Sunday, October 01, 2017


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Colors of Chautauqua County, New York
Celebrate fall all season long with festivals, learning, and harvest in western New York. Take a class during the 2017 Colors of Chautauqua with workshops, tours, tastings, and special events happening from Labor Day to Veteran's Day. Choose from dozens of experiences with culinary, creative, and cultural themes. See below for a sampling of events. The full schedule is available on the Colors of Chautauqua Calendar. Experience the Harvest in the Lake Erie Grape Region. Take a Sightseeing Tour Around Chautauqua Lake. See a map of the Natural Attractions and Hikes. Enjoy the local bounty, great outdoors, and heritage of Chautauqua County: the World's Learning Center.
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Five Ways to Experience Fall in the Chautauqua-Lake Erie Region
Slow down and appreciate the autumn bounty
Perhaps one reason fall is so well loved is that it gives us permission to slow down after hectic summers. Located just 2.5 hours from Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Rochester, and 1.5 hours from Buffalo, Chautauqua County is the perfect destination for a fall getaway. Far enough and bursting with new sights and experiences so that we feel we have traveled somewhere, but close enough that the trip doesn't have to be a big production. Maybe you've been to Chautauqua countless times during the summer months but have yet to experience the autumn bounty. Keep reading for five suggested ways to spend an unforgettable fall weekend in Chautauqua County, New York.

 
Celebrate the Harvest in Western New York
Visit America's Grape Country!
Along the eastern shores of Lake Erie, "harvest" means grapes and from mid-September through the end of October, it's the primary thought on everyone's mind. In this region-known as America's Grape Country-the quintessential harvest experience is to get outside and inhale the sweet, intoxicating aroma emanating from vineyards laden with Concord grapes.
- By Stephanie Shuckers Burdo

 
The All New Peek'n Peal Season Pass
Lower prices & awesome perks!

Peek'n Peak Resort's all new season passes include six options with price points beginning at only $199. Unlimited season-long skiing with no blackout dates is only $499. Passes go on sale October 1, 2017. Rates increase after December 1, 2017.

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Upcoming Events
Brewmaster Dinner at Peek'n Peak Resort October 6, 2017
Join us at Bistro 210 for the Brewmaster Dinner featuring Southern Tier Brewing Company! A five course dinner paired with STBC brews will be served. Reservations are highly recommended. Overnight packages are available. 

12th Annual Saints & Sinners Cemetery Walking Tours
October 7, 2017
Narrated horse drawn and walking tours of Jamestown, NY's Lakeview Cemetery. Uncover some of the more than 43,000 personal stories of the residents of this beautiful cemetery. Presale tickets are available at the Fenton History Center.
Johnson Estate Fall Foliage Vineyard Walks Sundays in October 2017
 Join 3rd generation owner, Fred Johnson, on a 40-minute vineyard walk at Johnson Estate Winery, New York State's oldest estate winery. Framed by the hillside and colorful fall foligage, this is an experience you won't soon forget. The tour concludes in the tasting room with samples of Johnson Estate's award-wining vintages.
30th Annual Fall Fest Weekends at Peek'n Peak Resort
Oct. 14-15 & 21-22 
Brilliant foliage sets the scene for a juried craft show with more than 130 vendors and a farmers' market beside activities like the pumpkin cannon, children's games, petting zoo, live entertainment, pony rides, ski lift rides, classic car cruise-in and an annual snowsports equipment swap! 

Black Violin Concert: Classical Boom Tour @ Reg Lenna, Jamestown
October 20, 2017
American hip hop duo from Florida composed of two classically trained string instrumentalists who play a variety of music. This mingling of hip hop and classical sensibilities is what is generally thought to give them their distinctive style.

Wine & Candy Pairing: Halloween at Liberty Vineyards
October 28 & 28, 2017
Costumes are encouraged! Visit Liberty Vineyards & Winery and give your best "trick or treat!" Maybe you'll be given a free sample of their award-winning wines in return. Sample wine and candy pairings. Prizes awarded for creative costumes.  

More fall events, including farm-to-table dining and haunted Halloween festivities can be found on the Colors of Chautauqua Event Calendar
Request a Guide
Plan your vacation with the help of the 2017 "I Love NY" Chautauqua County Visitors Guide.
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Download an APP
The Visit Chautauqua County APP is available through iTunes or 
Google Play.
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Get a Jump Start on Fall
Find tips for planning your autumn Chautauqua County, NY experience.
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For More Information On Chautauqua Lake Real Estate and Living Visit: www.chautauqualakehomes.com

Saturday, September 16, 2017

5 Things Real Estate Agents Wish You Knew About Buying a House




 

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Saturday, September 09, 2017

