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Suit Up With Baez
Level up your real estate, mortgage, and business game with the 'Suit Up with Baez Podcast!' Tune in for bold strategies and expert insights to fuel your success!
Suit Up With Baez
Episode 23: Preschool Bonds & Suburban Dreams: Celebrating Community Ties, Real Estate Journeys, and Visionary Adventures with Amanda
How did a simple preschool playdate turn into a lifelong friendship that celebrates community spirit and the power of dreams? Join us as we explore this journey with my dear friend Amanda, an accomplished real estate agent from Yonkers. Our conversation takes us from organizing class events with our children to reminiscing about Amanda's transition from bustling Brooklyn and the Bronx to the suburban charm of Yonkers. We reflect on the warmth of community life, contrasting the vibrancy of city living with the tranquility of suburban neighborhoods, and how these experiences have shaped our families' deep connections.
Travel with us through cherished memories as we talk about favorite spots like Honest Art and Untermyer Park, and indulge in the delightful offerings of the new Paris Baguette bakery. From nostalgic tales of the Bronx to aspirations for future adventures, we dive into the power of vision boards as tools for realizing dreams, like visiting Italy or buying that dream car. The importance of involving family, especially children, in goal-setting is a highlight, emphasizing that success is a shared journey. Tune in and get inspired to weave community, memories, and dreams into your own life tapestry.
I did the thing. We haven't done it in a long time. I love it. Welcome to Suit Up With Bias, all right. Yeah, wait, so I have to stop it, all right, sorry. So welcome to Suit Up With Bias. Today I have my lovely friend Amanda. She is also one of my closest friends and, yeah, tell us a little bit about yourself, amanda.
Speaker 2:Well, hi everybody. I'm Amanda. I am a resident here at Yonkers. I've lived in the Bronx, in Westchester County my whole life. I am a mother, a wife. I am actually a real estate agent here at the Baez Real Estate. Funny enough, though, we didn't meet through Baez, through any real estate. We actually met through our kids, ironically, last year.
Speaker 1:So we met in our kids' schools and they were actually what in pre-K?
Speaker 2:Pre-K yeah, four, yeah pre-K four.
Speaker 1:So yeah, from there we just clicked. I said one day we should go out and we made it a whole like field trip and then we all decided to take out the class and yeah, from there we've been, you know.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, definitely. The kids are close. We're close in general as well. I mean the fact that we were able to, you know, start off with just a small play date and turn it into this big class event. That was amazing, like going to Legoland, going to Yardhouse, being able to have that literally 15 minutes away there at Richville was amazing for us, and you were still a realtor at the time right. Oh yeah, definitely, yeah, definitely you were elsewhere, yeah.
Speaker 1:So Amanda is part of Team Bias. She is an amazing realtor, also mother and wife. So, yeah, if you need any real estate assistance, Amanda is your girl. Appreciate it no definitely Same to you.
Speaker 2:You have two beautiful kids, the fact that we were here for the big grand opening.
Speaker 1:I was honored to be here, yeah that was a big show, being part of your team was fantastic.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, that was a big show. Your team was fantastic. Yeah, thank you for being here. Oh, definitely, of course, I'm glad I am here. No, it was definitely great that we are, you know, starting off being here now in Yonkers.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:But it's funny because we were talking yesterday and we both actually grew up in the Bronx. Well, we both lived a part of our childhood in the Bronx.
Speaker 1:I grew up in the Bronx.
Speaker 2:You said you grew up in Brooklyn originally?
Speaker 1:No, no, I was born in Brooklyn and then my family bought a house in the Bronx, so then I finished growing up in the Bronx, I guess. Oh, I love that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so, oh. So you had a house in the Bronx.
Speaker 1:Yes, my parents did. Yeah, that's crazy.
Speaker 2:I had the apartment life, so we have completely different that house apartment lifestyle, yeah, house, apartment. That's amazing. You came here in Yonkers a few years later.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so well, actually after I got married, right, so we had Levi and then an opportunity came out here of a home for us to buy and we took it and, yeah, from there we've been in Yonkers for like about three years now. Well, yeah, just three years because I had just moved in and then Levi started in the school, in the school that they're currently in now yeah, a year after, because he was in another place called Yonkers Children's Children's.
Speaker 2:Center. Yeah, I think you were telling me yesterday how, like you, I remember hearing from your last podcast how much you loved what you had a condo before you even had a house. Yeah, you did the baby steps up to your house. Yeah, you were telling me how much you loved it and how like just life kind of presented itself in a way, especially and ironically, you think you said it was like what on lexi's arrival day and everything.
