ActiveRain Community

This is to help get your brain thinking!  See if you can come up with the answer.  If you do, great!  If not, it will help you to really think about what you are reading.Answer for SundayWhich runs faster: hot or cold?Answer: Hot—because you can catch a coldBrain Buster for Monday, March 17I am always watching but have no eyes. I often reflect but have no thoughts. What am I? 03/17/2025

“Here’s to strong women: may we know them, may we be them, may we raise them.” — UnknownMy mother was a huge influence on the woman I am today. She lived with quiet strength, fierce determination, and a deep well of practical wisdom that shaped our home and my life.Growing up, she was our very own Betty Crocker—following recipes, inventing her own, and creating magic in the kitchen. As a Home Economics graduate, her skills were evident in every corner of our home life. She managed the family budget with care, made sure our meals were balanced and nutritious, and nurtured our bodies and souls with home-cooked meals.Our backyard garden was something out of a storybook—rows of corn, lettuce, radishes, tomatoes, green beans, spinach, asparagus, peas, cucumbers, and carrots. We all pitched i... 03/18/2025

Memories of Halcyon: A Love Letter to My Childhood Home''HALCYON DefinitionA period of time in the past, that was happy and peaceful.I’d like to tell a story about my HALCYON days. My parents bought this property five months before I was born. So I lived here all my life until I went off to college. Then soon after that, I married, but did not move too far.''   My early recollections are of being outside all the time playing in the spring, summer, and fall, and sledding in the winter time. We didn’t have air-conditioning so we played outside all day. And we were very creative when playing outside.  We made tree forts on the ground, inside the pine trees. We had a playhouse that my Grandfather and my Dad and my Uncle built when I was five years old that still stands on the property today... 03/19/2025

 This brand new contemporary home has tranquil water views on the best lot in the community!  Welcome to the Willow, the largest home in Delray Trails.This upgraded home features 4 Bedrooms 3 bathrooms and 2-car garage. Contemporary open-concept living is what this house is about.  Beautiful kitchen cabinetry with quartz countertops and oversized pantry opens to the dining room and great room.  The main level of the house has 3 bedrooms and 2 full baths. Upstairs is a 4th-bedroom suite, walk-in closet, full bathroom and huge loft. What sets this house apart from most other 55-plus gated communities in Delray Beach is the upstairs suite.  What a versatile space it is!  Whether you're thinking of an upstairs primary suite, home office, guest accommodations, media room, hobby space or some... 03/16/2025

Date & Time - Mar 20, 2025 12:00 PM in Eastern Time (US and Canada)Join us for this RE/MAX-hosted webinar featuring two Education Partners, CSI ProtectNow and Kaplan Real Estate Education, for an exciting informational session about how their offerings can help you achieve your business goals.This session is part of an ongoing Education Partner Webinar Series which aims to spotlight organizations that provide ongoing education for real estate agents, brokers and owners. Join us each month to learn about a partner's certifications, designations, coaching or courses and the value they could bring to your business.CSI ProtectNow equips you with crucial security skills through Protect Now's tailored certification program, designed to shield your business and your clients from digital and ph... 03/15/2025

You’ve probably heard of “black mold,” but do you know what makes it so dangerous? The real concern is Stachybotrys chartarum, a toxic mold species commonly found in water-damaged buildings.​What is Stachybotrys? A highly toxigenic mold that thrives in areas with long-term moisture—wet drywall, wood, insulation, and carpets. Appears dark green or black, with a slimy or sooty texture when active. Grows slowly compared to other molds but produces potent mycotoxins that can become airborne and affect health. Why is Stachybotrys a Serious Concern? Produces trichothecene mycotoxins that may lead to respiratory issues, immune suppression, and neurological symptoms. Linked to Sick Building Syndrome, where exposure causes headaches, fatigue, dizziness, and difficulty concentrating. Indicates se... 03/15/2025

Renting vs. Buying: A Comprehensive ExplorationThe decision to rent or buy a home is one of the most significant financial choices an individual or family can make. Both options come with their own advantages and drawbacks, and the right choice depends on numerous factors, including financial stability, lifestyle preferences, and long-term goals. This article explores the benefits and challenges of renting and buying to help individuals make informed decisions.The Case for RentingFlexibility and MobilityOne of the most significant advantages of renting is the flexibility it offers. Renters can relocate with relative ease, making it ideal for individuals who frequently move for work, education, or personal reasons. A lease agreement, typically lasting six months to a year, provides the o... 03/15/2025

