Good Realtor Articles

From Philip A Cormier's personal website.
He's a realtor with over 20 years experience.

How to Choose a Home article ended with

"Act Decisively When You Find the Right Home

Before you begin the home buying process, resolve to act promptly when you do find the right house. Every REALTOR® has stories to tell about a couple who looked far and wide for their dream home, finally found it, and then said, "We always promised my Dad we'd sleep on it, so we'll make an offer tomorrow." Many times the story had a sad ending - someone else came in that evening with an offer that was accepted.

Resolve that you will act decisively when you find the house that’s clearly right for you. This is particularly important after a long search or if the house is newly listed and/or underpriced."

Other articles for buyers include ...
Take Charge When Buying a Home
The Basics of Making an Offer

Some articles for the seller ...
Get Your House Ready to Show Buyers
How to Set a List Price for Your Home

Cool links/tools on the site:
Community Info - community reports/stats
Mortgage Info - with mortgage payment calculator

Bangor Area

Beyond the Capital Area and Waterville Area is Bangor.
I've visited one time when visiting brother in college.
Just past Bangor/Brewer is the Orono campus.

Community links:
Bangor - Brewer - Orono
Hampden - Norridgewock

Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce

Waterville Area

Previously I linked communities in the Capital Area.
The next big city up the interstate is Waterville.

Waterville - Oakland - Winslow - Fairfield - Belgrade

First Park - said to be Maine's Premier
Business and Technology Center
It's on the Waterville-Oakland border

We are learning a lot about Maine towns and cities!!!

Maine City-Data

I've used the City-Data site before.
Maine Bigger Cities (population over 6000)
Cities/towns between 1000 and 6000
Towns/villages with fewer than 1000
I just found cool feature for house hunters.

Check out "Recent Home Sales" section.
Once on state/city/town page ...
just put address and then request to
have it selected by sale date or distance.
It is slightly outdated but still interesting.

Capital Area

We are looking to move to the Capital Area of Maine.
There are many smaller communities around Augusta.
Thought I would post city/town links ...
as well as county and state government.

Augusta - Hallowell - Farmingdale
Gardiner - West Gardiner - Pittson
Randolph - Chelsea - Vassalboro - Sidney
Manchester - Winthrop - Readfield

Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce
Kennebec Valley Council of Governments
Kennebec County - Sheriff's Office
Maine State Government

Magazine Links

I had not picked up magazines for awhile.
The other day I picked up a few.
They were ones I've read in the past.

Monthlies: Good Housekeeping,
Family Circle and Woman's Day,
Weeklies: Woman's World
Also read Parade on Sundays.

Others I may want to check out:
Today's Christian Woman
Better Homes & Gardens
Ladies Home Journal

News magazines:
Newsweek, Time, World
Us News & World Report
and political National Review

Credit Report Info

380 is the worse and 850 is flawless
680 is average and 750+ is a+ in their book.
My current rating is 783 slightly down from 800 range
due to required inquiries when we got new credit card.
Chris discussed ways of even bettering our scores.
He had only pulled the Experian credit report to review.

He pointed us to the official Annual Credit Report site.
Everyone is allowed FREE credit reports ANNUALLY.
There are three different credit reporting companies:
Trans Union, Experian, and Equifax
It's good to review them comparing results.
Not all companies report to all three of them.

We found another site which charges for reports but has
helpful Credit Report Information and Explanations:
Tutorial on Equifax Credit Reports
Tutorial on Experian Credit Reports
Tutorial on Trans Union Credit Reports
Posting these here not to lose valuable links!!!

Visit Maine

I found the Maine Office of Tourism Visit Maine site.
The Where to Visit section includes Mid-Coast
and Kennebec & Moose River Valleys.
Other sections include Where to Stay, Where to Eat,
Things to Do, Plan Your Trip, and Event Calendar Search.

Buffy

When I think of "Buffy" I think of the cute little girl on Family Affair.
I even had a Mrs. Beasley doll growing up. My age is showing!!!!!

Nowadays "Buffy" invokes thoughts of The Vampire Slayer.
Randy has been showing me select episodes which includes
creator Josh Whedon's 10 favorite episodes and Randy's.

For the ultimate Buffy/Angel fan there is Buffy World.
"A complete guide to all of the “Buffy...” and “Angel” episodes."

Main(e) Street

My mother sent me a link the other day to
Visit Bath.com regarding this weekend's Mayfair.
It is Bath's Citywide Yard Sale to partially benefit charity.
It was the first time I had seen that site and surfed around.
I see there were some other Maine "main street" cities ...
including Gardiner and Waterville (both around Augusta).

Visit Bath Community Links
Gardiner Downtown Business Links
Waterville Area Links (includes state orgs)
State Link: Main Street Maine Program
National Link: National Trust Main Street Center

Cosmotopia

Randy and I are certainly Sci Fi fans.
I just stumbled upon a very dangerous site:
Cosmotopia: A Sci Fi Destination at Amazon.

From that site: "It's Science Fiction Month at Amazon.com,
and we're offering hundreds of DVDs on sale at up to 50% off,
and great deals on a lot of other stuff. That's a lot to look at,
so we've divided the sale in two different ways: by category and by genre."

