Joanne Spataro and Marina McGowan - Long Island Real Estate

09/21/2026

When visiting a property, it's important to think beyond the upgrades and ask yourself if this floor plan will still suit your needs five, 10, even 20 years from now. Needs change with age, or when multigenerational families come together, or even if a loved one finds that stairs are just too much to tackle on a daily basis. Will this place allow for easy aging in place? Can the square footage be stretched to accommodate a new addition to the family? Can the home be easily modified to meet changing accessibility needs?

Before you buy or sell, take a closer look at how well a home can adjust to changing needs, from mobility and growing families to flexible, adaptable living spaces.

09/16/2026

Small bathrooms tend to feel restrictive, but there's no need to break the bank to fix that. A few simple tweaks to lighting, color, and storage can make a real difference in how big a bathroom feels, and none of it requires a major renovation.

Bounded by a small space? Add some layered lighting, a larger mirror, and smarter storage to make your bathroom feel almost twice as big without a full renovation.

09/11/2026

We honor Patriot Day in remembrance of our brothers and sisters whose lives were lost on September 11, 2001. They will never be forgotten.

09/05/2026

You work hard all year, so enjoy some well-deserved downtime this long holiday weekend. Wishing you a very Happy Labor Day!

09/03/2026

When a buyer makes a low offer, it's easy to feel as though you've lost ground already. After all, anyone who's listed a house for sale knows up front that not all offers will be as expected. However, it's important to put this into perspective: a low offer is merely the beginning of a negotiation, not an end result.

A low offer isn't necessarily the end of the road for your home sale. Here's how to evaluate a low offer, negotiate, and move on to a sale with confidence.

08/31/2026

Happy 95th Birthday to our Mom and Grandma! 🎉
We are so happy to celebrate this special milestone with family, good food, and great memories. She has helped make so many houses feel like home over the years. Cheers to 95!

08/30/2026

School is in session! It’s the perfect time to find a home in a neighborhood that’s right around the corner from your school.

We’d love to help you find the right home that meets all your needs. Contact us today!

08/26/2026

Every inspection needs a second set of little eyes. 🏡🔍 Our youngest team members were on-site making sure everything checked out… because real estate is a family business in every sense of the word!!

08/26/2026

Making a home ready to be listed for sale isn't always a matter of large-scale improvements. It is, more often than not, a matter of a few key repairs that will make all the difference, while a handful of less important fixes will wait. Here's how to determine which is which.

Before listing, a few repairs can help you attract more buyers, get them to pay your asking price, and save you the headache of last-minute negotiations.

08/25/2026

You do not need giant walls to feel private at home.

Start by figuring out exactly what you want to block, then mix the right tools for the job: evergreens for year round coverage, fences for instant privacy, and a quick call to your city before you plant or build anything permanent.

Done in the right order, a few well placed plants and a simple fence can make your yard feel comfortably tucked away without feeling closed in.

Discover how strategic landscaping choices, from evergreen hedges to fencing and layered planting, can add privacy to your yard without losing curb appeal.