Loudell Insley’s Real Estate Blog

Mallard Landing: Meet Scott and Jennifer

October 8, 2019 by Loudell Insley

Downsizing is a challenge. How active will you be? How much social interaction do you want with neighbors? How many or few or any community activities do you want? And does your new home need to be totally on one floor? These and many more questions may be swirling around in your thoughts as you think about moving from your wonderful home to an uncertain new lifestyle.

We’ve been discussing Mallard Landing a great deal, but it isn’t for everyone. Scott and Jennifer moved to Salisbury from the Western Shore a year or so ago looking for a foreclosure or a short sale to find a bargain. After numerous trips to town to look at houses they had chosen to see, I suggested one that was picture perfect, a little pricier than what they were looking at, but considering it didn’t need any rehabilitation, it was actually well within their price range. They smiled when they walked in and loved it from that moment forward. It is in a small community of duplexes, one of a number of them in our area, that are for people scaling down but still living an active life. They don’t have an age requirement, there are no planned activities, but the lawn is cared for by professionals and in some cases the outside of the home is also cared for by someone else.

Recently, we had lunch together and as I stopped by to pick them up, they were proudly standing in front of their garden. Scott and Jennifer were happy to show off their gardening expertise. And I was anxious to show that if you like to garden or have other activities you enjoy, there is no need to give up on them because you are “downsizing.” Bring your hobbies with you. Continue working if you wish. Spend time in another state, if you wish. There are many options in our area. Call me or email me if I can help you in your search. You can learn the lay of the land and together we can find you the perfect home too.

Mallard Landing: Meet Roy

September 9, 2019 by Loudell Insley

When asked about what they like most about Mallard Landing, most residents reply, “the people.” I’ve interviewed some people who live here — a few for many years, others as new arrivals. They all have interesting stories to tell. Here is one of them.

The farm boy who grew up east of Salisbury graduated from Peabody and Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore. Then he lived and worked in New York City for ten years, doing a little theater work until he landed a marketing position with Holt Rinehart & Winston, publishers of music textbooks for high schools.

But once a person gets sand in their shoes it’s difficult to stay away from the Eastern Shore, so eventually Roy returned and served for fifteen years as Assistant Director of Marketing and Community Relations at PRMC. our regional 350+bed hospital. He was also in charge of promoting the Chris Thoas Tennis Tournament to raise funds for the Cancer Care Serves at the hospital.

Never one to sit still he later accepted a position at Salisbury University assuming responsibilities for Alumni Relations, their Annual Fund-raising appeal, creating publications and helping to direct Special Events, including SU’s 75th Anniversary celebration in 2000.

Roy moved to Mallard Landing in 2017. Even here he doesn’t relax. He and some other musicians living at Mallard Landing formed a small theater group and, using some talented residents, entertained everyone with such musicals as My Fair Lady, Music Man and other Broadway shows. Calling on his contacts at SU he has introduced a series of lectures from their Lifelong Learning series. One lecture last year was on “What is News and What is Fake News.”

Roy moved to Mallard Landing, as he says, on his own terms, while he was healthy. And since then he has found, as so many others have also discovered, that the social interaction with friendly neighbors helps one to forget one’s own aches and pains. AARP says that people tend to live longer when they are enjoying an active community environment. So, whether he is volunteering as bartender in the Pub, where he sometimes feels like Sam Malone of Cheers; or on the landscaping Committee, helping to restore the peony gardens; or Fire Warden for the three connected condominium buildings, or singing in his church choir, Roy is enjoying life.

Mallard Landing: Meet Jane

September 2, 2019 by Loudell Insley

There was a buzz in Building 1105—Jane was soon to move in. And sure enough around the first of December there she was, albeit on a walker. Her frosted head held high she seemed to be everywhere and then she was gone. The pain in her hip from a second fall a couple weeks earlier had finally taken its toll and she had sought medical help. Turns out she had pushed herself too hard after her first fall a month or so before and one day as she was shopping for a simple old bagel she tripped and fell. Being Jane, she kept going until the doctors told her the fall fractured her hip in two places. The good news is she is now graduating to a cane and will soon be tip top.

Those who know Jane know slow-down is not in her vocabulary—it’s something still to be learned. For many years she worked in banking helping people with consumer loans—both in Delaware and in Salisbury where she has lived for 43 years.

One day she took a little test: What kind of business really suits you? Turns out sales was her strength and a natural fit. She began her own “at home” business selling Aloe Charm, skin care products. Even today her eyes light up when she recalls the pleasure of meeting people and teaching them how to care for their skin.