  "It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent. It is the one most adaptable to change." — Charles Darwin I’m not sure how much of my personality is written into my DNA, but I do know that losing both of my parents at a young age shaped me in both subtle and significant ways. When my mother passed away when I was seven, my brother and I had to grow up faster than most kids. With our dad working during the week, we quickly learned the art of independence and self-reliance.  That independence stuck with us into adulthood, which is mostly a good thing until you need help and realize you have no idea how to ask for it. I am guilty of that. One of the biggest lessons I took from those early losses was that grief is tough, but loss itself isn’t something to ... 03/15/2025

The Hidden Dangers of Ignoring IRS Notices If You Haven’t Filed Your Tax ReturnThe Consequences of Non-ComplianceA Big Ol' Penalty WaitingFirst, let me tell you: those penalties can pile up like a mountain if you're not careful. The IRS doesn’t just send you a little slap on the wrist when you don’t file your taxes. No, it’s more like a full-blown boxing match where you're definitely the loser. You can be hit with late filing fees, and they grow the longer you wait. It’s like being stuck in a snowball effect that just gets bigger and bigger.When I faced it myself, I couldn’t believe how fast those fees added up. It’s crucial to understand that even if you can't pay your taxes right now, filing on time can minimize those penalties. I learned that the hard way, and I don’t want you to go ... 03/15/2025

Posts Just For You- This Week at ActiveRain March 9 to March 15, 2025  Every day there is something to learn here at ActiveRain.  With this series, I highlight posts that gave me that lightbulb moment. It could be something techie, a post about Real Estate or other professions, about a place, or a person. Or, it could be a post that made me sit up and take notice! March 9:  Lawrence “Larry” & Sheila Agranoff   Sunday Thought Bread Inspiring posts don’t have to be wordy. Want to show your value to your clients? March 10: Roy Kelley ActiveRain March Challenge:Life Lessons from ParentsIt's easy to see why Roy is as giving and supportive as he is!  Carol Williams The ABC's of Life: SI hope you're following Carol with her series for Michelle. They've all been inspiring but this one is someth... 03/16/2025

“Mommas don’t let your babies grow up to be clueless.” Oh, that is so true. I recently had an event happen with our real estate company that made me speechless. In our real estate brokerage, we do sales, but we also do property management. In the 30 years of managing other people’s property, I feel like I’ve seen it all. Oh, I am so wrong on that.Late in January I received a call from a frantic student-tenant saying that the ceiling in her kitchen collapsed and water was pouring into the kitchen. What? What could have happened to cause that? I took off to see what was going on and she was right. What happened? The students took off for Christmas break around 12/23. They set the furnace back to 60 degrees and left town. That wasn’t the problem.When I started quizzing the students, they t... 03/14/2025

Caring (kindness & concern) is such an endearing (love & affection) word & humans thrive on this both to receive & gift it. Apply it to a cat & they purr. To a dog when petting, they rollover with satisfaction but to another human? This can heal in ways no one knows. Caring for another & or helping them, goes beyond words & even time as we remember it all our lives.LARGE DOSESThis can right all wrongs, change your life, give hope & keep us human just by participating in the process. A juvenile delinquent gets this & it may go to work immediately or go to seed to bloom at a later time, but it will work guaranteedNO REASON NEEDEDThere are no conditions, qualifiers or learning process on either end of this giving & receiving. You just do it or have it done to you & it goes to work with no ... 03/15/2025

I am enjoying getting to know my fellow Active Rain friends regarding, Who They Are. These deeper conversations allow us to see beyond the market reports, professional expertise, and local involvement. All of these, of course, are important topics so it is fun when we have the opportunity to peel back the onion to understand our AR friends in a different spotlight.My life was greatly impacted by my high school coach, Leta Andrews. You talk about a fireball of a woman! Coach Andrews is not only a local and national legend, she helped to shape my life in numerous ways. WORK ETHIC - When I moved back to Granbury nine years ago, I heard the door to my brokerage open and then jumped to attention when I heard Coach Andrew's voice ring out. Hearing her voice immediately brought me back many de... 03/14/2025

ActiveRain March Challenge: St. Patrick's DayPatricia Feager and Lew Corcoran are the hosts for the "March 2025 ActiveRain Challenge: Sharing the Gift of Who You Are." The ActiveRain challenge is to share the profound impact someone had on you in shaping you to who you are today.During this third week of the ActiveRain March Challenge, St. Patrick's Day makes me recall special memories. On this date in 1965, I made one of the most important decisions of my life and asked Dolores to marry me. She accepted and our wedding was on June 12, 1965 in Portsmouth, Virginia, my home town. Today is the 60th anniversary of our engagement. During every day of all of those years, I have benefited from her love and support.   I had opened my first real estate and insurance office during the summer of ... 03/17/2025

