Planting Your Own Garden Can Be Fun and Cost Effective!

Are you looking for a way to lower your monthly grocery bills without cutting out fruits and veggies?

Recently CNN covered a story on how many Americans have decided to begin growing their own gardens where they can nourish and harvest the food they love while saving money. Most of the time grocery stores cut prices on packaged and processed foods because they are less costly and sold in bulk. Therefore, as society finds themselves in a bind for cash, many families have been forced to spend less money on nutritious fruits and vegetables, because they are a bit more pricey.
Some have even commented how their children are unaware that natural, healthy food does not come in tiny packages ready to serve. In an effort to change our youths’ minds and maintain a healthy lifestyle, parents and families across the United States have decided to encourage their children to plant and harvest their own fruits and veggies. Not only does it provide for a fun activity, but it also keeps their bodies fueled with nutrients.

Therefore, it is suggested that instead of cutting out the grocery list and “x’ing” off the foods that are healthy, because they are more expensive, try planting your own garden and watch your own food grow before your eyes!

And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.
www.MichaelCarusoRealEstate.com
Best regards.
Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI
2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors (949) 753-7900

(information found on CNN and image provided by Google Images)

Designer Closets

Designer Closets for Less

When our closets started to look old, cluttered and outdated, my wife decided that we could spruce them up at very little cost. I was very skeptical. But after the finished product and very minimal cost, I decided that I had to share it with some fellow clients and she insisted that I write about it on my blog.

• First she got rid of any "wire or cheap hangers".
  
• Got rid of any old boxes or plastic storage boxes
  
• She replaced the hangers to all black or all white. Adding non slip hangers.
  
• Replaced the old storage boxes with the same coordinating color storage cases and some designer storage boxes of different shapes & sizes.
  
• Added a multiple hanging purse holder.

We decided on black hangers throughout. Solid black boxes and a black & white print storage box. Added some tiffany blue boxes and hung up all the clothes by color & season.
Seriously, the black color against the clothes make the clothes stand out. She did another closet of all white & another of all grey. It's great when your doing the laundry. Just hang on the coordinating hanger. The closets looks like they got a major facelift at little cost. Everything we needed was found at all the discount retailers & chains.

We recommended this to a client, who's closet looked very messy. Now she leaves her closet doors open and is not embarrassed when buyers or agents are looking in. This is great for staging a home.

I hope you'll remember me if you learn of anyone moving to "The OC" and I will do the same!

Best regards.

Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI
2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors

Holiday Hiring

In the OC Register I read an article that made me optimistic about job seekers and what I've been telling my own kids and their friends -- it's never too early to start looking for a job.
As we approach the holiday season, retailers everywhere are gearing up for the start of holiday hiring. Employment experts believe that job seekers should start applying now even though retailers may delay hiring until the later months (once they see an increase in consumer demand). Seasonal workers should start applying early, since there will be an increase in applicants.

According to John Challenger, chief executive of the out-placement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc., which tracks employment, also thinks things may be improving on the retail front. He also thinks the best bets for job opportunities will be in the large retailers such as: Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buys, Barnes & Nobles, as well as shippers like UPS and Fed-Ex.

Hopefully, we will have a more promising and stronger selling season.

And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.

www.MichaelCarusoRealEstate.com

Best regards.

Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI

2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors

(949) 753-7900

Could YOU live without water...Bottles?

Do you drink bottled water? I bet at least half of you are chugging one right now or have one sitting on your desk. Ladies and Gentelemen, I think we have been ripped off. The bottled water market in America is worth over $10 Billion!

Have you ever had Evian water? Spell it backwards. N-A-I-V-E.

Our obsession with buying high priced water in a bottle is contributing to global warming. The energy that goes into making a bottle of water is astounding. To produce 31.2 billion liters of water for America's bottled water market took approximately 17.6 million barrels of oil!

Additionally, our landfills are overflowing with plastic waste. Bottled water produces up to 1.5 million tons of plastic waste per year, and not even 20% of bottles actually get recycled! (more info) Most bottled water is extra purified tap water (which is already purified). It is not any healthier!



So, I challenge you to drink at least a couple less bottles per week. Here are alternatives:
-Use a Brita filter. Easy, cost effective and your tap water gets purified and tastes great.

-Get a reusable bottle. SIGG makes great aluminum ones (shown). And Kleen Kanteen makes great stainless steel ones.

-Simply drink from the tap!



And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.

www.MichaelCarusoRealEstate.com

Best,

Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI

2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors (949) 753-7900

Politics & The Olympics

The President, the First Lady, the Mayor of Chicago and Oprah Winfrey want the 2016 Olympics to be in their hometown of Chicago, but The International Olympic Committee will be selecting the host city on Friday.

Rio de Janeiro, Madrid & Tokyo are also up for bid for the site of the summer games. Many people are excited as well as worried, about what effects this may have to the windy city. Besides bringing in much revenue, some think it will also impact the city with unwelcome traffic, higher taxes and lead to more corruption, such as misuse of funds and insider dealings.

According to the Associated Press in a recent poll, 47 percent were in favor of the bid while 45 percent were against it -- a drop from a 2-1 support the newspaper found in a February poll.

Chicagoans, what is your feeling on this?? Stay Tuned for the decision this Friday!

And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.

www.MichaelCarusoRealEstate.com

Best regards.

Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI

2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors (949) 753-7900

It all depends how you look at it

I hope you look at things with a positive attitude...

A Man pulled into a gas station on the outskirts of town. As he filled his tank he struck up a conversation with the attendant. "I've just accepted a job in town. I've never been to this part of the country. What are people like here?"

"What are people like where you came from?" the attendant asked.

"Not so nice," the man replied. "In fact, they can be quite rude."

