Brian Kasprzyk

The Stress Of Moving

2012-01-28T06:14:00.000-08:00

So much has happened since my last posting. We closed on our home in Massachusetts on November 28 and immediately drove to our new home in South Carolina. It took 3 days of driving. The first day we stopped at my sister's home in Springfield, Massachusetts. On day 2 we stopped at about the half way point just south of Washington DC. The last day took us to our townhouse in Little River where we waited 8 long days until our furniture arrived. On December 8, we officially and finally moved into our brand newly constructed 3 bedroom 2 bath single level home at Lafayette Park in Little River, South Carolina. The whole process was stressful as we worried about our buyers, their financing, the final walk thru, the movers arriving on time, whether it would snow on our way down, getting separated on our 3 day trip, our furniture being damaged, our furniture not arriving etc etc.

Within a week, we had our Christmas tree up and decorated. It was a big one - maybe our biggest ever. Made me realize why we bought this house - the cathedral ceiling for our tree. The kids all three plus Gary arrived for Christmas. Was great to have them - made it feel more like home.

Our neighbors are really very very nice. We've had them at our place and they invited us to theirs. The weather has been fantastic - almost no rain, mostly sunny and unseasonably warm.

Email Versus The Telephone

2011-11-10T11:55:00.001-08:00

Email allows you to communicate similar information as a telephone does, only the other person doesn't have to be there. With email, you don't have to wait for an answering machine to turn on or to leave a message with another person. Instead, you just write your message and send it--even during the early hours of the morning! Also, with email, tone of voice is not there. You've got to realize that a person is going to be reading this and it's going to impact them emotionally. At some point, you have to pick up the phone, and you'll need to know when it's time to do that.

Congressional Reform Act of 2011

2011-10-17T05:03:00.000-07:00

Congressional Reform Act of 2011
1) No Tenure / No Pension.
A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when out of office.
2) Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security.
All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people. It may not be used for any other purpose.
3) Congressmen can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.
4) Congress will no longer vote itself a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.
5) Congress loses its current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.
6) Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.
7) All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective 1/1/12. The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen.
Congressmen made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.

275 Lancaster Drive, Tewksbury, MA

2011-08-22T06:26:00.001-07:00

Just sold my house - on the market only one day. The reason is simple - aggressive price - $419,900.

The Sin of Omission

2011-08-22T06:25:00.001-07:00

The Sin of Omission
by: Margaret E. Sangster

It isn't the thing you do, dear,
Its the thing you leave undone
That gives you a bit of a heartache
At setting of the sun.

The tender work forgotten,
The letter you did not write,
The flowers you did not send, dear,
Are your haunting ghosts at night.

The stone you might have lifted
Out of a brother's way;
The bit of heart-some counsel
You were hurried too much to say;

The loving touch of the hand, dear,
The gentle, winning tone
Which you had no time nor thought for
With troubles enough of your own.

Those little acts of kindness
So easily out of mind,
Those chances to be angels
Which we poor mortals find~

They come in night and silence,
Each sad, reproachful wraith,
When hope is faint and flagging,
And a chill has fallen on faith.

For life is all too short, dear,
And sorrow is all to great,
To suffer our slow compassion
That tarries until too late:

And it isn't the thing you do, dear,
It's the thing you leave undone
Which gives you a bit of heartache
At the setting of the sun.

Are Homes Selling?

2011-08-15T05:03:00.000-07:00

According to the Multiple Listing Service(MLS), these are the number of single family homes that have sold in the past 30 days: Billerica - 21; Chelmsford - 24; Dracut - 18; Lowell - 30; Tewksbury - 17; Tyngsboro - 5; Westford - 34; Wilmington - 22.

Tewksbury Real Estate Market

2011-07-29T11:12:00.000-07:00

Last october, there were 111 single family homes on the market in Tewksbury. Today there are 115. Not much change. The number of sales have also remained fairly constant. Stability is good.

August is National Golf Month

2011-07-29T06:13:00.001-07:00

There are 336 dimples on a regulation golf ball.

A titanium driver hitting a golf ball can create a sonic boom.

The longest hole on a golf course is the seventh hole at the Satsuki Golf Club in Japan, which measures 914 yards, and is a par 7.

Scotland invented golf -- but then banned the game in 1647.

The lowest 18-hole golf score ever recorded in competition was a 55, by pro golfer Homero Blancas, who played on the PGA Tour in the 60's and 70's. In 1962, when he was an amateur and playing in the Premier Invitational, in Longview, Texas, Blancas had a front nine of 27 and a back nine of 28. He had 13 birdies and one eagle, using only 20 putts.

The longest drive on record in tournament play was hit by pro Mike Austin in September of 1974. Playing in the US Nations Seniors Open Championship at Winterwood Golf Course in Las Vegas, the 64-year-old Austin unleashed a blast on the par-four 5th hole that flew more than 400 yards, bounced in front of the green and came to rest 65 yards beyond the green. When it was paced off, it was recorded as a 515 yard drive.

Lock In Your Rate

2011-07-15T04:38:00.000-07:00

My advice to all current homebuyers - lock in your interest rate. If the government defaults, interest rates could soar.

A Boomerang World

2011-06-20T04:57:00.000-07:00

A Boomerang World

Written by Tim Wright, Ph.D.

Remember when you were a kid, how fascinated you were with boomerangs? You take this flat, curved piece of wood and throw it and then watch in amazement as it curves around in the air and comes right back to you.

As 'miraculous' as that seemed when we were kids, I've found that most of our life is like that. Whatever we throw out there, comes back to us.

We live in a boomerang world.

Let me explain:

If you smile at someone, in almost every case, they will smile back. Try it now with someone nearby and see if it works.

If you're kind toward someone, they will usually be kind in return. Of course, this also works in the other direction.

If you complain to someone, they will share their complaints with you. In fact, you may quickly find yourself in a subtle competition to see who is more miserable.

