Hard Data, Objective Advice: Meet Houlihan and O'Malley Realtor Joanne Zach

There's safety in numbers. No one knows that better than Houlihan & O'Malley Realtor Joanne Zach, who's been tracking housing statistics in southern Westchester since 2006. Zach likes to analyze sales data from the Hudson Gateway Multiple Listing Service (HGMLS) to help her home sellers price their home to get the best possible deal. She also examines the local sales figures to help her buyers come up with the right offer to secure the home they want to purchase.

"Without good data to back up what buyers or sellers want to accomplish, they could make a big financial mistake. I want to help them avoid that," says Zach, who's been active in the Bronxville area’s real estate market since 2006.

In addition to her acumen in analyzing real estate data, Joanne also helps clients by providing sound, unbiased advice when buying or selling a home.

"I find that homebuyers, particularly young couples just starting out, tend to get emotionally involved with a house they like and don't see the big picture," she says. “This is especially true of houses in need of upgrading. Often the buyers don't have the resources or stamina needed to take on a major renovation project.”

When she works with clients, Zach likes to point out both the good and bad about a house. "I don't want my buyers to settle. It's my job to help find the best home for them in their price range and negotiate the best terms for purchasing it," she says.

Zach also provides advice to her sellers, many of whom are in a rush to list their homes. She says it's important to tell them how they could benefit from selling strategies, such as a pre-listing inspection and staging, to present their homes in the best light possible. "I always say a little paint goes a long way."

A resident of the Aubyn Manor area of Mount Vernon since 1993, Zach specializes in real estate in Bronxville Village, the Bronxville PO section of Yonkers, Crestwood and Mount Vernon, as well as Pelham. In 2014, she represented the buyer of the highest priced home to sell in Crestwood that year, a stone and cedar, four-bedroom Center Hall Colonial purchased for $1.1 million.

Zach recently earned her Brokers License. and is a Certified Buyer Representative (CBR). Her designation as a Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) provides her with specialized knowledge of the needs of seniors who are downsizing to smaller living facilities.

Active in the community, Zach is a longtime member of the Bronxville Field Club and the Junior League of Bronxville, where she has served in various positions over the years. She was also Head of the Upper School Parents Association of the Riverdale Country School for two years when her son was in high school. Zach earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ.

When not working or volunteering, Zach loves to cook and entertain family and friends, sharing that her favorite recipes come from Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child, along with the Silver Palette and Barefoot Contessa cookbooks. But, it's a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Champagne that she’ll be bringing over when you buy or sell your home!