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RISMEDIA, January 23, 2010—(MCT)—A few years ago, Barb Lito and her husband decided to bite the bullet and buy some home exercise equipment. “We both had gym memberships, but with demanding jobs and family commitments, we were not making the time to get to the gym,” said Lito. Their daughter, who was 10 years old at the time, was too old for the nursery but too young to turn loose at the gym.

Working out at home was getting more attractive. There, she or her husband could squeeze in a workout whenever they found a spare 30 minutes. “It was the convenience factor,” Lito said. So they canceled their gym memberships and headed to Sears where they bought an elliptical trainer and a treadmill.

Starting a home exercise program doesn’t have to cost a bundle, especially if you keep the following tips from local experts and enthusiasts in mind.

Running shoes
Taking a jog around the block is one of the quickest ways to get started with an exercise program. Consider your feet before pounding the pavement too much, though. “If your feet are hurting, it’s going to discourage you from running,” said Mike Robinson, owner of Running Etc., a shop specializing in shoes and other running gear. “If you can get your feet happy, that’s one less excuse to keep you from going out the door tomorrow.”

Joe Harney, president of the Peninsula Track Club, said shoes should be replaced regularly, too. He said a pair’s effective life is about 400 miles. “When you see white on the edge of the heel, it’s time to get a new pair. Otherwise, if you run enough, you’re going to come up with pain somewhere. I can almost guarantee it.” Harney suggests buying two pairs at a time—once you find a pair that works well for you. “Companies change styles too much, you may go back to buy another pair and find they no longer make them.”

Mats and bars
“A lot of times you can use your own body weight,” said Mark Palamarchuck, instructional program supervisor for Newport News Parks and Recreation. Pull-ups, chin-ups and sit-ups require nothing more than a bar or a mat. Bars are available from discount stores and often fit over door frames. A yoga-style exercise mat will cost $20 or less at a discount store.

Hand weights
“With free weights or a stability ball, there are a lot of things you can do without spending a lot of money,” said Andre Moore, senior director of wellness and membership at the Newport News YMCA. “With dumbbells, you have a choice of neoprene-covered or just iron,” he said. “It’s just personal preference and comfort.” The price shouldn’t be more than a couple of dollars per pound. “If someplace is asking you to pay $5 or more a pound, go somewhere else.” If you are unsure of the amount of weight to use, Moore suggests using this test: Do two or three sets of 12 to 15 lifts, such as a curl. “If you are straining on the last couple of reps, that’s probably a good weight for you.” Typically, people just starting out use hand weights between 3-5 pounds.

Exercise balls
Inflatable stability balls and old-fashioned weighted balls—also known as medicine balls—have rolled back into fashion among fitness experts. The weighted spheres can be used to add resistance to a wide variety of exercises.

“They’re tried-and-true and they work. I think people are realizing that,” Palamarchuck said. “They’re very versatile.” He suggests using them with crunches or squats. They’re also readily available. You’ll find them at sporting goods stores as well as big box discounters such as Wal-Mart. Moore suggests beginners start with a 4-pound medicine ball. “Start with something lower than what you can handle, then increase.” Exercise experts also recommend using the inflatable stability balls. Look for models with an anti-burst feature and be sure to buy the right size ball for your height.

DVDs
Recorded exercise programs offer workout expertise in a convenient digital package. They’re not only for neophytes, either. Some workout DVDs, including the much-advertised P90X system, are intended for folks who have already established an exercise habit. Palamarchuck suggests checking out exercise programs on cable television that won’t cost you a penny extra.

Fitness video games
“Wii Fit” is the exercise system that seems to be hogging the spotlight these days. In October 2009, Nintendo introduced “Wii Fit Plus,” which offered an upgrade to the original set of interactive exercises. “As far as entry level, I think it’s great,” Palamarchuck said. The Wii does offer a variety of activities, which can help fend off boredom.

(c) 2010, Daily Press (Newport News, Va.).

