A Little of This, A Little of That

Once again I am tempted to yell "Stop! Let me off this merry-go-round!"

Lately the time has just run away with me. You may notice the gap between my last post and today. Or maybe you didn't. Summer is a busy time for most of us, and I notice many seem to spend less time here.

My real estate business has been keeping me very busy. That's a good thing. In my line of work we often work really hard NOW for commissions LATER.

Last week I spent a lot of time preparing for a presentation to a prospective seller. I was one of three Realtors they asked to speak to about listing their house. A really unique and beautiful "estate," I worked very hard on this and held my breath to hear their decision.

Yay! They chose me. I immediately got busy working on the marketing plan for the property. I am pleased to say that I had it in two multiple listing services, a virtual tour filmed and a dedicated website up in only THREE days! I didn't do this alone. I have a fantastic IT group I work with and an equally fantastic virtual tour company. Everyone worked quickly, and it all came together.

I'll tell you more about the property next week. It's a 12-room Colonial built in 1780. Think about that....it was built just four years after the Declaration of Independence was signed. I am very excited about selling this house, a true piece of history. Stayed tuned, I'll have more later.

Sunday, like lots of people, we are having a cookout with family and friends. We haven't had a Fourth of July party in a long time and I'm looking forward to it. The next couple days will be hectic getting everything ready.

Today I am taking a little time for ME and going to have a pedicure. Although I am addicted to my nail tech and my fingernails, I usually do my own toes. But today I'm going to sit for an hour and be a little pampered.

Oh, and I recently bought a Kindle. I haven't rushed out to buy one before this because I wasn't sure I'd use it, and I was hoping the price would come down. I've been borrowing Pam's occasionally (this time it's been a month....sorry, Pam, I'll return it this weekend) and have decided I like it. Plus the price has come down significantly.

Before I forget, let me suggest that you stop by the blog Pam and I put together a couple months ago...Words of Wisdom. In my humble opinion, today's Blogger of Note is one of the most amazing writers we have featured so far. I don't mean to slight any of our other Bloggers of Note, we were happy to share all of them, but something about Matthew's writing at AbodeOneThree really speaks to me.

I hope all of my American friends here and living as expats have a wonderful Fourth of July and the rest of you have a great weekend! Hope to see you next week.

The World Turned Upside Down

It's been nearly two weeks since I last wrote a post so you might think I have a lot to say. Yet here I sit struggling to think of something with great content to write about.

Great content? In case you don't know, that's my shameless plug for the new blog that Pam and I began recently. Please take a few minutes and visit Words of Wisdom to see what it's all about. Let me say right away that this post is not going to fall into the great content category but maybe it will help me figure out why it's been so long since my last post.

Let's see. I'm happy to report that real estate has been very busy these last few weeks. Several new clients and a couple closings have taken up a lot of time. Recently I was invited to a very special lunch with the President and CFO of our agency to honor the Top Producers of 2009. I was really pleased to be one of the 18 agents to receive that distinction.

I also attended a Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast at Fidelity Investments locally to thank the many, many people who donate their time, energy and money to Adopt-a-Family each year. The people at Fidelity are responsible for providing for 10% of the children we help annually. Our program is just one of many they are involved with, and it was terrific to hear about all the great work they do.

I saw a great production of The Odd Couple at Trinity Rep a couple weeks ago. Based, of course, on the television sitcom of the 70's, the play was set in a 1960's television studio complete with bright lights and live commercials between acts. With two of the favorites of the company cast as Felix and Oscar, the show was full of great laughs.

And last but not least, another reason I have been absent is my new laptop! I have been spending lots of time transferring files and learning the new programs and operating system. This is my first laptop and it is taking some getting used to but I know I'm going to love the portability of it. We are hoping to get away for a few days soon, and it's going to be great to have a computer with us. The desktop will now be Paul's. Yahoo! No more sharing.

So that's about it. In addition to neglecting my own blog I'm afraid I've been neglecting lots of others and have not visited much lately. I'm almost afraid to open my Reader. I'm expecting to see over 1,000 unread posts. As much as I hate to, I just might have to hit that dreaded delete all button. And I was doing so well keeping up with all of you! Oh well, tomorrow is another day. It's great to be back.

