Finally! After several days, electricity is restored to our area. (We LUV LUV LUV our Bangor Hydro Crew!)

It may seem trivial to miss my Internet service so much (when there are others concerned about heat and food)....but....I would love to know if there are any creative ideas for how to access the Internet when there is no cell phone service available and no electricity . (One creative Realtor posted on Twitter that she used her cell phone for a modem for her laptop. Very clevel idea if cell phone service is available!) Of course one could pack up the laptop (or smart phone) and travel to a Wi Fi area....but only if you are able to hike for miles in this area...or

Or..if you could get your car out of the garage (Electric Auto Garage Door Opener)...and if your private road in rural Maine was 'passible'...Hard to get by downed trees and power lines!)....(THANK YOU Local Volunteer Firemen for helping with the tree damage and power lines! )

Just some "Contemplation" ....

(Thank you, Ben Kimball for letting me use your incredible Mount Desert Island photo:"Contemplation")

I was so happy to see the Bangor Hydro trucks in our yard this AM!...With over 6000 customers still left without service in this area this morning, I was beginning to wonder where our home on Long Pond was on their 'to do' list.

When I fired up the home computers, I found some interesting information in our MAR Realtor news letter that seems worth sharing...

The CEO for the Maine Association of Realtors continues to keep the membership informed about programs being offered to help the housing market. (Thank you Cindy!)

Here are some of the offerings that she included in a recent enews to our membership:

On a local level, one of our boards rolled out a local ad campaign on tax credits.The Merrymeeting Board of REALTORS made a local Television commercial - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYC9XfEGFkU

She reminded us that the National Association offers a NAR VIDEO ON HUD-1 AND GFE FORMS: This 11-minute video from NAR explaining features of the new HUD-1 and Good Faith Estimate (GFE) forms - http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid31763633001?bclid=31792087001&bctid=61485517001  

And for GREEN TAX CREDITS: The New York Times recently outlined various green tax credits, including for home upgrades and energy systems: http://ow.ly/17kfD

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I am so thankful that our power has been restored and that the computers are up and running again! 

I was beginning to think that, if the computers didn't fire up soon,  I might have to break down and start Spring Cleaning!.... :(

Now that things are 'up and running' again, Let me know how I can help you or your clients  find 'Your Piece of Maine"  Realtor GramEpat

My NJ relatives are diggin' out from under their most recent snow storm and we 'Mainers' in Acadia National Park are dealing with the storm damage from the recent severe wind and rain. It seems so strange to look out my office window in February and see bare ground....when only a few weeks ago the snow banks were piled so high it took hours to shovel my way in to work.

Today's dilemma wasn't shoveling...It was 'how do I get my car out of the garage , to get to the office, when there is no electricity and I'm used to using the automatic door opener'?...and, once I do manage to manually maneuver it to open...how will I dodge the power lines and trees that are across the shared private road to get to the Main Road?'

I am so thankful that power has been restored to the Main St. in the Village. I miss my social media friends and wonder how the local #twitterqueens and rainmakers are survivin' this recent storm? 

And, of course I was concerned about the buyers who needed to reach me yesterday with their response to a counter offer! I would have walked the three miles to the office in the storm yesterday if all else failed ...because 'where there's a will there's a way'.

(@gramepat)

PS: If you are trying to contact me today for work related issues, the good news is that you can finally leave a voice message on my office machine.(207-244-9251)Just remember...cell phone service is limited in some of our rural areas, internet access is temporarily non-existent on Long Pond until services are restored..and gramepat will be 'holin' up by the wood stove stirrin' the beans and bakin' biscuits this afternoon!...(After all...It is Saturday! ..and life goes on)....Gotta love livin' in Maine.... ("The way life should be !??" :)

34 Degrees...and the sun was shining this past week! Feels like summer in Maine! My NJ relatives are digging out from under several feet of snow....and my 'Local' husband (GrampE Bob) was on a ferry boat ride to Vinalhaven  ...gazing around...''looking for a piece of Maine' ...(Of course, Mainers think that when the temperature is 34 degrees , they should be in shirt sleeves and shorts...riding around in their cars with the windows down and their sun roofs open :) ....or wearing a baseball cap, relaxing on the deck...and taking in the view :)

