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MAY 2020
612-567-9530 HALEPROPERTIES.COM IS IT CRAZY TO BUY OR SELL DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC?
DO PEOPLE STILL WANT TO BUY AND SELL HOMES RIGHT NOW? Even in the midst of a crisis, society hasn’t halted completely. People are still moving in and out of homes. Plus even if buyers’ and sellers’ needs are changing (sellers might be conducting virtual tours instead of in-person tours, for example), they won’t necessarily just give up on buying or selling a home completely. Finally, some people are striving for some element of normalcy during this time, and for that reason might decide to press forward with their plans to move despite the uncertain times. WILL BANKS STILL LEND? When the market looks shaky, as it certainly does right now, lenders usually tend to hedge their bets a little more carefully. That said, when it comes to the residential housing market, early signs indicate that there aren’t any serious problems. However, like most things during this time, that could change. WILL CHANGES IN QUALIFICATIONS, EMPLOYMENT, OR COMPENSATION BE AN ISSUE FOR POTENTIAL BUYERS? In short, we can’t know for sure. People working in the health care industry, who were at first assumed to be immune to the economic downturn because of the essential nature of their jobs, are starting to also face financial challenges. That said, the hospitality and retail sectors were the hardest hit by the pandemic. However, we can’t know the full extent of this crisis on the populace’s ability to buy a home just yet.
WHATWILL HAPPEN TO INVENTORY? Inventory in most price segments was limited going into the fall of 2019. Real estate agents and
When restaurants closed, I think we all panicked a little. Having triplets means extensive meal planning, cooking, and of course, cleaning. Maggie and I are no strangers to cooking at home, but we love the Minnesota food scene and regularly enjoy a meal out. Savoring local delights and avoiding cleaning duties was a Saturday night ritual we took for granted! We felt blessed to afford the weekly dining out experience and knew budgets and priorities could change, but we never thought the opportunity would disappear. After hearing of the government’s plan to shut down restaurants, salons, spas, and other businesses, and after our own selfish feelings subsided, we thought of our friends, family, and clients in the restaurant business. Many of them faced job loss and the challenges of serving their community and supporting their employees. In discussions with fellow business owners, anxiety of the unknown was the recurring theme. Should they continue to promote their businesses and plan to reopen to full capacity in weeks or months? Or would they come back with a downsized team? Would they close altogether? Those questions certainly made for some heavy conversations. I know my clients are facing a similar question: Is now the right time to buy or sell? While we’re not sure if we can answer that question with a hard yes or no, we tried to answer a few fundamental, related questions. I hope these answers will help some of you make the decision about buying or selling during the pandemic.
buyers were optimistic that price increases would entice more sellers to sell, thereby improving inventory to consider. The coronavirus seems to have slowed sellers on a case-by-case basis, but no broad trend of seller apprehension has been mapped just yet. Properties marked “temporarily not available for showings” spiked in March and April, but things continue to improve looking into May and beyond. WHATWILL ACTIVITY LOOK LIKE? Despite an initial downward trend, transaction volume for home sales is looking far better than expected. On top of that, experts have said that the first wave of coronavirus infections was not as bad as they feared it would be, whether that was because people stayed home or because of sheer luck. That could bode well for people getting back into the homebuying or selling process. What happens next? Even though volatility in the market has been limited, things could definitely change. If you are concerned about the direction the market is headed for your specific property, feel free to call me and talk about it. Stay healthy and safe!
-Fritz Soberay
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HOW TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS While Following Social Distancing Guidelines
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is encouraging communities across the U.S. to practice social
distancing. While this will help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, or COVID-19, it also means that social interactions will be minimal. In addition to impeding many industries and businesses, this has significant impacts on families and friends who can no longer visit each other in person. Luckily, the technology we have today allows us to stay in touch while still practicing social responsibility. SPRUCE UP EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES. Hopping on the phone or your laptop to video chat is a great way to reach out and catch up with loved ones. While folding laundry or doing other mundane chores, give a friend or your parents a call to idly chat; it can make your tedious tasks much more enjoyable. Video calls are also beneficial if, for example, you’re missing out on your daily workouts with a friend. Hop on a video chat to practice yoga, cardio, or other simple exercise routines together. LET YOUR KIDS CHAT WITH FRIENDS. Kids can benefit from video chatting by staying in touch with their friends while school and other activities are canceled. Letting your kids connect to social media is a pretty big step, so consider signing them up for Yoursphere or Kidzworld, kid- friendly networks that let them keep in touch with their friends while you can monitor their activity. Get in touch with other parents to set up virtual play dates over video chats for your kids. They can even watch a movie or TV show together.