I Hope They Are Listening

Today's post might be a little boring (maybe they all are, I dunno) but sometimes I have to do some business.....or bidness as a friend used to say.

Chances are you have read recently about the bill before Congress to extend the First-Time Home Buyers Credit. Part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, this opportunity may be gone very soon.

The $8,000 tax credit is available for homes purchased on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009, and is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000.

Some people have said that stimulus money given out since the beginning of the year has caused problems in the economy. As a full-time Realtor for the last ten years, I can assure you that the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit has definitely been a success. Homebuyer interest and housing sales increased almost as soon the availability of this program became news. Today's lower prices and interest rates appeal to consumers, but it's been the tax credit that has attracted people to open houses and to homeownership. Demand from first-time homebuyers helped drive a 9.4% increase in sales of existing homes from August to September according to the National Association of Realtors, continuing a trend of increasing sales in five out of the last six months.

This tax incentive is a true tax credit. The $8,000 home buyer tax credit is tangible cash, not a deduction from taxable income. This is not a loan and does not have to be repaid as long as you live in the house for the next three years.

A ‘first-time home buyer’ is defined as someone who has not owned a home in the last three years. There are other restrictions in the qualifications such as income caps, and the home must be your principal residence.

I explain to people that this program has had a ‘trickle up’ effect. Home owners in the lower-priced market have been able to sell to buyers eligible for this credit which has given those sellers the opportunity to move up into more expensive homes. In my business in 2009, 40% of my transactions have involved buyers who qualify for and intend to apply for this credit. Some of those people were:

A woman in her mid-50’s getting back into home ownership after being divorced several years earlier. Her mortgage and condo fees were less than what she had been paying for rent.

A 42-year-old electrician who was buying his first home after having recovered from credit problems.

A young couple and their two-year-old daughter who have been living with extended family whose own home was facing foreclosure.

A couple in their late 50’s who had sold their home years earlier and planned to move South but who bought a two-family house with their son who has 4 children. The grandparents were already helping with the childcare so now three generations are living under one roof and will split the tax credit.

These are just four of many transactions I’ve been part of where the tax credit will be applied for. As the November 30th deadline looms I have seen a slump in my buyers’ activity. It’s close to being too late to enter into a sales agreement with any hope of closing by that date.

Uncertainty about the future of the credit will dampen consumer demand nationwide. There’s a strong lobby in Washington among realtors, lenders and builders urging Congress to extend this opportunity. The progress that has been made in the recovery of the real estate market could grind to a halt unless Congress acts now to extend the credit through 2010. Let’s hope they are listening!

Stop the World, I Want to Get Off!

Some of you might have noticed I haven't been here much in the last week or so. As I wrote in an email to a friend this morning, my life has just not been my own lately.

I have been working pretty much 7 days a week. I'm not really complaining (well, maybe a little) because in real estate you just have to be available when the clients are. I have been putting some deals together but it's been pretty hectic.

And last Monday night I started an 8-week class of continuing education which will give me the rest of the hours I need for next year's licensing. But I ask you What was I thinking when I signed up for this class? It's eight Monday nights from 6-9 p.m. and it's during one of the busiest times of the year for me. This is the last night class I will take if I have a choice. It's Title Searching which is actually pretty interesting but it's also a bit dry because it's mostly legal stuff. I'm just getting too old for a night class. Makes for a very long day.

And I am gearing up for this year's Adopt-A-Family program. I haven't blogged about that much yet although I mentioned a little about it here and here. I want to tell you more about who we are and what we do and I promise I will soon. It's a wonderful program that I am very proud to be part of.

I'll get back here real soon with all the details and let you know how we are progressing this year. In the meantime, hope everyone is enjoying the beauty of fall. It's going to be a gorgeous leaf-peeping season here in the Northeast!

Yeah, There's An App For That

As you might guess from my title, I recently bought an iPhone. Paul and I just spent a week in Georgia visiting family. The trip was scheduled about two months ago. When it arrived it came during what was probably the worst week I could have picked to be away. I had two difficult closings scheduled plus I was negotiating a couple other deals. But how can you plan that two months in advance?

