Susan Hamblen

Have you considered investing in real estate in the Smithtown area or anywhere of Long Island or the US for that matter? With home prices on the floor and interets rates sooooo low it may just be the time for Mr. and Mrs Average Homeowner to get into the world of real estate investing. Surely the opportunity to own additional real estate must be more appealing than rolling additional money around in the stock market. Real Estate over time proves to be a rock solid investment and you may want to consider owning more than just the home you live in. People who own real estate are much more likely to acquire true wealth! And real estate (like Gold) will make its comeback with a bang!

The adventure of home ownership as an investor doesn't have to be a frightening proposition. We have tools to help you analyze cash flow and manage your investment. We have tools which reflect interesting migration trend data. We even have connections with folks who can tell you how you can buy real estate with your IRA. Imagaine that! Oh and did I mention property management so you don't have to do this alone.

In all my years of real estate, I believe this is the most advantageous time to pursue owning real estate investment properties. So consider this the beginning of a series... "Stake out a bigger piece of the American Dream" and stay tuned for more information and an opportunity to take our free classes (online) to get the inside scoop on becoming a real estate investor.

After all, why should you leave the opportunity for future wealth building to the other guys. Stake out a bigger peice of the American Dream for yourself!

Take a look at this neat presentation ...Buyer or Renter Nation to see why owning real estate is a good idea for the majority!

The up and coming Mexican restaurant franchise is establishing itself on Long Island. The newest additional location will be at 694 Motor Parkway, which is in Hauppauge in the new Motor Parkway Plaza shopping center.

Chipotle is more than just your average Mexican fast food stop. They carefully select the source of meats they use to prepare for your meal. They take great pride in providing meats which were prepared from “naturally-raised animals.” This term means that the animals were raised in a humane way, fed a vegetarian diet, never given hormones, and allowed to display their natural tendencies. Over 35% of dairy served at Chipotle comes from pasture-raised cows, and the company is working hard to assure its poultry and pork have the same standards as well.

If you’ve never heard of Chipotle, or wonder where they came from, you can visit their website to get the complete story from their start as a small business, to the most recent achievements of the franchise. They started business in 1993, forming the first Chipotle restaurant from a former Dolly Madison in Colorado. After only two years they expanded to three locations, and in 1999 they spread the company outside of Colorado and welcomed outside investors.To learn about the food, nutritional facts and more you can find their site on the web. It can give you much insight to who the company is and what they’re all about.

Unlike most other restaurants, at Chipotle your meal is prepared right in front of you. You simply pick which ingredients you want to add, and soon after you’ll have burritos, tacos or a salad personalized to your liking. The food tastes fresh, clean, and most importantly healthier than its competitors. Thirsty? Along with soda and bottled drinks, Chipotle serves beer and margaritas to those over 21.

It's unclear exactly when the restaurant is due to open its doors, but almost all other businesses are now open in the recently built Motor Parkway Plaza. Be sure to check it out next time you're in the area.

Natalie Lynch, my team member and I listed the house in Commack, Ny a relatively short time ago. The seller's situation was kind of difficult and we promised that we would go the extra mile to get the job done. He needed to sell and we encouraged him to price it right and he was willing. Now here is the run down...

We posted the lisitng on the mls. We put up the EXIT Realty sign. We scheduled the first open house. We set it up where the house was not being shown until the first open house to help create some pent up demand. Then the hard work began...We walked the neighborhood and promoted the open house. We visted local businesses and promoted the open house. We knocked doors in the neighborhood again promoting the open house and the new listing. We advertised the open house on line and in print. My team members kicked in and we created a great deal of exposure for the property.

Finally, it was open house day! The house was held open for two hours and we had 62 people through!! Several agents came through with their clients and indicated they would be sending in offers. We also took one offer right during the open house. Over the next few days additional offers came in. It seems having a large amount of people present and competing for the property had worked just as we intended. We negotiated the offers and in the end we were able to get our client an offer above the list price.

The engineers report was completed, contracts were signed and we were on the way to closing on July 25th.

The sister living in the house was also in need of help so we began to work to help meet her needs. We put her in touch with an individual who would arrange an "estate sale" of the furniture. We posted the additional furniture she needed to sell on line for her. We helped provide options for her next home. She found an apartment that she was happy with but could not move in until August 1. So after conversation with her attorney and a confirmation from the buyers attorney closing was pushed back to August 1.

So closing day of August 1 was approaching and all seemed well. Then the sky began to turn grey and the thunder rolled in.

