Well it's a cool, rainy day here in NE PA.  It's amazing only 2 weeks ago we were all complaining how hot it was. Lol. The Wayne County Fair is just around the corner.  It has fun activities for all ages .  There is amazing fair food you just can't get anywhere else.  The kids always enjoy the rides, and seeing all of the animals.  The demo derby is always a crowd pleaser. If you can't make this fair the Greene-Drehr Sterling fair is right around Labor Day.  Summer is beginning to wind down.  However, it's still a great day to be alive!

5 Overrated exercises you can stop doing!

http://dailyhealthpost.com/5-most-overrated-exercises-you-can-stop-doing/#.UUDZ0IZd_Mc.facebook

Home Ownership Is Within More Americans' Reach

Home Ownership Is Within More Americans' Reach

Younger Generations Rate Home Ownership Higher

DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS 

Younger Americans place more importance and hold more favorable views toward home ownership than older generations, according to a new survey from Prudential Real Estate of about 5,000 potential buyers and sellers. 

About 77 percent of those aged 25-34 and 78 percent of those aged 35 to 44 rate home ownership as “very important.” The millennials and Generation X age group represent the ages between 25 and 44. 

“Millennials and Generation X — about 85 million people strong — face a unique opportunity in U.S. housing,” says Earl Lee, president of Prudential Real Estate. “They are generally optimistic about home ownership and, by nature, share a strong sense of community. As important, many were not impacted by the real estate downturn and are looking at today’s buying opportunities with keen interest.” 

Seventy-four percent of all survey respondents say that interest rates at historically low levels make it a great time to purchase a home. The primary drivers for owning a home, according to the survey, were for more control over space, safety, and as an investment. 

Still, consumers are cautious about the real estate process. Sixty-two percent of respondents say that obtaining financing is more challenging, and 72 percent say that having a trusted partner as a reliable source of information is important to them. 

“It’s been a tough road but the momentum we are seeing across the economy and real estate market appears sustainable,” says Stephen Phillips, chief operating officer for HSF Affiliates LLC. “Real estate agents have a real opportunity to develop new relations with a younger generation ready to invest in a home, and with others who are returning to the market thanks to improving conditions.”

I don't understand why Cupid was chosen to represent Valentine's Day.  When I think about romance, the last thing on my mind is a short, chubby toddler coming at me with a weapon.

Very excited today as we have been working and blogging and marketing to get our names out there!! My partner and I have made a HUGE business move and switched from the traditional Real Estate office setting to a Keller Williams that was coming into this area!  Best decision we ever made...well...thus far! LOL! This company is not only giving us the tools and extra training to swim with the big fish out here at Lake Wallenpaupack, but they are assisting us every step of the way! As we have been restarting from scratch...as you know...when you leave a company you typically leave pretty much all of your business aside from past clients that you keep in touch with behind...I am happy to see that the websites my partner has been building for us are coming up #1 on the Google searches!!! I am setting the bar high for us as far as goals because I feel that the higher we reach, the more we will succeed! Please share our information and know that every client, regardless of location, price, vacation/primary, etc...is treated as if they are the only ones we have and let our efforts and achievements so far show that we are going to work harder than any others to make certain that every experience is better than the next.

www.homesofhawley.com
www.homesofmasthope.com
www.welovemasthope.org

Ski Day!

Turning out to be a beautiful day here at the lake!  School is closed again!  The roads are good.  The weather is getting warmer. It's a perfect day for winter play and skiing at Big Bear! Masthope homeowners ski for free!!! 

New Band!!! Up and Coming!!! Check them out!

Click Here!!! Hot New Up and Coming!!!


Check out this new band!!!! Ready to shake up the area!!!! Collage!

Churches for Sale????

Am I the only one that finds it kind of creepy that there are at least 3 churches for sale on the Greater Scranton Board MLS?????

Summer Time!!!

I am so looking forward to Summer...Lake Living...Laying out on the Docks...Jumping in off the boats!!!!!  While we wait...enjoy the winter time activities...after all...this is a 4-season area!!!!

We Love Masthope

Ski Season is in full swing!!! Did you know that Property Owners in the Masthope Community ski Big Bear for FREE????? Ask us about properties and more area tips in the Lake Wallenpaupack, NEPA, Pocono areas!!!!

Nicole R. Boo & Jessica Soesman-Black - "Black and Boo"
Keller Williams Real Estate
2523 Route 6, Suite 2, Hawley, PA 18428
(570)226-9200

www.welovemasthope.com

the lake

It's definitely winter with the freezing temperatures, but the lake looks beautiful with the thin layer of ice reflecting the bright, morning sun. It's a good day here at the Lake!

