Category: Uncategorized

Cuba, NY:

The local ERA Team VP Real Estate location has moved to a two-suite office at 24 Main Street in Cuba. Linda Simons, Associate Broker, says the agents are very excited about the move, and being in the center of all of the new activity in downtown Cuba. The new space is ideally set up to take advantage of the real estate industry’s trend toward more efficient and technology-based offices.
ERA Team VP Real Estate is owned by Bill Soffel, Broker. Besides Simons, ERA’s team of professional real estate agents includes Bill Shuler, Paul Conklin, Steve Bombardier and Sherry Wiedemann. ERA Team VP operates 11 office locations across the Southern Tier and Northwestern PA, and offers MLS multiple listing services through 5 different MLS providers across NY and PA.
ERA Real Estate is an innovative franchising leader in the residential real estate industry with 40 years’ experience in developing consumer-oriented products and services. The ERA network includes approximately 30,000 brokers and sales associates and approximately 2,400 offices throughout the United States and 35 countries and territories. Each office is independently owned and operated. ERA Real Estate is a subsidiary of Realogy Holdings Corp. (NYSE: RLGY), a global provider of real estate services. ERA Real Estate information is available at: ERA.com.

For more information about the real estate market in Cuba, NY, please call our office at 585-968-2113.

2015 has been a great year for us company-wide, for the first time in company history we have crossed the 1,000 transaction threshold, and currently, with just a few weeks left in the year, we are over $130 million dollars in sales volume: another record year for ERA Team VP Real Estate. We are approximately 8% ahead of last year and we’ve got great plans for 2016. We have our two newest offices that have been a part of our company, completing their first full year this year: Yorkshire and Bradford. I would like to acknowledge our two branch leaders in Yorkshire and Bradford, Rita White and Denise Whipp for doing a remarkable job integrating those two locations into the ERA Team VP family and also for exceeding our expectations and projections for those two offices in just their first year. We also have a new office location in our Cuba, NY market. We moved from a nice location right off the expressway into downtown Cuba, which is a vibrant and growing community with lots of great new commercial businesses opening. We have been very well received by the community in Cuba with our new location. Another big initiative that we have started, and have almost completed for this year, is our strategic planning process for 2016. We went to great efforts to get feedback from our agents and support team and that feedback was phenomenal, giving us great direction for 2016. We are very focused as a management team, working on our top 4 initiatives, and look forward to rolling those out at our awards banquet in early January of 2016. As we are about to wrap up the year, here in western New York we’ve have a very warm and snow-less December, but we did get some great snow in our Ellicottville market, our agents and team in Ellicottville are very excited to kick off the holidays! I’d like to wish all of our team a very Merry Christmas, a great holiday season and we’ll look forward to speaking with you again in early January!

-Bill Soffel, Broker/Owner

Jane Grice, local real estate agent with ERA Team VP Real Estate was recently named the 2015 REALTOR of the Year by the Chautauqua Cattaraugus Board of Realtors. Grice was honored at the 94th Annual Installation of Officer Dinner held at The Shorewood Country Club in Dunkirk, NY in November. The REALTOR of the Year award is a peer nomination based on the following criteria: involvement in the real estate industry at the local, state and national levels, civic activity, business accomplishments, and conduct and service to clients.

“The Realtor of the Year Award is a very well-deserved honor for Jane, and all of us at ERA are thrilled that she has received this recognition” said Bill Soffel, Broker/Owner of ERA Team VP Real Estate & Vacation Rentals. “Jane is the consummate professional, always going above and beyond to provide the very best in customer service to her clients and customers. She has also demonstrated a real commitment to supporting the Chautauqua County Board of Realtors, and to giving back to our community. I am very proud to be associated with Jane”.

Grice has been actively serving the Chautauqua Cattaraugus Board of Realtors since she joined in 1986. She has spent 7 years on the Professional Standards Committee, 6 years as the Chair of the Equal Opportunity Committee, and 4 years on the Membership and RPAC Committees. She has also served as a Director of the Board of Realtors for 8 years. Grice has held the position of Vice President, Secretary, and President – leading the board through the complicated task of merging the Chautauqua and Cattaraugus boards.