If you get angry at someone, they will usually get angry with you. And so on ...

The fact is, whatever you decide to throw out into the world will usually circle around and land right back at your feet, much like the boomerangs we played with as kids.

Here's what struck me this morning.

I have a choice about what I decide to throw out into my world. I have a choice about what I want to land at my feet?

If you want more joy - throw it out there.

If you want more happiness - throw some happiness out there to someone else and watch it miraculously come back to you.

It even works with money. Need money? Give some away. The spiritual leaders from the beginning of time have been telling us this, but most of us are afraid to believe it.

It works in just about every area of our life. When we give something away, when we throw it out there - it comes back to us.
So today and for as many days afterwards as you want, make a conscious choice about what you want to throw out into the world. By doing this, you will be making a choice about what is going to come back and land at your feet.

Remember the boomerang and that whatever you throw out there, will come back to you many times over.

Economic Update

2011-05-23T04:46:00.001-07:00

The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo monthly housing market index was unchanged in May at 16. An index reading below 50 indicates negative sentiment about the housing market.

The combined construction of new single-family homes and apartments in April fell 10.6% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 523,000 units. Single-family starts decreased 5.1%. Multifamily starts fell 24.1%. Applications for new building permits, seen as an indicator of future activity, fell 4% to an annual rate of 551,000 units.

Industrial production at the nation's factories, mines and utilities was unchanged in April, following a revised 0.7% increase in March. Compared to a year ago, industrial production is up 5%. Capacity utilization was 76.9% in April.

The Mortgage Bankers Association said its seasonally adjusted composite index of mortgage applications for the week ending May 13 rose 7.8%. Refinancing applications increased 13.2%. Purchase volume fell 3.2%.

Existing home sales fell 0.8% in April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.05 million units from a revised 5.1 million units in March. The inventory of unsold homes on the market increased 9.9% to 3.87 million, a 9.2-month supply at the current sales pace, up from an 8.3-month supply in March.

The index of leading economic indicators — designed to forecast economic activity in the next three to six months — fell 0.3% in April, following a revised 0.7% increase in March.

Initial claims for unemployment benefits fell by 29,000 to 409,000 for the week ending May 14. Continuing claims for the week ending May 7 fell by 81,000 to 3.7 million.

Upcoming on the economic calendar are reports on new home sales on May 24 and pending home sales on May 27.

Comparing Homes in Tewksbury

2011-03-12T04:39:00.000-08:00

Two homes in Tewksbury, Massachusetts sold yesterday.

Home # 1 at 588 North Street had 1258 sq ft of living, a lot of 12,690 sq ft, 7 rooms, 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, built in 1960, on a busy street.

Home # 2 at 10 Woodcrest Drive had 1600 sq ft of living, a lot of 43,560 sq ft, 8 rooms, 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, built in 1965, on a cul de sac.

Based upon the above information (I did not see either home), it would be reasonable to assume that home #2 sold for $20,000-$50,000 more that home #1. They both sold for the same amount $290,000.

The reason is that home #1 was renovated/updated and home #2 was not. Conclusion - renovate/update before selling.

Last Week In The News

2011-03-07T07:03:00.000-08:00

Looks like the overall economy is picking up (read below) but not the housing market.

Initial claims for unemployment benefits fell by 20,000 to 368,000 for the week ending February 26. Continuing claims for the week ending February 19 fell by 59,000 to 3.77 million. The monthly unemployment rate fell to 8.9% in February from 9% in January.

The Institute for Supply Management reported that the monthly composite index of manufacturing activity rose to 61.4 in February after a revised 60.8 in January. A reading above 50 signals expansion. It was the 19th straight month of expansion and the highest reading in almost seven years.

The National Association of Realtors reported that its pending home sales index, a forward-looking indicator based on signed contracts, fell 2.8% in January after a revised 3.2% decrease in December. On a year-over-year basis, pending sales are down 1.5%.

Total construction spending fell 0.7% to $791.8 billion in January, following a revised 1.6% decrease in December. Economists had anticipated a decrease of 0.8% in January.

The Mortgage Bankers Association said its seasonally adjusted composite index of mortgage applications for the week ending February 25 fell 6.5%. Refinancing applications decreased 6.5%. Purchase volume fell 6.1%.

The Institute for Supply Management reported that the monthly composite index of non-manufacturing activity rose to 59.7 in February from 59.4 in January. A reading above 50 signals expansion. It was the 14th straight month of expansion in the services sector and the fastest pace since August 2005.

Factory orders rose 3.1% in January to a seasonally adjusted $445.6 billion, following a revised 1.4% increase in December. Excluding the volatile transportation sector, orders rose 0.7%.

Upcoming on the economic calendar are reports on wholesale trade on March 9 and retail sales on March 11.

Virtual Tour of 394 Whipple Road, Tewksbury, MA

2011-03-04T07:07:00.000-08:00

http://www.visualtour.com/shownp.asp?T=2411689

Housing market Still Fragile

2011-03-04T07:04:00.000-08:00

RISMEDIA, March 4, 2011—The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury released the February 2011 edition of the Obama Administration’s Housing Scorecard. The latest housing figures show increased existing home sales as home affordability remains high, but officials caution that the market remains fragile, as prices are unsettled.

“In the face of the deepest economic recession and housing crisis in decades, the Obama Administration has taken unprecedented action to promote stability in the market—keeping millions of families in their homes and helping millions more to save money by refinancing. But the data clearly show that the market remains extremely fragile,” said HUD Assistant Secretary Raphael Bostic. “While we cannot stop every foreclosure, we know that many responsible homeowners are still fighting to make ends meet. Through the broad range of programs this Administration has put in place, we can put help in reach to those homeowners as early as possible.”