Speaker 1:Yes, so I did love the condo a lot, just because, like it was on the forest floor and it was easy to bring in the groceries and everything so we also had like a nice community there with a lot of kids, so Levi would play and run around and stuff and you know it was nice to see the neighbors. You know here it's very quiet.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, no it's a nice quiet. I don't really see.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I don't really see the neighbors like that.
Speaker 2:You know, halloween comes along, everybody's out, yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah so besides that time, but yeah so, over over there it was like an actual like community and then, like everybody was always out, especially in the summer. They would always like make like we weren't supposed to, but they would always.
Speaker 2:You know, yeah, no, that's the Bronx in general. I mean both my childhood area too same thing.
Speaker 1:Bronx summer means basically everybody's outside and having fun yeah, so I know it's great that we have though that our school that the kids go to, all the kids are really connected and they're really well known, and that was beautiful. I loved it too. I was telling you yesterday that that was such a good turnout. Yeah, I loved how you know, we made that play date and we made it for everyone and at the time, remember, they weren't doing like the trips and stuff.
Speaker 2:Not yet, not yet yeah.
Speaker 1:So it was definitely an experience for Levi and I feel like they still remember it, because Levi always tells me, like you know, we went to Legoland yeah, no, kaylee does too.
Speaker 2:We also did Honest Art over in Artsly when is that? That was the little painting shop place we went to with the kids for right around Valentine's Day. We did that. Oh yeah, we did that one, I think. Oh, honest art, yes, yes, honest art, yeah, we definitely. There's definitely a lot to do in the area. Yes, it's a matter of taking advantage and finding time for everybody to get together, yeah, so let's talk about our favorite spots here in yonkers, I know you just mentioned honest art.
Speaker 1:That's a little bit out, but what is one of your like go-to spots here?
Speaker 2:oh for me, especially when springtime hits, it's gonna definitely be on tomorrow park okay, that is definitely my. I've been taking pictures there, it's just such a beautiful area between the greek sculptures and you have now. They just fixed up the pool as well.
Speaker 1:They're a little like well, their little water area, you can't go in though right, no, okay.
Speaker 2:Back when my great grandma, my grandmother-in-law, was her young age. That's when they were able to do that, oh, that's awesome, it's just such a pretty place for scenic pictures. People do wedding pictures there. It's such a gorgeous spot.
Speaker 1:Didn't you do your baby shower and your wedding?
Speaker 2:pictures Maternity pictures there and my engagement pictures right around Christmas time.
Speaker 1:We did those.
Speaker 2:It's such a pretty place, it's great for pictures, great for just for walks, and kind of get a zen. It's open to the public all year round. Yeah, it's definitely a great opportunity to go visit there. If not, that one literally right up the block is Lenore Park. Okay, and that's another one, I've never been. Oh really it's so pretty.
Speaker 1:It's just a nice little walkway area we got to go Definitely uh.
Speaker 2:Yonkers water tower.
Speaker 1:Yonkers water Okay.
Speaker 2:Nice little views of the parkway, like the uh Palisade on the other side and everything with the water, wow, so it's definitely a nice walk. We'll have to do it one day, once it gets warmer out.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so I know in St John's, like when you go to the like the hospital, um, when you go to like a river, um, that's the river right okay. Okay, because I have seen the river, but I haven't actually gone to that park.
Speaker 2:So oh, we're gonna have. There's so many parks by the water yes, yes and hastings on the hudson yes, that's my favorite.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I was gonna say that's my favorite and, I think, one of your favorite things you were talking about was uh the paris baguette yes, we're gonna have to check out that place.
Speaker 2:I think you said it was what bakery.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so that bakery just opened up not too long ago. I feel like it opened up maybe in September, if I'm not mistaken. I could be wrong.
Speaker 2:Don't quote me.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so once it opened. I mean I just know because Levi goes to karate around there, so we're always around Central Avenue out here in Yonkers. But I absolutely love Paris Baguette. Like they make fresh sourdough Most of their pastries, they do make it fresh and the bread is always done fresh every day.
Speaker 2:So if you're in Yonkers, check out Paris Baguette for sure, especially if you love bread, which is my weakness.
Speaker 1:And the chai. The chai is amazing. It's just too sugary, but it's amazing.
Speaker 2:Oh, you guys need to try. It Sounds like a good thing to try.