I have half-ruined a couple vacations since being in the real estate business. I just carried a basic cell phone and refuse to travel with a laptop. About the only way to really disconnect is to leave the country. I told Paul as we drove to the airport that it was probably going to be a 'working' vacation for me. He doesn't like it when I'm on the cell during vacations conducting business but he doesn't say much. At least this time he was warned.

As we got to Georgia I was already getting knots in my stomach telling me I needed to check email. I knew the hotel would have a business center, but as we drove into the plaza where our hotel was located I spied an A T & T store! I was anxious enough about the whole week that I thought, maybe I'll just do it and pay the extra $200 they want because I'm still too early in my contract for a full upgrade.

We checked into the hotel and drove to meet family. I begged off sitting in the broiling Georgia sun to watch my nephew's football game. I said I'd go back to the hotel to relax and catch up with everyone later. Forget the hotel, I drove right to the store and bought an iPhone. I didn't have too much time to spend with the tech there but he said it was pretty easy to use, very intuitive. Boy, was he right!

So now I am the proud owner of an iPhone. What an amazing thing! It's like having a computer right in your hand. I am able to check emails on all four of my accounts in seconds! I love music but had avoided buying an iPod, now I have one. I immediately opened an iTunes account and downloaded a ton of music. Love it! I could go on and on about the different apps I've downloaded. And I know I've just scratched the surface of what this thing can do for me.

One of the first emails I sent from it was to Tom, the IT guy for my company. He bought an iPhone about a year ago and highly recommended it to anyone who asked. My note to him simply said....Finally bought an iPhone and I love it! His reply was....My iPhone changed my life.

Kind of dramatic but I think I understand!


Image from Google Images

Home, Sweet, Home

Buying a house is a very emotional experience. And no matter whether I represent the buyer or seller, as a realtor I often become involved with my clients and those emotions. Of course, as the professional on the team, I'm the one who is supposed to stay unemotional and level-headed during the transaction. And I do, to a point. Last Friday I represented some buyers in their purchase of a horse farm, and I got more emotionally involved than usual, and it was wonderful.

Chet & Nellie are friends as well as clients. They were acquaintances first and fellow members of a local grassroots organization we have all been involved with for a few years. I have known Chet's sister and his parents for years but he's a few years younger and I had never met him until recently.

A year or so after I first met them, Nellie lost her mother. Because Nellie and I are both only children, this especially touched my heart and endeared Nellie to me even more. She and Chet live in the house she was born and raised in. After they married they stayed there to be close to her elderly mother. After the loss of Nellie's mother, they started seriously talking about buying a horse farm.

Well, another horse farm. They already had one, sort of, in her property. They have a nice little ranch house on nearly an acre of land with a 5-stall barn and small paddock for her two horses and one pony. By horse standards, a small property, but with good maintenance and attention to all, they manage to keep three happy horses there.

But Nellie wanted more for Skip, Pumpkin & Blondie, and she wanted what she calls a 'husband horse' for Chet. She is the original horse person in the family but in their years together Chet has gotten very involved with the horses, too. It's not like he had a choice. Owning a horse is a huge responsibility and involves a lot of work. I have learned a lot about horses, too, since getting to know Nellie and during our search for a horse property.

So within a year of the loss of her mother, we started looking. With the number of horses they hope to eventually have and the garden Chet wants, Nellie thought they needed at least 9 acres. We looked and looked and looked.

Finally last week, after a search of nearly three years, we closed on their horse farm. A totally horse-ready property that had two horses living on it right up to their purchase. It has a very nice 7-room house, 7.5 acres with several fenced pastures and a 7-stall barn! Plus gardens, fruit trees & outbuildings; this property was just about perfect.

This was such a long road for them with so many ups and downs, as Nellie and I hugged after the closing we were both in tears. I am so happy for them! And I asked Nellie if I could be there when she brought the horses home. I knew that would be a very special moment, and I wanted to see it. So last Sunday she called me and asked "Can you be here about 4 p.m.?" Paul and I were there about 30 minutes early. I wouldn't take a chance of missing it.

