Concord NH~Joni~Merrimack County

As reluctant as I am to say goodbye to Summer....the choice is not mine!
Hearing the August crickets is the warning...Winter is coming, Winter is coming!

The dread is tempered by anticipation. The anticipation of the Beauty of Fall.

This years peak was beautiful and the weather was perfect. My husband and I each grabbed a camera and went off for a day of "leaf peeping" and exploration.
No matter how many years we've repeated this ritual...It is a new and rewarding experience each time!

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ENJOY YOUR JOURNEY !!

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In todays climate any Finance Option that may help is a welcome addition. Williams post explains a possibility that may serve to help.

Just maybe your Client could benefit!

I have too much time on my hands!
As a result I spend much of it reading my substantial on line News subscriptions.

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The Daily Beast does a pretty good job of posting "snipits' of newsworthy news stories. So this morning I punished myself again by reading yet another story on the current Real Estate crisis....how we got here and how they aren't handling it!

This NY Times article  about the hiring (or lack of) of Foreclosure processors will make your blood boil (unless you've become so jaded to what's going on you don't feel it anymore)

In this day and age of clever titles to suit all circumstances....Burger King kids sort of says it all.
(At least for a change they didn't pick on McDonalds!)
Keep up the fancy footwork Mr.Burger King...you can't stop now!

Robo-Signers: Mid level bank Executives who signed documents in bulk, attesting they had personal knowledge  of the facts of "each"

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Yet another bank has joined the ranks of Institutions putting a halt on Foreclosures!

BOA is the latest to make the announcement following on the heels of GMAC and JP Morgan Chase.
(Wells Fargo and Citi have claimed no similar conditions.....ahh denial, by any other name is Financial Institution)

According to a recent  NY Times Article, Lenders have been processing Foreclosures on a wholesale basis in order to get summary judgments!

Talk about a steep learning curve...the same sharp minds that sold these Mortgages in bulk, many to parts unknown, are attempting to solve the problem with the same mind set....to save a buck! {what was that definition of insanity?}

I'm not a Financial wizard by any stretch but I'm sensing another crisis on the horizon! As these are looked at on an individual basis...how many will prove to have not been merited? How many law suits will result?

It would appear that this coming to light was an unforeseen result of individual mortgages being examined for Loan Modification.What will this mean to our Market? That remains to be seen, but on the surface it would seem the result would  not only reduce Listing Inventory but would also further shrink the Buyer pool by removing "bargains' from the Market.

On the plus side....it means that:

1-  (in theory)More Homeowners will have the opportunity to stave off Foreclosure by having an opportunity for Loan Modification.

2- The unemployment rate will drop because of all the people they will need to hire to fix this!

Everybody loves the Fair!

A few weeks ago we attended the Hopkinton Fair in Contoocook. New Hampshire.

The temperature had been very hot for this time of year so we all decided to try the Fair at night!
I live quite close to the Fairgrounds so my husband, brother, sister-in-law, niece and I grabbed the baby's stroller....and off we went!

Of course we have the obligatory Equipment Display! Wouldn't be the Fair without it!

                       Not to be out done by       Chainsaw Art!

But of course....since it was Dinner Time Food was on everyone's mind!

           Never Too Young

    The Texas Grill    Guys

                                                                                                Nellie-Vladimir-Steve

                                                                                                 Serbian Grill Masters!

New Hampshire Fairs still emphasize Agriculture, 4-H Animal Raising and Horse Pulling so we spent a good deal of time in the various Barns.

Ouch!!        I'm thinking Old Fashioned is best!

This guy was truly Majestic!

           One Pooped Piggy   

There were plenty of other sites to see...

                                                                 This Guy Was Extremely Annoying

                                                        Fun Was Had By All!!

There are still more Fairs left to attend!!

Deerfield Fair ~ September 30 thru October 3rd

Sandwich Fair ~ October 9th thru October 11

This is one of the most touching stories I have ever read.
I am a 6 year BC survivor but the courage, love and commitment of these two young people leaves me speechless.....

It speaks for itself....I am so touched to have read it!

During our recent outing to Gould Hill Orchards in Contoocook we were very pleasantly surprised to stumble upon "The Little Nature Museum"

A Hidden Jewel

 The Little Nature Museum was established in 1955 in Winthrop MA, by Sandra W. Martin. She is its Founder and Director. It was in Weare NH for 31 years and relocated to Gould Hill in 2000.

