Now that the summer break is here (or almost here), we need to think about how to entertain our kids. There are many activities parents can plan for their kids during the summer and here are some of them.
There are many "drop-off and pick-them-up" activities that parents can get their child involved in, like karate or dance school. Some colleges have activities for kids during the summer as well. The best way to find activities is to look in the local newspaper or in the phone book. The internet has a great deal of information for things to do with children during the summer. It is great to keep the kids' brain working during the summer break. The earlier you start the better. Some places take reservations very early and some programs will fill early, too. Start your planning today.
On weekdays kids could go to camp. A lot of people are getting out of the tradition of sending the kids away for the whole summer to a secluded forest with a bunch of teenagers and a couple of adults. There are now camps that have a meeting place where you can drop the kids off in the morning and pick them up in the afternoon. The camp will drive a bus to the site every day so the kids still have a camp-like experience but not the whole "spend-the-night" thing. They will still get to do activities like swimming, hiking, sports, and arts and crafts.
Taking a couple of weeks to go on vacation is a great way to get a break from it all. A lot of places have packages for early booking and the longer the stay, the better the deal. There are also good deals as more people come. Some hotels will give a discount if more than one room is booked. Amusement parks will give discounts to families and some offer deals for kids or senior citizens if the grandparents come along. If a person cannot travel for two weeks straight, then there is always traveling on weekends. The family can pack up the car to leave on a two hour drive on Friday and come back on Saturday. It could be a camping trip or going to the next town to shop and sight-see.
Whatever you plan for this summer, make sure that your kids will get a balanced vacation with a mixture of relaxation, physical and brain activity.
Showing posts with label home prices. Show all posts
Showing posts with label home prices. Show all posts
Friday, June 14, 2013
Monday, May 6, 2013
We love chocolate!!!
Personal Interest - 20 Fun Facts About Chocolate
Chocolate is known throughout the world as a delightful treat and loved by billions of people. Would you like to learn a little more about it? Here it is:
1. Ancient Aztecs thought chocolate had magical powers; like the ability to give them strength.
2. Chocolate was consumed by the ancient Aztecs as a frothy beverage, somewhat like hot chocolate we drink today.
3. Chocolate contains over 300 mineral properties that are beneficial to your health.
4. Chocolate comes from a plant, called Theobroma cacao, which translates "Food of the Gods".
5. Dark chocolate has more antioxidants than green tea and just as many as blueberries.
6. White chocolate really isn't chocolate. It's made from cocoa butter, the substance you get by pressing cocoa beans. Cocoa butter is absent of the cocoa solids used to make chocolate.
7. Chocolate does contain chemical elements that really do boost your mood and produce a euphoric feeling.
8. Eating chocolate gives you the same feeling as falling in love. This is probably why Valentine's Day and chocolate go hand in hand.
9. Chocolate comes from the Aztec word "xocolatl" which means "bitter water".
10. Switzerland is one of the top countries for chocolate consumption. The Swiss consume about 22 lbs of chocolate, per person, per year.
11. Cocoa beans were used as currency by the Mayan and Aztec cultures. Perhaps this is where the saying "Money grows on trees" came from.
12. Allowing chocolate to melt in your mouth produces the same or even stronger reactions as passionately kissing.
13. Hershey is the oldest and largest chocolate company in the US.
14. Cadbury is the most popular chocolate in the UK.
15. Most cocoa comes from West Africa.
16. The most expensive chocolate in the world is $2,600 per pound. It's called Madeleine and is made by Fritz Knipschildt, a chocolatier in Connecticut.
17. Chocolate is beneficial for proper blood flow to the lungs and other organs.
18. The minerals in chocolate help to increase brain power and function.
19. Thomas Jefferson, third president of the US, was quoted as saying "The superiority of chocolate, both for health and nourishment, will soon give it the preference over tea and coffee in America which it has in Spain."
