- Real Estate Update
- Buyers & Seller's Corner
- Home Improvement
- Trivia Challenge
- Health & Fitness
- New Movie Releases
- Recipe of the Month
- Travel Tips
- Forward to a Friend

January 2012

1 -- New Year's Day
9 -- Full Moon
16 -- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
17 -- Ben Franklin's Birthday

Featured Listings for January

Drop Dead Gorgeous Townhome in Bayville

Four Seasons at Mirage +48 Active Adult Community

An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.
~ Bill Vaughan

Existing-Home Sales Continue to Climb in November

According to a recent report from the National Association of Realtors®, existing-home sales rose again in November and remain above a year ago.

The latest monthly data shows total existing-home sales increased 4.0 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.42 million in November from 4.25 million in October, and are 12.2 percent above the 3.94 million-unit pace in November 2010.

NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said more people are taking advantage of the buyer’s market. “Sales reached the highest mark in 10 months and are 34 percent above the cyclical low point in mid-2010 – a genuine sustained sales recovery appears to be developing,” said Yun. “We’ve seen healthy gains in contract activity, so it looks like more people are realizing the great opportunity that exists in today’s market for buyers with long-term plans.”

According to Freddie Mac, the national average commitment rate for a 30-year, conventional, fixed-rate mortgage fell to a record low 3.99 percent in November from 4.07 percent in October; the rate was 4.30 percent in November 2010; records date back to 1971.

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Eliminate physical clutter. More importantly, eliminate spiritual clutter.
~ D.H. Mondfleur

If You Want It Sold -- Depersonalize

If you want to get your home sold -- now is not the time to show off your beer can collection, your masterpiece from Painting 101, your dusty bunny animal collection or your "they could have been models" family photos.

As a home seller, this is often hard to accept, as demonstrated in many homes on the market. But the truth is, future home buyers would prefer to think nobody has ever lived in the property. You want to "depersonalize" your home because you want prospective buyers to view it as their next home. Seeing your family photos and your bowling trophies only reminds them it's your home, not theirs.

So, put it away, pack it up, or throw it away. That goes for most of your family photos, artwork, trophies, collectibles, souvenirs and other knick-knacks. If you need to, rent a storage unit for a few months and keep your items there. Whatever you do, don't store the boxes in the attic, garage, closet or basement. Part of preparing a house for sale is to remove "clutter," and that is the next step in preparing your house for sale.

Just remember, when you want to sell, strip it of all the things that make it a personalized home, and turn it into a generic product that can be personalized by someone else.

Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.
~ Albert Einstein

Good Indoor Project: Record Your Valuables

In most parts of the country, January is a good time to focus on indoor tasks. One good winter day project is to take photographs of each room and make a room-by-room inventory of everything of value in your house. Taking pictures helps aid your memory when filing a claim and provides proof of what you owned in the event of theft, fire or other disaster. Follow these five easy steps.

1. Take pictures of every room from multiple angles. Zoom in to shelves with small items, and open drawers to ensure all your belongings are in the pictures.
2. Photograph valuable items individually. You may even want to place them against a white background to capture more detail. Having adequate light is very important.
3. Use the camera's macro mode for very small valuables like watches, coins and jewelry. Place another item in the picture if it's important to reference size (like a ruler or quarter).
4. Be sure to get a picture of the serial number on electronics and software. This will help prove to your insurance company you owned the item and assist law enforcement in recovery.
5. Burn the picture files to multiple CD's, DVDs or Flash drives. Keep one copy in a fire and water proof safe and the other copy in at a safe, off-site location.

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Curiosity is a willing, a proud, an eager confession of ignorance.
~ S. Leonard Rubinstein

Trivia Challenge

Question 1.) This city, formerly known as Lancaster, was renamed after a U.S. president?
a.) Jefferson City, Missouri
b.) Lincoln, Nebraska
c.) Madison, Wisconsin
d.) Washington, D.C.