Consumer Confidence Up Again

2011-02-28T05:57:00.000-08:00

The consumer confidence index rose to 70.4 in February from an upwardly revised 64.8 in January. It was the highest level since February 2008. The index was benchmarked at 100 in 1985, a year chosen because it was neither a peak nor a trough in consumer confidence.

The Tewksbury Real Estate Market

2011-02-28T05:49:00.000-08:00

In October, 2010, there were 111 single family homes on the market in Tewksbury, Massachusetts. Today (4 months later), there are only 64 homes on the market. This is a dramatic decline. So what happened?

Honestly, I do not know. I can only guess that it is a result of our terrible snowy weather. Who wants people parading through their homes with snow covered shoes? I'll check this out next month when the weather will hopefully be a little better.

We're Movin

2011-02-09T14:31:00.000-08:00

After thinking and talking about moving to South Carolina for quite some time, we finally pulled the trigger.

We are buying a single family home at Layfayette Park in Little River about a mile from our townhouse at Village at the Glens. It has 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, a 2 car garage and about a quarter acre of land. Plus we are getting all the bells and whistles including hardwood flooring, granite countertops, full appliances. Is a great deal especially compared to similar homes in Massachusetts. Real estate taxes will be only $700 which gets cut in half when we turn 65.

Feelin Groovy by Paul Simon

2011-01-18T09:33:00.000-08:00

Slow down, you movin' too fast
You gotta make the moment last
Just kickin' down the cobblestones
Lookin' for fun and
Feelin' groovy____________

Hello lampost
Whatcha knowin?
I've come to watch your flowers growin'
Ain'tcha got no rhymes for me?
Doo Bee Doo Doo,
Feelin' groovy____________

Got no deeds to do
No promises to keep
I'm dappled and drowsy and ready to sleep
Let the morningtime drop all it's petals on me...
Life, I love you,
All is groovy___________________

More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/p/paul_simon/#share

Humor

2011-01-18T05:20:00.001-08:00

An elderly gentleman..... had serious hearing problems for a number of years. He went to the doctor and the doctor was able to have him fitted for a set of hearing aids that allowed the gentleman to hear 100%
The elderly gentleman went back in a month to the doctor and the doctor said, 'Your hearing is perfect.. Your family must be really pleased that you can hear again.'
The gentleman replied, 'Oh, I haven't told my family yet.

I just sit around and listen to the conversations. I've changed my will three times!'

The Help - by Kathern Stockett

2011-01-12T18:08:00.000-08:00

I've read some really good books this past year and this is one of them. Highly recommended.

It is about the life of maids and their relationships with their white women employers during the civil rights movement of the 1960s. The setting is rural Mississippi. It is mostly told from the point of view of the maids. But it was written by a white women who grew up in the south during these times and was taken care of by a maid with whom she formed a special relationship. If it were written by a black maid, the story would have been more sad or tragic. The ending would have been more sad than happy - I think.

Nevertheless. it was poignant, funny, sad, well written for the most part and certainly made you think. Reminded me of my Dad taking me to Celtics games in the late 50s and seeing bathroom doors with the words "Colored Men" and "White Men." Will never get that out of my head. Probably the first time I realized that the world is not always so nice. "The Help" will make you think that too.

2010 The Year in Review

2011-01-02T17:19:00.000-08:00

The problem is that I do not have a system for writing on this blog. So I write few and far between. I will now try to catch up.

2010 was an eventful year. Mom died on March 13. It was for the best. Her alzheimers was getting worse and worse. Last Christmas 2009, I wrote a reminder email to myself to be opened 2 days before Christmas 2010. I reminded myself not to bring her to our christmas eve gift opening because she just did'nt know what was going on. She did not really appreciate the gifts she gave (I got them for her to give) or received.

But also she was bad off physically. She fell down at the beginning of the year and ended up at the Blair House nursing home where she got an intestinal flu and dehydrated. Her final days were incoherent reminding me of my dads last days 10 years earlier.

The nursing home was an eye opener to me. I realized why my mom dreaded it so much. It is a place where people are kept alive waiting and hoping to die. So sad. I will do whatever I can to avoid being placed in a nursing home. Our health care system keeps persons alive longer than they should and the final days are often spent in pain and with little dignity. More on that in a future blog.

But I digress. 2010 was also eventful because I made my first trip to Hawai. This was Malle's 3rd visit. What a wonderful place so beautiful. I'm so glad that we played golf because that is one of the best ways to see the beauty of tropical Hawai. Although when we landed on the Big Island from Oahu, I thought we landed on the moon. The area around the airport was pitch black for miles and miles to the ocean. I soon figured out that it was lava which had accumulated over the years from various volcanic erruptions. But it was also very beautiful especially in contract to the blue ocean and the green tropical foliage beyond.

Malle and I took a helicopter ride(our first) to the famous Kiluaia Volcano. It was exciting and interesting and beautiful especially watching the steam created as the lava flowed into the ocean.

The 3rd and 4th memorable event(s) of 2010 was the loss of our cat Midnight and dog Penney. I had the unenviable job of bringing each of them in 2 separate trips to the vet to be put down. I cried. They were such an integrel part of our family for so long. Pen was the best dog I ever had. But I could no longer watch her walk around bumping into things. At the end she was blind. And Midnight was not much better. She had trouble climbing onto our couch. You could see her pain.

In January, we went to Vas Vegas. Played some golf and saw Bette Midler perform at Ceasers Palace

In early March we went to Arizona for a few days to a Caremark Confernece at the Gainey Ranch.

In April we went on our annual trip to Myrtle Beach to play lots of golf.

July took us to Detroit to visit brother in law Jack whose health has been failing. He just had a pacemaker placed in his chest. We also stopped in St Catherines, Ontario to visit Malle's cousins. It was nice to get to know Ronnie, Malle's brother, and Mariann, his wife. Really enjoyed their company

During the last week of July, we played a golf tournament in Maine with some friends from Tewksbury.

