Real Estate Information

The difference between a successful person and an unsuccessful person is that the successful person will do what the unsuccessful person will not do.  The successful person does not want to do it either, but he does it anyway.

--Earl Nightingale

Truly challenging times challenge our core values and beliefs.  It's in the tough times that we are called to re-examine our values and beliefs.  The United States Army Core Values is a code that has assisted service men cope with hardship and remain steady, despite hardship.  Read them.  Study them.  And stay prepared!

US Army CORE VALUES

• Integrity: Making decisions and taking action based on our country's shared values.
• Honor: Being honest, fair, and just, and demonstrating due regard for the property of others.
• Respect: Recognizing the infinite worth and dignity of human life -- displaying compassion, condiseration, and civility.
• Duty: Accepting responsibility for one's actions and donig all that should be done as well as it can be done.
• Loyalty: Being faithful, displaying fealty, devotion, and commitment (for the soldier, loyalty means allegiance to the Constitiution of the United States of America).
• Service: Contribution on behalf of others; dedication to the goals of a group (unit, team, society, etc.),rendering assistance and support withourt regard to personal profit or gain.
• Courage: Bravery, valor, fortitude inspite of risk, fear, doubt -- acting in accordance with one's beliefs in the presence of adversity, danger, and criticism.

A new posh, high-stakes gaming salon is seducing chic gamblers at Trump's Taj Mahal Casino Resort.  If you think you'd enjoy being pampered in the most elegant of surroundings:  crystal chandeliers, cascading fountains, elegantly dressed dealers -- well, then this gaming salon is right up your alley!

This salon is for the very serious gambler, though.  Bets range from $100 to$6,000 per hand at the nearly 30 craps, blackjack, baccarat, and roulette tables.  For ultra-high rollers, special games can be arranged with top baccarat bets of $100,000 and $25,000 for blackjack.

Mark Juliano was quoted in the Press of Atlantic City (Monday, January 7, 2008, Region, Section C) as saying that the typical gaming salon customer will spend "200,000 to $500,000,"and in some cases, "1 million to $2 million."  Wow!

Interestingly, most of the gamers are said to be men, both domestic and international in origen.  Some Asian, Latino, though primarily hailing from the Northeast according to Juliano.

Source:  Press of Atlantic City, Monday, January 7, 2008, Region, Donald Wittkowski

Prudential Fox & Roach Realtors, January 5, 2009, announced Paula Hartman has been recognized for Listings December 2008  Hartman is a recipient of the Top of the Rock and NJAR Million Dollar Club Awards.  Congatulations Paula!

Here's an NBC news update link which might be of interest to you.  Go A.C.!

New Jersey Transit Officials announced that a bistate agency is backing a plan to build a new train station to provide enhanced train access between Trenton and Southern New Jersey.  The station would link the Atlantic City Line and the River Line in Pennsauken, Camden County.

Currently the Atlantic City line runs between Philadelphia and Atlantic City, where the River line runs between Trenton and Camden.

Officials have admitted that there hasn't really been any easy way to implement direct rail service between Atlantic City and Trenton.  In the past, travelers had to take the PATCO high-speed line from Lindenwold to Camden first.

Officials say things are still in the planning phase and the station is one of ten new transportation projects it is currently supporting.

The new station in Pennsauken would definately open up easier rail travel to South Jersey, as well as providing a super-convenient travel experience to our state's capital, as well. 

What are your thoughts on the proposed new rail service?

Click here for ACES train schedule between Atlantic City and NYC's Penn Station

How sweet it is!

• Cash is paid to the seller outside of the escrow arrangement.
• Cash is paid to the borrower in a purchase transaction.
• No money is due from the buyer at closing.
• A difference exists between the sale price on the HUD-1 form and the price on the sales contract.
• Related parties are involved in the transaction.
• The buyer must use a specific lender.
• Funds are paid to undisclosed third parties, indicating that there may be potential obligations.
• The sales price is changed to fit the appraisal.
• The sale is subject to the seller acquiring title.
• The loan is based on a buyer's stated income instead of a documented source.

(from the Federal Bureau of Investigation's "The Detection, Investigation, and Deterence of Mortgage Loan Fraud Involving Third Parties")

1.  Pay special attention to the front door, which is considered the"mouth of chi" (chi is the "life force" of all things) and one of the most powerful aspects of the entire property.  Abundance, blessings, opportunities, and good furtune enter through the front door.  It's also the first impression buyers have of how well the sellers have taken care of the rest of the property.  Make sure the area around the front door is swept clean, free of cobwebs and clutter.  Make sure all lighting is straight and properly hung.  Better yet, light the path leading up to the front door to crate an inviting atmosphere.

2. Chi energy can be flushed away wherever there are drains in the home.  To keep the good forces of a home in, always keep the toilet seats down and close the doors to bathrooms.

3.  The master bed should be in a place of honor, power, and protection, which is farthest from and facing toward the entryway of the room. It's even better if you can place the bed diagonally in the fathest corner.  Paint the room in colros that promote serenity, relataxation, and romance, such as soft tones of green, blue, and lavender.

4.  The dining room symoblizes the energy and per of family togetherness.  Make sure the table is clear and uncluttered during showings.  Use an attractive tablecloth to enhance the look of the table while also softening sharp corners.

5.  The windows are considered to be the eyes of the home.  Getting the windows professionally cleaned will make the home sparkle and ensure that the view will be optimally displayed.

Source:  Sell Your Home Faster with Feng Shui by Holly Ziegler (www.hollyziegler.com)(Fragon Chi Publications,2001)

It's been a tough year with gift giving, let me tell you.  Muti-culturally speaking, I guess I've needed to go back to school.  All well and good, I've done so -- now I can pass along to you from the school of hard knocks what I've learned.

Generally a closing gift is a well-received gesture of kindness.  Working with clients from other cultures, though, I learned I needed to be sensitive to my choice of gift as well as the timing in giving the gift.

I like to bring a small gift when I meet new customers.  I found out recently that it's expected in foreign countries such as South Korea, India, and Japan.  I also learned the hard way NEVER to give a gift before the end of a business transaction.  In some cultures it could be misconstrued as bribery!  Not good!

I have learned to avoid giving gifts bearing the American eagle to customers from China and Saudi Arabia.  Did you know, the eagle is a bad-luck symbol in those cultures?  I didn't!  Now I do.  So do you.

And never gift alcohol to anyone Islamic.  Another hard lesson...  Most people who practice Islam do not drink. (Some practitioners advise against giving any alcohol at all, to anyone)

As for knives and scissors, don't gift them to Asian customers if you want to keep them very long.  Anything that cuts symbolizes the severering of a relationship!  A place you really don't want to go!

Watch out even when giving flowers!  That's right.  In Brazil and Mexico, purple flowers are associated with DEATH!  And in Japan, white flowers mean the same.  You can't win!

How about a gift certificate?