Monthly Newsletter – October, 2010 www.seniorsrealestate.com
Attaining the Good Life
By Elyse Umlauf-Garneau
Attaining the Good Life
Philosophers, writers, and musicians all have pondered the meaning of the good life.
Recently, MetLife Mature Market Institute (MMI) did too.
Though the concept of the good life is a bit vague, the company’s study, “Meaning Really Matters: The MetLife Study on How Purpose is Recession‐Proof and Age‐Proof,” tries to nail down those things that contribute to satisfaction with life. MMI did so by studying the concept and surveying people ranging in age from 25 to 74.
Having enough money, living a life with meaning (that is, time for friends and family) and possessing good physical and mental health were among the things respondents identified as contributors to a good life. And also highly important was the notion of having a sense of purpose.
The study, based on author and life coach Richard Leider’s work and book The Power of Purpose, Repacking Your Bags, is a follow-up to research MMI did in 2009 called “Discovering What Matters.”
“Meaning Really Matters: The MetLife Study on How Purpose is Recession‐Proof and Age‐Proof,” found that the older cohort, those aged 45 to 74, were more likely to report having focus, vision, and purpose, compared to those aged 25 to 44.
Members of that older group tend concentrate more on meaning-laden activities–spending time helping others and community activities, for example–than their younger counterparts, who were more focused on money issues.
An ability to rebound after crisis also seems to play a role in satisfaction, and as people age, meaning-laden activities become important. In the 2009 study, for example, Leider addressed the idea that people’s ability to connect with something bigger than themselves boosts their ability to deal with difficulties, such as job losses, health problems, and deaths of loved ones.
People can’t control those external events. Yet, the study says, “… how they choose to live and react, the professionals they consult, and the kinds of relationships they develop with spouses and partners, siblings, children, grandchildren, friends, and co-workers are of their making. If people are dissatisfied with their lives — if they feel it lacks meaning — they can do something about it. Hence discovering purpose is an ongoing quest rather than a one-time trip to an exotic land.”
In an effort to help individuals ponder their version of the good life, MMI offers a planning tips, “Meaning Really Matters: Your Keys to the Good Life.” It features a series of questions that invite introspection.
Those include picturing yourself three years from now and 20 years from now and considering work, how you’re spending time, and the strength of your connections with family and friends. It also addresses goals and what you need to do to do to ensure that you meet those near and long-term goals.
The complete study is available at http://www.metlife.com/assets/cao/mmi/publications/studies/2010/mmi-meaning-really-matters.pdf .
Planning tips are available at http://www.metlife.com/assets/cao/mmi/publications/studies/2010/mmi-meaning-really-matters-tips.pdf .
Blueprint for aging in place
In another September 2010 study, “The MetLife Report on Aging in Place 2.0: Rethinking Solutions to the Home Care Challenge,” MMI takes a glimpse into the future and envisions a better way for Americans to age.
Its blueprint, called AiP2.0, looks at a broad swath of aging concerns and sets forth new ideas for modifying homes, communities and care management and incorporating technology so that they all work in concert to support aging in place.
It seems an important mission, especially in light of its estimate that the population of people aged 85 and over is ever-expanding is expected to reach 8.7 million by 2030.
It envisions a way for systems and designs to allow people to truly age in place where they wish. “If individuals are forced to move due to a health crisis, it is not aging in place,” says the report.
To attain such lofty goals, the study suggests a series of radical changes that need to be made in communities and in the public and private sectors.
The plan outlines an array of significant steps required, and they include everything from developing care management, social interaction, wellness and transportation systems and better coordinating the delivery of care to integrating monitoring technologies into daily life to make home care safer and more efficient.
Many of the above are big ideas that likely will take time, along with the collective efforts of businesses, researchers, activists, and the public and private sectors.
But the study also points to things homeowners can do to help themselves right now.
And that entails incorporating universal design in their homes. It’s something everyone can do when contemplating renovations and upgrades. “One problem is that most home were not designed and built for the needs of aging residents or caregiving,” says the report.
Moreover, most families don’t consider upgrades for aging in place until a crisis hits. Then they’re planning and building in a panic, which doesn’t always yield the best, most efficient results.
It suggests advance planning and illustrates ways to prioritize projects. It also offers price ranges of the projects that are associated with each priority.
Costs can range from under $1,000 up to $75,000, and the study notes that low-cost interventions have clear payback in terms of fewer hospitalizations and medical costs in a very short timeframe.
Here’s one way to prioritize projects.