Speaker 1:I definitely will have to. Okay, yeah, so let's move on right to. Well, we can talk a little bit more about our childhoods, right, yeah, definitely, yeah, the cities that we grew up with. So how was life in the Bronx for you? Did you like? What parts were you in?
Speaker 2:Well, I was near the Marshall Parkway area, so more of the northern part yeah definitely more northern part of the Bronx. I definitely had a great childhood. Lived in an apartment, so that's basically I knew somebody above me, always below me, actually lived in an apartment. So that's basically I knew somebody above me, always below me. Actually at this point now I'm still living that apartment life, but more of a multi-family, so it definitely helps living with family as well nearby but you have a yard now, so no, that's definitely, especially that's a huge thing when you live in the Bronx, there is no yard at all at all.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh, I trust me. I I felt it in COVID time because even though we had a condo, we didn't have a yard, so that was a little bit hard. And then, um, alex was actually the one that said I'm you know, I'm tired of this condo and I'm like I love the condo.
Speaker 1:But he was like I'm ready for something else with a yard, one that's ready to move a little bit progress further than the other ones a little bit more comfortable, but it's always good to be able to push each other a little bit more yeah, and look at you now. You have a gorgeous house I mean, we went, I went to your house for dinner.
Speaker 2:Yes, that was amazing.
Speaker 1:The kids got to play together enjoy themselves so I actually cooked her a very spanish dominican plate, which is called biste en cebollado with white rice, was it? It was with white rice yes, was it it was with white rice. Yes, okay, yeah. So how was it? It was delicious, oh my gosh, reminding my childhood food Like my mother used to make food like that all the time.
Speaker 2:Yeah so it definitely reminded my childhood being able to just sit with you guys talk.
Speaker 1:It was nice.
Speaker 2:Like very comfortable situation. And this was actually even before I came here. So it was great to have to have that one on one connection with you guys.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, you started a little after, right after we had that dinner. I found it funny and Alex found it funny Because, since Mike is, I don't know what's the ethnicity Like, what's your ethnicity and he's European.
Speaker 2:I'm Puerto Rican, Italian and German.
Speaker 1:So when he saw the food was it a big like shock, like culture shock?
Speaker 2:No, because I cook like that for him sometimes, so he's used to having Spanish food, but not as much More. My Italian side comes out more than Nenner.
Speaker 1:Oh got it. Got it, yeah, because you make. She makes a lasagna from scratch. Yeah, that is not an easy task. Tomato sauce. We're talking pasta.
Speaker 2:Yep Fresh noodles fresh tomato sauce, everything.
Speaker 1:Do you make the?
Speaker 2:cheese, too Mozzarella. Well, I shred everything straight block. So, it's about a 13 layer lasagna.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:It definitely is a juicy to me.
Speaker 1:I have to try it, you still haven't Did you make it this Thanksgiving.
Speaker 2:No, no, I made it for Christmas.
Speaker 1:I definitely made it for Christmas.
Speaker 2:You needed to bring me some. Don't worry, if I make one. I'm going to make one specifically for you guys.
Speaker 1:Okay, I can't wait to try it. So can you tell us a little bit about that story that you told me about that lasagna?
Speaker 2:So you had brought it in, I guess, to work for other people to try, and then, oh yeah, I had a potluck at work and one of my other jobs and back when I was working there I actually made this huge lasagna and I've had coworkers who have never either never tried lasagna or who have had, like have had it before from other people but weren't a big fan of it and literally, when I tell you, they had about two to three servings of it, because it was that good?
Speaker 2:That's awesome? So definitely, but don't worry, I'll definitely make one for one of our events. Yeah, is that good that's awesome.
Speaker 1:So definitely. But don't worry, I'll definitely make one for one of our events. Yeah, yeah, cool, all right. Well, can't wait to try it, right, definitely.
Speaker 2:But you being a loan mortgage officer and everything.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You knowing about saving money how people should be, spending their money or not spending their money, but how we can afford to buy a home even on like somebody like me who wants to buy a home.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Like I want to start saving. Kaylee's already decided my Disney savings are now my house savings. Oh, that's amazing. So, now I'm curious what can people like me?
Speaker 1:do to save money. Yeah.
Speaker 2:Like what's your values? What have you learned from your?
Speaker 1:career, yeah, so basically my time as being a loan officer. I have seen a lot of different ways that people do decide to save money, right. So there's always the old school way that you know it's basically what works best for you, right? So I have clients that have money under the mattress, you know, and that works for them.
