Five Towns Real Estate Blog

Looking for something different to do this weekend near Long Island's Five Towns? Food Truck Festival!

Donna Galinsky (Pugatch Realty Corp.- Five Towns Real Estate Directory) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:40:08 -0400

Parked: Food Truck Festival on Governors Island

Forget the beach - the sun is not that good for you anyway...

If You are a Food Network junkie like me this sounds like the only place to be on Sunday afternoon September 5th.

Look for me there!

**********************************

....We are taking over the shady expanse of Colonel's Row to host Parked in style. Bring a picnic blanket, some sunblock, and take the free ferry over to this gorgeous island with us!

Last year's event drew over 3,000 hungry foodies to Brooklyn for brick oven pizza, dumplings, German soul food, Vietnamese bbq, ice cream, cup cakes, and key lime pies.

This time, there are even more food trucks, such as Jamaican Dutchy Truck, Rickshaw Dumpling, Green Pirate juice, Joyride Truck, Red Hook Lobster Pound, Van Leeuwan Artisan Ice Cream, Halo Berlin, The Cinnamon Snail, Kelvin Natural Slush Co, Hermelinda Mexicana and more!

Bigger! badder! more napkins!

WHEN : Sunday, September 5th
WHERE : Colonel's Row @ Governors Island
DOORS : Noon - 5pm
COVER : Free!
RAIN DATE: Sunday, September 26th

________________________________________________________
Donna Galinsky
FindYourHomeLI.com
Five Towns Long Island Real Estate
Your Five Towns Real Estate Directory
Licensed Salesperson, Pugatch Realty Corp.

If you are thinking of buying or selling a home on the South Shore of Long Island in Southwest Nassau County (Cedarhurst, East Rockaway, The Five Towns, Gibson, Hewlett, Hewlett Harbor, Hewlett Bay Park, Hewlett Neck, Inwood, Lawrence, Lynbrook, North Woodmere, Oceanside, Valley Stream, Woodmere or Woodsburgh please visit my website for more information on buying a home in LI Five Towns and selling your Five Towns Long Island home . You can also search the entire MLSLI . Let us tell you what makes us different from the rest.

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Inwood Long Island, NY Real Estate Snapshot August 2010

Donna Galinsky (Pugatch Realty Corp.- Five Towns Real Estate Directory) — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:33:54 -0400

Homes in Inwood range from $ 154,800 for a Foreclosure to $ 1,299,000 for large commercial property consisting of a number of buildings.

Inwood is located in Lawrence School District 15

The area is part of the Five Towns on Long Island and is convenient to New York City via the Long Island Railroad.

The Five Towns area is also convenient to the beaches along the Atlantic Ocean, JFK International Airport, shopping and worship.

Search for Homes for Sale in Inwood, Long Island, NY

Compliments of The Five Towns Real Estate Directory - we are here for all your Real Estate Needs.

Visit us at FindYourHomeLI.com for all your Long Island Real Estate needs. Looking to relocate, buy, sell, rent or invest? We are here for you.

Donna Galinsky 516-317-9253
Lenny Bobrow 516-784-0262

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The Hewletts Long Island NY Real Estate Snapshot August 2010

Donna Galinsky (Pugatch Realty Corp.- Five Towns Real Estate Directory) — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:23:38 -0400

Homes in the Hewletts range from $ 319,000 for a 2 Bedroom Bungalow to $ 3,950,000 for an estate in Hewlett Neck.

The Hewletts are located in Hewlett- Woodmere School District 14 and Lynbrook School District 20.

The area is part of the Five Towns on Long Island and is convenient to New York City via the Long Island Railroad.

The Five Towns area is also convenient to the beaches along the Atlantic Ocean, JFK International Airport, shopping and worship.

Search for Homes for Sale in Hewlett, Long Island, NY
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Compliments of The Five Towns Real Estate Directory - we are here for all your Real Estate Needs.

Visit us at FindYourHomeLI.com for all your Long Island Real Estate needs. Looking to relocate, buy, sell, rent or invest? We are here for you.

