This was passed on to me, and it makes a lot of sense... 

An Obituary printed in the London Times....

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years.

No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:
- Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
- Why the early bird gets the worm;
- Life isn't always fair;
- and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place.

Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.

He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers;
I Know My Rights
I Want It Now
Someone Else Is To Blame
I'm A Victim

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. 

Dick Beals

Wilmington NC homeowners may have been recently surprised to discover their new real estate tax bills.  Yes the new assessments have been mailed, most property values have decreased, with the majority of them remaining the same.  Depending where, when, and for how much you purchased your home for, you may be happy or quite sad.  Sad to realize your home may have lost thousands of dollars in value from your purchase price, or happy your taxes will be reduced.  Here is a article I find interesting regarding assessments...

A Fresh Assessment: Determining Property Value Can Save Money Come Tax Time

By Keith Loria

The expenses associated with owning and maintaining a home can be a shock to new homeowners, however, a current estimate of what your new home is worth can often times work in your favor when it comes to lowering your property taxes. If you recently purchased a home, it’s a good bet that you may have bought the house for a price lower than the property value, so sometimes taxes can be lowered if the value has changed.

“A tax assessment is an estimate on the value of your property solely for the purpose of determining how much you owe in property taxes,” said Peter Hoegen, an attorney with Hoegen & Associates, PC in Pennsylvania who specializes in tax assessments.

Lowering property taxes isn’t the only reason that homeowners go through the reassessment process. Another reason for a reassessment is for insurance purposes, to make sure the home has an appropriate level of coverage. Additionally, homeowners may opt for a reassessment due to changes in value that have been caused by the downturn in the economy.
For those who may be thinking of selling, an assessment is a good way to learn if the house is worth more than what is owed, and can provide valuable data for homeowners who are looking to get a lower mortgage rate.

“If you are thinking of having your home assessed for a possible readjusting of the value, it’s important to understand the protocol and timelines that your city or state has, because all are different,” Hoegen said. The first step is to begin with the county assessor’s office. In 2012, the process has become much simpler for some, as more places are allowing homeowners to appeal tax assessments online. If that’s not an option where you live, plan a visit to your local assessor’s office to register for an appeal.
The appeal process is most commonly conducted by someone coming out and inspecting the property and comparing it to neighboring houses. Some will rely on computer models, but that could be problematic because you’re not seeing everything that can be viewed with the naked eye.

Although the appeal process itself can be relatively quick, if it’s clear that a change needs to be made, actually having someone come out to your property to perform the assessment can take anywhere from a month to a year, depending on the amount of people following suit. In today’s housing market, with property values decreasing in many areas, more people are turning to reassessments to lower their taxes.  When making your case, be sure to have documents ready that show what homes in the neighborhood have sold for. Prices of comparable homes that have sold in the past six to 12 months will be most helpful to build your case. Much of this data can be found on the Internet, but the real estate agent who helped you buy your home can assist in gathering the information as well.

Remember, assessed value is often not equal to market value. Many times, an assessment is only a percentage of what the home could actually be sold for, so appealing the value of your home might not be as financially advantageous as you think. The last thing you want is for your taxes to rise because the house is now worth more.

Dick Beals

Are you a Paraskevidekatriaphobic? 

 These are people afflicted with a morbid, irrational fear of Friday the 13th!

 Be careful...this Friday we will celebrate another Friday the 13th, as the unluckiest day of all.  That day has been considered as a day of bad luck for many years.  The number of times Friday the 13th occurs in a calendar year varies, from once a year to three times a year. Friday the 13th occurs three times in 2012, the most of any given year, so you have a few more chances to get over

Paraskevidekatriaphobics! 

Don't let a Black Cat cross your path

Dick Beals

As I was sitting here, I started thinking about the many clients who would buy the

home I showed them, except that it was missing something or needing updates. So often,

I have heard, "it's missing a bedroom or bath that we want,"  "the kitchen needs

remodeling and I don't have the money to do that," or "it's perfect, but I really want

a pool." 

While the home may not be the ideal that can be changed by considering the "renovation

loan."   The steps are simple.  First we determine if the program will work for a

particular home and in most cases it probably will and we get you preapproved as a

Priority Buyer with Wells Fargo.   Next, we can execute an offer to purchase

containing the appropriate renovation verbiage.  The inspection process then begins

and you select a contractor who will complete the contractor's packet.  The scope of

the work is reviewed and accepted by all parties. The appraiser will inspect the

property and determine the "after improved value."  Once final loan approval is issued

and you obtain homeowner's insurance, we move to closing. Renovation must begin within

30 days of closing and must be completed within a designated time fram.  As the work

is completed, inspections are made by the lender's inspector and funds are disbursed

for said renovations.  

Our lenders have a very nice packet to guide you through the process....so don't let

the work "IDEAL" get in  your way when looking for your home.  You have the power to

make it IDEAL.

Call us today to start looking for your home and we can partner you up with

"Wilmington's #1 Experts" and our partners at Wells Fargo.