20. One of Hershey's ads reads: More Sustaining Than Meat."
1. Ancient Aztecs thought chocolate had magical powers; like the ability to give them strength.
2. Chocolate was consumed by the ancient Aztecs as a frothy beverage, somewhat like hot chocolate we drink today.
3. Chocolate contains over 300 mineral properties that are beneficial to your health.
4. Chocolate comes from a plant, called Theobroma cacao, which translates "Food of the Gods".
5. Dark chocolate has more antioxidants than green tea and just as many as blueberries.
6. White chocolate really isn't chocolate. It's made from cocoa butter, the substance you get by pressing cocoa beans. Cocoa butter is absent of the cocoa solids used to make chocolate.
7. Chocolate does contain chemical elements that really do boost your mood and produce a euphoric feeling.
8. Eating chocolate gives you the same feeling as falling in love. This is probably why Valentine's Day and chocolate go hand in hand.
9. Chocolate comes from the Aztec word "xocolatl" which means "bitter water".
10. Switzerland is one of the top countries for chocolate consumption. The Swiss consume about 22 lbs of chocolate, per person, per year.
11. Cocoa beans were used as currency by the Mayan and Aztec cultures. Perhaps this is where the saying "Money grows on trees" came from.
12. Allowing chocolate to melt in your mouth produces the same or even stronger reactions as passionately kissing.
13. Hershey is the oldest and largest chocolate company in the US.
14. Cadbury is the most popular chocolate in the UK.
15. Most cocoa comes from West Africa.
16. The most expensive chocolate in the world is $2,600 per pound. It's called Madeleine and is made by Fritz Knipschildt, a chocolatier in Connecticut.
17. Chocolate is beneficial for proper blood flow to the lungs and other organs.
18. The minerals in chocolate help to increase brain power and function.
19. Thomas Jefferson, third president of the US, was quoted as saying "The superiority of chocolate, both for health and nourishment, will soon give it the preference over tea and coffee in America which it has in Spain."
20. One of Hershey's ads reads: More Sustaining Than Meat."
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Why Home Sales Slipped in March
By Gino Blefari
President & CEO
Intero Real Estate Services, Inc.
If you've been following housing market news this year, you may have been surprised by the latest home sales numbers to come out this week. Sales of existing homes stalled at 4.92 million, dropping 0.6% in March from February.
But what about this hot spring we've all been anticipating? What about the great recovery and growth period we're supposed to see in 2013? What's going on here?
The problem is lack of homes. There's plenty of demand from buyers, but just not enough to choose from on the market.
Some areas are experiencing multiple bids, which can frustrate buyers after they've been outbid a handful of times and turn them away.
And in some cases, we see sellers being affected as well. For those in tight markets, they may not feel confident enough to list their homes until they know for sure they'll be able to find a new one to move into.
Despite the decline in March sales from February, home sales were still 10.3% higher than the same month a year ago, marking the 21st consecutive month of year-over-year increases. That's good news, and a good indicator of how the market is trending in the big picture.
Demand is still strong, according to the National Association of Realtors, which reported buyer traffic is 25% above a year ago. But the drop in available homes has put upward pressure on prices. And some buyers are getting frustrated and priced out.
The national median home price was $184,300 in March, 11.8% higher than a year ago. The increase was the highest gain since November 2005.
Total housing inventory was up 1.6% to 1.93% homes for sale, representing a 4.7-month supply at the current pace. For-sale inventory was 16.8% below what it was a year ago, showing how lack of supply is truly impacting the pace of sales and overall market activity.
What happens next?
At the rate things are going, we can likely expect more price increases, driven by continued tight markets with some increases in new home building to balance supply.
At some point, prices will reach a tipping point where more sellers are able to sell because values will meet their needs.
Until then, buyers need patience and the ability to act fast; sellers need motivation or the right price points to get out from an underwater mortgage. We have an interesting second half of the year ahead!
