Foreign buyers are finding it increasingly difficult to purchase U.S. real estate as mortgage interest rates increase by several percentage points and down payments rise to 50 percent for some homes. Europeans had been buying an increasing amount of U.S. real estate over the last few years as the dollar weakened. Real estate agents say that only all-cash deals are easy after the credit crunch. 11/07/2008

Seasonal trends are not enough to explain the decline in Manhattan rents and the increase in inventory seen this month, and concessions from landlords have not been enough to correct a slowing market, according to the October Manhattan rental market report from the Real Estate Group.Rents in non-doorman one- and two-bedrooms and doorman studios and one-bedrooms are down from their October 2007 levels. The doorman studio submarket has been hit particularly hard, with a 7.23 percent decline from last October.Only non-doorman studio and doorman two-bedroom rents have increased since October 2007, the report said.In Gramercy Park studios and Lower East Side one-bedrooms, rents have declined steeply, down 8.41 percent in non-doorman studios in Gramercy Park and 9.77 percent in Lower East Sid... 10/29/2008

Goa is India's smallest city in terms of area and the 4’Th smallest in terms of inhabitants. Situated on the west coast of India in the district known as the Konkan, it is surrounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its western coast. Prominent for its beaches, temples and world heritage building, Goa is visited by hundreds of thousands of international and domestic tourists each year. Goa enjoys a high standard of source of revenue. Tourism is Goa's most important industry. Goa has two most important tourist seasons: winter and summer. In the winter time, tourists from in a foreign country come to Goa to enjoy the impressive average temperature. In the summer time, tourists from across India come to fritter th... 10/16/2008

Perhaps you good folks can help me with a site, Ideas,etc to ontain buyer or seller leads.Conventional ads here in Toronto cost a fortune and the papers or magazine ads progressively get worse.This is not only due to the world financial crisis, because this has been getting progressively worse over the last few years.The reason of course is because clients these days expect instant gratification.Subsequently, the web is where 85% of them now go.Apart from the freebies like craigs List, Kijiji etc., do any of my good neighbours down there have any ideas how I can get kick started again? I would really, be most grateful if you guys have any ideas I can implement at a reasonable cost. Thanks again and  anticipate some of your brilliant suggestions.David Hemmings. 10/10/2008

.....who is a swimmer? I didn't mention it my first blog, but I would like to meet anybody who is into competitive swimming, as I am.I am Presently working like a madman 3 times a week in the gym on weights and swimming lengths 3 times a week.I hope to be well prepared in having a go at the Canadian 100 metres freestyle and backstroke records for my age group in the Masters Games.Anyone out there competing?Anyway for a Real Estate man, I'll probably talk a lot about my current abilities in other adventures and endeavours ,than my incredible ability to take care of my clients and also my consistent hunt for new ones.However if anybody wants to know about Toronto real Estate, I'm the man.Thanks to those guys who already have welcomed me to this medium that frankly, I know not much about. 10/06/2008

I believe that getting front of the financial crisis will only drag the Federal Government further into the red.  Historically the givernemnt is a reactive measure to combat private sector issues when the free market was unable to solve the problem.  I fear that this time we are only stepping out in front of a speeding train that is eventually going to wreck.  Accept this time the Federal Governemnt is a passanger instead of a on looker of the finacial tradgy.  The plan can stop the enevatible so just let it happen rather than dely it until the winter or early spring.  The constant proping up of the markets is only making the Governemnts credibility more deeply entrenched in the bad faith of this fiancial crisis.  If the federal goverement goes down due to bad priviate market choice who... 09/30/2008

  Stephen Isaiah Starr, Noah Ezekiel Starr and Kathy Passarette in Port Jefferson My two year old Stephen suffers from PDD-NOS and my six year old Noah is Autistic. I have a soft spot for organizations who are looking to educate the public on these issues and/or find special needs children a cure. I devote a lot of my recreational reading trying to understand what my boys are going through and I spend a lot of time and effort finding the little ones challenging things to do to keep their minds focused on positive tasks so they don't self stimulate themselves in negative ways (which can be a very neat trick at times). Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, and when it doesn't they can be very destructive and exhausting. I never know what I am going to get or what they are going to do ... 09/20/2008

