- Real Estate Update
- Home & Family
- Buyers & Seller's Corner
- Home Improvement
- Wine 101
- Health & Fitness
- New Movie Releases
- Recipe of the Month

January 2009

1 -- New Year's Day
15 -- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
20 -- Inauguration Day
27 -- Chocolate Cake Day

Happy NEW YEAR!

Another New Year has come and here at The Hughes Properties, we are excited to see it arrive.   Last year certainly presented some challenges but we stayed ahead of the pricing curve and "beat the bushes" to find buyers and sellers...all leading to successful transactions.   We had a fabulous year and we appreciate your referrals and your business!  Even in a down market, we are achieving the goals of our buyers and sellers.  Now, what makes a successful 2009?  We believe that hard work, knowledge of the market, proper pricing, customized marketing plans and a little more hard work are all part of what will make a successful real estate transaction in 2009. If you are planning a move in 2009, call us now.  We can educate you on the market and on what it takes to sell a home in this tricky environment.  We also have a great buyers program and we will show you properties that other agents will not.  Many of the homes may not yet be listed in the MLS. We are excited about 2009. Yes, home sales are down but homes are still selling...so why not put a SOLD sign on yours today? Call us and we will tell you how.  Below you will see some new listings and some huge price reductions, please feel free to inquire about them or pass them to someone that you think may be interested.  They are all great values, great homes and great locations.  

Gettysvue Gorgeous!

ENJOY FULL COVERAGE OF GETTYSVUE COUNTRY CLUB'S 16TH HOLE. THIS ELUSIVE PAR 3 CAN BE VIEWED BY ALL OF THE ENTERTAINING SPACES THIS LOVELY HOME OFFERS, AS WELL AS FROM THE SECLUDED, MAIN LEVEL MASTER SUITE.  A GOURMET KITCHEN, PULL-UP BAR, EAT-IN BREAKFAST AREA, LARGE FAMILY ROOM WITH CATHDRAL CEILINGS, FIREPLACE AND CUSTOM BUILT-INS ALL OPEN ONTO EXPANSIVE DECK.  THE  DINING ROOM WITH AN ATTACHED SERVING AREA OR CARD ROOM COMPLETE THE MAIN LEVEL. THE LOWER LEVEL OFFERS A LARGE DEN WITH A FIREPLACE AND COVERED PORCH, A 2ND RECREATION ROOM AND A FULL BATH COULD BE WELL SERVED AS 5TH BEDROOM. ALL BEDROOMS OFFER THEIR OWN PRIVATE BATHS. ALL OF THIS...LOCATED ON A WONDERFUL CUL-DE-SAC.
A SHOWROOM PERFECT HOME AND THE BEST VALUE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD!  OFFERED AT $830,000.  FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT TOM (865)806-1886.

REDUCED...Sequoyah Hills

Elegant two story traditional that simply says welcome home! 3250 Square Feet. Double ovens, gas cook top, sub zero fridge and perfect for entertaining large groups. The home offers beautiful flow, including a courtyard and patio that overlook a large and private backyard. Hardwoods galore and a brick floor entertaining area complete this family friendly home. A brand new bath features a claw foot tub and fabulous spa shower. Remodeled baths, a new study/sunroom, a basement playroom and plenty of storage make this one perfect! A great home on a great street.  Reduced...$524,000! For more information please contact Debaran (865)660-4411
 

Huge Price Reduction in Forest Brook!

This Forest Brook listing features 5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, a  2 car garage, walk in storage and a large bonus room too! New paint! An updated kitchen, 2 staircases, a large master suite on the main level with a fabulous tiled walk in shower, formal dining and living, and a beautiful screened in porch perfect for entertaining. A "mother-in-law" suite complete with a second laundry, small kitchen, and private covered parking make this the perfect home to invite all the family and friends over for a Spring afternoon.
Offered at $439,000  and 3,466 Square Feet!  Please call Tom Hughes (865)  806-1886.
 

Great Price in Sequoyah Hills!

