Spring is right ’round the corner, reminding us that “Hope springs eternal;” ~Alexander Pope (An Essay on Man)
If you think hiring a professional is expensive…
Just wait ’til you hire an amateur!
I work with professional painters, electricians, and more. Text me when you need help and I’ll refer someone. If real estate is in your plans this year, make me the pro you call.
13 Royal Palm Blvd.
It’s a 10! Stately 7 year-old custom build in the desirable Gabriel subdivision. 5 bedrooms (2 master suites) 6 baths, 12′ ceilings down, formal living & dining room w/ coffered ceilings. Custom limestone columns inside/out, triple crown molding, gourmet kitchen w/ 2 islands, butler’s pantry & separate wet bar, 2 fireplaces and an over-sized den with built-in that overlooks salt water pool w/waterfall features. Front & back stairwells, surround sound, cameras throughout, whole house generator & much more! $1,250,000.00
Win a $10 Chateau Cafe Gift Card — Quiz Contest
What do you get when you divide 30 by .5 and add 10?
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To enter, send your answer to the question below. Correct entries are entered into a random drawing.
Last Month’s Quiz: I’m two in a corner, one in a room, zero in a house, but one in a shelter. What am I? The letter “r”. Congrats to last month’s winner ~ Mrs. Lynn Glaser
Want to Live Longer? Add More Stress…
According to age biologist David Sinclair, we need to add more stress to our lives. Sinclair isn’t referring to the kind of stress where we’re up to our eyeballs in alligators. He’s referring to stress that boosts cellular and enzyme functions related to anti-aging. His suggestions:
1. Eat intermittently. Intermittent fasting shocks the body, increasing the expression of the SIRT1 gene (associated with healthy aging) and the LC3A gene (a sign our bodies are cleansing old cells).
2. Eat dark organic. Most store-bought veggies are over-protected. But organic foods are less pampered, so they’re hardier and have brighter colors as a defense mechanism. Those colors activate our sirtuins, which contribute to cellular health.
3. Go cold for a minute. According to Sinclair, if you make mice ice cold for one minute, they develop brown fat, which releases anti-aging proteins. Humans also have brown fat and may benefit from ice-cold shock in the same way as mice. But don’t spend more than one minute in the cold, and don’t allow yourself to “get used to it.” It’s the shock that counts. (If you have a heart condition, check with a doctor first.)
My Real Estate Advice
How much does it cost to hire a buyer’s agent?
If you’re a home buyer, the services of most real estate agents are free to you. That’s because the home SELLER pays the real estate fees. The seller’s broker then splits the fee with your BUYER’S AGENT.
By offering to split the fee with buyer’s agents, listing agents can reach hundreds more buyers than they could working entirely alone. And Buyer’s Agents are able to spend significant time with home buyers, educating and preparing them…all at no cost to the buyer! If you or someone you know is ready to buy a home, let’s get started. There’s no obligation, and I’m terrific at helping you get your ducks in a row so you feel ready to buy. 504-250-1610.
Free Report
What Surprised Sellers Most about Selling?
Many home sellers say the stress of selling was much higher than they anticipated, with a lot of unimaginable challenges. If you’re about to sell, be prepared! Read my brief report below, and learn how to minimize your stress when selling.
Click to Read Now (pdf)
A Tangled Irish Yarn
(St. Patrick’s Day: Tues, March 17)
An Irishman goes into a bar in America and orders three shots of whiskey. The barman asks: “Would it be better if I put all three shots in one glass?”
The Irishman replies: “No. I miss my two brothers back home. So every time I come into a pub, I order a shot for each of us. It feels like we’re having a drink together.” He drinks down all three shots.
Next week, the Irishman comes into the bar and orders just two whiskeys.
The barman asks: “Did something happen to one of your brothers?”
No, says the Irishman. “I just decided to quit drinking.”
A Man’s Home Is His Castle
Aside from the fact that an updated version of this saying would be too wordy (“A (Wo)Man’s Home Is His/Her Castle”), it’s a pretty straight-forward proverb that’s been around for centuries. Here’s the story:
Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be a fortified structure built as secure residence for royalty. This is distinct from a palace, which is not fortified. Taken loosely, the saying means a man has a right to fortify and defend his home. That might be stretching the point, since a castle is not the same thing as a house. Yet that is exactly how the saying was introduced by lawyer and politician Sir Edward Coke in The Institutes of the Laws of England, 1628: “For a man’s house is his castle, et domus sua cuique est tutissimum refugium [and each man’s home is his safest refuge].”
Ever wonder about the value of mushrooms?
(Me too, so I looked it up)
Mushrooms may lack the brilliant red hues of fruits and vegetables, but they are a powerhouse of nutrition. Low in calories and fat and cholesterol-free, mushrooms contain a modest amount of fiber and over a dozen minerals and vitamins, including copper, potassium, magnesium, zinc and a number of B vitamins such as folate. Mushrooms are also high in antioxidants like selenium and glutathione, or GSH, substances believed to protect cells from damage and reduce chronic disease and inflammation.
Some studies suggest mushrooms are the richest dietary source of another antioxidant called ergothioneine, or ERGO, which is also present in large amounts in red beans, oat bran and liver. ERGO and other antioxidants are primarily concentrated in the caps, not the stems. If interested in learning more about the magic of mushrooms, check out this video from National Geographic.
My Recommendations
4 Trends in Real Estate Sales for 2020
Indications among real estate professionals are that the following trends are taking shape for 2020.
- Sellers expand on their home improvements before selling. Sellers are wise to the increased values that remodeling can bring. Recommendation: Get several bids for the work, and estimates of your house value pre- and post-work.
- Smaller homes will see fierce competition. A three-pronged hunt is going on between investors, down-sizing boomers, and first time buyers. Recommendation: Have your financing 100% ready. Get full underwriting approval for best results.
- Climate change may begin to play a role in housing decisions. People are thinking of moving to ideal future climates. Recommendation: None. This has to be a personal decision.
- Consumers are going to lose more money to discount brokers and iBuyers. Hidden fees and loss of control are almost certainly going to take money out of the pockets of home sellers. Recommendation: Pay attention to the fees, and get a comparison of the bottom line with a traditional Realtor. Contact me for a listing appointment.
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