We sometimes take for granted the little things in life, like a beautiful smile on someone’s face, or a baby’s laugh,

the rolling clouds in the sky, or literally everything that we can see, hear, touch, or smell.  What an amazing gift to have any or better yet, ALL of these senses.

I urge you to watch this video and to cherish all you can think of no matter how large or small you might consider it to be.  It is all relative to the life you live.

One of my resolutions this year will be to laugh, smile and enjoy life more than I have in the past.  I hope that you will consider to do the same.  ;-)

Happy New Year, and welcome to your BEST YEAR EVER!

I wish you all a very healthy and prosperous new year!

Randy

Click on video to watch now…

We had several families bring in their children, and for some this was their child’s 1st Christmas. That made it even more special for all of us.  One couple brought in their 4 month old twin girls.  They were SO adorable!

I even got a chance to take the opportunity and sit with Santa and tell him how good I was this year and let him know what I’d like for Christmas.  I hope, I hope, I hope he brings it to me!  ;-)

I want to thank everyone that came by our office today with their children and especially thank you for bringing your gifts to help out with the Marine’s Toys for Tots.

Thank you also to everyone that allowed me to assist them with their real estate sales and purchases.  I really appreciate your trust and support!

Ingredients:

• 2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup shortening
• 1/2 cup cold water
• 2 cups mashed, cooked pumpkin
• 1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2. Prepare pie crust by mixing together the flour and salt. Cut shortening into flour, add 1 tablespoon water to mixture at a time. Mix dough and repeat until dough is moist enough to hold together.
3. With lightly floured hands shape dough into a ball. On a lightly floured board roll dough out to 1/8 inch thickness. With a sharp knife, cut dough 1 1/2 inch larger than the upside down 8 to 9 inch pie pan. Gently roll the dough around the rolling pin and transfer it right side up on to the pie pan. Unroll, ease dough into the bottom of the pie pan.
4. In a large bowl with mixer speed on medium, beat pumpkin with evaporated milk, eggs, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and salt. Mix well. Pour into a prepared crust. Bake 40 minutes or until when a knife is inserted 1 inch from the edge comes out clean.

FOOTNOTE: To Prepare the Mashed Pumpkin:

Use 1 1/2 pounds of skin-on, raw pumpkin to yield 2 cups of mashed. Halve pumpkin and scoop out seeds and stringy portions. Cut

Image via Wikipedia

pumpkin into chunks. In saucepan over medium heat, in 1 inch of boiling water heat the pumpkin to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 30 minutes or until tender. Drain, cool and remove the peel. Return pumpkin to the saucepan and mash with a potato masher.

Courtesy of AllRecipes.com

Image via Wikipedia

Well, that means that Fall has arrived.  But it also means that a cold winter is close behind.  (Ha, I said behind!)

Here is a list of 10 “To do’s” courtesy of Paul Bianchina and Inman News.

1. Check smoke detectors: Don’t neglect that smoke detector any longer! Take some time right now to check the operation of detectors, and to change batteries.  If you have an older house with a limited number of smoke detectors, install additional ones at each sleeping room, and make sure there is one centrally located on each level of the home as well.

2. Install a carbon monoxide detector: As houses get closed up for winter, the chances of carbon monoxide poisoning from malfunctioning gas appliances increases substantially. If you have a furnace, fireplace, water heater, or other appliance that’s fueled by propane or natural gas, or if you have an attached garage, install a carbon monoxide detector. They’re available inexpensively from many home centers and other retailers, and offer easy, plug-in installation.

3. Service your heating system: Perform a complete system check of your furnace annually, either by yourself or by a trained furnace technician. Check for worn belts, lubrication needs or other servicing that might be required; refer to your owner’s manual for specific suggestions, and follow any manufacturer safety instructions for shutting the power and fuel to the furnace before servicing. Check the condition of duct joints and insulation, and of course, change the filter.

4. Upgrade your thermostat: An older thermostat that’s a couple of degrees off can result in a lot of wasted energy, and so can forgetting to set the thermostat down at night. You can take care of both of those problems with an upgrade to a programmable thermostat. Programmable thermostats are digital and typically very accurate, and they allow for easy, set-and-forget programming of temperatures for different times of the day, including energy-saving nighttime and workday setbacks.

5. Trim trees: Trees that are overhanging your home can be a real hazard. They can deposit debris on your roof, scrape against shingles during wind storms, and, worst of all, snap off with potentially devastating results. Have a professional tree trimming service inspect the condition of overhanging tree limbs, and safely cut them back as needed.

6. Check the gutters: Clear the gutters of leaf and pine needle debris, and check that the opening between the gutter and the downspout is unobstructed. Look for loose joints or other structural problems with the system, and repair them as needed using pop rivets. Use a gutter sealant to seal any connections where leaks may be occurring.

7. Break out the caulk: A few hours and few tubes of caulking can make a big difference in both your heating bills and your comfort levels this winter. Caulk around windows, doors, pipes, exterior electrical outlets, and any other exterior penetrations where cold air might enter. Use a good grade of acrylic latex caulk, either in a paintable white or, if you don’t want to paint, use clear.

8. Drain sprinkler systems: In colder areas, now is the time to be thinking about having your sprinkler and irrigation systems blown out. You can rent a compressor and do this yourself, or contact a landscape or irrigation system installer and have them handle this for you. This is also the time to shut off outdoor faucets and install freeze-proof faucet covers as needed.

9. Adjust exterior grade: Fall is also a great time to look at the grade around your home, and make sure that everything slopes away from your foundation to avoid costly problems with ground water. Add, remove or adjust soil grades as necessary for good drainage.

10. Change light times: If you have exterior lights that are controlled by timers, including low-voltage ones, check the timer settings. Change the “on” times to an earlier hour to reflect the earlier winter darkness, so that you always have adequate outside light available.

