September 2020 Serving All of Central MD

Inside This Issue…

• Page 1 - What Goes Around

• Page 2 - Dear Me

• Page 2 - Teach Yourself

• Page 3 - MDREPros Hot List!

• Page 4 - Feeding The Masses

• Page 4 - Looking Back

• Page 5 - Laughter Corner

• Page 5 - Top Reasons People Are Moving...

• Page 6 - Financial Focus

• Page 6 - Mike’s Luck

• Page 7 - Your Big Idea

• Page 8 - FUNDAY MONDAY

Maryland Real Estate Professionals…

Realtors With Exceptional Service For Life!

“Insider Tips For Healthy, Wealthy & Happy Living…”

What Goes Around Comes Around One day a young teacher was driving alone, wondering how he was going to afford supplies for his classroom when he saw an elderly lady, stranded on the side of the road with a flat tire. He pulled his sputtering old truck in front of her sedan and suggested: “Why don’t you wait in the car where it’s warm while I change this tire for you? By the way, my name is Bryan Anderson.” Bryan’s shirt was smudged with grease and his knuckles were scraped by the time he changed her flat tire, but he refused to take any payment from the lady. He asked instead that she give assistance to the next person who looked like they might need it. After waiting to make sure she drove off safely, Bryan left as well. The lady turned off at a small coffee shop a few miles down the road to take the chill off before she made the last leg of her trip home. There, she noticed the waitress with a sweet smile was pregnant. She paid for her coffee with a hundred dollar bill and while the waitress went to get change, the lady slipped out the door, but wrote a note on the napkin: “No change necessary, just do something for another person who needs it.” Under the napkin were four more $100 bills. That night when the waitress got home from work, her husband was already sleeping so she tucked the cash into his work bag with a note “For school supplies”. She climbed into bed and whispered: “I love you, Bryan” before falling asleep.

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Dear Me Do you feel like you’re not really making any progress on your goals as our world wrestles with the pandemic? Try this: Write a letter to yourself. In the letter, envision what you would like to accomplish in one year’s time. Let your mind create the situation as if it has already happened. Make sure you write about where you are in relation to the dreams you have for yourself. Seal the letter, and give it to someone you trust completely. Ask that person to mail the letter back to you after at least a month has gone by. Many people who try this exercise find that they are actually making steady progress toward their goals.

Why Is it So Important To

Be Pre-Approved In The

Homebuying Process? You may have heard that pre-approval is a great first step in the homebuying process. But why is it so important? When looking for a home, the temptation to fall in love with a house that’s outside your budget is very real. So, before you start shopping around, it’s helpful to know your price range, what you’re comfortable within a monthly mortgage payment, and ultimately how much money you can borrow for your loan. Pre-approval from a lender is the only way to do this. According to a recent survey from realtor.com many buyers are making the mistake of skipping the pre-approval step in the homebuying process: “Of over 2,000 active home shoppers who plan to purchase a home in the next 12 months, only 52% obtained a pre-approval letter before beginning their home search, which means nearly half of home buyers are missing this crucial piece of paper-work.” This paperwork (the pre-approval letter) shows sellers you’re a qualified buyer, something that can really help you stand out from the crowd in the current ultra-competitive market. How competitive is today’s market? Extremely – especially among buyers. With limited inventory, there are many more buyers than sellers right now, and that’s fueling the competition. Pre-approval shows homeowners you’re a serious buyer. When a seller knows you’re qualified to buy the home, you’re in a better position to potentially win the bidding war and land the home of your dreams. “For ‘a buyer in a competitive market, it’s typically essential to have pre-approval done in order to submit an offer, so getting it done before you even look at homes is a smart move that will enable a buyer to move fast to put an offer in on the right home.’”

Get started today at : www.HowMuchLoan.com

Teach Yourself to Learn

Creative minds are always learning. Brain coach Jim Kwik, who has worked with millionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, shared three of his top learning tips on the Make It website.

• Get rid of your ANTs: Automatic Negative Thoughts telling you that you can’t learn something new - you’re too old, you’re not smart enough, it’ll be too hard, and so forth. Teach yourself to talk back to your ANTs. If you catch yourself thinking, “I can’t learn that,” tell yourself, “Yes, I can learn that.” Expand your mind to fit what’s possible, Kwik says.

