The Home Front
THE TEAM YOU TRUST
Thirty-Fifth Edition
A note from Danielle Summer Splash of Real Estate!
Look at all of this waterfront!
It’s also the time of year when headlines about the housing market become impossible to avoid.
Every day we ’ re bombarded with sweeping statements about home prices, mortgage rates, inventory, or whether it’s “ a good time” to buy or sell. The challenge is that real estate has never been a one-size-fits-all conversation. National headlines rarely tell the story happening in our neighborhoods, our communities, or even from one price point to another. General assumptions can become expensive decisions.
The market today is incredibly nuanced. One neighborhood may be experiencing multiple-offer competition while another sees longer marketing times. One price range may have limited inventory while another offers buyers increased negotiating power. Interest rates matter, but so do equity positions, timing, tax implications, long-term financial goals, and lifestyle priorities. That’s why having an experienced advisor in your corner has never been more valuable.
Our role isn’t simply to open doors or place signs in front yards. It’s to provide context beyond the headlines. We analyze local market trends, interpret timely data, negotiate strategically, and help our clients make decisions based on facts not fear, assumptions or generalized market commentary.
Real estate remains one of the most significant financial investments most people will ever make. Every decision deserves thoughtful guidance tailored specifically to your goals.
Whether you ’ re planning a move this year, considering an investment property, curious about your home’s current value, or simply wondering how today’s market impacts your long-term plans, we ’ re always happy to be a resource. Sometimes the most valuable conversation isn’t about buying or selling today, it’s about building a plan for tomorrow.
As our family enjoys another summer, I’m reminded how grateful I am for the relationships we ’ ve built with so many of you over the years Thank you for trusting our team through life’s biggest transitions It is a responsibility we never take for granted
I hope your summer is filled with family, friends, laughter, and moments that remind you to slow down and enjoy the season
Cheers, Danielle
Market trends in our area
4752 West Lake Road, Canandaigua | $3,950,000
A Landmark Estate on Canandaigua Lake
Available for the first time in over two decades, Main Top offers timeless architecture, meticulous restoration, and coveted lakefront living. Set on nearly 3 private acres with 139 feet of prized south-facing waterfront, this landmark property represents a rare opportunity to own one of the most distinguished estates on Canandaigua Lake.
Nearly 5,000 sq. ft. of beautifully restored living space with four bedrooms, a lakefront primary suite, and chef’s kitchen
Exceptional waterfront amenities including screened porches, Ipe decking, a full-length dock, and a boathouse with outdoor kitchen.
Nearly 3 private acres and 139 feet of south-facing frontage with deep water access, rolling lawns, and panoramic lake views.
sale!
4100 Onnalinda Drive, Canandaigua | $1,650,000
Onnalinda Drive, known as the “Place of Peace,” is tucked off the coveted West Lake Road corridor on Canandaigua Lake
This rare 12-acre parcel offers a unique opportunity to build a custom estate with sweeping panoramic views, set within a peaceful and private natural landscape, perfect for a true “vacation at home” lifestyle.
Concept build Available! $2,995,000
Designed beautifully by Lindsay Laine Interiors Visit: 4100OnnalindaDrivecom for more information
14 Cliffside Drive, South Bristol | $624,900
All American Ingredients:
-3 pounds fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
-¼ cup white sugar or to taste
-1 quart heavy cream
-1 (6 ounce) container lemon yogurt
-1 (3.3 ounce) package instant white chocolate pudding mix
-2 tablespoons coconut-flavored rum (Optional)
-2 (16 ounce) prepared pound cakes, cubed
-2 pints fresh blueberries, or as needed
Trifle Preparation:
Step 1: Gather all ingredients.
Step 2: Sprinkle strawberries with sugar in a bowl; stir to distribute sugar, and set aside.
Step 3: Chill a large metal mixing bowl and beaters from an electric mixer.
Step 4: Pour cream into the chilled mixing bowl, and add lemon yogurt, pudding mix, and about 1 tablespoon of coconut rum; beat until fluffy with an electric mixer set on medium speed.
Step 5: Spread a layer of pound cake cubes into the bottom of a glass trifle dish, and sprinkle cubes with remaining tablespoon coconut rum. Cover pound cake with a layer of strawberries; sprinkle blueberries over strawberries. Spread a thick layer of whipped cream over the berries.
Step 6 : Repeat the layers several times, ending with a layer of strawberries sprinkled with blueberries and reserving about 1 cup of whipped cream; top the trifle with dollops of whipped cream to serve. Refrigerate leftovers.