In addition to her dedication to the Board, Grice has 31 years of Real Estate experience, and has been a Multi-Million Dollar Producer for 29 years, a Platinum Award Winner for 9 years, and Gold Award Winner for 11 years. Grice grew up in Painesville, Ohio, before moving to the Chautauqua Lake Area in 1972. Her husband, Jerry Grice, is a custom homebuilder and her son, Luke, is a graduate of Miami of Ohio. Jane is active in the community, serving as an Auxiliary Member for the Chautauqua Volunteer Fire Department for 14 years, is presently the Secretary, and has served as the Past Commissioner. She is also a Children’s Advocacy member for Chautauqua County.

“This has been a fulfilling career for me, in fact, it’s my passion,’ said Grice, ‘I truly enjoy listing, selling, and helping families find their dream home.”

For more information about ERA Team VP Real Estate and the real estate market in Western New York visit ERATeamVP.com, contact our Chautauqua office at (716) 789-2600, or call Jane Grice directly at (716) 499-9552.

Skip the chain grocery stores for this year’s Thanksgiving feast and instead choose to support your local farmers! Why should you buy and eat local foods? Locally grown foods have higher nutrient values, promote a safer food supply and are full of flavor. Buying from your neighborhood producers also supports your area’s economy and preserves the environment.

Chautauqua Area

Abers Acres
Rt. 394, Kennedy, NY
716-267-2431
AbersAcres.com
Abers Acres is a family enterprise established in 1984 and managed by the Abers family. If you are looking for a place to purchase fresh and delicious, home grown and local grown fruit and vegetables Abers Acres is the place for you! With over 100 acres of prime agricultural land producing USDA Certified Organic produce, this is the one stop shop for all of your side-dish needs this Thanksgiving. Although their farm markets are closed for the season, their produce and products are available in the Sales Room year round. Located in their home, next to the main farm market, Abers Acres offers fresh grown lettuce, kale, strawberries, winter squash, sweet potatoes and popcorn, as well as frozen berries from this year’s crops!

Fredonia

Fredonia Farmer’s Market
Masonic Forest Lodge, 321 East Main Street (Rte. 20), Fredonia, NY
Open November through Mid-May: 10am-1pm every Saturday
FredoniaFarmersMarket.org
This is the winter farmers market that you won’t want to miss! 13 locally producing vendors attend each week’s market providing you the opportunity to purchase everything from certified organic fresh shiitake to gourmet granola. A few vendors that would make a flavorful addition to your Thanksgiving table this year include:

Avid Farms: AvidFarms.com Specializing in pasture-raised, all natural chicken and turkey, this Sheridan, NY farm focuses on good environmental stewardship. Although it is too late to reserve a whole turkey for this year’s Thanksgiving, they do have split breasts, legs, wings and neck/back in stock! Plan early for next year’s feast and reserve an ethically-raised, chemical free turkey from this environmentally conscious farm today! They also have fresh baked goods, 100% whole wheat bread, and other seasonal produce on sale at the Fredonia Farmer’s Market.
Green Heron Growers: GreenHeronGrowers.com Owned and operated by Steve & Julie Rockcastle, this certified organic farm offers 100% grass fed beef cuts, certified organic fresh shiitake mushrooms, chicken whole and in parts, scallions, celery, peppers, Shiitake barley soup, shiitake hazelnut pate, mushroom medicinal tinctures, lard & tallow, and tart cherry juice.
Roo Haven Farm: RooHavenFarm.com A small, family-owned farm specializing in pasture-raised birds that forage on 10-acres of pasture grasses! At the market they offer organic turkey and chicken in whole and split half sizes; certified organic Berkshire pork (Canadian, Cottage and slab bacon, pork chops, shoulder roasts, breakfast sausage, mild Italian sausage, Chorizo, pork fat, pork bones, ham steaks and ribs); Certified Organic eggs, and gourmet granola made with organic ingredients. They also feature raw milk cheese from Milky Way Meadows, yogurt from Lapp Dairy, and tart cherry juice from Singer Farm Naturals.
Toboggan Hill Farm: TobogganHillFarm.com Owned by Mike and Donna Eisenstat, the Tobaggan Hill Farm will have eggs, potatoes, lettuce and greens, and pork products (ham, Canadian bacon, roasts, ribs) all available for purchase.