Sandra is an experienced Science teacher and Naturalist. As a child she was educated in Science through
the Science program at the Boston Museum of Science.                             
 Here is Sandra with my husband Geoff...he's headed in to look at fluorescent minerals under Black-light.

One of the best aspects of this place are the extensive "Hands on Exhibits"

What a fun destination for a family outing! And the attractions aren't just appealing to the "little ones".

There are fun and interesting facts for all ages....
For example "did you know"
that beautiful plant with the orange berries ~   BITTERSWEET    

(that we use to decorate our homes)....is considered an

                INVASIVE SPECIES

And just how good are you at recognizing that perennial scourge called
                                                                                                                  POISON IVY?

Are you a Scout Troop Leader? How many Badges could they fill here??

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The Museum is open limited seasonal weekends and private tours by appointment. During the Winter months the Hopkinton Public Library holds special exhibits and programs. Check out the Website for times, dates, and whatever else you need to know....it's packed with information!   

When I signed on tonight I had no intention of writing a post!
I planned to comment and read and then to move on......

Then I read The post by my friend Bill Cherry,based on an article written by Tony DiNuzzo of the Galveston Daily News'.
It brought tears to my eyes, and a flood of memories assaulted my senses.
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 My first home, until the age of 16,  was an early 1800's Colonial on a wide tree lined street with similar homes in Bedford MA. Our neighbors next door had six children, and across the street there were three!
A doctor and our "egg man" were within sight and I could walk to my Grandmother's house ...                                                 "by myself"


Every afternoon at 3:00...the neighborhood children would run down to the corner to wave at the train going by and to hear the man in the caboose "blow the whistle"

         I knew not of "curb appeal" and granite counter tops. A deck or great room...were unheard of then.
 

I don't remember my closet space...only the lilac tree with a robins nest outside of my window.
A claw footed tub was our Bath Decor! No finished basement or media room....just a 10"TV with aluminum foiled rabbit ears!

Could it be that the reason I love it when a first time Buyer finds that place that calls to them....is because there is the promise of creating memories. Memories to be made not  from grandure or "amenities" but from security, warmth, familiararity and love?
Could it be that I try so hard.... because of what it meant to me?

To this day when I close my eyes I can still see the plaster cracks in my bedroom ceiling. Cracks that stimulated stories in my head....that helped put me to sleep!

I don't just sell houses....I find the perfect home! I help create memories! 

The following is from an actual case.
The names have been changed to protect the guilty!

Today was closing day! But let me bring you back to Monday.......

Monday morning my  83 year old Client was supposed to be moving out of his mobile home of 40 years into a new condominium with all the latest up grades. His Daughter and Grandson were helping with the packing and moving respectively.

I had arranged for a "junk guy" to remove anything that was left the next day. I also arranged for a cleaning person to come in and clean.
The daughter was from out of State and was only staying for one more day and the Grandson only had the day.
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1-Monday... was a lesson in patience...my Client had packed hardly anything! His daughter was finding things in closets etc. that had been there for years! Forty years to be exact!

2-Tuesday... I got a call from the "dump guy" There was so much stuff there....he didn't know what to take. Then the cleaning person....she couldn't clean around the stuff! I sent them both home!

I called the daughter...she had already left for home and said that her Dad was going to make a few more trips and her son was going to take the larger pieces....all would be finished by the end of Tuesday! I rescheduled the "dump guy" and the cleaner for "late" Wednesday.(just in case)

3-Wednesday...the dump guy calls "there's still personal stuff and furniture here" I call my Client. He is on his way over to get still another load. His daughter can't reach him (he won't take her calls) So I call the "dump guy" who says he is there and complaining something about daughters.....my Client has shut his phone off!
The "dump guy" calls me back and says he is out of there and the Grandson is supposed to come early the next day(7:30) before our 10:00 walkthru and get the remaining. I told the cleaning girl....just clean around it!

4-Thursday....I met with the Buyers for the walk-thru. We walked in....stuff every where!!! The grandson had only taken a few pieces and left boxes and lamps and pots and pans etc....you can imagine! My Client (I was playing taxi to the closing) was very upset. He thought the Grandson was going to finish it up!
What to do?? The "dump guy" didn't answer his phone and the Grandson was out of state. (The Buyers were being very understanding)
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When in doubt....call your husband, who just so happens to be on vacation. While we were at the closing, he came down and crammed everything in to his little car! He met my client and I at the condo (with all the bells and whistles) and helped him put the stuff into his storage!

Yup....today was closing day. And we got through it!
I love my job!     

For better or worse....oh wait.......... those are the  marriage vows!