Wandering Through Syracuse

Syracuse through Italian Eyes

2011-12-20T07:31:00.000-08:00

Syracuse, like many other industrial cities of the United States, has a glorious future behind him. Preserve the memory of a waterway, the Erie Canal, which did great with his trade in the nineteenth century the entire region of New York, observes the slow factories to get rid of red brick and white colonial villas.

The above is a quote from an Italian Art Newspaper article about a retrospective of the painter Jerome Witkin held at ArtRage Gallery in Syracuse. It loses a lot in the translation but gains in absurdity.

One of the things that is both sad and beautiful about my city is the decaying industrial infrastructure. It inspires me as an artist, the old factories of crumbling brick, rusty smokestacks, parking lots full of puddles and weeds.

As a real estate person, I see a lot of promise. The broken down factory would be great loft apartments, maybe with some retail on the bottom floor.

First snow of the season

2011-12-17T08:01:00.001-08:00

This is the view from the house I am rehabbing. It is in Tipp Hill and will rent for 1000. Hoping to show it tomorrow so theres a lot of work to do!

Open House Today!

2011-12-04T01:08:00.001-08:00

Open house today! Sunday December 4 from 12-2! Holiday cookies!

Come see it - newly remodeled with a finished basement. Updated kitchen with new appliances, ceramic floor and granite counters.

Productivity down

2011-12-01T02:01:00.001-08:00

Why are my cats so drawn to the keyboard? I guess they want to be the center of attention but it makes it hard to get things done.

451 Bryant Ave Kitchen Remodel!

2011-11-25T04:28:00.000-08:00

Sometimes you have a house for sale and there's one thing keeping it from selling. This happened on our listing on Bryant Street. Great location in Tipp Hill, where so many people are looking. House was fully remodeled, newly painted in decorator colors. Kitchen came with all appliances and had miles of counter space. But there was one problem. A chimney came through the middle of the kitchen. I would take people through the house and they would go "What is that????" Tour over, on to the next house.

I'm happy to report that the dreaded "thing" in the kitchen is gone, gone, gone.

Please give me a call if you'd like to come check out the property! 315-908-2287

Click the link below to get more info about the house.

451 Bryant Ave, Syracuse, NY 13204, USA - TIPP HILL

BEFORE "What is that??"

AFTER "Nice kitchen"

AFTER "Look at all the counter space!"

Fall Color from the Inner Harbor Area

2011-11-11T13:41:00.001-08:00

This is a few days ago - now we are having freezing rain! I haven't had as much time for photography as I would like lately. Happy to be busy in my business though.

North Syracuse Graveyard

2011-10-29T05:20:00.000-07:00

This is the graveyard in North Syracuse. It's right by my office. I've been meaning to go out there and take some photos of it because the fall colors have been spectacular. So yesterday I finally walked over there and realized that all I had was the camera on my phone! I just took the one picture. I think it turned out good for a camera phone.

I've started my property management company

2011-10-21T02:08:00.000-07:00

I've called it Responsible Property Management, which was the fourth name change. Now I have a DBA (doing business as) which lets me use that name on my bank account. There's no going back!

I drew the logo for it myself. It's the first artistic thing I have done in a long time, except for taking photos. I've been neglecting other stuff too, like cleaning my house!

I'm doing a rehab of a 3 unit building on the northside. It's had bad tenants and been really neglected. It's nice to be able to be in charge of a project like this, where I can find someone dependable to do the work. It will be done this weekend and I'm going to start marketing it and find some good tenants.

I've hired someone for a few hours a day to help me keep track of my schedule and all the things I have to do. This is the busiest I have ever been and I am enjoying it.

Fall is here

2011-10-15T11:11:00.001-07:00

I'm in Lincoln Park. I love this time of year when all of the sudden it really starts to look like fall. Windy and rainy today.

A Busy Week

2011-10-09T02:03:00.000-07:00

No, I wasn't driving when I took this!

This is supposedly the last warm weekend of the year. It's great convertible weather.

I've been busy with real estate stuff. First, we have a lot of sales. I have also a lot of photos to take of new listings. I have spent the last two weeks recovering from a sinus infection and cough.

The big news is we have a new property management company. It's called Clyde, which is named after my grandfather who was a real estate agent. I'm not sure if it will be Clyde Properties or Clyde Asset Management. I like Clyde Properties better but there is one in Scotland already. I want to have the name of the company as the web page.

It was hard to chose a name. I liked the name Access Syracuse but wanted to choose a name where it was not limited to Syracuse. I wanted to call it 315 Properties, as that is the area code in all the areas I would be able to consider managing from a distance perspective. I figured as soon as I did that we would get a new area code around here!

We have clients already, we are managing 32 units! One of the buildings we have almost no idea who lives there, what rent they pay or if they have paid any rent. So it's my job to get all that straightened out. The other buildings we know who is in them at least.