Donna Galinsky 516-317-9253
Lenny Bobrow 516-784-0262

Free MLS Search! Register for a Free Listingbook account and search the MLS like an agent.

Atlantic Beach NY Homes for Sale | Cedarhurst, NY Homes for Sale | East Rockaway, NY Homes for Sale

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Woodmere LI, NY and Woodsburgh NY Real Estate Snapshot August 2010

Donna Galinsky (Pugatch Realty Corp.- Five Towns Real Estate Directory) — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:17:05 -0400

Homes in Woodmere and Woodsburgh range from $ 529,000 for a Ranch that is a fixer upper to $ 2,550,000 for a 5 Bedroom Colonial on ½ acre in Woodsburgh.

Woodmere and Woodsburgh are located in Hewlett- Woodmere School District 14 and Lawrence School District 15.

The area is part of the Five Towns on Long Island and is convenient to New York City via the Long Island Railroad.

The Five Towns area is also convenient to the beaches along the Atlantic Ocean, JFK International Airport, shopping and worship.

Search for Homes for Sale in Woodsburgh, Long Island, NY
Search for Homes for Sale in Woodmere, Long Island, NY

Compliments of The Five Towns Real Estate Directory - we are here for all your Real Estate Needs.

Visit us at FindYourHomeLI.com for all your Long Island Real Estate needs. Looking to relocate, buy, sell, rent or invest? We are here for you.

Donna Galinsky 516-317-9253
Lenny Bobrow 516-784-0262

________________________________________________________

Free MLS Search! Register for a Free Listingbook account and search the MLS like an agent.

Atlantic Beach NY Homes for Sale | Cedarhurst, NY Homes for Sale | East Rockaway, NY Homes for Sale

Hewlett, NY Homes for Sale | Hewlett Bay Park, NY Homes For Sale | Hewlett Harbor, NY Homes for Sale |

Hewlett Neck, NY Homes for Sale | Inwood, LI Homes for Sale | Lawrence, LI Homes for Sale

Lynbrook, NY Homes for Sale | North Woodmere, NY Homes for Sale

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Hurricane Earl is Coming to Long Island (Maybe) But Best to Be Prepared...

Donna Galinsky (Pugatch Realty Corp.- Five Towns Real Estate Directory) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:04:09 -0400

From the lastest computer projection there is a chance that Hurricane Earl could be hitting the East Coast including our Five Towns on Long island some time this weekend.

Though sometimes the weatherpeople do tend to exaggerate for ratings (in my opinion) it is better to be safe than sorry.

Here are some Hurrcane preparedness and safety tips...

Safety Tips

Coastal residents should form evacuation plans before a warning is issued to identify a safe shelter and a route to get there.
Stock up on emergency supplies including food, water, medications, batteries, flashlights, important documents, road maps, and a full tank of gasoline.
Be sure cell phones are fully charged.
Bring outside furniture and umbrellas indoors.
Be sure all windows are shut. If you have shutters and can close and lock them do that as well.
As a storm unfolds, listen to local authorities on radio or television. Evacuation routes often close as a storm develops.
Dedicated professionals and improved technology have made hurricane forecasting more accurate than ever before-but it's far from precise.
If forced to weather a storm, get inside the most secure building possible and stay away from windows.
Remember that a lull often signifies the storm's eye-not its end. Anyone riding out a hurricane should wait for authorities to announce that the danger has passed.

BE VERY CAREFUL OF THE OCEAN THIS WEEKEND - even though the surface might look smooth there are some nasty riptides below the sruface that are a danger to even the most experienced swimmer. If you happen to get caught in a rip tide - they say don't fight it - swim in the direction of it.

Keep up with the latest on Hurricane Earl and how it can effect us on Long Island here.

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Lynbrook, NY Homes for Sale | North Woodmere, NY Homes for Sale

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Fairway Market - I have a gripe with you!!

Donna Galinsky (Pugatch Realty Corp.- Five Towns Real Estate Directory) — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:23:55 -0400

Fairway Market has to be one of the best supermarkets EVER!! I just have one gripe with them.

