The Kestner Team

Brush Up on Your Pet IQ before the Holidays Arrive

November 20th, 2009 11:35 AM

Brush Up on Your Pet IQ before the Holidays Arrive

Posted By Paige On November 15, 2009 @ 1:01 pm In Today's Home Spun Wisdom | Comments Disabled

^[1]RISMEDIA, November 16, 2009—Gone are the green days of summer, replaced by the changing leaves of autumn- a reminder that it’s the perfect time to refresh your pet IQ before any holiday-related dangers come to haunt you. Most savvy pet owners know the usual pet-safety tips about poisonous items in the home, like poinsettias and chocolate. But, as many veterinarians can tell you, that is just the beginning.

Many holidays are celebrated between the months of October and January, meaning that extra food, guests and dangers for pets are right around the corner. Keep these tips from the American Humane Association in mind as you prepare your holiday festivities.

Ringing Doorbell = Nervous Breakdown?

Many pets are agitated by the sound of doorbells, especially since their hearing is much more sensitive than ours. If your dogs bark, run and jump when new people arrive at the house, or if your cat runs for cover, consider disengaging the doorbell and putting a sign on the door to ask guests to “knock please.” Provide an open cage large enough for your animal to stand and fully turn around in, and place it in a quiet room away from the hubbub so your pet can choose when to join your party. This will also help keep your pet from running away during the frequent opening and closing of your door if you keep the cage closed.

“No” to the Five-Second Rule

Sometimes we forget what can fall on the floor when we are cooking for a holiday crowd and there’s a pet around. Some of it may be OK, but other things, like bread dough, can cause problems. When an animal ingests dough, its body heat causes the dough to rise in its stomach, leading to bloat or worse. It’s best to let your pet snack on familiar favorites instead of unfamiliar holiday goodies like candy and other people’s food.

Baby, It’s Cold Outside

Cats and other animals may seek out your car engine for warmth during the winter months, so honk the horn or bang on the hood a few times before starting the engine.

Adjust Your Pet’s Diet

Most pets spend more time indoors during the winter, which means their activity level drops and they need less food. However, if your pet does spend a lot of time outdoors in cold weather, he will need more food as he burns calories to keep warm. Talk to your veterinarian for advice on the proper diet for your pet.

Ice, Snow and Salt

Your pet may like taking a stroll outside when the temperature dips, but many people use powerful salts on their sidewalks to combat the ice. Clean your pet’s paws after your outing to prevent its pads from becoming irritated and dried out.

Don’t Forget Your Feathered Friends

Getting ready for holiday gatherings usually means extra cleaning before guests arrive. Fumes from rug shampoo, furniture polish and oven cleaner can be fatal to a bird if they enter its delicate respiratory system. When using these products, keep them away from birds, and open your windows to let the air flow.

Just Because It’s Cold Doesn’t Mean They Can’t Catch a Bug

Mosquitoes and other bugs can be a year-round problem. Remember to keep your pets on their regular heartworm, flea and tick preventive medicines, even during the winter.

In Addition to Poinsettias

Holly, amaryllis, mistletoe and pine needles can be harmful to your pet’s stomach. Go for the fake versions to keep your traditions, and your pet, alive.

If They Like Toilet Water, They’ll Probably Like Tree Water

Both cats and dogs may find Christmas tree water irresistible, so if you add a tree preservative to the water, make sure it is pet friendly. Better yet, use a tree stand designed to prevent pets from accessing the water, which can harbor bacteria.

More Temptation Lies in the Tree

With its glittering lights and natural climbing area, the Christmas tree may offer a new place for your cat to play. Hang your most valuable or breakable ornaments near the top and cat-friendly ornaments on the bottom.

For more information, visit http://www.americanhumane.org/ ^[2].

RISMedia welcomes your questions and comments. Send your e-mail to: realestatemagazinefeedback@rismedia.com ^[3].

Posted by Nina Kestner and Kevin Lennon The Kestner Team on November 20th, 2009 11:35 AMPost a Comment (0)

Home Sales Continue to rise in Nashville!!

November 17th, 2009 11:19 AM

According to the Greater Nashville Association of Realtors:

There were 2,145 home closings reported in Greater Nashville for the month of October, which represents a 22.7 percent increase over the 1,748 closings reported for October of 2008. It bears noting that there were more single-family homes sold in October of this year than all four reporting categories combined in October of last year.

