Last week I blogged about a Food Truck Fesitval coming to Governor's Island NYC this weekend - just a short trip from where I live in the Five Towns of Long Island.

Today was a perfect day - mid 70's, Sunny with a cool breeze. It started at 12 so we set off around 11:30.

Was in the lot and parked by 12:30. Walked to the Ferry and saw the line and GASPED! Obviously it was a popular place to be today.

We figures, what the heck - still sounds like fun, nothing else to do so we waited, And waited, And waited. About 90 minutes later we boarded the ferry for the 2 minute ride to Governors Island.

We walked about 10 minutes with hoardes of others to where the trucks were parked. We got there around 2pm I would guess.

If I had known there were only 12 trucks I would have done the math and probably stayed home, since last year they had 3000 people and were anticipating 10,000 this year. The lines for the trucks were INSANE. A few were sold out before we got there - and that was with 3 hours left.

The Lobster Roll sounded best to me - so I followed the snaking line for about 5 minutes until I found the end. Decided since we were there we'd wait anyway.

45 minutes later the line suddenly disperses - they were SOLD OUT!

At that point we gave up. Decided to catch the ferry back, go to Jordan's Lobster Farm in Island Park and make our own seafood dinner at home.

By the time we got back to the pier we were starving! And lo and behold there was a hot dog vendor!!!

Still tasted like a dirty water hot dog, but at that point (3:30) I did not care!

We boarded the ferry, back to Brooklyn, ad drove back to Long Island.

The saving grace of the day was the fabulous weather and the workout my legs got with all the standing and walking.

Lesson #1 - Don't over promise and under deliver. If you say you are going to do something then do it! If you promise something - deliver it. You might not get a second chance.

Lesson #2 - If another agent can't deliver for whatever reason,  be there to pick up the dropped ball if you can. That hot dog vendor at the pier probably had the best sales day of his life.

Next year either I get on line at the crack of dawn - or just stay at home.

Looking to buy ir sell a home on Long Island? I deliver all that I promise!

Parked: Food Truck Festival on Governors Island

Forget the beach - the sun is not that good for you anyway...

If You are a Food Network junkie like me this sounds like the only place to be on Sunday afternoon September 5th.

Look for me there!

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....We are taking over the shady expanse of Colonel's Row to host Parked in style. Bring a picnic blanket, some sunblock, and take the free ferry over to this gorgeous island with us!

Last year's event drew over 3,000 hungry foodies to Brooklyn for brick oven pizza, dumplings, German soul food, Vietnamese bbq, ice cream, cup cakes, and key lime pies.

This time, there are even more food trucks, such as Jamaican Dutchy Truck, Rickshaw Dumpling, Green Pirate juice, Joyride Truck, Red Hook Lobster Pound, Van Leeuwan Artisan Ice Cream, Halo Berlin, The Cinnamon Snail, Kelvin Natural Slush Co, Hermelinda Mexicana and more!

Bigger! badder! more napkins!

WHEN : Sunday, September 5th
WHERE : Colonel's Row @ Governors Island
DOORS : Noon - 5pm
COVER : Free!
RAIN DATE: Sunday, September 26th

Homes in Inwood range from $ 154,800 for a Foreclosure to $ 1,299,000 for large commercial property consisting of a number of buildings.

Inwood is located in Lawrence School District 15

The area is part of the Five Towns on Long Island and is convenient to New York City via the Long Island Railroad.

The Five Towns area is also convenient to the beaches along the Atlantic Ocean, JFK International Airport, shopping and worship.

Search for Homes for Sale in Inwood, Long Island, NY

Compliments of The Five Towns Real Estate Directory - we are here for all your Real Estate Needs.

Visit us at FindYourHomeLI.com for all your Long Island Real Estate needs. Looking to relocate, buy, sell, rent or invest? We are here for you.

Donna Galinsky 516-317-9253
Lenny Bobrow 516-784-0262

Homes in the Hewletts range from $ 319,000 for a 2 Bedroom Bungalow to $ 3,950,000 for an estate in Hewlett Neck.

The Hewletts are located in Hewlett- Woodmere School District 14 and Lynbrook School District 20.

The area is part of the Five Towns on Long Island and is convenient to New York City via the Long Island Railroad.

The Five Towns area is also convenient to the beaches along the Atlantic Ocean, JFK International Airport, shopping and worship.

Search for Homes for Sale in Hewlett, Long Island, NY
Search for Homes for Sale in Hewlett Bay Park, Long Island, NY
Search for Homes for Sale in Hewlett Harbor, Long Island, NY
Search for Homes for Sale in Hewlett Neck, Long Island, NY

Compliments of The Five Towns Real Estate Directory - we are here for all your Real Estate Needs.

Visit us at FindYourHomeLI.com for all your Long Island Real Estate needs. Looking to relocate, buy, sell, rent or invest? We are here for you.

Donna Galinsky 516-317-9253
Lenny Bobrow 516-784-0262

Homes in Woodmere and Woodsburgh range from $ 529,000 for a Ranch that is a fixer upper to $ 2,550,000 for a 5 Bedroom Colonial on ½ acre in Woodsburgh.

