August Newsletter

- 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

August 2009

2 Friendship Day
5 Full Moon
19 National Aviation Day

Featured Homes for Sale!

Click Here to check out my featured listings
or Map Search the entire MLS.

Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.
~ Anthony J. D'Angelo

Homes Sales Rise for Third Consecutive Month

A recent release from the National Association of Realtors® has good news: Existing-home sales rose for the third consecutive month with inventory easing and home prices declining less sharply in June.

Existing-home sales – including single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops – increased 3.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.89 million units in June from a downwardly revised pace of 4.72 million in May, but are 0.2 percent lower than the 4.90 million-unit level in June 2008.

“The increase in existing-home sales occurred in all major regions of the country,” said Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist. “We expect a gradual uptrend in sales to continue due to tax credit incentives and historically high affordability conditions. Despite the rise in closed transactions, many Realtors® are reporting lost sales as a result of new appraisal standards that went into effect May 1 of this year.”

The national average commitment rate for a 30-year, conventional, fixed-rate mortgage rose to 5.42 percent in June, up from 4.86 percent in May, according to Freddie Mac, though mortgage interest rates have trended lower in recent weeks.

According to the release, total housing inventory at the end of June fell 0.7 percent to 3.82 million existing homes available for sale, which represents a 9.4-month supply at the current sales pace, down from a 9.8-month supply in May.

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A barking dog is often more useful than a sleeping lion.
~Washington Irving

Don't Rely on a Fence to Determine Boundaries

Keep in mind when purchasing a property that the fences do not necessarily represent the properties' boundaries. In many cases, the previous owner of a property had fences installed without the assistance of an accurate survey, or is simply replacing a fence that was built a former owner who did not know where the property lines were located.

If it is important for you to know exactly where the property lines are -- and it should be -- always insist upon a property survey if there's any doubt. You'd be surprised at how many fences have been built on estimated borders and have gone on unchallenged homeowner after homeowner.

The only thing that overcomes hard luck is hard work.
~Harry Golden

5 Steps to Installing a Programmable Thermostat

If you're tired of waking up to a cold bathroom, or coming home after work to a blazing hot living room, consider a programmable thermostat. It's easier and cheaper to install than you think, and can help reduce your energy bill by only heating or cooling your home when you want it to. Follow these steps:

1. Turn off your home's electrical power at the breaker box; turn off the master switch if you are not 100 percent certain which one controls the thermostat.
2. Remove the faceplate from the existing thermostat. Label the wires so you know which connection they go to in case your new thermostat uses a different color coding system; now disconnect the individual wires from the terminals.
3. Read the instructions for the new thermostat; connect the wires of the new thermostat to the appropriately labeled wires.
4. Place the thermostat into the existing fitting and tighten into place; flip the master switch to turn on the power.
5. After carefully reading the manufacturer's instructions, program the new thermostat to your liking. Test it by setting different temperatures and times.

That's it! It's not much more difficult than changing a light switch and costs less than dinner for two.

Be pleasant until ten o'clock in the morning and the rest of the day will take care of itself.
~Elbert Hubbard

Trivia Challenge

Question 1.) This New Mexico town renamed itself after a popular radio show in the 1950's.
a.) Hopalong Cassidy
b.) I Know A Secret
c.) Lone Ranger
d.) Truth or Consequences

Question 2.) Which author wrote "Atlantis Found"?
a.) C.J. Cherryh
b.) Tom Clancy
c.) Clive Cussler
d.) John Grisham

Question 3.) Who sang "When You're Gone" in 2007?
a.) Avril Lavigne
b.) Green Day
c.) Hinder
d.) Simple Plan

Question 4.) Which of the following movies is a about a family trying to get to a beauty pageant?
a.) Accepted
b.) Dreamgirls
c.) Little Miss Sunshine
d.) Talladega Nights

Question 5.) Which of the following is an Asian city?
a.) Bucharest
b.) Cairo
c.) Dushanbe
d.) Moscow

TOP | ANSWERS

Don't be fooled by the calendar. There are only as many days in the year as you make use of.
~Charles Richards

Eating Healthier During the Work Day

If you're eating out for lunch more than a few times a week, you're probably not doing much for your waistline -- or your pocketbook. Following are a few tips to help you eat better during the work week and save a few dollars at the same time.