The Bumpy Pumpkin

2011-09-28T03:15:00.000-07:00

It's fall and the kitty statue on my back porch has a new friend.

I found this at a farmer's market held at a church on Genessee Street. I'm not sure what their schedule is but I see them there sometimes and have always meant to stop. So last week I did.

I got a lot of apples and way too many tomatoes. I will have to make them into sauce and freeze it.

It's definitely the start of fall. Here you can tell it by more than just the stores having black and orange Christmas trees for sale. There is a nip in the air, trees are just starting to turn and it just feels different. I'm not a big summer person and I suffer in hot weather so it's a relief to me. I want Fall to last as long as possible.

New Breed Meadows Subdivision

2011-09-27T05:51:00.001-07:00

This is in Camillus! 1.9 acre approved building lots with forever woods in back! Country quiet and city convenient, with easy access to route 5 and 690. Minutes to shopping and dining. Please call me today with any questions! 315-908-2287. Or just drive by and take a look.

Fall Flowers

2011-09-27T03:09:00.000-07:00

Soon we will probably be getting some frost. There's still a lot of flowers left in my yard.

Around this time of year a lot of people plant frost hardy mums and decorative cabbages because when the frost hits the summer plants will turn brown and die.

I have a big flower bed in my yard that is overgrown and crowded, but still has lots of nice perennial flowers in it. I hate to dig it up because I don't know what is what. It would probably be much better off if I just got rid of everything and started over.

Pods

2011-09-26T03:01:00.000-07:00

These are in my garden. Not sure what they are but I like them. They have drama.

I really did almost nothing with my garden this year. Next year I resolve to be a better gardener. There's still plants left from when the last people had it, but they are growing into a jungle.

Taste of India Syracuse Buffet

2011-09-24T03:29:00.000-07:00

I went to the buffet for lunch on Friday. It's a small buffet, about six dishes plus rice, naan, condiments and salad. There was also a desert Gulab Jamin - like donut holes soaked in honey syrup. I didn't have the desert because I was trying not to overeat.

On the plate is Kadi Pakorda Gujarati (vegetable dumplings in a creamy mild sauce), Tandoori Chicken (cooked in a clay oven), Raita (yogurt sauce) Saag Paneer (Cheese the texture of tofu in spinach) Chicken Vindaloo (very hot) Vegetable Pakoras (vegetable fritters).
Buffet costs $8.95 per person.

I liked being able to get Raita and Tamarind sauce with the meal. Raita is yogurt and it is good to eat alongside spicy foods. Tamarind sauce is a slightly sweet sauce I like to put on the Pakoras.

Most of the food here was pretty mild, with the exception of the Vindaloo which was hot, and the Saag Paneer which I would say was a medium spice.

The buffet is a good value and gives you a chance to try small amounts of dishes to see what you like.

I prefer the buffet at Sahota Palace in Liverpool because there are more than twice as many selections, so I'd probably be more inclined to eat there. They have a buffet for both lunch and dinner.

I would come back here to try it again, especially if I was in the Westcott Street area around lunchtime.

What I really need to do is spend less time obsessing about Indian food and more time at the gym.

Review of Taste of India Syracuse dinner

New listing - just remodeled in Baldwinsville

2011-09-23T04:25:00.000-07:00

Open house Sunday Sept 25 from 11:00 - 1:00

So much new in 33 Edgewood Drive, Baldwinsville! Brand new appliances, bathroom fixtures, carpet, lights, kitchen cabinets. New paint from top to bottom, including garage and basement floors. In desirable Candlewyck Neighborhood. Baldwinsville Schools.

Taste of India Restaurant Review

2011-09-22T02:12:00.000-07:00

This was taken before it opened!
I forgot to take a new one last night.

Last night we went to Taste of India, the new Indian restaurant on Dell at Westcott that opened a few weeks ago. The building is a converted mechanic's garage and it sits back from the street with parking in front.

We were hoping to have buffet because we didn't have that much time. Buffet is only for lunch though. We decided to stay and have dinner.

We were quickly seated in a comfortable booth. I ordered a Mango Lasi, a drink made from yogurt, milk and sweetened mango pulp for $2.95. I always get this in Indian restaurants. They are a good companion to spicy food -- if something is too spicy they also take away a little of the burn.

We ordered the taste of India Special Appetizers for two at $6.95, Plain Paratha bread for $2.95, Lamb Biryani at $11.95 and Chicken Shahi Korma at $9.95.

Our order was taken fairly quickly. The food did not arrive quickly, though certainly within an acceptable amount of time. A pleasant young woman apologized for the delay and informed us that our food would be there in a few minutes. I appreciate when places do this as I don't mind waiting but want to know that they are working on it and that the food isn't sitting there getting cold.