When you first walk up you are greeted by a huge section of fresh produce. You name the fruit or vegetable and they have it. Want it ore-cut? No problem, you can find that also.

You like pasta? They have fresh pasta, ravioli, gnocchi and any other variety that you can name. Along with the fresh pasta they also have a large variety of fresh sauces. Their own brand of jarred sauce is pretty awesome also.

Fish and Seafood? Got it. Huge fresh jumbo shrimp, clams, fish, octopus and on and on.

Prefer meat? You name it, they have it. They also have a large selection of marinated meats all ready to put on the grill for a quick meal.

Speaking of a quick meal - I almost forgot to mention the large selection of deli, appetizing, prepared foods and sushi.

Carb lover like me? Breads, cookies, cakes, muffins, bagels, pies - get the picture - at the fresh bakery.

All this PLUS they are also a regular supermarket.

Prices are as good as any other supermarket in the area, but Fairway is way above any other market.

So what is my gripe you might ask?

Well the nearest Fairway market to my home in the Five Towns of Long Island is in Plaiview Long Island - almost 40 minutes away!! I do it, but not as often as I would like. If there was one closer I guarantee I would be a frequent shopper!

Fairway Market hear my plea!! We need you on the South Shore of Long Island! I'll be very happy to help you find the perfect home. Just give me a call...

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Steps to Buying a Home in the Five Towns (all of Long Island really)

Donna Galinsky (Pugatch Realty Corp.- Five Towns Real Estate Directory) — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 13:56:43 -0400

So many people do not realize what is involved in the purchase of a home from start to finish.

Here is the typical Anatomy of A Long Island NY Real Estate transaction. (Typical involves a buyer and a "normal" seller. Not a foreclosure or a Short Sale)

It may seem daunting, but it really is not. It is a one step at a time process and I am very happy to hep you, explain each step, and hold your hand as needed all along the way...

• Talk to a lender. This is the same ANYWHERE! First thing I advise is to talk to a lender and see how much you can really afford to spend.

This depends on so many factors including credit score, outstanding debt, debt:income ratio to name a few. A lender will talk to you, look at all the factors, tell you how much you can spend and then give you the all important Pre-Approval or Pre-Qualification.

The reason this needs to be done first is because this letter will be needed before you can make an offer on any house. You don't want to walk into your Dream House and then find out that you can't afford to buy it, or that another offer is accepted while you are waiting for your preapproval letter.

If you need help finding a lender I have a number than I can recommend for you to use.

• Make a wish list. Write down in order of importance what you are looking for in a home, what is most important to you. Do you want a lot of bedrooms? A big yard? A Basement? A certain School District? Remember that you will most like NOT get everything on your list. A home purchase most always involves compromise. That's why it is called a wish list! Keep an open mind.

• Look for homes. You can start your home search online to get an idea of what is out there, dip your toe in the water so to speak. If you are looking for a home on the South Shore of Long Island in or around the Five Towns area a good place to start is on FindYourHomeLI.com. You can search the entire MLSLI from there, save searches and get automatic updates.

I'll also be happy to give you a FREE Listingbook account to help make your home search even easier. Just ask and I'll tell you how it can work for you and get you set up in a matter of minutes.

• Find YOUR home and submit an offer. When you find the right house, your fist step will be to submit an offer. The offer includes the amount of your initial offer, the amount of your total downpayment, the amount you will be mortgaging and your terms; how quickly you want to close, do you have to sell to buy etc.

• Negotiations. This is the back and forth until we reach a price and terms that both buyers and sellers are happy with. Some people think this is the stressful part, but not so much.

• Accepted offer!! Congratulations!

• Get a Home Inspection. Use a reputable inspection company to come in and take a look at the house. They will check the roof, foundation and everything in between. This is typically done a few days after your offer is accepted. This gives you the opportunity to request repairs or negotiate any issues that might be found during the inspection. Inspections have different results for every transaction; some uncover pretty major issues that need time to be addressed, most are pretty minor, but it's better to be safe than sorry. Not all sellers will renegotiate after the inspection, but at least you will be informed.