Woodmere and Woodsburgh are located in Hewlett- Woodmere School District 14 and Lawrence School District 15.

The area is part of the Five Towns on Long Island and is convenient to New York City via the Long Island Railroad.

The Five Towns area is also convenient to the beaches along the Atlantic Ocean, JFK International Airport, shopping and worship.

Search for Homes for Sale in Woodsburgh, Long Island, NY
Search for Homes for Sale in Woodmere, Long Island, NY

Compliments of The Five Towns Real Estate Directory - we are here for all your Real Estate Needs.

Visit us at FindYourHomeLI.com for all your Long Island Real Estate needs. Looking to relocate, buy, sell, rent or invest? We are here for you.

Donna Galinsky 516-317-9253
Lenny Bobrow 516-784-0262

________________________________________________________

From the lastest computer projection there is a chance that Hurricane Earl could be hitting the East Coast including our Five Towns on Long island some time this weekend.

Though sometimes the weatherpeople do tend to exaggerate for ratings (in my opinion) it is better to be safe than sorry.

Here are some Hurrcane preparedness and safety tips...

Safety Tips

• Coastal residents should form evacuation plans before a warning is issued to identify a safe shelter and a route to get there.
  
• Stock up on emergency supplies including food, water, medications, batteries, flashlights, important documents, road maps, and a full tank of gasoline.
  
• Be sure cell phones are fully charged.
  
• Bring outside furniture and umbrellas indoors.
  
• Be sure all windows are shut. If you have shutters and can close and lock them do that as well.
  
• As a storm unfolds, listen to local authorities on radio or television. Evacuation routes often close as a storm develops.
  
• Dedicated professionals and improved technology have made hurricane forecasting more accurate than ever before-but it's far from precise.
  
• If forced to weather a storm, get inside the most secure building possible and stay away from windows.
  
• Remember that a lull often signifies the storm's eye-not its end. Anyone riding out a hurricane should wait for authorities to announce that the danger has passed.
  

BE VERY CAREFUL OF THE OCEAN THIS WEEKEND - even though the surface might look smooth there are some nasty riptides below the sruface that are a danger to even the most experienced swimmer. If you happen to get caught in a rip tide - they say don't fight it - swim in the direction of it.

Keep up with the latest on Hurricane Earl and how it can effect us on Long Island here.

Fairway Market has to be one of the best supermarkets EVER!! I just have one gripe with them.

When you first walk up you are greeted by a huge section of fresh produce. You name the fruit or vegetable and they have it. Want it ore-cut? No problem, you can find that also.

You like pasta? They have fresh pasta, ravioli, gnocchi and any other variety that you can name. Along with the fresh pasta they also have a large variety of fresh sauces. Their own brand of jarred sauce is pretty awesome also.

Fish and Seafood? Got it. Huge fresh jumbo shrimp, clams, fish, octopus and on and on.

Prefer meat? You name it, they have it. They also have a large selection of marinated meats all ready to put on the grill for a quick meal.

Speaking of a quick meal - I almost forgot to mention the large selection of deli, appetizing, prepared foods and sushi.

Carb lover like me? Breads, cookies, cakes, muffins, bagels, pies - get the picture - at the fresh bakery.

All this PLUS they are also a regular supermarket.

Prices are as good as any other supermarket in the area, but Fairway is way above any other market.

So what is my gripe you might ask?

Well the nearest Fairway market to my home in the Five Towns of Long Island is in Plaiview Long Island - almost 40 minutes away!! I do it, but not as often as I would like. If there was one closer I guarantee I would be a frequent shopper!

Fairway Market hear my plea!! We need you on the South Shore of Long Island! I'll be very happy to help you find the perfect home. Just give me a call...

So many people do not realize what is involved in the purchase of a home from start to finish.

Here is the typical Anatomy of A Long Island NY Real Estate transaction. (Typical involves a buyer and a "normal" seller. Not a foreclosure or a Short Sale)

It may seem daunting, but it really is not. It is a one step at a time process and I am very happy to hep you, explain each step, and hold your hand as needed all along the way...

• Talk to a lender. This is the same ANYWHERE! First thing I advise is to talk to a lender and see how much you can really afford to spend.

This depends on so many factors including credit score, outstanding debt, debt:income ratio to name a few. A lender will talk to you, look at all the factors, tell you how much you can spend and then give you the all important Pre-Approval or Pre-Qualification.

The reason this needs to be done first is because this letter will be needed before you can make an offer on any house. You don't want to walk into your Dream House and then find out that you can't afford to buy it, or that another offer is accepted while you are waiting for your preapproval letter.

If you need help finding a lender I have a number than I can recommend for you to use.

• Make a wish list. Write down in order of importance what you are looking for in a home, what is most important to you. Do you want a lot of bedrooms? A big yard? A Basement? A certain School District? Remember that you will most like NOT get everything on your list. A home purchase most always involves compromise. That's why it is called a wish list! Keep an open mind.

