As our world warms up we are all starting to get out, to exercise and enjoy the fresh air. Bart and I are getting ready for the for the summer. The long days…..the lake……..the barbecues………..and the hot steamy weather. Those days that we have been dreaming about while the snow was piling up all winter.  

This year the signs of spring seem sweeter than ever, and jogging the streets of our beautiful city they are everywhere. It seems that before the snow and cold weather has lestened it’s grip on us, the fragile sprouts of the crocus, tulips and daffodils are popping up everywhere. 

Now a golden Retriever is always aware of his surroundings but it is almost impossible to take him for a walk this time of year. The treasures that have been distributed by all of his counterparts this long winter are finally thawing and the odors are endless. Now Bart is pretty territorial, so he has a big job ahead of him. After having sniffed out the shrubs the other day he finally made it to our little patch of crocus. He probably would not have found them so interesting if there hadn’t been a Bacon treat (from his friend Rabyn) lying next to them. But I thought that the photo opportunity would be great.

So Bart and I recommend that you get out, take a walk and enjoy the best time of year!

Here we are in front of Epic Sorts late this fall while Bart tries to tell me which items will keep us warm. With gear like my Mountain Hard Wear down jacket, Smart Wool running pants, the Under Armour shirt, and my Hot Fingers mittens….I am ready to go. 

Thank you Epic Sports!

Visit Epic Sports online at epicsportsgear.com or in historic downtown at 6 Central Street

Situated northwest of the city and consisting of over 650 acres it borders the Bangor Land Trust, the Orono Bog, and the Penjajawok Marsh. It is a wildlife corridor that is home to many species of rare birds and animals. 

Enjoy hiking, biking, skiing, snow shoeing and all non-motorized activities on miles of maintained trails. Enjoy the Orono Bog on the 4200 ft boardwalk that allows you to explore without eroding the bog or getting your feet wet, the boardwalk is also accessible to wheelchairs.   It is  a great way way to spend quality time with the family, or a sancturary to  enjoy in  solitude. The park is dog friendly but many of the areas require them to be leased, the boardwalk does not allow dogs. Please visit the websites below to see all rules.

                                                                                               All of this only minutes away from home and work. For more information visit; 

 www.bangormaine.gov/vb_recreation.php;  

www.oronobogwalk.org/bgrforest.htm;

Just because the snow is here doesn’t mean that sellers can forgo winter yard care.  It is important to make sure you maintain curb appeal to attract interest of buyers. Here is a list of simple things to do to make sure your home is in tip-top condition.

1.  Keep on top of winter yard cleanup—old leaves, dried up flowers, cover delicate plants, prune plants.  Clean out gutters.

2.  Fill planters and flower boxes with evergreens. This adds a nice touch and will last throughout the winter months. 

3.  Keep winter toys, shovels, supplies out of the way.  These can be an eye sore and clutter.

4.  Take holiday decorations down.  Sure they look nice for a little while, but after a month, they just look out of place.  Put a nice seasonal piece on the door to welcome potential buyers. 

5.  Clean up after pets!! Nothing looks worse than yellow snow surrounding your home. 

6.  Keep driveway clean and walkway ice free.  Make sure your home is easy accessible and safe.  Buyers won’t want to trudge up long driveways in 3 feet of snow; they will simply move onto the next home. 

By sticking to these 6 easy tips you will create an inviting and safe environment that will make buyers feel right at home!

Myth#1:

Truth:  Pricing too high in a buyer’s market can be a big mistake! If your home is overpriced than it will be used to help sell competiting homes listed in your price range.  If you start too high on pricing your home, then you will just end up chasing the market from a losing position! It is important to ask these questions when pricing your home:

Is the home updated?

Does it need minor touch ups like fresh paint or new carpeting?

Is the location of your home desirable?

The bottom line is you can price your home at any value you feel is appropriate; however, it still needs to appraise for the selling price in order to receive the loan.

Myth #2: “The carpet needs to be replaced; I’ll just offer a credit at closing for a new carpet.”

Truth:  First impressions are everything!!! Buyers are looking for homes online and if they do not see what they like, they will not set up an appointment to view your property.  Once they see worn carpeting (or outdated appliances or dated countertops), they will proceed onto the next home.  Bottom line is your home should be inviting so that every buyer can picture themselves living there!

