THE HISTORY OF VETERANS DAY:

Veterans Day gives Americans the opportunity to celebrate the bravery and sacrifice of all U.S. veterans. However, as the Department of Veterans Affairs reports, many Americans confuse this holiday with Memorial Day. In addition, some Americans don't know why we commemorate our Veterans on November 11.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF VETERANS DAY:

Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, was originally set as a U.S. legal holiday to honor the end of World War 1, which officially took place on November 11, 1918. Through legislation that was passed in 1938, November 11 was "dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as Armistice Day". As such, this new legal holiday honored World War 1 Veterans. In 1954, after having been through both World War 2 and the Korean War, the 83rd U.S. Congress-at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting the word "Veterans". With the approval of this legislation on June 1st, 1954, November 11 became the day to honor American veterans of all wars. In 1968, under the Uniforms Holiday Bill, Veterans Day was moved to the fourth Monday of October. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holiday on it's original date. The first Veterans Day, under the new law, was observed with much confusion on October 25, 1971.

Finally, on September 20, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed a law which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to it's original date of November 11, beginning in 1978. Since then, the Veterans Day holiday has been observed on November 11.

CELEBRATING THE VETERANS DAY HOLIDAY:

If the November 11 holiday falls on a non-workday...Saturday or Sunday, the holiday is then observed by the Federal Government on Monday. Federal Government closings are established by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. State and local government closings are determined locally, and non-government businesses can close or remain open as they see fit.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VETERANS DAY AND MEMORIAL DAY:

Memorial Day honors service members who died in service to their country or as a result of injuries incurred during battle. Deceased veterans are also remembered on Veterans Day, but the day is set aside to thank and honor living veterans who served honorably in the Military in wartime or peacetime.

Don't forget to serve veterans as well as they served us.  <THANK YOU VETERANS>

**information courtesy of www.military.com/veterans

For all your Real Estate, Insurance needs and helpful hints, contact  LEGACY REALTY GROUP, "The New Star in Town", 1963 Oak Tree Rd. Edison, N.J. 732-744-0400.

HALLOWEEN HISTORY & ORIGIN:

Halloween is one of the oldest holidays still celebrated today. It's one of the most popular holidays, some say, second only to Christmas. While millions of people celebrate Halloween without knowing it's origins and myths, the history and facts about Halloween make the holiday more fascinating.

Some people view it as a time of superstitions, ghosts, goblins and evil spirits that should be avoided at all costs. However, the holiday has, in fact, transitioned from a somber pagan ritual, to the day of merriment it has become...a time of fun, putting on costumes, trick-or-treating, and having theme parties.

HALLOWEEN HISTORY:

Halloween is celebrated on October 31st, the last day of the Celtic calendar. It was originally a Pagan holiday, honoring the dead, referred to as, All Hallows Eve, and dates back to over 2,000 years ago. All Hallows Eve is the evening before All Saints Day, which was created by Christians to convert Pagans, and is celebrated on November 1st. The Catholic Church designated this day specifically to honor it's saints.

ORIGIN OF HALLOWEEN:

While there are many versions of the origins and old customs of Halloween, some remain consistent by all accounts. Different cultures view Halloween differently, but traditional Halloween practices remain the same.

Halloween culture can be traced back to the Druids, a Celtic culture in Ireland, Britain and Northern Europe. Roots lay in the feast of Samhain, celebrated annually on October 31st, to honor the dead. Samhain signifies "summers end" or November. Samhain was a harvest festival with huge, sacred bonfires marking the end of the Celtic year and the beginning of a new one. Many of the practices involved in this celebration were motivated by superstition. The Celts believed the souls of the dead roamed the streets and villages at night. Since not all spirits were thought to be friendly, gifts and treats were left out to pacify the evil and ensure that next years crops would be plentiful. Do you get the connection? This custom evolved into Trick-or-Treating............<HAPPY HALLOWEEN>

For all your Real Estate & Insurance needs and helpful hints, contact, LEGACY REALTY GROUP, "The New Star in Town",1963 Oak Tree Rd. Edison, N.J. Tel: 732-744-0400

ATTENTION REAL ESTATE &
AFFILIATED PROFESSIONALS

With decades of experience...we can provide the most comprehensive
Insurance coverage's for Brokers/Agents and other affiliated Real Estate services, customized to the needs of every potential Real
Estate risk, including coverage for owned properties:

REAL ESTATE BROKERS AND AGENTS:

> Coverage for sale of all owned residential property.
> Coverage for sale of residential property developed or constructed by an affiliated firm.

PROPERTY MANAGERS:

> Coverage for claims brought by tenants for properties in which full ownership is held.
> Coverage for properties in which partial ownership interest is held (includes ownership interest by immediate family).
> Coverage for a combination of full and partial ownership interests in various properties

ADDITIONAL COVERAGE FEATURES A REAL ESTATE BROKER/AGENT 

PROFESSIONAL
LIABILITY POLICY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING:

> Coverage for residential/commercial/industrial and land sales.
> Coverage for allegations of discrimination.
> Coverage for failure to disclose environmental problems.
> Coverage for defense costs.
> Coverage for personal injury.
> Coverage option for contingent bodily injury & property damage.
> Coverage for lock box use and operation.
> Coverage for open house property damage.
> Coverage for independent contractors.
> Options for low deductibles, supplemental payments for loss of earnings due to attendance at trial or proceedings, licensee proceedings and
    subpoena assistance.
> Coverage for renovation oversight services.
> 1031 Exchange services.