Remodeling and repair questions? Email Paul at paulbianchina@inman.com. All product reviews are based on the author’s actual testing of free review samples provided by the manufacturers.

There are many questions surrounding the origins of pretty much everything.  How did this holiday get started?  How did that ritual become a tradition?  Who invented that sandwich and why is it called a Reuben?  :-)

Well, I’ll save the answers to those questions for another time.  But for now, today, let’s concentrate on Halloween.

Halloween is a time of celebration and superstition.  Superstitious?  Who, me?  No way.  Just because I always put my left leg in my pants and my left shoe on first?

Here is a link to some great information on the history of Halloween.  

Be safe, and have a SPOOK-tacularly fun time tonight!

Happy Halloween!

Related articles

• Video: Haunted History of Halloween (englishblog.com)

Image by Neven Mrgan via Flickr

There is somewhat of a new iPhone app  you can get from the iTunes store that allows you to look through the camera on your phone and see the words on a sign, menu, flyer, etc., translated into a new language.  The app is called Word Lens and you can check it out HERE.

I couldn’t believe it was actually real.  Have you ever seen anything like it?

I hope you had a great summer!  Remeber to let me know if I can do anything for you.

California schools are having many problems in general, but when it hits in your own community, it really makes you worry and concerned for your child’s well-being and safety.

Click here for the full article along with a link to a short 3 minute video within the article that goes into more details about this important and very costly matter.

Keep an eye on your kids to notice if there’s any changes going on with them and their study habits and/or grades.  Their school could be a part of this problem as well.

http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=147401

Making sense of the story

• Homeowners should keep in mind that property taxes do not always correspond with home values, because local governments typically don’t measure values every year and some have limits on annual property-tax increases.
• As a result, current property taxes might reflect the home’s value when the market was healthier.  According to the Congressional Budget Office, property-tax adjustments lag behind changes in home prices by an average of three years.
• Although homeowners cannot change their property-tax rate, which is set by the local government, homeowners can get their assessment lowered if they appeal to their local assessor.
• One key to a successful appeal is fact checking the assessor’s work. About half of all successful appeals come from homeowners pointing out an error in the assessor’s description of the home, according to one property tax expert.
• During the appeal process, which is similar to a less-formal court hearing, homeowners may present their case to several local officials or representatives.  The simplest way to convince officials that a property has been incorrectly valued is to provide evidence of the sales price of homes that are comparable to the property being discussed.  This should include square footage, amenities, and neighborhood characteristics.  Sale documents and photos of the property in question, as well as the comparable properties also should be brought in.
• Homeowners who have made improvements or substantial changes to the property should be cautious about appealing an assessment though, as it could have negative effects and actually increase the property’s value and, in turn, the property taxes.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Here is some information about this subject, courtesy of C.A.R., and the NY Times.

Co-signing On The Dotted Line…
Tighter lender standards and an unstable job market have made it tougher for some people, especially those just starting out, to qualify for a home mortgage on their own. So, some home buyers are turning to family members or close friends with good credit to co-sign a home loan.

Making sense of the story

• While becoming a co-signer may seem like a good solution, money manager and lenders caution against those who are asked to be the cosigner.

• A co-signer, even if not living in the house, is really a co-borrower, meaning he or she still is responsible for payments if the occupant is unable to meet his or her obligations. In other words, if the principal party defaults on the loan, the co-signer is on the hook.

• One financial planner suggests potential co-signers take a less risky alternative, such as providing a cash gift for the down payment. Under current tax laws, a person can give as much as $13,000 to a person, free of gift taxes, or $26,000 per person, if a married couple filing jointly is giving the money.

• Those considering co-signing a mortgage must conduct due diligence. First, the co-signer must understand why the family member or friend is asking for help. Potential co-signers shouldn’t be afraid to look into the requestor’s personal finances to help determine whether he or she will be able to repay the loan. Perusing credit reports also will show the track record he or she has for paying off debts.

• A discussion about worst-case scenarios also should take place before signing on the dotted line. Working out a written contract containing an agreement about what would happen in the event of a default, also is recommended.

• Co-signers also should keep in mind that the mortgage will show up on their credit report, and could affect their own ability to borrow money or buy a second home. If the principal borrower makes a late payment, that also will show up on the co-signer’s report.

I’d love to hear if you’ve ever needed or been a co-signer and if you survived it, or regret it and have a horror story.

Randy

Image via Wikipedia

Summer brings with it abundant sunshine, fresh foods and fun activities which is why the season inspires many people to be happy and healthy.

Chelsie Hightower, the Emmy-nominated professional dancer from the hit show “Dancing with the Stars,” has put together some healthy lifestyle tips:

1. Make healthy meal choices. “I personally love sushi. Fish and vegetables are essential for my weekly protein, and it’s even healthier with brown rice,” says Hightower.

2. Hop in a steam bath. After working out, steam helps relax sore muscles and boost your immune system.

3. Use summer as a reason to try new activities. Take hikes, go swimming, or learn yoga.

4. Keep a food journal. Once you see everything you eat written down in front of you, it’s easier to make more realistic goals and changes.

5. Dance to your own beat. Realize that no two body types are the same and what works on others won’t necessary work for you.

6. Make healthy food more interesting with unique and delicious recipes. ”I enjoy finding recipes online and then trying them at home. Old London has some great recipes on their Facebook page,” Hightower says.

And while you’re out enjoying the nice weather, don’t hesitate to contact us here at Realty World Premier Associates if you’d like to do some summer-time home shopping as well.  Many home prices in the Lodi, Stockton and surrounding Central Valley areas are making mortgage payments even lower than what you’re paying for rent right now.