By Gino Blefari
President & CEO
Intero Real Estate Services, Inc.
If you've been following housing market news this year, you may have been surprised by the latest home sales numbers to come out this week. Sales of existing homes stalled at 4.92 million, dropping 0.6% in March from February.
But what about this hot spring we've all been anticipating? What about the great recovery and growth period we're supposed to see in 2013? What's going on here?
The problem is lack of homes. There's plenty of demand from buyers, but just not enough to choose from on the market.
Some areas are experiencing multiple bids, which can frustrate buyers after they've been outbid a handful of times and turn them away.
And in some cases, we see sellers being affected as well. For those in tight markets, they may not feel confident enough to list their homes until they know for sure they'll be able to find a new one to move into.
Despite the decline in March sales from February, home sales were still 10.3% higher than the same month a year ago, marking the 21st consecutive month of year-over-year increases. That's good news, and a good indicator of how the market is trending in the big picture.
Demand is still strong, according to the National Association of Realtors, which reported buyer traffic is 25% above a year ago. But the drop in available homes has put upward pressure on prices. And some buyers are getting frustrated and priced out.
The national median home price was $184,300 in March, 11.8% higher than a year ago. The increase was the highest gain since November 2005.
Total housing inventory was up 1.6% to 1.93% homes for sale, representing a 4.7-month supply at the current pace. For-sale inventory was 16.8% below what it was a year ago, showing how lack of supply is truly impacting the pace of sales and overall market activity.
What happens next?
At the rate things are going, we can likely expect more price increases, driven by continued tight markets with some increases in new home building to balance supply.
At some point, prices will reach a tipping point where more sellers are able to sell because values will meet their needs.
Until then, buyers need patience and the ability to act fast; sellers need motivation or the right price points to get out from an underwater mortgage. We have an interesting second half of the year ahead!
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Pandemonium!!!
Most people don't realize that home Prices are going up! Inventory is down, homes are being sold over asking and are getting on average, over 5 offers! SO if you were thinking of selling.... NOW is the time!!!
Contact ME today!!
Kerri@InteroDB.com
Contact ME today!!
Kerri@InteroDB.com
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Prices are going up....
December home sales and price report
| find the article at: | http://www.car.org/newsstand/newsreleases/2013releases/decembersales |
California home sales and price close on high note in December;
housing market posts strong performance in 2012
LOS ANGELES (Jan. 15) – California home sales and prices both posted gains in December, with the median price posting strong double-digit gains for six straight months, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) reported.
“A rush to complete sales of higher-priced homes by the end of the year to avoid an expected increase in capital gains due to the “fiscal cliff” pushed up sales of homes priced $500,000 and above by nearly 42 percent from December 2011,” said C.A.R. President Don Faught.
Closed escrow sales of existing, single-family detached homes in California totaled a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 522,510 units, according to information collected by C.A.R. from more than 90 local REALTOR® associations and MLSs statewide. Sales in December were up 0.8 percent from a revised 518,460 in November and up 0.9 percent from a revised 517,730 in December 2011. The statewide sales figure represents what would be the total number of homes sold during 2012 if sales maintained the December pace throughout the year. It is adjusted to account for seasonal factors that typically influence home sales.
The statewide median price of an existing, single-family detached home climbed 5 percent from November’s $349,300 median price to $366,930 in December. December’s price was up 27 percent from a revised $288,950 recorded in December 2011, marking the tenth consecutive month of annual price increases and the sixth consecutive month of double-digit annual gains. The substantial increase in price was due in large part to a significant increase of higher-priced properties, while inventory constraints continued to constrict sales of lower-priced homes. Price increases are not expected to continue at a high pace into 2013.
