time is wasted - and rather spend that time to eat well, grab their lunch - which is always made the night before - and be able to run off to school on time. OK - I admit, with teenagers, it doesn't ALWAYS work so smoothly!

This works well with my life as a Realtor - having my electronic keys updated, my appointments made, listings printed out - one copy for me and one for my clients, gas in my car, addressed inputted into my GPS, I-Pod ALWAYS in my purse to be able to connect to my car - along with my camera and Flip video camera, and last - but not least - my cell phone and back up battery always charged.  Even if a client calls and asks to view a house in - an hour - I can usually always make it work - since most of the above has been done!  Keeping organized - keeps me sane.  And knowing that there are always days that things can't and don't seem to run smoothly is also important.  

supershoppertoo - Flickr.com

During my appointments, viewing homes with clients, many can see past the dirty dishes in the sink, the pile of smelly shoes near the front door, the dead fish floating in the fish tank - but some simply can not see past all of this!  It is an instant turn off and with sooo many homes on the market, they simply want to move onto the next!  And I can't blame them since I can't help but think that if the homeowners can't keep up with the laundry and make the beds, then I wonder if they've had the time or responsibility to service their furnace yearly, have the septic pumped every 2 or 3 years or fix a leaky pipe asap??

Joe Shlabotnik - Flickr.com

The easiest way to get started on getting organized is to pick a day - any day - whether it's when the kids are at school and your home alone - or when the kids are home and you have them help.  Make a LIST - Tackle ONE ROOM AT A TIME - Have REWARDS for you and anyone that helps.  For me, I would say that after I'm all done cleaning out the garage, I will NOT be making dinner - Pizza for all and a glass of wine for me!  To get the kids to help, say after they're done helping, they can pick what's for dinner - or what movie to rent - or - you can take them to the mall for a TREAT!  And don't forget to stay hydrated, take snack breaks to refuel, play some hoping music to get you going and have fun!

Also watch a video from

•  HGTV - Kitchen Organized <CLICK>
• HGTV - Reorganizing Your Medicine Cabinet <CLICK>
• HGTV - Getting Organized for the New Year <CLICK>

    glass window - Flickr.com

For someone selling their home, think of how easy it will be if you get a last minute call for a viewing - or an unexpected guest comes over - or you get sick and family or friends come to help - how do you explain the moldy containers in the fridge - the 9 piles of laundry - the empty cupboards since no dishes have been done!  Yes - this is a bit much, but I have seen this!  No one is perfect - but there is always room for improvement.  Please keep in mind that stress can lead to numerous health issues with your heart, immune system, weight gain...

If your looking to buy a home in New Fairfield, CT - WONDERFUL!  My family and I moved here from Harrison, NY about 4-1/2 years ago and we LOVE it! 

Ball Pond - Scenery during my daily commute

New Fairfield borders Brewster, NY - making an easy commute to work for both myself to Century 21 V.J.F. Realty which is located right in Brewster - and my husband who commutes via I-684 to NYC.

Candlewood Lake

Why New Fairfield, CT? 

• Accessibility to I-84 and I-684 - since we do have to work!
• Great Schools - moved here with 5 kids and schools were very important to me.  Don't have school age kids?  Please keep in mind that purchasing a home which a good school system is great for resale purposes!
• Low Taxes - we have a comfortably spacious home on 2.1 acres - and pay less taxes than some homes that are 1/4 the size in my neighboring towns of NY.
• Lot's of choices for shopping in neighboring Danbury, CT including the Danbury Fair Mall - With a large family, I spend lots of $$ in groceries, clothing and other necessities - having choices and paying low taxes on items that are taxable is great! 
• Candlewood Lake - BEAUTIFUL!!!  60 + miles of shoreline - motorboats are allowed and if you don't own one, no problem since you can always rent one!
• Fresh air and scenic views - You can go hiking in Pootatuck State Forest or visit the state park of Squantz Pond - or just open your window and BREATHE!
• Great for a first time home buyer and/or luxury buyer - There are 2 bedroom homes in the $200,000 price range, perfect for a first time home buyer - or large homes, some in private Candlewood Lake communities, for up to a few mil for the luxury buyer.
• Lots of Wildlife - all I have to do is sit on my deck which faces the woods in my back yard.  There we will see families of deer, foxes, wild turkeys, coyotes - and many have seen bobcat and bear - these last 2, I honestly hope to NEVER see!

Birds in my side yard

In the center of town you'll find everything from Shaw's Supermarket or for fresh meats and an awesome Deli, there is the New Fairfield Food Market. For a bite to eat there is Bruno's Pizza, Biscotti's, Portofino's the local diner,  Chinese take out and other eateries. There is also Gas stations and repair shops, Physicians and Dentists, Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts, Hair and Nail salons, our local Hardware store, Banks, Dry Cleaners, Video store - and of course our New Fairfield Post Office, Town Hall and Library.  A small town life with all life's necessities!

I plan on living here until I'm old and gray... sadly, both have already started!

Stream after a rain storm in my Backyard 

Squantz Pond - State Park in New Fairfield, CT

WON'T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?

  Clearly Ambiguous - Flickr.com

Great news for those looking to purchase a home... First Time Home Buyers - purchasing a home which will be their Primary Residence for a minimum of 3 years, can take advantage of the new 100% Tax Credit on their 1040 - income tax form - for $8,000. As by Sen.Johnny Isakon, R-G, "It is time to fix housing first".

   Amagill - Flickr.com

****************Click Here to view Consumer Chart*******************

 

Mannequin - Flickr.com