Homes in January 2022

 Historically January is a little slower in the real estate world - this year is no different - I imagine as a buyer this time of year is not the best time to trudge into homes and compare them to see what fits - but if you have to move in the winter - let's go!  I work with first time buyers and move up buyers, sellers and investors.  

Listings are picking up right now - so the inventory is already growing and should continue to gain momentum as we start to warm up, looking forward to both the warm up and the increase in property listings.  What can I sell for you? 

I am curious  - I know how much my home means  what does home mean to you? leave me a message and tell me what it means to you to come home and how it makes you feel.

Food=Love

 I am on those people who enjoys cooking... I like food and I like my own cooking. These days I tend to watch what I eat more and more.  Rarely do I find myself in line at the local fast food chains, but when I do, I am reminded why I like to cook! 

There is just something about a Sunday that makes me want to cook a big meal.  My Grandma always had Sunday dinner of steak and consomme rice with a creme de menthe grasshopper afterwards, and Grandpa would have his shot of whiskey after his meal.. I remember them both fondly and the rituals they had after 65 years of marriage. 

I am looking forward to some snow and a slow Sunday with some music and the fireplace on to cook a nice meal... maybe even a glass of wine with dinner or perhaps a grasshopper. 

🍲

Goals for 2022

Welcome to 2022  - try to imagine the world 100  years from now! and looking back at 100 years how we have changed the world! 

I enjoy this first part of the year, much like waking up early and getting the day started with a workout 5 days a week. I enjoy the discipline of it, the challenge of being accountable to myself.  

Its much the same for work, discipline and accountability to my clients.  I take this time to set my goals for the year.  Looking back at the previous year and working on the things that worked and tweaking the things that didn't.  2021 was a great year in the real estate world, I am blessed and grateful for the business.  

The goal is to become better and I am committed to that always.  I want each client feel their experience with me was unforgettable!

 Looking forward to this bright new year as I hope you are also.

 

2022 is almost here...

 Happy New Year!  

Wishing all a happy, healthy and prosperous 2022! 

I look forward to a fantastic 2022 and invite you to call me, text or email,
as always, I appreciate your loyalty and your business.

Go to:  

• https://realestatecentury21.blogspot.com/       

to see more posts!

Merry Christmas

It's Christmas !

Its the magic of Christmas season and even though there is not a chance of a white Christmas its still, for me, a blessed time of gratitude and giving. 

I am reflecting on the many exceptional clients and friends I have made this year!  Beyond blessed to have assisted so many buyers and sellers.  I am grateful beyond measure to have this job, it's incredible and so rewarding. 

Who could have guessed that 25+ years ago, I would interview for a reception job after the news of  lay offs from my salaried job at Fruehauf, at 10 P.M. with shorts and T shirt and wind blown hair from being on a motorcycle.! 

Pretty sure that both owners at the time did not agree on my potential!  Funny to look back and think how I soon became  a partner and together Jon and I have built this incredible firm that continues to grow and expand our services and service areas.  We do have the best of the best agents ! 

My heart is full of joy and I wish you all blessings and good health, safe travels and a happy and prosperous 2022.  

Tis the Season

Tis the Season - to give and to share- to volunteer and to be kind 

Again this year  I volunteered for shopping day at Toys for Tots the local Marines do an incredible job from the toy collecting and set up right down to the distribution and getting volunteers to shop .

If you have never volunteered here are some facts - over 1300 children are in need this year-that is a huge number !

The program teams them up with a volunteer to help shop for kiddo's and we have a ball trying to find just the right things!  Some kids get a bike or a giant playhouse, balls and dolls are always plentiful as well as some great stuffed animals, games and of course coloring  books. 

I love  the smiles on the Mom's and Grandma's faces, the Dads and all the parents shopping. The need is real and this allows so many to have a great Christmas.  A little holiday spirit without snow or cold - and a little holiday music made for a great day! 

Blessings to all who helped make this a success. 

Still Thankful

 After the guests leave and the food is put away the house is quiet and then …..thoughts of a turkey sandwich with cranberry and cream cheese- you go with great anticipation but........ the refrigerator is warm and the ice is melting in the freezer!  all the wonderful leftovers are just a distant dream.....of all the times to make an exit this refrigerator was only 2.5 years old and has given up.