First Priority:
Falls prevention. Cost: $1,000 or less
Steps include:
• Removing throw rugs, especially in bathrooms
• Installing grab bars and grips in the bathroom
• Assuring sturdy handrails on both sides at steps
• Providing good lighting and switching, especially at stairs, halls, and entries
• Securing or removing carpets at stairs
• Installing soft path lighting for nighttime mobility
Second Priority:
Entryway, easy movement, and use of home features. Cost: $4,500–$30,000
• Removing or reducing the number and/or height of steps and increasing the horizontal depth of steps for easy side stepping and that allow the use of both hands on one rail
• Creating a clear, no-step path to the bedroom and bathroom
• Rearranging or repositioning of furniture, entertainment systems, and spaces
Third Priority:
Substantial remodeling and equipment. Cost: $8,000–$75,000
• Installing no-step shower or bath lift mechanism, a seated sink, and assistance space at the toilet
• Providing seated/multi-level food preparation areas
• Creating sun- and rain-protected outdoor areas
• Putting in backup power sources for power outages
Beyond just making homes suitable for aging in place, AiP2.0 has larger societal benefits, according to the report. They include:
• Support and stress reduction for family caregivers
• Employment opportunities in the caregiving arena
• Fewer illnesses and injuries
• Acute-care cost reduction
• More efficient use of resources and the reduction of redundant services
Read the entire report at http://www.metlife.com/assets/cao/mmi/publications/studies/2010/mmi-aging-place.pdf .
Coming up next
In the coming months, we’ll be addressing some of the emotional and logistical challenges associated with planning for retirement. Look for stories about retirement coaching, potential post-retirement career options, and strategies for facing the angst and emotional issues that emerge prior to retirement.
Real Estate Matters: News & Issues for the Mature Market
A.T. Real Estate Specialists LLC
Arlene Trunzo, CRS,e-Pro,GRI,SRES
Board Certified. 718-317-0949
Just listed: 61 Mildred Ave, Staten Island, NY 10314 for $409,900
Just listed: 61 Mildred Ave, Staten Island, NY 10314 for $409,900.
62 Gervil Street, Staten Island, NY 10309 for $312,000
New Listing, All Brick Center Hall Colonial, Staten Island NY 10309
Rossville,
All brick Center Hall Colonial. Stunning two story circular stairway entrance foyer. Private setting directly across from the golf course. This is a perfect home for a very large family, four plus bedrooms. City sewers, Oversized 10,000 square foot lot, two car garage, four heating units, six baths, central air, and full finished basement. Maid’s quarters, sun room, office, two fireplaces & two beautiful balconies. Some features included are, granite counter tops, skylights, sauna, French doors, pocket doors, hardwood & Marble floors.
Asking $1,405,000
A.T. REAL ESTATE SPECIALISTS LLC
Arlene Trunzo, CRS,e-PRO,GRI,SRES / Broker Owner.
(BCREP) Board certified
718-317-0949 0R 917-359-1985
cmyrealtor@aol.com
South Beach Staten Island NY 10305,Two Bedroom Townhouse for Sale, Priced to Sell $325,000
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New Listing, Mint Condo 559 Correll Ave Staten Island NY 10309
Rossville,
Sought after Fawn Ridge community. A rare find, 2 bedroom end unit condo with balcony, two bathrooms, attic storage space with high-capacity pull down stairs. Master bedroom has a private 3/4 bath. Some features are oak railings, pergo floor, recently replaced gas heating system, central air, stainless steel appliances. Many additional upgrades and amenities too much to list. Express bus on corner, walk to stores schools & transit. Asking $309,900
exterior view
Read more
First time on the market
Annadale
First time on the market. Detached ranch with old world charm, approximately 66 x 93 (irregular lot.) Two/three bedrooms, city sewers, gas heat, wood burning fireplace. Dead end street, one block to Annadale town. Walk to stores, train, and school. Great starter home for the first time home buyer who wants the privacy of a detached home with a yard. Asking $329,900
Call:
Arlene Trunzo, A.T Real Estate Specialists LLC 917-359-1985, 718-317-0949
Or Joe Lebron Excel Realty Associates. 347-386-8498, 718- 720-2300
First time buyers , here are some tips & news you can use
28 Steps to the Home Buying Process
Buying a home does not have to be complicated or stressful. Please use this helpful information to guide you through the process of purchasing your home.
1. Choose to work with a Realtor who you would be proud to refer to your friends and family. Choose to work with a knowledgeable professional.
Make sure you feel 100% comfortable when interacting with your Realtor.
2.You will discuss the different types of agency relationships with your Realtor and choose one.
You will be required to sign a disclosure.
3.Have yourself pre approved by a reputable local lender.
4.Explain to your Realtor just what your needs are. View just the homes that meet your needs.
