31 Days of December Challenge: Day 15-17 by Brooklyn New York Feng Shui consultant Day 15 Follow up with potential client to Feng Shui a Brooklyn Based Business before the New Year of 2011. Day 16 Attended a Ceremony to Support fellow students of Kung Fu class moving up in ranks and to give thanks to Crayton's Looang Foo Pai Kung Fu Tai Chi Academy for providing the Lion Dancers for the Viana Hotel and Spa Grand opening in Westbury NY.  I will be writing a Localism Post about the Academy :) Day 17 Sent out Holiday Cards to family, friends and clients..Season Greetings to all and a Happy New Year :) 31 Days of December Challenge. Days: 1-7 31 Days of December Challenge  Days: 8-12 31 Days of December Challenge Days: 13-14 Feng Shui Long Island *Carole Provenzale has been a Certified Feng... 12/20/2010

Bay Ridge Brooklyn Home for Sale This Victorian Bay Ridge Brooklyn home for sale is located in a prime Bay Ridge neighborhood – beautiful and spacious, this is a true dream home just waiting for you!    Neat landscaping frames this lovely Brooklyn home for sale in Bay Ridge, which features a convenient two-car garage. We love telling you about homes like this, with unexpected bonuses like space for four parked cars!    This Bay Ridge Brooklyn home for sale 's eat-in kitchen is just unbelievable. Oak cabinets, two sinks and modern appliances – you won’t want to leave this warm and homey space!     The living room/dining room combined space features a spectacular gas fireplace and a bank of windows pouring natural light into the open space. I love listing this house for both its practical... 12/13/2010

Should you buy a Brooklyn home for sale? Maybe yes, maybe no. People don’t live in cookie cutter situations; everyone has a unique set of circumstances. For that matter, you may not even need a house. Maybe an apartment is a better fit.   Here are four factors to consider before deciding whether to buy or rent:   1.      Maintenance:  One factor you might use to decide whether or not you want to buy a Brooklyn home for sale is maintenance. As a homeowner, you’re responsible for the roof when it leaks and the plumbing when it’s clogged. As a renter, you have a landlord who takes care of all that.   2.      Frequency of relocation:  Another factor to consider is how long you plan to be in the area. For example, if you plan to move in less than five years and don’t fancy renting out the h... 11/14/2010

Please put away those Stereotypes by New York City Feng Shui consultant Exploring Brooklyn New York Recently I have been receiving many Feng Shui consulting jobs in Brooklyn NY and consult requests to help new business owners jump start their basic marketing techniques on the Internet.  Before really exploring other sections of Brooklyn, I had only been to Coney Island NY with my mother and what a ball we always had :) Now, I am having the pleasure of venturing into the heart of Brooklyn NY (DownTown Brooklyn NY) to really experience the flavors, people, cultures and my favorite...that arts.  Unfortunately, those un-familiar with Brooklyn New York express feelings that it is "not the best of places" to travel in. What?! My response when I hear that, Brooklyn is one of the best places to... 11/08/2010

Living in Brooklyn Heights "America's First Suburb", Brooklyn Heights, stretches from the Brooklyn Bridge's nearby Old Fulton Street to the East River. It's directly across the East River from New York City, with public transportation plentiful enough to make trips into Manhattan from Brooklyn Heights a snap. Gorgeous architecture is a highlight of this picturesque and historic neighborhood. Large composed of picturesque rowhouses, Brooklyn Heights features a great range of architectural styles and was the first neighborhood protected by the 1965 Landmarks Preservation Law of New York City. The Promenade is a favorite spot amongst locals, displaying stunning views of the Statue of Liberty, the Manhattan Skyline and the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridge. It also features an unobstructed view... 10/29/2010

Buying a new home takes a lot of preparation. Without knowing what you are walking in to, you are bound to run into road blocks. A good Brooklyn real estate agent can help you understand the intricacies involved in purchasing your new home. Some of the most common problems that buyers run into are avoidable. Buying the Best is Nice… but If you’re looking at the most expensive house in the neighborhood, in the city or in the state, you’re asking for problems.  The chance that it will go down in value, be difficult to make payments on if anything changes in your lifestyle, or be hard to sell in the event of a foreclosure is high, which makes it tough to get a mortgage. If you must have the most expensive home, pay the most you can as a down payment.  That will lower the risk and make it ... 10/29/2010

