First-Time Buyers Demand New Kind of "Starter Home"

87 Percent of Beginner Buyers Want Move-In Ready
A recent survey from Coldwell Banker Real Estate explored what was most important to new buyers to provide insight for those looking to buy or sell in 2011. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), first-time home buyers accounted for half of the market in 2010.

What Surprised First-Time Home Buyers

Several consumers experienced unexpected benefits after buying their first home:

    * 67 percent said the market afforded them the opportunity to buy a home sooner than expected
    * Half said they found a home in a more desirable neighborhood than expected
    * 61 percent were able to get the home at a better price than expected
    * 40 percent got more space than expected
    * 43 percent locked in a lower interest rate than expected

“There’s a real ‘a-ha’ moment for sellers revealed by this survey that the condition and quality of their home matters a great deal to first-time homebuyers,” said Diann Patton, consumer real estate specialist, Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC (Parsippany, NJ) . “On top of that, our agents have reported that on average, first-time home buyers now look at more than 11 homes before making decisions which is higher than in the past. They can be choosy about what appeals to them and are recognizing the benefits of the low prices and wide selection of homes in many areas.”

What They Want

In addition to move-in conditions, first-time buyer results revealed the old adage “location, location, location” still holds true:

    * 78 percent of respondents said the home had to be in an area convenient to shops and services
    * Three-quarters of buyers said it was important to be close to their place of work
    * Nearly two-thirds said it was important to be near “highly-rated” schools

Survey Methodology

Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC conducted an online survey of 300 first-time home buyers in the United States (people who purchased their first home within the last year) on their experiences and perceptions of the home buying process.

Want to be a Biggest Loser contestant? Here's how! (Not related to real estate)

The 10 Worst Foods of 2010

Thanks to Stepfanie Romine :

If 2009 was the year of cutting back, 2010 was the year of adding on, at least when it came to food. The year's top catch phrase: More cheese, please!

On menus from Taco Bell to the Cheesecake Factory, cheese was piled on, in several varieties. Melted, fried, sandwiched, stuffed and slathered on anything and everything, it's safe to say that, if you're eating these foods, you're meeting your dairy quota.

Stephanie's  rounded up the worst new foods of the year and compiled some fun fitness facts to help put these caloric monstrosities in perspective!





McDonald's McRib

500 calories
26 g fat
10 g saturated fat
980 mg sodium

They say: "Join the club. The club who loves the flavorful pork and tangy barbeque sauce of our favorite sandwich. We’re a discriminating group who don’t mind getting sticky."

We say: It's baaaacccckkk (or at least it was)! After a 16-year hiatus, the much-loved pork patty made its grand return to menu. Thank goodness it was only for a brief time. Our bellies are cheering its departure!

The damage: To undo one McRib, you* would have to spend 148 minutes McJumping around, professing your love for this processed pork sandwich!



KFC Double Down

540 calories
32 g fat
10 g saturated fat
1,380 mg sodium

They say: "The new KFC Double Down sandwich is real! This one-of-a-kind sandwich features two thick and juicy boneless white meat chicken filets (Original Recipe or Grilled), two pieces of bacon, two melted slices of Monterey Jack and pepper jack cheese and Colonel's Sauce. This product is so meaty, there’s no room for a bun!"

We say: "The Double Down comes in two versions – Original Recipe or Grilled and the nutrition information is below."

We call this the double don't. The low-carb trend is passé, so why ditch the bun for two chicken breasts? This seems like something that a child might create if left alone in the kitchen. We double dare you not to try it!

The damage: 90 minutes of the Chicken Dance to undo one Double Down.



Taco Bell's XXL Chalupa

650 calories
39 g fat
9 g saturated fat
1,300 mg sodium

They say: "An XXL-sized crispy Chalupa shell packed with seasoned ground beef, crispy lettuce, fiesta salsa, a blend of three cheeses–cheddar, pepper jack and mozzarella–and nacho cheese sauce, red strips and topped with reduced-fat sour cream."

We say: After reading the description of this oversized, deep-fried taco creation, we laughed. It's topped with "reduced-fat sour cream." Does anyone else find that last-ditch effort to save calories and fat humorous?

The damage: a run from Nestor in San Diego to the actual border (about 6.5 miles at a 10-minute mile pace)!

NO PHOTO AVAILABLE

Cheesecake Factory Cheese Crunch Burger

1,000+ estimated calories

They say: "American and Cheddar Cheese, Crunchy Potato Crisps, Lettuce, Tomato, Grilled Onions, Pickles and Secret Sauce."

