Word(s) 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 you can impress your friends (and maybe even fatten your wallet!)…

Enervate (en-er-vate) verb

Meaning: To reduce the strength of

Sample Sentence: The weight of a cap and gown in a summer graduation ceremony enervated most of the students, and they needed to go home early.

Tech Tips For Today

• Use AI (artificial intelligence). ChatGPT (openai.com) is a tool that you can train. Need a reference for a paper? Ask, “Give me five references talk about (your topic) in APA style. In about 20 seconds, you’ll have your list. Be sure to verify the sources.
• Consider a password manager, like Lastpass.com, a secure site that safely stores your passcodes.
• Clean up your phone. Apps you don’t use, items saved on the device rather than iCloud all impact your phone’s performance.
• Update your devices. Selecting automatic updates reduces potential security risks, improves performance, and makes things easier to use by fixing bugs.

Quotes To Live By…

“The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.”

–Michael Altshuler, Entrepreneur

“Be courageous. Challenge orthodoxy. Stand up for what you believe in. When you are in your rocking chair talking to your grandchildren many years from now, be sure you have a good story to tell.”

–Amal Clooney, Human Rights Lawyer

“Do not allow people to dim your shine because they are blinded. Tell them to put some sunglasses on.”

–Lady Gaga, Singer

Check Yor News

     It can be tough to tell what's real and what's not, especially on the internet. Choose the best methods for fact-checking info you find online with these top tips:

• Check the source: is the head of the article social media or a legitimate news outlet? Social media tends to be a sea of unreliable information from dubious sources. See below for verifying information.
• Listen to your gut: what does your instinct tell you about the news? If you're experiencing a strong emotional reaction, that could be because the information has been sensationalized and may be fake.
• Do your research: websites like snopes.com or www.factcheck.org are great resources to verify the legitimacy of news and call out fake reporting.
• Look for objectivity: journalists are supposed to adhere to strict standards of reporting, upheld by the Associated Press, which includes verifying any claims, providing both sides of a story, and reporting when information is yet to be confirmed by using phrases like "we have received an unverified report of…"
• Consider the author: is the writer a journalist or a member of the public? Self-reports are subjective and focused on opinion. Reporters may include public view but are also trained to report on facts. You can also check the writer's legitimacy by checking Google or reviewing their social media accounts. If you see a trend of one-sided or sensationalist reporting, the information you verify is likely unreliable. Similarly, political ads are designed to provoke people and lean heavily toward the values of the party they represent, making them unpredictable.
• Fact-check: look for other articles from legitimate news outlets that confirm the story. Even if a story goes viral, it doesn't mean it is accurate or reliable.

 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 in my life who’ve helped build my business with their enduring support and referrals.  I couldn’t do it without you!

Brain Teaser

A person is 15 years old in 1990. In 1995, that same person is 10 years old. How?

 (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. Learn more by emailing me at Sales@RudyPerkins.com.  

3 Ways To Save An Emergency Fund

While homeownership may save you money by building equity, it can be expensive. Here are three ways to keep an emergency fund without sacrificing your quality of life:

1. Skip one takeout meal monthly and put the money into your savings instead.

2. Automatically transfer $100 monthly into savings, like a utility bill.

3. Opt for Energy Star appliances and windows when upgrading to take advantage of energy rebates.

Have A Laugh

Why was Cinderella a terrible football player? Because she kept leaving the ball behind!

Did You Know?

You may think humans are napping machines — OK, maybe babies — but did you know snails can sleep for as long as three years? You do now.

Brain-Smart Websites

Here are three websites to keep your cognition sharp:

www.braingle.com – A site full of free puzzles, trivia, games, puzzles, and more.

stayingsharp.aarp.org – Staying Sharp is a program that promotes brain health through healthy habits, challenges, cognitive assessments, and more.

www.randomtriviagenerator.com – Generates random trivia questions to test and strengthen long-term memory.

Are You Doing Sunscreen Right?

     According to dermatologists, while many people may be good at applying sunscreen before going outside, most of us use less than 50 percent of the amount necessary and omit body parts. Experts advise that you need about a shot glass full of sunscreen for your whole body, including commonly missed areas like the scalp, lips, ears, neck, chest, feet, and eyelids. These are all areas that are at risk for skin cancer.

