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BRIARCLIFF MANOR, N.Y. The housing market could be turning around in Briarcliff Manor.
Village Real Estate officials are conflicted, but agree that the worst years of the economic recession are behind Briarcliff Manor. The Westchester Putnam Association of Realtors recently released statistics for 2011, showing an even trend with 2010 of 59 single-family home sales in the village. Both years showed an increase from 2009 50 single-family home sales. In Westchester County, there were 5,305 residential sales in 2011, a slight drop from 5,681 homes sold in 2010, according to the Empire Access Multiple Listing Service (EAMLS).
With both 2011 and 2010 figures showing an increase from 2009 up to 4,592, Mark Seiden Real Estate Team President Mark Seiden said the figures are encouraging.
If you ask 30 different real estate agents something, you typically get 30 different answers, said Seiden, a Briarcliff Manor broker. But it seems to be unanimous that the worst is behind us and were slowly getting back. Its not going to be like it was in 2006, but I think were going to see better things in our future than we have in the last couple of years.
Pat Held, branch manager for Briarcliffs Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Rand Realty, said shes also optimistic about the villages future.
As far as 2011, it was not a great year but it was better than previous years, Held said, adding that the last great year ended in 2006. The market really started to deteriorate in 2007. You didnt see it at first. It took a little while to hit but it hit us hard.
Held said shes seen varying cycles of up and down years in her 35 years as a Westchester Real Estate official.
But this is the worst cycle Ive ever seen, Held said. I can tell you the worst is behind us and were slowly getting better.
Held said the roller coaster that was 2011 was a significant sign that the market is improving.
We started out great and dropped off and then it was up and then it was down, she said. The difference was the up. Thats how things usually work is that it takes a little bit of up and down before you really see the up.
Seiden and Held agreed that 2012 is starting out in a positive direction.
Its early but theres more hope for this year than weve seen probably since 2006, Seiden said. I think its going to take a little time, but were starting to see a lot of good things here.
Held, who also works as the director on the EAMLS board, said the positive vibe is spreading throughout Westchester County.
The beginning of this year, it looks like its going to be a much better year, she said. Youre not hearing the doom and gloom like you had in the last few years. Its a big change from what weve seen and I think this is going to be the start of a good trend for all of us in Westchester.
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