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

10 Inexpensive Ways to Wow Buyers

Now is the time for home owners contemplating a spring sale to spruce up their properties in anticipation of what Mike Larson of Weiss Research calls a potentially vibrant home-selling season.

"If you have been beating your head against a wall, this is going to feel a lot better,” he says.

Here are 10 cheap ways to make a property more attractive to shoppers:

1. Improve first impressions. Touch up the paint on the front door and other areas that buyers see first.
2. Clean up the landscaping. Trim the hedges and trees and plant some annuals in the flowerbeds.
3. Paint the interior. A coat of light yellow or cream with contrasting white woodwork looks fresh and clean.
4. Refurbish the floors. Buff the hardwoods. Install new carpets – or at least get them professionally cleaned.
5. Take care of the big problems. If the house needs a roof or the front stoop is crumbling, get them fixed.
6. Buy warranties. Putting appliances under warranty gives homebuyers a secure feeling.
7. Improve energy efficiency. New windows or improved insulation tells a potential buyer the seller is on top of things plus they come with tax benefits.
8. Replace light fixtures. Updated fixtures, especially at the entrance way and in the foyer, create a good first impression.
9. Buy a stove. Home owners whose kitchen isn’t top of the line can jazz it up for a few hundred dollars by buying a new stove, which gives the room a fresh feel.
10. Tidy up the bathrooms. Get rid of mildew, replace caulking, and replace stained sinks.

Source: U.S. News & World Report, Luke Mullins (01/21/2010)

RISMEDIA, January 28, 2010—(MCT)—It seems that for every purchase, there is a discount season, and most people generally know they can get a deal by timing some purchases to a season—to buy when demand is low or supply is high. For example, clothing is cheaper when it’s “out of season” and certain fruits and vegetables are cheaper when they’re “in season.”

But the strategy is not so obvious with some items, such as condiments. Condiments, including mustard and relish, are cheapest when the weather warms in May so supermarkets can lure you with visions of picnics and barbeques. Similarly, stores put champagne on sale in December in hopes you’ll come for the bubbly and buy full-priced liquor for the holidays.

Mark Di Vincenzo, author of Buy Ketchup in May and Fly at Noon: A Guide to the Best Time to Buy This, Do That and Go There offers the following examples of how you can time your purchases to save money.

End of season: Retail inventory is usually ahead of the actual season, so you’ll find good deals on swimsuits in September and winter coats in January and February, when those garments are still useful. Similarly, lawnmowers, gas grills, shrubs and patio furniture can be bargains after Labor Day. Buy sporting goods at the end of that sport’s season.

Sudden drops in demand: Chocolate and roses become far less expensive after Valentine’s Day. Think holiday wrapping paper and boxed Christmas cards in January.

Back-to-school: You can stock up on some good deals during the back-to-school retail blitz in August, but it might pay to buy some things, including jeans, in September and October, after the rush. By then, fashion-conscious students will also know the must-have items.

Discontinued: Retailers will sell current inventory cheap when it’s time to make room for the new stuff. Hit the white sales in January for sheets and towels and July for furniture.

Electronics: TVs, computers and cell phones are generally deals when new models come out. Laptop computers, in particular, tend to be cheaper during back-to-school sales. Cameras tend to be cheapest in February. TVs sales are often best in December and January.

Thrift stores: The big idea is to know when selection is best. Ask the clerks at your local store what time of month they get overstock donations from retailers and especially when dry cleaners donate unclaimed garments. People who use dry cleaners usually have high-quality clothes that are well cared for. Selection is also good after people have done “spring cleaning” in their closets.

Shoes: Shop in late afternoon when your feet have swelled, so you don’t waste money on a size too small. Buy sneakers in April or November.

Grocery shopping: Sunday through Tuesday is the best time to do your grocery shopping. Store sales often start on Wednesday, but coupons to match some sales don’t come out until the Sunday newspaper circular. Stacking coupons with sales leads to the best deals.

Homes: Buy houses in January—or, more generally, winter—when buyers are few and sellers desperate. “A January seller is an eager seller,” Di Vincenzo said. “If they weren’t, they would just wait until spring when their house would show better.” This year’s winter sales season might see more action than usual because of first-time buyer’s tax credits that expire April 30.