When she began her business, she set a goal for herself, something she learned from her father. He was a leader and public speaker who taught that one must have goals if one hopes to be successful. So, she set a goal. . . to be a manager in one year. Managers at Aloe Charm wore blue suits, so she bought herself one, hung it in the closet as a constant reminder of her goal. She achieved it her first year. When the Sales Directors celebrated her elevation to Manager, they were wearing white suits. So, Jane bought herself a white suit and aimed even higher. In two years she was wearing that white suit as a Sales Director. With it came more recognition. As her sales continued to grow, the company recognized her achievements with all-expense paid trips to Greece, Aruba, Acapulco, Mexico and more.

Don’t think that’s all she did. Jane’s husband owned a Harley Davidson motorcycle store. So, -she bought some leather pants and a leather jacket, of course, hopped onto a cycle behind her husband and off they roared to see America! They went to rallies in Wyoming, the Great Lakes regions and more. I’d like to say the wind was blowing through her hair, but she was hopefully wearing a helmet.

Her sons have taken the burdens of running a house from her shoulders by installing her in Mallard Landing. They think she will slow down now. Not likely. You can see Jane with her puppy dog, Harley, walking around here. When you see this bright-eyed, independent woman she will still have a twinkle in her eye and will be ready to talk up a storm. . . ‘cause she’s full of life.

Your Complete Guide to Fixer Uppers

August 26, 2019 by Loudell Insley

Buying a fixer-upper can be very exciting but also a little bit scary, especially if you’re a first-time homeowner. On the one hand, a fixer-upper gives you the opportunity to create the house of your dreams. Of course, a lot can go wrong if you do not choose your house correctly or perform the right projects in the correct manner. To get you started on this journey, here is a quick run-down of the process of buying and fixing up a fixer-upper.

The Buying Process

The very first step to transforming a fixer-upper into your dream home is to find a fixer-upper. Finding a fixer-upper is not much different from finding any other house. You can either search the internet and local listings or you can hire a real estate agent to do the legwork for you. You will probably have the most luck by focusing on the foreclosure ads. These listings usually contain more run-down homes that might be a steal for someone looking for a fixer-upper. Foreclosure auctions can be somewhat confusing if you have not attended one before, so we suggest reading up on them before running out the door.

You should also take the time to calculate how much money you can spend on your home. Be sure to take into account the down payment, monthly spending, loan type, and current average APR and compare these averages against your annual income. This will give you a good estimate as to how much you can spend. Since buying a fixer-upper usually requires putting a decent amount of money into the home after you buy it, take that into account as well.

What Projects to Tackle First

So, you’ve bought a fixer-upper and you have high hopes! Now it’s time to tackle that actually “fixing” part. We recommend tackling projects that make the house safer and more livable first. Old, rusty pipes? Consider replacing them altogether, especially if they are lead or polybutylene. Is the electrical acting up? Hire an electrician to ensure that the job gets done correctly. You should also consider addressing the HVAC system before you get started on anything else; that way, you’ll have a nice environment to do your work in. Just keep in mind that you may end up shelling out between $163 and $548 on average to get it in tip-top shape.

After these major projects are out of the way, it’s time to start on projects that are required to make the house livable. If you don’t have the floor, it’s time to get one laid down. No appliances or showers? You should add those in as soon as you are able. Make the house livable before focusing on aesthetic repairs so that you can move in and stop paying rent. Also, consider picking up some tools — drills, saws, etc. — to help you with these DIY projects.

To Stay or Go?

This can be an extremely tough question, even if you’ve planned to stay in your fixer-upper the whole time. The promise of a big paycheck can quickly make you question if you should instead sell your home. First, consider whether you have the endurance to fix up another home. Home repairs can take a long time, and living in a barely functioning house can wear anyone down. Plus, according to U.S. News, selling a home can take a long time. If not, don’t sweat not selling your home and starting all over. Enjoy what you’ve accomplished!

If you do want to sell your home, find a good realtor, preferably one that specializes in selling fixer-uppers. Fixer-uppers can sometimes scare off potential buyers if they learn the past state of the home. Figuring out that the home was once in shambles can make them feel unsure and worried about potential problems that might pop up. A realtor should be able to calm these fears and can be a true asset in selling your home.

Fixing a fixer-upper is exciting, worrying, and time-consuming. Partner with some world-class experts and follow your heart when it comes to design choices. It is bound to be an exciting ride!

Photo Credit: Pexels

Mallard Landing: Meet Audrey

August 19, 2019 by Loudell Insley

Audrey sits on the crocheted bedcover she made while holding her baby hats and blankets.

