The POSITIVE ATTITUDE for the Weary Soul group gives you the opportunity to share your creative side during the holiday season with a creative writing challenge. Join in on the challenge with the ActiveRain Holiday Greeting Card Contest!

This is a poem that I wrote as a gift tag for my co-workers.  I attach it to a wrapped gift containing 2 sign riders - "SALE PENDING" and "SOLD."  When they open the gift, the poem makes a heck of alot more sense - - - 2 parts, used in the proper order, repeatedly, and you will have success!  A useful, inexpensive gift with a positive message that any co-worker would appreciate!

Just trying to keep the Merry in Merry Christmas!

Every night on the news, we hear about how the politicians in Washington can't agree on how to handle our country's debt ceiling. It is becoming a high-stakes game of chicken with taxpayers livelihoods and lifestyles on the line one more time. Have you thought about how all this might actually affect you? Beyond the plunging value of your investment portfolio, there may be government services that disappear overnight. Some of these services affect mortgages and lending.

If you are a Buyer (or Seller) under contract right now, and your closing date is set for some time in August, or if you are actively looking for a home and think you may go under contract during this timeframe, here is some good information that was passed along to me that explains how what is happening in Washington might hit you right in your backyard (or the backyard you want to own)! I had a Buyer with a VA loan close last week - - they made it in time, but I have another Buyer planning to use a VA loan and they are not yet under contract - - they were hoping to close on something in early September - - does that sound like you? Then, read on.

Last Friday, I heard from one of the Lenders I work with, Bob Staab at Northeast Bank, and he reports that the "last time we went through a government shutdown in 1995, it was a pain, but not a panic. Northeast Bank has prepared all loans in its pipeline and is looking at new contracts not yet acquired for a worst case scenario, so the disruption will be minimal."

What will happen to your home purchase if the Government shuts down because our representatives in Washington can't agree on how to handle our country's debt ceiling? If a shutdown would occur, Bob tells me that these would be the top six areas to affect a real estate transaction during a government shutdown:

1) FHA Loans: For each FHA loan, the lender is required to order a FHA case number. This number is generated before an appraisal can even be ordered. With a shutdown, a lender may not be able to order case numbers. With the new FHA guidelines, a contract must be executed before a case number can be ordered. The ability to close FHA loans is questionable and depends if HUD keeps its website running to obtain FHA case numbers. If lenders decide to stop accepting FHA applications, it could be a problem. Bob says to anticipate delays but not a complete shutdown of the FHA.

2) 4506 IRS Transcripts: Your Lender must obtain verification from the IRS for at least one tax return to verify the numbers that each customer presents their Lender on their tax returns. During a shutdown, this process would be delayed as the IRS wouldn’t be at work to verify the transcripts.

3) Verifying Employment of a Government Employee: Lenders are required to verify the employment of each customer. If the customer is a federal government employee, a Lender would be unable to verify his or her employment during a shutdown.

4) FEMA: Homes in a Flood Zone: Homes that are determined to be in a flood zone would not be able to close as flood insurance could not be obtained.

5) USDA Loans (Rural Development): During a shutdown, the USDA Rural Housing office would be closed because they have government underwriters that insure behind the lender. With a shutdown, we would expect to see delays with all USDA loans.

6) VA Loans: Like the FHA, the disruption is possible -- but not absolute -- during a shutdown. This would all depend on if they continued to allow their website to function. A disruption would cause delays in VA appraisals and the issuing of certificates of eligibility. If the website was closed during a shutdown, we would see delays in all VA loans.

We all hope that the government gets its house in order so a shut-down can be avoided, but it is always good to be aware and be prepared. The same can be said about the home buying or selling process; it is good to be aware of the steps and to be prepared for all that might happen along the way. Call me for help in preparing for your next home purchase or sale!

The Tiny Home Trend

I posted a link on my facebook page yesterday, and it attracted a bit of interest:  The Tiny Home Trend, so I thought I'd share it here.  Our local TV station in Portland, WCSH6's evening news magazine, "207" (named for the only telephone area code in the state) aired a segment on the Tiny Home Trend here in Maine.

Tiny Homes in Maine make so much sense - - in terms of energy savings, if nothing else!  The "207" story tells about 2 Mainers - one, an artist, who lives in a 400 sf home and the other, a builder of Tiny Homes who lives in something like 950 sf.  Be sure to check out the video in the link - - I don't know that I could live in 400 sf, but the 950 sf is quite appealing. 