  🏡 48-Unit Portfolio | 12 Buildings📍 299 Mayfair Blvd, Columbus, OH 43213💰 Sold for $3,200,000 We’re excited to announce the successful sale of this 48-unit portfolio on Mayfair Blvd & Dale Ave! 🏢 Consisting of 33 one-bedroom, 14 two-bedroom, and 1 three-bedroom unit, this well-maintained community continues to provide stable housing, with Section 8 rent-subsidized units and ongoing tenant support post-sale.Congratulations to the buyers & sellers on a smooth transaction! 🎉 Thinking of buying or selling? Let’s make your real estate dreams a reality! 📞🏡 📞 614-431-1220 | 📧 rjoe@kw.com Wanna know your home value? Click the link below: https://www.HissJacksonAdvantage.com/index      03/14/2025

​On April 1st our little company, Mortgage Magic, turns 35 years old. When I opened the company my only goal was to be a mortgage broker out of my house. I was young and enthusiastic and people wanted to join me and within 2 years wehad 25 loan officers and right away  became a wholesale lender. I never thought of being a wholesale lender but a large financial institution contacted me and said they would back us. We could sell loans to them on the secondary market but were also able to expand who we sold to. There were no strings attached to their offer. We hired a person who I knew from the industry to be our head underwriter and who also sold our loans on the secondary market. We were successful but after three years our head underwriter became international President of a non-profit ... 03/14/2025

The Influences that Define our Lives  2Very few adults can look at their lives and honestly state that they were destined to be what they became with no assistance from anyone.   A sense of divine right, so to speak.  I am not one of those, nor do I know anyone like that.My career path had some bumps at the beginning, more so due to a little military issue and being in the wrong job at the wrong time.   The early 1970's were not the kindest to engineers in the aerospace industry.I found a job working as a support engineer in a field that I knew nothing about, but my degree and common sense were the reason I got the job.That and I refused to collect a check from the state for doing nothing. An unemployment check has never felt right to me.As I was completing a call one afternoon from a c... 03/15/2025

MIDTOWN MIAMI DADE FLORIDA REAL ESTATE BIGGEST SALES * As of Mar 14, 2025 WE HAVE THE KEY TO YOUR DREAM HOME. CHECK OUT REAL ESTATE PROPERTIES FOR SALE ON MIDTOWN MIAMI. #RealEstateMiami #SouthFloridaRealEstate #RealEstateMidtownMiami #MidtownMiamiRealEstate #RealEstateSouthFlorida #MidtownMiami #MiamiRealEstate #RealEstate #Realtor #houseexpert #househunting #home #RealEstateAgent #RealEstateBroker #RealEstateExpert #RealEstateForSale #Realty #Broker #HomeForSale #HouseForSale #PropertyForSale #HomeForSaleMiami #HomeForSaleSouthFlorida  Miami-Dade Florida: Is the Housing Market Starting To Balance Out? For years, sellers have had the upper hand in the housing market. With so few homes for sale and so many people who wanted to purchase them, buyers faced tough competition just to get an... 03/14/2025

376 N. Montague St., Pilot Point TXHouse for Sale at AuctionLearn More and Make Your Offer HereResidential Home AuctioneersReal Estate House AuctionTexas Real PropertyHome and LotDenton County.130 +/- AcresBuilt 20223 Bed 2 Bath1,493 +/- SqFtPilot Point ISDSingle Family HomeSpecial terms and conditions,Buyer's Premium apply for all sales.Information About Brokerage ServicesTexas Real Estate Commission Consumer Protection NoticeTo Contact the Texas Department of Licensing and RegulationMyers Jackson License DisclosuresMyers Jackson TX Broker 0698695Myers Jackson TX Auctioneer TDLR 17057General Terms and Conditions  03/13/2025

4335 Fall Blossom Dr., Arlington TXTownhome for Sale at AuctionLearn More and Make Your Offer HereResidential Home AuctioneersReal Estate House AuctionTexas Real PropertyHome and LotTarrant County.064 +/- AcresBuilt 20223 Bed 2.5 Bath1,967 +/- SqFtHurst-Euless-Bedford ISDSpecial terms and conditions,Buyer's Premium apply for all sales.Information About Brokerage ServicesTexas Real Estate Commission Consumer Protection NoticeTo Contact the Texas Department of Licensing and RegulationMyers Jackson License DisclosuresMyers Jackson TX Broker 0698695Myers Jackson TX Auctioneer TDLR 17057General Terms and Conditions  03/13/2025