Inventory at the end of October was 23,398, compared with 24,043 in October of 2008. Single-family residential inventory is down significantly and is now in the range of about an 8-month supply - which is much more in balance than has been the case recently.

Posted by Nina Kestner and Kevin Lennon The Kestner Team on November 17th, 2009 11:19 AMPost a Comment (0)

10 Holiday Safety Tips

November 16th, 2009 12:20 PM

10 Holiday Safety Tips

With the holidays upon us, and recent news headlines reporting an increase in violent crime occurrences in the home, workplace, and on school campuses, University of Phoenix is providing ten safety tips aimed to prevent you from becoming the victim of a crime this holiday season.

1. Be aware. It is essential to be aware of your surroundings at all times. By being alert, you may be able to stop an attack before it occurs.

2. Trust your instincts. Listen to what your intuition tells you. This will allow you to avoid a situation that does not feel safe.

3. Keep your cell phone handy. It is critical to have a cell phone at all times, but do not keep it glued to your ear. Talking on the phone causes people to be less aware of their surroundings.

4. Avoid presenting a victim profile. When out in public look people in the eye, keep your head up, and walk with a confident stride. This could prevent an attack.

5. Lock car doors and leave. Many people have the tendency to get into their car and sit. This gives an attacker the ability to break into the vehicle and cause bodily harm, or allow them to steal the car.

6. Keep your wallet close. Always carry your purse or wallet, do not leave it in the shopping cart. For added security, men’s wallets can be carried in the front pockets of their pants to help avoid pick pocketing.

7. Walk in pairs. When shopping alone and leaving at night, ask a security officer to accompany you to your car. When carrying several packages you become a target; safety comes in numbers.

8. When attacked, attack back. You need to make your attacker fear their own safety. Strike their weaker points: the eyes, knees or throat.

9. Almost anything can be a weapon. Everyday objects such as keys or pepper spray can be used against an attacker.

10. Take a self defense class. It does not hurt to be properly trained so if an attack occurs you’re able to protect yourself.

Posted by Nina Kestner and Kevin Lennon The Kestner Team on November 16th, 2009 12:20 PMPost a Comment (0)

11 Reasons to List During the Holidays

November 10th, 2009 12:42 PM

11 Reasons to List During the Holidays

People who look for a home during the HOlidays are more serious buyers!
Serious Buyers have fewer houses to choose from dureing the Holidays, and less competition means more money for you!
Since the supply of listings will dramatically increase in January, there will be less demand for your particular home! Less demand means less money for you!
Houses show better when decorated for the Holidays!
Buyers are more emotional during the Holidays, so they are more likely to pay your pirce!
Buyers have more time to look for a home during the Holidays than they do during a working week!
Some people must buy before the end of the year for tax reasons!
January is traditionally the month for employees to begin new jobs. Since transferees cannot wait until SPring to buy, you must be on the market now to capture taht marktet!
You can still be on the market, but you have the option to restirct showings during the six or seven days during the Holidays!
You can sell now for more money and we will provide for a delayed closing or extended occupancy until early next year!
By selling now, you may have an opportunity to be a non-contingent buyer during the Spring, when many more houses are on the market for less money! This will allow you to sell high and buy low!

Posted by Nina Kestner and Kevin Lennon The Kestner Team on November 10th, 2009 12:42 PMPost a Comment (0)

Congress Votes to extend the Homebuyer Credit.

November 5th, 2009 4:30 PM

Congress has approved the extension of the First Time Buyers Tax Credit and it is on the way to President Obama's desk for signature. There will also be a Tax Credit available for current owners to purchase a home. See below for mor info.

NAR Issue Brief Homebuyer Tax Credit Changes.

Congress has extended and expanded the homebuyer tax credit. The modifications in the column labeled “December 1 – April 30, 2010” become effective when President Obama signs the bill. All changes made to the current credit become effective on that date, as well.