Vehicles: Buy cars in the fall, after new models come out. You can save 10-20% on the previous year’s model, but the longer you wait, the fewer choices you will have in colors and options. Visit the dealership at the end of the month when salespeople must make quotas. Buy boats and RVs off-season, in winter.

Weddings: You might dream of a June wedding, but a winter one might mean more cash for the honeymoon.

(c) 2010, The Morning Call (Allentown, Pa.)

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services

RISMEDIA, January 30, 2010—(MCT)—”The place where you feel happy.” In an interview in Esquire magazine, that’s how novelist Salman Rushdie described “home.” After a busy day or a long time away, most of us look forward to just being home, where we can be ourselves and surround ourselves with the familiar.

Many people, however, have trouble relaxing at home, especially where there are piles of clutter and unfinished projects at every turn. Sometimes, home can be a place that reminds us of what we haven’t gotten around to doing. If you sometimes feel that way, perhaps it’s time to make some residential resolutions. The New Year isn’t just about losing weight or quitting smoking. It can be about finding time to turn your home into more of a haven.

“If you take time to make your home the way you want it, you don’t have as many things hanging over your head, distracting you, getting in the way,” says Jennifer Linnig, a home organization specialist who lives and blogs in Cudahy, Wis. “Being organized frees the mind,” she says. “It lets you focus on what really matters.”

Paula Constable says being organized is a way to create a comfortable environment. “It’s not about perfection,” says Constable, of Johnson Creek, Wis., who has been a residential organizer for more than a decade, specializing in moms and families. “The mission is to make life smoother and less stressful.”

The following tips will help you turn your home into a stress-free haven.

1. Be responsible. Get serious about recycling by setting up a sorting center, perhaps in your garage to help you stay on top of things. Start by finding out what the guidelines for recycling are in your community, then clear a space, find appropriate containers and make them accessible all in one spot. Label them so that recycling becomes easy for everyone to do.

2. Be frugal. Turn some of your unwanted gifts and household items into cash by selling them on eBay and Craigslist. “There are so many things that we basically are just storing in our homes,” Constable says. “We don’t use them or need them, but they are still around. Why not turn these things into cash?”

3. Be generous. Donate your unused household goods to Goodwill or other charitable groups. Don’t forget about the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, which accepts usable building materials that can be sold to finance more building projects. Be sure to check out www.freecycle.org, a sharing website that allows you to be both frugal and generous by posting items and giving them away to people who have a real need.

4. Be tidy. Make this the year you set up a system for mail that comes into your home. Stay on top of bill-paying, too. Constable suggests three choices for every piece of mail. “First, you can throw it out; second, take action on it (such as following up or making a payment); or, third, file it. As for a system for paying bills, she suggests making a master list and listing when each bill is due each month, how it gets paid (online or by mail) and what a typical amount is. That way you know what is due when and you won’t be caught by surprise. It also allows someone else to take over bill-paying duties if necessary.

5. Be discerning. Clutter and overcrowding are most often the result of having too many things rather than inadequate storage space. If you resist impulse buying and don’t buy something unless you really need it, you can keep your possession count as low as possible. As often as possible, try to make do with what you own.

6. Be inclusive. Involve your family in the home organization process. Getting kids involved teaches skills and responsibility. Linnig suggests setting a timer or playing a fun song when children are helping. “You can do anything for 10 or 15 minutes,” she says. Often when kids start to make progress on straightening up their rooms or putting away toys, they ignore the time limit and keep going until the job is done, taking pride in what they have accomplished.

7. Be mindful. You want to have a sense of safety and comfort at home, which can, in part, be achieved by having working smoke detectors, a carbon monoxide detector and a radon meter (in areas where radon is a concern). Taking safety a step further, consider replacing candles with alternatives such as scented globes or battery-operated flickering pillars that help create the same mood.

8. Be health-conscious. When tackling home improvement projects, educate yourself about products that have less of an impact on your home environment, such as low-VOC paint and eco-friendly carpet.

