Recently, I was treated to lunch at a posh eatery in the Village of Fishkill.  Sapore Steakhouse is one of those expensive and intimidating places one dares not visit unless it's on an extra-special occasion. The good news is that the lunch menu offers many of the same meal choices as the dinner menu, but at a slightly lower price. So at mid-day, you can enjoy delicious cuisine without breaking the bank! My lunch partner ordered the Caesar salad which I'm told was delicious, and I sipped a rich and yummy lobster bisque. We each selected the hanger steak entree, which was cooked to perfection. Every morsel just melted in your mouth. Of course, I couldn't pass up the scrumptious crème brûlée for dessert!

The overall experience is orchestrated by service that is personable and gives attention to every detail. Our waiter was clearly a highly-trained professional who understood and explained the menu and wine selections well. He smiled often and made us feel welcome.

My favorite little Village of Fishkill offers an eclectic choice of eateries and places to shop and sight-see. One of the advantages to living in the village is the proximity of classic vintage homes located within walking distance. Side walks are rare in this region so being able to walk to dinner or to a local coffee shop is a treat. I hope you will take some time to visit. If you have any questions, give me a call!

Tammy Benkwitt is a 20 year real estate agent serving Dutchess, Putnam and Westchester counties. She can be reached on her cell 914.714.2127 or email . Call her if you are thinking of buying or selling!

Posted by:  Tammy Benkwitt

The pool at Four Corners in East Fishkill

We moved from Westchester County to Fishkill, New York in 2002. At the time we paid $285,000 for a raised ranch on an acre of land that offered perks such as town water and sewer, natural gas, trees everywhere, and no ugly telephone poles in the streets. Granted, those are fairly boring perks. However, in an area dominated by septic systems, wells, and oil heat, that house got this real estate agent's attention, and I grabbed it in a seller's market.

My husband and I had previously only rented in a brick apartment building in New Rochelle with no air conditioning, and then owned a small condo in Peekskill. We never had a pool. So the fact that this house had central air conditioning, as well as two decks, and an above ground pool was a huge bonus!

As I write this, the temperature is heading toward 100 degrees and I am thankful to have central air conditioning and will likely jump in the pool later with my family. That got me thinking about how many other folks out there are like us and would appreciate having a home with these cool (excuse the pun)amenities. So, just for fun, I ran a search of available homes in the Southern Dutchess County area that have both central air conditioning and a pool. Here is what I found.

According to the Mid-Hudson MLS (Available homes with BOTH Central Air and a Pool)

So there you go, 94 affordably priced homes that have central air AND a pool for sale right now. All located in the southern end of Dutchess County, approximately a 60 minute drive to White Plains. Many sellers are willing to make seller concessions in order to help buyers with closing costs and there are indeed mortgage opportunities for most people. If you dream of leaving the hot, steaming city and owning a home to call your own, here is your chance!

One other fast fact: Home prices in this area have now dropped close to 2002 prices. Take a look at the graph that shows a ten year market overview of the southern Dutchess area. It clearly illustrates that homes are now much more affordable than in recent years and indeed almost at 2002 levels. The market is basically back to where my husband and I began. Personally, I don't feel like I've lost anything. We are living our dream of owning a home we can comfortably afford and enjoy for many years to come.

I will always remember how we felt cooped up in our sweltering, tiny apartment during the summertime. Finding our home in Fishkill was one of our best decisions. If you want to know how to make the plunge, let's talk!

Tammy Benkwitt is a real estate agent and real estate instructor serving Dutchess, Putnam and Westchester counties. She can be reached at 914-714-2127 or email tbenkwitt@houlihanlawrence.com.

Posted by:  Tammy Benkwitt

Today, I will take a client to Fishkill, NY, to show her a condominium and a townhome, both priced under 200K. She wants to be near major roadways so she can commute back and forth to Southern Westchester County and New York City, for work.

According to their official website, "The Village of Fishkill was a significant crossroads in the overland transportation network in the 18^th and 19^th centuries. The Kings Highway, connecting Albany to New York City, intersected with a major overland route from New England to the Hudson River."

The same holds true today. Fishkill is Southern Dutchess County and people moving to this area who need to be close to major highways and trains can access: US Route 9, a major artery which runs north and south and is parallel with the Hudson River; I84, which runs east and west, the Taconic Parkways which runs north and south (and splits up into the The Sprain Brook Parkway and Bronx River Parkway down around Hawthorne/White Plains in Westchester County); and I87, which is also called the New York State Thruway in this area and is known as "the Major Deegan" when you get down near Yonkers and Mount Vernon.

A quick snapshot of the Multiple Listing reveals 178 "single family attached" homes (condominium, co-op, townhome & "other") for sale in Fishkill. The least expensive is a 1974 1 BR 1BA 800 SF co-op priced at $84,900 and the most expensive is a new construction 3BR 2.5 BA 3600 SF attached home priced at $579,995.