• Look for homes. You can start your home search online to get an idea of what is out there, dip your toe in the water so to speak. If you are looking for a home on the South Shore of Long Island in or around the Five Towns area a good place to start is on FindYourHomeLI.com. You can search the entire MLSLI from there, save searches and get automatic updates.

I'll also be happy to give you a FREE Listingbook account to help make your home search even easier. Just ask and I'll tell you how it can work for you and get you set up in a matter of minutes.

• Find YOUR home and submit an offer. When you find the right house, your fist step will be to submit an offer. The offer includes the amount of your initial offer, the amount of your total downpayment, the amount you will be mortgaging and your terms; how quickly you want to close, do you have to sell to buy etc.

• Negotiations. This is the back and forth until we reach a price and terms that both buyers and sellers are happy with. Some people think this is the stressful part, but not so much.

• Accepted offer!! Congratulations!

• Get a Home Inspection. Use a reputable inspection company to come in and take a look at the house. They will check the roof, foundation and everything in between.  This is typically done a few days after your offer is accepted.  This gives you the opportunity to request repairs or negotiate any issues that might be found during the inspection.  Inspections have different results for every transaction; some uncover pretty major issues that need time to be addressed, most are pretty minor, but it's better to be safe than sorry.  Not all sellers will renegotiate after the inspection, but at least you will be informed.

• Sign Contracts. You will speak with a REAL ESTATE Attorney who will talk to the Seller's Attorney and get Contracts drawn up, These will include all the specifics about the deal, when you sign the contracts you will also need to give a downpayment check - typically 5% to 10%. I strongly recommend that you use a Real Estate Attorney, not a friend who is going to do you a favor. After you sign the contracts your seller will sign. At this point you are considered "In Contract" and the house is marked "Pending" and will no longer be shown.

• Apply for your Mortgage. Once you have signed contracts you can apply for your mortgage. Typically this is the documentation that a lender will need from you though it may vary from lender to lender:
•  Signed Contract.
•  Residence address(es) for past two (2) years.
•  Employment history for the last two (2) consecutive years. Including: dates employed, name, address and phone number of employer
•  Current pay stub(s) verifying 30 days of income and year-to-date income, including any overtime, commission or bonus income.
•  W-2 forms for all employers covering the last two (2) years
•  If you are self-employed or are paid commission income, provide signed copies of personal federal tax returns with all schedules for the last two (2) years.
•  If you are self employed, provide a copy of Corporate or Partnership tax returns last two (2) years, include all schedules and signed by a company officer.
•  If you are self-employed, provide copies of your balance sheet for the last two (2) years.
•  If you are self-employed, provide a copy of your Profit and Loss Financial Statement through the most recent quarter/month.
•  Complete Bank Statements (for all accounts), or any other asset verification, covering the last two (2) months
•  Complete itemized list of all monthly payments made by you.

        The application process can take anywhere from 30 to 90 days.

• Appraisal. The lender will order an appraisal to be sure the house value is there for the mortgage,

• Title Insurance. You attorney will order Title Insurance to protect you. The Title Company will make sure that among other things the sellers are the legal owners, that there are no liens or encumberances against the home, that all additions and modifications are legal.

• Homeowners Insurance. You will be required to get a homeowners insurance policy before you can close. The Lender will be a Lien Holder on the policy and will give you the minimum policy requirements.

• Clear to Close - Closing. Once your bank gives you the Clear to Close your attorney will speak with the seller's attorney and the bank attorney to set up a closing date.

At the Closing Table there will be a bunch of people including you and your attorney, the sellers and their attorney, the bank's attorney, the Title Closer and the Realtors involved in the sale. A typical closing is between 1-1/2 and 3 hours. You will be signing all the bank documents and any side agreements with your sellers. Your attorney will explain all the documents to you all the way through.

Before the closing arrange to have all the utilities switched to your name on the say of the closing. It is easiest to coordinate this with the sellers.

Congratulations You Are Homeowners!

•  Move In. Unless you have made arrangements to let the sellers stay after the closing you can move in any time. I will have another post with tips to make moving easier and less stressful.

If you have any questions at all about Five Towns Long Island  Real Estate or the steps involved in a Real Estate transaction, let me know. I will be happy to help you.

This is great information for anyone who is looking to work on their credt scores - be careful how you do it - see what works and what does not...

Thanks Larry for the great info.

OPEN HOUSE
SUNDAY AUGUST 29th
4:30 pm to 6 pm

SPACIOUS & BRIGHT
2 Bedroom - 2 Bath Co-op
Woodmere, LI. NY



29 Woodmere Blvd
HEATHCOTE

• Spacious Rooms
• Bright Cornere Apartment on the TOP floor
• Elevator Building
• 2 Bedrooms
• 2 Renovated Bathrooms
• 2 Large Bedrooms
• LOADS of Closets & Storage
• New Windows Throughout
• Storage, Bike & Laundry Rooms
• Park Available

Asking $ 265,000


Call for a Private Showing

Want more information on this Condo?
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