Flooring: Flooring, especially tile or wood, can be very costly so a Buyer looks at that as a major item when considering a purchase.  Today’s Buyers are looking for the same flooring throughout so it flows from room to room.  When multiple types of flooring are used, it makes the home look "chopped up."  In Arizona, a home with all tile or wood is #1 in popularity but that doesn’t mean that some homes don’t have carpeting in the bedrooms.  Many homeowners who do, choose to have the same carpeting in every carpeted area.  If you’re going out to replace carpet, it is recommended that you purchase a Berber vs. plush.  Berber wears like iron and doesn’t show footprints so the care is much less time-consuming.  Spend a little more for good padding.  It’ll make a big difference to the feel of it. 

Wood is always a popular choice - you’d be amazed at the number of Buyers who notice when it is real wood. Wood wears well, is durable and timeless, expensive, and adds value.  There are so many types, colors and patterns. There are several products that give a wood-look such as engineered wood or waterproof vinyl at a savings; the quality of these products has improved over the past few years.

One of the best ways to get an easy-care wood-look floor is porcelain tile – but get one that looks like wood.  So many really don’t look authentic. Wood tiles come in various lengths and widths which can offer a more elegant looking appearance (these two sizes are staggered). The example shown is porcelain wood tile - ours to be accurate.

Smaller tiles (8 – 12") give a dated appearance.  So, select tiles that are at least 18" and have your installer use a different pattern to make it look special.

Particularly if you have a small space – lighter colored flooring makes your home look so much larger.  The same can be said for wall coverings [paint/wallpaper]. Be sure there isn’t too much furniture and it isn’t too large for your space.

It is said that 56% of US citizens have been hacked/exposed by the data breach two-years ago by Equifax which has now been court-ordered to make an enormous settlement.  This is a giant red flag reminding us all to be cognizant of our own credit.   Here are the 5 steps we all should take to protect our credit:

1. Sign up with the three main credit companies for FRAUD ALERTS [EQUIFAX, EXPERIAN and TRANS UNION] and check your report at least annually (We're all entitled to one free report annually from each bureau).
2. Pay for a credit monitoring service (we’ve been pleased with LifeLock as we’ve had identity theft issues in the past).
3. Notify your bank/credit card companies if you’ll be traveling as to where and when.
4. Freeze your credit so nobody else can access it – you can unfreeze it when you need to make a major purchase. KEEP THE CODE ASSIGNED SO YOU CAN FREEZE or UNFREEZE AS NEEDED.
5. Place a Fraud Alert on your accounts if you can't freeze them immediately (if you're in the middle of a home purchase, for example). A Fraud Alert lasts for one year and is renewable. You only need to contact one of the 3 Bureaus to ask for an alert; it will notify the others.

For instructions on how to take care of these issues, go to www.FTC.gov (Federal Trade Commission

JUST ANNOUNCED ON JULY 30, 2019 - CAPITAL ONE BREACH

Following the massive Equifax data breach and resulting settlement just discussed, on July 30, 2019, news broke out about Capital One.  Fortunately, the perpetrator has been arrested.

According to MSN news, "a data breach of Capital One, the nation’s 7^th largest bank by assets, compromised the personal information of approximately 100 million U.S. consumers and 6 million in Canada, the bank announced on July 29^th.  The breach affected the information of two groups of people:

• Those who applied for Capital One credit cards between 2005 and 2019. The compromised information included names, dates of birth, addresses, email addresses and phone numbers 
• Existing credit card and secured credit card holders. Data stolen included 140,000 Social Security numbers, 80,000 bank account numbers and information about consumers’ credit scores, credit limits, balances, payment history and transactions.

Capital One said it would provide free credit monitoring and identity protection services to those affected (who they will notify). They also recommended the same course of action (Freezing your credit, placing a Fraud Alert on your credit, checking with the 3 credit bureaus… plus keeping a close eye on your accounts for unfamiliar activities.

We’ve all seen the Barn Doors utilized – generally in master suites separating bedrooms from bathrooms ...or any other parts of the home.  

New Castle, Indiana is close to where Al grew up.  The photo on the right was on a real estate listing in New Castle.  The owner wanted to turn their hall bath into a powder room for guests to use…so they used a barn door to hide the tub.  Genius!

On the left is a more typical version of the popular barn door.  There are so many ways to utilize this concept.  

Be creative. 