So here are some photos of their arrival and introduction to their new home and pastures. It was a great success and a beautiful thing to watch.

Here's Skip getting his first view of his new home.

Pumpkin on his way in to check out his new stall.

In one door and right out the other!

They couldn't get enough of that sweet grass

Here's Blondie.

Skip going to check out his new 'digs.'

Not bad!

Blondie dug right into her fresh hay.

What a beautiful sight! They kicked up their heels and ran from pasture to pasture.

They kept checking back in with each other.



Finally! Everybody is home.

High Speed and High Anxiety

Had my first ambulance ride yesterday. Reluctantly, it's nothing I ever aspired to. I'm okay but more doctors' follow-ups to come.

I had a jam-packed real estate business day and could not afford this little 'vacation.' I am negotiating offers for buyers and sellers, preparing to close on a transaction on Friday, 3 hours of continuing education, clients to show new property to and a dentist appointment, all scheduled yesterday. Whew! Seeing it that way makes me think maybe it was a bit much.

Nevertheless, most never occurred because on my drive back to meet an appraiser at a property, I started feeling very strangely; tingling in my left side, disorientation and THEN my car started acting funny, like a bad tire. On a stretch of highway with no breakdown lane, I pulled off an exit into an area I'm marginally familiar with.

Pulled over, tried to make a phone call and couldn't remember how to use my phone. Not worried yet; decided to test the car, seems okay so I begin to drive. I'm not certain of the best route so I tried to plug my destination into my NAV system. I don't remember how to use it. After trying repeatedly with no success, I just drive. I am certain I was not okay but that's in hindsight. I distinctly remember swerving around a trash barrel on the side of the road. Nothing wrong with the tire, by the way, don't know what that sensation was!

I got back to my office after about a 15-minute drive on many busy roads which is scary to recall. There was another agent and my manager in the office, and I walked in and sat on the steps. They immediately realized something was wrong and asked questions that I couldn't really answer as I was struggling with putting thoughts into words.

They called Paul on his cell, I was able to recall his number somehow. I heard Holly explain it to him, and they decided to call the rescue. I wasn't in total favor but surrendered to the plan as long as I got to go to the hospital of my choice in Providence rather than a local one. Paul told me today he heard me say "I hate you!" to Holly. Oops! Not a good thing to tell your manager. (I was kidding, Hol, you know that, right?)

The next thing I know I heard a siren (did they have to do that?!) and there had to be at least 7 medical personnel peering at me asking questions, etc. They decided I didn't need the closest facility and put me into the ambulance (I walked, so you know) and got strapped in for the ride. Strange experience. They started an IV in my hand (ouch! Only my 3rd in my whole life) and soon I was being wheeled into the ER past all kinds of people. Again, strange experience!

No less than 3 IV's in me (ouch, ouch ouch). Blood pressure is fine; heart rate, respiration, all fine. Pulse oxygen in the ambulance was low. I realized that after watching my asthmatic mother's pulse ox reading but figured it was my nails. So did they, but nobody suggested messing with my fingernails!

The CT scan came back fine and there was lots of conversation about my history of migraine which dates back to 18. Apparently they were trying to rule out a cerebrovascular accident, a stroke. I have noticed over the last 3 years or so (hello Menopause?) that my migraines have been a little different. Much experience with the aura, which is a funny visual disturbance, not always followed by pain. Good! you'd think right? Maybe not. As I laid there in the ER for several hours, I kept going into an aura and out; something that never happened before.

More questions (I sent away the chest x-ray order, what?!?) and finally the attentding ER doc came to check on me. "We don't really know what happened." He suggested a follow up with a neurogologist, no caffeine, start taking an 81 mg. aspirin daily and slow down. Yeah, okay. Paul said I kept saying "I'm really very healthy!" Okay, right. (I was trying to text clients and other agents from the ER).

I'm home. Today tried to catch up on what I lost yesterday. Late this afternoon I answered a cell call from a lender friend of mine that I am sharing a transaction with to hear a very calm question/statement: "You were rushed to the hospital yesterday afternoon and you were emailing me at 6:30 a.m. this morning?!"