Does anyone know the best way to get a copy of a birth certificate? I have a family member, my sister, who is in a situation where she needs to submit a copy of her birth certificate. Unfortunately, she does not have a copy herself.  She lives here in Southern California. She was born in Brooklyn, New York. I was going to start online, I suppose, to try and help her find where she can get a copy. I just thought I'd put it out there for any of you who can offer any help, or have maybe had to acquire one yourself. If so, that would be great if you could share the source of where you were able to get some legitimate assistance. Any suggestions would help. Thanks! Los Angeles Homes For Sale Los Angeles Condos For Sale Los Angeles Townhomes For Sale     10/26/2010

Motivational Monday:In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity by Long Island New York Feng Shui consultant   In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity. Albert Einstein During these times, life is a bit more challenging. We are all playing the same game but, are dealt different cards.  You could simply say, "I fold", and just give up or say, game on! :)   Right now is an opportunity to re-invent yourself.  At least that is how I see it. You can do anything you want, of course with good morals, hard work, and determination.  Enjoy and have fun and remember, its just a game ;) Feng Shui Long Island *Carole Provenzale has been a Certified Feng Shui Consultant since graduating from the Country's very first School for Feng Shui Studies that was licensed and accredited in 1997. Carole pr... 10/25/2010

The temperature is starting to drop, leaves are beginning to fall and autumn is getting closer. For those with Brooklyn homes for sale, this is a good time to make sure all your t’s are crossed and i’s are dotted. Why?  Fall brings nostalgia for most people across the United States. Between Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Year’s Eve, the last part of the year brings the most family-oriented, warm thoughts. It brings memories of days gone by when families met over turkey or ham around a table, young cousins played together in the yard and, in general, everyone had a wonderful time. In other words, it brings thoughts of home.  Often, these thoughts cause a yearning in potential buyers to own one of the Brooklyn homes for sale. Renters often become homeowners ... 10/24/2010

Thrill the World Micheal Jackson Dance by Feng Shui New York City consultant Coney Island before Thrill the World Dance 2010 NYC, Brooklyn Ladies and Gentleman! It is that time again, weather you are a Micheal Jackson Fan or not, you can not deny the unification his spirit promoted when he was alive and the lasting positive impact he has had on the world.  Last year, in a synchronized fashion, people from all different countries participated in the "Thriller dance" as tribute to the "King of Pop."  This year Feng Shui New York City Consultant Laura Cerrano of "Feng Shui Long Island NY" had the great opportunity to be part of the Guinness World Record for "Thrill the World 2010 NYC".  Last year in New York, the Thriller dance took place in Astoria Park, NY.  Yesterday, October 23, 2010, ... 10/24/2010

It’s a war out there. If you’re still sitting in your robe and slippers, sipping a cup o’ joe while you casually read the Sunday comics – with the absolute knowledge that your house is going to sell – you haven’t been paying attention. The percentage of Brooklyn homes for sale versus qualified potential buyers has made this an extreme buyer’s market. It’s time for some tough love, sellers – some straight talk. If you’re not ready to do more than spruce up your lawn a little, you won’t win the battle. You won’t even win a skirmish. In short, if you’re not doing everything you can (or pushing your agent about him doing everything he can) to get your home taken off the list of Brooklyn homes for sale, you’re not a motivated seller. Motivated sellers use all the knowledge they can squeeze ... 10/11/2010

Converse is opening a community-based recording studio in Brooklyn named "Rubber Tracks." The sneaker company hopes their Williamsburg venture "will serve as a catalyst for originality by giving new and emerging bands the opportunity to record their songs in a high-quality studio setting. Musicians of all genres will be able to apply in advance for a time to use the studio – for free. As in no cost." I am sooooooo down for signing up for that party. Read the full skinny here: http://play.converse.com/play/blog/?p=2809 Since I am not the only real estate professional on this platform who can sing and play you guys need to think about expanding your creative content holdings. We can do an ActiveRain Rocks tour. Just sayin'... ;-) 10/07/2010

Exploring Brooklyn NY with Feng Shui New York Long Island Consultant Welcome to Brooklyn New York! Some say Brooklyn NY is becoming the new New York City.  Exploring this location you can really see the resemblance.  Brooklyn has wonderful local stores, Art museums, restaurants and parks, and even sports teams to offer their NY residents and visitors. Brooklyn New York Down Town statues in lower Brooklyn New York   on the right of the photo is the Brooklyn New York Library Brooklyn Public Library in New York New York City has Central Park, Brooklyn NY has Prospect Park. If you love taking a stroll and jugging on a path or do a little "off road," prospect park is a great place to get your daily run in. If you choose to keep your exploring to the streets, be sure to keep an eye out for th... 10/05/2010