The attendant shook his head. "Well, i"m sorry you'll find the people in this town to be the same way."

Just then another car pulled into the station. "Excuse me," the driver called out. "I'm just moving to the area. Is it nice here?"

"Was it nice where you came from?" the attendant again inquired.

"Oh, yes! I came from a great place. The people were friendly, and I hated to leave."

"Well, you'll find the same to be true of this town." The driver thanked him and pulled away.

The first man was rather irritated with the attendent's conflicting reports. "So, what is this town really like?"

The attendant just shrugged his shoulders. "It's all a matter of perception. You'll find things to be just the way you think they are." It all depends how you look at it...

And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.

www.MichaelCarusoRealEstate.com

Best,
Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI

2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors

(949) 753-7900

Must Haves for Home Buyers...

These are some "must-haves" according to the State Farm Insurance Company newsletter...
The amenities topping the 2007 Profile of Buyers' Home Feature Preferences.
• Energy Efficiency for New Homes topped the list at 65%.
• Oversize Garages with space for two or more vehicles ranked at 57%.
• Walk-In Closets was an important feature for 53% of buyers.
• Other features that were very important in home buyers were, Hardwood Floors at 28% and Granite Countertops at 23%.
Another trend that buyers are looking for is, bigger living spaces and fewer bedrooms. These features have changed since the 2004 survey. What do you think?
And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.
www.MichaelCarusoRealEstate.com
Best regards.
Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI
2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors
(949) 753-7900

Tell congress to extend the tax credit here!

REALTORS® from all around the country recently got in front of a camera to send Congress an important message: the $8,000 first time homebuyer tax credit is working..



Watch this video and send your own message to Congress. We need to tell them to extend and expand the tax credit. So far over 92,000 people have taken action!

Click HERE to easily send the following message to your congressman and senators:


"Subject: Homebuyer Tax Credit: Extend and Expand

Dear [ Decision Maker ],

As a Realtor and a constituent, I can assure you that the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit has definitely been a success. Homebuyer interest and housing sales increased almost as soon as the ink was dry on the tax credit legislation.

Today's lower prices and interest rates appeal to consumers, but it's been the tax credit that has attracted people to open houses and to homeownership. That progress could grind to a halt sooner than you think.

Congress must act NOW to extend the credit through 2010. Otherwise, uncertainty will return and the market might again be frozen -- possibly as soon as October. A homebuyer is eligible for the tax credit only if the home is "purchased" before December 1, 2009. That means that buyers have to find a house, complete a contract, satisfy any contingencies, secure financing and go to closing by November 30. Accomplishing those tasks by November 30 will become more difficult with every passing day. In today's market, it generally takes between 45 and 60 days to go from contract to closing.

The market has improved, but it has not yet fully corrected itself. The credit needs to be extended for an additional period of time and expanded in order to build upon the progress that's been made. Uncertainty about the future of the credit will dampen consumer demand. The best way to assure continued housing activity is to extend and expand the credit and to do that NOW.

We can't wait until late in the year to see what happens. Consumers will drop out soon if they can't predict what's in their future. Please act NOW to extend and expand the credit through 2010.

Sincerely,

[Your name]
[Your address] "

And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.

www.MichaelCarusoRealEstate.com

Best regards. Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI

2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors

(949) 753-7900

How many miles do you log per day?

Real Estate requires us to log many miles in our own vehicles. With high fuel costs and the initiative to go green, we are always looking for strategies on how to reduce mileage. Every little bit can help make a difference. Here are some tips:

•Pre-plan your appointments. Combine showings if the properties are fairly close to one another.
• Carpool to previews and open houses and work if possible.

•Walk or take public transit if your destination is close enough to your office and it isn't too warm out. Your clients might have a better first impression of you if they see you are supporting the "green" imitative.

•If you must drive to an appointment, schedule other tasks in the vicinity for the same day so you don't have to make another trip.

•Combine non-work errands into your commute to and from home to save individual trips.

•If you can get work done from home in the morning, leave work an hour later. You will beat the morning rush hour and technology allows us to work out-of-office. Maybe you can do your AR blogging.

•Pack a lunch so you won't have to drive to lunch. Otherwise, go before or after peak times to avoid lines and traffic.

•Avoid driving through the bank. As you idle you use fuel.

•Don't speed. You will reduce wear and tear on your car and improve fuel efficiency.

•Check your tire pressure about once a month to ensure you're getting the best performance and mileage out of your vehicle. Make sure to go to all your routine/scheduled maintenance visits at the mechanic

•Clean out your car. Extra "for sale" signs, boxes, and your golf bag can way down your vehicle and decrease fuel efficiency.

Compiled with help from American Home Shield.

And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.

www.MichaelCarusoRealEstate.com

Best,

Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI

2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors

(949) 753-7900

Race for a Cure

Have plans this Sunday? No? Well why not help find a cure for breast cancer.

This Sunday, September 27, 2009 the 18th annual "Race for a Cure" is being held in Fashion Island. This race is sponsored by our Orange County Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Center for the Cure.
Since its inception in 1982, Susan G. Komen has collected more than $1.3 billion toward Breast Cancer Research. Today, Komen is the world's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower individuals, and more!

Studies estimate that one in eight American women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in her lifetime. Typically ignored, breast cancer affects about 2% of the male population.

Join over 30,000 participants and run or walk the 5K route around Fashion Island. 75% of funds raised will stay in Orange County to fund screening, treatment and education programs and the other 25% goes directly to the Komen Award and Research Grant Program to fund global grants to discover the cures.

For additional information contact Komen at www.komenoc.org or our Orange County Affiliate @ 714-957-9157

And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.

www.MichaelCarusoRealEstate.com

Best regards.

Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI

2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors

(949) 753-7900