Speaker 2:I know a few people who do that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, no, and honestly, I used to be one of those people you know, because, like me, working at my parents pizzeria, I would get a lot of tips. By the way, little Caesars is also here in Yonkers and that is my parents store.
Speaker 2:So really, yeah, it is.
Speaker 1:Good to know. Yeah, yeah, I did tell Miss Shirley that one time. So I love that, yeah, yeah, so I used to work there, so I've always kind of been around Yonkers. Because of that, I worked here in Yonkers but, yeah, because of that I was able to save, you know, the extra money that I would learned, you know it's not really the recommended route to go to.
Speaker 1:So I mean, if it works for some people, then you know I understand Other people do decide to do the 50-30-20 rule Right, which is, I believe, is 50 for your needs, 30 for your wants and 20 for your future self.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I believe we were talking about that yesterday. Yeah, you were showing me a your future self. Yeah, but you were talking about that yesterday, yeah. Show me a video about it.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:I think I we were reading or watching about how they were saying it's very important to try to stick to this with your income. Yeah, kind of take log of what you're spending for even like a week, yeah, just so you have a better idea of where your money's going, where it's going to, yeah, and then you're able to figure out how much you can really save yes, because everybody's situation is different.
Speaker 2:So, without a doubt, I mean well, how impossible is it for somebody to like for me if I'm thinking I have to have 700 credit score and have like 50 000 in the bank?
Speaker 1:no, I mean, you know what. It really depends on what you want to buy, right? Um? So if you want to buy, obviously, a single family home, that's maybe half a million dollars, like you know, or even more penny in that bank, yeah you do need.
Speaker 1:you do need more than I'm gonna say. I'm gonna just give an estimate, right, twenty thousand, right. So because you have to keep in mind there's a five percent here in New York, closing cost fees. That's not everywhere, though, like in Connecticut, it's cheaper, yeah, and then Jersey is another amount you know so if you want to buy here in New York, it's definitely 5.
Speaker 1:You have to keep in mind you need 5% of the purchase price that you're looking into. Okay, so that's just for closing costs. Now the down payment, right. When you're looking into Okay, so that's just for closing costs. Now the down payment right. When you're going FHA, if you do qualify going FHA-ly, you are allowed to put a 3.5% down. That's the minimum you can put and then in going conventional, you can do 3% as well.
Speaker 2:But it really depends, right, if you could do the mortgage yeah.
Speaker 1:You could, if you like. Let's say, if you want to pay a certain amount right of a monthly mortgage you want to get, if you have a particular bracket and it's over putting a 3.5 percent down, if it's too high for you, then maybe consider putting a five percent down. You know more you put in what's lower the rate, the lower the monthly payment yes, that makes sense.
Speaker 2:Yeah, all right. Well, I definitely want to talk more about that with you in a different podcast, because I'm sure there is so much deeper, we can go yeah with that between down payments, credits, cases, different things like that, how they all come into play together. Yeah, because everybody's.
Speaker 1:Like I said, everybody's. Um scenario is different. So if you think that you need a 700 credit score, that's not true. You know we're able to do loans for up to 500 FICO score. So you know, obviously the rates aren't favorable. But you know it is possible, yeah, it is possible, so it really depends on what you want to buy as well.
Speaker 2:Okay, that's good to know. So, for right now, what would you say for the everyday working person?
Speaker 1:that wants to save money, yeah definitely.
Speaker 2:What would you suggest that we could do, little by little, to work towards that house goal?
Speaker 1:So, going back to the 50-30-20 rule, right, the 20. Bump it up a little bit to 25, or bump it up as much as you can. You know the things that for your future self. So, the 20, the 20 that was supposed to be for your future self, just bump it up a little bit more and see if you can reach your goal faster than what you think you know.
Speaker 2:Oh, that's good to know. Yeah, no, definitely something I'll have to work to.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I know, saving is not easy, you know but it's worth it. It is, and you'll definitely see your hard work and your money's worth no, that definitely yeah, at the end of the day yeah, so definitely always. Oh, a vision board is also very directing.
Speaker 2:Yes, yeah, I love it.
Speaker 1:It's such a great way to keep your mind going and I, I've learned so much about it, but that will help you save, though you know like oh, I remember it, I want to go here, like you know because in my head yeah. In my vision board I have put Italy this year hopefully.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean I loved Europe when we went, so I want to see more of it.
Speaker 2:I think we should do a vision board workshop or something. I think that's a good idea.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh, we should. I really want to. So we should definitely like if it's not too late, right?