Ok, ok, I'll make an appointment with the neurologist......after I make this call.


Image from Google Images

And Now a Word From Our Sponsor

Maybe not sponsor, but at least the person who pays the bills. That would be me. In case you didn't already know, I'm a real estate agent in my real life. And before you 'change channels' on me saying "I don't live near her" let me tell you that if you ever need a realtor ANYWHERE, I can help!

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Image from Google Images

Happy Mother's Day!

Whew, it's been a crazy week!! As you may remember I'm a full-time Realtor. For that side of my life, please visit my Real Estate blog. Unless you've been living in a cave somewhere you know how difficult the real estate market has been for the last 18 months. That would be assuming your cave hasn't been foreclosed on! Well I am happy to report that things are definitely changing and we, here in the Northeast, are beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel (I just pray it's not a train). Anyway, I have been very busy with business this week and that has taken most of my attention and I've missed having the time to sit here and chat.

But today is a special day and I didn't want to let it pass without paying tribute to a couple people. Here in this photo is my Mom. This was taken about 3 years ago on the ocassion of my surprise 50th birthday party. It's one of the nicest pictures taken of my mom and me ever!

Just the briefest of details.....I am an only child and my father died very suddenly almost 8 years ago at the young age of 68. So since then it's pretty much just Mom and me. She lives on her own but close by. A very independent lady in her own right, she does a pretty good job of taking care of herself and is very low maintenance but we are most definitely "a team," and I try to be there when she needs me. So Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

The other person I want to wish a Happy Mother's Day to is my stepdaughter, Pam. An amazing woman with many talents, Pam is the author of the blog Pam's Perspectives. Please visit her today and read the beautiful tribute she made to all the Moms in her life. I was thrilled and proud to be included in her comments. Pam and I have a very special friendship which adds so much to my life. But what I want to say today is what a wonderful mother I think she is and how lucky Katie & Madeleine are to have her.

Happy Mother's Day to Mom, Pam and all the special women out there!

Don't Get Too Close.....It Might Be Contagious!

No, not the swine flu, BLOGGING! Never one to go more than a few hours without checking in online, this week I have been spending waaay too much time sitting here. And I have decided that I really like writing a blog and have started a second one!

As you know, I am a realtor by profession and initially I thought this blog would be more about real estate. I hoped to pass along information that might be of interest to people trying to figure out what's going on in this crazy market and to offer some help. A little hesitant at first wondering whether anyone would be intersted in what I have to say, I have been encouraged by the feedback and comments received.

Because I have been writing about personal topics and other non-real estate issues here, I have decided to start a second blog where the main focus will be just.....Real Estate. So stop by and check out my Rhode Island Real Estate Blog. The first few posts are reruns of some I posted here just to get going. But I have new topics that will be ready soon, so please, keep reading!

Image from Google Images

About Me

Hello, my name is Sandy and welcome to my blog, It's a Jungle Out There.

For the last ten years I have been a full-time real estate agent working with clients in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. I started in business after retiring from 25 years in human resources. I love my work in real estate because I meet people from many different places and all walks of life, and I love learning about new people. I am married and am blessed to be part of a wonderful family which includes two stepchildren and five terrific grandchildren.

A big part of my life involves community service. In addition to my career in real estate, I also run a local Christmas charity for children of needy families and serve as a member of my town's juvenile hearing board. For the last 30+ years I have also dabbled in genealogical research and am proud to be a direct descendant of Reverend John Robinson, Pastor to the Pilgrims.

I love to read anything and everything and am a member of a Book Club. My husband, Paul, and I share our house with two crazy dogs: Lucy, a Jack Russell Terrier and Rosey, a Golden Retriever, both of whom I'm sure you will hear lots more about. Paul and I love to travel and I hope to share some of those stories, too.

When I thought about becoming a blogger, my intentions were to share some insight into the real estate market and provide some general information about buying or selling a home. For that information please visit my real estate blog at Rhode Island Real Estate. Along the way I hope to also blog about our travels, town and life in general!

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you will again!

Sandy