9. Be aware. Energy costs are going up, and environmental awareness is an important topic these days. You can do something about it. Obvious changes include replacing incandescent light bulbs with fluorescents, using a setback thermostat and buying Energy Star appliances when possible.

(c) 2010, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

RISMEDIA, January 30, 2010—(MCT)—If your idea of a dream retirement home is a luxury contemporary overlooking a championship golf course in the desert, you better be prepared for some mighty small block parties: When it comes to retirement living, golf courses are out.

And Arizona and Florida aren’t the only retirement-relocation hot spots these days. In fact, North and South Carolina now top the preferences of baby boomers who will be retiring in the next decade, according to a survey to be released from home builder Del Webb. “How times have changed when it comes to the golf course,” said Paul Cardis, chief executive of AVID Ratings Co., a survey research firm. His recommendation to builders: Eliminate it. Bike paths and walking trails are the new greens and fairways.

Blame it all on the economy. The recession has taken its toll not only on nest eggs but also on the traditional concept of a retirement home. That’s the message that attendees at the International Builders Show received in a number of presentations and seminars.

Downsizing is a trend that is taking hold among all housing consumers, but it is particularly evident among the 55-plus crowd that includes the older baby boomers. And that downsizing includes housing aspirations in retirement. While “warmer climate” was the reigning factor in choosing where to retire in the first boomer survey Del Webb conducted in 1996, today “cost of living” is the most important consideration on where to locate. Although Florida, Arizona and California remain Top 10 retirement destinations, the trend is giving other states a chance to draw even more retirees.

Despite the broadening of potential destinations, baby boomers’ desire to move in retirement has remained relatively stable over the years. Between 30-40% plan to move to a new home in retirement, about the same as in 1996, and half of those plan on moving to a new state.

What older buyers want in homes
What kind of houses will be in demand among those 55 and older? According to a consumer survey conducted by the National Association of Home Builders, the most important design features that 55-plus buyers want in their homes center on the practical:

-Washers and dryers in their units
-Storage space
-Windows that open easily
-Garage-door openers
-Easy-to-use thermostats
-First-floor master bedrooms
-Private patios
-Porches
-Attached garages
-Bigger bathrooms

A lot of the more popular features in new homes these days don’t appeal all that much to older buyers:
-Island work areas
-Separate showers
-Private toilet compartments
-Sun rooms
-Woodburning fireplaces
-Exercise rooms

But a number of items that home buyers don’t find to be of much interest are much more popular with older buyers:
-Bathroom aids such as grab bars
-Kitchen aids
-Light home-repair services
-Outdoor maintenance services
-An entrance without steps
-Accessible public transportation
-Wider doorways
-Nonslip flooring

Among technology features, older home buyers tend to act like younger buyers when it comes to the basics: Both groups have a preference for security systems, energy management, structured wiring and lighting controls. But older buyers had little use for home theaters, distributed audio or home automation, more-expensive items that younger buyers do like. “These older buyers are frugal, probably on a fixed income and so expensive tech items are not that big on their lists,” said Rose Quint, the NAHB assistant vice president for survey research.

The emphasis on services related to home and community is an important one that cuts across many age groups, said John Migliaccio, director of research at MetLife’s Mature Market Institute, which surveys consumers and builders on retirement issues. “Very telling is that the younger group of mature consumers reported enthusiastically that they want services like home maintenance and repair as part of their next home purchase, along with services usually connected to older householders, such as housekeeping, onsite health care and transportation,” he said.

According to Migliaccio, all of those items were ranked higher than the desire for social activities by this group—a surprise given that social activities and amenities have been thought to be valued highly by this group. He said the data support an emerging trend among builders to look for ways to partner with providers of such services to the residents of their active adult/lifestyle communities.

Migliaccio also predicted that universal design—which includes features such as wider hallways, lever-handled doors, roll-in showers and no-stair entries—will catch on as baby boomers watch their own parents age. “The boomers are going to see their own parents age without it and they won’t like what they see,” he said.