This charming Cape Cod offers lovely hardwoods throughout, tons of crown moulding and large sunny living spaces. The master suite on the main level offers double closets and a huge bathroom complete with separate shower and whirlpool tub. A coverd carport, unfinished basement, lots of storage and a large, level backyard complete this Sequoyah Hills home. Come see why this should be your home. Priced to sell at $298,000.  Please contact Debaran Hughes (865)660-4411.
 

Traditional Charm on Tobler Road In The Heart of Rocky Hill

The curb appeal says it all...Traditional charm in beautiful West Knoxville Picture perfect, traditional cottage located in the heart of Rocky Hill. This 4 bedroom, 2 bath home is updated and beautifully decorated. Charm, storage and location-complete with a two car garage and a lovely screened in porch. This home is light, open, warm and inviting. Welcome home there is nothing to do except enjoy!  Offered at $249,000 please contact Debaran Hughes (865)660-4411.
 

Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man.
-- Benjamin Franklin

Existing-Home Sales Down in November

According to the National Association of Realtors®, existing-home sales weakened against a backdrop of an eroding economy.

Existing-home sales -- including single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops -- fell 8.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.49 million units in November from a downwardly revised level of 4.91 million in October, and are 10.6 percent below the 5.02 million-unit pace in November 2007.

"The quickly deteriorating conditions in the job market, stock market, and consumer confidence in October and November have knocked down home sales to another level," said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun, who expected a decline. "We hope the home sales impact from the stock market crash turns out to be short-lived, as was the case in 1987 and 2001."

“It is, therefore, imperative to provide incentives for home buyers to get back into the market. It also depends on how effectively Congress and the new administration can help facilitate the short sales process and unclog the mortgage pipeline -- impediments remain for some buyers with good credit.”

According to Freddie Mac, the national average commitment rate for a 30-year, conventional, fixed-rate mortgage fell to 6.09 percent in November from 6.20 percent in October; the rate was 6.21 percent in November 2007. As of late November, Freddie Mac reported the 30-year rate fell to 5.19 percent -- the lowest on record since the series began in 1971.

TOP

Do it now. It is not safe to leave a generous feeling to the cooling influences of the world.
-- Thomas Guthrie

Baking with Kids Offers Many Benefits

Baking at home with the kids is a great way to get them involved in cooking. In addition, it's a wonderful way to teach, share and spend some quality time with your family. Kids love to make a mess, and eating something they helped make is sure to bring a smile. But, there's more to baking then just fun; it also provides the perfect opportunity for some incidental learning.

• Math Skills -- Measuring teaches fractions, cutting demonstrates division, and setting and waiting for the oven timer helps kids understand units of time.
• Helps Develop Patience and Precision -- If you measure wrong or skip a step, your baking project won't come out the way you want. Being patient and getting it right leads to better results.
• Reading Skills -- Recipes are good practice for other kinds of instructional reading, such as installing software or assembling a toy.
• Cultivates Scientific Curiosity -- Why does bread rise? What happens when you microwave butter or heat chocolate? Children enjoy baking “magic” and the explanations behind it.
• Develops Organizational and Follow-up Skills -- Teaches kids how to make a shopping list of ingredients, follow instructions, and, of course, how to clean up afterwards.

To keep baking fun, be sure to assign tasks suited to their abilities, and praise them when they get it right. Keep the experience positive, even if things don't come out the way you wanted. Children as young as 2 or 3 can help with simple activities like sifting flour, mixing and decorating. Around age 6, kids enjoy measuring, cracking eggs and using a beater. By 10, most kids have the coordination to operate blenders, microwaves and ovens, chop vegetables, and have the reading skills to understand recipes.

For your first project, choose a recipe that uses familiar ingredients and is relatively easy to make, such as bread dough, muffins or cookies. Read the instructions out loud together, assign tasks, and get cooking. Don't just do it during the holidays; make it a regular family affair. Your kids will secretly benefit in many ways and you'll be creating lifelong memories, as well as lots of good things to eat.

TOP

A censor is a man who knows more than he thinks you ought to.
-- Granville Hicks

Lease-Options Can Benefit Buyers and Sellers

As the real estate market continues to stagnate in many parts of the U.S., lease options are once again becoming a popular way for buyers to get into a property.