Malle went to Chicago in August but not with me. In mid-august we returned to Myrtle Beach for one week to play some serious golf in the heat.

Oh and last but not least, business was much better in 2010 compared to 2009 - about twice as good.

Buyers Want Cozy, Connected Kitchens

2010-11-11T05:46:00.000-08:00

The kitchen isn't just for cooking. Today it's used as a gathering place for families, a central work space, and an open area to pursue craft projects or entertain. Living room and family room activities are merging into the kitchen, and it's changing how kitchens look. As homes are getting smaller, we're using the kitchen for much more than we have in the past. Home owners want a more versatile floor plan.

The walls in kitchens started coming down in the 1980s and 1990s. First to go were walls separating the kitchen from the dining room and now homeowners are saying goodbye to walls between the kitchen and the living room. Kitchens are also being designed in a less utilitarian way with larger windows, fewer cabinets and softer lighting.

Hawai on the Horizon

2010-11-08T09:27:00.000-08:00

I checked the weather report this morning for Honolulu, Hawai. At 1:39 am. the temperature was 76 degree. The high for the day will be 85. Wow that seems a lot like paradise. Around here in Massachusetts, the only time it gets to 76 at 1am is in the middle of an extreme heat wave - in other words almost never. Can't wait to be in Paradise next week.

Last Week Economic Report - mostly positive but a slow recovery

2010-11-08T08:16:00.000-08:00

The Institute for Supply Management reported that the monthly composite index of manufacturing activity was 56.9 in October after reaching 54.4 in September. Economists had anticipated a reading of 54.5. A reading above 50 signals expansion. It was the 15th straight month of expansion.

Total construction spending rose 0.5% to $801.7 billion in September, following a revised 0.2% drop in August. Economists had anticipated a drop of 0.5% in September.

The Mortgage Bankers Association said its seasonally adjusted composite index of mortgage applications for the week ending October 29 fell 5%. Refinancing applications decreased 6.4%. Purchase volume rose 1.4%.

Factory orders rose 2.1% in September to a seasonally adjusted $420 billion. The increase follows a 0.5% drop in August. The increase was largely due to a 15.8% rise in demand for commercial aircraft. Excluding the volatile transportation sector, orders rose 0.4%.

The Institute for Supply Management reported that the monthly composite index of non-manufacturing activity rose to 54.3 in October from 53.2 in September. A reading above 50 signals expansion.

The National Association of Realtors reported that its pending home sales index, a forward-looking indicator based on signed contracts, fell 1.8% in September after a revised 4.4% increase in August. On a year-over-year basis, pending sales are down nearly 25%.

Initial claims for unemployment benefits rose by 20,000 to 457,000 for the week ending October 30. Continuing claims for the week ending October 23 fell by 42,000 to 4.34 million, the lowest level since the recovery began. Non-farm payroll employment increased by 151,000 in October, a reading much higher than the 60,000 anticipated.

Upcoming on the economic calendar are reports on wholesale trade on November 9 and consumer sentiment on November 12.

Last Week Economic Report

2010-11-01T05:26:00.000-07:00

The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller 20-city housing price index — on a seasonally adjusted basis — fell 0.3% in August after a 0.2% decrease in July. On a year-over-year basis, prices rose 1.7% compared with August 2009.

The Mortgage Bankers Association said its seasonally adjusted composite index of mortgage applications for the week ending October 22 rose 3.2%. Refinancing applications increased 3%. Purchase volume rose 3.9%.

Orders for durable goods — items expected to last three or more years — rose 3.3% in September after decreasing a revised 1% in August. Excluding volatile transportation-related goods, orders posted a monthly decrease of 0.8%.

New home sales rose 6.6% in September to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 307,000 units from a rate of 288,000 units in August. Economists had expected a pace of 300,000 units.

The Commerce Department announced that gross domestic product — the total output of goods and services produced in the U.S. — increased at an annual rate of 2% in the third quarter of 2010.

Initial claims for unemployment benefits fell by 21,000 to 434,000 for the week ending October 23. Continuing claims for the week ending October 16 fell by 122,000 to 4.35 million, the lowest level since the recovery began.

Upcoming on the economic calendar are reports on construction spending on November 1, factory orders on November 3 and pending home sales on November 5.

Mid Term Elections

2010-10-22T11:12:00.001-07:00

Much has been made of the importance of the mid-term congressional elections as they relate to the stock markets. J.P Morgan recently released a study showing historical stock market returns by political party control. The three entities identified were; Senate/House/President.

The combination that produced the best results were markets when the Senate and House were controlled by the Republicans, coupled with a Democrat president. The average annual return during those years was 15.3 percent.

In second place were years in which there was a Republican Senate, a Democrat House and a Republican President. The S&P 500 averaged 10.5 percent during those years.

The worst combinations were when all three entities were controlled by the same party, with all Democrat producing average annual gains of 5 percent and all Republicans coming in at 3.3 percent.

Home Are Selling - Believe it or Not

2010-10-16T08:53:00.000-07:00

The real estate market is still holding strong since buyers are realizing that there are major opportunities in this market. As for sellers, many of them are pricing aggressively. They know that if they price right, homes are selling quickly. Just to give you a taste of what I mean, these are the numbers of single family homes that sold in the past year: Tewksbury - 195; Lowell - 382; Billerica - 247; Dracut - 220; Chelmsford - 241; Tyngsboro - 72; Westford - 184. Don't let anyone tell you that homes are not selling.

LAST Week in the News

2010-10-04T06:23:00.001-07:00

According to the ICSC-Goldman Sachs index, retail sales rose 0.4% for the week ending September 25. On a year-over-year basis, retailers saw sales increase 3.6%, the best reading since early August.

The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller 20-city housing price index — on a seasonally adjusted basis — rose 0.6% in July after a 0.3% increase in June. On a year-over-year basis, prices rose 3.2% compared with July 2009.