The 55-plus age group represents 38% of all U.S. households and is projected to rise every year to be almost 45% of households by 2019. And that group has high homeownership rates: while the U.S. as a whole has about a 67% ownership rate, those 55 to 74 own homes at an 80% clip. “Most buyers in this market are looking for an easy-living lifestyle. They would like easy access to services that will free up their time from maintenance both inside and outside their homes,” said Mike McGowan, a 50-plus builder from Binghamton, N.Y. and chairman of the National Association of Home Builder’s 50-Plus Housing Council. “This data tells builders that the homes they build for older active adults will remain attractive to the consumers who will be entering that market for the foreseeable future.”

(c) 2010, MarketWatch.com Inc.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

Daily Real Estate News  January 21, 2010

Older Buyers Look for Easy-Care Homes

A survey showed three key differences between the concerns of 55- to 64-year-old homeowners compared to those of homeowners 65 and older:

• Younger homeowners were more interested in technology
• Older homeowners had a strong preference for a single-story floor plan or at least one with a first-floor master
• Younger homeowners were more eager for home maintenance and repair services, vs. older homeowners, who were more focused on healthcare and transportation

The survey conducted by the National Association of Home Builders and the MetLife Mature Market Institute showed that both age groups want easy access to services that free up their time and help them live in a secure environment.

Growth in housing for older people has slowed as a result of the overall slowdown in new home construction. This is likely to cause a shortage just as this housing is most in demand, points out Paul Emrath, vice president for housing policy research for the home builders.

Source: National Association of Home Builders and the MetLife Mature Market Institute (01/19/2010)

RISMEDIA, January 21, 2010—With the New Year now upon us, it is with some relief that I look back upon 2009, glad that the year is behind us. It was a year full of personal and professional challenges for many and I am happy to welcome in the New Year and a new decade.

There are so many things that are beyond our control: the economy, interest rates, health care costs, global warming, etc. In our own industry there are an unbelievable number of foreclosure and short sale properties on the market, not to mention the challenge of securing adequate financing for our buyers. Each of these factors seems overwhelming and if you really think about it, each provides ample excuses of why we are not doing well. As a matter of fact, the sheer gloom and doom in the real estate market is all we really need to justify our lack of production and income, isn’t it? It is easy to be miserable, easy to sit back and wait for things to get better and easy to blame our situation on all of the factors over which we have no control.

I have always been a big believer in the words of Reinhold Niebuhr’s serenity prayer:

“God, grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
The courage to change the things that I can;
And the wisdom to know the difference.”

In other words, if there is something that is challenging you and it is causing you to stress or complain, ask yourself this simple question: “Can I change it?” If the answer is “no,” then stop stressing over it and just move on. But if the answer is “yes,” then stop complaining and get to work making the necessary changes.

As real estate agents, we may not be able to control the economy or market, but we can control our own individual, daily behaviors that allow us to continue to earn a good living in this business. So many people today are stuck in “analysis paralysis;” they are focused on issues and market conditions that they have no personal control over, when instead they should focus on the activities and personal behaviors that they can control each day.

I have several coaching students who are all going through the exact same program, several in the same offices and markets. It is interesting to me that two agents working in the same office, the same market, and getting the same instruction and coaching get such different results. The simple deciding factor in achieving greatness today is you. You and you alone can control your actions and your activities that can generate new business. Are you prospecting every day? Have you identified the predominant areas where transactions are occurring in your market? Have you built a marketing and prospecting plan to put yourself in the middle of them? If the answer is no, then it is not the fault of the economy that you are struggling; it is your fault for not making the necessary adjustments to succeed.

I believe in you and your ability to take control of your future.

At a time when we are making resolutions and setting new goals, think about what you can personally change, what behaviors, actions and attitudes you can adjust this year, month, week, and today that will make a real difference in your production and income.