• Feed your brain: The food you eat can help your brain stay fit and flexible. Avocados, for example, provide monounsaturated fat, which can maintain a healthy blood flow. Blueberries can help protect your brain from oxidative stress, caused by an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants in your body, and reduce the effects of brain aging.

• Read: Reading promotes learning. Expose yourself to different ideas by reading a wide variety of books and articles. Set a goal: just 10 minutes a day for a start, then go from there.

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Feeding The Masses Shelter in place orders meant most of us couldn’t get to the grocery store on a regular basis. Predictably, that created a boom in online grocery sales, according to the Supermarket News website. The Coresight Research U.S. Online Grocery Survey 2020 polled 1,152 consumers; 52% said they had purchased groceries online in the past 12 months. That’s the first time more than half of consumers had done so, and more than double the number from two years ago.

Looking Back on Lockdown Sheltering at home was tough on everyone, but some people used it as an opportunity to grow their creative skills. The Financial Times website reports on three cases: The Entrepreneur

Balvinder Powar, a Madrid-based leadership trainer and entrepreneur, focused on new projects during his confinement in Spain. They included helping business school students in Madrid develop ways of producing food.

The Professor Paul Freemont of Imperial College London led a team of scientists to raise $150,000 from the Dementia Research Institute for COVID-19 testing. The effort, which would usually take months, was completed in just three weeks.

The Cellist Liz Hanks, a cellist in the United Kingdom, saw her European concert series dry up as the COVID-19 outbreak shut down borders. She switched to teaching music online and recording new music at her home in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, and she also founded a project for other musicians to perform their own music.

There are many people who didn’t do much besides keep up with life and catch up on some movies, and that is fine! Everyone responds different to the pandemic. The question is what are YOU going to do?

Starting Fresh Switching to a new career in the midst of recovering from a crisis like the coronavirus outbreak can seem like a daunting task. However, many organizations that were forced to downsize early in the crisis will be looking for skilled professionals as the situation improves. Here’s some advice from the Inverse website on establishing a fresh new career: • Audit yourself: Conduct a SWOT analysis on yourself. Identify your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. Look at your core competencies and zero in on skills that you can transfer to a new role. Consider going back to school to fill in the gaps. • Look for meaningful work. Identify the kind of work you find fulfilling and satisfying. Look for work that will provide opportunities you don’t have in your current role. Figure out what you enjoy doing so you can seek work that fits both your personal and professional needs. • Become an expert. Pick a subject that matches your skills and educate yourself. Read up on the industry, its leaders, its opportunities, and its challenges. Because you’re starting out fresh and this is your chance to define yourself and show your passion for change.

Maryland Real Estate Professionals

w/REMAX Realty Plus 301-831-5600 - O 301-418-8640 - C

Mark@MDREPros.com www.MDREPros.com

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Provided by: Dan Flavin, Sr. Mortgage Banker, Advisors Mortgage, NMLS 112267, 3545 Ellicott Mills Drive, Suite B, Ellicott City, MD 21043 Dan@1atmc.com 410-935-3528 https://dflavin.advisorsmortgage.com/prequalify

THANK YOU for reading my personal newsletter. I wanted to

produce a newsletter that has great content and is fun and valuable to you.

Your constructive feedback is always welcome.

AND…whether you’re thinking of buying, selling or

financing real estate, or just want to stop by and say

“Hi,” I’d love to hear from you…

LAUGHTER CORNER

Did you hear about the two thieves who stole a calendar? They each

got six months. ******************************

I’m terrified of elevators so I’m going to start taking steps to avoid them.

****************************** When you've seen one shopping

center you've seen a mall. ******************************

I used to hate facial hair but then it grew on me.

****************************** What’s the difference between a dirty bus stop and a lobster with

breast implants? One is a crusty bus station and the other is a busty crus-

tacean. ******************************

I watched hockey before it was cool. They were basically swimming.