A lease-option basically means you are leasing or renting a property with an option to buy it at a future date and predetermined price. The tenant/buyer usually makes an up-front payment to purchase the option -- called option money -- which varies considerably from deal to deal. In addition, the monthly payment (rent) is usually higher than in a normal lease and, depending upon the contract terms agreed to by both parties, part of the lease payments might be applied toward the down payment.

All terms should be fixed at the time the lease-option is signed, including purchase price, lease length, rent (fair market value), option money, and who will pay for maintenance and utilities. It would also be prudent to know in advance how escrow will be handled and who will pay for inspections, work and warranties in the event the option is exercised.

Lease-options are more common during a slow real estate market; during a hot market, most sellers will simply sell the property in the regular manner. However, this type of transaction can be used very effectively and benefit both the buyer and seller. It helps the seller get out of the ownership or management of a property while getting the buyer into a home and giving them time to financially prepare to purchase it.

TOP

To think too long about doing a thing often becomes its undoing.
-- Eva Young

Improve Your Fireplace's Efficiency

Naturally, people use their fireplaces more during the winter months. There's something special about cozying up around a crackling fire on a cold winter day, or gathering around a fireplace during the holidays.

However, did you know many fireplaces are extremely inefficientand can skyrocket your heating bill? A roaring fire can exhaust as much as 24,000 cubic feet of air per hour to the outside, which must be replaced by cold air coming into the house from the outside. Your heating system must warm up this air, which is then exhausted through your chimney.

The fact is the fireplace that was designed to warm your house is actually doing the opposite and probably costing you hundreds of dollars in energy costs. However, don't sweat it. Following are some tips to help make your fireplace more energy efficient:

• If you never use your fireplace, plug and seal the chimney flue.
• Keep the fireplace damper closed unless you're actually using the fireplace. Claims have been made that keeping the damper open is like keeping a small window wide-open during the winter.
• When you use the fireplace, reduce heat loss by opening dampers in the bottom of the firebox, if it has them, or open the nearest window about 1 inch, and close doors leading into the room.
• Lower the thermostat setting to between 50°F and 55°F.
• Install tempered glass doors and a heat-air exchange system that blows warmed air back into the room.
• Check the seal on the flue damper and make it as snug as possible.
• Add caulking around the fireplace hearth.
• Use grates made of C-shaped metal tubes to draw cool room air into the fireplace and circulate warm air back into the room.
• Replace the fireplace throat damper with a top sealing damper -- which are installed at the top of the chimney and act like a storm door.
• Add a fireback, which is basically a cast iron plate that is placed at the back of the fireplace. It protects the back wall from fire damage and improves the fireplace's efficiency by absorbing the heat from the fire and radiating it back into the room.
• Install a fireplace heater, which pulls fresh air from the room, circulates it through a chamber that is heated by the fire, and blows it back into the room.

TOP

The friend is the man who knows all about you, and still likes you.
-- Elbert Hubbard

Tips to Help You Get More Out of Your Glasses

Wine glasses can play a very important role in the enjoyment of wine. Following are some tips to help you get the most out of them:

1. Never buy small wine glasses, it serves no purpose.
2. Only buy wine glasses you can afford to break. You'll use them more if you're not worried about breaking one.
3. Buy more glasses than you'll need. This comes in handy when you do tastings and you won't be forced to make an unexpected guest use a water glass or coffee mug.
4. If space is an issue, purchase a wine glass that can be used for both red and white wines. A well-designed wine glass will work fine for both reds and whites.
5. Buy smooth, clear glasses that show off the depth and richness of the wine's color. Colored glasses and cut glasses detract from the wine.
6. Buy glasses with a thin rim, you'll enjoy the wine more.
7. Choose glasses with long stems so you don't have to hold the bowl.
8. Wash your glasses properly using your hands -- and not a sponge -- with a very small amount of diluted soap and lukewarm water. Rinse several times in hot water, drain thoroughly, turn the glasses upright and let them air dry. Spots can be wiped off with a clean, soft cloth. Store wine glasses right side up.