• Sign Contracts. You will speak with a REAL ESTATE Attorney who will talk to the Seller's Attorney and get Contracts drawn up, These will include all the specifics about the deal, when you sign the contracts you will also need to give a downpayment check - typically 5% to 10%. I strongly recommend that you use a Real Estate Attorney, not a friend who is going to do you a favor. After you sign the contracts your seller will sign. At this point you are considered "In Contract" and the house is marked "Pending" and will no longer be shown.

• Apply for your Mortgage. Once you have signed contracts you can apply for your mortgage. Typically this is the documentation that a lender will need from you though it may vary from lender to lender:
• Signed Contract.
• Residence address(es) for past two (2) years.
• Employment history for the last two (2) consecutive years. Including: dates employed, name, address and phone number of employer
• Current pay stub(s) verifying 30 days of income and year-to-date income, including any overtime, commission or bonus income.
• W-2 forms for all employers covering the last two (2) years
• If you are self-employed or are paid commission income, provide signed copies of personal federal tax returns with all schedules for the last two (2) years.
• If you are self employed, provide a copy of Corporate or Partnership tax returns last two (2) years, include all schedules and signed by a company officer.
• If you are self-employed, provide copies of your balance sheet for the last two (2) years.
• If you are self-employed, provide a copy of your Profit and Loss Financial Statement through the most recent quarter/month.
• Complete Bank Statements (for all accounts), or any other asset verification, covering the last two (2) months
• Complete itemized list of all monthly payments made by you.

The application process can take anywhere from 30 to 90 days.

• Appraisal. The lender will order an appraisal to be sure the house value is there for the mortgage,

• Title Insurance. You attorney will order Title Insurance to protect you. The Title Company will make sure that among other things the sellers are the legal owners, that there are no liens or encumberances against the home, that all additions and modifications are legal.

• Homeowners Insurance. You will be required to get a homeowners insurance policy before you can close. The Lender will be a Lien Holder on the policy and will give you the minimum policy requirements.

• Clear to Close - Closing. Once your bank gives you the Clear to Close your attorney will speak with the seller's attorney and the bank attorney to set up a closing date.

At the Closing Table there will be a bunch of people including you and your attorney, the sellers and their attorney, the bank's attorney, the Title Closer and the Realtors involved in the sale. A typical closing is between 1-1/2 and 3 hours. You will be signing all the bank documents and any side agreements with your sellers. Your attorney will explain all the documents to you all the way through.

Before the closing arrange to have all the utilities switched to your name on the say of the closing. It is easiest to coordinate this with the sellers.

Congratulations You Are Homeowners!

• Move In. Unless you have made arrangements to let the sellers stay after the closing you can move in any time. I will have another post with tips to make moving easier and less stressful.

If you have any questions at all about Five Towns Long Island Real Estate or the steps involved in a Real Estate transaction, let me know. I will be happy to help you.

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Stop and Think before You plan to Change Your Credit Scores!!!!!

Donna Galinsky (Pugatch Realty Corp.- Five Towns Real Estate Directory) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 11:44:02 -0400

This is great information for anyone who is looking to work on their credt scores - be careful how you do it - see what works and what does not...

Thanks Larry for the great info.

Via Larry Bettag - Cherry Creek Mortgage:

Credit is one of THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES IN getting a loan today.

Time and time again, I'm called by a client who says "I PAY MY BILLS ON TIME, BUT MY PEOPLE SAY MY CREDIT STINKS....

Maybe I'll just pay off my credit cards today.....

No, No, No, No Nooooooooooooo!!!!!!"

Truthfully, there is more to a credit score than just making your payments on time or paying off your credit. In fact paying off all your credit today could be a bad move.  Needless to say, I've broken this down so that the complexities of mortgage credit scoring can be understood by the consumer. I reference this a lot when consulting clients. With this information you can self-analyze your situation to make sure that you monitor your scores or raise your scores to where you want or need them. In other words, this serves as a roadmap to building a good credit report.

Here are all 5 factors in the order of importance:

1) Payment History has a 35% impact. Paying debt on time and in full has a positive impact, and late payments, judgments and charge-offs have a negative impact.