Ellicottville

Canticle Farm Market
3809 Old State Road, Allegany, NY
Until November 24th: Open Tuesday and Friday from 2-6pm
After November 24th: Open every other Tuesday from 2 pm – 6 pm.
CanticleFarm.org
There’s a lot more to Canticle Farm Market than Certified Naturally Grown produce! Founded in 2001 by the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, this non-profit “Community Supported Agriculture” Farm seeks to provide healthy, local food and to foster a stronger, more vibrant community as well as a greater respect for all creation. During the winter months, stop down to the Canticle Farm Market to pick up locally sourced vegetables including hot peppers, potatoes, beets, radishes, leeks, lettuce, spinach, cabbage, garlic, onions, winter squash and more! They are also joined by over 10 other local vendors throughout the winter months, so you never know what else you can find at this certified organic shop for this year’s Holiday spread!

Cuba

Cuba Cheese Shoppe
53 Genesee Street, Cuba, NY
Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 6 pm
Saturday – Sunday 8:30 am – 5 pm
CubaCheese.com
There is no place in the Northeast to purchase the cheese for your hors d’oeuvres this Thanksgiving other than the locally produced Cuba Cheese Shoppe! Nestled in the farmlands of southwestern New York where cheese has been a principle product since the late 1800’s, Cuba was once recognized as the “cheese center of the world”. One of the main goals of the Cuba Cheese Shoppe is and always has been to promote the wonderful New York State Cheddar cheeses that originated in 1887 at the Ackerly and Sills Plant. According to the Shoppe, “the demand for New York State cheese has been and is due in large measure to its characteristically unique flavor, a certain sharpness. This distinctiveness is attributed to the soil and water peculiar to this area near the Great Lakes. Because of the fodder and the water that the cows get here, they give milk that makes cheese with a distinctive sharp flavor.” In order to feature locally produced Cuba cheese on your table, choose either mozzarella or provolone, or if you’d prefer the Great Lakes regional cheese try the cheddar or cheese curd. Visit the Shoppe to select from other locally sourced products from around the area including honey, chocolate, sauces, Amish goods, jellies and jams, mustards, BBQ sauces, and more!

Yorkshire

Plato Dale Farm
5249 Curriers Rd, Arcade, NY
PlatoDaleFarm.org
Don’t miss out on one of the last chances to get a locally sourced turkey for this year’s Thanksgiving meal! Plato Dale Farm is a small family farm that raises 100% grassfed beef, pasture raised chickens and turkeys that are fed certified organic grains and they manage fruits and vegetables to organic standards. Visit them at the Elmwood-Bidwell Market this Saturday (November 21st, 2015) from 9am-1pm to claim one of their naturally raised turkeys! They will also be attending the Buffalo State College Indoor Winter Market throughout the month of December if you choose to feature locally sourced foods during the Christmas holiday as well! (Buckham Hall, A-Wing, December 5th, 12th and 19th). Besides birds, they will also be stocked up on vegetables including 9 varieties of winter squash, potatoes, carrots, sweet and storage onions, sweet potatoes, red green and savoy cabbage, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, arugula, cutting celery, parsley and more!

Bradford

Bell’s Meat & Poultry
401 North Fraley Street, Kane, PA
Open Monday-Sat 9-6pm Sunday 9-5
JackBellMeats.com
Jack Bell’s Meat & Poultry Market has been in business for over 42 years, offering a quality selection of fresh and tasty produce, meats and sausages that change daily, cheeses, spices, Swedish specialty items, baked goods, and more! Time is almost up on this Thanksgiving’s Turkey order deadline! Give them a call at 814-837-7321 by this Wednesday (November 18th, 2015) in order to reserve your bird for this year! Make sure to check out the whole aisle of Jack Bell Meat’s Spices and Rubs that will bring out the flavor in each and every dish on your table this Thanksgiving. When you are planning for this holiday’s gathering, Jack Bell is sure to have exactly what you need!

Warren

Lindell’s Hatch Patch
522 Hatch Run Road, Warren, PA 16365
Open Monday-Saturday from 10-6:00pm and Sundays from 11am-6pm until December 20th
LindellHatchPatch.com
Lindell’s Hatch Patch is a family owned business located in Northwestern Pennsylvania offering strawberries, sweet corn, cucumbers, zucchini, yellow squash, beans, tomatoes, potatoes, pumpkins, winter squash and more grown right from the fields of their farm! Stop by in late November to mid-December to pick up a fresh cut Christmas tree or wreath to decorate for the Holidays! In addition to the variety of items mentioned above, they also sell fresh produce, pork and beef products, jellies, relishes, and their very own, locally sourced and produced Lindell’s Pure Maple Syrup!

Instead of fighting the lines this holiday, choose to reinvest in your community and add a locally sourced dish (or whole meal) to your table this Thanksgiving!