Note TV on left side!

Taste of India has a large screen TV on the wall playing Indian Music Videos. This seems to be the new thing for Indian restaurants, several that I have been to in the last year have added this. I like Indian music and it adds to the atmosphere. I don't like watching TV or videos while I eat usually but since I can't understand what they are saying and there are no commercials I like having it on.

The appetizers were my least favorite part of the meal. They were very fried. However, my dining companion enjoyed them and was happy to eat most of my share.

The main courses were served in little brass pots, with a dish of rice. My dining companion at first said he didn't like the biryani, then changed his mind and said he liked it a lot. I thought it was a good basic biryani.

He ordered it medium spicy and we thought it was mild, so if you want spicy food here you might tell them that you really do want it spicy. They tend to adjust for upstate NY palates at many restaurants here, and though many people will have no problem with super-hot Buffalo wings they seem to be scared to eat spicy Indian or Thai food.

My dining companion said the korma looked like chicken pot pie filling and it did somewhat. I liked the korma, it was mild and creamy with cashews and was perfect over the rice.

Biryani and Chicken Korma

The Plain Paratha bread was thinner than naan bread, more along the lines of a tortilla. It was slightly crispy and very buttery. I'm not much of a bread person and the thinner it is the more I usually like it. I would order this again.

We were unable to order most of what I would have wanted because my companion hates tomatoes, cheese and yogurt, and a lot of things I would have liked have these ingredients. I will have to come back for lunch and try some more things.

Note: We went back on Friday and had the Buffet Lunch. Click to read review of Taste of India Syracuse Buffet

This restaurant is a welcome addition to the Westcott area and I'm glad they opened.

Click for Taste of India Syracuse Menu

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The Assessment Does not Equal an Appraisal

2011-09-11T04:15:00.000-07:00

An assessment and an appraisal are both valuations of properties, but they are not the same.

An assessment is the value that a home is taxed on. It's set by the assessor's office.

An appraisal is an opinion of what the property should sell for, given by an appraiser. That is someone paid to analyze property values based on features of the property and comparable sales in the area.

Many times in Syracuse Real Estate ads you will see "Priced Under Assessment". That doesn't mean it's a bargain, it just means that it is over assessed.

Similarly, sometimes people are alarmed that they may be paying more for a house than it is assessed at. That doesn't mean the house is not worth the asking price. It means it probably hasn't been assessed for a while. What you have to watch out for here is that the assessor may re-assess your house and your taxes will go up.

Went to the Irish Festival tonight

2011-09-10T19:28:00.001-07:00

I drank beer for the first time in years. Usually I drink cider or vodka. I saw the band The Elders. I had a good time. Irish festival is a great place to people watch.

The Elders. One of them is so elderly that he is in fact, a ghost.

I forgot the name of this band but I really enjoyed their music. Someone tell me in the comments, please!

Second North Deli

2011-09-08T00:12:00.000-07:00

London Broil Sandwich

I've always wanted to try the Second North Deli at the corner of Second North and Wolf Streets. Today my car was overheating and I had it towed off to Dr. Fish the Mechanic. I was in Mattydale and decided to walk as far as I could down Route 11, which is Wolf Street in Syracuse. I made it for 1.7 miles, just as far as the deli.

It's a place where you order at the counter and they bring it to your table. I got the house specialty, a London broil sandwich for $6.95. It comes with sauteed onions, bell peppers and mushrooms on top, though you can easily leave any of those off. There is a small container of au jus gravy. This is what I would call a French Dip sandwich. It was a guilty pleasure. I loved it. Meat was tender, the peppers, onions and mushrooms were cooked just enough that they were nice and mellow. Bread soaked up the juice nicely. I would go here again.

They also have a full bar!

A lot of people get takeout here, while I had lunch they were doing a steady business.

They have a web page Second North Deli which is pretty good. It's actually a blogger blog, and they just have photos, their menu (in HTML), their hours, their location and phone number. That is important because if you are on your phone you can still read the menu and call them!

They have a link to their youtube ad and their facebook page. The photo slide show on the first page takes a little too long to load but other than that it's perfect.

The other thing that is perfect is this local commercial for them, which shows people who probably really eat there and gives you a very good idea of what it is like.

Second North Deli Is Open:

Mon-Sat: 11:00-7:00

Sun: Closed

*Extended Bar Hours on Friday

You can call or fax ahead your orders:

Phone: 315-472-7429

Fax: 315-473-9923

Free Delivery Mon-Fri, 11-2 for all orders over $30

Second North Deli | 625 Wolf Street, Syracuse, NY 13208

Big Dip and Big News

2011-08-30T16:18:00.001-07:00

This is up the street from my new office in North Syracuse. I was enticed in by the sign that said Pumpkin soft serve ice cream. I had the pumpkin and vanilla swirl. Next time I would just get the pumpkin because it was so good!

