“It hard to fly like an eagle when you surrounded by turkeys” anonymous quote

Baby boomers …. Chin up! Do you remember seeing that quote in a bumper sticker? I do, I ran across it a few times. In today’s economy it is easy to be surrounded by negative comments and people that just want to dwell in the toxic side of things. I say “Enough.” Well meaning family and friends can be among the offenders. I hear it all the time. I realize that I cannot avoid the subjects of money, real estate, and the economy.

So how do I cope? Well, I’m glad you ask! I choose to look for the opportunities not lost. I choose to work for the benefit of self and others. I choose to stay positive. I surround myself with talent, I embrace change, and I look for the opportunities that are present today. I have to, because one of those opportunities may make a difference tomorrow in our lives. If I dwell on negative, how will I know when to act? I also realize that our generation is being watched and we can give hope to the generations we have raised and for future generations. In our short history we have seen gas prices soar and come down. House prices soar and come down. Mortgage rates soar and come down. Grocery prices soar and come down. In other words; what is despair today will change and what is perceived as impossible is possible for those who see the big picture.

Look at the technology of today. Do you think there were people throughout history that said “no way” or “that’s impossible”. You bet they did. Thank goodness NOT EVERYONE LISTENED. Not only do I embrace the technology of today but look forward to the technology of tomorrow.

So please, if your glass is half full, take a walk… clear your head. We need you to be positive and we need to work together in this world so generations after us can say “thank you for looking for the solutions and thank you for caring.”

Have a Happy New Year. I look forward to seeing you in 2012. Lyndia Massey, Realtor/Broker, Exit Hometown Realty, Maggie Valley, NC 28751

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Like a Norman Rockwell Painting

You remember seeing the towns, the people, and the scenes in a Norman Rockwell painting depicting a quieter, gentler way of life. Maggie Valley and Waynesville are a lot like one of those towns in a Norman Rockwell painting.

Five shopping days until Christmas and “not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse”, a line from “T’was the Night before Christmas” and after dark it suits our little towns.

Our towns are nestled in the picturesque Smoky Mountains with Christmas lights aglow and promises of a cold winter’s night. No need to hurry, no malls, no traffic jams, and no road rage! Maggie Valley is a resort town that lives up to its reputation of promised rest and relaxation. You will find specialty shops, Mom and Pop restaurants, chef owned restaurants, some of the finest golf courses in the land, and even a ski area on top of a mountain that just challenges you to strap on your skis. At the end of the day smoke gently fills the air from roaring fireplaces and beckons you to come inside and sit for a spell.

Maggie Valley slows down the pace; now don’t get the wrong idea if we want the hustle and bustle of city life it is just a short drive away. Here you will find sprawling sidewalks that invite you to leave your car behind. The cool crisp mountain air is inspiring and the views are breathtaking no matter where you find yourself in the valley.

As I sit by my window and watch the sunset over the mountains; I breathe a sigh of gratitude that there is such a place left and I am fortunate enough to live and work in it.

If you are living the city life and you are ready to slow down, enjoy nature and all its wonders,visit Maggie Valley. Please bring your family and friends; we love visitors. Just like“Motel 6” we’ll leave the light on. Happy Holidays everyone! Ya’ll come.

Lyndia Massey, Exit Hometown Realty, Maggie Valley, NC

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The Trick to Getting an Education Online


New Year’s is just around the corner. Many people are thinking about career changes and perhaps furthering their education. Did you know there are currently 208 ACCREDITED schools that offer on line courses? This works for most working adults because you go to class when it works into your busy schedule. The trick is to find a truly accredited school so you do not waste your money and time. Some of the most popular at this writing are “Colorado Technical University”, “Argosy University”, “University of Phoenix”, “Kaplan University”, “American Intercontinental University”, and this is just the tip of the iceberg.

If you are thinking about online education, I came across an article that may be of use for you FOLLOW THE LINK HERE

Check it out and much success. It’s never too late to learn and for the right reasons; it can be fun! Lyndia Massey, Broker, Exit Hometown Realty, Maggie Valley, NC

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Tips for Safe Internet Shopping

Online shopping is so convenient but how do you know who to trust? Some tips for you:

Look for a filter that warns you of suspicious websites. For Instant: Internet Explorer offers you a Smart Screen Filter. Check to see what your favorite browser offers.

Keep your web browser updated – For instance: Internet Explorer’s newest version at this writing is IE9. Do not ignore the updates for your browers.

Use phishing and malware detection. Google Chrome and Firefox warns you if the site you are visiting is suspected of phishing. These two browsers use the Google Safe Browsing API Warning about suspicious websites from IE8 Smart Screen

Some anti-malware programs: Malwarebytes, Bitdefender,Kaspersky, Panda, F-Secure, AVG, Avast, GDate, BullGuard, Avira, Prevx, and there are many more. If you don’t have one you definitely should check it out.