• Pack your lunch the night before. Sure, this one is obvious, but that's because it works. Pack your favorite sandwich, last night's leftovers, soup, a frozen entree, or even a salad.
• If you work in a big company, check out the cafeteria. Forget the stereotype, many cafeterias offer great soups, a fresh salad bar, light sandwiches and other healthy choices. Just be sure to skip the hotdogs, deep-fried foods, brownies, chips, etc.
• When you go grocery shopping, buy snacks with the office in mind. That way you don't have to pay convenience store prices and will have control over what you eat at the office. Some healthy snacks include cut-up vegetables, popcorn, peanuts, pretzels, yogurt and fruit.
• If you have the flexibility to rearrange your work schedule, set it up so you can eat breakfast at home, lunch at the office, and be home in time for dinner. It's been proven time and time again that people who plan their meals stay healthier than people who eat on the run.
• Plan your meals in advance and make a little more than you'll need for dinner so you have a delicious lunch to pack. If your leftovers don't taste better than most of the fast food out there, consider cooking lessons.

You don't have to go cold turkey, just start off packing a lunch two or three times a week. If you do it right, soon you'll prefer eating in the office, saving time and money, and enjoying a healthier lifestyle.

Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you can.
~Danny Kaye

August Movie Releases

• Aug. 7
  • G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
  • Julie & Julia
  • A Perfect Getaway
  • Shorts
• Aug. 14
  • Bandslam
  • District 9
  • The Time Traveler's Wife
  • The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard
  • It Might Get Loud
• Aug. 21
  • Inglorious Basterds
  • Post Grad
• Aug. 28
  • The Final Destination
  • Halloween II

*Wide releases only. Opening dates subject to change.

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I never had a policy; I have just tried to do my very best each and every day.
~Abraham Lincoln

Fiery Fish Tacos with Crunchy Corn Salsa

Ingredients - Serves 8

• 1-1/3 cups corn
• 2/3 cup diced red onion
• 1 cup peeled, chopped jicama
• 2/3 cup diced red bell pepper
• 1-1/3 cups fresh cilantro leaves -- finely chopped
• 1-1/3 lime -- zested and juiced
• 2 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons sour cream
• 2 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons salt
• 8 (4 ounce) fillets tilapia
• 2 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 16 corn tortillas, warmed

Directions

1. Preheat grill on high.
2. Mix the corn, red onion, red bell pepper, jicama and cilantro. Stir in lime juice and zest.
3. Combine cayenne pepper, ground black pepper, and salt. Brush each fillet with olive oil, and sprinkle with spices.
4. Arrange fillets on grill and cook for 3 minutes per side. For each fiery fish taco, top tortillas with fish, sour cream and corn salsa.

Wine Pairing

• Château Gaillard Touraine Sauvingnon Blanc 2007

Trust your own instinct. Your mistakes might as well be your own, instead of someone else's.
~Billy Wilder

Tips on Packing Your Car

If you've ever been on a road trip, you know that it can be both exhilarating and frustrating all at the same time. While experiencing the countryside mile by mile is extremely rewarding, keeping things organized can be a battle. Following are a few ideas to help reduce the frustration and help you make the most of your next road trip.

• A few days before the trip, remove everything from the trunk and interior of your car. Then, give your car a thorough cleaning inside and out. Don't put anything back in the car. Have your car inspected by a qualified technician to make sure everything is in good working order, including your spare tire and emergency kit.
• Make a list detailing all the personal items (clothing, shampoo, makeup, etc.), equipment (digital camera, walkie talkies), entertainment (books, toys, video player), and food (drinks, snacks, lunch) items you'll want to bring. Have each traveler add the items they think they'll need. Once the list is completed, cross out any duplicate or unnecessary items. Remember, the key is to pack light.
• When you pack the vehicle, start with the items you'll use last. For example, if you won't be using your snorkeling gear until you reach your destination, pack that first, meaning the least accessible area if you opened the trunk or back of your vehicle. Continue packing this way, leaving food and beverages, games, maps and other travel necessities until last. This way you won't have to pull out all your luggage to get a cold soda.
• For overnight and shorter trips, consider plastic bags instead of luggage. See-through bags are best because you can easily see the contents of the bag, making it easy to grab things. In addition, plastic bags can serve multiple purposes: pack your clothes in them, use as a day bag to transport equipment, act as a garbage container, or be used to carry home your dirty laundry or wet swimming suits.
• Cool your sodas and freeze your water and juice bags the night before so when you pack the cooler it will help keep any food cool without having to use ice. This saves a ton of room.
• Keep a change of clothes near the top so if you spill coffee or soda, or the weather changes drastically, you can change without getting out your luggage. This is also a good place to put a mini medical kit with simple items like bandaids, tweezers, medications and other items you may need.
  

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Trivia Answers
#1. d.) Truth or Consequences; #2. c.) Clive Cussler; #3. a.) Avril Lavigne; #4. c.) Little Miss Sunshine; #5. c.) Dushanbe

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Robert McLaughlin & Julie A. Willis
535 Lacey Road
Forked River, NJ 08731<!-- InstanceEndEditable -->

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. © 2009 eNewsletterSolutions.