Metas
A Friend in Need - Helping Other People
Yesterday, I was informed of a very close and dear friend, Charles Richey, had been hospitalized with Guillain-Barre Syndrome. This particular disease afflicts the nervous system and the inflicted individual looses the use of all their limbs and ability to swallow.
Charles has helped me with my website on many occasions and has always been there to just to talk or give me encouragement when things were rough for me. There are many real estate agents through the United States that have benefited from his assistance. In addition, Charles, is very active in the Las Vegas area with animal rescue organizations. Many times when we talk he will tell me about a new dog that he has staying with him until a home can be found.
Charles does not have any health insurance at this time and with the overall real estate market not as strong as it has been, he will be incurring substantial hospital, physician, and after inpatient care - if you have been hospitalized you may have some idea of what Charles will be facing in the future.
On the Internet, we meet many people and may not meet them in person. So when a call goes out to help another- the internet is a power vehicle to get the word out. I have been lucky to meet Charles and his wife Jacqui in person and have had dinner with them.
You may not know Charles Richey from Las Vegas, but perhaps you know someone that has been striken with this disease and can offer comforting words of advice for this family or if you are so inclined to assist Charles you can visit this site or click on the graphic below.
Donate to the Charles Richey Fund
Thank you for reading this post and any assistance you can offer Charles Richey from Las Vegas.
Economic Stimulus Payment
For many Americans they are looking forward to their rebate check from the Internal Revenue Service. Individuals are looking forward to their $600, married couples with no qualifying children $1,200, and married couples with qualifying children $1,200 with an additional $300 per child.
To some people receiving the rebate checks, the amount they are receiving is not what they expected - in fact it is below the above stated amounts.
The amount to be received is dependent upon the amount of adjusted gross income and the amount of income taxes which you incurred for 2007.
I found on the Internal Revenue Service’s website a calculator that you can use to determine how much of an economic stimulus check or rebate check you should be expecting. By clicking on this link - calculate your rebate check - after entering some basic information about yourself and income tax return, the amount of check will be made available.
Hope you find this little calculator useful.
Blog Makes Top 100 Real Estate Blogs
Today, I was very surprised to find this blog to ranked in the Top 100 Real Estate Blogs as per Top 100 Real Estate Blogs.
The ranking is determined by Google Page Rank, Technorati Rank, and Alexa rankings.
The blog is entitled Naples Real Estate News and Market Updates and does cover the communities of Bonita Springs and Estero as well.
Thank you - Top 100 Real Estate Blogs.
Mel’s Diner Benefit
Mel’s Diner is having a Classic Vehicle Cruise In to benefit Helping Kids With Cancer.
Over 100 classic vehicles will be on display in the parking lot of Mel’s Diner in Fort Myers, on US 41 - ½ mile south of Colonial Blvd. this Sunday November 25th from 6:00-9:00 P.M. Proceeds raised during the car show will benefit Helping Kids with Cancer.
Helping Kids With Cancer provides an opportunity to rally local area communities in support of this important cause. Children, ranging in age from infants to age 19 are being treated in the seven county region of SW Florida: Lee, Collier, Glades, Hendry, Desoto, Charlotte and Sarasota at The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida. Before the establishment of the outpatient center, children with cancer or other blood disorders would have to travel all the way to Miami or Tampa for treatment. Currently, plans are underway to build a 12-bed pediatric inpatient unit. Children requiring hospitalization while undergoing chemotherapy cannot risk exposure to common cold germs due to their compromised immune systems. A unit designed specifically to meet their unique requirements allows children to be treated in a healing environment, with a child friendly staff and standards. No child is denied treatment as a result of their family’s inability to pay.
Also, help kids at The Children’s Hospital during the holidays by bringing a teddy bear to be donated and delivered by the Vietnam Veterans of America Florida Chapter 594.
There will be a cookout and live entertainment by Uptown Express.
There is NO admission charge.
For additional information please call Mel’s Diner at 239–275-7850 or Richard Karp - Director of Marketing at 239-489-0085 or Denise Mangos of The Spirit of the 50’s at 239-278-9007.
Naples Swamp Buggy Parade
Every October for more than 50 years, the greater Naples area plays host to the Swamp Buggy Races or commonly called by the older residents "The Mile O’ Mud." Prior to the races in the afternoon a parade takes place in downtown Naples. The parade brings back the days when Naples was a fishing and rural agricultural community.
The vehicle above was one of the more interesting non-racing vehicles in the parade. Notice the wild boar coming through the front windshield.