TOP

I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.
-- Michelangelo

Caffeine Used Safely for Thousands of Years

Whether waking up slowly with a freshly brewed cup of coffee, enjoying lunch with a refreshing soft drink, or relaxing in the evening with a cup of tea, these simple and routine pleasures have one common ingredient -- caffeine.

People have enjoyed foods and beverages containing caffeine for thousands of years. It is believed Chinese Emperor Shen Nung created the first pot of tea around 2737 B.C. when the leaves from a nearby bush fell into a pot of boiling water. Coffee originated around 575 A.D. and 11th Century Arabians were known to have coffee beverages. Several hundred years later, the world's first caffeinated soft drinks were created in the 1880s.

Even though caffeine has been around a long time, it is somewhat controversial. Some people think caffeine is the best thing ever, while others believe it's bad for your health. So, what's the truth?

Well, we might not ever know the whole truth. However, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, caffeine was classified in 1958 as Generally Recognized As Safe and "found no evidence to show that the use of caffeine in carbonated beverages would render these products injurious to health." The American Medical Association has a similar position stating "Moderate tea or coffee drinkers probably need have no concern for their health relative to their caffeine consumption provided other lifestyle habits (diet, alcohol consumption) are moderate, as well."

Most experts agree that moderation and common sense are the keys for consuming caffeine-containing goods and beverages -- with moderation considered to be about 300 mg -- the equivalent of three cups of coffee or six cups of tea. Of course, people differ greatly in their sensitivity to caffeine, so being aware of how it affects you is important.

A UK scientist reviewed 41 caffeine studies from the last 15 years and found that low to moderate caffeine intake improved alertness and mental performance. Studies also found that up to 400 mg of caffeine per day did not cause dehydration, which is thought to be a common side effect of caffeine intake.

TOP

Three things are needed for a good life; good friends, good food, and good song.
-- Jason Zebehazy

January Movie Releases

• Jan. 9
  • Bridal Wars
  • Not Easily Broken
  • The Unborn
• Jan. 16
  • Hotel for Dogs
  • My Bloody Valentine 3-D
  • Paul Blart: Mall Cop
• Jan. 23
  • Inkheart
  • Possession
  • Underworld: Rise of the Lycans
• Jan. 30
  • New in Town
  • Taken
  • The Uninvited

*Wide releases only. Opening dates subject to change.

Three things are needed for a good life; good friends, good food, and good song.
-- Jason Zebehazy

Peppered Shrimp Alfredo

Ingredients - Serves 4

• 8 ounces penne pasta
• 1/4 cup butter
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 onion -- diced
• 2 cloves garlic -- minced
• 1 red bell pepper -- diced
• 1/2 pound portobello mushrooms -- diced
• 1 lb. medium shrimp -- peeled and deveined
• 1 (16 ounce) jar Alfredo sauce
• 1/2 cup grated Romano cheese
• 1/2 cup cream
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper -- or more to taste
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup chopped parsley

Directions

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
2. Meanwhile, melt butter together with olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat, stir in onion and cook until softened and translucent (about 2 minutes). Stir in garlic, red pepper and mushroom; cook over medium-high heat until soft (about 2 minutes).
3. Stir in shrimp and cook until firm and pink, then pour in Alfredo sauce, Romano cheese, and cream. Bring to a simmer, stirring constantly until thickened (about 5 minutes). Season with cayenne, salt, and pepper to taste. Stir drained pasta into the sauce and serve sprinkled with chopped parsley.

Wine Pairing

• Domaine Bernard St. Véran Vieilles Vignes 2005

TOP

Click here to unsubscribe

Tom & Debaran Hughes
1200 Forest Brook Road
Knoxville, TN 37919

This eNewsletter contains information, facts and opinions from various individuals and organizations. This eNewsletter is provided on an "as-is" basis without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. I/We are not responsible for any errors or omissions. Consult with your doctor, fitness consultant, attorney, accountant, or other professional advisor when necessary. © 2008 eNewsletterSolutions.