FEATURE	Jan 1 – November 30, 2009 Rules as enacted February 2009	December 1 – April 30, 2010 Rules as enacted November 2009
First time Buyer – Amount of Credit	$8000 ($4000 married filing separate)	$8000 ($4000 married filing separate)
First time Buyer – Definition for Eligibility	May not have had an interest in a principal residence for 3 years prior to purchase	Same
Current Homeowner – Amount of Credit	No Provision	$6500 ($3250 married filing separate)
Effective Date –Current Owner	No Provision	Date of Enactment
Current Homeowner –Definition for Eligibility	No Provision	Must have used the home sold or being sold as a principal residence consecutively for 5 of the previous 8 years
Termination of Credit	Purchases after November 30, 2009. (Becomes April 30, 2010 on Date of Enactment.)	Purchases after April 30, 2010
Binding Contract Rule	None	So long as a written binding contract to purchase is in effect on April 30, 2010, the purchaser will have until July 1, 2010 to close.
Income Limits (Note: Increased income limits are effective as of date of enactment of bill)	$75,000 – single $150,000 – married Additional $20,000 phase out	$125,000 – single $225,000 – married Additional $20,000 phase out
Limitation on Cost of Purchased Home	None	$800,000 Effective Date of Enactment
Purchase by a Dependent	No Provision	Ineligible Effective Date of Enactment
Antifraud Rule	None	Purchaser must attach documentation of purchase to tax return

Posted by Nina Kestner and Kevin Lennon The Kestner Team on November 5th, 2009 4:30 PMPost a Comment (0)

Higher sales a ray of hope among foreclosures, unemployment

November 4th, 2009 3:32 PM

Higher sales a ray of hope among foreclosures, unemployment

By Dian Hymer, Inman News

Pending sales of resale homes grew 6.4 percent from July to August, hitting the highest level in about two years, the National Association of Realtors reported -- it was the seventh straight month of increase for the group's pending sales index.

Pending sales are sales where an offer has been accepted but the sale has not yet closed. Even though some pending sales never close, pending sales are an indicator of current buyer activity. This increase can be attributed to low interest rates, a pickup in foreclosure sales, and improved affordability.

The Associated Press Economic Stress Index indicated that foreclosures stabilized in June in the three states hardest hit by the housing downturn: Florida, Nevada and California. The California Association of Realtors reported that the statewide median home price for resale homes rose for the sixth month in a row in August, with sales dropping 5.1 percent from July to August but up 9 percent compared to August 2008.

HOUSE HUNTING TIP: The increase in home sales may be in part due to the $8,000 tax credit available to first-time buyers who qualify. To use this credit, a home purchase must close by Nov. 30, 2009. Some experts think the market may slow again when this credit expires. It's possible the credit may be extended.

Other good news suggests that the recession might be winding down. The Federal Reserve's "Beige Book" for June noted that business spending had picked up, although not dramatically. The threat of inflation appears to be on hold. Manufacturing is picking up in some areas and decreasing less dramatically in others. The housing market improved in some areas.

For example, DataQuick, a real estate research company, reported that the median price in the San Francisco Bay Area rose 13.4 percent in July compared to the previous month. The median price was 15.8 percent below a year ago. But the number of distressed sales dropped in July while the number of higher-priced home sales rose.

The number of homes sold for the month of July was 17.9 percent higher than a year ago. In August, the sales volume and median price for the area declined. It's impossible to know if this is a blip or the beginning of a trend.

The Standard & Poor's/Case-Schiller's 20-city home-price index released in September was up for the third consecutive month in July -- 18 of 20 tracked metro areas had price gains in September. Home prices in the second quarter were 14.9 percent lower than they were in same quarter of 2008. However, the rate of home-price deterioration slowed.

Construction of single-family homes increased in July for the fifth straight month, according to Census Bureau stats, but dropped 3 percent from July to August. New-home construction is still 70 percent below the peak of the housing market in 2006, but up 37 percent from winter 2008.

Recent good news suggests the housing market may be stabilizing -- although most analysts agree it's too soon to be certain, and it will be some time before home prices rise significantly. Weighing heavily on economists' predictions are the high unemployment rate and concern that more foreclosures will hit the market. According to the U.S. Comptroller of the currency, 53 percent of loans modified by lenders during the first half of 2008 are again in arrears.

Now is a good time to make a long-term purchase if you can afford to and you have job security. But don't buy a home just because it seems like a good deal.

THE CLOSING: A bargain could end up costing too much if you overpay in a multiple-offer competition or have to move again soon.

Dian Hymer, a real estate broker with more than 30 years' experience, is a nationally syndicated real estate columnist and author of "House Hunting: The Take-Along Workbook for Home Buyers" and "Starting Out, The Complete Home Buyer's Guide."

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Copyright 2009 Dian Hymer

Posted by Nina Kestner and Kevin Lennon The Kestner Team on November 4th, 2009 3:32 PMPost a Comment (0)