How the New Housing Bill Could Make It Easier To Get a Mortgage
By: Tristan Navera
Asad HASHIM
The landmark housing bill winding its way through Congress could change the banking system and make it easier for small banks to return to mortgage lending.
The House and Senate announced a compromise for the 21st Century Road to Housing Act this week, just days before the average rate on 30-year fixed home loans decreased to 6.47%, according to Freddie Mac.
The lawmakers have settled on 45 provisions across 381 pages with major implications for housing. This comes after months of wrangling for a bill that ultimately ends up with all sides meeting in the middle.
Rep. French Hill (R-Arkansas), chair of the House Financial Services Committee, said a late compromise on the bill involved settling on some bank deregulation provisions favored by the House.
"I appreciate the Senate including a three-year sunset on the [Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery] program and adopting key House priorities including nine community banking bills and the House’s language limiting institutional investors from outcompeting American families in the housing market,” he said.
In the end, nine of 12 House banking provisions made it into the final bill Many of these consider the current state of banking, especially as smaller banks have reduced their roles in the market
Explains Realtor com® senior economist Joel Berner, small banks are a rarer sight in mortgage lending these days, thanks in part to stringent compliance rules imposed following the Great Recession "They don't have the armies of compliance officers that large banks do Similarly, technological capabilities are easier to wield at larger scale," Berner said. The infrastructure required to process a loan application in hours is expensive, so larger players tend to dominate the space
The Bipartisan Policy Center broke down the House's intent for community banks, which was initially section 900 of the bill. Dennis Shea, chair of the BPC's J. Ronald Terwilliger Center for Housing Policy, said the rules could help banks provide more construction lending as well as mortgages.
Several of the sections deal with how much money banks need to keep as a reserve, and deal with how to define some kinds of money on their balance sheets They involve "brokered deposits," or those that are aggregated from investors and distributed to banks. Other rules allow more smaller banks to go through rigorous examinations from regulators less often. The boards of some well-run credit unions won't have to meet every month under the new law
And, the bill aims to promote bank startup activity, especially in rural areas. "De novo " new banks are exceptionally rare since the Great Recession. The Senate kept out three provisions sought by the House. One would reduce the Federal Reserve banks' surplus fund cap by $115 million.
The other two involve how the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. deals with failing banks. One involved the "least-cost" rule and the other creates exceptions to bank concentration limits in the event a bank was in default.
For much of this year, congressional Republicans and the Trump administration have been building momentum to change and rescind banking rules. Many of those emerged in the wake of the subprime mortgage crisis and were codified in the Dodd-Frank Act and the Basel III accords.
Banks originated about 60% of mortgages and held servicing rights to about 95% of mortgage balances in 2008, according to data from the Financial Stability Oversight Council. By 2023, banks originated just 35% of mortgages and serviced about 45% of balances.
Says the economist Berner, the market has changed since then.
"Nonbank mortgage lenders have made access to mortgage credit easier for more borrowers," he said. "They tend to be more technologically advanced than banks, and allowed for all-online experiences sooner They also extend mortgage credit to borrowers with thinner or weaker credit files than banks do, allowing for more approvals." https://www
Here's what our client's have to say...
We had a fantastic experience working with Amanda. She was always available, consistently communicated with us, and supported us through every step of the process Her dedication and professionalism made the entire experience smooth and stress-free ”
-T.Aroriode, Pittsford
Amanda and Danielle were absolutely the best. They understood leaving a house that I lived in for 46 years and downsizing into a smaller house was an emotional change. But moving into an updated place softened the blow. I rate them an A+ for communication, availability and making the whole buy/sell process seamless.
-M. Kubarycz, Penfield
Amanda was an absolute joy to work with. Helped us every step of the way and was so accommodating. We were really impressed by how well she knew the market and how to get us into homes we loved.
-A. McGovern, Farmington
Danielle is more than just a realtor. She is a trusted advisor, a dream come true maker, a truly caring soul and the utmost of professionals She knows the local market and current trends in the industry and always has her clients interests at heart. She may even call in some seriously big favors on your behalf if need be. At the end of the day, Danielle GETS THINGS DONE! We wouldn’t use anyone else in the area to buy or sell real estate.
-M. Tew, Canandaigua
Danielle and Team are simply the best. We got connected with Danielle by a glowing referral and were not disappointed in the least. Danielle's intimate knowledge of the market, very proactive communication style, and astute negotiation skills proved to be a winning combination. It helps that she's a really great human to boot! If you ' re lucky enough to work with Danielle and her team, know that you ' re in great hands.
-T. DiMarco, Cananadaigua
