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April 2023
REALESTATEPLANNINGLAW.COM 718-698-2200
WE KEEP YOU ON THE RIGHT PATH
IN A MANOR OF SPEAKING
From Fighting Fires to Helping Buyers Len Reina Is a New Kind of Real Estate Agent
drinking champagne between closings. But the truth is that the life of an agent isn’t as easy as you might think. I’m constantly on the phone following up with attorneys, like my friends at Merlino & Gonzalez. I check on our transactions, find out if they need anything from me for the inspections and appraisals, and always work with them on next steps. Whether I’m representing a buyer or seller, my hands are always in the pot, making sure everything goes as smoothly as possible. I’ve been working in real estate from 8 a.m.–9 p.m. seven days a week for five years now — and even with the 24/7 emails, I’ve loved every minute of it. I got into this business after retiring as a New York City firefighter, which is probably where my round- the-clock work ethic comes from. I’ve also worked as a senior loan officer on Bank of New York Co.’s mortgage side, and I doubled as a landscape contractor when I wasn’t fighting fires. Now, I’m a co-leader of eXp Realty’s Lock & Key Team. My background gave me a lot of knowledge that I pass on to my homebuyers and homesellers today. I know what you should (and shouldn’t) do before listing your home, which features you should look for in a new property, and when it’s smart to put in a bid. I can even wave the red flag when something seems too good to be true. Recently, I got some insider information when I moved my family from New York to New Jersey. I think that to be a truly experienced agent
This month, I have the pleasure of introducing you to Len Reina — one of the best real estate agents in New York and New Jersey. Len specializes in residential mixed-use real estate but has done some commercial work too. Whenever our team partners with Len to help a homebuyer or seller, he is optimistic, communicative, and efficient. I hope you’ll enjoy hearing from him as much as we do.
Last week, I swore to my wife that I’d take a personal day off from work — but then I woke up to a pile of emails and text messages. I didn’t want to ignore my clients or the other agents on the Lock & Key Team at eXp Realty, so I answered one email … and then another … and then another. Four hours later, I said, “That’s it, I’m taking the afternoon off!” But the next notification hooked me in again. My following promise — that I’d stop touching my phone after 6 — also went out the window. At the end of the night, Dawn shook her head, smiling at me.
you need to go through the buying and selling process to find out what it’s like from the inside. Negotiating my own transaction for the first time in 24 years was a positive learning experience! It was also a big step for our family, and now Dawn and I get to spend even more time with our baby granddaughter, Johanna. I’ve worked with Merlino & Gonzalez for a long time now, and if you or someone you know is buying or selling in New York or New Jersey, I’d love to work with you too! Give me a call at 1-917-662-0679. I’ll fight for your family to the very last dollar — 24/7 if that’s what it takes. –Len Reina “Love it or Lenny it!”
“I told you that you couldn’t do it, Len,” she said. “You never take a personal day!”
I think most people picture real estate agents as living high on the hog, sleeping on silk sheets, and
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Saying Goodbye to ‘Forgotten’ Chores
Every parent knows the struggle: You try to assign chores to yourself, your spouse, and your children, but somehow at least one falls through the cracks. Maybe your son “forgets” to vacuum, or your daughter “thought it was her brother’s turn” to do the dishes. If you’re sick of the excuses, don’t worry — we have a solution. A chore chart will solve your tidy home problem. What is a chore chart? A chore chart is a supersize spreadsheet that maps out all of your household’s necessary chores as well as who is responsible BY USING A CHORE CHART
them reap the benefits chores provide. According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, your children will gain higher self-esteem, become more responsible, and display increased resilience when facing challenges. How can you make one? You’ll need a whiteboard and a few markers to create a basic chore chart. On the left side of the board, write a list of your family members’ names and their daily chores (for example: “Sarah, set the table”) from top to bottom. Across the top of the chart, write the days of the week from left to right. Then, draw horizontal lines between the chores and vertical lines between the days to create a grid. That’s it!
for completing them. It’s a powerful tool to help you divide labor among family members. You can even place the chart in your kitchen or living room to keep your whole family on track. How will it help your family? First, your family won’t need to waste time arguing over whose turn it is to do which chores. Second, thanks to the prominent reminder, everyone will be more likely to do their tasks on time. Third, with all the duties clearly outlined, you can ensure that the distribution of labor is fair for everyone. Finally, you’ll teach your kids task management and help
Throughout the week, your family can make check marks in the boxes corresponding to the chores they’ve finished. You can also use magnets to mark completed tasks if you have a magnetic board. To inject a little fun into your chart, use different colors for each family member and decorate it with meaningful drawings and quotes. You can create similar charts for weekly or monthly chores, too!
Share the Facts With Your Whole Family! 5 DOCUMENTARIES TO WATCH ON EARTH DAY
‘ Extinction: The Facts’ — This hard-hitting documentary from famous nature historian David Attenborough is perfect for kids
Earth Day is coming up on Saturday, April 22. But do your kids know why we commemorate the holiday? Do you? If you don’t know much about the history of environmentalism — or just want to learn more about the state of our planet — consider celebrating Earth Day by watching a documentary as a family. Dozens of fantastic films cover everything from the crusade to preserve our coral reefs to how farmers use soil health to enhance the planet. Here are a few of our favorites. ‘Kids Take Action Against Ocean Plastic’ — This short five-minute documentary from National Geographic follows a group of Hawaiian students determined to clean up their local beaches. It’s available for free on National Geographic’s YouTube channel! (If you watch it and love this documentary, check out the PG-rated flick “Plastic Island” on Netflix, which tackles the same issue in Indonesia.) ‘Brave Blue World: Racing to Solve Our Water Crisis’ — This PG-rated documentary about water security takes place on five continents and stars celebrities Liam Neeson, Matt Damon, and Jaden Smith. Check it out on Netflix.