Don't Put Faith in These 7 Home-Pricing Myths


Pricing your own home is hard, what with all the history and hopes this magic number entails. Of course, you want to make a profit. Of course, all that money you spent installing a swimming pool or a half-bath will be recouped, because you're leaving your digs in better shape than when you bought it, right? Right?
Well, not necessarily. Too many home sellers fall prey to myths about home pricing that seem to make sense at first, but don't jibe with the reality of real estate markets today. To make sure you haven't bought into any of this malarkey—since the buyers you're trying to woo sure haven't—here are some common pricing myths you'll want to rinse from your brain so you kick off your home-selling venture with realistic expectations. It's time to get real, folks!
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1. You always make money when you sell a home

Sure, real estate tends to appreciate over time: The National Association of Realtors® estimates that home prices will jump 5% by the end of 2017 and continue rising 3.5% in 2018. But selling your home for more than you paid is by no means a given, and your return on investment can vary greatly based on where you live.
The NAR also found, for instance, that the cost of single-family homes increased in about 87% of the metros it studied, but prices actually dropped in 23 markets. So don't assume you'll walk away with a profit until you've examined what's up in your area first.

2. Price your house high to make big bucks

We know what you’re thinking: “Hey, it’s worth a shot!” But if you start with some sky-high asking price, you'll soon come back to Earth when you realize that an overpriced home just won't sell.
“While the payday might sound appealing, you're actually sacrificing your best marketing time in exchange for the remote possibility that someone will overpay for your home,” says Kathleen Marks, a Realtor® with United Real Estate in Asheville, NC.
While certain buyers might be suckered in, this becomes far less likely if they're working with a buyer's agent who will know all too well when a home is overpriced, and advise their client to steer clear. And this can lead to problems down the road (as our next myth indicates).

3. If your home's overpriced, it's no big deal to lower it later

Sorry, but overpricing your home isn't easily fixed just by lowering it later on. The reason: Homes that have lingered on the market for months—or that have undergone one or more price reductions—make buyers presume that something must be wrong with it. As such, they might still steer clear, or offer even less than the price you're now asking.
Bottom line: “Price your home appropriately from the beginning for your best shot at having a quick and easy sale,” Marks recommends.

4. Pricing your home low means you won't make as much money

Similarly, sellers are often leery of pricing their home on the low end. But as counterintuitive as this seems, this strategy can often pay off big-time. Here's why: Low-priced homes drum up tons of interest, which could result in a bidding war that could drive your home's price past your wildest dreams.

5. You can add the cost of any renovations you've made

Let's say you overhauled your kitchen or added a deck. It stands to reason that whatever money you paid for these improvements will be recouped in full once you sell—after all, your home's new owners are inheriting all your hard work.
The reality: While your renovations might see some return on investment, you'll rarely recoup the whole amount. On average, you can expect to get back 64% of every dollar you spend on home improvements. Plus that profit can vary greatly based on which renovation you do.
Check out this list of common renovations and their return on investment to know what you can actually expect.

6. A past appraisal will help you pinpoint the right price

If you have an appraisal in hand, from when you bought or refinanced your house, you might think that’s a logical place to start to price your home. It's not!
An appraisal assigns your home a value based on market conditions at a specific date, so it becomes old news very quickly. In fact, lenders typically won’t accept appraisals that are more than 60 days old.
“Since lenders know markets can change in six months’ time, it's important for sellers to understand that a previous appraisal is never a reliable source for the current value of a home,” Marks says.

7. Your agent might overprice the house to make a bigger commission

Don’t even go there, says Realtor Raena Janes of RJHomes in Tucson, AZ.
“While it’s true that an agent’s commission is based on the selling price of a house, the disparity will end up being negligible,” she says. For example, the difference in commission between a $300,000 house and one that's $310,000 is about $150.
“No real estate agent is going to lose a sale for the sake of a couple hundred dollars,” she explains.
Cathie Ericson is a journalist who writes about real estate, finance, and health. She lives in Portland, OR.



For More Information On Chautauqua Lake Real Estate and Living Visit: www.chautauqualakehomes.com