The idea behind Tiny Homes isn't to rough it; it is to live comfortably, but more simply.

And then, this morning, I read another story on what the Gen Y group wants in their homes and it really feeds right into the Tiny Home Trend.  The Millennials, apparently, don't want their parents' McMansions - - they want to be in or near cities, where things are walkable, there is public transportation, and they are able to live without cars. Owning alot of their own space isn't attractive - they prefer buildings or developments with common rooms to host get-togethers, or to be near enough to watering holes, restaurants and other places to gather with friends.  They want a bit of the outdoors - maybe enough room to put a grill, but don't want grass to mow.  Less to clean, less to maintain, and "green."  This generation is happy living in a space that is the size of their parents' great rooms! 

Thinking back on what my clients bought and sold last year in light of this information, my Gen Y buyers did tend to look at smaller homes - part of this was driven by price of course, but there was only one single male buyer that definitely wanted to be able to walk to work - the young couples still wanted the larger suburban yards.  

Interestingly, I had a large, 5 bedroom home on the market and it wasn't bought by a family, but by a non-profit to be used as a group home.  And, it seems my Boomer Buyers still desired larger living space and a good-sized yard.  Even though they may be just one or two in their family, they wanted space to entertain at home, room (and bathrooms) sufficient to house visitors, and having space for grandchildren to play was also important. 

Interesting.  In-town Bath and Brunswick have neighborhoods, where our older (1800's - early 1900's) homes are smaller, more tightly packed on postage stamp size lots - many without garages because cars weren't invented yet when they were built.  You can walk to the downtown and shop for just about anything you need, have lunch or dinner, or see a movie - is this a back to the future type phenom?  

Whether you are looking for a Tiny Home or something a bit larger, I can help you find what you need!

Hello Book Lovers,

I've just started reading a book, Do More Great Work by Michael Bungay Stanier. 

He defines Great Work as the work that is meaningful to you - work that matters.  There is also Good Work - the familiar, productive work we all do.  And, there is Bad Work which is a waste of time and energy.  The book is a guide how to do more Great Work and less Bad Work.  It takes a workbook type approach so that you create personal maps to doing more of your own Great Work. 

This book was recommended to me (and given to me) by the instructor of a social media marketing class that I am taking - - not sure I like the author's writing style, but the subject matter is certainly relevant to my business and I am one who enjoys the process of self-discovery that these types of books provoke. 

I think this will be a good read for the beginning of, what I hope will be, a Great Spring Market!

Snowzilla is Here - Safety First!

On a day like today, it's hard to believe that Punxsutawney Phil has actually predicted an early spring!  So many of us are burrowed away waiting for the snow to stop falling so we can dive into the next round of snow-blowing, shoveling and plowing.  The local TV stations have been broadcasting several very important reminders to home owners for these snowy and cold times in terms of putting safety first!

1)  If you have a direct vented heat source (furnace, stove or fireplace), make sure that the outside vent is not blocked by snow.  A blocked vent may cause the heat source to shut down (happens with a power vent - the blower won't kick on so the furnace wont ignite) or worse, for carbon monoxide gas to be forced back into your home.  There is a relatively new Maine Law that requires homes being transferred to have carbon monoxide detectors in place within 30 days of the sale, but there is no "policing" of this.  If you don't have plug-in carbon monoxide detectors with battery back-up in your home, get them as soon as it's safe to travel again!  If you don't think this is critical, I was at a closing a couple weeks ago where one of the attorneys related personal experience of her alarm going off and it saved her life.

2)  Anyone who has ever shoveled snow, knows its weight can be back-breaking.  The weight of snow and ice on your roof can be considerable, too - - Meteorologists estimate that a one-inch layer of ice weighs approximately 5lbs. per square foot and about 12 inches of snow is equivalent to one inch of ice.  Wet and packed snow weighs more.  From a series of large snow falls like we've had, you could easily have up to 20 lbs. additional, per square foot, on your roof-top.  If ice dams build up, you could also have an incredible load on your roof edge and gutters.  Ice dams can also cause significant interior water damage to ceilings, walls and insulation.

It is recommended, as part of your snow clean-up routine, to rake your roof - you can remove some of the additional weight from your roof structure and it may help prevent ice dams, too.  Roof rakes can be purchased on-line, at your local hardware store, Lowe's or Home Depot - they have an extendable pole so you can safely rake your roof from ground level.  You can rake your whole roof or just 3-4 feet along the lower edge.  Please do not climb up onto your roof to shovel - it is slippery up there and you could fall.  But you should never stand on a snow-covered roof and a regular shovel can damage the shingles.  Another option, of course is to hire a professional (many roofing companies offer this service) to remove snow from your roof.  Experts recommend that you never try to remove ice dams yourself.

