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Judy knows North Queens - here are some recent news articles discussing local market events where the media has called for Judy's input . . .
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October, 2007: |
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""Jamaica Debates Downzoning Downside" by Marisa Torrieri
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In other parts of Queens, like Flushing, downzoning has made properties less attractive to developers and investors, said Judy Markowitz, a residential real estate agent. In Flushing, residents who successfully pushed for downzoning have had trouble selling homes. Even if a building is in great condition, builders might be less interested if they think it won't turn a profit as quickly because there are restrictions, she said.
"In north Queens, they fought the density," said Markowitz. "Residential advocates are happy, but in some cases, homeowners that wish to sell their home or who bought their homes with the idea that they would live in their homes and expand it or turn it into a two-family or huge one-family -- now they can't."
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September 12, 2007: |
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"Aug. Home Prices Up from July" by Tami Lubi |
More upscale homes in Queens can't fetch the prices they once did either, said Judy Markowitz, who owns RE/MAX Millennium in Flushing. Homes that sold last year for $715,000 are now going for $675,000, she said. This is in part because the interest rates on jumbo mortgages -- larger than $417,000 -- have risen over the summer.
"Buyers either moved to rentals or just decided to offer less to compensate for the increase in rate," said Markowitz, noting it's easier to find a rental in Queens than on Long Island. |
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September 2, 2007: |
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"Whitestone, City of Aspiration" by Joel Kotkin and Gregory Beyer |
''A lot of our buyers have kids,'' said Judy Markowitz, an agent with the appropriately named Energized Realty Group in Bayside, a community southeast of Whitestone, ''and they need to have their moms and dads there. In Manhattan they have nannies. Here we have grandparents."
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The purchase of a small condo by a young couple like the Daniels may seem insignificant compared with the multimillion-dollar transactions reported routinely in parts of Manhattan. But brokers like Ms. Markowitz are encouraged by the fact that what is known as the middle market -- houses costing $500,000 or less -- remains strong.
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Ms. Markowitz pointed to the white board in her office that listed recent sales, to families with names like Chung, Fung, Kasabian, Yin and Lee.
''The cultural diversity makes a big difference,'' Ms. Markowitz said. ''People from other countries pull together their money to make these down payments. That's why if you get something in northeast Queens at $500,000 or $600,000, you still get multiple offers.'' |
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August 16, 2007: |
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"Crunch Time" by Max Gross |
In the last six weeks or so, it’s been touch and go, even if you have firm commitments from lenders,” says Judy Markowitz, a broker with RE/MAX Millennium.
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Everything was looking hunk-dory,” says Daniel Weissman, who closed on his Whitestone, Queens house last week with his wife, Cynthia.
Weissman, who owns an electrical-contracting business, New York City Electric, had been approved back in June for a no-income verification mortgage at 6.75 percent on their $667,000 three-bedroom that they found with Markowitz.
Then, in early June, he started getting worrying phone calls from his mortgage broker saying that he didn’t think the loan would go through anymore.
Luckily, Weissman was taking a kickboxing class with a broker at New York Mortgage Co. who agreed to finance the loan. But at the end of July, he started getting calls from this broker, too.
“He said, ‘Listen: You need to close on this,’” says Weissman.
Weissman’s mortgage was set to expire August 6 – but his lawyer was out of the country until August 7.
The Weissman’s pleaded with their broker to extend the rate for an extra day, and the broker agreed. The Weissmans were extremely lucky.
“I’m not sure we could have afforded it at a much higher rate,” says Weissman. |
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August 2, 2007: |
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"9/11 Victims Honored in Bayside Ceremony"
by Jillian Abbott |
Each year Norton and his neighbors raise $500 for the upkeep of the memorial. "We didn't want to ask people for more money, Norton said. "Then I got a call from local real estate agent Judy Markowitz. She said she'd pay for the plaque, and at about $500, it wasn't cheap." |
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July 26, 2007: |
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"Residents in Bayside Erect 9/11 memorial" by Elizabeth Stein |
Area realtor Judy Markowitz heard about Norton's plan and his difficulty coming up with funds, and offered to donate the plaque, which cost more than $500. |
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January 12, 2007: |
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For the complete story, click here:
"The Scoop on Selling" by Laura Koss-Feder
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RE/MAX Millennium broker-owner Judy Markowitz is using the universal love of ice cream to endear herself to local buyers and sellers and to distinguish herself from competitors in her Flushing neighborhood.
On the last day of the school year in June, she holds an ice cream party. She has held the parties since 1998, but the scope has gotten bigger, with more people attending. And she is promoting the event more because of the soft market. She mails and hands out flyers to local residents in the communities she sells in.
Last year, the part was at a local Carvel store, and 2,000 ice cream cones were given out during a five-hour period. T-shirts were handed out as well.
The part cost Markowitz close to $10,000. But she say it helped result in eight closings -- with each commission averaging $15,000 -- as well as numerous referrals.
Markowitz promotes the party by mailing flyers.
"Giving back to the community helps enhance your image and also allows you to bond with both potential buyers and sellers," she says.
Seller Chris Capeleris, 55, a homemaker, got to know Markowitz through her annual ice cream party and ended up listing with her. Capeleris sold her Bayside home in August and now lives in Flushing.
"I think the ice cream party is a great way to bring in business," Capeleris says. |
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December 10, 2006: |
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"Sensory Overload as a Way of Life" by Jeff Vandam
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Just as many properties have sold in the downtown Flushing area this year as last, but in general, prices are down 7 to 10 percent, said Judy Markowitz, owner and broker of the Re/Max Millennium Energized Realty Group in Flushing.
“People are getting more for their money,” Ms. Markowitz said. “Depending on the building, you can start to get three-bedroom co-ops for under $300,000, which was not happening last year.”
According to Ms. Markowitz, two-bedroom apartment prices begin in the $180,000 range, with one-bedrooms and studios starting at around $130,000.
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