Lots of great reasons to come 'hole up' with us for the winter months.
There's usually plenty of snow...great for Snow Shoeing in Acadia National Park.
Photo: Realtor GramEpat

"SkyBluePink" Sunsets" (Views from our cottage on Long Pond)

and even 'Wild Times' at our little Local Library :)

(Thanks to all the Village Mainers who braved the snow storm a few weeks ago and participated in the lively book discussion: "The Call of the Wild")

Even the local ducks in the Village do not want to head South this winter. 

Let me know if you want my help relocating or vacationing on Mt.Desert Island, Home of Acadia National Park. I love to share this Incredible "Piece of Maine".

PS:Special coupon discounts offered at Broker Owned Acadia Pines Vacation Rentals to 'Rainmakers' and their friends and families! 

twitter: @ Gramepat

The Maine Association of REALTORS Foundation is now offering Live Where You Work loans for down payments and closing costs - loans of up to $5,000 at an interest rate of 0% (APR 0%), to families earning up to 100% of the area median income, moving more than 30 miles closer to their employment. 

As a result of a grant from the National Association of REALTORS Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants program, the MAR FOUNDATION is offering this NEW PROGRAM . Live Where You Work! Downpayment / Closing Cost 0% Loans Available for Commuters.  The loans are available for current home owners or first-time buyers.  Primary local Maine lenders participating in the program include Androscoggin Bank, Gorham Savings Bank, Kennebec Savings Bank, Machias Savings Bank, and The First, N.A. 

 Loan applications are available from the Maine Association of REALTORS Foundation at http://marfoundation.org and the primary lenders listed above. 

A special thank you to NAR and MAR for continuing to provide a variety of programs to help the housing market and 'us Mainer Commuters' .

I've been wondering if Twitter and Facebook are beginning to make blog postings a thing of the past?It seems that blogs are now fewer and shorter and facebook status updates and tweets are more prevelant.

Just a personal observation. I can't help but wonder how that will change the face of social networking..

And will FourSquare eventually make Twitter a thing of the past......blogs less meaningful...email outdated...etc....

I got a kick out of one of my young teenage friends on Facebook who recently confided in me and told me that "her mother was so old fashioned because she was still hung up in the email era and would not join tweeple in the real world".

Guess the nice thing about emails and blog postings is that you can type random thoughts like this...ramble on a bit...and not be limited to 140 characters...A perfect platform for a 'Chatty Patty' who occasionally likes to chatter...not just chirp.

I have to confess that @gramEpat is addicted to 'twexercising' at least twice a day!...Luv to be on my exercise bike while I enjoy my #twitterqueens and #tweetsandcoffee chirpers !

I (@gramEpat) was recently reading an interesting tweet from @maineRealtors about the Home Buyer Recent Tax Credit: 10 Things To Know - via CNN Money -  Click the link for a very interesting article.

It clearly explains the new Tax credit law * . At least, I hope I clearly understand it. ...Now if they can just come up with a plan to help the 2nd home/vacation home buyer market...that would make me a 'happy camper'....

The first time buyer tax credit has made a huge difference in many parts of Maine...but our tourist industry areas also need a 'shot in the arm'. ... (*The increased sales price limit for a principal residence (up to $800,000...) should be helpful to jumpstart the market in the Bar Harbor area.)

I want to share the beauty that surrounds us in Acadia National Park!...

November Sunset ......a kaleidoscope of colors from our deck

The tax credit has been very beneficial to our housing industry and especially to the State of Maine!...(See Press release at the bottom of this message.) 

National statistics released by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) indicate a 7.7 percent single-family home sales increase in the past 12 months!

With your help, we can 'keep the ball rolling'. Please contact your State Senators and ask them to support the Dodd-Lieberman-Isakson amendment to extend the housing tax credit. 

