Why is the sky Blue? Fact of the Day!

 The sky appears blue to us because of a process called scattering. Imagine the sky as a giant, invisible bubble. When sunlight, which is made up of different colors, enters this bubble, it collides with molecules and tiny particles in the air. The  light then scatters or spreads out in different directions.

The blue color comes into play because sunlight is a mixture of colors. And each of these colors is associated with a different wavelength. Some colors, like red, orange, and yellow, have longer wavelengths. Others, like blue and violet, have shorter wavelengths. During the scattering process, colors with shorter wavelengths get scattered more than those with longer ones. That's why we see a blue sky instead of a red, orange, or yellow one.

Interesting Facts from the Kim Komando website

 Let's bust some tech myths wide open! I've heard them all, and it's time to set the record straight to keep you ahead of the game.

Myth: 5G causes cancer.

Fact: Relax, folks. The World Health Organization (WHO) and other health agencies have done extensive research and found no adverse health effects linked to 5G. It uses the same type of nonionizing radio frequencies as 4G and Wi‑Fi, neither of which damages our DNA or cells.

Myth: Closing apps on your phone saves battery.

Fact: Both iOS and Android OS manage background apps efficiently, keeping them in a low-power state. Reopening an app consumes more energy than resuming it from this low-power state. Instead, lower your screen brightness, disable unnecessary notifications and use battery-saving modes.

Myth: More RAM means a faster computer.

Fact: While more RAM can improve multitasking, upgrading your hard drive from an HDD to an SSD will boost performance by reducing load times.

Myth: You should always let your phone’s battery drain fully before recharging.

Fact: Older nickel-cadmium batteries suffered from the “memory effect.” Completely draining a lithium-ion battery in today’s newer phones will shorten its lifespan. Lithium-ion batteries work best when kept charged between 20% and 80%.

Myth: You should always use your monitor’s highest resolution.

Fact: Higher resolutions require more graphics processing power, which can lead to lower frame rates. A resolution of 1080p or 1440p gives you a good balance between clarity and performance.

Myth: You need expensive HDMI cables for better quality.

Fact: HDMI is a digital signal, meaning the data either gets through or it doesn’t. There’s no difference between a $10 cable and a $100 cable for most home setups.

Myth: Public charging stations are safe to use.

Fact: Public charging stations can be a hotbed for “juice jacking,” where cybercriminals load malware onto your device via USB ports. To stay safe, use a USB data blocker or stick with your own charger and a cable plugged into a power outlet.

 

Question:  I have been thinking about selling real estate. Do you love selling homes?

Answer:  We love our job. It is a hard job, because there is no pay unless you sell a home.

But as we drive around our neighborhood during the holidays and see the children playing, smell the aroma of an American barbeque and hear the sounds of summer, we are even prouder of what we do because we helped someone find their dream home here! 

As we approach our nation’s birthday, here is something we thought we would share.

Beautiful lyrics from a classic American country song.

I've traveled all around this country.
In my time I thought I'd seen it all.
But today I took a detour down a back road,
Through a little town whose name I can't recall.

There were old men on benches playing checkers.
Children playing hopscotch on the square.
And high above a statue of an unknown soldier,
Old glory was waving in the air.

Suddenly I realized what I'd too long forgotten.
Chill rose up like mountains on my skin.
Overcome with a feeling,
I knew I was seeing,
America all over again

I knew the stop would throw me off my schedule,
But I parked around behind the Five and Dime.
There's something about a small town in the Summer,
Like a Norman Rockwell picture back in time.

Kids were courting at the Rexall soda fountain,
Like we did before they built the shopping mall.
I saw so many reasons why I love this country,
You know some things never really change at all.

As I left the two-lane road,
And pulled back on that super high way.
I thought of what I'd seen back in that town.
And it hit me like a freight train,
That a stone's throw from the fast lane,
America is still safe and sound.

I knew Chicago traffic was bad, but....

 Worst traffic congestion:

1. NY City 2. Mexico City 3. London 4. Paris 5. Chicago 6. Istanbul 7. Los Angeles 8. Boston 9. Cape Town 10. Jakarta 11. Miami 12. Brisbane 13. Philadelphia 14. Bangkok 15. Rome 16. Dublin

Buyer just backed out of our deal

 Question:  Our home was on the market for 4 days when we accepted an offer on our home. The buyer for our home backed out the day before the inspection. We hired a realtor to make sure these things did not happen. Should I fire my agent?

 Answer: So let me get this straight…. Your realtor sold your home in 4 days, and you want to fire him because he did not predict the future to know your buyer would back out? Apparently, your attorney couldn’t predict the future either.      You are talking senselessly out of frustration.

As with all business transactions, nothing is firm. There are contingencies, inspections, title reports, lousy lenders and buyer emotions involved. Although most deals go through, not all of them do. It’s unfortunate that it happened to you.

If your home sold quickly the first time, your realtor is doing his job. Your aggravation is causing you to put blame on the wrong people.

Speak to your attorney about keeping the Earnest money as compensation for breach of contract. You hired them for legal assistance.

I am going to predict that your home will sell rather quickly, because it sold fast the first time. You must have a very marketable home. Congratulations to you for that!

Remember:

“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”

Get your home back on the market and move forward to your closing.

Real Estate Market Update...June 4th, 2024

 Illinois & Indiana:

Homes taking longer to sell, thus price reductions are happening and home prices are falling a bit.

Home Sellers still have 2020, 2021 and 2022 on their minds, thinking they will still get those same prices and multiple offers. This is not happening except for the totally remodeled and gorgeous homes.

Just off the top of my head, looks like they are down, on average, about 2-3%

Home inventory is increasing, buyer demand has fallen due to the higher Interest rates.

NOW is a great time to sell. Prices are still very good and there are still buyers out there.

With our country in chaos, who knows what the future will bring.

This is just our opinion on what we see in the market every day.

If interested, Call us for an estimated selling price on your home.

Should I wait for interest rates to drop before I buy a Home?

 

Question: Should I buy a home now or wait until interest rates drop?

Answer: No matter which way the real estate market is leaning, buying now means you can start building equity right away. It also means avoiding the potential for additional mortgage rate increases later. Rising rates can spell serious trouble for your monthly budget, and they also result in paying more interest over the life of the loan.

If a buyer finds a property they would like to call home, they should not delay. You cannot time the market and a home should be a long-term investment.

When mortgage rates drop and more buyers come back into the market, home prices will rise. Demand causes prices to go up. Remember, you “Marry the house and Date the rate.”               

To put it another way, buy now if you find the right place –you can usually refinance later.

Anytime you’re borrowing money, start by checking your credit score. The best deals on mortgages will be available to those with the best scores — in fact, the median credit score for mortgage borrowers in the fourth quarter of 2023 was a very high 770.

Beyond the purchase price, buying a home comes with closing costs that can run thousands more. So, to justify those one-time transaction costs, it’s wise to be reasonably certain that you won’t move again anytime soon- or that you’ll be financially stable enough to hold on to the property and rent it out. Selling a home soon after buying can have serious tax implications.

Ultimately, the decision of when to buy a home is up to you.                                                     

Life goes on and moving may become a necessity, whether the timing is perfect or not. If you’re anxious to become a homeowner, and you’ve met the criteria above and you’re financially stable, go ahead and start house hunting.

If you’re holding out for lower mortgage rates, a bit of patience might be in order.                  

Rates have been volatile lately, jumping up & down.                                                                  

And to repeat, you cannot time the market, and a home should be a long-term investment.