Look for things like, customer reviews, 3rd party seals of approval (like the BBB Sign, TRUSTE Certified Privacy), watch for the closed padlock in the address bar on the security page, looks for s on the page after the http where you give your credit information. These are the things every internet shopper should make a point to know.

Very important CREATE STRONG PASSWORDS! Mix it up for Example: Use caps and numbers along with the lower case letters. Av89*IamanExample

Find the web address yourself instead of using links. There is so much more I could tell you. But I will leave it with always by far,the strongest piece of advice, do your research! Have a safe holiday shopping season. Lyndia Massey, Exit Hometown Realty, Maggie Valley NC

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Is now a good time to buy a vacation rental home?

Prices are down, values are exceptional, and if you have been thinking about investing in rental home(s) there are questions you should ask yourself. The most frequently asked questions about this market can be found at Home Away. This is a good source of information for you.

Here in Maggie Valley there are many vacation rental owners. Our community is situated in the Smokey Mountains, borders on the Blue Ridge Parkway, offers mountain atmosphere, views, and is a very sought after location. We have a true four seasons. The second home market has always been large. Do your research and if you decide here, call me! I can HELP! Lyndia Massey, Exit Hometown Realty, Maggie Valley, NC

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HOW TO BUY A FORECLOSED HOME

Save time; get your mortgage preapproved. If you don’t you may lose out on the home you choose. Remember; foreclosures are sold as is. There may be repairs needed and you need to be preparing for the cash outlay for those repairs. “AS IS” means you are responsible once it is yours.

Look for an agent that deals with foreclosures. You and your agent should know what comparable homes sell for the in the area. If you are thinking of reselling; you should also know how much time you may have to have the home on the market. Your agent will be able to do a comparable of how much time homes in the area sat before they sold. That way you will know if the home is a good deal for you. Remember, if you are looking the flip the home this information will save you a lot of time and trouble.

If you are buying the home to rent out then you should do your homework there too. How much do comparable homes in the area rent for. Rent is no different than selling; the market will tell the story on how much it will bear. If the home sits empty for months be sure you are prepared to cover the mortgage regardless.

Right now we are seeing bidding wars on properties (distressed or not) all across the country. Don’t overprice because if you do it can be a costly mistake. Mortgage rates are still at an all time low. That means there is money to be made in Real Estate. Just do your homework; it will pay off in the end!

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Real Estate Fortunes Being Made NOW!

Even in a downed economy real estate remains one of the best investments across the country. While prices are down this is the time to look for that investment that will yield long term for you. One of the best articles I have read is on money.cnn; I want to share the link with you. Read the five feature stories to see what I mean. http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2011/real_estate/1111/gallery.investors/5.html

Don’t let this opportunity get away and look back on it with regret. Now is the time to put your investment plan into action.

If you are thinking about investing in real estate in Western North Carolina, I can help. There is money to be made right now and there are deals galore. Invest in your future and America’s future today. Lyndia Massey – Exit Hometown Realty, Maggie Valley, NC

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News from Sarge’s

Awww! That’s what you will say when you take your pet in for a Holiday Photo Shoot on Saturday, November 12th (10 am – 4pm) at the Smoky Mountain Dog Bakery. You will feel good that the $5 sitting fee is a donation to benefit Sarge’s and animals that need us. Make a note of the November pet adoption days 5th, 12th, 19th, and 26th. You can find out more at www.sargeandfriend.org Hey now, we think pets are people too, at least ours think they are. Lyndia Massey, Exit Hometown Realty, Maggie Valley, NC

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We’re all excited about “Down Payment Resource” tool now available!

The “Down Payment Resource” on this site is a working logo and available for you. If you did not notice it before you can click on the logo in this blog to check it out.

This tool keeps up with Federal, state, and local government programs that may assist buyers with down payments to become homeowners.

To see if you qualify simply click on the logo and the rest explains the tool and how it works. Save yourself time and research; take advantage of this resource that keeps up with all of it for you.

What are you waiting for? Check it out :) Lyndia Massey, Broker/Realtor, ABR, Exit Hometown Realty, Maggie Valley, NC

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Bird Watching, Audubon Society, and Maggie Valley

Maggie Valley Festival Grounds

So many readers have asked me for more information since I posted the blog “Maggie Valley Tweety over Bird Sanctuary”. Thank you for reading and commenting. I would like to give you a couple of links for more information. I hope you find them useful.

The first one is on the Smokies Audubon chapter here:
http://www.smokymountainnews.com/news/item/457-new-smokies-audubon-chapter-forms

The next is the actual Audubon Society website: http://gsmas.com/2011_Fall_Newsletter.php
The site is relatively new. It should be fun to watch as the birds join the photo gallery. – Happy Bird Watching. See you on the mountain – Lyndia Massey, Realtor – Exit Hometown Real Estate

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