     Doctors also recommend using an SPF 30 or higher and applying it 15 minutes before going outside. You’ll need to reapply sunscreen every two hours in the sun. Wear sun-protective clothing, including a hat and glasses with UV protection.

     Regarding what kind of sunscreen to buy, and based on recent reports of toxic chemicals in sunscreen, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is investigating the safety of 12 ingredients contained within certain chemical sunscreens — such as oxybenzone and octisalate. However, the FDA has not stated they are unsafe and recommends using sunscreen to avoid skin cancer. If you are concerned about ingredients, you may opt for a mineral sunscreen containing zinc oxide or titanium oxide, which are physical sun blockers and sit on the skin's surface to deflect harmful rays.

 Things That Make Your Home Look Scattered

     Designing your home's decor is more of an art than you might think. Design experts warn that confident decorative choices can risk making your home look cheap. It isn't necessarily about the monetary value of material possessions; it's more about being intentional with planning and the purpose of things.

     Experts say to avoid oversized sofas, clutter, the wrong sized rug, mass-produced decorative word art, flatpack furniture, inconsistent flooring, poor quality lighting, too much furniture, and matching everything in a room.

     Instead, practice a less-is-more approach. Declutter! Use pictures of friends and family or locally produced art and choose appropriately sized rugs. A good rule of thumb when buying a carpet is that it needs to be big enough to touch some of each of the main pieces of furniture in a room, like all the feet of the bed or both sofa and coffee table.

 www.rudyperkinsrealty.com

Here's A Free, Valuable Resource... 

Now You Can Search The Home Market, Get Helpful Community Information, AND Receive Important Resources For Saving Time And Money When Buying Or Selling At: www.RudyPerkinsRealty.com. 

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:

The person was born in 2005 B.C. So they were 5 years old in 2000 B.C, 10 in 1995 B.C, and 15 in 1990 B.C.

Cool Your Home Passively

There are some steps you can take to keep your house cooler without cranking up the AC:

• Open windows in the morning to let cool air circulate. Close them as soon as it starts to get warm.
• Add bamboo shades to the external windows to reduce the sun heating inside your home.
• Close your blinds/curtains during the day and use a fan to circulate air.
• Open windows again at dusk to circulate cooler air into the home.
• Seal any gaps in the windows and doors to ensure drafts from warm air don’t come in.
• AC Hack: position a bowl of ice water before a window fan for a cooling mist.

THANK YOU for reading my

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 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: Can I use a financial gift from a friend or relative as a down payment on buying a home?

     Yes.  One out of four first-time homebuyers uses a gift to make the down payment.

     Tax law allows gifts of up to $17,000 annually in 2023 without tax consequences to the giver or recipient.  (The amount is adjusted annually, so search IRS.gov for “gift tax” for the current figure.)  You could get a gift from two parents or two friends (for $34,000) without paying a gift tax.  

     Using a gift for a down payment helps you buy a home even if it’s not Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-approved.  The best advice is to contact a knowledgeable REALTOR^® and discuss this before looking for homes.

      For more information, ask for my Free Consumer Report, "4 Quick Ways To Buy A Home With Little Down.”  I’ll send a copy right to you. 

     Do you have a real estate question you want answered?  Feel free to call me at (203) 243-3820.  Perhaps I’ll feature your question 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.

In the U.S., you'd "knock on wood" for good luck. In what country do carp scales represent similar good fortune? 

a) Poland b) Japan c) Madagascar d) Jamaica

The answer is a) Poland. The tradition is to eat carp on Christmas Eve, saving some fish scales for good luck through the coming year. So let's move on to this month's trivia question.

In which film did Hugh Grant say, "Is her instrument quite what it was? Perhaps not. But as Beethoven said, a few wrong notes may be forgiven, but singing without feeling cannot."

a) Notting Hill b) Love Actually c) Florence Foster Jenkins d) Four Weddings and a Funeral

 Email Me At [email protected], And You Could Be One Of My Next Winners!