 ALSO AVAILABLE:
> Coverage's for real estate appraisers, real estate consultants, real estate leasing agents. title agents/abstractors, mortgage bankers & brokers, and
   other professionals connected with real estate and real estate finance.

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  325 Columbia Turnpike, Suite 106

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SELLING YOUR HOME.......WHAT ARE THE  PROS AND CONS OF USING A LOCK BOX?

TO LOCK BOX OR NOT TO LOCK BOX.

 

Lock boxes are certainly a convenience, and part of modern day Real Estate services, since they allow access to a property at times when sellers may not be at home. Either Supra boxes or combination boxes are the norm in most marketplaces, but let's discuss the pros and cons of each.

 

THE SUPRA SYSTEMS: Have great features, but the showing agent must subscribe to the service to obtain a special key. The system electronically records when and who entered the property. The advantages are obvious and that is why these systems are popular. The down side is that the key (which looks like a cell phone) and the Supra boxes themselves, are rather expensive, consequently, many Real Estate Agents do not subscribe to these services, and choose a combination lock-box instead.

 

A COMBINATION LOCK BOX: Does solve the issue of agents who do not subscribe to the Supra System, but once the combination is made known to other co-operating agents, it is not possible to determine electronically, who viewed the property or when it was viewed. Since a co-operating agent must first call the listing office to determine the availability of the home, It becomes the responsibility of the listing agent or office to record the dates and times that the home is being shown, along with the name of the showing agent.

 

VISIBLE LOCK BOX LOCATION. Having either type of lock box clearly visible from the street can make a home vulnerable to vandalism. While not common, there have been cases where homes were broken into, when vandals cut lock boxes off of front doors and smashed them, exposing the keys. Whenever possible, it is recommended that the lock box be attached to a rear or side door, where it would not be visible from the street.

 

CONCLUSION. When selling your home, it is your goal to expose it to as many potential buyers as possible, even when you are not there. Lock Boxes allow that to be possible, making the scheduling of showings easier. The question is whether or not sellers are willing to risk missing a showing, simply because the day or time is not convenient for them. What are the sellers priorities?

 

For all your Real Estate, Insurance needs and more helpful hints, contact LEGACY REALTY GROUP. "The New Star in Town", Edison, NJ, 08820

732-744-0400

 

 

exerpted in part from McKissock, continuing education.

INVEST IN YOUR HOME

If you're thinking of remodeling or upgrading your home, you're not alone. According to a recent survey, more than 1/3rd of Americans have not moved in the past five years. Instead, they are redesigning and upgrading areas of their home, and minor improvements can make a world of difference. 

>LANDSCAPING:

  Tastefully neat shrubs, trees & flowers, paver stone patios, etc. A few potted plants at the front entrance, can add as  much as 15% to the value of  

  your home and, consider this. If you ever do decide to sell and a potential buyer drives by your weed infested, poorly landscaped home, think of how

  they might imagine the condition of the interior. 

>CALIFORNIA CLOSETS:

  Get more out of the existing space you have by organizing more efficiently and provide your home with a modern, stylish look.

>WINDOWS & DOORS:

  No need to replace them. (unless they are falling apart) Consider modern shades, draperies, designer fabrics & awnings. Paint exterior doors in either

  of four welcoming dark colors. Blue, Red, Green or Yellow.

>KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS:

  Of course you can go nuts here. If you have to replace appliances, consider most popular today, black or stainless steel. If cabinets are in decent

  shape, replace the knobs. Counter tops can be replaced with inexpensive laminates. Granite is not necessary, and expensive. Ceramic tile and wood

  laminate floors are very popular. In the bathroom, consider installing attractive sliding doors & fixtures, and upgrade the lighting.

>HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING:

  The single, most important thing to remember is organized maintenance. Change air filters regularly. Don't waste your money on the cheapest filters.

  You'll wind up having to replace them more often. Remember, you get what you pay for. If you're lucky, you might get 15 years out of your A/C

  compressor, so have it checked each season and run it occasionally in the winter for a few minutes, just to get the motor running. Drain some water

  from your water heater into a bucket, using the small spigot at the bottom, at least every six months. You'll probably notice a small amount of dirty

  water at first, then clean. Helps prevent a buildup of rust from the interior liner. Average life span of a water heater is 10-12 years. If you hear it making

  a banging noise, prepare for a new heater soon.

As you can see, most upgrades need not cost a fortune. Not only will you enjoy the changes while you are living there, but a relatively small investment

can potentially lead to a substantial increase in value. Who knows, the house may turn out so nice and comfortable, you may never want to move. On the other hand, why do you suppose the nicest homes seem to always sell for more than the others?

For all your Real Estate, Insurance needs and helpful hints, contact: LEGACY REALTY GROUP, "The New Star in Town",1963 Oak Tree Rd. Edison, N.J. 732-744-0400.