Being of good cheer we shopped and googled and rated new models of refrigerators and found one that still matches our other appliances. We are blessed to have a refrigerator in our lower level and did not lose everything in the freezer.  Thankfully it was only a week and a few extra trips up and down the steps were good exercise.  We are blessed. 

Shout out to the young men who deliver these giant appliances daily with such ease.  Our new model is in and we call her Paris…as in you could fly to Paris for what they cost these days.  

Lesson learned, do your homework before purchasing a major appliance and be sure it has a good warranty. That is yet to be resolved on the old unit.

Gratitude

 To say I am grateful for all the ways I am blessed is an understatement.

I have a job that is incredibly rewarding where I am able to fulfill the hopes and dreams of

so many clients/customers and friends.  I make new friends and re-connect with old ones in this job and it is more than just listing or helping purchase a home.  My heart is always involved in the transaction.

This job has been my passion for 25 years and while I don't have children, my office and the people who I work with are my family. We have each others back and when we need help, when we need a hug or just need a friend this office crew is the best.

I am thankful for all the blessings, my job, my life, my home my many many friends and wish you all the very best Thanksgiving next week.  Take time to be with your families and your friends, help a family or a friend who is in need and could use love, encouragement or a donation to make their Thanksgiving a little extra special this year.

This week in my life

 New adventures - as always in the real estate world it is constantly evolving and changing.. with that comes new technology and new ways of learning as well as new ways of thinking.  Finding ways to innovate and change is paramount to the industry.

Back when I started in real estate in 1996 I recall buying my first cell phone. ( I still have the same number today). The cell phone was handy if you were out and forgot a key or the key was missing from the numeric lockbox.  Eventually this gave way to the mobile phone being the day to day heart of our business, we unlock doors with blue tooth technology, we showcase our listings on so many websites I lose track.  we use the phone constantly in the business and it is revolutionary.

This week I bought my first property to be used as and Airbnb🏡.  I am excited to learn and grow into a property manager for this home.  I have cleaned and furnished this home and will continue to make it better and better.  The first guest arrives on Monday and I am challenged to have everything there and ready to be the best host I can be.  Use your phone to book your next vacation, flight, dinner reservation or just scroll through a tic toc or two! 

Cyber Safety

 Cyber Security 
Do you know if you are safe? do you use two factor authorization? does your company have a system in place in case of a data breach? 
It's a worry for sure as we head into the holiday season and use of credit cards for online shopping may become a daily occurrence .

Be Safe ! use only sites that are secure... look for the secure lock ! 
  we are all vulnerable to a quick buy with out checking.


Other tips to help keep you cyber smart!

1.On your phone- two factor authorization - consider limiting the ability to track and store data from your phone.
2.Make passwords long and strong - use a phrase ! 
3.Turn off Wi-fi and Bluetooth when not in use.
4.Update! use the latest software and keep current on updates 
5.Be aware of "phishers" and other hackers.

Free Resources: 

CISA - (https://cisa.gov/)Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency

https://www.ic3.gov/ Internet Crime Complaint Center

Stay Safe my friends! 

A Story about a Tree

 It's the time of year when you may have forgotten how beautiful the fall can be... those gorgeous maple trees - I get lost in the colors - I love the sugar maples and I was particularly fond of a  sugar maple in my front yard in a home I previously lived in.  That tree would have the most amazing colors of orange and tangerine with a crisp green early then a nut brown as the season came to an end.. I picked up so many leaves rescuing them from death and cold and of course they still dried up .. but I used them as book markers and flattened them between pages infatuated with the colors and textures.  

Imagine my reaction when one day I came home and because that tree officially was city property because it was planted in the right of way... the tree had been cut down.  I am not an arborist but I did not see any reason to kill this beloved tree.  I still feel the beauty of that tree when I drive by that home and I miss it somewhere deep inside. Sometimes I find a leaf neatly kept between two pages of a book and I smile. Keeping those leaves from a tree at a home that had in some way saved me brings back a flood of emotions. Thank you fall, for the memories.