Our whole office is moving. We are going to be the McKenzie Group at Syracuse Realty Group. So instead of being a tiny stand-alone company we will be a team in a small office. I think it's a great new step for us. Nothing else will change, Christopher Moreland and I will still work together and I will still be in charge of marketing our listings. I will continue to work with buyers in the same way. I'll just have a fancier office with more parking!

Taste of India buffet restaurant coming soon

2011-08-26T15:42:00.001-07:00

This is on Dell right off Wescott- it says GRAND OPENING on the sign but it doesn't say when. It doesn't look ready yet, but the chairs and tables are there so probably wont be too long.

Taste of India Syracuse is now open - click here for Taste of India Syracuse Restaurant Review

Regulate Bank's Behavior in Short Sales

2011-08-20T02:50:00.000-07:00

Once again, I have a client who wants to buy a short sale property. I spoke to the listing agent about it. There was accepted offer on it before, and the bank got back to them quickly on it - only one month!

That's right, responding to a purchase offer in one month is considered fast.

Why is this? I don't think banks are that inefficient that they couldn't deal with this in a reasonable amount of time.

The more time you leave a short sale hanging the worse it is for the owner, for the neighborhood and for property values.

Most buyers can't wait that long or deal with the uncertainty. Anyone who is moving to a new area or has a lease needs to have a set date range where they can expect to take possession of a house. This means that short sale properties are mostly bought by investors. If the banks were forced to get their act together and had a time limit to reply, owner occupants could purchase short sales easier. Since they usually pay higher prices than investors it would actually benefit the banks.

Short sales are frequently vacant, and empty houses deteriorate much faster. They get broken into and have copper pipes and appliances stolen. No one is there to notice the small leak that turns into the big leak that brings down the bedroom ceiling. The house gets damp, moldy and musty. It's a downwards spiral.

Once the house goes into foreclosure it really hurts property values. Plus now we have another former home owner with a foreclosure on their record. One who is probably pissed off at the bank and may damage the house on the way out.

It seems reasonable - more than reasonable - to give banks a time limit to reply to a short sale contract. One month is more than enough time. I think banks should be regulated on this.

You might also want to read: What is a Short Sale

Chinese Lantern Flowers out in Pompey

2011-08-19T03:10:00.000-07:00

I took this out in the country, at our listing in Pompey, NY. It's a 5 bedroom 3.5 bath house on three levels! The lot is set back away from the road and is surrounded by woods on three sides. That is a good feature in an area where a lot of the houses are close to the road on busy roads. People want to go out to the country for peace and quiet and they end up with traffic noise instead! In addition to being away from the road, Cemetery Road is pretty quiet.

In the yard there's this huge patch of black eyed susans and Chinese Lanterns. They are the orange pod-shaped flowers like papery balloons. I have never seen them growing before, just at the florist.

The house is about a half hour drive from Syracuse.

It looks small from the photos, but it actually is three stories - it's on a slight hillside so the lower level is walkout and has big windows.

It's $129,777. It is a short sale, so the property will take longer to close.
Update:
Property has an offer on it and is now pending!

The House We Didn't Buy

2011-08-16T03:27:00.000-07:00

New House, originally uploaded by Melsky.

Don't get too attached to any house until you have closed on it and the keys are in your pocket.

If you are too attached it's easy to rationalize away any defects or problems. You can end up making a decision based on emotion instead of logic and financial sense.

Almost exactly three years ago, I was so excited about our new house. Our offer was just accepted and I was already planning what I would do to it.

In New York State most contracts have a home inspection contingency. That means you get to hire an inspector and they will give you a report on the condition of the house. If the house has problems, you can ask the sellers to fix them or to give you money off the price of the home.

So we had the home inspection. First we find out that the roof was bad. It had 5 layers of previous roofs on it, and they would all have to be removed and then a new roof put on.

But the real deal killer was the two story garage. The top floor of it was totally unstable, to the point where it shouldn't be walked on. It also needed a new roof.

We didn't think the sellers had been honest about the condition of the property. There were a lot of places where they had tried to cover up problems like water stains.

We were already suspicious of them because there was a city code problem with the sidewalk. You are not allowed to put asphalt over your sidewalk, though many people in Syracuse do. Somehow, these people had gotten tagged for that and the city was requiring them to put in a new sidewalk, which was several thousand dollars. They neglected to tell us this for the first week, though they had known for months. They did not intend on paying for it so basically it added the cost to the price for the home. This is something that should have been disclosed in the listing.

We opted not to buy the house and used the home inspection contingency to cancel the contract.

It's not that far from my current house and I always wonder what it would have been like if we bought it. I think not buying it was a good choice and I'm glad I wasn't too emotionally attached to it.