2) Outstanding Credit Balances have a 30% impact. Debt ratio of outstanding balance to available credit is important. Keeping that below 50% is wise and below 30% even wiser. It is never a good idea to close an account; the debt ratio will go up and the number of seasoned lines will decrease. Pay outstanding debt down as close to zero as possible and evenly redistribute the remaining balance among the open lines. The increased interest incurred by moving a balance from a 0% card to a 23% card will be minimal relative to what the increased mortgage debt might be with a low credit score. Hitting the maximums of available credit can be very negative. It may be worth calling and asking the credit company to increase your available credit to lower the debt ratio, provided they can do so without a hard credit inquiry.

3) Credit History has a 15% impact. The length of time a particular credit line has been opened is important. A seasoned borrower is stronger.

4) Type of Credit has a 10% impact. A mix of auto loans, credit cards and mortgages is positive, rather than a concentration in credit cards only.

5) Inquiries have a 10% impact. Hard inquiries for credit will negatively impact the score. Auto and mortgage inquiries receive special treatment and 20 inquiries can be made in a 14-day period for auto or mortgage and will be treated as only 1 inquiry. The maximum number of inquiries that will reduce the score is 10. Any inquiries beyond that [11+] in a six -month period will have no further impact on the borrower. Each hard inquiry can cost 2-50 points on a credit score.

Make sense? It does to me. File this away in your back pocket. Every time you want to save 10% on the flashing blue light special for signing up for a new card....well...you may be paying a lot more than that with all of your other credit if your scores drop. Know your facts, call me if you want to talk further on how this may affect you.
Larry Bettag - Regional Vice President, Midwest Region

Illinois FHA Specialist

630-417-7172





An Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee

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Open House Sunday August 29 - 29 Woodmere Blvd, Heathcote - Woodmere, Long Island NY. 2 bedroom Coop

Donna Galinsky (Pugatch Realty Corp.- Five Towns Real Estate Directory) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 10:20:02 -0400

OPEN HOUSE
SUNDAY AUGUST 29th
4:30 pm to 6 pm

SPACIOUS & BRIGHT
2 Bedroom - 2 Bath Co-op
Woodmere, LI. NY

29 Woodmere Blvd
HEATHCOTE

Spacious Rooms
Bright Cornere Apartment on the TOP floor
Elevator Building
2 Bedrooms
2 Renovated Bathrooms
2 Large Bedrooms
LOADS of Closets & Storage
New Windows Throughout
Storage, Bike & Laundry Rooms
Park Available

Asking $ 265,000

Call for a Private Showing

Want more information on this Condo?
Contact us or CLICK HERE

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Live in the Five Towns on LI and want Money Saving Coupons??? There's an app for that!!

Donna Galinsky (Pugatch Realty Corp.- Five Towns Real Estate Directory) — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:12:42 -0400

Who doesn't want to save money? Especially when they make it this easy!!

Why carry coupons - you can save money on your phone.

Send your iPhone or Droids browser to ziptosave.com/mobile to download an app for your iPhone or Droid.

There are coupons for local restaurants and merchants.

I've seen a couple there that I could have used in the last week had I know about this sooner.

Head over there today and take a look!

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The Hidden $8000 Tax Credit For ALL Buyers

Donna Galinsky (Pugatch Realty Corp.- Five Towns Real Estate Directory) — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 06:14:35 -0400

Via Christine McInerney & Jennifer Halinkowski, Green, EcoBroker, e-Pro (Keller Williams Realty):

When the $8000 first time home buyer tax credit was introduced last year a sigh of relief was felt throughout the real estate industry. Everybody was happy - buyers, sellers, agents, mortgage lenders, appraisers, etc. At the end of April 2010 it literally felt like a wild west gold rush as everyone was scraping the bottom of the barrel to buy a home so they could get their hands on that $8000.