Housing Market is Turning a Corner

Obama: Housing "Clearly Turning a Corner"

Daily Real Estate News | Monday, January 14, 2013

The housing market has shown signs of “bottoming out nationally and clearly turning a corner,” according to the Obama Administration’s December Housing Scorecard.
Home values are inching up while home sales remain strong. Some home price indexes are showing values up 5.6 percent and 4.3 percent from year ago levels, according to the Scorecard.
“As the December housing scorecard indicates, our housing market is continuing to show important signs of recovery,” says Michael Berman, a HUD senior adviser.
Home inventories are falling, reaching a 4.8-month supply in December compared to November’s 5.3-month supply.
Americans are continuing to see the amount of equity in their homes increase. American home equity grew to $8 trillion in December but is still below the nearly $14 trillion in equity reached prior to the recession.
More than 6 million mortgage modifications and other kinds of housing assistance have taken place between April 2009 and November 2012, helping more home owners stay in their homes, according to the administration.
The housing scorecard is a comprehensive report on the national housing market, released every month by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Treasury.

To view the complete Housing Scorecard, visit www.hud.gov/scorecard. 

Thought for today...

It's never too late to be who you might have been. The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me. The vision must be followed by the venture.  It is not enough to stare up the mountain - we must climb it because while it may be easier to go down, the view is so much better from the top.

Have FUN and Support a CAUSE!

JIBS FOR JACOB ski/snowboard event is THIS SATURDAY at Ski Big Bear. Awesome contest with jams from DJ - JC Music ServicesEven if you don't ski or snowboard, come support a great cause. There will be ice carving demonstrations by Crystal Cabin Fever, prize give-aways, and LIVE MUSIC following the event.
PS Jacob's brothers will be guest judges :)
I think our superhero would dig this, for sure...

Timeline Photos

Today's Jacob Picture of the Day: "I've got your back, Mom."

By: Jibs for Jacob

Random Thought

Thought of theday...

Blowing out someone else's candle will not make your light shine brighter.

Please Help..bring this puppy home!!!

Please read and share. There is a link attached below for more information...

An open letter to whomever took my puppy MacGyver from me:

My name is Sarah, though you didn’t know that, nor did you care when you interrupted not only my life, but my family’s as well, but I hope my message will reach you.

On Christma...s Eve, as I was taking my four month old pit bull mix puppy MacGyver on his evening walk near Buffum and Hadley, you and a friend attacked me. One of you picked me up and threw me to the ground, while the other unclipped MacGyver from his leash. You and your friend ran to a car and drove off.

You didn’t search my pockets – though you wouldn’t have found anything – but you took something that meant more to me than money or credit cards. You took MacGyver. Even though he had only been a part of my and my husband’s life for about two months, we loved him and the three of us had become a family.

My husband and I adopted MacGyver from Wisconsin Humane Society in early November. It was love at first sight for us. For that matter, everyone who meets him falls in love with his wrinkly face, the white socks on his feet, his friendly personality and his soulful eyes.

MacGyver was taking puppy obedience classes at the Wisconsin Humane society – in fact, he was going to graduate the day after Christmas. He knows how to sit, lay down, shake and give high-fives. He was very close to being completely house-trained.

In the two months we had MacGyver, we took him everywhere. He went to work with my husband and was becoming friends with his boss’ dog. He loved going to the dog park and taking long walks down the bike trails. We visited the Estabrook Beer Garden before it closed for the season and he came with us on a road trip to Indiana to visit my husband’s family.

MacGyver loved snuggling with us on the couch when we watched TV and we let him sleep with us in bed at night. Letting him sleep in bed is probably a sign that we spoil him, but we couldn’t help it. MacGver was turning into a very good dog.

We were so excited to celebrate Christmas with MacGyver. In fact, we’d bought him several treats and toys as gifts. My family was excited to meet him; they even bought him a few Christmas gifts. The toys and treats are all wrapped and waiting for him when he gets back to us.

What happened in less than one minute changed my and my husband’s life forever. Our house is empty and quiet. No more walks, which was something I absolutely loved to do. No more play time. No more snuggling on the couch. We miss MacGyver’s excitement when we would walk through the front door, whether we’d be coming home from work or had only been gone a short time on an errand. He was always happy to see his “mom” and “dad.” He loved us unconditionally and we loved him in return.

I haven’t been able to sleep because I am so worried about my little furry friend. What happened on Christmas Eve looms in the back of my mind night and day. I have a sick feeling pit of my stomach and an ache in my heart.

I am not sure why you did what you did. People have asked whether we were targeted because of MacGyver’s breed – whether you wanted him for fighting or breeding (he’s neutered, by the way), or if there was some other reason.

The reason why you took MacGyver doesn’t matter to me any more. I forgive you for throwing me to the ground and taking MacGyver. However, I beg you to do the right thing and give MacGyver back to us.

Please know, that the attack happened so quickly and I cannot identify you. I have no idea what your faces look like or the kind of car you drove.

What this means is that you can return MacGyver to us and claim the very generous reward, no questions asked. You can say you found him running around in the street – we will never know. All we want is to have him home, safe and unharmed.You can call or text us at 414-617-9137 any time. You can call the Milwaukee Police Department. You can drop him off at the Wisconsin Humane Society or MADACC.

If you’re reading this and you know where MacGyver might be or have seen him, please contact us. We’re offering a generous reward for tips that lead to MacGyver’s safe return. You can call or text us at 414-617-9137 with any tips you might have at any time.