In the past couple of years (and months), there has been such a preponderance of new companies who claim to be able to sell your home in 72 hours – or for 2%. Some claim to be highly discounted; others claim they can sell your house in 3-days.  They tell you they have an assigned agent to represent you and using an algorithm will bring dozens of buyers to your door. 

As Realtors, we have loads of competition. which we welcome.  It keeps us all on our toes. Many Realtors are absolutely fantastic at helping their clients; a few are not.  There are varying degrees of competency and experience with any professional. Clients don’t generally know how much time is spent by a Realtor making sure everything is done correctly and efficiently – putting out "fires" that could jeopardize your escrow.  It’s our job to focus on our clients.

Some discount companies claim they can have dozens of buyers who will swoop in to purchase your home at listing, or even better prices, within 3 days.  One claims they don’t need to put their homes on the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) because the internet has all the information, so they don’t need to work with them. We wonder where they’re going for their comparable pricing information – the MLS.  If they’re working with Buyers – where are they going to go for properties to show – the MLS.  And advertising often refers to "agents on staff to help you."  

Are they Realtors?  To be called a Realtor, of course you have to be licensed by the State and your  ACTIVE license is to be held by a Broker (in our case, HomeSmart) but to be legally called a Realtor, you must be a dues-paying member of a local Board of Realtors (We belong to the Phoenix Association of Realtors and the Scottsdale Area Association of Realtors). To maintain our license, we are required to take continuing education classes on Contract Law, Agency Law, Disclosures, Commissioner's Standards, Fair Housing, etc. We renew every two-years with our Continuing Education classes verified by the State of Arizona's Department of Real Estate.

If you're tempted into discount service - be sure you ask questions such as all costs associated with the listing, including any repairs or marketing fees that aren't mentioned. Would you be working with a Realtor?  What if your home doesn't sell in 72-hours? What aren't they saying?  

As our mothers always told us – "If it sounds too good to be true – it probably is NOT true." (This is just our musing.)

• Toast the noodles, sesame seeds and almonds briefly (5 minutes) in the oven at 375 degrees. Put aside until a couple of hours before serving.
• Mix dressing – add to salad at least several hours ahead (overnight OK).
• Add the noodles, seeds and almonds to the salad about 2-3 hours in advance.

It's great alone or add a couple of Chinese sides...Egg Rolls, Wontons?  We had some leftover the next day - it was still fresh - we added a little extra soy sauce as a boost.

America the Beautiful" is an American patriotic song; the lyrics were written by Katharine Lee Bates, and the music was composed by church organist and choirmaster Samuel A. Ward at Grace Episcopal Church in Newark, New Jersey. The two never met. Bates originally wrote the words as a poem, "Pikes Peak", first published in the Fourth of July edition of the church periodical The Congregationalist in 1895. At that time, the poem was titled "America" for publication. Ward had originally written the music for a hymn in 1882, though it was not first published until 1892.  Ward's music combined with the Bates poem was first published in 1910 and titled "America the Beautiful". The song is one of the most popular of the many U.S. patriotic songs and still gives goosebumps to American citizens. The "Pledge of Allegiance" to the flag of the United States of America...always gets to us...

Our country has been through so much turmoil in the past 10 years with terrorism, drug epidemics, crime, illegal immigration – but we’re proud to be Americans. We honor our military for keeping us free to pursue our lives, freedom of speech and freedom of religion. 

We love our country and certainly don’t know of anywhere else we’d want to live where we can have the freedom and opportunities to be a success at what you love to do the way you can here in the United States of America. Here we are, enjoying our post-corporate careers, working together to serve people who need to buy or sell.  We are so honored to do so and grateful that we can.

Have a safe and Happy 4^th of July – wave that flag!

Al and Jean

Phoenix has come a long way from its beginning in 1881 as a farming community. Our fair city (which spreads out over about 536 square miles) is growing rapidly. The expectation is that Phoenix will move up from the nations 5^th largest city to the 3^rd over the next few years. Arizona is one of the fastest growing economies in the nation according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis State Data. 

We're in the top 5 states in terms of growth with a 4.3% increase in gross domestic product.  Our job market in greater Phoenix also continues to grow rapidly…this is the place to be. Corporations are bringing their businesses here because of favorable taxes for a more profitable way to do business. Not to mention that our state income taxes are low and the cost-of-living so much less than many other areas...and there is nothing to shovel in the winter.

Not only do we have a growing economy but also the advantages of living in this beautiful, sunny state with endless opportunities; with so much to do and see, fantastic restaurants, entertainment, shopping, medical, facilities, sports. We wouldn't live anywhere else.