Well, since then inventory levels have risen even higher than before the tax credit, showings on homes for sale have all but dropped off completely and hardly anyone is out buying homes despite the lowest interest rates IN HISTORY! So I wanted to show a comparison of how by buying a home now will make you more money than if you had purchased a home during the $8000 tax credit. Plus, this "benefit" applies to EVERYONE - not just first time home buyers.

The Scenario If you Bought During the Tax Credits

You purchased a home during the first time home buyer tax credit or took advantage of the $6500 "moving up" tax credit.

Your loan amount was $150,000 at 5.5% interest for 30 years.
Your monthly payment is approximately $1070 a month.
If you stay in that home for 30 years you'll end up paying $385,356 for that home and pay $170,793 in interest.

You get an $8000 tax credit if you were a first home buyer or you get a $6500 tax credit if you were a "move up" buyer.

The Scenario If You Buy Now

You purchase a home now taking advantage of the lowest interest rates in history.

Your loan amount is $150,000 at 4.25% interest for 30 years.
Your monthly payment is approximately $956 a month.
If you stay in that home for 30 years you'll end up paying $344,397 for that home and pay $130,835 in interest.

The average length that a home owner owns their home is about 7 years. So, in the scenario above by purchasing now you save $114 a month vs. if you had purchased during the tax credit. This is a savings of $1368 a year and after 7 years this is a savings of $9576.

The savings you get by buying now when rates are low clearly outweigh the benefits of the tax credit in the long run. Buying now with low interest rates clearly will save you tens of thousands of dollars the longer you own the home.

So, it's obviously an advantage to buy now vs. buying last year, so where are the buyers? BUYERS - Look at the big picture and feel confident that purchasing a home now is probably going to be the best time to invest in real estate in history and you can have those bragging rights the rest of your life!

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Christine McInerney and Jennifer Halinkowski - Knoxville TN Real Estate - Keller Williams Realty Knoxville Copyright © 2009

Instantly search for all Homes For Sale in Knoxville , Farragut, Powell TN, Alcoa TN, Lenoir City, Maryville, Oak Ridge, Corryton, Louisville, Blaine, Seymour, Strawberry Plains

Please visit us at www.HomesForSaleKnoxville.com and www.KnoxvilleReal-Estate for additional information about the Knoxville TN area, Knoxville Relocation, and Selling and Buying Knoxville Real Estate.

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Five Towns Fencers Club is moving to Hewlett, Long island NY

Donna Galinsky (Pugatch Realty Corp.- Five Towns Real Estate Directory) — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 17:05:10 -0400

The FIVE TOWNS FENCERS CLUB is moving to 15 Prospect Avenue, Hewlett,NY
on August 26, 2010

No not Fencing as in the picket or PVC kind - Fencing as in Epee Foil or Sabre

Five years after opening his club on Broadway in Woodmere Olympic Fencer Jonathan Tiomkin is expanding to larger facilities and moving down the road to Hewlett, NY

From Five Towns Fencing Club's website: "The goal of the Five Towns Fencers Club revolves around the experiences of Jonathan Tiomkin's fencing career and how a positive attitude and a strong work ethic will directly influence the accelerated growth of the individual fencer.

At Five Towns Fencers Club, all different types of people come together to train in the sport of fencing. Every person that steps through the door has his own unique blend of attributes. The club strives to make those traits manifest into their own personal fencing style.

The goal is to encourage each person to use their own strengths to fight for victory on the fencing strip."

My son has been fencing with Jon at the club since it opened on Broadway 5 years ago. Had you asked me then about fencing - I would have been clueless, and in many ways I still am about the sport. But over those 5 years my son has become an excellent fencer and an excellent sportsman - and I contribute this to Jon.

It was great having my son learn from one of the best. Jon competed in Foil in the 2004 Olympics. He brings his vast experience to all his Five Towns students.

Jon is a coach who genuinely cares about his students. He wants the club to be a place they can come and hang out in even if they are not fencing that day. He would rather his students hang out there than on the street.

If you are looking for something different for your children to do - Fencing is a wonderful sport, and you could not ask for a better coach.

The new club at 15 Prospect Avenue, Hewlett Long island, NY is more than double the size of the Woodmere club. He will have 6 strips instead of 2, which will enable him to hold tournaments, something he could not do in the Woodmere Club.

