How is the local market?

Through the first eleven months of this year the CNY real estate market is best described as steady. YTD Closings of single family homes in Onondaga County are slightly ahead of last year's pace with 3,740 closed transactions versus 3,715 closed in 2013. Price gains mirror the unit count, up very slightly with the median sales price rising from $134,900 in 2013 to $135,000 this year. Projecting December closing at approximately 400 units representing a very modest increase over 2013. Total available inventory on December 1st, 2014 was up from 1940 units in 2013 to 2,048 this year, again a modest increase. These numbers represent a balanced market with a very slight edge to the seller in certain price ranges and towns/school districts.
Looking forward to next year these numbers represent positive news for anyone wishing to enter the market. Buyers will find several choices in most price ranges and sellers should have an active audience in all but the very high end. If you are planning a move next year visit our website at www.johnarquette.com to learn about values in your current neighborhood or the one you'd like to call you new home.

Company Culture – Is it important?

At John Arquette Properties, REALTORS® we feel company culture sets the tone for everything. Our company culture is based on the belief that surrounding talented and productive individuals with likeminded people will benefit all involved. That’s why we close nearly 10% of local home sales with only 3% of the agents. These new additions to our team were drawn to our culture and are already thriving in their new surroundings. When you are ready for an environment where productivity is expected, supported and rewarded contact Daniel Stazzone @ 552-4088 or Daniel@johnarquette.com

Meet Kenda Lyons

     After graduating from Liverpool High School Kenda decided to stay local and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from SUNY Oswego. As a Mother with two young children ages 3 ½ years and 17 months old Kenda feels staying local is an important message to send to her children. Strengthening locally owned business means a stronger local economy which is good for the overall community. Kenda knows home ownership is one of the most powerful ways for young families to build wealth and at the same time contribute to overall growth of CNY. When you are ready to make your next move contact Kenda Lyons at 315-807-7945 or klyons@johnarquette.com

MEET ANITA SAPP

Anita’s big smile is the first thing you notice when you meet her. Her warm and engaging style draws people in and instantly puts them at ease. Celebrating Ten Years in the Real Estate Business, beginning her career in 2005 she jumped in with both feet and never looked back believing that being a REALTOR® furthered her commitment to helping others realize their dream.  Anita is a member of Kiwanis International, serving as Past President. Kiwanis volunteers are committed to improving the world one child and one community at a time and by helping clients with their real estate needs she feels she strengthens neighborhood bonds. Her new office is just minutes from her Liverpool home and she’d love to help if you are moving. Call her at 418-6658 and feel the warmth!

ARQUETTE RAISES THE BAR AGAIN!

Broker/Owner John Arquette announced a new print advertising program to his sales team today. Beginning this coming Sunday, print advertisements will more than double the size of his listing agents’ photos further elevating the individual agent brand. Arquette introduced Syracuse to his style of agent branding and marketing nearly 6 years ago. Originally received with skepticism, the program has proven to be wildly successful for his agents.

The combination of agent branded prints ads, yard/open house signs and mobile/desktop web sites creates opportunities for his agents that competing brokers only hope for. Although a few competitors have imitated pieces of the program, none have been willing to embrace Arquette’s total concept. “Our industry is based on relationships and clients have relationships with agents not companies” said Arquette.

John Arquette Properties was launched in January 2009 and has offices in Clay, Fayetteville and Tully.

Question-How do you hide 150 real estate agents?

 

 

Answer-Hide them behind a company or franchise logo

No other business is as referral based as real estate, yet the big box companies choose to promote their own brand over that of their agents. At John Arquette Properties our approach is the polar opposite. Our unique agent first branding format has proven to be wildly successful. By growing the agent brand, Arquette agents grow their own market share and more importantly their personal income.

Are you hidden behind a company or franchise logo? Ask yourself three questions to learn the answer:
1. Do your open house signs make it obvious to neighbors that you are the agent hosting the open?
2. Are you encouraged to experiment with creative self-branding techniques?
3. Is there an ongoing company funded program to promote your brand?

If you answered NO to these questions, you are hidden behind a company/franchise logo and losing leads to your company. Agent branding works and is the primary reason that with only 3% of the agent population, John Arquette Properties sells nearly 10% of homes in Onondaga County. When you are ready to step into the light and build your personal brand call John Arquette Properties, REALTORS®, we’ll make sure you shine!

What's My Home Worth?

What’s my home worth?

This is one of the most common questions we hear so we’ve developed a quick and easy way for you to get the answer. Simply send an email to info@johnarquette.com , in the subject line write Free Estimate and your property address including zip code. We’ll take it from there and get a written estimate back to your inbox within 48 hours. We only use local data so you get the most accurate estimate possible.  No cost, no obligation, no hassle. Try it out today!

