Rensselaer Real Estate

Historical Information

Rensselaer County began playing a key role in American history back in 1630. It was then part of the Van Rensselaer patroon holdings, an important part of the great Dutch West Indies Company. In 1824 Stephen Van Rensselaer founded the oldest degree granting engineering school in the English-speaking world. At the same time, the county's proximity to waterpower and markets forged the growth of the region's iron industries, which quickly became legend for the production of such items as the iron plates for the Civil War battleship 'Monitor' and most of the horseshoes for the Union Army. And, in 1876, the 13,000-pound replacement for the cracked Liberty Bell was cast here.

Congress long ago designated Troy as the home of "Uncle Sam" - Samuel B. Wilson, a meat packer who stamped his barrels bound for U.S. Army troops with "U.S." Local troops soon recognized their meat deliveries as coming from "Uncle Sam." The label stuck - and the rest is history! Sam Wilson is buried in Troy's beautiful Oakwood Cemetery, along with a host of Civil War generals, industry powerhouses, inventors, and community leaders. The nation's first female labor union, the Collar Laundry Union, was founded in Troy in 1864 by Kate Mullaney and Ester Keegan. Another classic American icon - this one of a musical sort - was created at the old van Rensselaer manor house, Fort Crailo, where 'Yankee Doodle' is rumored to have been written. More ...

A BETTER DEAL: A house is only worth what it is worth regardless of whether a real estate agent is involved or not. So, a home that is worth $100,000 that is offered by the homeowner is still worth $100,000 if it is offered by an agent. The difference is that a FSBO has that additional 6-7% negotiation room. For example: If a homeowner sells that $100,000 home for $98,000, they have made more money than if they had to pay a real estate agent $6,000 or $7,000 in a commission. AND, the buyer has saved $2,000... instant equity!

NO COMMISSIONS: It has been said that the buyer does not pay the real estate commission. Well... using the previous example, who really paid the commission? Both the buyer and seller did. The buyer in the form of a higher sales price, and the seller in the form of a reduced equity check.

GET WHAT YOU WANT: You know what you want better than anyone else. And, you can see whatever you want when you want. Some agents show homes by whether or not it is listed with their company, not by whether the home suits the buyer's requirements. And, before you know it, you may be looking at homes that are more than what you want.

CUT OUT THE MIDDLEMAN: You're dealing with the source. The seller knows their house better than any real estate agent could. They can answer your questions about schools, shopping, and how much their utility bills are. They can tell you that the neighborhood has get-togethers and cook-outs, who the neighborhood baby sitter is, etc. AND, they don't have to call another agent who calls the seller, then calls the agent back, who then calls you.