The consumer confidence index fell to 48.5 in September from a downwardly revised 53.2 in August. The index was benchmarked at 100 in 1985, a year chosen because it was neither a peak nor a trough in consumer confidence.

The Mortgage Bankers Association said its seasonally adjusted composite index of mortgage applications for the week ending September 24 fell 0.8%. Refinancing applications fell 1.6%. Purchase volume increased 2.4%.

The Institute for Supply Management reported that the monthly composite index of manufacturing activity was 54.4 in September after reaching 56.3 in August. Economists had anticipated a reading of 54.5. A reading above 50 signals expansion. It was the 14th straight month of expansion.

Total construction spending rose 0.4% to $811.8 billion in August, following a downwardly revised 1.4% drop in July. Economists had anticipated a drop of 0.4% in August.

The Commerce Department reported that consumer spending rose $41.3 billion or 0.4% in August, matching what economists had anticipated. Personal income increased $59.3 billion or 0.5%.

Initial claims for unemployment benefits fell by 16,000 to 453,000 for the week ending September 25. Continuing claims for the week ending September 18 fell by 83,000 to 4.45 million.

Little Bee by Chris Cleave

2010-09-30T12:55:00.000-07:00

Most good books are good because of the story - it keeps you coming back and wanting more. Many books are good because of the characters - you relate to them or feel for them or admire them. And there are some books - rare books -that are good because of the writing. Little Bee by Chris Cleave is a great book because of the writing, because of the words. As I read the first few chapters, I was compelled to read on and on and on because the words and thoughts flowed like a mighty river on a warm summer day.

The book is about a Nigerian teenager and her sister who converge on a beach with an English couple on a holiday to save their marriage. It is a tragic story. It is funny. It unfolds in pieces. Read it and enjoy.

Last Week in the News

2010-09-20T06:20:00.000-07:00

Retail sales rose 0.4% in August after a revised 0.3% increase in July. It was the biggest gain since March. Economists had anticipated retail sales to rise 0.3% in August.

Total business inventories rose 1% in July, following a revised 0.5% increase in June. Total business sales rose 0.7% in July after falling 0.5% in June and 1.2% in May.

The Mortgage Bankers Association said its seasonally adjusted composite index of mortgage applications for the week ending September 10 fell 8.9%. Refinancing applications fell 10.8%. Purchase volume decreased 0.4%.

Industrial production at the nation's factories, mines and utilities rose 0.2% in August, following a downwardly revised 0.6% increase in July. Capacity utilization rose to 74.7% in August after a revised 74.6% in July.

The producer price index, which tracks wholesale price inflation, rose 0.4% in August, following a 0.2% increase in July. Core prices — excluding food and fuel — rose 0.1% after a 0.3% increase in July. For the year, seasonally adjusted wholesale prices are up 3%.

The Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment index for September's preliminary reading fell to 66.6 from 68.9 in August. It was the lowest reading since August 2009.

Initial claims for unemployment benefits fell by 3,000 to 450,000 for the week ending September 11. Continuing claims for the week ending September 4 fell by 84,000 to 4.49 million.

Consumer prices rose a seasonally adjusted 0.3% in August, matching a 0.3% increase in July. For the year, seasonally adjusted consumer prices are up 1.2%.

Attitude

2010-09-13T05:25:00.000-07:00

The Longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one thing we have, and that is our attitude...

I am convinced that life is 10% of what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it.

And so it is with you... we are in charge of our ATTITUDES.

Homeowner Oil Heating Upgrade Law

2010-09-09T13:27:00.000-07:00

The new Homeowner Oil Heating System Upgrade and Insurance Law, originally set to become law effective July 1, 2010 has been delayed and will become effective September 11, 2011, giving homeowners 15 additional months to comply. The law is designed to eliminate oil leaks that have plagued numerous older homes when a fuel line leaves the oil tank and is buried in concrete. In addition, the new law requires homeowner insurance companies to make available coverage, at an additional charge, for oil spills to all homes that are in compliance with the new rules.

I Really Like This Quote

2010-09-09T12:52:00.000-07:00

A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort

Steps To Happiness

2010-08-10T04:43:00.001-07:00

Everybody Knows,

You can't be all things to all people.
You can't do all things at once.
You can't do all things equally well.
You can't do all things better than everyone else.
Your humanity is showing just like everyone else's.

So,
You have to find out who you are, and be that.
You have to decide what comes first, and do that.
You have to discover your strengths, and use them.
You have to learn not to compete with others, because no one else is in the contest of "being you".

Then,
You will have learned to accept your own uniqueness.
You will have learned to set priorities and make decisions.
You will have learned to live with your limitations.
You will have learned to give yourself the respect that is due.
And you'll be a most vital mortal.

Believe,
That you are a wonderful, unique person.
That you are a once-in all history event.
That it's more than a right, it's your duty, to be who you are.
That life is not a problem to solve, but a gift to cherish.
And you'll be able to stay one up on what used to get you down.

Vinegar

2010-08-05T12:47:00.000-07:00

Here, from vinegartips.com, are a few ideas for making the most of vinegar:

- Clean counter tops and make them smell sweet again with a cloth soaked in undiluted white distilled vinegar.
- Clean the fridge: use a mixture of half water, half vinegar to wipe down the interior shelves and walls.
- Stop ants from congregating by pouring white distilled vinegar on the area.
- Discourage cats from getting into the kids' sandbox with white distilled vinegar.

But I like it best on boiled cabbage!

Landscaping For Curb Appeal

2010-07-31T07:31:00.000-07:00

A well-landscaped yard creates curb appeal and helps your property retain maximum value.

Progress	K
Effort	Low 1-2 days installation
Investment	Med $200-$4,000 (landscape lighting)

A beautiful yard is a head-turner, no doubt about it. The good news is that even if you can’t tell a tulip from a turnip at the garden center, you can still create eye-catching curb appeal by paying attention to the basics of good landscaping. Ignoring your yard—or doing something that’s out of character with the neighborhood—can jeopardize the assessed value of your home.