Serving breakfast in bed to moms, especially on Mother’s Day, has been a widespread tradition for years, but have you ever wondered if it’s what your mom really wants? Here’s a look at the Mother’s Day breakfast in bed tradition and some recent insight into the popular trend. According to Heather Arndt Anderson, author of “Breakfast: A History,” the popularity of breakfast in bed became widespread during the Victorian era, but only for married, wealthy women who had servants. Those women would enjoy their first meal of the day in bed, and then their servants would handle all the spilled scone crumbs and messy breakfast residue. In 1914, President WoodrowWilson dubbed Mother’s Day a national U.S. holiday, and a few years later, the aristocratic English tradition of breakfast in bed sailed across the pond to America. By the 1930s, food and bedding companies capitalized on the tradition and the new holiday by running ads in magazines and newspapers encouraging children and fathers to serve their matriarchs breakfast in bed. Since then, serving mothers breakfast in bed has become a popular Mother’s Day ritual around the world, and it remains so today. However, there is one group whose voice has been left out of the breakfast in bed conversation: mothers. In a recent study conducted by Zagat, a well-known dining survey site, researchers found that only 4% of moms polled want breakfast in bed. Yes, you read that right. When you factor in the mess of syrup, crumbs, and coffee spilling over clean sheets, it’s understandable. Today’s mothers usually don’t have servants to clean up afterward. The study also revealed what most moms prefer to do for breakfast on Mother’s Day: 53% of mothers like to go out, and 39% prefer brunch instead of breakfast. While breakfast in bed seems like a nice gesture, statistics show that it’s probably the last thing your mom wants to wake up to on May 10. This Mother’s Day, show your appreciation for your mom or the mother of your children by asking her what she would like to do. She deserves the holiday morning she desires, whether that includes a full breakfast in bed or carryout from her favorite brunch joint. HAS BREAKFAST IN BED GONE OUT OF STYLE? WHAT MOMS REALLY WANT ON MOTHER’S DAY
HOST A MOVIE NIGHT. Speaking of movies, Netflix developed a unique way for people to watch movies and shows together: Netflix Party. If you have a desktop or laptop with a Chrome browser, visit NetflixParty. com to download the application.
Once downloaded, open the movie or TV series you’d like to watch, create or join a “party,” then relax and enjoy the show while chatting with friends.
These are only a few examples of how we can stay in touch during these concerning times. Talk with your family and friends and see what
other creative ideas you can come up with together. Even though you may be apart from loved ones right now, virtual communication has
never been easier or more plentiful.
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THE STORY OF GRANDPA MASON How a Feral Cat Came to Care for Orphaned Kittens
When cats are orphaned as kittens, they don’t get the chance to develop all the skills needed to become successful cats. Just like human children, kittens need older role models too. The most famous cat role model had a rough start in life but became an inspiration for kittens and humans alike. His name was Grandpa Mason, and during the last years of his life, he stepped up and gave love, care, and guidance to the orphaned kittens that lived with him.
