Word of the Month…

Studies have shown your income and wealth are directly related to the size and depth of your vocabulary. Here is this month’s word so that you can impress your friends (and maybe even fatten your wallet!)…

impugn (pronounced im-PYOON) verb

Meaning: to dispute or challenge the validity of something; to question
Sample Sentence: He impugned my ability to handle the new job responsibilities in front of our boss, probably because he was angry he hadn’t gotten the job.

Well, Isn't That The Pits

Have you heard that putting an avocado pit in your fresh guacamole will keep it from turning brown? It turns out that's an old wives' tale. Exposure to air turns bright green avocados brown, so burying the pit in a bowl of guac does nothing.

Instead, put plastic wrap over the uneaten portion, ensuring the plastic is pressed onto the exposed surface to keep air out.

Like Wordle? Try This

If you like games and wordplay, try Semantle (semantle.com). Your goal is to guess the word of the day, and each guess is scored based on how close it is to the meaning of the secret word.

Words may be any part of speech, not just nouns, and there’s no limit to the number of guesses you get—or the number of hints you can ask for. It’s great fun for anyone who enjoys skimming a thesaurus now and then.

Quotes To Live By…

“Being an intellectual creates a lot of questions and no answers.”

– Janis Joplin, Singer

“What do we live for, if not to make life less difficult for each other?”

– George Eliot, Author

“Instant gratification takes too long.”

– Carrie Fisher, Actress

Are Shoes Ruining Your Feet?

     When it comes to diagnosing what’s causing sore feet, there are a few things that might seem obvious. High heels, for instance, are famously bad for our feet. By concentrating most of your body weight on the ball of your foot, high heels can cause painful bunions and ingrown toenails.

     But, perhaps surprisingly, there are also foot problems to contend with at the other end of the shoe spectrum. Even a comfy pair of slippers or sneakers can lead to a condition like plantar fasciitis without proper arch support.

Whatever type of shoes you prefer, it’s essential to understand what those shoes might be doing to hurt—or help—your whole body. When choosing footwear, consider the following:

1. Arch support: The right insoles help alleviate foot pain and align your skeletal structure. If your feet aren’t aligned well, every bone above it is off-kilter. You can buy orthotic insoles if your shoes don’t have any arch support built in.

2. Shoe size: You probably haven’t had your shoe size checked since you were a kid, but it’s worth checking again—especially if you’re experiencing foot pain. Our foot size and shape can change over time.

3. Toe box: Forcing toes into narrow or pointed toes can cause long-term structural damage to the bones in your feet. Look for shoes with a wider toe box to more accurately accommodate the natural position of your toes.

     Some barefoot activity is generally agreed to strengthen feet, like yoga or workouts on a mat. Most experts agree that it’s still best to wear supportive shoes most of the time.

     Talk to a podiatrist or an orthopedist about exercises you can do to strengthen your feet and help them recover from any footwear-related injuries you may already have.

 www.rudyperkinsrealty.com

A Heartfelt Message To My Special Clients And Friends...

I want to share a little secret with you.  I don’t spend my time cold calling or pestering people for business.  Instead, I focus 110% of my efforts on giving such outstanding service that people naturally think of me when a friend, neighbor, or family member needs a caring and competent REALTOR®.

I want to take a moment to thank all the special people who’ve helped build my business with their enduring support and referrals.  I couldn’t do it without you!

Brain Teaser

I get cut on a table, but I never get eaten. What am I?

 (See page 4 for the answer.)

What's My Home Worth?

If you want to know your home's current value, I will gladly conduct a Maximum Value Home Audit. Request this "no charge" in-depth home value analysis by Emailing me at [email protected].

The Science Of Happiness

Did you know there’s an 80-year-long Harvard research project to study what constitutes a good life? It was started in 1938 and is still going—but there’s a book detailing the results. The biggest takeaway? “Good relationships keep us happier and healthier. Period.” Learn more about this incredible long-term study and the book at: the-good-life-book.com

Charity Rating Websites

Donating money toward a cause you believe in feels great.

Before you hit send, look into how the charity is rated. Not every tax-exempt organization is what you might consider genuinely charitable.

charitynavigator.org: The site uses a 0-4 star rating system on the nearly 200,000 charities in its database, evaluating financial health and accountability. It's free to use.

charitywatch.org: More than 670,000 charities are evaluated on how much is spent on administrative costs and given an overall grade on an A-plus to F scale. You can preview a few charities for free before registering.

givewell.org: Their list of top-rated charities is updated annually, and the site is free to use. GiveWell's aims to highlight charities that "can save or improve the greatest number of lives per dollar donated."

3 Common Landlord Mistakes

     Rental property investments can be financially rewarding. But they can also open the door to many potential problems for new landlords.

Here are three mistakes new landlords often make and how to avoid them:

1. Skipping the screening process. Running a credit check on potential tenants helps you avoid what could be costly surprises down the line. You may also want to run background checks. You or the potential renter will need to pay for these reports, but it’s a small price for peace of mind. 