We say: The Cheesecake Factory's menu is thicker than many novels, and the restaurant does not disclose nutrition info. Portions are massive. Burgers are called "glamburgers" there, but the menu doesn't offer much info--and the sauce is a secret. Sometimes silence speaks louder than words.

The damage: 220 minutes of belly dancing to keep this off your gut!



IHOP Cinna-Stack Pancakes
1,010 calories
51 g fat
15 g saturated fat
1,920 mg sodium
35 g sugar

They say: "A stack of four fluffy buttermilk pancakes layered with a luscious cinnamon roll filling, drizzled with rich cream cheese icing and topped with whipped topping."

We say: The emphasis on "cake" with these pancakes--they're sweet enough to make Willy Wonka cringe! (There's about 2 1/2 tablespoons!) Plus, there's more than a tablespoon of salt! That's without any added breakfast meat, which can add on up to 180 calories, 16 g fat, 6 g saturated fat, and 290 mg sodium. This meal will leave your head spinning from the sugar high!

The damage: burn off your sugar high by IHOP-ping for 85 minutes.



Olive Garden Lasagna Fritta
1,030 calories
63 g fat
21 g saturated fat
1,590 mg sodium

They say: "Parmesan-breaded lasagna pieces, fried and served over alfredo sauce, topped with parmesan cheese and marinara sauce."

We say: Fritta means fried. Lasagna is an already decadent dish, with layers of cheese, noodles and sauce. Now it's coated in more cheese, fried and smothered in Alfredo sauce. How much more can we do to this lasagna? (This is an appetizer, by the way!)

The damage: 333 minutes of tending to your own garden!



Denny's Fried Cheese Melt Sandwich
1,260 calories
63 g fat
21 g saturated fat
3,010 mg sodium

They say: "Grilled cheese with a twist. Four fried mozzarella sticks and melted American cheese grilled between two slices of sourdough bread. Served with wavy-cut French fries and a side of marinara sauce."

We say: "The Fried Cheese Melt Sandwich is on the $4 value menu, but we don't see much nutritional value in it. There's not a vegetable in sight aside from French fries and a side of marinara sauce, and it has more sodium and saturated fat than we should eat in a day."

The damage: Get comfortable on the treadmill. You could be there for 6 1/2 hours! (Bet you wish you'd skipped the French fries now!)



Burger King Ultimate Breakfast Platter

1,310 calories
72 g fat
26 g saturated fat
2,490 mg sodium

They say: "The BK Ultimate Breakfast Platter lives up to its name with scrambled eggs, crispy hash browns, sizzling sausage, a warm, flaky biscuit, and three fluffy pancakes with syrup. Anything less, and it wouldn't deserve to be called the 'ultimate.' "

We say: Good rule of thumb: Platters are for serving food to many people, not for one person to use as a plate. While this meal has all your breakfast cravings covered: sweet, salty, meaty, crispy, and fluffy, it also has enough calories to sustain someone for a day. It also has more than a day's worth of salt and saturated fat.

The damage: You'll need to work an entire 8-hour shift at a busy restaurant serving up breakfast platters to burn this off!



Friendly's Grilled Cheese Burger Melt
1,500 calories
79 g fat
38g saturated fat
2,090 mg sodium

They say: "A Big Beef burger between two hot grilled cheese sandwiches, with lettuce, tomato and mayo. Tasting is believing."

We say: A real triple threat… to your arteries! Essentially this is three sandwiches in one. And it's served with fries, which add 330 calories, 14 g fat, 160 mg sodium.

The damage: Get friendly with the elliptical. You'll spend almost three hours on it!



Applebee’s Provolone-Stuffed Meatballs with Fettuccine
1,580 calories
98 g fat
46 g saturated fat
3,940 mg sodium

They say: Nothing. The name and photo says it all for this grand prize "winner."

We say: This dish is on the 2 for $20 menu, which gets you one appetizer and two entrees for $20. All of the appetizers have at least one fried component, so you can add on another couple hundred calories to this meal. There's nothing green on the plate, but you'll get two days' worth of saturated fat, plus a day and a half's worth of salt. Some value!

The damage: You and your dining companion should hit the courts after dinner if you can move. You'll be playing tennis for four hours!

When you're away from home, it's not impossible to make healthy choices and still indulge yourself. Check out our Dining Out Guide, along with the blog series Food on the Run and Diet Friendly Dining.

