A short sale happens when a homeowner sells their property for less than what they still owe on the mortgage, and the lender agrees to accept that lower amount to release the lien. On Long Island, short sales come up most often when a homeowner is behind on …
Christopher Robson's Blog
Aug. 23, 2026
Nassau County Bank-Owned Homes & Foreclosures: September 2026 Buyer's Guide to Current REO Inventory
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Christopher Robson's Blog,
General
June 8, 2026
Is NY Banning Pocket Listings? What the Fair and Transparent Real Estate Listings Act Means for Long Island Homeowners
The landscape of how homes are bought and sold on Long Island is on the verge of a massive regulatory shift. For years, "pocket listings" or "private exclusives"—properties marketed quietly within a specific brokerage or select inner circle rather than on the public market—have been a popular tool. Recently some …
View MoreJune 5, 2026
The Ghost of the Harbor: The Story Behind Northport’s “Zombie Marina” on Woodbine Avenue
If you’ve taken a stroll down Woodbine Avenue recently, past the playground and toward the heart of Northport Village harbor, you’ve likely noticed a peculiar contrast. A picturesque, bustling maritime community juxtaposed with a modern public boat dock facility completely frozen in time—empty, decaying, and earn its local title …
View MoreJune 4, 2026
The New NYC Pied-à-Terre Tax Is Law: Surcharge Rates, Exemptions, and the Long Island Suburb Pivot
Following months of deadlocked budget negotiations in Albany, the landscape of New York luxury real estate changed permanently on May 28, 2026, when Governor Kathy Hochul signed the $268.5 billion state budget into law.
While the real estate industry successfully fought back and defeated a proposed hike to the …
View MoreJune 4, 2026
Navigating the NYC Mansion Tax: 2026 Brackets, Costs, and Strategies
The high-stakes legislative drama in Albany has finally concluded. The New York State Legislature officially passed the state budget, bringing concrete answers to the real estate community after months of intense speculation.
For buyers, sellers, and professionals navigating the seven-figure housing markets across Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk Counties, the …
View MoreMay 25, 2026
The New Levittown Zoning Law: Are "McMansions" Officially Banned?
If you have driven through the tree-lined streets of Levittown recently, you have likely noticed a stark visual contrast. The historic, modest Cape Cod and ranch-style homes built by Levitt & Sons in the 1940s are increasingly sharing property lines with soaring, modern, multi-story residences.
This rapid architectural evolution …
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Christopher Robson's Blog
May 20, 2026
The New York Property Tax Cap: The “2% Myth” Explained
If you live on Long Island, you have undoubtedly heard the phrase "2% property tax cap" thrown around every spring during school board elections. It sounds simple enough: a protective guardrail ensuring your local school district cannot raise property taxes by more than 2% in a given year.
However, …
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Christopher Robson's Blog,
School Districts