Our goal as Realtors is to make every transaction as smooth as possible for everyone involved.  To do that, communication is the key.  Most of the time, when issues occur, they're resolved expeditiously due to our years of experience and eye for detail. But every once in a while, something comes up that we can't control - so we have to find the solution and move forward.

We recently experienced such a situation.  We had the listing on a condo – several buyers made offers in the first 24-hours.  The offer our Seller accepted was full-price, no concessions (buyer asking the seller to pay part of their closing costs), pre-approved (not just pre-qualified), with a large down payment, not contingent on selling another property and the Buyer was willing and able to close on the same date our Sellers needed in order to close concurrently with the home they’re purchasing.  Sounds perfect, right?  The agent was enthusiastic and told us that his Buyer was thrilled to buy this condo. But sometimes people will just be people!

I digress – the purchase contract says that the Buyer is required to bring their Earnest Money Deposit in "upon agreement – a signed contract."  Our documents were signed on a Sunday evening.  We prepared all the documents to send to our Title/Escrow officer and confirmed with the Buyer’s agent that the funds would arrive in the Escrow office on Monday.  When it wasn’t there by mid-afternoon, we contacted the Buyer’s agent who begged for our understanding since his client "has a new job and can’t get away."  We advised him that either he (agent) could pick up the check, have funds wired or a courier could go to the Buyer’s office to pick it up. By the end of Tuesday when it hadn’t arrived, we warned the agent that we would have to send a CURE NOTICE to him to notify his client he needed to adhere to the contract or face cancellation.

Side note:  WHAT IS A CURE NOTICE?  It’s a document giving the Buyer 72-hours to perform, or the escrow is cancelled for non-compliance with the contract.

We don’t fault the Agent in this case because his Buyer wasn’t being truthful or responsible for some reason. He was making up all sorts of stories as to why he couldn’t get his funds in.  The Agent was frantically trying to get his client to take one of those options previously mentioned so as not to break the contract.  We won’t bore you with a many crazy stories the Buyer gave his agent – with promises to get the money to escrow. There was ample time and opportunity for him to comply.  When the 72-hours was up, we sent the signed order to cancel to the Escrow Officer and the Agent.  The Agent still promised we’d have it that day if only we’d give him "just one more chance" but...based on our experience with this Buyer, we could not do that.  Our job is to protect our client. 

Fortunately when we listed the property,  we checked "Take Back-up Offers" on this listing form so during the 72-hours the clock was ticking on the Cure Notice, we noted on our listing that agents could show the property and give us back-up offers with full-disclosure as to the situation.  Within 15 minutes of the cancellation, we had another offer that is going very well.

CURE NOTICES can be used for any situation wherein one party or the other fails to perform on schedule.  Fortunately, until this situation, we’ve never had to use one and we hope we never do.

The point here is that things can happen during an escrow period, and they almost always do...but generally problems can be resolved with some effort, patience and experience.

Your Spare.  Have your service Technician check the air pressure in your spare tire the next time you service your vehicle.

We recently attended a local meeting where a Police Officer shared information on crime.  It doesn't matter where you live or what kind of neighborhood, there are people determined to take what belongs to YOU. 

What is the biggest crime in typical Phoenix neighborhoods?

• Believe it or not – he said breaking into vehicles that have been left parked outside, UNLOCKED with valuable items inside. Of course, there are also experienced bad-guys who can open a locked car.
• Along this same line of thought -  items stolen from garages when the garage door is left open is another huge crime statistic.   

There is information put out via every possible media warning people to be cautious about this.  The Police Department posed this question…" Why is your garage full of things that you could get rid of while your $40,000 vehicle is left outside?  Wouldn’t it be a good idea to get rid of the "stuff" by donating it, putting it in storage or selling it so your vehicle, worth thousands of dollars, can be protected?"  At the very least, if your vehicle must be parked outside, always, always lock it.  And never leave anything of value inside.  People leave electronics, purses, packages – all sorts of things in view.

Newer vehicles have buttons that can be programmed to open your gate or garage door.  If your vehicles don’t have that feature, please don’t leave your garage door opener where it can be spotted by a thief.  Take it with you or hide it from sight but don’t assist the thief. 

Today, with cameras everywhere, videos and photos are shown almost daily of 
criminals walking around neighborhoods at 2:00 a.m. checking to see if vehicles are unlocked.  If so, you’re an easy target.  If you didn’t leave enough "good stuff" and the car is valuable – you’ve also just made it easier for your car to also be stolen.