Until we have MacGyver back in our arms, we aren’t giving up hope. We’re doing everything we can to spread the word. We’ve had complete strangers who have heard our story reach out and offer to contribute to the reward fund, put up posters, contact radio stations or just be on the lookout for MacGyver. Strangers have offered prayers, kind words, advice and moral support – whatever they could think of to help reunite me and my husband with our puppy. They want to see him back where he belongs as much as we do. My husband and I are so grateful to everyone who is helping.

I know there must be some goodness in your heart. Please, give MacGyver back to us. We love him and we miss him very much and won’t give up hope that one day very soon, he’ll be able to open all of those Christmas presents that are waiting for him.


Sincerely,
Sarah MalchowSee More

http://www.facebook.com/nicole.r.boo?ref=tn_tnmn#!/BringMacgyverHome

Good times for a good cause!

Please join us at Big Bear in honor of a brave little boy that lost his battle to cancer.  The family is carrying on the battle for Jake and all the other children that are suffering from pediatric cancers. Please click the link below to view.

Click here to view - Jibs for Jacob Event at Big Bear

Hot Look on a Low Budget

How to Upgrade Your Wardrobe for Less Follow these tips to keep the cost of buying clothes under control. By Cameron Huddleston, Kiplinger.com You don't have to spend a fortune to look like a million bucks. Okay, maybe not a million bucks – but you can upgrade your wardrobe even if you're low on cash. The savings experts at CouponCodes4u have put together tips to help you update your look without breaking the bank. And I've thrown in some of my advice gleaned from my bargain-shopping experience. Take inventory of what you have. Don't head to the mall until you know what you already have in your closet. Otherwise, you could end up buying something similar to what you already own or something that won't work with the pieces you have. So take the time to go through your wardrobe to organize the items you want to keep and pull out the things that don't fit or that you haven't worn in a couple of years. This exercise will help you identify must-have items that are missing from your wardrobe – such as a versatile black dress, a blazer for work or a pair of jeans that really fit (see 5 Budget-Friendly Essentials for Your Wardrobe). Then you'll know exactly what you should be shopping for, and you won't end up wasting money on things you don't really need. Sell what you don't need. You can generate some extra cash to help you upgrade your wardrobe by selling what you no longer want at a consignment store. Most consignment stores require items to be in good condition (and usually name-brand). Expect to get 50% of the price at which the item sells. Take advantage of deals and coupons. If you're looking for a deal, it almost goes without saying that the best time to shop is when retailers have sales. You usually can score deep discounts on clothes if you wait until the end of a season. You also can find clothing marked down around holidays, such as Memorial Day and Labor Day, as well as Black Friday and the weeks leading up to Christmas. If you have a smart phone, download a shopping app, such as Coupon Sherpa, to get in-store coupons that you can show on your phone's screen at checkout. If you shop online, make sure you search for coupons at sites such as CouponCodes4u.com, CouponCabin.com and Coupons.com before you make a purchase. Shop at discount retailers. You can find discounted designer fashions at retailers such as Marshalls, Nordstrom Rack and T.J. Maxx. However, make sure you examine items closely before buying because, as my colleague Andrea Browne warns clothing in these stores may be irregular or slightly damaged. You can find some good deals at outlet malls, but sometimes prices are much lower than retail prices. See How to Find a Real Deal at Outlet Malls and What to Know About Outlet-Store Shopping before you go. Buy used. As I wrote in 11 Things to Buy Used, you can find gently worn quality designer clothes at consigment stores for a fraction of the price you'd pay for buying them new. Don't let the fact that someone else has worn them bother you. After all, there's a good chance the clothes you buy at retail stores have been tried on by few people. Buy a few inexpensive accessories. A great cost-effective way to update your wardrobe is to buy a few accessories – such as a scarf, a strand of brightly colored beads or a new tie. Even buying smaller items, such as cosmetics, can give you the rush of shopping without blowing your budget, say the savings experts at CouponCodes4U. Parting note: Resist the temptation to buy something just because it is inexpensive because it's not a good idea to stock your closet with a lot of cheap clothes. You'll be better off buying a few quality pieces that will last (see Why Cheap Clothing Is a Costly Mistake). Reprinted with permission. All Contents ©2013 The Kiplinger Washington Editors. Kiplinger.com.

Tax Relief Extended

Mortgage Debt Tax Relief Extended  

A tax break for forgiven mortgage debt that was set to expire Dec. 31 was extended by lawmakers when they dodged the “fiscal cliff” this week.
The tax break, which has been extended to the end of 2013, allows home owners facing short sales, reduced loan principals, or foreclosures to avoid paying taxes on any debt still owed to the bank. Otherwise, the debt would have been taxed by the IRS as income.
The tax break first took effect in 2007.
Home owners had rushed to complete short sales before the end of the year out of fear that the tax break would not be extended.
In Florida, short sales have sold on average for about $103,000 less than what the home owner owed. As such, a typical home seller in that state in, say, the 25 percent tax bracket who completed a short sale in 2013 would have been faced with a $25,725 tax bill if the extension had expired.

Visit REALTOR.org for a complete list of real estate provisions included in the “fiscal cliff” bill.