If you are coming to Katonah for the Katonah Fall Festival on September 26th, you may want to arrive early and wear your running shoes. There is a 5K run or walk beginning at 8:30 AM, September 26th, and the starting line is Parkway and Bedford Road in Katonah. The running/walking trail will take you on a 3.1 mile path through beautiful Katonah. After you cool down, grab a bite to eat and you can also enjoy Katonah’s Fall Festival which begins at 10 AM. For more information about the run you can call: 914-232-2668 or register here.

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

Save the date, September 26th, 10 AM – 2 PM for the Katonah Fall Festival and you won’t be disappointed! It’s a great day to visit the Hamlet of Katonah and take your time strolling through the town. You’ll find all the merchants have great sales, there’s lots of food, music and entertainment.

One of my favorite festivities of the day is the Fashion Show. This is not your typical fashion show with twiggy type models, but rather, residents and customers of the Katonah merchants who volunteer to model the new fall fashions. It’s the kind of show where you can see what the clothes would look like on the people who actually shop at the store. There’s a wide range of models participating, including children, men, young girls, and seasoned women walking down the runway. The fashion show is a labor of love and is produced by Sara Zipp, a Licensed Real Estate Agent with Houlihan Lawrence in Katonah and active member of the Katonah Chamber of Commerce. It’s a very fun event for the fashion show viewers as well as the participants so save the date so you don’t miss it!

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

“Doreen and I really appreciate how meticulous your research is. I love how every time you look into something you discover incorrect data!” Chris S., Cross River, NY

Well, I do not love finding inaccuracies but I do know that it is my responsibility! What I do love is being thorough. If I find a discrepancy I contact the agent for the seller to have them know that we discovered it. Perhaps they will admit it and or correct it. Many times I enlighten them! Then it is up to my client if they care to go ahead in pursuing the property or pass on it.

As Realtors, at times it seems that the hardest part of what we do is taking our clients to see homes. Our clients may also think that is the worst part of the process of buying a home. I am very serious about the process. To start, to hear that the owners “entertained a great deal” does not mean a thing to me. I want to know where you do your laundry and where you bring the groceries in! Knowing what is important to a family on a daily basis will garner many thanks down the road by an appreciative Buyer.

The truth of the matter is that once you find a home of interest the journey has just begun!

Governor Patterson just sweetened the pot for first time home buyers by announcing the Federal Income Tax Credit program which gives a dollar for dollar tax credit for 20% of the annual mortgage interest amount. This Mortgage Credit Certificate program is not a one-time offering like the $8,000 Federal tax credit; it’s a gift that keeps on giving and giving, year after year for as long as you own the house and live in it. Homeowners taking the dollar for dollar credit will still be allowed to deduct the remaining 80% interest on their Federal Income Tax returns. The benefit to the first time home buyers can be huge! Click here for the term sheet.

There are of course guidelines for those who wish to participate in the tax credit program such as purchase price limits, household income limits, and there are even special target areas that provide additional incentives. The requirements vary for the different regions in the state as well. For the Westchester guidelines click here. So, first time home buyers, if you’re thinking of buying a house, get out there and find it soon because time is running out! If you need help just ask Sonja. If the house you want isn’t in Katonah, Pound Ridge, South Salem, or Somers, she’ll guide to another great Houlihan Lawrence agent in her network who can help you.

Posted By: Sonja Lovas

A long private drive leads to this gem where you will find a delightful 3 bedroom multi-level home located in the highly sought after area of Katonah Ridge just minutes from town. Click here for more details. Built in 1958, the interior features a versatile floor plan with gleaming hardwood floors and new crown moldings that add a beautiful finishing touch. There are skylights to bring the sunlight in all year long and every window has a view of the woods. Freshly painted inside and out makes this home ready to move in and start enjoying life. (no projects!) A large deck offers wonderful opportunities for enjoying the privacy and beauty of the outdoors that surround this park-like 2.5 acre property with a stream.

Located in Katonah, it is approximately one hour from Manhattan via Metro North, I-684 or the Saw Mill River Parkway and is within easy commuting distance of most areas in Connecticut. The recreational opportunities include the Katonah Memorial Park, Lewisboro Town Park, and numerous nature preserves including the Pound Ridge Reservation that offers 4700 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding and cross-country skiing. There are also cultural pursuits that can be enjoyed at Caramoor Center for Music and Arts and the Katonah Museum of Art.

Call Sonja Lovas for a private showing: 914-232-1212 x 214

Posted By: Sonja Lovas