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REALESTATEPLANNINGLAW.COM 718-698-2200 December 2023
WE KEEP YOU ON THE RIGHT PATH
IN A MANOR OF SPEAKING
A LABOR OF LOVE The Journey to a New Home for Our Parents
I’m so grateful Oluwaseun and his wife Adejoke were referred to me to help them close on their new home. The story they shared and the positivity they brought were too incredible not to share here with you. I wanted to let Oluwaseun tell his story about why he bought the house next door and how it will nurture his family for the years to come.
–John R. Merlino Jr., Esq.
The moment we heard that the property right next door to our home was for sale, my wife and I knew what we wanted to do. Both of our parents deserve to be as comfortable as they can as they get older as well as be close to their family. So, we decided to purchase the home so our parents could be near us and we could support them however they needed. There was one problem, though: The house was practically ancient. Built in 1901, the property was in dire need of reconstruction, but we knew this was the perfect location for our parents, so we purchased the home and tore it down to build a new, more comfortable home. Currently, the property is just an empty lot, and we’re working with a contractor to help us make this dream a reality. Our plan is to construct a three story home that is safe for seniors, including the showers and stairs. Aging isn’t easy, and we want a house that can make it as comfortable as possible for them. Adejoke and I also want to ensure they all have their personal spaces where they can relax and rest. Honestly, we didn’t realize how involved this project would be, but I’m glad we did it (and there’s no going back now). The entire project is a complete secret! We want to wait until the home is completely move-in ready to surprise them. Our son, who’s 19 years old, will be living with them to support them and give him a taste of living away from his parents. Of course, my other boys, who are 10 and 12, can’t wait another day for their grandparents to move in next door. We are all doing our best to contain our excitement and keep this surprise hidden until the time comes.
We owe this whole new journey to John, who came to the rescue when we needed to close the deal on our new home. We had spoken to a different lawyer previously but were referred to Merlino & Gonzalez since John was part of our transaction in the past. I was glad we decided to because John was wholly transparent and straightforward when it came to what we needed to do. Clearly, not all of the steps involved are as intuitive for the rest of us, but John brought a complete sense of honesty that we didn’t expect! He’s even refused payment until he’s sealed the purchase of the home that’s been demolished. John has helped us with more than just purchasing our parents’ new home. He has also helped us start our will and plan for the future. John and his team have brought us closer to our dream of keeping our family together, and we couldn’t be more grateful. Now, we can focus on creating a home that will last generations.
-Oluwaseun Cole
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Don’t Let Your Teen Get Scammed: A Guide to Safe Concert Ticket Purchases
• Always buy tickets from official websites and double-check that the URL is correct. Some scammers create look-alike sites to fool buyers. • If buying tickets from a resale site, ensure they are part of the National Association of Ticket Brokers (NATB), which confirms they are legitimate. • Never purchase tickets through an individual on social media or Craigslist. • If buying from a person, only do so from someone you know, like a friend, coworker, or relative.
Is your teen ecstatic to purchase concert tickets for the first time? While they may be ready to hand over their savings to get front-row seats to Olivia Rodrigo or Ariana Grande, they should be well- informed on how to safely purchase tickets. With digital tickets now being the primary format for stadium events, selling counterfeit tickets is easier than ever. According to the Better Business Bureau, reports of ticket scams have spiked from 13,168 to 16,762 from 2020 to 2022 alone. With top-selling music artists going on tour recently, including Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, scammers have taken advantage of younger, inexperienced ticket buyers. These online swindlers use social media like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram to offer ticket deals that are too good to be true. Safety Tips Every Buyer Needs to Follow While you may know the tried-and-true signs of an illegitimate listing or scammer, your teen may not. Meanwhile, even the most seasoned concertgoers receive impressively realistic (yet fake) tickets and show up at the venue just to be turned away. For everyone to stay safe, there are some essential rules you should follow when purchasing tickets online:
• Don’t buy tickets with peer-to-peer payment services such as Zelle, Venmo, or CashApp. If the purchase is a scam, these platforms don’t have buyer protection like credit cards. • Make sure the section and seat number really exist at the venue.
If you and your teen follow these tips, you can ensure that they are safely spending their money and will actually see the show of their dreams!
storage space. But the truth is that you can do much better than a waist- high door leading nowhere.
If your home has indoor stairs, what do you have underneath them? Is there a tiny door that opens to reveal an even tinier (and usually useless) space? Or is it just a flat wall with pictures, a mirror, or other decorations hanging on it?
So, if your home has indoor stairs with an awkward space underneath, here are some creative ideas to help maximize the space’s potential.
No 1: Install Cabinets Most walls on the sides of staircases hide completely hollow spaces behind them. By putting a few cabinets or shelves in that space, you can exponentially increase your home’s storage without increasing its size. No. 2: Playspace Galore This is where that tiny door and tiny space can come in handy — because kids are tiny, too! To create a child-size playroom, add a child’s cushioned chair, lamp, toys, a rug, and even some books. No 3: A Wine ‘Cellar’ Wine lovers everywhere dream of one day having a space dedicated to their beloved reds and whites, but finding room in their home to build it may prove impossible. But not if you have stairs! You can fill that awkward under-the-stairs space with wine cabinets and finish with glass doors. No 4: A Room for Your Dog While your dog may share your space with you, they probably don’t have a room they can call their own. Fill your area under the stairs with a fluffy dog bed, a water bowl, mood lighting, and a few toys, and your dog will be living large.