“We have several categories for design and appeal,“ says Frank Lucco, a real estate agent and professional appraiser in Houston. “That’s where we make those adjustments. Poorly maintained landscaping can be as much as a 5 or 10% deduction.”

Appraisers are quick to praise the allure of a well-tended lawn and good-looking landscaping when it comes time to sell your home, but most do not assign any specific increase in monetary value for upkeep.

“Landscaping is going to add to the appeal of the property and it may sell quicker, but it’s hard to determine value,” says John Bredemeyer, president of Omaha-based Realcorp. “You have to have a number to compensate someone if you drove into their tree and killed it, but is it really market value? Probably not.”

Nevertheless, most professionals agree that curb appeal and a well-maintained appearance prevent your property from losing value. Here are the top suggestions from real estate agents, appraisers, and landscape designers for boosting the curb appeal of your yard:

Green up the grass

If your house has a front yard, make sure it‘s neat and green. You don’t want bare spots, sprawling weeds, or an untrimmed appearance.

“It’s so simple to go to Home Depot, buy fertilizer, apply it every six weeks, and water it,” says Mitch Kalamian, a landscape designer in Huntinginton Beach, Calif. “It will green up.”

If the yard looks really scruffy, you may decide to invest in some sod. According to the National Gardening Association, the average cost of sod is 15 to 35 cents per sq. ft. If you hire a landscaper to sod your yard for you, labor will add 30% to 50% to the total cost of the project.

Another alternative is to plant low-maintenance turf grasses. Turf grasses are durable and drought-resistant. Expect to pay $18 to $30 for enough turf grass seed to plant 1,000 sq. ft. of lawn area.

Add colorful planting beds

Flower beds add color and help enliven otherwise plain areas, such as along driveways and the edges of walkways. In general, annual flowers are a bit cheaper but must be replaced every year. Perennials cost a bit more but come back annually and usually get larger or spread with each growing season.

If you’re not sure what to plant, inquire at your local garden center. Often, they’ll have a display of bedding plants chosen for their adaptability to your area. Also, they‘ll be inexpensive because they’re in season, says Peter Mezitt, president of Weston Nurseries in Hopkinton, Mass. Try pansies in the summer, and asters and mums in the fall to add vibrant color. “That’s what we do around the entrance to our garden center,” Mezitt says.

Valerie Torelli, a California REALTOR® who dresses up her clients’ yards to sell their houses faster and for more money, says that in her market, she can put in a bed of colorful annuals and bark, as well as cutting down overgrown shrubs, for less than $500. “We can buy gorgeous plants for $3.99 to $15.99,” she says.

Add landscape lighting

For homeowners who have made a sizeable investment in landscaping, it makes sense to think about adding another 10% to 15% to the bill for professional lighting. “You can’t see landscaping after dark,“ says Brandon Stephens, vice president of marketing for a landscape lighting firm in Lubbock, Texas, “and buyers are not always looking at houses on a Saturday afternoon.”

The cost of a system runs from $200 for a DIY installation to more than $4,000 for a professional job. If you‘re doing it on your own, the key is to light what you want people to see, such as mature trees and flowering shrubs.

Plant a tree

The value of mature trees is particularly difficult to determine. Lucco says that in his market, mature trees contribute as much as 10% of a $100,000 property’s overall value. In addition, a properly placed shade tree can shave as much as $32 a year on your energy bills. Expect to pay $50 to $100 for a young, 6- to 7-foot deciduous tree.

You can make your own initial assessment of the value of your property’s trees by visiting the National Tree Benefit Calculator. For example, a mature Southern red oak tree with a diameter of 36 inches in the front yard of a house in Augusta, Ga., would add $70 to the property value this year, according to the calculator.

Georgia-based freelance writer Pat Curry writes extensively about housing and real estate for consumer and trade publications. While a fair hand at remodeling, she is hopeless as a gardener. As a result, her landscaping is made up of plants that thrive on neglect.

7 Tax Benefits For Homeowners

2010-07-30T12:20:00.000-07:00

When you’re evaluating how much home you can afford, make sure you factor in the tax advantages of homeownership.

Here are seven tax benefits for homeowners.

1. Homebuyer tax credits

If you purchase your first home before April 30, 2010, you’re entitled to a tax credit of up to $8,000. If you currently own a home, but sell it to purchase another home before April 30, 2010, you’re eligible for a federal tax credit of up to $6,500.

2. Deductions for loan fees

Typically, you can deduct the “prepaid interest” you paid when you got your mortgage loan. That includes points, loan origination fees, and loan discount fees listed on your settlement statement, even if the seller paid those fees for you. Each time you refinance your home, you can deduct prepaid interest fees.

However, you must meet certain requirements to take the prepaid interest deductions when you purchase or refinance your home. Check with your accountant to be sure you’re following the rules.

3. Property tax deductions

In the year you purchase your home, you’re entitled to deduct the real estate taxes you paid at the closing table. You can continue to deduct the property taxes you pay each year.

4. The mortgage interest deduction

Every year, you can deduct the amount of interest and late charges you pay on your mortgage and home equity loans, though there are limitations. If you’re required to purchase private mortgage insurance (PMI) because you made a downpayment of less than 20% on your home, you can also deduct those premiums as mortgage interest expenses.

5. Home office expenses

If you have a home office you use only for business, you may be eligible to deduct the prorated costs of your mortgage, insurance, and other expenses related to that space. The government scrutinizes home-office deductions closely. Be sure you’re entitled to the deductions before claiming them.

6. The costs of selling your home

In the year you sell your home, you can deduct the costs of selling it, including real estate commissions, title insurance, legal fees, advertising, administrative costs, and inspection fees. You can also deduct decorating or repair costs you incur in the 90 days before you sell your home.