2. Assuming you’ll always have tenants. Even in high-demand markets, there’s always some time between when a person moves out and a new one moves in, and that’s the time when you’re not receiving rent payments. Experts suggest having savings account with about three months’ worth of rent to cover these gaps.

3. Getting the wrong insurance. If your insurance on your rental property is inadequate or, worse, entirely the wrong kind of coverage for a rental, you’ll be in hot financial waters when faced with property damage. Talk with your insurance agent to be sure you have the appropriate types of coverage for a rental.

     Also, be sure to learn about what tenant qualification criteria are prohibited under the Fair Housing Act: hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/fair_housing_act_overview

 Language Study Tips For Adults

     While tackling a new language as an adult may seem challenging, it turns out that adults can become fluent in a foreign language about as quickly as children do. (And that’s good news because there’s evidence that learning a language as an adult may help delay the onset and severity of dementia.)

     A 2018 study concluded that although we’re more apt to reach native-level fluency if we start young, adults are just as capable of mastering a new language. It might take a decade or more for adults to achieve native-level fluency, but we can reach incredibly high levels of comprehension in as little as 1-3 years of language learning. Adults may even be better at certain aspects of language learning than kids are since our attention spans are longer and our ability to focus is more excellent.

     Community colleges often have language classes, a great way to get started. Interacting with instructors in person gives you valuable feedback you can’t get from an app or website. Conversation groups and language exchanges are beneficial for building and practicing your skills. Look at MeetUp.com to find conversation groups in your area, or check language exchange sites like italki.com, TalkAbroad.com, and HelloTalk.com to get one-on-one video call time with a fluent speaker of the language you’re learning.

 www.rudyperkinsrealty.com

Would You Like To Know How Much
Your Neighbor's Home Listed Or Sold For?

Maybe you're just curious.  Or perhaps you want to know how much your home is worth.  Either way, I can help…with no "sales pitches" or run-arounds.  Call me at (203) 243-3820, and I'll give you all the details.

Thanks For Thinking Of Me!

Did you know I can help you or any of your friends or family save time and money when buying or selling a home? Thanks for keeping me in mind with your referrals…and spreading the word about my services.

Brain Teaser Answer:

A deck of cards.

Repurpose Old Sweaters

If a beloved sweater is too worn, it can still be helpful with a needle, thread, buttons, and creativity. Here are a few ways to give your old knits new life.

• Make a cozy pillowcase out of the body of a sweater, sewing arm, and neck holes closed and stuffed with a pillow insert.
• Reinforce the cut end of each sleeve to turn them into leg or arm warmers quickly.
• Fill sewn-closed sweater squares with rice, then heat in the microwave or keep in the freezer for a homemade heat or ice pad.

THANK YOU for reading Rudy Perkins Realty my

 newsletter. I wanted to produce a newsletter with great content that is fun and valuable to you. Your constructive feedback is always welcome.

AND…whether you’re thinking of buying, selling or financing real estate, or just want to stop by and say “Hi,” I’d love to hear from you…

_{Disclaimer: The information contained in this letter is intended for informational purposes. It should not substitute as legal, accounting, investment, medical or other professional services advice. Always seek a competent professional for answers to your specific questions. This letter is not intended to solicit real estate properties currently for sale.}

Real Estate Corner…

Q: How do I find the right house for me?

A: Make a wish list of everything you want in a new house. Then list everything you don’t like in your current home. These two lists will give you a good idea of where to start and help you analyze your needs. 

     Buying a home requires making some compromises. You may not get everything you want but get what you need. For example, the neighborhood should be your primary consideration when buying a home. Is the house in an area that you like and feel safe in? Will you have a reasonable commute to work? Does it have a sound school system? (Not only is this important if you have children, but it will also impact the resale value of your home down the road.)  Does the area have the amenities you’re looking for (parks, stores, and library) within a few miles?  

     Want to learn more? Ask for my Free Consumer Report called “8 Secrets For Saving Thousands When Buying.”  I’ll send a copy right over to you. 

     Do you have a real estate question you want to be answered? Please email me at [email protected].Perhaps I’ll feature it in my next issue!

www.rudyperkinsrealty.com

 “Who Wants To Win A $50.00 Gift Certificate?

Then be the first person to answer this month's trivia question correctly. 

Last Month's Trivia Question and Answer.

Which is the loudest animal on earth?

a) Lion b) Hyena c) Sperm Whale d) Cicada

The answer is c) Sperm Whale. The clicks made by sperm whales have been recorded at 230 decibels (dB). A loud rock concert is about 115dB, and the sounds from a sperm whale are two-and-a-half times as loud!

This Month's Trivia Question.

What award-winning actress was nominated for a “Worst New Star” Golden Raspberry for her very first feature film role? 

a) Helen Mirren b) Kristin Scott Thomas c) Maggie Smith
d) Judy Dench

Email Me At [email protected],

And You Could Be One Of My Next Winners!