Is The Real Estate Market Changing?

According to all the wirters – the market should start to rebound by the end of the year. Even though they expected the prices to go up, it seems that it has not happened because of many factors.  One is the amount of inventory and the other is short sales or foreclosures that are pulling the prices down.  However – now that some of these issues are slowly going away, we should see a stronger market soon.. Of course,  prices still won’t be where they were a few years ago, but it looks as though we have “bottomed out.”  The Buyers are out there and they’re bidding.  But they know there is lots of inventory so they are not as loyal to one house as they use to be. As a Seller, if you get a bid – work it! Try to negotiate the deal and get on with your life. Keeping a home here in the northeast means, shoveling snow, paying heating bills, keepiing up with the taxes, repairs and more.  When you add it up, it’s more financially sound to sell and move on. Enjoy your life!

A CHRISTMAS TREE TO REMEMBER

SO – IT WAS TIME TO GET A TREE – NOT JUST ANY TREE, BUT A BIG BEAUTIFUL TREE THAT THEY COULD CUT DOWN! So – off they went – with the pick-up truck – up the Taconic to the tree farm. Three young kids and their Dad. They ran around in the cold until they saw the perfect tree. “This is the one” they shouted – “hurry let’s cut it down now – please Daddy please???”
And so – three little kids crawled under the very big tree with the hand saw and thought they could cut it down. Al you saw was a very big tree and 3 sets of legs sticking out! – However, they needed Daddy’s help. So under the tree he went – saying “this is too big” – but since he, too ws a little nutty and a kid himself – he proceeded to cut down this enormous tree. when it fell – and everyone had to get out of the way – they had to call the helper from the tree farm because it was too big for them to carry. When the tree guy came, he told them it was the biggest tree he ever help to drag out of the woord. It took three men to lift it into the bed of the truck. It even overhung the truck bed on all sides!! Once home – Daddy had to borry an electric saw to trim it a bit – but it still wouldn’t fit through the front door – soo he drove the truck around the back of his “unfinished” house and pulled the truck up to under the french door to the Dining room. The kids ran inside to open the doors – he could barely lift it to reach the doors – but the three little kids yelled “we can do it daddy” and so he liftesd it so they would reach it and they tugged and tugged until they had half of it inside. Daddy quickly parked his truck and ran inside to help the kids. They dragged it into the Livingroom and stood it up. this magnificient tree took up half the room! it’s gerth was about 8 ft. across! But those 3 kids were extremely happy. Everyone laughed and wondered how any toys would ever fit near the tree because you certainly couldn’t put anything under it.
This tree would truly make a Christmas to remember!
I’ll uploard the pictures on facebook – you’re gonna love it!

COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS!

Ok – So – it was my husband’s birthday and i kept thinking “what can I give him that would really surprise him?” – Then it came to me. He’s a really BIG Country Music Fan! So I booked the flight – booked the Hotel – and bought tickets to the CMA Awards in Nashville, Tn.! It was great. Didn’t see me ? Maybe it was because – as good as our seats were, there was a huge boom, and it kept scanning the audience from left to right (180 degrees) and we were at the other 180 degree – behind it!! – But we were at the Bridgestone Arena – 20,000 of us! All the great stars – even Scotty from American Idol. What a night! And of course – great outfits. In fact – Carrie Underwood probably changed her dress about 10 times – and she looked gorgeous each time. The music was wonderful – singing was terrific – seeing all those famous people – priceless!
As soon as I upload my pictures – I’ll post them here. Some of the highlights? A visit to the Grand Ole Opry Backstage Tour – I could just hear Minnie Pearl saying “How-dee….”
And the Country Music Museum was simply the BEST! Tell you about it next time. Meanwhile – “Happy Trails to You….”

Then & Now – Threshhold & More

A few hundred years ago, the poor had only dirt floors in their home – hence the saying “dirt poor.”  The wealthy had floors made of many different materials including slate - which would become slipery in the winter when wet.  Owners would spread thresh (straw) on the floors to help keep them dry to keep people from slipping. However, everytime the door opened, some of the thresh would fall out so they had to add more thresh and then a piece of wood to hold it back.   Hence the saying “thresh hold.”

How about Bread?  It was divided according to status.  workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle and the guests got the top or more commonly known as the “upper crust.”  Hmmm …Which one are you?

Another bit of trivia for you to digest.

 

Then and Now

Ever wonder how some “sayings” ot traditions got started? Well here is something to think about. Many people get married in June – ever wonder why? Because a few hundred years ago, people only took a bath once a year – and that was in May. They still smelled pretty good by June but were starting to sour – so the brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body ordor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.
Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men in the family, then the women and after the women, it was the children. The last to get bathed, were the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, “Dont throw the baby out with the bath water!”
In the 1500′s houses had thatched roofs with thick straw that was piled high with no wood underneath. It was the ony place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals lived in the roof. When it rained, the roof became very slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof. Hence the saying “It’s raining cats and dogs!” So now you know.
More next time.

EAT EAT EAT

Mmmmm good!  Great new restaurants in White Plains in all price ranges!  Want a great hamburger with all the toppings?  5 Guys just opened on Main Street (Across from WalMart) affordable and delicious.  Anthony’s is next door and has coal fired pizza.  Very thin and well done crunchy crust.  Anthony also serves a terrific sandwich called Coal Oven Roasted Chicken with Broccoli Rabe.  Another 50′s style restaurant on Court Street is Brooklyn’s Famous.  Owners Dano and Vickie greet you like family.  My favorite?  Chicken Victoria with breast of chicken covered with prosciutto and fresh mozarella over a bed of spinach.  Are you hungry yet? Che burger Che Burger on Mamaroneck Ave. has a 50′s theme and good food.  If you have a big appetite, try the One Pound Burger – and if you finish it, they take your picture and put it up on the wall.  A fun evening.  Service with a smile is the fare at Serafina’s on Main Street (bright yellow awnings) next to the Ritz Hotel.  Always a line so make reservations first.  Sit outside on summer nights for a different experience.  Next time I’ll mention all the Pubs on Mamareonck Ave. for the young at heart. Bon Appetite!

COMMUNITY PHOTOS – SEND THEM IN!

What a great company! BHG Rand just started a new website – HudsonHeartbeat.com – The new lifestyle Blog dedicated to Westchester and The Hudson Valley. Send us pictures of your neighborhood and show us how you Explore, Play and Grow!  You can even enter to win a $1,500 Video Contest. Go to the website for more details.  They say a picture is worth a thousand words – at BHG RAND – it’s worth $1,500!    With 25 offices and more than 800 agents- we know  your neighborhood. Check out the website www.HudsonHeartbeat.com and see what these great Counties offer. Buying or Selling – call BHG Rand at 914-328-0333