Dog Day Architecture

You know I couldn’t resist this one….as the owner of three precious rescued dogs, I thought this was absolutely one of the cutest things I have seen on the market in a while. For the luxury or upscale homeowner, you can now have a beautiful piece of furniture that also serves as a dog crate for your luxury pooch. This is fine furniture for Fido and can be found on their website. These cute furniture finds are great end tables and accessories for your dog-friendly home. They are absolutely the most adorable furniture pieces I have seen for dogs to date. Check it out…our dogs have never had it so good!

Buyer’s Market?

ARE THESE THE DOGS DAYS OF REAL ESTATE? On the contrary, it’s A GREAT TIME to buy a home. Why…because buyers hold a lot of power right now and if used properly today’s buyer can become very successful at buying a home at the most opportune time in over a decade. Like it or not, buyers have a big advantage in this market because sellers are now more willing to negotiate. There are also more homes for sale on the market and the lenders are begging for qualified buyers. Buyers rule the world. However, buyers need to be careful. Why? Because things are getting a little ugly in the real estate industry and EVERY BUYER seems to think that all Sellers are DESPERATE for an offer, any offer. I have lost track of how many transactions have not only come in $5,000 under listing price but sometimes almost $500,000 under list price. Buyers need to understand that not EVERY SALE IS A SHORT SALE and not every SELLER is in panic mode. But what you do have…Sellers willing to make some good “deals” out there and you are missing the action. Why are buyers hesitant? I have no idea. I do know this…if buyers wait around for the PERFECT time to buy a home they will miss their chance. He who hesitates… So think about it, go out and look. Find a good REALTOR and get an offer in on the home of your dreams. It’s still a good buy, but even better, it’s good to come home each and every night to your “OWN” place and have a little slice of heaven here on earth.

Here’s to Your Health!

Eat, drink and be merry

I know this is a luxury home blog but most luxury homes now come with wine cellars or wine coolers. It seems like wine is the “in” thing and for a good reason. It’s good for your health. According to a recent article, Roger Corder, PhD, professor of experimental therapeutics at the William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary’s School of Medicine and Dentistry in London, there are many benefits to “moderate” wine drinking. The healthiest wines were as follows:

Laboratory analyses of more than 400 red wines at William Harvey Research Institute show that the following have high levels of healthful procyanidins…

Argentina. Cabernet Sauvignon, from Bodegas Catena Zapata.

Australia. Cabernet Sauvignon, from Wynns.

California. Cabernet Sauvignon, from Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Reserve… and many other Napa Valley cabernets.

Chile. Cabernet sauvignons from Veramonte.

France. Large numbers of Bordeaux wines — both at the top end of the market and modestly priced — have high or better-than-average procyanidin levels.

Italy. In Tuscany, wines made from the Sangiovese grape that tested well include Il Colombaio di Cencios Chianti Classico Riserva.

In Sardinia, where wine-drinkers are particularly long-lived, a good choice is Rosso Superiore del Mandrolisai.

So drink up, but do so in moderate amounts and keep that heart healthy. I need you to be fit and ready to stock your next luxury home wine cellar!

 

It’s About Time

The National Association of Realtors has FINALLY decided to come out and combat the negative publicity about the media’s coverage of the housing market. I feel that for too long the media has distorted the news about housing and no one has really tried to fight the press. People believe what they read and it is wrong!

According to an article written by Blanche Evans with Realty Times, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) has a new website that is designed to provide valuable information to the buyers and sellers of real estate. I can only hope that the general public will learn of this campaign to educate the mis-informed public through this webiste. I commend NAR for stepping up and making a strong statement in behalf of the housing industry.

The website can be found at www.housingmarketfacts.com

Good news, indeed!