The Canadian animal rescue group TinyKittens rescued Grandpa Mason in 2016 from a property that was scheduled to be bulldozed. The poor feral tabby was suffering from many health problems, including severe dental issues, a badly injured paw, and advanced kidney disease. Since TinyKittens is a no-kill rescue organization, euthanization was out of the question. Given his health conditions, veterinarians predicted the battle-scarred Grandpa Mason didn’t have long to live, so TinyKittens’ founder, Shelly Roche, took him in and provided him with a comfortable place to sleep, plenty of food, and time to relax in the last months of his life. Grandpa Mason had a hard time adjusting to domestic life and would often shy away from being petted. In an interview with The Dodo, Roche described him as “an elderly gentleman [who] lived his whole life a certain way, and then, all of a sudden, [was] forced to live completely differently.” After Grandpa Mason grew accustomed to his home, Roche took in several foster kittens, and those new roommates completely altered Grandpa Mason’s behavior. Roche expected him to hiss, swat, or growl at the kittens when they invaded his space, but he didn’t. Instead, he allowed them to crawl all over him and appeared to enjoy it when they licked his ear. Suddenly a playful, affectionate, and gentle personality came out of Grandpa Mason as he played with, bathed, taught, and cared for the orphaned kittens that Roche welcomed into her home. Potentially due to the kittens’ influence, Grandpa Mason surpassed his prognosis by more than two years. During the last few years of his life, Grandpa Mason passed on important lessons and good manners to the kittens he looked after and adored, as a true grandfather should. He passed last September, but he spent his last night in his ultimate happy place: snuggling in his bed surrounded by kittens.
STICKY AND SWEET PORK ‘RIBS’
TAKE A BREAK
Inspired by Bon Appétit
Ingredients
Directions
1.
In a blender, purée garlic, ginger, hoisin sauce, fish sauce, honey, rice wine, chili oil, oyster sauce, and toasted sesame oil until smooth.
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2 heads garlic, cloves separated
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3 thumbs ginger, chopped
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1 cup hoisin sauce
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3/4 cup fish sauce
2.
Reserve and chill 1 1/2 cups for later use.
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2/3 cup honey
3.
In a bag, add the remaining mixture and pork shoulder. Marinate for at least 8 hours. Using a convection plate on the grill, cook pork until the thickest part reaches an internal temperature of 140–145 F. In a large saucepan, simmer brown sugar, molasses, and reserved marinade for 6–8 minutes. Baste the pork with the brown sugar glaze for 2 minutes before serving.
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2/3 cup rice wine
4.
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1/2 cup chili oil
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1/3 cup oyster sauce
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1/3 cup toasted sesame oil
5.
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5 lbs boneless pork shoulder, flattened
Solution on Page 4
6.
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3/4 cup brown sugar
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1 tbsp molasses
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1161 Wayzata Blvd. E, #210 Wayzata, MN 55391 HaleProperties.com 612-567-9530
INSIDE
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Is It Crazy to Try to Buy or Sell a Home Right Now? Has Breakfast in Bed Gone Out of Style? Technology Saves the Day The Best Grandfather a Kitten Could Have Sticky and Sweet Pork ‘Ribs’
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What Is Gardening Good For?
HEALTH BENEFITS OF FAMILY GARDENING Give Your Kid the Gift of a Green Thumb
Springtime often means nicer weather and more time spent outside, but it also means it’s gardening season. That means it’s time to roll up your sleeves and play in the dirt. If you’ve been searching for a way to get the kids away from technology and engaged with the real world, gardening is the perfect activity for the whole family to enjoy. Not only is it fun, but it’s also beneficial for your kids’ development. For example, gardening can improve your children’s analytical abilities. As Dr. Wendy Matthews says, “Gardening exercises important reasoning, initiation, planning, and organization skills.” Furthermore, several studies, including one at Texas A&M University, suggest that gardening improves a child’s attitude toward fruits and vegetables and may make them more likely to choose them as snacks. Gardening helps kids identify with where their food is coming from, and nothing tastes better than a freshly picked strawberry or pea pod they grew themselves. Jack Gilbert, a scientist at the University of Chicago and a parent himself, and his co-author, Rob Knight, emphasize the health benefits of garden time in their book, “Dirt Is Good: The Advantage of Germs for Your Child’s Developing Immune System.”The two found that exposure to different microbes, like those found in a garden, strengthens a child’s immune system and makes them less likely to develop allergies.
If this is your first time gardening, you don’t need much to get started. Grab a few shovels, a pair of gloves for each family member, and fresh potting soil, and you’ll be set. Then, you can decide together which plants you’d like to grow! Carrots are fun because of the surprise factor — just imagine your child discovering that the part they eat grows below the ground! Peas are tasty and fairly easy to grow, as are strawberries. The options really are endless. Depending on the growing season in your area, you can choose to buy seeds or opt for rooted plants.
Last but certainly not least, the best part of gardening as a family is the healthy, fresh produce you’ll get to enjoy all summer long!
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