The buyer's agent called on Thursday the 21st of July and said "we are set for closing on Monday, July 25th!" Monday the 25th???? That is not what we were planning for. It seems the buyer's attorney never got the confirmation from the buyer that the August 1 date was ok. The buyer was in need of a place to live and did not wish to wait until the 1st. In Commack, NY the contracts are drawn up by the attorneys and since the seller's attorney never reduced the change to writing it looked like the only solution was going to be for the seller to be out by the 25th!

The situation was complicated by the buyer as they proceeded to insist that if closing was not the 25th and possession not delivered on the 25th then they were not going to close at all. And since buyers are a little more scarce in the current market we did not wish to lose them and start over!

So Natalie and I jumped in. We packed and cleaned. We found people to take away the last donations. We packed and cleaned some more. We sorted. We comforted the sister. We packed and cleaned some more. We purchased boxes and tape. We packed and cleaned some more.

The buyers walk through was scheduled for noon on the 25th. We arrived at 8am that day and got the last bit of things out of the home and cleaned some more!! In the end the walk through went fine. The buyers showed up at the attorneys and we had a closing.

Hallelujah! We did go the extra mile and we got the job done as we promised. At the end of the day, it feels good when your client is happy and well served, even if it is a little tiring!

Over 30 years ago, DiMaggio's first opened its doors with a small location in Port Washington. Co-owners Eddy and Angelo took signature dishes and favorites from Bari, Italy and Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and served them in a casual atmosphere. This setting captured the essence of an Italian Trattoria, a place where there is a meal for everyone, from roasted veal chops to a personal pizza.

Over the years, there have been many renovations and improvements, and now we are happy to have an additional location in Smithtown, NY. This past May, a second restaurant opened on Jericho Turnpike, which instantly created a buzz around town. For those that are familiar with the Smithtown area, they are located on the site which previously was occupied by Villa D'Avanzo. We had a chance to have lunch at DiMaggio's earlier this week, and we absolutely loved it!

DiMaggio's is a restaurant with a fun and welcoming environment, but don't let that distract you from its menu, which is probably the most important aspect of the dining business. While they have a large variety to please all guests, DiMaggio's actually encourages anyone to request what they do not see on the menu. Few others go to such an extent to satisfy everyone who walks through the door. Some of what the menu has to offer consists of calzones, hot and cold heroes, soup, salads, pasta, chicken, veal, seafood, and homemade desserts.

Although the food is important, DiMaggio's has some other great features which complement its menu. There is a full bar, with a variety of liquor, beer and wine. If you visit while the weather is nice, you can enjoy it with the outside dining area they've made available. Relaxing Italian music is also played throughout the restaurant, giving you that authentic and comfortable experience you'd hope for.

DiMaggio's Trattoria and Bar is a restaurant which will probably keep people coming back for more. They are open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner. For a look at the menu and additional information, you can visit their website at www.DiMaggios.net. Or give the Smithtown branch a call at 631 543-6000.

The Smithtown Landing Country Club, located alongside the Nissequogue River on the north shore, is a fun and relaxing place for Smithtown residents to enjoy their summer. Whether you like staying active with friends or lounging around with a good book, the Smithtown Landing is a great place to do it.

The Country Club has a full 18 hole golf course, with challenging greens and three tee locations for men, women, and beginners. Don't feel like walking? There are plenty of golf carts to rent out and take you from the tee to your ball, even if its 10 feet in front of you! If you're one of many who like golf but may not feel ready for an 18 hole course, Smithtown Landing also offers a 9 Hole, and Par 3 Course as well. In addition to perfecting your skills on the shorter courses, there is also a large driving range and golf lessons available. Smithtown residents can take advantage of the professionals the country club has on hand and learn helpful tips from some of the best that play the game. There are summer training camps which cover all aspects of golf and range from groups of young children to experienced adults. Lastly, players can enjoy a fully stocked Pro Shop to load up on equipment and supplies, or grab an ice cold drink on those days the sun slows you down.

Not a fan of golf? There are still plenty of reasons why you'd love the Smithtown Landing Country Club. All town residents have access to the large town pool area. With deep and shallow water, multiple diving boards, and constant life guards on duty, many families come to the pool to relax and cool down for a few hours. If you're a parent or guardian who wishes to keep an eye on your children in the water, there are plenty of lounge chairs and picnic tables spread out, with umbrellas to protect you from the sun. The kids will also love the playground sitting adjacent the pool area, and the snack bar which is also open during pool hours for hot food, snacks, beverages and ice cream.

To have access to the Smithtown Landing Country Club you must either be, or be occompanied by a Town of Smithtown resident. Here is a link to the Town of Smithtown website, which features pricing and additional information about the Country Club. If you have any further questions or concerns about the Smithtown Landing Golf Course or pool area, contact the town Recreation Department at 631 360-7644.