As the Officer said, the other part of this is leaving your garage door open – not only does it give thieves quick access to steal anything in sight but most of the time, the door into your home is unlocked. Minimally, they get a good view of your possessions for future reference. 

• June 16^th Father’s Day – it didn’t officially become an observed holiday until 1972. – So, to all the Dad’s out there,have a wonderful Father’s Day.  Enjoy the weather. 

At this time of the year, there are two things you should do as preventative maintenance:

• Have the A/C checked in the car.
• Have the A/C checked in your home.  You don't want it to cause issues in the middle of the summer.

Don't forget your vehicles - from tires to coolant:

• Check your tire pressure.
• Check the tire pressure of your spare tire!  Unfortunately, the spare tire is seldom checked. You don't want to discover it's flat when you need it. While your at it - check all of your tires for pressure regularly.
• Check your wiper blades.  Those of us in Arizona will likely see rain in July and August, so you need effective windshield wipers to be safe in the rain.
• Check your coolant level. Give your vehicle every opportunity for it to perform up to your comfort and safety standards.

• Do you use sponges?  Toss them into the dishwasher and/or the wash machine regularly.  They're a magnet for yukky stuff.  Dish brushes always go in the dishwasher when it runs.
• Buying fruits or vegetables?  When you refrigerate them in a Ziplock bag or plastic container, also put a paper towel in the container.  It absorbs the extra moisture so everything from lettuce to berries stay fresher longer.

WHAT'S FOR DINNER?  HOW ABOUT HAVING A CHEF?

HOW DOES A PROFESSIONAL APPRAISER LOOK AT YOUR PROPERTY?

Last week Jay Joseph, one of the most respected appraisers in the Phoenix area, was the speaker at our HomeSmart office meeting.  We’ve heard him speak many times over the years – at many different venues.

When working with a lender in a purchase situation, we know how important it is for the appraised value of the property  to come in at or above the sales price.  If it doesn’t, the buyer and seller must negotiate a solution. Generally, the buyer will come in with more cash and the seller will reduce the price.  They compromise. Once in a while you'll hear of a transaction falling apart because no compromise can be made.  Fortunately, it's never happened with any of our transactions.

Jay said one of the issues that can cause a low appraisal is when the assigned appraiser isn’t "geographically competent."  What he means is that the assigned Appraiser may not be familiar with the area where the property is thus while basic statistics are viable, familiarity with the neighborhood can make or break an appraisal.  With Jay Joseph’s company, he makes every effort to assign appraisals to an Appraiser who knows the area well.  Often when an appraiser is assigned by a lender, it’s the next person on a rotation list…who may know nothing about the specific area.

Most Realtors and Appraisers use a neighborhood’s "price per square foot" as a tool BUT that is just the beginning. There are many variables to know – the condition of the home, the upgrades, pool, location...for openers. 

Most appraisers will add value for a spectacular view (not  just a peek at a mountain peak) or on a golf course (unless the property is off a hole that gets hit by golf balls daily).  A pool adds value depending on the condition and uniqueness (waterfalls, lighting, decking). Owned solar will add value but leased generally does not.  

Here's where we as Realtors must do our due diligence by providing the Appraiser the comps we used in pricing the property. - giving details based on our familiarity of the neighborhood and property.  Jay prefers comps within the past 3-months only; but in areas with little turnover, they will utilize closings for the past 6-months. We always provide two similar listings in the area that are comparable and 4-6 CLOSED sales; truly the basis of value.  The comps should be similar in square footage to the subject home and preferably from the same community/neighborhood. Then the appraiser should be given those Listings/Closed sales with Realtor notes indicating differences in the properties as compared to the subject property (again, location, condition, upgrades etc).

It’s an advantage to know if the appraiser is familiar with that neighborhood – because if not "they don’t know what they don’t know."  Pricing can vary dramatically from neighborhood to neighborhood – even if they are adjacent…or on a different side of a main street.

If you have a unique property and want to hire an Appraiser yourself, ask the company or individual appraiser a few questions in a polite manner…start out with "Please don’t take this the wrong way but….:

1. Have your worked in the area before – are you familiar with this neighborhood?
2. What kind of license do you have?  The right answer is "Certified Residential" or Certified General"
3. And be sure to hire one familiar with the area and/or any specific qualities such as horse properties, rural or high-end areas with all custom homes. 