Audrey chugs along like the proverbial engine that couldn’t say “no”. She has been needlepointing and crocheting for what seems to her to have been nearly her whole life. She needlepoints everything from chair seats to bell pulls to church kneelers…..a lot of them. While she attends Asbury Church her St. Peter’s friend and golfing buddy told her of their need for talented needle pointers to stitch new cushions for use throughout the church. It would be a huge project. Could she help? Well, yes, she would be happy to. And she did. Seventy-two of them! As well as some for her own church.

When her son presented her with her first grandchild, she taught herself to crochet a baby hat. She went on to make more than one thousand baby hats and blankets for PRMC’s Jr. Board…making several hundred a year.

While she played tennis in her early years, she finally picked up golf and played with the nine-holders at Green Hill Country Club, winning the President’s Cup, a challenging feat.

Audrey was married to her husband, Howard, for 64 years and had two sons. They met when she was head teller at Union Trust bank, which she did for thirteen years, and he was then head teller at First National Bank (who says bankers are dull!) and went on to become Sr. Vice-President of the bank before retiring.

She loves living here at Mallard Landing. She particularly likes how friendly everyone is here…as well as the convenience to shopping and her doctors. Her only problem is that her sons moved her here while she was recovering from some broken ribs. Knowing meals were served every day, they saw no need to bring certain things…like cups…so she had none when she set up housekeeping here. But that hasn’t held her back for one second! Oh, by the way…she enjoys playing Bingo and bridge, too, so watch out folks!

Meet Ron – The Rocket Man

August 12, 2019 by Loudell Insley

Ron missed his college graduation because he saw the handwriting on the wall. He was going to be drafted. To avoid that, he joined the National Guard and served his time at Fort Jackson in Columbia, SC. Now his six-month tour had ended and the young chemical engineer had only two job offers. One was from the Tennessee Gas Commission and the other was from NASA. He chose NASA. On the morning of Sept 16, 1960, he boarded a bus in Norfolk and rode to his new job In Temperanceville on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. It was a long, dusty trip on the two-lane Rt 13, particularly since he hadn’t had breakfast that morning. When he disembarked at the gas station/bus terminal, he discovered the closest restaurant and motel were 13 miles back the way he had just come. Welcome to Wallops Island!

Despite that rough beginning Ron remained at NASA’s Wallops Island Flight Facility and had a front row seat for many exciting things. He was the only chemical engineer at Wallops … for 38 years! He became the safety engineer for the Sounding rockets and all other rockets that launched from there. Scientists brought their experiments to NASA to launch them into the stratosphere … but only if they passed Ron’s safety check. It was he who, each time a rocket launched, had his finger on the button to abort the flight if he thought something was going wrong. And it was he who was eventually asked to write the long-needed ground-safety, flight-safety and industrial-safety manuals. Over his career he was recognized and celebrated for his safety protocols that enable NASA in 1970 to launch 34 rockets in 3 days, 14 within a twenty-minute period and 11 of them in a 5-minute period in March 1970 without incident. He traveled around the world consulting with foreign governments on the safety of their space programs. And in May 1985 Ron received the Goddard Space Flight Center Safety Award of Merit for his personal dedication and outstanding performance in managing, developing and engineering a programmatic safety effort which (still) contributes to both a high degree of program success and safety. He was one of a kind!

While doing all that he found time to marry his sweetheart, Nancy and together they had two daughters, one works in transportation here at Perdue and the other works at Wallops where she specializes in computers and has successfully launched a satellite she helped to create.

Referrals Are a Businesses’ Life Blood

August 5, 2019 by Loudell Insley

A friend asked for help for their friend in an out-of-the-way community…90 minutes away. They had had agents from their area who couldn’t sell it. Saying yes, and with more innovative marketing and attention, it just settled with VA financing.

After the closing these sellers sent me their thanks with these kind sentiments: “We have dealt with many realtors over the years – buying and selling, and on the Western and on the Eastern Shore. You are one in a million. You saw the beauty of our house and sang its praises – as seen by our buyer who came from out-of-state, having fallen in love with it. You gently counselled us every step of the way, keeping us focused on making a successful sale. You kept us all – sellers, buyer, buyer’s realtor – on track and “in synch,” a labor akin to herding cats in the midst of a dog show. Most of all, you listened to us – our ideas, our concerns, and even our crazy notions. Not once did we feel that you failed to hear us out and to respond to whatever we sent your way. And, of course, you got us to the finish line.”