***************************** What’s the most terrifying word in

nuclear physics?”Oops!” *****************************

Why couldn’t the bicycle stand up? Because it was too tired. *****************************

A chicken coup only has two doors. If it had four, it would be a chicken

sedan. *****************************

Why don’t crabs donate? Because they’re shellfish.

The Top Reasons People Are Moving This Year

Today, Americans are moving for a variety of different reasons. The current health crisis has truly re-shaped our lifestyles and our needs. Spending extra time where we currently live is enabling many families to re-evaluate what homeownership means and what they find most important in a home. “In 2020, homes went from the place people returned to after work, school, hitting the gym or vacationing, to the place where families do all of the above. For those who now spend the ma-jority of their hours at home, there’s a growing wish list of what they’d change about their homes, if possible.” With a new perspective on homeownership, here are some of the top reasons people are reconsidering where they live and making moves this year. 1. Working from Home - Remote work is becoming the new norm in 2020, and it’s continuing on longer than most initially expected. Many in the workforce today are discovering they don’t need to live close to the office anymore, and they can get more for their money if they move a little further outside the city limits. “With the sizable shift in remote work, current homeowners are looking for larger homes and this will lead to a secondary level of demand even into 2021.” If you’ve tried to convert your guest room or your dining room into a home office with minimal success, it may be time to find a larger home. 2. Virtual Schooling - With school about to restart this fall, many districts are beginning the new academic year online. Education Week is tracking the reopening plans of schools across the country, and as of August 21, 21 of the 25 largest school districts are choosing remote learning as their back-to-school instructional model, affecting over 4.5 million students. 3. A Home Gym - Staying healthy and active is a top priority for many Americans. With various levels of concern around the safety of returning to health clubs across the country, dreams of space for a home gym are growing stronger. 4. Outdoor Space - Especially for those living in an apartment or a small townhouse, this is a new priority for many as well. It’s a great time to get more home for your money, just when you need the extra space. Bottom Line People are moving for a variety of different reasons today, and many families’ needs have changed throughout the year. If you’ve been trying to decide if now is the time to buy a new home, reach out to a local real estate professional to discuss your needs.

What’s Your Home Worth? Find Out Here -

FINANCIAL FOCUS

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by financial advisor Mat

Tiahrt, Hampstead, Maryland, 410-239-0859. mat.tiahrt@edwardjones.com

Grandparents: Consider These Financial Moves

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Mike’s Luck A secret agent was sent to a small town in Ireland to pick up sensitive information from an agent named Mike. His instructions were to walk around the town using a code phrase until he met his fellow agent. He found himself on a desolate country road and finally ran into a farmer. “Hello,” said the agent. “I’m looking for a man called Mike.” “Well you’re in luck,” said the farmer. “The butcher is called Mike, the baker is named Mike, and in fact, my name is Mike.” “A-ha,” thought the agent, “maybe this is my man.” So he whispered the secret code: “The sun is shining, the grass is growing, and the cows are ready for milking.” “Oh,” said the farmer, “you’re looking for Mike the spy. He lives next door."

Each year, on the first Sunday after Labor Day, we observe National Grandparents Day. Although it’s not as widely recognized as Mother’s Day or Father’s Day, if you’re a grandparent, you probably want to do whatever you can to help your grandchildren on their journeys through life. So, you might want to consider the following moves: • Contribute to their education. If you want to help your grandchildren pay for college, you have a variety of options, including 529 plans. You could also simply set aside some money in an investment account earmarked for education. • Consider a UGMA/UTMA account. The Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (UGMA) and Uniform Transfer to Minors Act (UTMA) are custodial accounts that provide a relatively easy way for you to give money to your young grandchil-dren. A financial advisor can help determine if such a plan is right for you. However, once you put money into the UGMA or UTMA, you no longer have any legal access or authority over the funds unless you are the custodian managing the account. • Consider gifts to older grandchildren. If you have old-er grandchildren, you might want to help them out if they’re saving for a down payment on a home, or are be-tween jobs, or perhaps are even having children of their own. You can give $15,000 per year, per individual, with-out having to file a gift tax return. Your spouse can also give $15,000 per year to the same individual, again with-out triggering the need for a gift tax return. • Review your will. If you’ve already created your last will and testament, you may want to review it upon the ar-rival of grandchildren. You can include specific instruc-tions, such as requiring your grandchildren to turn a spe-cific age before they can receive their inheritance. You could also codify the same requirements through the use of a living trust. • Update beneficiary designations. If you want your grandchildren to receive proceeds from various accounts, such as your 401(k), IRA and life insurance, you may need to update the beneficiary designations, which can even supersede the instructions on your will. . These aren’t the only steps you can take to help your grandchildren, but they should give you some options to consider. The world is an expensive place, and any assis-tance you can provide to your beloved grandkids can make a big difference in their lives.