7. The gain on your home

If you lived in your home for at least two of the previous five years before you sell it, the government lets you to take up to $250,000 of profit on the sale of your home tax free. That amount is doubled for married couples. This deduction isn’t available on rental or second homes.

The government also allows you to subtract from your home sale profit any amounts you spend on improvements, such as window replacement, siding, or a kitchen remodel. Those deductions are in addition to the tax credits you can receive in 2010 for making energy-saving upgrades. Money invested for routine maintenance and repairs doesn’t count.

This article includes general information about tax laws and consequences, but is not intended to be relied upon as tax or legal advice applicable to particular transactions or circumstances. Consult a tax professional for such advice; tax laws vary by

Not Easy To Get A Mortgage

2010-07-15T10:16:00.000-07:00

Five years ago, just about anyone could qualify for a home loan. Now, we're at the other extreme.

The loan approval process, which in 2004 or 2005 might have been wrapped up in a day or even within hours, now takes much longer. Federal regulators are demanding that documentation be checked much closer to settlement — the final sales date on the property.

Settlement dates are being delayed by up to two weeks because of the extra hoops that lenders now must jump through. Private lenders are creating their own obstacles, as well. They're waiving fewer credit and payment requirements than they did a few years ago and are continually laying down new tripwires that can foul up a home purchase.

Lenders want to know how much money you have, and where it's been. That is their proper role, which was widely neglected during the boom.

But, at least from the perspective of those who work in real estate, the restrictions have gone beyond proper to the picayune. There are even anecdotal accounts of lenders asking newlyweds who collected cash at their wedding to produce letters from all their guests saying how much each may have contributed.

Sales Down After Tax Credit Expires

2010-07-05T17:23:00.000-07:00

The National Association of Realtors reported that its pending home sales index, a forward looking indicator based on signed contracts, fell 30% in May after a revised 6% increase in April. This was expected because the $8,000 federal tax credit expired April 30. Real Estate sales were up in the first quarter of 2010 because so many buyers took advantage of the tax credit.

The market is now at a more normal state.

A Chapter Gone By

2010-06-20T11:40:00.000-07:00

I visited my childhood home in Peabody for the last time the other day. We are selling it next Friday. It brought a tear to my eye. Before leaving I looked in at each room and remembered. The living room was the oddest memory. I remember my older cousin Dickie (he was in his twenties I was about 7) playing with me and my revolutionary toy soldier set that I just received for Christmas. He died this past year. Each room had its memories but mostly I remembered my mom and dad who are no longer with me. I never thought I would miss them so much. A chapter of my life has been written and is now gone. Thankful for memories.

My Office Is #1

2010-06-10T07:48:00.000-07:00

I am a Realtor with RE/MAX Prestige. "RE/MAX Prestige" is the #1 RE/MAX Office in Massachusetts with 200+ top sales associates; We are one of the top 300 most powerful offices in the entire country per the RIS MEDIA Power Broker Annual Report...Up 120 spots from 2009. So...Who is likely to be the next person you know to buy or sell a home? Please call me ASAP or have them call me! Thanks!

This Week Looks Good

2010-06-07T04:19:00.000-07:00

Did not sleep enough last night since Celtics/Lakers game kept me up later than normal. But it was worth it since the Celtics won in a very well played exciting game.

This week looks promising. Today I am going to an all day training session in Framingham with Tom Ferry as the main speaker. This evening I'll be getting a nice cape listing in Tewksbury. Tomorrow has 2 closings, if all goes well. Wednesday is golf day and the weather forecast is mostly sunny in the 70s. This weekend Sarah is coming home from LA for a wedding. Nice

Tewksbury Capes

2010-06-06T12:06:00.000-07:00

After doing a market analysis for a cape style home on Boisvert Road in Tewksbury, I found that capes were selling in a very short time. After a little more digging, I found the following - during the past 12 months, cape style homes sold in 66 days on average while all other homes sold in 120 days on average - almost twice as long. But the explanation is simple - capes are much more affordable and therefore open to a larger market. The average sale price of cape style home was $292,000 vs $345,000 for non capes. Very interesting!

Realtors Income

2010-06-01T05:26:00.000-07:00

A recent survey by the National Association of Realtors found that in 2009 the median gross income for Realtors was $35,700 a 25% decline from 2006. For brokers ( company owners), the decline was 33%

Tyngsboro, Massachusetts Real Estate

2010-05-21T11:20:00.000-07:00

There are currently 64 single family homes on the market in Tyngsboro with an average list price of $409, 714 with an average market time of 139 days. The lowest priced home is at $158,000 and the highest is priced at $850,000. The median price is $399,000

During the past 12 months, 75 homes sold (6 per month) with an average sale price of $336,189. The average market time was 154 days. However if the 10 homes that sold in more than 300 days are excluded, the average market time was only 108 days. This is a more useful and revealing statistic. If a home takes more than 300 days to sell, the sellers are not motivated to sell. Of course, many of these sales could have been short sales with delays caused by the seller's lender.

The average list price of the homes that sold was $343,707 which means that on average homes in Tyngsboro have been selling at 98% of their list price ($336,189 divided by $343,707).

18 Homes are currently under agreement with an average market time of 101 days and an average list price of $350,556.

If there are currently 64 homes on the market and an average of 6 homes sell each month, it will take the average home in average condition 10 months to sell. Realtors say that there is 10 months of inventory.

Now lets take a 10 year historical view. In the year 2000, the average sale price in Tyngsboro was $269,000. It reached its high point in 2007 at $425, 000. The average sale price increased by 58%. But with a current average sale price of $336,000, prices have dropped by 21% since 2007. If you owned a home in 2000, you did pretty well overall (25% increase) although you may wish that you sold in 2007.