Myth #3:  “Updates are not necessary; let’s just list the house and see what happens.”

Truth:  Again, first impressions are everything!! 87% of buyers are searching for homes online before setting up appointments to view in person.  If your home doesn’t make the first round of cuts, it is probably because they didn’t like what they saw in the online photos.  Not all updates have to be expensive!  A fresh coat of paint or new hardware on cabinets can go a long ways!

Remember, you usually only have one chance to capture buyers’ interest. You can easily do this by making sure your price is competitive and your home is inviting to buyers!

Check out these useful websites for great updating ideas!

Budget Friendly Kitchen Updates

Low-cost Bathroom Updates

Staging your home

Purchase the VIP button at Giacomo’s and be entered into a drawing to win fabulous prizes such as dinner and room at Hollywood Slots Hotel or tickets to a 2011 Waterfront Concert.  VIPs are also entitle to an exclusive reception at The Sweetest Thing Studio catered by Market Bistro.  

Schedule of Events: 

4-7 PM:  Free admission at Maine Discovery Museum.  Make hats and noisemakers from 4-5 PM and the Count up Parade is from 5-6 PM.    

5:30-7:30 PM: Spaghetti Dinner at Unitarian Universalist Church ($8 for adults, $5 kids, $20 family of 4). 

6 PM:  Hollywood Slots welcomes reality starts Jeff and Jordan from Big Brother and the Amazing Race to sign autographs and pose for photos all evening. Motor Booty Affair performs (9-1 PM). 

7-10 PM:  Bangor Public Library will offer games, magic, dance, and karaoke.  

7-9 PM:  University of Maine Museum of Art hosts “All Decked Out”; make your own crown or tiara.  

7:30-8 PM: Downtown Countdown Kick-Off with MC Steve Robbins and Queen City performaing in West Market Square; s’more making in West Market Square from 8:30-10:30 PM ($3 each).  

8-9:30 PM: Maximum Blue performing in City Hall Council Chambers. 

8-10 PM:  Organ Recital and Reception at St. John’s Episcopal Church.   

8-11:30 PM:  Preservation Blues Band at Bagel Central.  

 8-11:30 PM:  Contra Dance at Unitarian Universalist Church (instruction at 7:30). 

 8-8:35 and 9:40-10:15 PM:  The Focus Group at Bangor Opera House.   

 8-11:30 PM: Retro Rockerz at the Union Street Brick Church.  

 8-10 PM: VIP Button Wearers only-reception at The Sweetest Thing.   

 8:45-9:30 & 10:25-11:10 PM:  Evergreen at the Bangor Opera House.   

 9 PM:  Teen Dance (18 and under) at West Market Square-all ages, no charge.  

 11:30 PM: Closing Ceremonies with Queen City in West Market Square.   

 11:59 PM:  Countdown to Midnight and ball drop by Mike & Mike from Kiss 94.5 

Download brochure of events

Map of downtown Bangor

Here are the top 8 questions and explanations to make sure you are fully prepared when applying for your next mortgage loan application.

1. What documents will I need to have on hand in order to receive full mortgage approval?

An experienced mortgage professional will be able to uncover any potential underwriting challenges up-front by simply asking the right questions during the initial application and interview process.

Residence history, marital status, credit obligations, down payment seasoning, income and employment verifications are a few examples of topics that can lead to stacks of documentation required by an underwriter for a full approval.

There is nothing worse than getting close to funding on a new home just to find out that your lender needs to verify something you weren’t prepared for.

2. How long will the process take?

Between processing, underwriting, title search, appraisal and other verification processes, there are obviously many factors to consider in the overall time line, when buying your home, which is why communication is essential.

As long as all of the documents and questions are addressed ahead of time, your loan officer will be able to give you a fair estimate of the total amount of time it will take to close on your mortgage.

The main reason this question is important to ask up-front is because it will help you determine whether or not the loan officer is more interested in telling you what you want to hear versus setting realistic expectations.

You should also inquire about anything specific that may hold up your file from closing on time.