Randy is sleeping so I think I will browse it first.
The question is whether to tell him about it or not!!!!
Actually we have been looking to expand our sci fi collection.

Update: Randy did know about the site and didn't tell me!!!!
We looked at it together and found nothing new to purchase.

Nubble Lighthouse

During our Belated Honeymoon Getaway we visited Nubble.

This lighthhouse is located off Cape Neddick in York Harbor.

Read The History of Nubble on their official website.

That site also has a page listing Maine Lighthouses.

For lighthouse enthusiasts: New England Lighthouses.

Even more links to Maine Lighthouse at about.com.

Considered M, R and E of HUMORE

Earth Hour

That's today - actually tonight from 8-9 PM.
It's a global effort to have everyone turn off their lights ....
to make a positive impact on climate change.



Links to read more about it:
Official Earth Hour website
Earth Hour 2008 Information Blog
World Wildlife Fund/Earth Hour
Google's part in Earth Hour
Universe Today: Countdown to Earth Hour 2008
Planet Green: Turn Off Your Lights for Earth Hour
Wikipedia (which includes more links)

Considered R and E of HUMORE

Interfaith Calendar

I was reading that in addition to being Good Friday ...
some other religions are celebrating their own special days.
I found this Interfaith Calendar that specifically talks about
March 20th and March 21st having Unique Calendar Events.

Most noteably it is Purim for our Jewish brothers and sisters.
Also found Judaism 101 site which explains Purim.
"It commemorates a time when the Jewish people living in Persia
were saved from extermination." (story told in bible book Esther)

EZ Calculators

Yesterday I was modifying my Tangy Meatloaf recipe.
We decided to use 2 pounds instead of 1 pound of beef.
I was searching for a teaspoon to tablespoon converter.
I found Food Measurement Conversion Calculator.
I found they had other "ez calculators" worth checking out.

Women's History Month

March is Women's History Month

"On March 19, 1911, a German woman named Klara Zetkin organized the very first International Women's Day. In 1978, a California school district started Women's History Week to promote the teaching of women's history. The concept of studying women's history continued to grow in popularity and in 1987 ... Congress declared the entire month of March National Women's History Month."

Women's History Milestones by Time for Kids
Women's History Month at History.com
... Women's Hall of Fame (in Seneca New York)
... Firsts in Women's Achievements
... Did You Know? (statistics)
Women's History Month at Library of Congress

Considered R and E of HUMORE

American Film Institute

In January Randy and I started watching a movie a week from the AFI top 100 movie list. AFI stands for American Film Institute. We are watching backwards from the original list put out in 1998.

Back on June 21, 2007 Roger Ebert blogged on AFI 100: Kane still #1

Randy was disappointed about some that made the new list which meant others fell off. After attempting to watch Pulp Fiction with its most foul language I have to wonder what the people making this list were thinking. And next week's is no better - Goodfellas.

The AFI also puts out other lists. The new ones coming out this year are 10 Top 10. Its the top 10 in 10 classic movie genres ... animation, romantic comedies, westerns, sports, mystery, fantasy, sci-fi, gangster, courtroom drama, and epic.

Where's the top musicals you may ask (as I did) ... In 2006 they had a list of the top 25 greatest musicals. Bottom line they have bunches of lists if you are interested in what others picks. I think they are fine to look out but remember everyone has different tastes.

(Considered R of HUMORE)

Maine Earthquakes

Yes, Maine has earthquakes!
We have blogged about it twice now ...
We didn't do it!!! and Again, it wasn't us!

Most are hardly noticed and do no and little damage.
Although I do remember when in high school ...
having a relatively big one that had aftershocks.
It caused a crack in the living room wall.

Here are some great links:
Maine Earthquake Information
Last Earthquake in Maine
Recent New England Earthquakes

(Considered MORE of HUMORE)

Cool Links

I am starting a new category: Cool Links.
I will attach cool links/websites I blog about.
The Eureka entry is definately one of those.
As well as the recent LiveScience entry.

Eureka

As well as movies Randy has tv series on DVD.
The last few days we watched Eureka - the first season.
I love the show - I use to watch it on cable.
Randy is now anxious to see the second season.

I found Sci-Fi's official Eureka website.
I wanted to know more about the town and "characters".
I found a (confidential) town history and cast information:
Jack Carter - sheriff, Zoe Carter - Jack's daughter,
Allison Blake - Jack's love interest and governmental liason,
Nathan Stark - Allison's estranged husband and head researcher,
Jo Lupo - deputy sheriff and former US Army Ranger,
Jim Taggart - "biological containment specialist",
Henry Deacon - jack-of-all-trade, Douglas Fargo - Nathan's assistant,
and the very secretive Beverly Barlowe - brilliant psychotherapist.

And for those already into the show here are a couple more links:
Made in Eureka - sale videos of products "Made in Eureka"
Allison Blake's PSA - one of LiveSmart, Public Service Announcements
For the record the above two are for FUN only (don't take seriously).