“The positive fundamentals in the housing sector continued to attract potential homeowners and investors, which resulted in strong housing sales in the fourth quarter. Sales for 2012 rose 5.4 percent, reaching 525,120 for the year as a whole, slightly above our projection,” said C.A.R. Vice President and Chief Economist Leslie Appleton-Young. “With sales in the higher-end market remaining strong throughout the year, the price gain at the state level surpassed our expectations, increasing 11.6 percent from $286,040 in 2011 to a preliminary $319,340 in 2012.”
Other key facts of C.A.R.’s December 2012 resale housing report include:
• California’s housing inventory was further constrained in December, with the Unsold Inventory Index for existing, single-family detached homes dropping to 2.6 months, down from 3.1 months in November and a revised 4.3 months in December 2011. The index indicates the number of months needed to sell the supply of homes on the market at the current sales rate. A six- to seven-month supply is considered normal.
• The 30-year fixed-mortgage interest rate averaged 3.35 percent during December 2012, unchanged from November, but down from 3.96 percent in December 2011, according to Freddie Mac. However, adjustable-mortgage interest rates edged down in December, averaging 2.54 percent, down from 2.57 percent in November and down from 2.79 percent in December 2011.
• The median number of days it took to sell a single-family home edged up to 38.1 days in December 2012 from 37.5 days in November but was down from 58.7 days for the same period a year ago.
housing market posts strong performance in 2012
LOS ANGELES (Jan. 15) – California home sales and prices both posted gains in December, with the median price posting strong double-digit gains for six straight months, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) reported.
“A rush to complete sales of higher-priced homes by the end of the year to avoid an expected increase in capital gains due to the “fiscal cliff” pushed up sales of homes priced $500,000 and above by nearly 42 percent from December 2011,” said C.A.R. President Don Faught.
Closed escrow sales of existing, single-family detached homes in California totaled a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 522,510 units, according to information collected by C.A.R. from more than 90 local REALTOR® associations and MLSs statewide. Sales in December were up 0.8 percent from a revised 518,460 in November and up 0.9 percent from a revised 517,730 in December 2011. The statewide sales figure represents what would be the total number of homes sold during 2012 if sales maintained the December pace throughout the year. It is adjusted to account for seasonal factors that typically influence home sales.
The statewide median price of an existing, single-family detached home climbed 5 percent from November’s $349,300 median price to $366,930 in December. December’s price was up 27 percent from a revised $288,950 recorded in December 2011, marking the tenth consecutive month of annual price increases and the sixth consecutive month of double-digit annual gains. The substantial increase in price was due in large part to a significant increase of higher-priced properties, while inventory constraints continued to constrict sales of lower-priced homes. Price increases are not expected to continue at a high pace into 2013.
“The positive fundamentals in the housing sector continued to attract potential homeowners and investors, which resulted in strong housing sales in the fourth quarter. Sales for 2012 rose 5.4 percent, reaching 525,120 for the year as a whole, slightly above our projection,” said C.A.R. Vice President and Chief Economist Leslie Appleton-Young. “With sales in the higher-end market remaining strong throughout the year, the price gain at the state level surpassed our expectations, increasing 11.6 percent from $286,040 in 2011 to a preliminary $319,340 in 2012.”
Other key facts of C.A.R.’s December 2012 resale housing report include:
• California’s housing inventory was further constrained in December, with the Unsold Inventory Index for existing, single-family detached homes dropping to 2.6 months, down from 3.1 months in November and a revised 4.3 months in December 2011. The index indicates the number of months needed to sell the supply of homes on the market at the current sales rate. A six- to seven-month supply is considered normal.
• The 30-year fixed-mortgage interest rate averaged 3.35 percent during December 2012, unchanged from November, but down from 3.96 percent in December 2011, according to Freddie Mac. However, adjustable-mortgage interest rates edged down in December, averaging 2.54 percent, down from 2.57 percent in November and down from 2.79 percent in December 2011.
• The median number of days it took to sell a single-family home edged up to 38.1 days in December 2012 from 37.5 days in November but was down from 58.7 days for the same period a year ago.
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