If you answered yes to either, we’re here to unveil a wealth of untapped storage space
From Neglected Nook to Functional Space Reimagine Your Under-Stair Storage
underneath your stairs. Typically, indoor stairs that aren’t concrete are completely hollow underneath, which is why some homes have
those tiny doors and spaces — a token effort to provide
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Is a Loan Modification Your Best Option? How an Attorney Can Help You Manage Your Mortgage
• Selling the home to pay off the lender • Declaring bankruptcy
your loan either by reducing minimum payments or decreasing your interest rate. These loan changes could help you keep your home and allow your lender to avoid the costs associated with foreclosing. However, a lender is not required to modify mortgage loans if they don’t want to. They may offer some adjustments, but perhaps some terms and conditions are not in your best interest. The best way to navigate these obstacles is with the guidance of an experienced attorney. How can a lawyer help? With an attorney, your lender may feel more obligated to review your requests, especially if your lawyer details all the costs that could affect your lender. Your lawyer can also help you determine alternative options that may be more suitable for your scenario, such as:
Most people can’t purchase a home at the full listing price, and mortgages have allowed hopeful homebuyers to become owners through monthly payments. While mortgages can be a constructive solution for countless buyers, there is plenty on the line if you cannot make these payments back to your lender. In the unfortunate event that you can’t make your payments, the lender has the right to foreclose, take the property back, and evict you from your home. However, no lender will want to do this to you, as they will end up losing money if they have to foreclose the property. Instead, if you’re struggling to pay your mortgage, you can ask for mortgage loan modifications. What are mortgage loan modifications? If a lender agrees to mortgage loan modifications, then they are willing to adjust
• Defaulting on the mortgage • Refinancing the mortgage • Taking out an additional loan
Yet, if a mortgage loan modification is your best choice, your attorney can negotiate with your lender to bring you the best adjustments possible. Just as your lender doesn’t have to offer loan modifications, you don’t have to accept their first proposal. With legal guidance, you’ll know for certain if a loan modification is right for you. If you need assistance reviewing your mortgage, contact our team at 718-698-2200. We’ll help you find the best financing options that allow you to keep your home and your money.
SUDOKU
MICHELE’S RECIPE CORNER
SKILLET CHICKEN POT PIE Inspired by TheModernProper.com
• 1/2 cup butter • 1 cup chopped onion • 1 cup sliced celery • 2 cups sliced carrots • 1/2 cup flour • 1 tsp salt • 1/2 tsp pepper • 1/2 tsp celery seed INGREDIENTS
• 1 tsp garlic powder • 1 cup milk • 2 cups chicken stock • 2 cups peas • 4 cups cooked chicken • 1 package frozen puff pastry, thawed • 1 egg
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 425 F. 2. In 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat, melt butter, then add onion, celery, and carrots. Sauté for 5 minutes. 3. Add flour, salt, pepper, celery seed, and garlic powder to pan and stir. Sauté for 2 minutes. Slowly incorporate milk. 4. Add stock and bring to a simmer, whisking until mixture thickens. Add peas and chicken. 5. Roll out pastry sheet into 16-inch square on floured surface. Cut into 3-inch squares and place overlapping onto chicken mixture. 6. In a small bowl, whisk egg with 1 tbsp water. Brush egg over pastry and place in oven for 25 minutes or until golden and bubbling.
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394 Manor Road Staten Island, NY 10314
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718-698-2200 | realestateplanninglaw.com WE KEEP YOU ON THE RIGHT PATH
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
The Heartwarming Story of a Secret Home Project Page 1 A Guide to Keeping Your Teen’s Concert Experience Scam-Free
Transform the Space Below Your Stairs Page 2
Are You Having Mortgage Payment Problems?
Skillet Chicken Pot Pie Page 3
Your Staten Island Winter Guide! Page 4
Get Ready for Staten Island’s Best Winter Activities Holiday Experiences for Everyone
Experience Winter WonderLights Nov. 24–Dec. 31, 2023 WinterWonderlightShows.com Admission: $30 From 5–10 p.m., you can drive through a half-mile path filled with over 1.5 million Christmas lights animated to classic holiday songs. Head to the Middlesex County Fairgrounds to witness their 30-foot-tall Christmas tree, four dazzlingly lit tunnels, and a spectacular tribute to our first responders and U.S. armed forces. If you visited Winter WonderLights last year, you’ll be happy to know that the family-owned business adds new displays every year! Drive through the colorful array of lights with your family, bundled up and with some hot cocoa in hand.
down the best place to do it, with plenty of tubes available and even a lift that takes you back up the hill. Be sure to buy your tickets online beforehand, as they’re only available on their website! Get Cozy in an Igloo Thursdays–Sundays in December EggersIceCream.com/igloo-experience Reservation Fee: $35 + $19/person That’s right. An igloo! Well, not a real ice igloo, but a clear, cozy dome for you to relax in. At Egger’s Winter Wonderland at Snug Harbor, you can reserve your own igloo where you and your loved ones can sip on hot cocoa, enjoy ice cream, snack on more treats, and even write letters to Santa himself. Egger’s igloos are a unique way to appreciate the winter surroundings without the bite of the freezing cold!
The most wonderful time of the year has finally arrived, and Staten Island has no shortage of holiday fun! Whether you’re searching for adrenaline-filled snow adventures or a relaxing evening wrapped in your thickest scarf, there’s something for everyone.
Snow Tube at Mountain Creek Dependent on weather MountainCreek.com Admission: $30
There’s nothing more exhilarating and perfect for the season than sliding down a snowy hill at full speed! Mountain Creek Resort offers five acres of snow tubing adventure where everyone at least 42 inches tall and 5 years old is welcome to partake in the winter fun. Snow tubing is one of the best ways to spend an icy day this December, and Mountain Creek Resort is hands
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