Speaker 2:No, it's never too late. We need to do workshop, we need to manifest and get these kids involved and just make a fun little activity out of it.
Speaker 1:I love that idea. I love it too, so let's do it All, right, sounds good.
Speaker 2:But I'm glad we got this time to talk together and like actually get to get more personal and everything and be able to share this with everyone as well.
Speaker 1:Let's talk a little bit about right the goals right so saving money. You definitely want to have a goal that you are aiming towards to motivate you to keep saving. So that's why I said, going back to the vision board, we should definitely always have something to look at.
Speaker 2:And that will definitely help somebody save, especially if set up yourself to see it every single day, your brain starts triggering that this is important to you, just like when you want to get a new car. Okay, I don't know about you, but when I decided to get the Santa Fe or the compass and I was stuck between the two, I literally see that, saw them everywhere, yeah, and it's just your brain realizing that it's important to you. Was it in your vision board? I didn't want a new car, okay. I just didn't know what I wanted. I was stuck between compass or santa fe, okay. So I was going back and forth between the two and it just was like there it's cause, especially the compass was one thing. I was there, ironically, my uh auto sales guy, which we know happened yeah, he was my neighbor growing up.
Speaker 2:So he actually helped me figure out that the Santa Fe was my dream car, but before that I saw the compass everywhere. And now that I have, the Santa Fe, I see it everywhere it's just your brain constantly showing you what's important, like the things that you find important. So, like you said, the vision board is so important for everybody because you get to see this every single day. It's you said the vision board is so important for everybody because you get to see this every single day.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's a constant reminder of what's important, what you're working towards. Yes, especially towards those, like tough days, when you really don't want to do anything. Yes, yes, because we all have those like lazy procrastinating days.
Speaker 1:Yeah, of course, you know it happens to the best of us, right? But we're only human. So definitely keeping focus and knowing what our goals are can definitely make saving so much more fun, I feel, because it's like it's going to be worth it at the end, you know.
Speaker 2:Seeing the end game. Yeah, seeing the end game.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it just takes some. Oh, I actually heard a quote yesterday, I believe, in one of my loan officer meetings. He said this pertains to the whole saving thing, but I just want to share it with you guys because I thought it was such an amazing quote. It says if you want your tree to grow to heaven, your roots must also reach hell, must also reach hell. So I thought that was very yeah, I think that was very powerful, because it's like if you're not working towards, you know, building something high, right, like how are you gonna get there?
Speaker 2:no, it's true. It's funny you say that because kaylee and I we actually do gardening every year in the springtime. Okay, so we were talking about how like things that we want in life yeah sometimes you don't see it growing just like a flower, just like a seed. You don't see the growth underneath but, it's growing those really deep roots. It's like really starting to get that grasp, so that way, when it does grow up, you don't have to worry about it blowing over. It's not going to fall because it has these Foundation Exactly?
Speaker 2:It's a strong foundation.
Speaker 1:So if you work towards that, yeah, something that's possible, exactly exactly all you need is just to be focused. What is my goal? Do I really want this? Yes, and if you really want it, you, you will. You'll get time will tell, because you know it's not going to fade away, it's even going to get stronger. You know that feeling is going to get stronger and that feeling I feel, like I always it comes from above, you, you know.
Speaker 2:No, it's true, Definitely, I mean, if not that way, there's always a constant reminder, whether it be like you said, it be something that's around you constantly, whether it be a vision board or, for me, a five year old reminded me how important it is for us to have a house it's. Whatever your goals are, there's always going to be, and isn't that lovely?
Speaker 1:Isn't that just like what you need? It's so funny how she's so logical. Remember, mom, right, remember.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we're going to work to go. You know not Disney, we're going to save a house.
Speaker 1:Okay, no problem, baby.
Speaker 2:We're going to save for a house.
Speaker 1:Oh, you will get there and, yeah, we'll be here the whole step of the way to help you out.
Speaker 2:I appreciate it.
Speaker 1:I know you guys will definitely help me out, just like we're going to help out whoever wants. You know, any questions anybody has? Yeah, of course, definitely real estate related. You know we're always here, we're the bias team, so any real estate needs, just let us know please. Thank you so much, amanda, for being here with us.
Speaker 2:I appreciate being here. It's amazing we were able to do this.
Speaker 1:It was lovely yes, yes, so yeah, I guess that's it all right. Thank you for watching. Bye, bye, bye guys.