If you have a friend or family member who could use my level of real estate service, I am never too busy to help. Simply contact me with their contact information and I’ll take it from there. Giving them the same quality service I’ve always given my client/friends.

Another Home Sold by Loudell

July 29, 2019 by Loudell Insley

This Sharptown beauty was out-of-the-way for some but perfectly located for these buyers. Reaching out to find unlikely buyers creates satisfied sellers. Giving the sellers ideas for preparing the house for market also paid off. We ended up with multiple offers.

5 Ways to Grow Your Savings and Prepare for Unexpected Home Repairs

July 22, 2019 by Loudell Insley

Trying to avoid those expensive and stressful emergency home repairs? Well, if you’re a homeowner, you are far better off putting that effort into preparing for them. Having a solid plan for paying for those repairs, knowing who to call for help, and how to lower your own costs can help you avoid panic when issues pop up without warning. So, before the next thing breaks or goes wrong with your home, be sure to take these helpful planning steps.

Put Some Funds Aside for Emergency Home Repairs

Investing money in an emergency home repair fund is always smart. Aside from paying for unexpected home repair costs, saving more money can also help out with routine home maintenance expenses. This prevents you from dipping into other savings or financial means to cover those costs. While most homeowners are safe setting aside a small percentage of their home value, major home repair costs can quickly become expensive.

Find Simple Ways to Stick to Your Savings Goals

To make building your savings simple, look for easy savings steps that will help you tuck away small amounts into your account. Set up an automatic transfer or look for ways to invest your savings and grow your emergency home repair reserves even faster. Using these smart saving tips can help homeowners with future repairs, but if you need cash for immediate issues, it’s important to know where to turn. You can cover home repair expenses easily by using a credit card with a high limit, or opting for a home improvement loan with a favorable interest rate.

Pay Attention to Routine Home Maintenance Tasks

You should prepare for emergencies, but also know that you can prevent some of the most common unexpected home repair issues by performing routine home maintenance. For example, trimming trees can keep branches from crashing into your windows, while changing out your HVAC filters can prevent you from needing to replace the entire system. You can take care of most of these tasks on your own, or you can hire pros to help you out. Even if you hire a pro, you’re likely to end up with a much smaller bill than if you have to call those same professionals out for emergency repairs, especially if they happen on weekends or holidays.

Hire Contractors Who Are Reliable and Affordable

If you’ve never hired a contractor before, you can use these tips to make sure you hire someone you can rely on for quality repairs. Ask your trusted friends, family members, and co-workers for referrals, and take some time to interview a few different pros before you make a decision. Taking all these steps can help you avoid issues with contractors. If despite your best efforts, you still end up with problems, try to remain calm, focused, and understanding with your communications. However, don’t be afraid to involve supervisors or other forms of authority to protect your home and your finances.

Use Your Insurance to Cover Home Repair Expenses

Once you’ve found a contractor and figured out a way to cover repair costs, don’t relax quite yet. You may be able to recoup some of the money you spent on those unexpected repairs with a simple homeowner’s insurance claim. Many homeowners forget this step and end up paying much more than they should for covered repairs like roof damage. But also know that your policy may not cover home repairs such as water damage from floods or damage caused by termite damage. So, you will need to use those funds you put into savings or other means to take care of expenses related to non-covered home repairs.

Use Home Equity to Finance Repairs

If you don’t have any money set aside for repairs and your homeowners insurance won’t cover the repairs, you may need to look elsewhere for funds. One option you can explore is to use refinancing options if you have equity in your home. As PennyMac explains, a cash out refinance plan allows you to replace the mortgage you have now with a new, higher balance. The difference between the two is then cashed out, giving you money to spend on your home repair.

No one ever really enjoys dealing with unexpected home repairs. However, being better prepared to pay for them can at least help you avoid unnecessary stress and headaches. Start putting money into your emergency savings, look for simple ways to reduce your costs, and make sure you’re as ready as you can be to take on those rainy day home issues.

Photo Credit: Pexels

Selling Your Home: Don’t Do It Alone!

July 15, 2019 by Loudell Insley

Recently I sold my own home and moved to Mallard Landing, an active adult community offering assisted living for those in need. Selling my house was nerve wracking! Oh, how I wished for a Realtor with a cool eye and a calming influence. Someone to guide me in staging the house. Someone to help with pricing it. Someone between me and the buyer to give me time to think. A good Realtor will quiet your anxiety during negotiations! I discovered I’m at my best working for other people. Don’t make a mistake when selling your largest investment. Let me guide you to a happy conclusion. I’ve sold nearly 800 homes, selling my own was the most hair-raising!