5.Find your dream house. Your Realtor will help you fill out a written offer to purchase agreement subject to attorneys approval. You will be required to acknowledge all necessary disclosures. The Realtor will present your offer to the seller on your behalf. The seller accepts, rejects, or counters your offer.
6.You and the seller agree on the price & terms, including the closing date. The seller will sign the offer to purchase agreement subject to attorneys approval. The terms in signed binder agreement will be used by the sellers attorney along with other information to draw up a contract.
7.Your Realtor will send a copy of the written offer to purchase to both attorney’s along with a letter introducing both attorneys to each other.
This letter will include all of the contact information for both the buyer and the seller and both attorneys.
8.Have the home inspection done by a licensed engineer. If your home inspector is certified to conduct a termite inspection he can also issue you a termite certification which is usually required by your lender. If not have a licenced exterminator conduct a termite inspection. Your Realtor can set up the appointment for you.
9. A contract of sale is prepared by the sellers attorney and is sent to your attorney. Your attorney reviews the contract and calls you to make an appointment for you to sign the contract.
10. You sign your contract and leave your down
payment. Your attorney sends the signed contract along with your down payment check back to the sellers attorney. He reviews it and calls the sellers in to make an appointment to sign the contract. The seller signs the contract.
11.The sellers attorney sends the signed contract back to your attorney.
12. You pick up the fully executed contract from your attorney and take it to your lender. ( make a copy of the contract to keep for yourself.) The lender will need the fully excuted contract along with your cashed cancelled downpayment check to proceed with the loan process.
13. Your loan will be assigned a processor, who documents and verifies appiclation information.
14. Interview and get written estimates from moving companies. Ask friends and family for recomendations. They are always the best.
15. An appraisal of the home you are purchasing is done, a residential credit report is ordered. A flood certification report is done.
16.Underwriting reviews the loan and in most cases approves the loan subject to conditions. Some conditions are standard. You clear up the conditons. Your mortgage representive can help guide you to get any information required for the final commitiment.
17. The processor issues copies of the loan commitment to you and your attorney. Your attorney sends a copy of the commitment to the sellers attorney.
18. Your attorney guides you through the process of having a title search done on the home you are purchasing. With your attorneys guidance you have the title insured.
19. If needed a new survey or a survey update of
the property is done.
20. The title work and legal documents are reviewed for accuracy by the underwriter &
attorney.
21. You obtain a homeowners insurance policy.
22. The loan goes to the closing dept. for final review pending the closing date.
23. When all documents are in order your attorney contacts the closing dept. to schedule a closing date. The buyers attorney the sellers attorney and the banks attorney all need to be able to comfirm the time and day and the location of the closing.
24. As soon as the date is set. Contact your Realtor to make an appointment to do a final walk through of the home you are buying.
25. Contact your moving company to comfirm your moving date.
26.Call your utility companies to open accounts in your name.
27. You will need to take two forms of photo ID to the closing along with you homowners insurance & personal check book. You attorney will advise you of the certified or bank checks you will need to bring to the closing. Your attorney will advise you how to address the checks and what ammounts they should be.
28. At the closing. Mortgage and other documents are reviewed and signed. Adjustments are made for miscellaneous items ( taxes, heating oil, etc.) The seller gets paid and gives you the deed, title and keys to your new home.
You now own your new home.
Congratulations!!!
Arlene Trunzo,BCREP,CRS,e-PRO,GRI,SRES
Licensed Board Certified Staten Island NY Realtor®
A.T. Real Estate Specialists LLC
718-317-0949 or 917-359-1985
cmyrealtor@aol.com
Buying a home? Sign up for FREE Automatic listing Email Notifications!
Buying? Sign up for FREE Automatic listing Email Notifications!
If you tell us a little about the type of property you are searching for. Based upon your needs we can customize a search and send you automatically generated email notifications. They will contain links to listings with photos & tours. Never miss a new listing again. You will receive the listing automatically as they are placed on the market. We can also set the program up to automatically send you all listing status changes like price reductions, back on the market etc. Please feel free contact Arlene Trunzo to request this service. At any time if you need to make changes to your search criteria, contact us, we will be happy to make the changes for you.
Arlene Trunzo,BCREP,CRS,e-PRO,GRI,SRES
Licensed Board Certified Staten Island NY Realtor®
A.T. Real Estate Specialists LLC
718-317-0949 or 917-359-1985
cmyrealtor@aol.com
Staten Island NY is the home of many beautiful parks
Visit our parks,
Staten Island has a lot of natural beauty.
Here will find a list of our cherished parks.
If you are a nature lover you’ve come to the right place.