In some areas there is a mixture of very old homes that have never been updated next to magnificent properties. But the value in the land can be very worthwhile.  You don't want to leave any money on the table in areas of custom lots and homes.

In those cases, call an expert like Jay Josephs –JOSEPHS APPRAISAL GROUP

602-955-4050 or [email protected]     www.JAGinc.net
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The real estate market is HOT in Arizona right now and that brings plenty of opportunities for buyers, sellers, and investors alike.  In this section, we’ll discuss mechanics liens; what they are, what they mean, and why you should approach any extensively remodeled home with a healthy dose of lien knowledge.  

So, what *is* a mechanics lien?  A mechanics lien is filed when a vendor or contractor who furnishes materials, labor, or professional services to a property, but wasn't paid.  It could be that a general contractor OR a homeowner fails to pay a vendor.  Either way, the material-man [company or vendor who provided supplies or services] has the right to file a lien against the property that must be resolved before the home can be sold or refinanced.  The time frame that a vendor must file the lien is 120 days from the completion of the improvement.  Typically, the general contractor will obtain lien waivers from any and all vendors providing services and materials to the property. But what if they don't?

When considering the purchase of a newly remodeled or constructed home still within the lien period, be sure to ask the seller/investor if they have a complete indemnity packet, they can provide to the title company.  This packet typically consists of all receipts, lien waivers signed off on by the vendors, an appraisal, and even financials to prove the seller can cover any costs that may arise due to the work completed.  Once the title company and underwriter have reviewed the entire packet, clearance will be issued for closing, or further requirements of the seller will be requested.  The title company and your Realtor are there to ensure your purchase is protected from any issues negatively impacting your title so you can enjoy your beautiful new home for many years to come.(provided by Angela Kahan, Equity Title)

Note:  When a seller does repairs on a home for our buyers, we request copies of all final invoices/receipts so the buyer has them for their records. Not only does that give them proof of payment but it also gives the buyer the name of the person (s) doing the work in case they ever want them to come back to the property
________________________________________________________________________________________________

1. Combine chicken, grapes and pecans in a medium bowl.
2. Combine mayonnaise, sour cream and lime juice,
3. Mix into the chicken mixture.

• First and foremost, in Arizona we must provide a Prequalification Form showing what the Buyer is qualified to buy.  NOTE: Don't confuse "pre-qualified" with "pre-approved."  Prequalified means the buyer has provided their information - and it looks good.  Lenders rarely pre-approve because it takes time to verify the buyer's information...and be sure it's the same at the close.  A transaction can fall apart at the last minute if the buyer has gone out to buy all new furniture or a car which can skew their credit report.
• Of course, price is paramount for both buyer and seller.
• We,as your Realtors, can advise where to offer depending on many variables.
• Sellers don't like to be asked to pay buyer's closing costs.  Sometimes, if they can't get an offer otherwise, we can explore that possibility.
• Flexibility and a willingness to close whenever is most convenient to the sellers are also nice perks that could put the cherry on top of the offer.

Holidays in May

• May 6 – Nurse’s Day – thank a nurse (Thank you Jacqui Nau Lewis, our granddaughter who has been an RN for one year)
• May 7 – Teacher’s Day – an opportunity to thank a teacher who has made a difference - we all have at least one!
• May 12 – Mother’s Day – dear to our hearts
• May 27 – Memorial Day – a day to fly our flags in memory of those who died serving the USA in the armed services.

May – Celiac Disease Month:

     We mention this because our daughter suffers from it (amongst several other ailments) so it is close to our hearts. And we have friends with Celiac and/or issues with gluten.
     Celiac disease is a serious autoimmune disorder that can occur in genetically predisposed people where the ingestion of gluten leads to damage in the small intestine. It is estimated to affect 1 in 100 people worldwide. Two and one-half million Americans are undiagnosed and at risk for long-term health complications. There are various levels of severity with Celiac. 
     In this current anti-gluten environment, many restaurants have jumped on the band wagon offering Gluten Free (GF) products.  To those who have Celiac Disease, even a bread crumb can make them sick.  Be aware that for foods to truly be GF, they must be prepared in a completely GF environment.  As an example, cutting up vegetables on a cutting board where bread has been sliced can cause serious side effects to a Celiac patient. Few restaurants really have a designated section of their kitchen to prepare gluten free meals, so be very careful.  Those with Celiac know how critical proper preparation in a safe environment is when a restaurant prepares meals advertised as GF.  To someone who chooses to eat GF, the ramifications may not be severe if a slice of GF bread is placed on a breadboard to prepare a sandwich, but to those with severe Celiac issues, it can trigger a very unpleasant situation. 