Day 128    and a roller coaster weekend ahead.............Head on down to Carolina Beach tonight  December 2 at 7:30pm for the Island of Lights  Christmas parade. 

 There will be floats, bands and of course Santa Claus.   Free. 

Line up from Atlanta Avenue down Lake Park Boulevard to the Federal Point Plaza.   More information at www.islandoflights.org.    See you there!!!!!!

It's Turkey Trot time around the USA and in Wrightsville Beach, NC once again on November 24, 2011.   Run or walk the Loop along with the Beals.  Dick and Sandy started the Wilmington Turkey Trot 7 years ago, as a way to give back to this wonderful community of Wilmington.  

Although actual turkey's do not trot, they probably would have if given the chance.   The Turkey Trot is one of the largest Thanksgiving Day events around the country and the trot at Wrightsville Beach is just around the corner.   This is one of the best ways to start the day early with your family and to give back to the community.   The event grew to be so large that Dick and Sandy passed the torch to Habitat for Humanity, the benefactor of this event.    This event brings families back year after year, and has continued to be one of the area's fun attractions.  This is an event we won't miss out on Thanksgiving morning, and we hope to see you start a new family tradition along with us.

Last year's event had over 980 registrants and it grows year after year.  Early registrations are coming in fast and furious, and it looks like the possibility of more than 1500 runners will participate this year.  With hundreds of spectators and family cheering them on, you won't want to miss this fun event!!

Here are the details: 

Registration begins at 7:30am at the Town Park and Gazebo rain or shine.

Find some friends, make some friends, then enjoy all the activities and refreshments we have for you back at the Park.  There  will be prizes and awards, for all sorts of age categories, along with free coffee, juice drinks, fruit, and of course donuts....what better way to start your Thanksgiving Holiday?

Race packet Pick up:  Pick up on the 22nd at Try Sports in Mayfaire Town Center, 925 Town Center Dr., Wilmington, NC 28405 or Pick up on the 23rd at Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity, 20 N 4th Street, Suite 200, Wilmington, NC 28405.

Or pickup onsite 11/24/11  7:30 -8:15am

The Turkey Trot and Gobbler Fun Run/Walk
Our 2.4 Mile Turkey Trot around the Loop and our 1 Mile Gobbler Family Fun Run/Walk is designed to accommodate every person in your family, workplace and neighborhood. Gather all your family and friends and start Thanksgiving Day out right. Grandparents, toddlers, infants in strollers – those who want to create a little room for that Thanksgiving dinner – all are welcome to be a part of the Fun Run/Walk. The only “time” that matters is that we want you to have a good time at the Trot.

All proceeds benefit Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity.

More information and registration at:  www.WilmingtonTurkeyTrot.com

 Dick and Sandy

The Sky will be painted over Wrightsville Beach this weekend with kits! Flyers from all over will be on Wrightsville Beach, in front of Shell Island Resort to fill the sky with color from kites of unbelievable sizes and styles.  Join friends and families and meet new friends while filling the sky with kits. 365  FREE for the whole family.  It should be great flying weather. Come experience a magical weekend, no matter what age you are.   Event starts Nov 4 through 6th. There will be stunt kites, kites bigger than a bus, and all shapes of kites and skill level.   Bring a picnic lunch and don't forget the camera.

The Day After Halloween....

Dick Beals

October Festivals....Day 126 - Wilmington, NC is known for its Fall festivals......if you visit Water Street this morning you will see empty streets and a few tourists mulling around......go back after work and it will be flooded with people.....head out there again tomorrow beginning and 10am and there will be thousands.....  There are so many great events during Riverfest weekend in Wilmington, NC.  Riverfest 2011 will surely be your best bet this weekend. Don't forget to stop in the City Market and visit the newest art gallery in Wilmington....the Lightfoot Gallery.....my friend Lisa is magnificent. Her paintings are pure inspiration.  Stop in and say "hi" to her.

The festival runs Friday October 7 to Sunday October 9.  www.WilmingtonRiverfest.com will provide you with the scheduled of musicians, direct you to the beer garden, the wine tasting, the Kid zone and more.   Fun for the whole family. 

 And don't forget the "Invasion of the Pirates" and the Pirates' Flotilla at dusk Saturday on the Cape Fear River....www.InvasionofthePirates.com.  Join your friends and family and the downtown businesses for all these activities including fireworks on Saturday starting at 9:05pm.  The Festival will finish Sunday with the Great Waiter's Wine Race at 2pm in CFCC's east parking lot. ....so have a great Friday, a great weekend and we'll see you there!!

Day 125 -----While we have already introduced the Battleship in Wilmington NC.......we are giving you information again!....this is a special event ....50 years ago Oct 2 the battleship made its home in Wilmington, NC on the Cape Fear River....in commemoration of that event....Sunday Oct 2 is a special day.   Admission is rolling back to 1961 prices....50 cents for adults and 25 cents for children....don't miss seeing this wonderful  attraction..... and don't forget to visit the gift shop....its is great...my grandchildren's favorite place to browse through.