3)  Lastly, make sure your cell phone is fully charged in the event of a power outage.

Just passing this information along to help you safely get through winter in our northern climate!

Stay safe and warm - - soon it will be Spring - - Phil says so!

A Short Sale Dream

Last summer, I listed a home for sale that ended up being a short sale when it recently closed.  In terms of working with the seller's lender, this was, by far, the best experience I have ever had with obtaining short sale approval - A Short Sale Dream!

Why was it a dream?

1)      After buyer and seller agreed to terms, I sought approval of the contract from a Collections Representative at Seller's bank.  She was easily reachable by either phone or email and always returned my calls promptly or emailed me right back.  This bank had no loss mitigation department, no processing division that gathered documents only to lose them, no multiple BPO/Appraisal process, no passing the file along to a negotiator that then negotiated with underlying investors, etc.  In short, no 6 months of waiting.

2)      The short sale approval was granted by a manager and a loan committee - It took 2 days from submitting the contract documents to get the approval letter faxed back to me. 

3)      The Short Sale Approval letter did not have a laundry list of terms and conditions attached; it was a one paragraph statement that the bank was agreeable to the sale at the contracted price.  And when the price changed, after inspections, a new approval letter was issued just as promptly.

Sounds like I was having a Short Sale Dream where I land on some other planet with a more highly advanced civilization where common sense and respect is the order of the day, doesn't it?  But this was real life and this was a Short Sale Dream because the seller's lender was one of our excellent local banks, Androscoggin Bank.  The bank recognized that one of their good, long-time customers was in a fix.  The Seller had clearly explained their hardship and how it had come about to their lender at the time a short sale price was listed.  The bank showed compassion and offered options - they were willing to work with their valued customer to alleviate the hardship.  Androscoggin Bank cared!  If that isn't a Short Sale Dream, I don't know what is.

Was the entire listing/short sale process easy?  No, even though the bank was cooperative and sympathetic, the stresses and strains that lead to the necessity of a short sale can be complex and gut-wrenching for those involved.  This one was no exception, but it didn't have the added difficulty of working with an unresponsive, large, national lender that made the buyer and seller wait torturously for an answer from some man behind the curtain!

When I recommend lenders to my buyer clients, you can bet that Androscoggin Bank is on my short list!

Helping attain dreams and escape nightmares in Southern Mid-Coast Maine!

Writer's Block and Comfort Food

I think the pressure of this challenge to post every day in January is finally getting to my poor over-loaded brain and it is beginning to rebel!  I've made it this far and now I've hit a wall - the dreaded Writer's Block!

After a busy week of the real estate biz and its gnarly issues, I'm facing a busy, overbooked weekend with the added pleasure of having to ready my hubby for a last minute out-of-town biz trip (he's going to FL for 2 weeks - And yes, I've checked my schedule and I can't go).  Pull-Eeeeezz!

So, sitting here at my computer on Saturday morning, with snow falling outside (yes, again) and the mercury sitting around 25 degrees, I really can't think of one more thing to write about.  I've hit the wall - all I need is to be inside today, warm and cozy with a good book and a cup of tea . . . but see above, that is not happening . . .

Because, here in Maine and most of the Eastern United States, and other parts of the country too, we are experiencing a cold, snowy winter, I thought I would offer an easy recipe for comfort food.

Here is a soup recipe I found in a fundraiser cookbook, "From Our Cottage to Yours" that I bought from the Four Towns Watershed Association (FTWA)* a few years back - the book isn't copyrighted and the recipe wasn't credited to anyone in particular, so I guess it's OK to share with all of you.  It is so easy and really good and it doesn't make a huge pot, so if you are alone, you don't have to eat it for a week!

White Bean, Mushroom, and Orzo Soup

• ¼ cup olive oil
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 carrots, chopped                                         
• 1 large clove garlic, pressed or finely minced
• 1/2 lb (or more) thinly sliced mushrooms     
• 4 cups broth (chicken, beef, vegetable)
• ½ cup dry orzo
• 16 oz. can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed well
• Salt - however much you like, or skip it (lots of broths already have plenty of salt)                       
• 2 Tbls. chopped fresh parsley leaves (dried works fine, just use 1 T.)
• Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese 

Combine all ingredients in a medium size pot except the parmesan cheese, bring to a boil and then simmer until tender.  Put in bowls and top with cheese.  This is a really nice dinner served with your favorite crusty bread and a glass of white wine.  So simple.