3.  Are my taxes and insurance included in the payment?

The answer to this question affects how much your total monthly payment will be and the total amount you’ll have to bring to closing for your new home.

If you include your taxes and insurance in your payment, you will have a higher monthly payment to the lender but then you also won’t have to worry about coming up with large sums of cash to pay the taxes when they are due.

4.  Will my payment increase at any point after closing?

Most borrowers today choose fixed interest rate loans, which basically means the loan payment will never increase over the life of the loan.

However, if your taxes and insurance are included in your payment, you should anticipate that your total payment will change over time due to changes in your homeowner’s insurance premiums and property taxes.

5.  How do I lock my interest rate?

It’s good to know what the terms are and what the process is of locking in your interest rate.

Establishing whether or not you have the final word on locking in a specific interest rate at any given moment of time will alleviate the chance of someone else making the wrong decision on your behalf.

Most loan officers pay close attention to market conditions for their clients, but this should be clearly understood and agreed upon at the beginning of the relationship, especially since rates tend to move several times a day.

6.  How long will my rate be locked?

Mortgage rates are typically priced with a 30 day lock, but you may choose to hold off temporarily if you’re purchasing a foreclosure or short sale. 

The way the lock term affects your pricing is as follows: The shorter the lock period, the lower the interest rate, and the longer the lock period the higher the interest rate.

7.  How does my credit score affect my interest rate?

This is an important question to get specific answers on, especially if there have been any recent changes to your credit scenario.

There are a few key factors that can influence a slight fluctuation in your credit score, so be sure to talk with your loan officer about anything you can think of that may have been tied to your credit.

8.  How much will I need for closing?

*The 2010 Good Faith Estimate will essentially only reflect what the maximum fees are, but will not tell you how much you need to bring to closing.

Ask your Loan Officer to estimate how much money you should budget for so that you are prepared at the time of closing.

Your earnest money deposit, appraisal fees and seller contributions may factor into this final number as well, so it helps to have a clear picture to avoid any last-minute panic attacks.

Now that you have the background to these eight important questions, you should feel more confident about finding a mortgage company that can serve your personal needs and unique scenario.

Remember, the more you understand about the entire loan process, the better your experience will be! Here is a link to a useful glossary of terms!

Most frustration that is experienced during the home buying and approval process is largely due to unclear expectations.

Remember, you can never ask too many questions!

Bangor Savings Bank is a Bangorism…

On a recent walk in downtown Bart decided to take a short rest on the front stoop of the Bangor Savings Bank. The Bank opened in 1852 during the lumber boom. The founders wanted to encourage the city’s poor and working classes to save money during an era that didn’t know pensions, social security, disability insurance or unemployment checks.

Bangor Savings Bank has seen the rise and fall of the great lumber economy, the depression of the 1870′s, the flood of 1902, the fire of 1911 and the great depression. It stayed in downtown while many businesses relocated to the mall area and remains one of our most beautiful buildings. 

Bart  especially enjoys going through the drive-thru,  because they serve doggie treats. Doesn’t he look good posing for his photo in front of the cast bronze doors that protect the bank. He thought that he would really show his best side if he could stand above one of the spot lights that shine up the facade from the sidewalk but the timing wasn’t right.

Stay tuned for more of Bart’s adventures while we explore more Bangorisms in our great city of Bangor.

It’s my favorite time of year again……..Welcome to Gingerbread central.  Each year, I create lovely (and edible) houses to thank all my buyers who are celebrating their first Christmas in their new homes for their business and to wish them happy holidays!  I made a total of 24 houses this year to pass out to clients. With my template, the Gingerbread pieces are formed and baked and I put them together with melted chocolate. When standing and sturdy the next step is the frosting!! The royal icing is perfect to create the icles on the eves and snow drifts on the roof.  Each of the homes are personalized with the family name, every window gets a candle and each door gets a wreath.  The Gingerbread house is then  wrapped in celophane and topped with a bow. Now comes my favorite part….. delivering. The children get so excited that it feels like Christmas morning. The adults are so happy to receive them and can’t decide whether to eat them right away or leave them out for decorations through the holidays!  This is the least I can do to thank all my wonderful clients for a terrific year!