Here’s a tip for you. In my opinion, the simplest and most productive thing you can do right now to increase your business is to prospect for real buyers and sellers for at least three hours every day. Block the time from 9 a.m. to 12 noon every day to focus on only one thing: Getting new business. Don’t be distracted by paperwork, other agents or family to-do’s; instead get focused and prepared and lock your mindset into believing that the most important thing you can do right now is prospect. This a magic pill for success and it hinges on your attitude. With the right attitude and the right actions that go along with it, you will find yourself in a much better financial situation in 2010.

What are you willing to do to change your situation?

As I sat in church recently, the teacher was taking us through goal setting and planning for the New Year. I felt like I had heard it all before and even taught many of the same lessons, but there was one thing that stuck out in this particular lesson that really grabbed my attention and it was this: We need others in our lives that are willing to tell it to us straight; that are willing to let us know when we are screwing up, and will then hold us accountable.

In coaching we believe that accountability is a key factor in success. In life that same principle is true. If you have failed to meet your own expectations or the expectations of your family, now is the time to reach out to your closest friends and share with them your goals; ask them to help hold you accountable and keep you on track. Join or start an accountability group in your office or get involved with a coach or mentor that will not allow you to use excuses in areas over which you have no control. Let’s not wait for the market or the government or our broker to create our stimulus plan for 2010, let’s each take control of the things we can and stop focusing on the things we can’t. I personally have decided to make 2010 my best year ever.

Are you with me?

About the author
Verl Workman is a leading national speaker, coach and consultant and is co-founder of Pinnacle Quest Consulting Group. To contact Verl, visit www.verlworkman.com or www.PQPipeline.com or e-mail him at AskVerl@VerlWorkman.com.

White House Lost Value in 2009

The estimated value of the White House has dropped 5.1 percent—from $308 million to $292.5 million—in the last year, according to real estate Web site Zillow. Homes across the United States declined in value by about 5 percent, so the 132-room mansion is following the national trend.

The 5.1 percent decrease in the value of the White House is an improvement over its 7.2 percent decrease in 2008; and the nationwide 5 percent drop is a major improvement over the 11.9 percent average decrease in 2008. The White House, designed by an Irish architect and built in 1792, totals 55,000 square feet and sits on 18 acres.

Source: CNN.Com (1/21/09)

RISMEDIA, January 26, 2010—Fans of Punxsutawney Phil, Pennsylvania’s world-famous weather-forecasting groundhog, can sign up to be among the first to know if there will be an early spring when he makes his annual prediction on February 2, 2010.

For the first time, Punxsutawney Phil’s followers can receive his official prediction via their mobile device by texting “Groundhog” to 247365 between now and February 2. After the initial text message, participants will be invited to submit their e-mail address to receive additional tourism-related messages.

“Punxsutawney Phil holds the fate of winter close to the vest and in his stump until daybreak on February 2, but the moment he emerges you can be among the first to learn of the forecast on your mobile phone,” said Mickey Rowley, deputy secretary for tourism at the Department of Community and Economic Development. “While we would love to have everyone come to the Pennsylvania Wilds to see Phil at Gobbler’s Knob, we don’t want anyone to miss his forecast.”

The text promotion was announced during Punxsutawney Phil’s annual visit to the Pennsylvania Farm Show. “Punxsutawney Phil’s popularity has grown so fast in the last few years. The Pennsylvania Farm Show is the perfect place for people to see him in person,” said Mike Johnston, vice president of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club.

In addition to a text notification, a Webcast of the Groundhog Day festivities will be available at www.visitPA.com/groundhog, including links to Punxsutawney Phil-related videos on YouTube.

In a tradition dating to the 1800s, Groundhog Day is celebrated each February 2 in Punxsutawney, Jefferson County, about 80 miles northeast of Pittsburgh in the Pennsylvania Wilds. According to folklore, if the groundhog emerges in the early morning and sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of wintry weather. If he does not see his shadow, there will be an early spring.

The more than 30,000 visitors who visit Punxsutawney each year for Phil’s prognostication can expand their experience by exploring the Groundhog Wine Trail or by staying in a bed-and-breakfast featuring a farm-to-table dining experience.

For more information, visit www.visitpa.com.