OZZIE and HARRIET...A Perfect Marriage!

We've always had dogs; usually two and at one time we had three. We like terriers and when we had three, one was an Airedale and the other two were Welsh terriers. If you don't know the breeds, the Airedales weigh in at about 45-60 lbs. and they are a medium-sized black and tan dog. The Welsh terriers look exactly the same, but they weigh in at 18-24 lbs. So when we had three, everyone thought the Welshies were the Airedale's pups. It was a lot of fun.

For the past several years, we had just two Welsh terriers, Harry and Lilly. They were both getting on in years and sadly, both succumbed to age in early 2005. After a few months, we simply had to get another Welsh puppy and found one with a wonderful breeder in Virginia (they are a somewhat rare breed).

I flew down to Dulles Airport where I met the breeder, picked up OZZIE, and then flew right back to Boston with him under my seat in the plane. To say that Ozzie has turned into a wonder-dog would be an understatement. He graduated from puppy training with honors and at 14 months, he now has mastered so many tricks that I had to teach him to "bow" after a typical display of his prowess.

We had Ozzie for about 10 months when Linda decided it was time to add a HARRIET to the family. So we contacted Janet the breeder again and she informed us that she did in fact have a female Welshie she would be pleased to place with us. This time we had the pup (she's actually one month older than Ozzie) flown up to Boston using United's Pet Cargo System, and we were very nervous as we drove from the North Shore into Logan Airport to take delivery. Our apprehension was replaced with joy as we opened the door to the crate at the cargo terminal and Harriet popped out- a little furry bundle of tail-wagging happiness. She was just fine.

So now we have "Ozzie and Harriet," our own terrier version of the sitcom couple from the 50's and early 60's, and they get along just like that famous TV couple...Harriet clearly runs things around the house and Ozzie just takes it all in stride. A perfect marriage, so to speak.

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Here are some trivia questions for you readers:

1. What years was the Ozzie and Harriet Show on TV?
2. How many children did they have?
3. What were their names?
4. Why don't we ever see re-runs of the show?

Happy New Year from Linda and me and Ozzie and Harriet!

Peace, Goodwill, and Only An Occasional Grinch

Isn't this is a wonderful time of year? Cheerful lights turn dark houses into welcoming neighborhoods. People are rushing about, but often they are also smiling and laughing. Drivers are more courteous, and traffic lights are dressed for the season. Good wishes and familiar carols fill the air. As Garrison Keillor said, "A lovely thing about Christmas is that it's compulsory, like a thunderstorm, and we all go through it together."

But wouldn't you know…there are Grinches about, too. I just found this video on YouTube, and it as an eye-opener. It's called "Gone in Four Seconds" and you'll be surprised at what you see. SUV drivers especially should take a few minutes to view it. The identity you save could be your own!

So as you wish family and friends a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy New Year, wish them also a safe and healthy holiday season. Then keep that wonderful feeling with you as long as possible. Calvin Coolidge had it right when he said, " Christmas is not a time or a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas."

May your Christmas and New Year be joyous and Grinch-free!

First Things First!

Imagine going out to purchase a new dining room suite of furniture. You find just the right set, and the salesperson asks how you plan to pay for it. You answer, "Gee, I hadn't thought about that!" The next question is, "Do you want to pay by check?" After a look at your checkbook balance you shake your head.

This scenario continues with a barrage of financial questions to set up a financing plan for your new furniture. Caught by surprise without the answers, you leave the store in dismay.

It's not likely you would let this happen if you were buying furniture, but it happens quite often when people go to buy a home. Since financing is usually essential to completing a home purchase, here's a more pleasant alternative.

Before you begin searching for a home, ask your Realtor® to arrange a "pre-qualification" interview with a mortgage lender. This allows you to speak directly with the lender and provide detailed financial information in confidence. The result? The lender can determine an appropriate loan for your new home, as well as the maximum amount for which you are financially qualified.

Once you complete the "pre-qualification" process, you are ready to being your home search confident that you have the financing available. You'll be able to spend your house-hunting time knowing your price range and finding just the right home for you and your family.

Rate Increase Sells Homes

A curious change has taken place within the real estate marketplace. I'm not talking about the shift from Seller's market to Buyer's market. And I'm not talking about mortgage rates. I'm talking about real estate commission rates going up!

Why would that be, you may ask. Well, aside from increased costs associated with marketing more properties for longer periods of time, this current Buyer's market has also forced sellers to examine new ways to make their properties stand out from competing homes for sale. And one sure way to accomplish that goal is to offer better incentives to the real estate agents. According to a recent (Nov. 9th) article in the Wall Street Journal, such "incentives have become much more widespread in recent months, especially in areas where inventories of unsold homes have soared."

Of course, proper pricing is still the most important factor, but in this declining market savvy sellers are reaching out to attract the attention of the people who work with the prospective buyers of their homes - the real estate agents. When you consider that a 1% increase in a real estate commission can represent a 20% increase in income to an agent, and that only a 2% increase in the fee can result in a 40% increase in what the agent will earn, doesn't it make sense to offer such a simple "reward" to the person that provides you with a ready, willing and able buyer, particularly in this market?

A mortgage rate increase may hurt sales, but a commission rate increase can change the status of a home from FOR SALE to SOLD.

For additional tips on selling your home, give me a call.

Show Off!

Have you noticed the way clothing stores are displaying their suits, dresses, and blouses these days? They're showing off their clothing in ways that result in faster sales at higher prices.

Take blouses. Rather than just having rack after rack, the store displays a manikin wearing the blouse as part of a fashionable outfit. Over the shoulder, they drape a colorful silk scarf and add a gold scarf pin. They layer a camisole under the blouse, add a pair of designer-sytle slacks, and pull the look together with a fine leather belt.

Get the picture? They're not just selling blouses, are they? They are selling a "look," an image of the person the shopper would like to be. Selling a home successfully is no different.

You may ask "Why?" Because families do not buy homes. They buy dreams, convenience, views, space to entertain, and all the other benefits a home offers.

When selling your home, ask your real estate agent for a "mini-merchandising" course, often called "staging." Learn the many ways to create a special look or image that invites buyers to imagine themselves living in the house forever.

Some great ideas for creating such appeal are fresh-cut flowers around the home, a formal dining room set for a royal banquet, cinnamon rolls baking in the oven, soft music, or other special homey touches.

Selling your home is a unique experience. Give it the attention it deserves and you will reap the rewards!