I wish you all the best Jon - and thank you for all that you have brought to David's life.

Five Towns Fencers Club
(formerly of 1017A Broadway, Woodmere, NY)
15 Prospect Avenue
Hewlett, NY 11557
516-295-4148

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A Very Sad Last Tweet

Donna Galinsky (Pugatch Realty Corp.- Five Towns Real Estate Directory) — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 13:44:27 -0400

A very sad yet true reminder about why we should not text/e-mail/phone or tweet while driving.

Via Holly Kirby Weatherwax--Your Realtor® in Reston,VA (Momentum Realty,LLC):

If you are a news scanner, like I am, you probably saw that Dr. Frank Ryan (Plastic Surgeon to the stars) was killed on Monday, August 16, 2010 when his car drove over a cliff near his home in Los Angeles. At the time of the first report, the article I read said that Dr. Ryan did not drink or use drugs. It turns out now, however, that he was Tweeting about his dog at the time of the crash (Heidi Montag Plastic Surgeon Frank Ryan Texting Before Fatal Crash).

It is really hard to know what will get people to change this behavior. While it is very sad that this man died while texting/Tweeting, I hope that the cause of his death will get a lot of publicity. Especially for teens, and even busy executives, who are tied to their Blackberries, iPhones and Droids, the need to be in constant contact is virtually addictive.

The lure of the vibrating phone is one that is hard for all of us to turn away from, but it is critical that we continue to talk about the threat to personal and public safety caused by texting, emailing and tweeting while driving.

As the new school year begins, make a vow (if you haven't already done so) to put down the phone when you drive. If you don't have the will power to at least wait until the next stop light to check it, put it somewhere beyond your reach and make it impossible to check while driving.

This sad story shows that a person can make other wise health choices and still end up dead because the lure of the instant communication is too great.

Please remember this story the next time you 'just want to see who that email is from.'
Holly Weatherwax, Associate Broker

EcoBroker,Graduate of Realtors Institute,Accredited Buyers Representative,e-pro

If I can assist you with the purchase or sale of property in Northern Virginia, please visit my website: www.greatexperience.net , my blog Real Estate and Reston or email me at hollyweatherwax@mris.com. My direct number is 571-643-4902.

I believe buying or selling real estate should be a GREAT EXPERIENCE!

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Best Value in Hewlett Woodmere School District 14 - 58 Centre Street, Woodmere

Donna Galinsky (Pugatch Realty Corp.- Five Towns Real Estate Directory) — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:51:40 -0400

BEST VALUE IN OLD WOODMERE
Hewlett Woodmere School District 14

Get into District 14 for under $ 350,000
TOTALLY RENOVATED COLONIAL!!

58 Centre Street - Woodmere, NY

TOTAL RENOVATION

MOVE IN READY

QUIET BLOCK

3 Bedrooms

1-1/2 Bathrooms

Oversized Property

New Kitchen

New Baths

Great Starter House with plenty
of room for expansion

Asking $ 349,900

Call for a Private Showing

Want more information on this spacious home?
Contact us or CLICK HERE

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Hewlett Harbor, NY Colonial - Price Reduced!! 5 Bedroom HUGE Private Property

Donna Galinsky (Pugatch Realty Corp.- Five Towns Real Estate Directory) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 11:34:17 -0400

PRICE IMPROVEMENT

FABULOUS HEWLETT HARBOR COLONIAL
1349 Boxwood Drive West - Hewlett Harbor, NY

1349 Boxwood Drive West, Hewlett Harbor, NY

5 Bedrooms
3-1/2 Bathrooms
.40 Acre Private Park-like Yard
Large Den with Lots of Windows and Fireplace
Living Room with Fireplace
Second Den with Fireplace
Eat in Kitchen w/Separate Breakfast Nook
Hardwood Floors Throughout
Slate Roof
Full Finished Basement

Asking $ 1,199,000
REDUCED TO $ 1,149,000

Call for a Private Showing

Want more information on this spacious home? Contact us or CLICK HERE

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