To all you Maine Realtor 'Rainmakers':To contact Senators Snowe and Collins , you can send email directly from their sites, or get phone/fax info at: Sen. Snowe: http://snowe.senate.gov or Sen. Collins: http://collins.senate.gov.

TAX CREDIT EXTENSION: NAR reports that early next week the U.S. Senate will be voting on two amendments that would extend the first-time homebuyer tax credit. NAR is only supporting the Dodd-Lieberman-Isakson amendment because it will: provide the $8,000 tax credit to any buyer (not just first time); set income limits at $150,000/$300,000 for single/married buyers; make the credit available until June 30, 2010. 

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MAINE REAL ESTATE SALES UP 22.74 PERCENT IN SEPTEMBER

SOUTH PORTLAND (October 23, 2009)-Sales of single-family existing homes in Maine rose a strong 22.74 percent in September 2009 compared with the same month in 2008. The Maine Real Estate Information System, Inc. reported a median sales price (MSP) of $167,000, a decrease of 6.05 percent from last September, again highlighting the increase in the first time buyer market in Maine. The September median price is an increase from August 2009's MSP of $162,800. The median sales price indicates that half of the homes were sold for more and half sold for less.

"God Bless the USA"...(Lee Greenwood Video). It makes me so proud to be an American.

"While the storm clouds gather far across the sea, Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free, Let us all be grateful for a land so fair, As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer. "

I was doing a google search and discovered that the unofficial national anthem of the United States was composed by an immigrant who left his home in Siberia for the USA when he was only five years old. The original version of "God Bless America" was written by Irving Berlin (1888-1989) during the summer of 1918 (Thank you, Irving Berlin for these inspiring words and for sharing your incredible talent).

And..Thank you, Artist Gail Ribas, for sharing your incredible talent! I LOVE your paintings and value your friendship!

Happy 4th of July....Hope our paths cross during the day at the Bar Harbor Festivities! (My Home Sweet Home)
"God Bless America, Land that I love. Stand beside her, and guide her Thru the night with a light from above. From the mountains, to the prairies, To the oceans, white with foam God bless America,
My home sweet home. " Realtor GramEpat

"I think I can, I think I can, I think I can " ...

Don't give up looking for 'Your piece of Maine'. Let me know how I can help.(See info below about recent legislation).

PS: Just FYI:
I have no intentions of climbing the mountain and attempting to help move Balance Rock!
Many tourists in Acadia National Park have tried unsuccessfully to do that without my help! :)

Bubble Rock on South Bubble Mountain, Balance Rock on the Bar Harbor Shore Path, and white Lucerne granite are classic examples of glacial erratics found on Mt.Desert Island, home of Acadia National Park.

OUR MAINE GOVERNOR REMOVES TRANSFER TAX INCREASE: Thank you to Governor John Baldacci who REMOVED the proposed Transfer Tax increase on homes priced $500K or higher that was passed in the initial Tax Reform Legislation. The Maine Association of Realtors would have preferred a veto of the entire bill, however, the removal of this increase before passage of Tax Reform is HUGE for real estate in our State.

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I got a kick out of a recent Warren Buffett quote that a friend told me:

"Only when the tide goes out do you discover who's been swimming naked". Warren Buffett

FYI:The water temperature at Sand Beach, Acadia National Park's popular swimming area, rarely exceeds 55 degrees, so don't even think about skinny-dipping in those Maine waters. According to a posting at boston.com/travel,  "It's far better to stroll at night -- and bundled up -- when the shimmering bioluminescence from microscopic creatures in the bay can sometimes illuminate the adjacent rocky bluffs".

"If past history was all there was to the game, the richest people would be librarians".
Warren Buffett
"It's far better to buy a wonderful company at a fair price than a fair company at a wonderful price".
Warren Buffett
"In the business world, the rearview mirror is always clearer than the windshield".
Warren Buffett
**" If you're in the luckiest 1 per cent of humanity, you owe it to the rest of humanity to think about the other 99 per cent"**.

No worries on this end...I'm covered with Polar Fleece from head to toe!..

Realtor GramEpat

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