The Cookie Thief by Valerie Cox

The Cookie Thief

By Valerie Cox

A woman was waiting at an airport one night,
With several long hours before her flight.
She hunted for a book in the airport shops.
Bought a bag of cookies and found a place to drop.

She was engrossed in her book but happened to see,
That the man sitting beside her, as bold as could be.
Grabbed a cookie or two from the bag in between,
Which she tried to ignore to avoid a scene.

So she munched the cookies and watched the clock,
As the gutsy cookie thief diminished her stock.
She was getting more irritated as the minutes ticked by,
Thinking, “If I wasn’t so nice, I would blacken his eye.”

With each cookie she took, he took one too,
When only one was left, she wondered what he would do.
With a smile on his face, and a…

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Mill Rates

Simply stated, a Mill Rate is the adjustable measure that calculates how much the tax man collects from you on an annual basis. The concept itself is easily understood.

However, more insight is necessary to identify and understand the underlying, and often unforeseen market forces that can drive YOUR Mill Rate up or down, saving or costing you more money in taxes, depending upon where you choose to buy a home.

Note that each town imposes a different mill rate depending upon that town's grand list and how much revenue they must generate to cover their yearly costs. 

“A mill rate is equal to $1 in taxes for every $1,000 in assessed value. To calculate your tax based on your mill rate, divide your assessed value by 1,000 and multiply the…

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182 Pearl St, Noank CT 06340 For Sale

Lifestyle Property. Exceptional, Morgan Point, west-facing waterfront home located at the mouth of the Mystic River with a protected deep-water dock and mooring.  Enjoy unobstructed ocean views from almost every window of this 5-bedroom 5.5-bathroom contemporary with open concept living. Well-appointed features include hardwoods, new stainless-steel appliances, oversized 3 car garage, three magnificent fireplaces, dual laundry locations, master bedroom suite with steam shower, radiant bathroom floors and whirlpool tub, balcony, spacious basement with exercise room and potential to expand. Boat, fish, swim and clam off from the 100’ Southwest facing seawall and beach. Morgan point is located at the tip of Noank Village, a quaint seafaring community,…

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HOUSING BUBBLES & MARKET CRASHES - The Holy Grail (Updated)

Unlike the stock market, where most people understand and accept the risk that prices may fall, most people who buy a house don't ever think that the value of their home will ever decrease.

The housing market, like other assets, is susceptible to unsustainable gains, and bubbles are formed over time even though many people feel it is a sure bet for growth.  That's because of the large transaction costs associated with purchasing a home, not to mention the carrying costs of owning and maintaining a home discourage speculative behavior. However, housing markets do go through periods of irrational exuberance.

This article will help to explain real estate cycles, triggers that cause them, and why consumers should be cognizant of the forces at play…

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102 Town Woods Rd in Old Lyme CT to be sold at Online Auction

AUCTION PURCHASE OPPORTUNITY –  102 Town Woods Road Old Lyme, CT.  SALE TO BE AWARDED VIA ONLINE AUCTION PROCEEDING. BIDDING DATES OPENED TO QUALIFIED BUYERS FROM 08/16/2020 - 08/23/2020. Tim Bray and Jamie Molinares of Seaport Auctions and William Pitt Sothebys International Realty are jointly auctioning and marketing the property. Minimum bids starting at $1.5 Million with a Seller Reserve. SCHEDULE A SHOWING TO PREVIEW THE PROPERTY AND CONFIRM STATED INTEREST.

A virtual walkthrough of the property can be accessed by clicking here. 

Gated Estate located within the secluded countryside of Old Lyme. Quiet enclave nestled within an exclusive retreat with over 20 acres of land and privacy. Custom built, impeccably maintained 6,100+ square foot…

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Carrying Costs AKA Holding Costs

The costs of owning a property go far beyond making a monthly mortgage payment. The costs of owning a home, especially by first time owners, can be a shock after realizing that owning a home is much more expensive than anticipated. 

Residential Carrying Costs are also known as “Holding Costs”  and can include the following:

• Mortgage Principle

• Mortgage Interest

• Taxes

• Insurances

• Homeowner Association Fees

• Costs of maintenance, upkeep, and upgrades

• Utilities

It is important for homeowners to understand the cost of ownership and the impact on their discretionary income. Carrying Cost Calculators are important for potential buyers as well as helping sellers to determine the true…

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Seaport Real Estate Services

Consulting vs. Selling (Advisory)

Our agents offer a consultative approach focused on client needs as opposed to the traditional “Buy & Sell” mentality that is offered by 99% of the real estate companies today. Our Buy Low, Sell High, Hold or Rent mindset empowers our clients to make decisions backed by current and historical data that is extremely difficult to find in the marketplace.

"Everything we do, we believe challenges conventional real estate logic, we believe in change, we believe in thinking outside of the box, and we believe in growth. The way we challenge the status quo is by conceiving & implementing proprietary systems backed by diverse educations, common sense, cutting edge technology, passion for people, and an intense desire to…

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Are Condominiums A Risky Investment In Todays Market? Updated 5/22/2020

I am often being asked if I feel that Condo’s are particularly risky in these trying times. Let me shed some light on the condo market and try to help you make the best decision possible. I will focus on the primary resident condo market as opposed to investment properties in Luxury locations or on the ocean. Condos are built with a specific client in mind. Condo owners are typically first-time homeowners who have good credit, previously were renters, who wish to enter the housing market. They often times use the condo as a stepping stone into the single-family housing arena but can not afford to do so at this time. Or the condo owner enjoys the relatively maintenance-free lifestyle that a condo offers.

The risk in ownership and potential…

2022 Views, 3 Comments

Sales Person vs Fiduciary

Salespeople are typically focused on being transactional and closing more deals. Fiduciaries use a consultative approach, putting a client’s best interest in mind even if it means disclosing info that will kill a deal. Fiduciaries won’t place their commissions before your best interest. Unfortunately, many agents in our market are experienced at selling themselves. The real estate industry over the years has become less about the customer and more about the number of transactions an agent closes.  Some of the blame can be directly correlated to real estate coaching which has become big business and focuses on “Closing the Deal” as opposed to solving a client’s problem.  Big Real Estate coaching companies train agents to become adept at answering…

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Time Kills Deals - Do Your Research - Real Estate Raw&Uncut Episode 185

Real Estate Raw&Uncut is for: Realtors, Agents, Buyers, Sellers, Brokers, Attorneys, Lenders, or just anyone that wants it "REAL" in REAL ESTATE! No hidden lies, none of that Realtor "fluff", no TV drama, no media BS... only the cold hard truth which we deliver unscripted and unfiltered with a new episode every week.

Episode 185: Chances are very good that your seller will receive much less in the long run for an overpriced property than if the property was priced correctly from the start. Most people accept and understand this concept. What many do not recognize is that knowing your product prior to listing can prove to be instrumental in getting the deal done. It is imperative that you have the following information before placing a property on…

927 Views, 0 Comments