HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS
"It is better to give than to receive". Bible verse
Are you still pondering what to get that certain someone in your life during holiday season? Here are some unique gift ideas... Happy Shopping!
courtesy of Real Simple Magazine
For the Man about Town
Crank Radio: a solar and hand-powered radio
with a flashlight and phone charger.
To buy: Mini solar emergency radio, $50, llbean.com
For Glamour Girls
Rosette Clutch: adds a kick to a simple black party dress.
To buy: Katie clutch by Stephanie Johnson, $38, saks.com
To buy: Katie clutch by Stephanie Johnson, $38, saks.com
For the #1 Fan
NFL-Logo Toaster: brands slices with 1 of 32 team logos.
To buy: ProToast NFL, $33, hsn.com
For the Ultimate Professional
Letterpress Desk Calendar: gorgeous, weighty cards and faux bamboo stand will delight.
To buy: Jack and Lulu 2012 calendar, $49 (five inches square), jackandlulu.com
For the World Traveler
Hanging Plane Bag: clips onto the seat pocket in front of you and holds your phone, iPod and book.
To buy: F1 Seat Pak, $28, flight001.com
For the Sweet Tooth
Upscale Cookie Dough: a shortcut to home-baked goodies in yummy flavors like mint chip and oatmeal raisin. Each tub makes 3 dozen.
To buy: DB's Batter Up frozen cookie, $25,batterupcookiedough.com
For Snackers and Chefs
State-shaped Cutting Board: custom carved of bamboo plywood, with an engraved heart or star over chosen city or town.
To buy: Plyboo serving board, $40, etsy.com/shop/aheirloom
For Underage Drivers
Toddler Bumper Car: this sturdy vehicle features 360 -degree castor wheels for smooth cruising, furniture-friendly bumpers and
7 cartoon-like crash sounds. For ages 1-3.
To buy: Classic bumper car, $46, target.com
For Mischief Makers
Water-Balloon Maker: give the gift a parent never would - a gadget that rapidly fills balloons (500 included). Ages 10 and up.
To buy: Pumpnator, $20, dailygrommet.com
For Kids on the Go
Scratch Map: oh, the places they've been! Recipients scratch away the gold (like a lottery ticket), revealing spots visited, along with bright colors and geographic details.
To buy: Scratch-Off World Map, $28, urbanoutfitters.com
* Some of these unique gifts may no longer be available *
WHAT IS A SHORT SALE?
A short sale is a real estate transaction where the net proceeds from the sale of the property is less than the total amount owed to lenders with the difference being the deficiency. We list the property for sale and once the seller accepts a purchase offer and signs a Purchase and Sale Agreement, it is submitted to the bank with several other documents. Before the sale can be completed, the Lender must review and approve a preliminary HUD-1 showing the net proceeds and all closing costs. Typically, a short sale property is sold "as is" meaning the sellers will not make any repairs to the house after inspections. How long does it take for lender approval? It can take between 1-9 months to receive short sale approval. The time frame varies greatly depending on: the seller's ability to submit all paperwork in a timely manner, how many liens are on the subject's property, which banks and Realtor they hired to get the job done. When Chloe Real Estate works with a seller in this situation, we bring in a team who streamlines the process. Our average "time to approval" is 50 days from the time the Seller gives us authorization. If you have questions regarding buying or selling Short Sales, email or call us for a confidential conversation.
WHERE IN THE WORLD...North Pole, AK
North Pole, Alaska - Where the spirit of Christmas lives year 'round.
In 1953, Davis, AK was renamed North Pole, AK, in hopes of attracting business. The hope was that a toy manufacturer might open a plant so products could be "made in North Pole". Or perhaps a Santa Land would open which could be a destination like Disneyland. Both endeavors failed but a theme city has grown. Today, many streets bear holiday names such as Santa Claus Lane and Mistletoe Road. Street lights reflect a candy cane motif and many buildings are painted with Christmas colors and designs.
The Santa Claus House is the official home of Santa a
nd you can find both him and his reindeer here year round. You can even order a letter from Santa at the Santa Claus House!
North Pole has a unique postmark. At Christmas time, the US Post Office in North Pole receives thousands of letters to Santa, and thousands more from people who want the town's postmark on their Christmas cards.
The U.S Census Bureau estimated its population as of July 1, 2009 to be 2,226. Single family homes makeup 98.5% of North Pole homes.
Median List Price $225,900
1-Year Change -3.0%
Owners 50.4%
Average Year Built 1983
Annual Property Tax $2392
Need ideas for planning a trip to North Pole? Let us know!
PLACES TO GO | EVENTS | THINGS TO DO
Nov 18 to Dec 28 | The North Pole Express at Essex Steam Train, Essex, CT www.essexsteamtrain.com
Nov 19 to Jan 6 | Holiday Light Fantasia, Goodwin Park, Hartford, CT
Dec 1 | Holiday Stroll, Blue Back Square and West Hartford Center, CT
Dec 2 to 4 | LEGO KidsFest, 100 Columbus Blvd., Hartford, CT www.legokidsfest.com
Dec 2 to 4 | Christmas Stroll Weekend, Nantucket, MA www.nantucketchamber.org/enjoy/
Dec 9 to 11 | Wassail Weekend, Woodstock, VT www.woodstockvt.com/wassail.php
Dec 18 | Mystic Seaport's Community Carol Sing, Mystic, CT www.mysticseaport.
Dec 26 to 28 | 41st Annual Christmas in Newport, RI Tour of Historic Private Homes,
401-293-0965
Dec 31 | First Night, Bushnell Park, Hartford, CT www.firstnighthartford.org
Dec 31 | First Night, Boston, MA www.firstnight.org
Fun Fact: Bethlehem (in Litchfield County, CT) also has a unique postmark. Each year, thousands of visitors mail their Christmas cards at the local post office in order to get a "Bethlehem" postmark!
Closing Congratulations: Valerie and Paul Riesbeck and Kevin MacKay!
Referral Thanks: Greg Jewell, Desira Chapdelaine and Hillary Gibson!
Please remember to visit our Facebook Fan Page for more information!
www.CREFanPage
Do not forget about the 2011 Referral Contest! Provide Chloe Real Estate with referrals in 2011 and you will be entered to win a trip to New York City!