Bloomingdale Park – 138 acres
Mostly preserved for wildlife. Includes water falls & hiking trails. Areas of the park are for public use which include baseball fields, a soccer field, playground, softball fields, basketball courts.
Blue Heron Park – 222 Acres
Beautiful nature center, streams, ponds, swamps.
The park has free programs which include nature walks and bird feeding. Address 222 Poillon Ave S.I. N.Y. 10312
Clay Pit State Park Preserve – 260 Acres
83 Nielsen Ave S.I NY 10309, 718-967-1976
Spring fed streams, ponds, wetlands. The park offers bird watching, hiking.
Clove Lakes Park
Offers four lakes, streams and lots of greenery. Offers row boating, fresh water fishing. Other features are a public ice skating rink, picnic grounds, playgrounds, baseball field, bridle paths for horse back riding, nature trails and a restaurant.
Fort Wadsworth- Part of Gateway National Recreation Area. Historic site.
Park Rangers lead walks and tours. Protected natural plant and animal communities.
718-354-4500 Open dawn to dark 7 days a week.
Fresh Kills Park
Plans are in the works to build a wonderful park here. Some plans include a boardwalk, soccer and baseball fields, public roads, bridle paths, a bird island, and a 5,000 seat stadium. This was the home of the old landfill.
Great Kills Park, Gateway National Recreation Area
Great walking and running paths. Beach, bathhouse, snack bar, bicycling, fishing, ball fields, swimming, butterfly & geology walks & beautiful water views.
Latourette Park – 455 Acres
Greenbelt location offers a golf course & woodlands. Great for sleigh riding on the hills in the winter.
Miller Field
Hosts summer concerts, has ball fields & picnic areas. Walk to New Dorp beach from here.
Silver lake Park- 107 Acres
Offers golf course, restaurant, clubhouse & tennis courts.
Staten Island Botanical Garden
Beautiful gardens, green house, plants & ponds.
Walker Park 50 Bard Ave
Tennis Courts
Willowbrook Park – 164 Acres
Boathouse, playground, ball fields, tennis courts and a pond. Home to the children’s carousel.
Wolfs Pond Park over 170 Acres 718-984-8266
Salt water fishing is permitted, walking and jogging paths, playgrounds, tennis, beach, dog park run.
Our precious Staten Island parks are just another reason people are choosing Staten Island as the ideal place to live. Staten Island still has that home town quality. You can live close to the city and enjoy all the green open space S.I has to offer. Dont miss the boat, now is the time to buy. Interest rates are at an all time low.
Arlene Trunzo,BCREP,CRS,e-PRO,GRI,SRES
Licensed Board Certified Staten Island NY Realtor®
A.T. Real Estate Specialists LLC
718-317-0949 or 917-359-1985
cmyrealtor@aol.com
www.atrealestatespecialists.com
Newsletter – October, 2010
Monthly Newsletter – October, 2010 www.seniorsrealestate.com
Attaining the Good Life
By Elyse Umlauf-Garneau
Attaining the Good Life
Philosophers, writers, and musicians all have pondered the meaning of the good life.
Recently, MetLife Mature Market Institute (MMI) did too.
Though the concept of the good life is a bit vague, the company’s study, “Meaning Really Matters: The MetLife Study on How Purpose is Recession‐Proof and Age‐Proof,” tries to nail down those things that contribute to satisfaction with life. MMI did so by studying the concept and surveying people ranging in age from 25 to 74.
Having enough money, living a life with meaning (that is, time for friends and family) and possessing good physical and mental health were among the things respondents identified as contributors to a good life. And also highly important was the notion of having a sense of purpose.
The study, based on author and life coach Richard Leider’s work and book The Power of Purpose, Repacking Your Bags, is a follow-up to research MMI did in 2009 called “Discovering What Matters.”
“Meaning Really Matters: The MetLife Study on How Purpose is Recession‐Proof and Age‐Proof,” found that the older cohort, those aged 45 to 74, were more likely to report having focus, vision, and purpose, compared to those aged 25 to 44.
Members of that older group tend concentrate more on meaning-laden activities–spending time helping others and community activities, for example–than their younger counterparts, who were more focused on money issues.
An ability to rebound after crisis also seems to play a role in satisfaction, and as people age, meaning-laden activities become important. In the 2009 study, for example, Leider addressed the idea that people’s ability to connect with something bigger than themselves boosts their ability to deal with difficulties, such as job losses, health problems, and deaths of loved ones.
