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The home buying process can be exciting, and many first-time buyers are eager to get the ball rolling. That’s definitely a good thing, but don’t let your heightened emotions get the better of you. Most folks these days begin their home buying search online. When you come across that special property on the computer, you may be tempted to jump the gun and call the listing agent immediately. But stop yourself. Why? There should always be a proper chain of communication and your agent should be the one to make the phone call on your behalf. Remember, your agent has …

If you’re talking with Roselandites about popular folks we grew up with you’re going to hear mention of local baseball players, teachers who were unforgettable, well-known cops, popular bar or restaurant owners, and community leaders. Through these conversations, I began to wonder what about Roselandites that made their mark outside of Roseland. I looked on the internet and Wikipedia gave me a few names, but nothing that I didn’t already know. When I don’t know, I know where to go — my readers! Thanks to everyone who made the time to contact me with suggestions of those that were from …

We have been through many summers over the course of our lives. When we were young, we could hardly wait for sunny summer days to run to Roseland’s baseball fields or playgrounds. Swimming was always available regardless of the weather thanks to the indoor pool at West Pullman Park. Back in the day, horseshoe equipment was put in the boxes at the end of the horseshoe courts for everyone’s enjoyment. A variety of classes were offered in park field houses such as sewing, cooking, puppetry, gymnastics, exercise and weightlifting. Roseland parks with their baseball and soccer fields, tracks, and tennis …

I trust you’re all familiar with children’s book series, “Where’s Waldo,” in which kids are tasked with finding the titular character, who’s hiding in an enormous crowd. I have spent the better part of the past two months playing a genealogical game called “Where’s Waldo Buried?” It’s easy to keep track of the relatives you see frequently or you stay in touch with through social media. However, the relatives in your tree who you’ve never met and haven’t “friended” are another matter. These people may be distant relatives but you do not know them and they do not inform you …

Moving has always been an interesting adventure for people, especially when you unearth something you thought you had lost. It’s a fresh start for some, and many consider it a new chapter in their lives, but for others, it can be a stressful time. Procrastination is going to be your worst enemy. Don’t put off packing until the last minute. Your local grocery store many times will give you free boxes if you give them a couple of days notice. Start out with items you know you won’t need right away, like maybe your winter wear if you’re moving in …

English speakers use the verb “make” to describe how someone has made them do  something or how someone has made them feel.  In other words, in this type of situation, the subject of the sentence is the instigator that will make the stated action take place for someone else. The verb “make” is called a “causative verb,” and is one of the three true causative verbs in English, which are: let, have, and make. Check out some popular American songs to see how often this concept comes up in language.  Catchy tunes like, “You Make Me Feel Brand New,”  sung …

The verb “let” is called a “causative verb,” and is one of the three true causative verbs in English, which are: let, have, and make. English speakers use the verb “let” to direct someone to do something.  In other words, with the verb “let,” the subject of the sentence is relying on or needs someone else to “cause” the action that will take place. Let’s try some example sentences in English conversation to help us understand this concept before we move on to Italian.  In English, we might say, “Let/Leave me alone!” or “Let me think!”  In a less dramatic …

Last Thursday, I stopped at a local microbrewery to try their new chocolate stout. There were eight random seats throughout the place but every one had someone sitting next to them. I picked one at random and sat down. The guy sitting next to me was talking through my head to three men on the other side of me, and they were discussing politics and economics. I had no interest in discussing these subjects with strangers drinking beer with high alcohol content, so I stared at “Wheel of Fortune” with no sound on the TV across the way so I …

You placed your home on the market and a potential buyer has given you an offer, or in some cases you have received multiple offers on your home. Once that happens, will you know which one is actually the best offer? Many people are under the assumption that the highest price is the best offer, but that may not always be the case. The answer to the question, “Should I accept or should I reject?” can be found in the sales contract, which contains all the particulars regarding the sale of your home. Let’s begin with the contingencies; a contingency …

Prior to the financial crisis in 2008, I would sometimes hear the phrase “If you can fog a mirror, you can get a mortgage,” meaning that if you were breathing, you would be approved. While that’s not true, there were a lot of people who shouldn’t have gotten a mortgage prior to 2008, when underwriting guidelines were most flexible. After the financial crisis, mortgage underwriting guidelines did a complete 180. They went from the easiest to the hardest that I had ever seen in my 28-year career. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac had experienced almost $170 billion in losses and …