ages 16 and up. It tackles serious topics like species loss, food and water shortages, and the relationship between climate change and pandemic diseases. “Extinction: The Facts” is available on PBS.org or Prime Video. ‘Kiss the Ground’ — Join actor Woody Harrelson on Netflix for an inspiring look at soil, why it matters, and what farmers and activists are doing to save and enhance it — and our food supply. The documentary is family-friendly and rated G. None of these documentaries existed in 1970 when anti-pollution activists came together to create Earth Day, build the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and pass laws to protect our air and water. But they’re a wonderful extension of that spirit! Hopefully, you’ll be able to find time to watch at least one of them this month. After watching, consider taking action and volunteering for a green project near you.
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RETIREMENT PLANNING 101 Where to Start and How to Plan
you probably won’t need to pay into your kids’ college fund or buy them clothes after 65 — but you likely will need to spend more on medical bills. 3. Set savings goals. Add up the money you expect to spend each month to reach an estimated cost for your entire retirement. (Keep in mind that in the U.S., men can expect to live to the age of 73 and women usually live to be 79 years old.) Your final number might look intimidating, but don’t sweat it. If you start planning today and use smart strategies, you can make it happen! 4. Choose a retirement plan and save, save, save. Don’t keep your retirement savings in a basic savings account. Instead, look into retirement funds like Workplace 401(k)s, IRAs, Roth IRAs, SEP IRAs, Traditional IRAs, and Solo 401(k)s.
It’s a cliche, but it’s true: It’s never too early to start thinking about retirement. Whether you’re a young parent in your 20s or a 60-year-old working part time, your last day on the job is closer than you think. That should be good news because nobody wants to work forever. So, how do you get ready for that final shift? We call the process of preparing for your golden years retirement planning, and you can break it down into five simple steps. 1. Decide on a target retirement date. Realistically, when would you like to retire? Once you have a date in mind, you can budget for the following years. 2. Calculate the money you’ll need to live comfortably. Take inventory of your current monthly expenses, then adjust them for your golden years. For example,
5. Invest in estate planning. It’s tough to think about, but you should also plan for the date when you pass away. What will happen to your home, bank accounts, and other assets? To ensure your family carries out your wishes, you should prepare a will and/or create a trust and establish a guardianship for your minor children. We highly recommend consulting a professional retirement planner and/or financial advisor to help you with steps 1–4. When you get to step 5, call us! We’re experts in elder law and estate planning, and we will take care of your heirs so you can retire with peace of mind.
SUDOKU
EASY FRUIT DIP MICHELE’S RECIPE CORNER
Inspired by InspiredByCharm.com
Spring is here, which means it’s time to enjoy fresh fruits and refreshing treats! This recipe has only four ingredients and can be made in under five minutes, so it’s great to bring to parties or make before a quick get-together. We recommend serving it with strawberries or cut-up pineapple, mango, and honeydew.
INGREDIENTS
• Splash of maraschino cherry juice • Fresh-cut fruit of your choice
• 1 7-oz jar marshmallow fluff • 1 8-oz package of cream cheese, softened • 1 cup vanilla yogurt
DIRECTIONS
1. In a bowl, place all the ingredients except fruit and blend with a hand mixer until smooth. 2. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1–2 hours before serving. 3. Serve with fresh-cut fruit. Dip and enjoy!
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718-698-2200 | realestateplanninglaw.com WE KEEP YOU ON THE RIGHT PATH
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Need a Realtor? We Know a Guy! Page 1
Make a Successful Chore Chart
Earth Day Documentaries to Watch Page 2
A Quick Guide to Retirement Planning
Easy Fruit Dip Page 3
Top 3 Extended Stay Destinations Page 4
The pandemic slowed us down. Over the past few years, we collectively took fewer vacations, boarded fewer cruise ships, and avoided airports. However, many studies show that now, more than ever, Americans are taking longer vacations! Why might this be, and what are some of the greatest destinations for an extended stay? According to Amex Travel’s 2022 Global Travel Trend Report, 55% of vacationers are interested in taking longer trips because they can work remotely. The trend of swapping homes is also on the rise. HomeExchange’s website reports that home exchanges of two weeks or Top 3 Vacation Destinations for a Longer Stay ALL ABOARD THE EXTENDED VACATION TREND
more increased by 13% in January-May last year. According to Travel Pulse, 26% of people opt to take a trip that exceeds 10 days.
If you are interested in taking a more extended vacation, whether it’s because your job went remote, you lost out on travel time in 2020-2022, or you saved on gas money while working from home, here are some great destinations that support a longer stay. Visit the national parks. There is no better way to connect with nature than to tour the national parks. Several epic national park road trips could allow you to pack in a dozen or more of these natural gems in just a couple of weeks! Many national parks also accommodate RVs for comfort and convenience. Drive the California coast. A trip up and down the California coast never disappoints. With so many great places to stop and breathtaking views to absorb, you’ll need at least two weeks to experience them properly. You’ll want to explore the Redwood National Forest, the Lost Coast, Pebble Beach, Monterey Bay, Half Moon Bay, Big Sur, Venice Beach, and many more! Hop aboard a cruise. A cruise is one of the best ways to see many destinations in one trip. You could visit several countries in just two weeks, stopping in different ports to explore! On a cruise, you could see the Caribbean one day and wake up somewhere completely different the next day with a new adventure ahead!
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