In addition to its communter-friendly Dutchess County location, Fishkill is also a perfect representation of area history, recreational facilities and fine dining. Our hunt today is for a condo or townhouse that is affordable, has good amenities, and is conveniently located. I’ll let you know how it goes.

For more information on the Village of Fishkill and surrounding areas, contact Kim Simms, a full-time licensed real estate salesperson and residential real estate consultant with Houlihan Lawrence Real Estate of East Fishkill, NY. She can be reached at

Posted by:  Kim Simms

One of the best advantages of living in Fishkill, New York, is being near Brinckerhoff Elementary School. While I am sure the school itself is a fine educational institution, we found that it has an amazing hill to ride our sleds! Of course, it isn't a secret and many other families were out in force last weekend along with us flying down the mountain beating the winter doldrums!

I suggest topping off the day with a cup of hot chocolate in front of the fireplace! Or try out the local restaurants in the village. (See some of my previous posts on great local eateries.) Enjoy!

Tammy Benkwitt has been a real estate agent for 19 years and assists buyers and sellers in Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties. She can be reached at 914-714-2127 or email tbenkwitt@houlihanlawrence.com

Posted by:  Tammy Benkwitt

Before all the statistics about housing are reported on the news, the actual sales have to happen first. What real estate agents are experiencing right now will help impact how the world economy behaves in a few months. So every once in a while, I will post a “sneak peek.” Here’s what is actually happening in my business during the last few weeks. There is something about buyers in today’s real estate market that is giving me hope.

To put it in perspective, a little history first. Approximately between the years 2004-2006, buyers were demanding homes that had all bells and whistles - “McMansions” with granite counters, stainless appliances, wood floors and so on. That urgent desire for all the amenities drove buyers into purchasing homes they could not afford. Buyers did not consider what might happen when their adjustable mortgage rates came due. (The reason for the decline of the real estate market is a much longer story. I am focusing on buyer choices at the moment.) 

Recently, I have been hearing my clients sing a slightly different tune. While it is nice to have those extras, more buyers are poised to make purchase decisions based on what they can afford, and are willing to postpone upgrades to a time when they are more certain about their finances. Location, location, location first, Viking appliances later! Yes, buyers want a bargain, it’s their market and they know it. But common sense is back at the helm and it’s refreshing to hear!

The National Association of Realtors released a report on August 24, 2010 that explains the decline in housing sales in July 2010. Home sales (closed sales) declined as anticipated because many people took advantage of the home buyer credit which ended April 30 (buyers had to be in contract by 4/30/10 to qualify). In other words, people who might have otherwise purchased a home later in the year, closed on their homes in June in order to gain the tax credit. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist for the National Association of Realtors, explains the findings in this televised interview.

Again, here is what I am experiencing today. Almost like the “good old days” when you bought a starter home, fixed it up over time, and had a solid, common sense plan for paying it off, buyers are indeed buying, but using more caution and care. The difference is that in those “good old days,” 30-year fixed interest rates were much higher (I remember 10% in 1990), and today’s rates are closer to 4.625%. There are still many financial options available to first time home buyers such as low interest SONYMA loans in New York State. If you want to stop paying a landlord and own your home, talk to a real estate and/or mortgage professional. Get all the facts, then decide what is best for you.

Tammy Benkwitt is a real estate agent and instructor who lives in Fishkill, New York. She can be reached at 914-714-2127.

Posted by:  Tammy Benkwitt

One of the places I visit frequently in Dutchess County is the Village of Fishkill. In an age where sidewalks are few and far between, being able to park your car and peruse the many shops and eateries is a pleasure. The village is a small community that offers an array of residential choices ranging from condominiums to charming old Victorian colonials. It’s one of my favorite places to visit.

The restaurants in the village are numerous and offer so many choices of cuisine varying from Italian to Thai food. We recently ate dinner and lunch at the newest hot spot, Eleven 11. It offers everything from burgers to lobster macaroni and cheese (delicious)! A must-try appetizer from the Eleven 11 menu is “11 Clams,” a combination of steamed clams with sausage and chicken in a tasty broth. I wasn’t sure about this dish at first, but the mixture of the sausage, chicken and tomatoes on top of the clams make it a special treat. (Be sure to ask for a spoon and extra bread for dipping!) If you have room for dessert, try the crème brule or brownie a la mode!

Don’t miss: the Village of Fishkill block party on August 14 from 6:00-11:00 PM. The village closes Main Street from Route 9 to Jackson Avenue and fills it with music, food vendors, children’s activities, and more.

Tammy Benkwitt is a real estate agent and instructor who lives in Fishkill, NY. She can be reached at 914-714-2127.

Posted by:  Tammy Benkwitt