Have you tried any of these foods? What did you think? Would you try any of them?

* calories burned based on a 5'4" woman who weighs 140 pounds

2010 December sales up from 2009 December sales in Bainbridge

 Closed Transactions Month of  December

Please note: we are comparing closings during this year's December and last year's December.

Closings were up 13% this December compared to December of last year.

Transactions closed much faster.  The average selling price was up by nearly 20 percent.   

Sellers accepted 18% less than they originally asked. 

Inventory on Bainbridge is still good.  It's still a buyer's market.

If you would like details of the home that closed in your neighborhood, call or email me.

End of the year cheer--absolutely nothing to do with real estate

Perhaps I'm going mad, but I found this clip cheered me up more than any positive economic news possibly could. I thought you might it enjoy it as well. Turn up the sound, but not at work.

If I don't get an email from you, I'll know you want me to stay completely serious on this blog.

My heartfelt wish for a prosperous and happy New Year!

How to Prevent 5 Holiday Hosting Disasters

Take a look at the most common things that can go wrong when you have guests and learn how to prevent them (not the guests, the disasters).

Thankfully, some of the most damaging mishaps easily can be avoided. I've collected five of the most prevalent issues and give you preventative tips to keep your holiday party on track.

Problem: The oven doesn’t heat

For any holiday occasion, the oven is the most important appliance in your house. If it fails to work, the centerpiece of your meal could go from roasted beef, ham, duck, or Tofurky to Peking Duck from the local Chinese takeout joint.

How to avoid:

• There are any number of reasons a stove can break, but one common cause of disaster is easy to prevent. Don’t self-clean your oven until AFTER the holidays. You risk blowing a fuse or a thermostat, and tracking down an oven technician around the holidays can be tough.

Problem: The kitchen sink clogs

The day after Thanksgiving is the busiest of the year for plumbers. The prime cause of this clog-a-thon is the mistreatment of drains when cooking holiday feasts. We hope your Thanksgiving went well, and that you avoid clog-a-thons for the rest of the holidays.

How to avoid:

• Fats and cooking oils can solidify in your pipes, so never dispose of them in your kitchen sink.

• If you have a garbage disposal, make sure it’s running before anything goes in it, and never feed it any stringy, fibrous, or starchy foods like poultry skins or potato peels.

• To fix, don’t rely on chemical drain-clearing products that can harm your pipes. Use a snake instead, available for $15 at your local hardware store. Best to keep one on hand.

Problem: The heat goes out

As the party’s host, you’re supposed to hang guests’ coats—not apologize to them for having to keep them on. A lack of heat can stop a holiday party dead in its tracks.

How to avoid:

• The key to avoiding freezing your party to a standstill is regular maintenance of your HVAC. Every 90 days, a new one-inch pleated furnace filter should be installed. If you haven’t done it in a while, now’s a good time to replace it.

• Also inspect insulation on refrigerant lines that are leading into your house. Replace them if they're missing or damaged.  

Problem: The toilet stops up

Toilets have a way of clogging up at the worst times, such as during parties and when you have overnight guests. This is especially true if you have a low-flow toilet from the early 1990s.

How to avoid:

• Don’t flush anything other than sewage and toilet paper down the toilet. And there’s nothing wrong with putting up a polite note to remind your guests to do the same.

Problem: The fridge doesn’t cool

Without a properly functioning refrigerator, your meat could get contaminated, your dairy-based treats could go sour, and you may not be able to save your yummy leftovers. To avoid discovering a warm fridge after it’s too late, take these simple precautions.

How to avoid:

• Get a thermometer for your refrigerator to make sure each shelf stays below 40 degrees and you can be aware of any temperature changes.

• Also make sure the condenser coils located on the back of the unit or beneath it are free to breathe. Coils blocked from circulating air by cereal boxes atop the fridge, or dirtied by dust or pet hair can prevent a fridge from keeping cool.

Related articles

• Rules for a Clean Refrigerator (everydayhealth.com)

Two truths about real estate

1. All real estate is local, which means

2. Location matters!

Take a look at these Manhattan 1-BR prices!

Bainbridge market slow in quarter's final week

Closed Transactions Sept 22-30

Fewer than half the transactions during this period than last year.  

Transactions closed faster but the average selling price down by a third.  Inventory on Bainbridge is still good. It's still a buyer's market

If you would like details of the home that closed in your neighborhood, call or email me.