Denise Whipp is the branch leader for ERA Team VP Real Estate’s Pennsylvania offices located in Warren and Bradford Pa. She has been a licensed real estate agent since 1997. She has since earned her Associate Real Estate Broker’s licenses in both PA and NY. She is currently President-elect of the Warren County Board of Realtors.
She lives her in her hometown of Warren, Pa and is active in the community. She is an active member of First Lutheran Church where she plays in their bell choir. She also serves on the board of the United Fund of Warren County. She has been married to Joe Whipp for 25 years (who is also a real estate agent with ERA Team VP) and has two daughters and the most adorable grandson on the planet! Her favorite thing to do is to hang out with family and friends at her cottage on the Allegheny River.

“I feel we have the most knowledeable agents in the area,’ says Whipp, ‘so if you’re looking for property in Warren or McKean County give us a call!”

Warren Office: 400 Market Street, Warren PA, 16365- (814)726-3456

Bradford Office: 21 Main St, Suite A, Bradford PA, 16701- (814) 368-3994

ERA Team VP Real Estate recently announced the addition of Jean Gorton and Lisa Burkhouse to its team of real estate sales professionals serving consumers in the Warren County area.

Jean Gorton joined ERA Team VP after earning her Real Estate License earlier this year and brings with her years of experience in the banking industry. Gorton looks forward to assisting clients in the sale or purchase of their new home. She is a member of the National Association of Realtors, Pennsylvania Association of Realtors, and the Warren County Board of Realtors. “I live by the motto to treat others the way I would like to be treated,’ said Gorton, ‘I strive to treat all clients with honestly and respect.”

Lisa Burkhouse joins ERA Team VP with an extensive background in office administration and client services related industries. Raised in beautiful northwestern Pennsylvania, Lisa has also chosen Warren to raise her son, making a home in the same house her father was born in. After working for a year and a half as sales team administrator for ERA Team VP’s Warren office, she decided to take the leap into real estate by becoming a licensed sales associate herself. With the support of her “ERA family,” Lisa hopes to provide clients with a warm and professional experience. Lisa looks forward to serving the families of Warren County. “I am thrilled to become part of the real estate community in Warren County and look forward to the learning process and personal growth that is sure to come,” said Burkhouse.

“We are excited to welcome two new professionals to our team serving the Northwest Pennsylvania market,” said Bill Soffel, Broker/Owner. “Jean and Lisa are both great additions to the Warren office, and I am confident they will provide the best service possible to their customers.

As part of ERA Team VP Real Estate the agents will be able to offer homebuyers and sellers a wide variety of innovative and market-relevant products and services such as the ERA® Sellers Security® Plan and the ERA® Gold Star Property program as well as robust online marketing programs, extensive listings distribution partners, and related services including the ERA Home Protection Plan.

For more information about ERA Team VP Real Estate and the real estate market in the Northwestern Pennsylvania visit ERATeamVP.com or contact one of our Pennsylvania offices: (814) 726-3456 Warren; (814) 369-3994 Bradford. Call Jean Gorton directly at (908) 803-3794 or Lisa Burkhouse at (814) 779-1359.

ERA Team VP Real Estate is proud to announce the addition of Shane Zahm, Darcie McLachlan, Christopher & Talitha Mascelli, and Jason Genberg to its team of real estate sales professionals serving consumers in the Chautauqua County area.

Shane Zahm joins ERA Team VP as a rookie real estate agent who is already on pace for $1,000,000 in sales in his first year. He credits his early success to his background in construction, ranging from building and remodeling homes, working as a Housing Rehab Specialist, and a Cable Technician. Shane lives and works in the Fredonia area, but covers real estate activity in all of Chautauqua County and most of Cattaraugus County. He is very active in his community, coaching his daughter’s sports teams; Little Kickers soccer, U6 soccer, and Hathaway League baseball. “The highest compliment my clients can give me is the referral of their friends, family, and business partners,” said Zahm.