Campaigning for President: New York and the American Election From the left: Garfield mechanical metal nose-thumber, Robert Kennedy paper dress, Al Smith pin with trademark derby. Courtesy of the Museum of Democracy.   Now through Nov 4th The Museum of the City of New York is presenting an exhibit and public program Campaigning for President: New York and the American Election. From the time that it hosted the first presidential inauguration in 1789, New York City has always played a pivotal role in national politics. Campaigning for President: New York and the American Election explores the effects of New York on the strategies of presidential electoral campaigns for over 200 years and highlights the role of New York candidates, third parties, powerbrokers, and voters in the race for ... 09/19/2008

Just learned today our office listed and pended several properties during the month of August!  Wow, this is great news.  Our team has had the phones ringing substantially more than recently much of this I believe is due to the IVR system we have implemented. This and many other marketing ideas the Burchfields have implemented have proven to be successful tools for our team at Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty in Surf City, Topsail Island NC.  The team buyer agents have written contracts even in a struggling market. The coast is still the coast and as the economy improves and the prices level off, buyers will return to the east coast.  Why, most of us truly enjoy the ocean and a day on the beach.  What better way to start a day than sitting on an oceanfront or soundfront deck with your f... 09/10/2008

New York City is asking companies to come up with clean energy ideas, including wind power to fuel NYC. The city, released a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) that will call for innovative ideas to help New York City develop sources of renewable energy.   Mayor Bloomberg speaking at an energy summit recently spoke about the possibility of placing wind turbines on top of bridges and skyscrapers – saying it would cut the city's electricity needs, save hundreds of millions of dollars, and would ultimately make the city cleaner and more efficient. He also proposed the idea of offshore wind farms, tidal power, solar power and geothermal energy. "It would be a thing of beauty if, when Lady Liberty looks out on the horizon, she not only welcomes new immigrants to our shores, but light... 09/03/2008

As a Feng Shui Consultant who is often in New York City - Manhattan - giving a Feng Shui Consultation, I often come across things I never would have seen.  For example, walking back to Penn Station from a Feng Shui Consultation in Midtown Manhattan, I came across a small park....devoted to Katharine Hepburn (more pictures in an upcoming post).  No matter how long you live here or how often you visit New York City, there are always things you miss. Katharine Hepburn Garden New York City And sometimes I think "Only in New York."  I came across this video a while ago and wanted to share it; some of you may have already seen it but for those who missed it, you too may think "Only in New York."  In any event, I STILL laugh when I see it and believe you will too. It IS true that at times, New... 09/01/2008

  NY1 reported Senator Hillary Clinton is pushing a bill that would send millions of dollars to the city for mass transit. The Saving Energy Through Public Transportation Act of 2008 would provide $1.7 billion over two years to systems across the country that show dramatic ridership increases. New York City would receive $237 million out of the pot for handling nearly one-third of the nation's transit passengers. Clinton says the funds would allow mass transit systems to lower fares and expand operations. 08/01/2008

Generic Lipitor Pharmacy - Our Customers Are Always Satisfied. We Are The Best Place To Compare Lipitor Prices And Learn More About Lipitor. Lipitor - Buy discount Lipitor Value Pharmaceuticals Online ...Buy Lipitor online (atorvastatin calcium) through international online pharmacies at lower international prices. Lipitor (Atorvastatin Calcium) drug description - FDA approved ...Buy cheap Lipitor online with free medical consultations, low prices, fast shipping and toll-free customer support online! Buy discount Lipitor online lowest price, purchase Lipitor overnight delivery, order Lipitor no prescription required, cheap us drug store offering discount   07/28/2008

Now that the economy has dictated that staying in the USA for a vacation makes economic sense, it may be worth checking out NYC for your next getaway. I am lucky, my daughter is currently living there on Wall Street.  So my wife and two sons, that live in Sacramento, went to visit her this past week. So I can report that NYC can be seen pretty good in 4 days if you skip the museums.                                                               DAY ONE:  Take a city bus tour out of Times Square uptown including Central Park. Watch out for branches and bring water in the summer heat.  Be prepared with ear  plugs  when the sirens start wailing  Tour the Empire State Building for first timers.  There is a line and it costs, but is worth the view.  That evening go to a play.  Get tickets in ... 07/22/2008