People can’t control those external events. Yet, the study says, “… how they choose to live and react, the professionals they consult, and the kinds of relationships they develop with spouses and partners, siblings, children, grandchildren, friends, and co-workers are of their making. If people are dissatisfied with their lives — if they feel it lacks meaning — they can do something about it. Hence discovering purpose is an ongoing quest rather than a one-time trip to an exotic land.”
In an effort to help individuals ponder their version of the good life, MMI offers a planning tips, “Meaning Really Matters: Your Keys to the Good Life.” It features a series of questions that invite introspection.
Those include picturing yourself three years from now and 20 years from now and considering work, how you’re spending time, and the strength of your connections with family and friends. It also addresses goals and what you need to do to do to ensure that you meet those near and long-term goals.
The complete study is available at http://www.metlife.com/assets/cao/mmi/publications/studies/2010/mmi-meaning-really-matters.pdf .
Planning tips are available at http://www.metlife.com/assets/cao/mmi/publications/studies/2010/mmi-meaning-really-matters-tips.pdf .
Blueprint for aging in place
In another September 2010 study, “The MetLife Report on Aging in Place 2.0: Rethinking Solutions to the Home Care Challenge,” MMI takes a glimpse into the future and envisions a better way for Americans to age.
Its blueprint, called AiP2.0, looks at a broad swath of aging concerns and sets forth new ideas for modifying homes, communities and care management and incorporating technology so that they all work in concert to support aging in place.
It seems an important mission, especially in light of its estimate that the population of people aged 85 and over is ever-expanding is expected to reach 8.7 million by 2030.
It envisions a way for systems and designs to allow people to truly age in place where they wish. “If individuals are forced to move due to a health crisis, it is not aging in place,” says the report.
To attain such lofty goals, the study suggests a series of radical changes that need to be made in communities and in the public and private sectors.
The plan outlines an array of significant steps required, and they include everything from developing care management, social interaction, wellness and transportation systems and better coordinating the delivery of care to integrating monitoring technologies into daily life to make home care safer and more efficient.
Many of the above are big ideas that likely will take time, along with the collective efforts of businesses, researchers, activists, and the public and private sectors.
But the study also points to things homeowners can do to help themselves right now.
And that entails incorporating universal design in their homes. It’s something everyone can do when contemplating renovations and upgrades. “One problem is that most home were not designed and built for the needs of aging residents or caregiving,” says the report.
Moreover, most families don’t consider upgrades for aging in place until a crisis hits. Then they’re planning and building in a panic, which doesn’t always yield the best, most efficient results.
It suggests advance planning and illustrates ways to prioritize projects. It also offers price ranges of the projects that are associated with each priority.
Costs can range from under $1,000 up to $75,000, and the study notes that low-cost interventions have clear payback in terms of fewer hospitalizations and medical costs in a very short timeframe.
Here’s one way to prioritize projects.
First Priority:
Falls prevention. Cost: $1,000 or less
Steps include:
• Removing throw rugs, especially in bathrooms
• Installing grab bars and grips in the bathroom
• Assuring sturdy handrails on both sides at steps
• Providing good lighting and switching, especially at stairs, halls, and entries
• Securing or removing carpets at stairs
• Installing soft path lighting for nighttime mobility
Second Priority:
Entryway, easy movement, and use of home features. Cost: $4,500–$30,000
• Removing or reducing the number and/or height of steps and increasing the horizontal depth of steps for easy side stepping and that allow the use of both hands on one rail
• Creating a clear, no-step path to the bedroom and bathroom
• Rearranging or repositioning of furniture, entertainment systems, and spaces
Third Priority:
Substantial remodeling and equipment. Cost: $8,000–$75,000
• Installing no-step shower or bath lift mechanism, a seated sink, and assistance space at the toilet
• Providing seated/multi-level food preparation areas
• Creating sun- and rain-protected outdoor areas
• Putting in backup power sources for power outages
Beyond just making homes suitable for aging in place, AiP2.0 has larger societal benefits, according to the report. They include:
• Support and stress reduction for family caregivers
• Employment opportunities in the caregiving arena
• Fewer illnesses and injuries
• Acute-care cost reduction
• More efficient use of resources and the reduction of redundant services
Read the entire report at http://www.metlife.com/assets/cao/mmi/publications/studies/2010/mmi-aging-place.pdf .
Coming up next
In the coming months, we’ll be addressing some of the emotional and logistical challenges associated with planning for retirement. Look for stories about retirement coaching, potential post-retirement career options, and strategies for facing the angst and emotional issues that emerge prior to retirement.
Real Estate Matters: News & Issues for the Mature Market
A.T. Real Estate Specialists LLC
Arlene Trunzo, CRS,e-Pro,GRI,SRES
Board Certified. 718-317-0949