Find Your “Big Idea” The legendary David Ogilvie was a pioneer of the advertising industry. One reason for his success and influence was his ability to create what he called “the Big Idea”—a memorable concept that he could wrap an ad around, or on which he could base an entire advertising campaign. Here’s how he developed Big Ideas—and how you can, too: • Step 1. Analyze your data and look for the

single element that best expresses what you want to say. What one idea do you want people to remember?

• Step 2. Take that idea and boil it down to

a statement of 10 words or less, using lively, action-oriented language.

• Step 3. Build your presentation—whether

it’s an ad, a speech, or a persuasive email— around your big idea.

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Old Animal is New News Scientists have discovered the world’s oldest land animal, according to the Mashable website. It resembled a millipede, and its scientific name is Kampecaris obanensis—and it lived some 425 million years ago. Its segmented body was about an inch long. Despite its appearance, scientists don’t consider it a millipede but a member of an extinct species. It probably lived in a lakeside environment and subsisted on decomposing plants during the Silurian period, when sea levels were much higher. A fossil of the Kampecaris was found near fossils of the world’s oldest known stemmed plant, the Cooksonia. Although scientists say this is the world’s oldest land animal, other paleontologists believe that it may be predated by soil worms, some of which evolved some 25 million years earlier. Life started forming in the Earth’s oceans some 540 million years ago, with plants such as mosses emerging onto land some 450 million years ago. The development of plants like the Cooksonia helped support the development of land animals. The first land vertebrates—amphibians—appeared around 375 million years ago.

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This newsletter is intended for entertainment purposes only. Credit is given to the authors of various articles that are reprinted when the original author

is known. Any omission of credit to an author is purely unintentional and should not be construed as plagiarism or literary theft.

Copyright 2020 Maryland Real Estate Professionals w/ REMAX Realty Plus. This information is solely advisory, and should not be substituted for medi-

cal, legal, financial or tax advice. Any and all decisions and actions must be done through the advice and counsel of a qualified physician, attorney,

financial advisor and/or CPA. We cannot be held responsible for actions you may take without proper medical, financial, legal or tax advice.

Go to

www.TheFundayMonday.com Or write Mark@MDREPros.com

And enter the correct answer for this months contest!

Q. There are over 43 quintillion possible combinations on a Rubik’s Cube. You are never more than how many moves away from solving the puzzle? A. 1 million B. 525,600 C. 314 D. 20

Keep Pushing Forward It may take some time for the economy to snap back from the ravages of the pandemic, but we still have to focus on professional development, even when budgets are still tight. The Gallup website offers some suggestions: Build relationships. Establishing trust with your co-workers is the best way to encourage everyone you work with to share what they know with each other. True strength— at work and elsewhere— comes with confidence. Coach and be coachable. Focus on developing employees’ strengths, setting goals, sharing expectations, and encouraging them to learn and grow. At the same time, be open to advice from superiors or those who have been in the business longer than you. Lead from wherever you are. Don’t hunker down and wait for things to return to normal. Set challenging goals for your organization and work with employees on what they need to learn to achieve your objectives. Inspire others. Keep spirits high by encouraging people to learn and grow, and praising them when they do. Share a positive vision of success and recognize those who succeed. Think critically. Question the conventional wisdom about your organization and industry. Seek out new information to apply different solutions to everyday problems. Communicate. Let employees know what’s happening in your organization. This points them toward what they should be learning and doing to help you succeed. Hold people accountable. As you set goals and challenges for growth and development, hold yourself and others accountable for results. This shows you’re serious and helps you and others hit their targets.