Meet Pamela DeMascole

The newest member of our management team

 

Growing up around family owned business Pam knew at an early age she wanted a career where she could share her many talents without limitations. Ten years ago she found real estate and has thrived in the fast paced and ever changing environment. Recently Pam accepted the challenge of growing a sales team and as it turns out she’s already pretty good at it!

 

One of the many local “Ludden Girls” as Bishop Ludden graduates often refer to themselves Pam has proudly carried on the traditions of community service and constant improvement in her everyday life. In her new role Pam is creating an atmosphere where success is fostered and expected. If you are interested in a career in Real Estate call Pam at 622-4100.

 

Loosened Mortgage Rule Advances After SEC Drops Objection

Loosened Mortgage Rule Advances After SEC Drops Objection

Rule Wouldn't Include Down-Payment Requirement

By

Alan Zibel and Andrew Ackerman   Biography

·  Alan Zibel·  @AlanZibel·  Alan.Zibel@wsj.com·  Biography ·  Andrew Ackerman·  @amacker·  andrew.ackerman@wsj.com·  ·  Andrew Ackerman ·  Biography June 10, 2014 9:07 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON—A relaxed rule aimed at improving mortgage quality moved closer to approval after the Securities and Exchange Commission removed a key objection, according to officials familiar with the process.

The compromise approach is designed to assuage some regulators' concerns that the rule may not go far enough to prevent the type of lax underwriting that helped fuel the 2008 financial crisis, the officials said. The SEC won a concession in which U.S. policy makers are expected to agree to re-evaluate, and potentially adjust, the rule two years after its effective date and every five years after that.

The standard, expected to be made final in the coming months, is much looser than what was first floated in 2011, when policy makers said borrowers would have to put 20% down to get a loan or lenders would have to retain 5% of a loan's risk once it was packaged and sold to investors.

Under the revised approach, regulators wouldn't require a down payment and would include a broad exemption for banks and other issuers of mortgage-backed securities from having to retain a portion of the credit risk on their books.

Regulators have struggled to complete the rule in the face of concerns from the SEC, which objected to the loosened approach and said borrowers should be required to make some type of down payment to get a so-called qualified residential mortgage, said government officials close to the process.

That position put the SEC at odds with other regulators, who shared the housing industry's concerns that any down-payment requirement could crimp access to credit and impede the fragile housing recovery.

SEC Chairman Mary Jo White detailed her concerns about the rule, including the lack of a down payment, at a March 24 meeting at the Treasury Department with the heads of the other five agencies writing the rule, officials said. Ms. White's concerns were shared by the SEC's two Republican commissioners, Daniel Gallagher and Michael Piwowar, who wrote dissents to a version of the rule proposed last year.

Ms. White recently agreed to essentially adopt the revised mortgage rule without a down payment as long as regulators agree to re-evaluate the rule and ensure it is imposing restraint on the mortgage-backed securities market, these people said.

The move comes amid pressure from officials at other agencies, who argued a significant down-payment requirement could harm the fragile housing market, said people familiar with the matter. The Obama administration has begun trying to relax some of the postcrisis efforts to tighten mortgage-lending standards over concerns that the housing sector, traditionally an engine of economic recovery, is struggling to shift into higher gear. The overseer of mortgage firms Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac recently said the companies should make more credit available to homeowners, reversing previous directives to tighten credit.

The SEC's change of heart is the latest twist in a three-year battle over the 2010 Dodd-Frank mortgage rule, intended to improve the quality of loans by ensuring banks retain a stake in mortgages they make, package and sell to investors. Regulators have been struggling to define which types of high-quality loans would be exempt from the risk-retention requirement.

The original proposal three years ago sparked a backlash among housing-industry, affordable-housing and civil-rights groups, who banded together over shared concerns that a 20% down-payment requirement would end the dream of homeownership for many Americans.

Last year, regulators issued a new proposal with two options: Eliminate the down-payment requirement in favor of mortgage-lending rules written by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that required banks to verify a borrower's ability to repay a loan—or boost the downpayment requirement to 30%.

Most agencies, under pressure from lawmakers, the housing industry and consumer groups rallied around the first option. But the SEC remained the lone holdout, frustrating other government officials who had been working on the issue for years and had hoped the rules would be completed soon, according to people familiar with the process.

The agency's two Republican commissioners still are likely to vote against the final rule over concerns it won't impose enough discipline on Wall Street when packaging assets such as mortgages into securities.

Messrs. Gallagher and Piwowar also say it is inappropriate to adopt a rule essentially written by another agency—the CFPB—which isn't part of the mortgage-securities rule-making process. "We should not abdicate our responsibility to define [the mortgage standards] by surrendering the definition to the CFPB," Mr. Piwowar said in a statement.