Retirement - Wild, Happy and Free

2010-05-20T09:38:00.000-07:00

Just started reading a book "How To Retire Wild, Happy and Free." It got me thinking. The main point of the book is that you need to retire sooner than later. You never know how much time you have left.

Although I enjoy my work as a realtor, it has gotten a little tedious especially with the slow down in the market and in my own business. A few rounds of golf each week sure seems like a good life. And a little travel mixed sounds even more enticing.

Golf at 92

2010-05-18T13:29:00.001-07:00

Played golf Wednesday at Red Tail and shot 92 which is what I predicted as I entered the round. 92 is my average now that I am keeping track of my golf scores. Main problem was that I 3 putted almost very green –would have shot 82 otherwise. But the greens were terrible.

Vacation Post

2010-05-04T05:45:00.000-07:00

This is our 7th day on vacation at our townhouse in Myrtle Beach (actually Little River), South Carolina. It is raining and I have time to write this blog. Up til today, the weather has been great mostly in the high 70s and low to high 80s. We have golfed every day - 18 holes sometimes 27. My scores have remained the same as always - 90-95. But Malle and Fran have seen great improvement. All and all we just love to be out in the beautiful warm weather.

Went to Bonefish last evening with Jane and Bill and ate delicious Alaskan King Crab which is what we do every time we are down here. Why mess with something so good.

Going home tomorrow - vacations go by too quickly.

Some Good News

2010-04-26T05:39:00.000-07:00

New home sales rose 26.9% in March to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 411,000 units from an upwardly revised rate of 324,000 units in February. Economists had expected a pace of 330,000 units. It was the biggest monthly increase in 47 years.

The index of leading economic indicators — designed to forecast economic activity in the next three to six months — rose 1.4% in March after a revised 0.4% gain in February. It was the 12th straight monthly increase and the fastest pace of growth in 10 months.

The Mortgage Bankers Association said its seasonally adjusted index of mortgage applications for the week ending April 16 rose 13.6%. Purchase volume increased 10.1%. Refinancing applications jumped 15.8%.

Foreclosure Activity in Massachusetts

2010-04-19T05:43:00.001-07:00

Foreclosure activity in Massachusetts rose slightly in February to 4,554 properties with foreclosure filings, up less than 1 percent from the previous month and 55 percent ahead of the level reported in February 2009, according to the latest RealtyTrac® U.S. Foreclosure Market Report

Everythings Coming Up Roses

2010-04-16T06:23:00.000-07:00

Since my last post, my daughter Liza got her first teaching job in Brooklyn at her favorite school, son Matthew had the best time of his life in Las Vegas (I did not ask too many questions), I sold a condo and a house, Malle and I scheduled our golf vacation in Myrtle Beach.

Blackberry Curve and The Rising Sun

2010-04-02T03:42:00.000-07:00

I have had my new Blackberry Curve for almost one week and it is an upgrade from my Treo. Wish I had more time to try all its bells and whistles but I'll learn them over time. The keys are smaller than on the Treo and I thought this might be a problem - but not so.

The real estate market seems hot right now as buyers and sellers try to take advantage of the Federal tax credit but I am a little worried that the market may die after the credit expires at the end of April.

Was great to wake up early this morning and get to see the sun rise in the finally blue sky. The temperature said 38 degrees but it feels like 70

Mom's Passing

2010-03-18T16:04:00.000-07:00

We buried mom yesterday. Made me cry or at least fill with tears. I gave the eulogy which was somewhat humorous but also sad. The priest conclude correctly that she must have been feisty. I will truly miss her. I have been taking care of her for the past 4-5 years taking her to doctors appointments, paying her bills, trying to make her comfortable at our house, making arrangements for her move into assisted living, taking away her car keys. Was not easy to work today.

Lease To Own

2010-03-12T05:44:00.000-08:00

Just received a lease purchase offer from a company called Rent2OwnConnect. Have not seen one of these in many years. Never got one to work. Has anyone had a good experience with lease to own?

The offer which was $10,000 below the list price included a $1200 monthly rent, a $2,000 non-refundable deposit and a 30 percent refund of the monthly rent($4320) if the deal does not close

A Medicare Rule

2010-03-12T05:09:00.000-08:00

I do not know all of the Medicare rules and regulations. I work in real estate not health care. But this one rule which I just learned about yesterday seems odd. Medicare will cover and pay for skilled nursing care including room and board. Medicare will also pay for Hospice(end of life) care but it excludes paying for room and board. I can only guess that this is the government's way of saving money.

Tewksbury Home Sales

2010-03-11T05:42:00.000-08:00

During the past 12 months, there were 202 single family home sales in Tewksbury, Massachusetts vs 153 sales for the previous 12 month period. While sales were up by almost 25%, the average sale price only went up slightly (about 1%) from $327,279 to $329,471. To me, this shows some weakness in the market. If sales are up by 25%, prices should rise more than 1%. But we all know about the high unemployment rate and the weak consumer confidence level. Nevertheless, I conclude that we are moving in the right direction.

At present, there are 83 single family homes on the market with an average list price of $364,652. Based upon the average of 108 days on the market, it will take 5 months to sell the average home at the average list price.

2010-03-10T05:37:00.000-08:00

Realty Trac predicts that there will be 4.5 foreclosure filings in 2010. There were 2.8 million in 2009. This will place downward pressure on real estate prices - not good news for sellers. But my guess is that lenders will be so swamped, they will not be able to place the foreclosed homes on the market. They will have to spread them out into 2011.
But whatever happens, it is really a great time to buy - lower prices, very low interest rates (around 5%) and the new federal tax credit.

My First Blog

2010-03-09T07:49:00.000-08:00

Creating this blog was a lot easier than I thought it would be. Now I have to connect this to my web site which should not be too difficult - just need to contact my web guy Darrin Pinette. But my worry after that is what to write and how often. I should probably schedule some time each week - maybe 3 times per week a half hour each. Seems like a plan. Here's to beginnings!