What would a Swamp Buggy Parade be without a true swamp buggy! So let’s take a look at the different types of swamp buggies that competed in the races on Saturday and Sunday. Oh, by the way, the buggy owners to tend to express themselves during the parade for their favorite business or politician - but it all for fun.
There are also exhibits of swampy buggies from the days gone by - in fact here is one from 1929!
Since the parade takes place in late October of each year, some swampy buggy owners get into the spirit of Halloween by decorating their buggies.
More pictures from the Swamp Buggy parade will be posted over the next few days.
Bald Eagle - Shot - Clings To Life
How shocking!!! Someone shot a Bald Eagle! Why shoot a Bald Eagle, our national bird? It is not a bird that people eat.
Photo courtesy of The Conservancy of Southwest Florida.
The eagle was shot in the right leg. The Conservancy of Southwest Florida has been taking care of the eagle since Friday. It was found Thursday evening in Mediterra in North Naples. The care-takers have been nursing the eagle and trying to rehydrate it. Originally the eagle was taken to a local emergency pet veterinarian where via x-rays the bullet was found.
The staff at the Conservancy hopes to nurse the eagle back to health and perform surgery to save its life.
"If the leg doesn’t heal, the eagle would have to be euthanized because federal rules do not allow the Conservancy to release or keep one-legged birds," Barbara Wilson, Conservancy marketing director said.
Shooting a bald eagle is a violation of both state and federal laws. Federally, it is a violation of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.
"A first violation of the eagle act is a class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $100,000 fine," Ed Lewis, special agent with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Subsequent violations are felonies punishable by up to two years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The eagle currently weighs 4 pounds, about half the weight of a healthy eagle, raising concerns about the bird’s health, a Conservancy staff member stated.
“We are not sure what the outcome will be for the eagle,’’ said another staff member.
PETA Demonstration in Naples
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) held a demonstration at the intersection of US 41 (Tamiami Trail) and Pine Ridge Road in North Naples. They definitely caught the attention of both drivers and pedestrians with the plaid body paint and they were topless.
Yom Kippur Begins This Evening
Tonight at sunset (7:08 PM local time) the Naples, Bonita Springs and Estero Jewish communities begin the observation of Yom Kippur.
Yom Kippur is the holiest of days in the Jewish religion. The observance is also known as the Day of Atonement since the events of Yom Kippur focus on asking and granting forgiveness for one’s transgressions.
Member of the Jewish faith will attend services at a synagogue or temple on the eve and day of Yom Kippur. Prayers which emphasize cleansing of the soul are recited during the day services.
On Yom Kippur, no work is done, business transacted and there is abstainance from food, drink, and sex.
To those of the Naples Jewish community L’Shana Tova and may you have an easy fast.
Disincentives in Real Estate
On July 15th, Chris Palmeri from Business Week discussed how his Mother was told by a major builder that a price reduction (in all likelihood adjustment to existing market conditions) was an incentive.
This reminds me of a visit to a model center from a major builder where the on-site salesperson told my client that a new townhouse was selling for $245,000 and that a similar property across the street were closing at $350,000. The townhouse if purchased that day would be worth $350,000 in two year! My client and I looked at each, since I informed him that private economists and economists from the University of Florida were looking at the average price of residential real estate was forecasted to increase between 3 and 7 percent a year.
Somehow, my math does not work out to the $350,000 the on-site salesperson forecast.
Maybe major builders need to instruct their on-site salespersons to be more careful how they discuss incentives to prospective buyers in a more informed manner.
Interesting Blog Posts - 07/16/07
It seems that not only Florida is having issues with revenues, but also the City of Toronto, Canada. Fraser Beach in his blog “The Toronto Real Estate Blog” discusses a transfer tax that people purchasing real estate in Toronto could be paying in the future. The transfer tax in Florida takes the form of Documentary Stamps paid by the seller of the property instead.
On the Inman News Blog Matt Carter discusses the new Bank of American No Fee loan and how Jack Guttentag compared it 11 ways with another lender. It seems that in 5 cases it was a better deal and six times it was more costly. Interesting notation at the end of Matt’s article is that Guttentag says “some borrowers won’t be able to comparison shop online.” Personally, I think that shopping online for a mortgage is pretty risky at best.
Maya Roney, from Business Week comments on the National Association of Realtors predictions for the housing market. National statistics are nice, but still a buyer or seller needs to look at their local real estate market rather than a national perspective. In addition, the person needs to look at single family versus condominium properties as well as the neighborhood that the property is located in. Today’s real estate market has become more complex and global analysis just does not really cut it.