Valerie Mineiko's Real Estate Blog

Grilling Isn’t Just For Meat Anymore Did you know that you can do pretty much do all of your cooking on the grill – vegetables, pizza, even dessert. So, instead of spending hot summer nights broiling your food in a hot kitchen, why not plan to prepare your meals on your deck or patio? Grilling is good for you! It adds no extra fat to your food, takes no more time than conventional cooking, and best of all, clean up is a snap. If you’ve never tried grilling, this can be the time to learn this great American cooking technique. Gas Grills or Charcoal Grills Gas grills are a lot like gas stoves, you just turn on the gas and light it. Most gas grills have temperature settings so there’s no guesswork. Charcoal grills are a little trickier, but work great if you know how to do it. For one pound of meat cooked with a direct-heat method (right over the fire), a good rule of thumb is 30 charcoal briquettes. For one pound of meat using indirect heat, you will need 50 briquettes. Charcoal Briquett...

Summertime means moving time for a lot of American families, and while moving may be exciting for adults, it can be downright traumatic for kids. In the midst of preparations, packing and looking for a new house, often parents forget that special care should be taken with their children to ease the transition. Following are some tips to help make your move with kids as smooth as possible. Preparing for the Move • Attitude is everything. Even if you are less than thrilled to be moving (if your spouse has been transferred to someplace you swore you’d never live, for instance), you must project a positive attitude to your kids. They will pick up on whatever signals you send and act accordingly.  • Be kind to yourself! You will be stressed out, of course. But you must concentrate on getting enough rest, proper nutrition and exercise during the transition so that you will be able to handle the transition in a healthy way and be available to your children. • If possible, bring your kids ...

  How Foreclosures Happen What happens when a borrower fails to make their  mortgage payments  for a period of time, ignores notices that payments are behind, and hasn’t contacted the lender to work something out? The lender can exercise its lien against the borrower’s home to sell the house and payoff the loan. This is a Foreclosure. How do people go from popping the champagne cork & celebrating on closing day to having their belongings set out on the lawn? It didn’t happen overnight. There are some steps involved: Step 1 – A Notice of Default is Recorded by the Bank This will happen after a payment has been missed. Although not as common today, sometimes depending on the bank, it happens after several payments are missed. Banks have been tightening the reins, trying to move homeowners to act long before the point of no return. Step 2 – Possible Opportunity to Reinstate the Loan This sounds hopeful- a homeowner can reinstate their loan! Homeowners have the power to s...

It may not be green outside yet, but you can certainly start living green in your home. It’s definitely the thing now – living green. Wondering how you can reduce your carbon footprint? Behold, there are many companies out there devoted to helping people reduce their  carbon footprint . Hybrid cars, recycling, eco-friendly business practices and more. An energy efficient home will also add to your  market value  also! Easy Ways to Start Going Green at Home Fix all your plumbing leaks – sinks, tubs, showers and toilets should be checked for drips and leaks. Replace old fixtures with water-saving faucets and toilets – you can even purchase conservational water pipes to replace your old plumbing. Install a programmable thermostat. Turn down the heat at night (and during the day if no one is home). Use long-life fluorescent light bulbs. They’re a bit more expensive, but they last longer than traditional bulbs. Consider getting new or additional insulation. Seal up with window...