NY officials: Village homeowners are pressured to sell

NEW YORK (FOX5NY.COM) - Are homeowners in one town in Rockland County, New York, being pressured to sell? State officials seem to think so after looking into the issue.

Magali Dupuy of Chestnut Ridge told Fox 5 that representatives for the ultra-orthodox Jewish community have been pressuring her and many others to sell their homes to them and is grateful that the state is getting involved.

Hilda Kogut said Chestnut Ridge is a melting pot, which she loves. But in recent years, she said she and others have been targets of aggressive real estate agents and homebuyers.

After investigating, the New York Department of State agreed and sent an email to real estate companies creating a cease-and-desist zone in Chestnut Ridge. That prohibits soliciting homeowners to sell their home. If agents or brokers do, they could be fined or lose their license.

The department said that after obtaining "... significant evidence of unwanted, intense and repeated solicitations... this regulation was necessary to protect homeowners."

Roberta Bangs is a real estate professional in nearby Nanuet

Homeowners have to register with the state to get on the do-not-solicit list.

The new regulation protecting homeowners takes effect July 1.