A  (Manhattan) New York Feng Shui Consultant Says Live WITHOUT Fear! As a Feng Shui Consultant on both Long Island and in New York City, I do often get contacts from those wishing a Feng Shui Consultation at a distance.  Several months ago I worked with a lovely client in California and when she sent me the photos of her home, I saw many things I would like to change from a Feng Shui Perspective. Many Feng Shui clients have complete trust in me and I am always grateful for that.  It allows me to do the best possible job I can for them.  One recent client in Downtown New York City was very reluctant to make the changes I was suggesting to her but she listened with what I had to say and we redid her room into a complete makeover.  She absolutely LOVES the way it "FEELS" now and credits me... 07/19/2008

You would think, if they were going to build new stadiums for both the Mets and Yankees they would have called in a Feng Shui consultant BEFOREHAND.  Not the case.  The New York Post decided to write a story from a Feng Shui Consultant on the two stadiums and which one would be more likely to do better. Yankee Stadium, called "The House that Ruth Built" was originally built in 1923.  It was the first three tiered sports facility in the U.S.  Interestingly enough, it's very first performer was also Billy Joel, who is now giving "The final play at Shea."  Although Yankee Stadium had undergone major renovations, it needed much more work and rather then renovate once again, they are building a new Stadium  Feng Shui consultant Judith Wendell was called in by reporter Lois Weiss and the head... 07/09/2008

Fourth in a series of articles on the Notary Profession. This article covers the Apostille, which provides a methodology for the International acceptance of Notarizations. Targeted to personal needs, as opposed to business transactions; signatory nations agreed to honor Apostille bearing instruments as if the underlying notarization occurred within their own boarders. The primary effect was to shift "Authentication" of the notarization from the receiving country's Embassy/Consulate to the sending country's State Department or other authorized body.             At The Hague "Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents", 90+ sovereign nations agreed to accept notarized documents, (and documents from numerous other officials); withou... 06/28/2008

Parapsychology.  What a fascinating subject it is.  When I first became interested in it I was at my local college, having enrolled in some psychology courses.  We had our breaks at the same time as the parapsychology class and I found THEIR discussions much more interesting then OURS.  The next year I enrolled and took two years of it. The Rhine Research Institute used to have a place right here in New York City and I found it to be amazing using the strict controls and standards to measure such things as Telepathy, ESP, Psychic Ability, Remote Viewing (which was then called out of body experiences and near death experiences).  And they found accuracy in many people. Parapsychologists are sometimes called for what is believed to be a "haunted" house and they measure things such as elec... 06/25/2008

As a Feng Shui Consultant in New York City and Long Island, I am often called to homes, apartments and businesses when someone is moving in or just prior.  This is the ideal time to go as I can help them with furniture placement, colors, and one of the most important things of all, erasing Predecessor Energy from a space so they can start off fresh.   Previous occupants can leave behind their own IMPRINT of their energies; some are sad, angry....or there has been a foreclosure.  Even when you purchase from  those that leave under good circumstances such as "moving up" in the world, you want to infuse your new space with YOUR energy.  This is why we consider SPACE CLEARING and BLESSINGS so important. Some of my calls are from clients who just don't feel comfortable in their own homes.  T... 06/24/2008

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 1, 2008 AT 11:00AM-1:00PM RJP INSURANCE GROUP WILL BE HOSTING A 2 HOURNOTARY PUBLIC CLASS.THIS CLASS WILL PREPARE YOU TO TAKEAND PASS THE NYS NOTARY EXAM,WHICH WE WILL SCHEDULE FORYOU.The class will cover:-Legal terms/definitions/affidavits/depositions/penallaw/real property law/wills......and so much more!!!LOCATION: 300 W.43RD STREET BET.8TH AND 9TH AVE,5THFLOORFEE: $25.00 (COVERS ALL MATERIAL)HOSTED BY: RJP INSURANCE GROUP - (212)591-1292(CLASS IS A WALK IN,PLEASE ARRIVE PROMPTLY) ***********1 DAY ONLY IN NYC***************** 06/23/2008