Thursday, August 17, 2017

Chautauqua Belle Tour to Educate Water Importance- Evening Observer



Submitted Photo
The Chautauqua Lake Association and The Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy invites the community to take a tour on the Chautauqua Belle to learn about healthy waters.
Submitted Photo The Chautauqua Lake Association and The Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy invites the community to take a tour on the Chautauqua Belle to learn about healthy waters.
Everyone lives in a watershed and Healthy Landscapes lead to Healthy Waters. How people conduct their lives can have an effect on the water quality of Chautauqua Lake. Fortunately, there are many simple things that people can do to be stewards of Chautauqua Lake and help to decrease the amount of sediment and nutrients entering the lake and polluting the waters.
The Chautauqua Lake Association and The Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy are both non-profit organizations that share educating the community about Chautauqua Lake’s ecosystem and environmental lake management practices in their mission statements. Both are dedicated to addressing the root causes of the excessive plant and algae growth and loss of lake depth due to sedimentation and runoff. Together, the organizations have more than 90 years of experience with research-based approaches and dedication to protect our beautiful Chautauqua Lake and they are partnering on an educational campaign to inform the community on how people’s actions in the watershed can translate to a healthy Chautauqua Lake.
The community is invited for an evening on the Chautauqua Belle to observe and learn about the importance of natural shorelines, buffer strips and re-naturalization projects occurring on the shoreline and in the watershed to prevent and reduce water pollution, soil erosion and mitigate clear water and a healthy Chautauqua Lake. The event is Tuesday, Aug. 22, at 6 p.m., board the Chautauqua Belle in Mayville and take a two-hour tour of Chautauqua Lake’s shoreline in an entertaining, enjoyable and educational venue to learn personal watershed management techniques and environmental lake management practices, because A Clean Lake is Everyone’s Business.
Wine and Spirits tasting will be provided by Mazza Vineyards and Five & 20 Spirits. Tickets are available for presale for $20 per person online at http://chautauqualakeassociation.org, by contacting Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy at 664-2166 or Chautauqua Lake Association at 763-8602 or $25 per person the night of the event.



For More Information On Chautauqua Lake Real Estate and Living Visit: www.chautauqualakehomes.com

Tuesday, August 01, 2017

Third Annual Gran Fondo Ready To Roll Aug. 26



Riders are pictured at the 2016 Chautauqua Gran Fondo charity cycling event. This year’s Gran Fondo will be held Aug. 26. 
Submitted photos
Riders are pictured at the 2016 Chautauqua Gran Fondo charity cycling event. This year’s Gran Fondo will be held Aug. 26. Submitted photos


The third annual Chautauqua Gran Fondo is set for Saturday, Aug. 26. This year’s charity cycling event begins and ends at Webb’s Captain’s Table in Mayville. The tour is scheduled to kick off at 9 a.m., and a family friendly after party featuring live music, lunch and refreshments will follow.
The Chautauqua Gran Fondo is a community event designed to promote health and well being for cyclists of all skill levels while raising funds for local non-profit organizations. This year’s proceeds will go towards The Royal Family Kids Camp, Western New York Kidney Connection, and the Chautauqua County Veteran’s Endowment Fund.
“Our team is very excited about this year’s event!” said Michelle Turner, event coordinator. “We listened to our riders from the first two years and truly took their survey suggestions to heart.”
This year there are a few upgrades to the community event. There is improved, color-coded directional signage to keep riders on their chosen route, as well as additional markers for rest stops, bike repair and noteworthy scenic selfie-spots. Also, there will be a WCA Recovery Tent for post-race riders to cool down and recuperate.
“The recovery tent is another testament to the collaboration of another local partnership with UPMC Chautauqua WCA Hospital,” Turner said. “One of their sports physicians will be on hand for the riders to assist in any after-ride ailments, like strains, muscle cramps, or basically anything arising from their trip around the lake.”
The third upgrade to this year’s event are the finishing medals. Through a partnership with Walter Street Brass, this year will mark the first-ever solid brass finishing medals for the event. Each rider — no matter which route they choose — will receive a commemorative finishing medal after crossing the finish line.
The event coordinators are still looking for a group of cheerleaders to be on hand for a couple of hours on the day of the event while various groups cross the finish line. “It is an accomplishment for all riders so we feel it’s important to cheer them on in support of their efforts,” Turner said. “We welcome participation from one team or several teams and we are happy to give back to their squads as a thank you for their support in adding to the success of the 2017 Gran Fondo.”
The after-party is set to be held in the back parking lot at Webb’s Captain’s Table in Mayville. This year’s after-party features the band Refuge, from Erie, Pa. This modern and classic country and rock band has won several awards over the past few years, most notably being back-to-back Rock Erie Music Award for the Country Music category. Local musician, Angel Rodriguez will also be performing. He was a finalist for Chautauqua’s Got Talent, and is known for presenting popular and familiar songs with his own unique flair. He also recently auditioned for NBC’s “The Voice.”
There will also be a food truck on location from Chef’s of Buffalo for any hungry attendants of the event, as well as many other local favorites showcasing their products and services along Vendor’s Row.
As if this wasn’t enough, the Chautauqua Gran Fondo is also seeking to help area students in need of school supplies. Through a partnership with CRECHE, there will be a Chautauqua Lake Community Sailing Foundation sailboat on location, which both strongly supports sailing instruction as well as education. Anyone attending the event — riders and non-riders — are encouraged to bring a school supply donation and fill the boat. CRECHE will then distribute backpacks full of supplies to children in need to get them ready for the upcoming school year, allowing many area students a chance to “Boat Back to School.”
For more information, or to register, contact Michelle Turner at 661-8900, or visit www.ChautauquaGranFondo.com to register online.