Fifty-five million Americans live in developments overseen by Homeowners’ Associations.  HOAs can sometimes strike fear in the hearts of Brooklyn homeowners, especially owners who have violated the rules and regulations established by the HOAs. Although you may not purposely violate an HOA policy, at some point, you may find yourself in that situation. Here are some tips on how to resolve a conflict with your Brooklyn Homeowners’ Association. ·        Start right away.  Conflict rarely gets better with time.  Resolution is most easily achieved early on.  As soon as you’re aware there’s a problem, contact your HOA. ·        Be polite. A little politeness goes a long way. Refrain from using foul language or insulting the HOA members. State your case clearly and ask for their help. Let th... 10/02/2010

Article From BuyAndSell.HouseLogic.com By: Terry Sheridan Published: June 02, 2010 Know the basics of FHA loan rules and you stand a better chance of selling your house or condo. Make your house FHA-friendly, and it will appeal to more homebuyers. Why? Because the Federal Housing Administration is insuring the mortgage loans used by about 30% of today's homebuyers. If your house passes the FHA rules, it will appeal to buyers who plan to use an FHA-insured mortgage. If your house doesn't qualify for an FHA loan, you're cutting out 30% of potential buyers. FHA is especially important to first-time homebuyers and those with small downpayments because it allows borrowers with good credit to make a downpayment as low as 3.5% of the purchase price. Here's how to make your home appealing to F... 09/28/2010

Name that Photo: Bonsai Tree in Brooklyn NY by New York Feng Shui consultant So what is it??!! FUDO in the Brooklyn Botanical Garden NY Please meet FUDO the Bonsai tree. This Bonsai had many centuries of life behind it. It was removed from its mountain home above the Itokawa river by an old man, Tahei, in 1858.  It eventually became part of the famous collection of the world-ronowed Bonsaiman. Mr. Kyuzo Murata, in Omiya, Japan.  Sadly, the tree died in 1971, some months after arriving from Japan. The estimated age of FUDO, 800 years old! When you visit the Brooklyn Botanic Garden make sure to stop on in and visit FUDO and all the other Bonsai trees :) Zen Bonsai Tree Garden, set up like works of Art on Pedestal in Brooklyn New York NY Bonsai Tree New York Botanical Garden Directions in ... 09/21/2010

If you’re looking for a Brooklyn home for sale and you’ve never bought a home before, you might think, “This won’t take much time.” Typically, just the opposite is true.   Buying a home frequently takes quite a bit of time.   Of course, the whole home buying process will go much faster (and smoother) if you do things the right way. If you’re a first time buyer looking for a Brooklyn home for sale, take some lessons from the pros. The following tips will help make the buying process fly:   Weigh the Benefits - Before you actually go house hunting, weigh the pros and cons of buying a home. Can you really afford it? Is it a good idea, or are you caving under pressure from family, friends, your doctor and the next-door neighbor?   Make sure that you’ve actually considered the alternatives a... 09/18/2010

Trying to sell your  real estate in a slow market can be frustrating. You may find that it takes longer to sell and you can’t get as much money as you could during a booming market. However, you can’t believe all the hype about a sluggish real estate market. Do your research and separate the facts from the fiction. Here are 3 myths and the facts behind the fiction: You won’t get a decent price. Your  real estate will sell for whatever a buyer is willing to pay. A comparative market analysis shows you what other buyers spent on property like yours. Of course, if you bought your home when values were up, you may not get the return on your investment you’d hoped for. However, most sellers get a fair price and even make a profit in a slow market. Your  real estate will stay on the market to... 09/13/2010

  You can do many simple repairs around your home to save money. Whether you are making repairs around your Brooklyn real estate to prepare it for sale or repairing items after buying a home, having the right tools for the job makes everything much easier. Here are my top 10 must have tools to complete most Brooklyn real estate repairs: 1.Cordless drill. A cordless drill gives you a quick way to put screws in walls, put together furniture or to remove screws effortlessly. 2.Hammer. You should have a medium weight hammer on hand for tapping pieces into place, installing nails or even removing wall sections or nails you no longer need. 3.Level. If you want to hang anything evenly, you need a level. Use a level to measure holes for hanging cabinets, towel bars and pictures. 4.Pencils. You ... 09/03/2010

The Median Sales Price of Brooklyn Homes for the three month period of May - July 2010 was $525,000. This represents an increase of 1.4% over the same period in 2009. The total sales volume was 1,612 in 2010 which represents a 33% increase over the same period in 2009, and the average price per square foot was $334 in 2010 an increase of 13.2% over 2009.  Based on This data it appears that the Brooklyn Real Estate Market is beginning to see signs of a turn around. If you were waiting for the bottom of the market then you may want to consider purchasing soon. If this trend continues many buyers may miss out on an opportunity to take advantage of historically low interest rates and lower home values. 09/03/2010