Finally – as of April 22, 2019 the State of Arizona has passed a new law that prohibits operating a motor vehicle while holding or supporting (with any part of the person’s body) a smartphone or other portable wireless device, or writing, sending or reading any text-based communication on a wireless device unless it is voice-based and/or hands-free.

Governor Doug Ducey signed a bill making it illegal to talk or text on a handheld cellphone while driving in the state. As he signed the new law, behind Ducey stood the families of victims killed by distracted drivers, including the family of Salt River tribal police Officer Clayton Townsend, who was struck and killed by a distracted driver in January. Ducey credited the families' advocacy as the reason why the bill made it through the state Legislature this year.

The law, which took effect immediately, prohibits drivers from talking, texting, typing or browsing social-media sites on their phone, unless they are using the device in a hands-free mode.  There is a warning period until Jan. 1, 2021. After that, drivers will be ticketed and fined.

PUT THE PHONE DOWN – DON’T TAKE A CHANCE – NO MESSAGE IS WORTH RISKING A LIFE!

While it is true that millennials have achieved milestones like getting married, having kids, and buying homes later in life than their parents and grandparents did, they are not solely to blame for today’s housing market trends. Freddie Mac’s Insight Report explored the impact of the Silent and Baby Boomer Generations on the housing market.

Question: If millennials are unable to find a home to buy at a young age like their predecessors, then who is living in those homes?

The answer: In some cases, Seniors born after 1931 are staying in their homes longer than previous generations, instead choosing to "age in place."

Freddie Mac discovered "this trend accounts for about 1.6 million houses held back from the market through 2018, representing about one year’s typical supply of new construction, or more than half of the current shortfall of 2.5 million housing units estimated in December’s Insight. Older Americans sometimes prefer to age in place because they are satisfied with their communities, their homes, and their quality of life."

According to the National Association of Realtors, inventory of homes for sale is currently at a 3.5-month supply, which means that nationally we are in a seller’s market. A ‘normal’ housing market requires 6-7 months inventory, a level we have not achieved since August 2012.

"The most important fundamental in today’s housing market is the lack of houses for sale. This shortage has been identified as an important barrier to young adults buying their first homes."

If you are one of the Seniors who desires to retire in the same area you’ve always lived, you’re not alone; but ask yourself the important questions. Will your current house fit your needs throughout retirement?  Is the climate conducive to enjoy your retirement? Are you living where you want to live (i.e. close to family or a community you prefer?)

After the kids have left the nest, many Seniors rethink where they want to live. Two-story homes that served well over the years may now be more difficult to navigate.  We moved into a single story in 2004 because it was too difficult for Al’s mother (our only surviving parent) to climb the stairs when she came for part of the winter.  A single-story is easy on us but also people visiting. Another huge factor in downsizing is that bigger homes are more costly to maintain, heat and cool.  For those who choose a condominium, they’re also free from caring for pools, yards and all exterior maintenance. 

We can attest to the fact that single story homes are in short demand; especially if the buyer does not want a pool. Here in Arizona, probably more homes have a pool than not. To narrow that availability even more, if they want something specific like a golf course view or 3-car garage, the challenge becomes even greater. The demand is higher and the availability lower for single-story homes.

Al and I moved to a condo (almost 1900 sq. ft) almost four years ago and love the lock & leave aspect of it.  We don’t have to worry about a breeze dropping flowers into our pool, clogging up the filter…weeds in our yard or a branch down if we have a (rare) wind or rain storm dropping branches in the driveway. It’s all taken care of by our HOA – for the same amount we used to spend for a pool service, landscaping, pest control and so forth. It's a personal choice.

The latest scam (on top of all the scams saying they’re from Microsoft, or the IRS threatening you to pay due to back taxes) is one from a person claiming to be an officer of the Court saying you missed your Jury Duty and thus must pay a penalty fine or you will be arrested.  Don’t fall for it.  If you’re needed for Jury Duty, you’ll only receive communication by mail. 

Lightly grease a shallow 2-quart baking dish.

Melt butter in medium skillet over medium heat.

Stir in everything EXCEPT BROTH AND ALMONDS

Cook, stirring until onions/mushrooms are tender (about 5 minutes)

Spoon mixture into your baking dish; add broth and almonds (stir in)

Bake covered for an hour a 325 degrees.  Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.