Question 2.) George Orwell's "Animal Farm" is a satire of which historical event or time period?
a.) Stalin's Soviet Union
b.) The Great Depression
c.) World War I
d.) World War II

Question 3.) Which artist from the 1920s, '30s and '40s can be identified by the introduction "the sweetest music this side of heaven"?
a.) Benny Goodman
b.) Guy Lombardo
c.) Glenn Miller
d.) Lawrence Welk

Question 4.) In the movie "Avatar," what is the name of the moon where the Na'vi live?
a.) Eytukan
b.) Hometree
c.) Omaticaya
d.) Pandora

Question 5.) Which of these islands is not part of French Polynesia?
a.) Bora-Bora
b.) Marquesas Islands
c.) Palmyra Atoll
d.) Tahiti

TOP | ANSWERS

My idea of exercise is a good brisk sit.
~ Phyllis Diller

Add the Warm-up Stretch to Your Routine

If you don't already, add the warm-up stretch to your exercise routine. Stretching gets your muscles ready for activity, increases flexibility and greatly reduces the chance for injury.

Sport-specific stretching increases coordination and the body’s readiness to perform the specific motions associated with the activity involved.

1. Begin your warm-up with joint rotations to lubricate them and get them moving smoothly.
2. Follow the joint rotation with an aerobic warm-up to get the blood flowing and raise the core body temperature. Jumping rope, jogging and jumping jacks are good for this (about five minutes).
3. Once your body is sufficiently warmed, start stretching. Begin with your back and torso, then upper body, then lower body. Many trainers recommend stretching opposing muscle groups one after the other for best results.
4. Include sport-specific stretching, as a golfer won't necessarily need the same stretches as a tennis player. Do some low-intensity motions similar to the ones you will be making to get your body ready for those movements (for example, a golf swing).
5. Spend about 30 seconds on each stretch -- to mild discomfort -- then stretch a bit further and hold once the discomfort passes.

Go for it now. The future is promised to no one.
~ Wayne Dyer

January Movie Releases

• Jan. 4
  • Loosies
• Jan. 6
  • The Devil Inside
  • Norwegian Wood
  • Roadie
• Jan. 13
  • Beauty and the Beast 3D
  • Contraband
  • Joyful Nois
  • Premium Rush
  • The Divide
  • The Iron Lady
• Jan. 20
  • Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
  • Haywire
  • Red Tails
  • Underworld Awakening
  • Coriolanus
• Jan. 27
  • The Grey
  • Man on a Ledge
  • One for the Money
  • Albert Nobbs
  • In Darkness
  • Rampart
  • We Need to Talk About Kevin

*Opening dates may vary depending on where you live.

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No problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking.
~ Voltaire

Personal Chicken Pot Pie

Ingredients - Serves 1

• 2 (12.5 oz) cans chicken breast
• 1 package frozen veggies
• 1 can cream of celery soup
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 2 tb. sp. garlic herb seasoning
• Frozen puff pastry
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Cook all ingredients (except pastry) covered in a skillet until hot and blended.
2. Fill cups with mixture and cover each with a square of the puff pastry. Pinch edges of dough lightly onto bowl edges. Bake on a cookie sheet for 15 minutes at 400 degrees.

Wine Pairing

• Chateau du Basty Beaujolais Villages 2006

He that cannot reason is a fool. He that will not is a bigot. He that dare not is a slave.
~ Andrew Carnegie

9 Tips to Help You Stretch Your Travel Dollars

1. Pack light -- you'll have much more flexibility regarding transportation and accommodations. After all, it's not easy to change rooms if you have 12 heavy suitcases.
2. Book early -- you can save a lot of money by booking months in advance.
3. Last-minute deals -- the opposite of booking early, sometimes you can get a huge discount by taking a last minute deal. Travel operators don't like to have empty seats.
4. Hostels -- they can be very affordable places to stay in most major cities (be sure to check for restrictions).
5. Walking -- save money on taxis and keep fit. You might discover a hip bistro or bed-and-breakfast.
6. Camping -- take a tent and enjoy some destinations that don't have hotels.
7. Group travel -- Share the costs with others and get group discounts at many attractions.
8. Budget -- before you go on your trip, write a budget for all costs and stick to it.
9. Discount cards and vouchers -- save money by getting discounts, freebies and two-for-ones.

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Trivia Answers
#1. b.) Lincoln, Nebraska; #2. a.) Stalin's Soviet Union; #3. b.) Guy Lombardo; #4. d.) Pandora; #5. c.) Palmyra Atoll

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Robert McLaughlin & Julie A. Willis
221 Lacey Road
Forked River, NJ 08731

This eNewsletter contains information, facts and opinions from various individuals and organizations. This eNewsletter is provided on an "as-is" basis without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. I/We are not responsible for any errors or omissions. Consult with your doctor, fitness consultant, attorney, accountant, or other professional advisor when necessary. © 2012 eNewsletterSolutions.