For More Information On Chautauqua Lake Real Estate and Living Visit: www.chautauqualakehomes.com

Monday, July 10, 2017

Flight Over Chautauqua Lake, NY. May 1, 2015



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Work is underway on $30 million Chautauqua Harbor Hotel


 


A new "destination hotel" on Chautauqua Lake is expected to open in July 2018.
Hart Hotels of Buffalo and Krog Corp. of Orchard Park have teamed up for the $30 million project to build the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel in Celoron, on waterfront land just east of the Lucille Ball Memorial Park.
Work began 10 weeks ago and is expected to last about 15 months. The companies will mark the progress with a formal "ground-breaking" ceremony at 2 p.m. Friday, Hart Hotels President David Hart said.
The tourism project, which is expected to be one of the largest private-sector projects in the Southern Tier county, is in line for more than $3.5 million in state economic development funding.
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The 9-acre site at 10 Dunham Ave. sits just west the lighthouse in Celoron and has 1,100 feet of lakefront land. It’s part of the former Celoron Amusement Park, which closed in 1962, though the old foundation wall is still there.
Plans call for 135 guest rooms and suites and will also include a lakeview ballroom and banquet space, a business center, conference space, indoor and outdoor pools, a full-service restaurant and bar known as the Lakeview Grille and a large outdoor patio.
A rounded pier will extend into the lake, with a bridge to a manmade island that was originally built for a swing ride at the old amusement park. Hart and Krog will restore the island and bridge, which will be used as a venue for performances, wedding pictures or other activities. A carousel bar will be located at the shore end of the bridge.
Hart previously cited the proximity to the Chautauqua Institute, the resorts at Holiday Valley and Peak 'n Peek, the new Comedy Museum and Hall of Fame in Jamestown, and markets in Pennsylvania and Ohio as draws for the hotel, as well as seasonal summertime and corporate travel.
The Western New York Regional Economic Development Council, on behalf of the developers, sought $2.8 million in state funding through the competitive awards to support the tourism project, but the project ultimately received $1.88 million. The developers also applied for and received a state economic development grant for $1.7 million, and the project will also receive tax breaks from the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency.
Hart, which runs 12 hotels with more than 2,000 guest rooms and more than 900 employees, also operates Harbor Hotels in Watkins Gle; Clayton, which is in the Thousand Islands region; and Portland, Maine. The Chautauqua hotel will have 30 more guest rooms, 50 percent more function and meeting space, and a 50 percent larger lakeside patio than the Thousand Islands resort.
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Thursday, July 06, 2017

Hotel Construction Underway Along Chautauqua Lake Shores



Construction of the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel is underway along the Chautauqua Lake shores in Celoron. The $30.8 million project is expected to be finished and ready for guests between the spring and summer of 2018. 
P-J photo by Jimmy McCarthy
Construction of the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel is underway along the Chautauqua Lake shores in Celoron. The $30.8 million project is expected to be finished and ready for guests between the spring and summer of 2018. P-J photo by Jimmy McCarthy


CELORON — Construction of a $30.8 million hotel is progressing on the southwestern edge of Chautauqua Lake.
Trees were cleared from the site, located on Dunham Avenue in Celoron, at the beginning of the year to make way for the 135-room Chautauqua Harbor Hotel. Since then, work began to lay the foundation.
The project is led by developers Peter Krog, CEO of Krog Corp, and Dave Hart, CEO and president of Hart Hotels. The idea to bring a hotel to the Celoron waterfront formulated in 2014 when Krog and Hart purchased 9 acres of land.
The hotel will feature patios and views of Chautauqua Lake as well as bar and grill along the water. Other amenities include an indoor and outdoor pool, state-of-the-art fitness center and a ballroom and conference center with a capacity for 300 people.
The Chautauqua Harbor Hotel will be the third waterfront hotel owned by Krog and Hart in New York state. In 2008, the $14 million Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel opened. The hotel was voted by USA Today last year as the best waterfront hotel in the U.S.
In 2014, Krog Corp. and Hart Hotels opened the Thousand Islands Harbor Hotel along the St. Lawrence River. The hotel features 105 deluxe guest rooms and suites.
The Chautauqua Harbor Hotel recently launched a website for those interested in a future visit. By visiting www.thechautauquaharborhotel.com, people can observe renditions of what the hotel will look like as well as an overview of the amenities and the area.

For More Information On Chautauqua Lake Real Estate and Living Visit: www.chautauqualakehomes.com