Darcie McLachlan comes to the Real Estate industry with over 15 years of retail business experience where she held a variety of roles, including 4 years of leading Marketing/Membership departments in different Walmart-owned club locations. McLachlan prides herself on her fantastic service and believes that her customer-focused and marketing backgrounds will be an asset to her clients. Originally from Altoona, Pennsylvania, she is a graduate of Penn State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Art. Her career has taken her to various locations throughout the East Coast including Danville, VA; State College, PA; Greensburg, PA; Seabrook, NH; Everett, PA; and most recently Jamestown, NY. She notes that Chautauqua County has been her favorite place to live and work, and she is grateful to have the opportunity to move back and call it home once again. McLachlan is also very passionate about the community and avidly supports the Buffalo Children’s hospital and M.S. Society. “I am thrilled to be affiliated with ERA Team VP, which has such a fantastic reputation for both their community involvement as well as the service towards their customers! I am looking forward to providing this great service in the community where I live and work,” said McLachlan.

Chris and Talitha Mascelli join ERA Team VP with extensive experience in commercial real estate and construction, having previously worked with large market developers in both Erie, PA and Jamestown, NY. They have a combined 30 years of experience working in commercial real estate, development, and construction. They currently operate 2 construction consulting businesses that are assisting developers in both Jamestown, NY and Erie, PA with multi-million dollar office and retail projects in Chautauqua County. Chris and Talitha are excited to offer their real estate skills and experiences to assist developers and property owners with land and property acquisition projects anywhere. “It is our goal to be the premier Commercial Real Estate team in Chautauqua County. Talitha and I have the necessary experience and can provide the support services that professional developers are looking for. Leveraging the support and technologies of the ERA franchise with our backgrounds in real estate and construction, we are able to offer a one-stop shop for commercial development. You will only get that with the Mascelli Real Estate Team,” said Chris Mascelli.

“In today’s market, growth is the only option, and attracting top talent is a surefire way to achieve that goal,” said Bill Soffel, Broker/Owner. “We are thrilled to have five professionals of such high caliber joining our firm.”

As part of ERA Team VP Real Estate the agents will be able to offer homebuyers and sellers a wide variety of innovative and market-relevant products and services such as the ERA® Sellers Security® Plan and the ERA® Gold Star Property program as well as robust online marketing programs, extensive listings distribution partners, and related services including the ERA Home Protection Plan.

For more information about ERA Team VP Real Estate and the real estate market in the Southern Tier of Western New York visit ERATeamVP.com or contact our Chautauqua County offices at (716) 789-2600. Call/text Shane Zahm directly at (716) 640-3529; Darcie McLachlan at (814) 937-3906; Chris Mascelli at (716) 640-8672; Talitha Mascelli at (716) 640-0253; and Jason Genberg at (716)-640-8956.

In August, ERA Team VP Real Estate announced the addition of Rita White to its team of real estate sales professionals serving consumers in Yorkshire, Arcade, and surrounding areas of Western New York.

Meet Rita: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCHJb_ft2sA&feature=youtu.be

Rita White joins ERA Team VP with an extensive background in real estate sales and management. From 2002 through 2014, White was an Associate Broker and Real Estate Manager with Metro Zientek Realty in Arcade, NY, and since 2014 has been an Associate Broker and Career Development Specialist with Realty USA’s Arcade office. In addition to continuing her very successful listing and sales business, Rita will also serve the role as ERA Team VP Real Estate’s Branch Leader for the Yorkshire, NY office.

“In today’s market, growth is the only option, and attracting top talent is a surefire way to achieve that goal,” said Bill Soffel, Broker/Owner. “We are thrilled to have a professional of Rita White’s caliber joining our firm, in both a sales and management role.”

“I am looking forward to my new role as the Yorkshire Branch Leader, in addition to listing and selling properties. I believe that the most important thing when choosing a real estate professional is to find someone you can trust. I have a history of success and integrity in real estate that you can depend on. I am a good communicator and an experienced negotiator with expert knowledge of the local market and you can always count on me to represent you and your interests, to the best of my ability. Buying or selling a home doesn’t have to be hard. Choosing the right Realtor really does make a difference,” said White.

As part of ERA Team VP Real Estate, White will be able to offer homebuyers and sellers a wide variety of innovative and market-relevant products and services such as the ERA® Sellers Security® Plan and the ERA® Gold Star Property program as well as robust online marketing programs, extensive listings distribution partners, and related services including the ERA Home Protection Plan.

For more information about ERA Team VP Real Estate and the real estate market in the Southern Tier of Western New York visit www.erateamvp.com. Call Rita White at (716) 353-5089 or one of the main office locations: (716) 496-5661 Yorkshire; (716) 699-4800 Ellicottville; (716) 789-2600 Chautauqua; (585) 968-2113 Cuba; (716) 672-7990 Fredonia; (814) 726-3456 Warren; (814) 368-3994.