Write to Alan Zibel at alan.zibel@wsj.com and Andrew Ackerman at andrew.ackerman@wsj.com

 

New Business Development Position Filled

 

 

Syracuse, NY (23 May, 2014) – John Arquette is pleased to announce Realtor-Associate Daniel Stazzone has accepted the position of Director of New Business Development effective immediately. Daniel who joined the firm in 2012 brings an extensive skill set to his new position. A 2007 graduate of the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry Daniel has been either establishing or leading programs ever since. As the Neighborhood Planner and Real Estate Administrator for locally based Home Headquarters, Inc. he worked both individually and collaboratively to develop neighborhood revitalization strategies and then market the new concept. The reenergized Hawley-Green and Near Westside neighborhoods are examples of his endeavors.

In his new role Daniel will be responsible for identifying potential acquisitions and locations for company growth. He will also lead the company’s ongoing mission to build relationships with enterprising agents currently affiliated with competing firms. He will continue to work from the Fayetteville office.

Our Focus Group from the Roof of Syracuse Media Group's Office in the Merchant Commons Building downtown.

JOHN ARQUETTE PROPERTIES, REALTORS® ANNOUNCES PROMOTION

FAYETTEVILLE, NY (24 MAR 14) - John & Elenore Arquette, Broker/Owners of John Arquette Properties announced the appointment of Pamela DeMascole to the position of Branch Manager at their office in the Town of Clay. Pamela has been a successful salesperson in the industry since 2004 and joined their firm last fall. She will be replacing Jennifer LaGraffe who is staying with the company and moving into a newly created position as Director of New Business Development. Jennifer will now focus her energy on agent recruiting and identifying potential acquisitions as well as opportunities in related industries.

The Arquette’s launched their company in January 2009 and have experienced tremendous growth. “Experienced agents are attracted to our extensive local marketing campaign and enjoy the lead generating technology and clerical support we provide” said Elenore Arquette.

John Arquette Properties, REALTORS® has offices in Clay, Fayetteville and Tully New York. Visit their website at www.johnarquette.comSee More

The Value of Newspaper Advertising

Congratulations to The Post-Standard! Scarborough is an independent research company that has ranked the Post-Standard #1 for a newspaper website.  Read the full story below.  Another reason why we choose to advertise in the Post-Standard.

By syracuse.com | The Post-Standard The Post-Standard
Follow on Twitter
on February 14, 2014 at 4:11 PM


Syracuse, N.Y. — Syracuse.com has been ranked the No. 1 newspaper website in the country by Scarborough research company.
    The ratings are based on market penetration, which is the percentage of adults in the market who visit the website in a seven-day period.
    Scarborough also ranked The Post-Standard the No. 4 newspaper in the country for readership penetration among Sunday newspapers.
    Syracuse Media Group President Tim Kennedy attributed the ranking to the quality and quantity of news and advertising on the site.
    "There are a lot of great news websites in the country, so it feels really good to be No. 1," he said.
Syracuse Media Group was formed last year to take over the operations of The Post-Standard and syracuse.com, with increased focus on digital media. Syracuse.com tallied 37.5 million page views in January, a record for the month.

Real estate poll: Seller's Market Could Be On The Way

 

New Yorkers' views of the housing market remained positive in the fourth quarter but stopped getting better, according to new polling from the Siena Research Institute.

 

The institute, based at Siena College near Albany, created its latest real estate sentiment scores based on phone interviews throughout the fourth quarter with 1,994 New Yorkers over age 18.

 

Here are some highlights:

• Improvement comes to an end: The institute's overall sentiment score had been steadily rising since reaching its low point several years ago. That climb stopped in the fourth quarter. The overall current score was 12, down 5.7 points from the third quarter. Any score over zero means New Yorkers had mostly positive feelings about the market.

 

• A seller's market on the horizon?: Buyers have held a perceived advantage over sellers for quite some time, according to Siena. But that appears to be changing. Scores measuring New Yorkers' thoughts on selling a home in the future were far higher than readings measuring their feelings on buying in the future.

 

• Upstate is feeling good: Upstate New Yorkers' current feelings on the housing market remained mostly positive, according to Siena. The region's overall current score was 15.3 in the fourth quarter. That's down 4.1 points from the third quarter but ahead of New York City's reading of 6.5. The overall current score for the New York suburbs was 17.6.

 

• Reason for continued optimism: Right now, 45 percent of New Yorkers say the condition of the housing market has improved over the past year and almost as many expect to see more improvement in the year ahead, said Don Levy, institute director. Only 25 percent believe things have gotten worse, and less than 20 percent expect conditions to weaken in the future. "Compared to where we've been, this is a very solid footing," Levy said in a news release.