That's all I got today . . . so enjoy!

* Four Towns Watershed Association, P.O. Box 1166, Gardiner, ME  04345 if you want to order a book for yourself -- $10 plus $3 for shipping/handling.  They may have a few left??

Sometime when my brain recovers, in another post,  I will tell you about the terrific work that this worthwhile organization does relative to water quality in our area lakes, streams and ponds! 

I read this post by Jim Braun awhile ago and thought it was good information for Home Buyers, but surely all REALTORS would know this and advise accordingly!  Not so, Watson!  I found myself with a delayed closing just recently because a Buyer on a Cash Deal didn't know that they couldn't sell stock and get the check in 2 days - I represented the Sellers; it was a short sale; the delay was gut-wrenching for them.  When the extension paperwork was flying fast and furious, I mentioned that Buyers needed to be sure the local bank would not put a hold on that check (yes, they said check, not a wire).  The reply . . . good point, Terry! 

So, I guess this is a good read, and a good reminder, for everyone. 

FYI, I did have a proof of funds letter from Buyer's bank in my file and had no idea they were selling stock to make this purchase until I got the, "We have a small bump in the road." phone call.  It was a complicated story all around, but it did end well.

This could have been a real disaster - - this was a short sale listing.  If it hadn't been a local bank, the file would have ended up back at square one or the buyer would have been in default.  This one worked out ok, but . . . .

So, read Jim's post - - No better advice!

Musicians Wanted - Move to Bath and Play in the Band!

I read in our local newspaper, The Times Record, the other day that the Bath Municipal Band is looking for some new folks to play along!  They are recruiting musicians!

The Municipal Band is one of the really cool, throw-back to yester-year, kind of things about the City of Bath that I really love.  Picture a warm, summer evening in Library Park.  Young families, couples of all ages and singles (usually with a dog or two) are spread across the lawn, under to stately trees, on blankets or sitting in "bag" chairs; many enjoy a picnic supper and children have room to run, romp, dance anad enjoy the music.  The band, in their red vests and straw boaters, is set up in the gazebo and strains of show tunes or patriotic songs waft through the night air.  What a splendid way to escape the confines of your house and enjoy being out in your community with family and friends.  Can you hear it?

I sure don't want this summer entertainment to disappear, so I hope musicians come to play in the band.  Apparently, they have a special need for brass players, but openings exist in all sections except saxophones.  So, come to Bath and join the band!

If you Move to Bath to Play in the Band, I'd be happy to help you find a home to live in!

Brunswick, Maine is Best Place to Live - Angus' "Top 10" List!

Maine's former Governor, Angus King, spoke last week at the Brunswick Downtown Association's(BDA) annual meeting and gave his "Top 10 List" of why Brunswick, Maine is the best place to live.  Please note, these are Governor King's Top 10 items, but my commentary:

1.      "Walk-ability" - Yep, I checked WalkScore - 98 out of 100 - not to shabby!

2.     Brunswick's Merchants - Friendly folk, one and all!

3.     Amenities - he specifically mentioned flower-lined median strips (planted by volunteers), the Androscoggin River Bicycle & Pedestrian Path and the Brunswick Mall (this is not a shopping mall, but a grassy park-like area along Maine Street where, in spring, summer and fall, you can find food carts, the weekly farmers market, and all kinds of outdoor events, and the ice skating pond in winter.

4.     Bowdoin College - Enough said.

5.     "Extraordinary" schools - Here you go!

6.     Sense of Community - This is something you have to experience in person - I have no link for it!

7.     Transportation - Governor King pointed to the anticipated arrival of the Amtrak Downeaster, which will connect the Mid-Coast to Boston via Portland.  He didn't mention the new "Brunswick Explorer" local bus service!

8.     "The air" - The quality of our environment

9.     Medical Care, including great facilities and connectivity

10.   "The Times Record"- OK, so The Times Record wrote an article about his speech, but his point was that for a small town, we are lucky to have a daily local newspaper that is commited to the community!

Governor King lives in Brunswick with his family.  After he left office, he traveled the country and has seen what else is out there.  This list is Governor King's list about his hometown - I can think of many other things that add to the quality of life in Brunswick and our region and make this a highly desirable place to live. 

I'd be pleased to show you all that the Bath/Brunswick Region has to offer.  Contact me Today!