According to the National Association of REALTORS®, vacation home sales jumped 29.7 percent last year to an estimated 717,000 units from 553,000 in 2012. That compares to a 13.1 percent increase in owner-occupied purchases during that time.

If you are thinking about buying a second home, here are a few important things to consider:

• Assess your goals. You may be thinking about buying a second home for vacation enjoyment or to get a jump on a retirement home. No matter what the reason, it’s important to think through how often you plan to use the home versus the expenses, and if it truly makes sense to purchase rather than rent.
• Location, location, location. Consider a destination that offers things that interest you and your family, whether it’s a beach resort, a ski area, or a place where you can play golf or fish. Your second home should be close enough to your primary residence that you’ll be able to use it often – maybe just a few hours away. Given rising gas prices and airfares, that may be more important than ever.
• Visit the destination. By doing so, you will get a feel for the travel time and the area’s culture and resources. Many people who buy a vacation home ultimately use the property as their primary residence upon retirement, so it is extremely important to think about how the location fits into your long term plans.
• What type of property best suits your needs? Often when people think of a vacation property, they think of a cabin in the mountains or house on the shore. But condominiums and townhouses in resort communities can be a great alternative to single-family houses when it comes to vacation homes. They may have a lower price tag, the maintenance and upkeep may be less, and they may provide recreational facilities, including swimming pools and barbecue areas.
• Golf course homes. A condo or house on a golf course can make a wonderful vacation home, especially for the weekend duffer. But there can be a few traps and hazards with golf properties that you’ll need to watch out for. Depending on where your home is situated, it might be in the path of wayward golf balls and it is possible that proximity to the golf course may create other noise or nusisance issues.You may also want to partake in a few rounds of golf at the course before buying so you can assess whether or not this is where you want to play.
• Rely on a professional REALTOR®. With mortgage rates historically low and prices still affordable in many areas, this may be a good time to buy a second home. However, finding the right property at the right price can be challenging. More than ever, it’s important to work with an experienced real estate professional who understands the ins and outs of second homes and the particular market you’re considering. With a little help from a knowledgeable agent, you will be able to find a vacation home that you and your family can enjoy for years to come.

Service For Life! ^®

• Can A Sugar Detox Prevent A Heart Attack?…
• Slow Internet? Speed It Up With 4 Quick & Easy Tips…
• Fun Facts and Laughs: Free Internet Radio Websites, Sleep Positions To Feel Better, And More…
• Real Estate Q&A: What Factors Affect The Value Of My Home When I Sell It?…

Jack Edwards, REALTOR^®
California BRE#01331087

P.S.  When you notice people talking about real estate in the next few weeks, can you tell them about the free consumer information I provide?

They may be people you meet who were relocated and are looking to buy a home this summer. Tell them about my Free Consumer Report: “8 Secrets For Saving Thousands When Finding, Buying and Financing Your Next Home” and give them my phone number – 916-240-9302. Or, you can always request a copy for a friend by clicking here to email me.

Can A “Sugar Detox” Prevent A Heart Attack?

One of the greatest threats to your health is sugar. According to the World Health Organization, an arm of the United Nations, the average adult should have no more than 6 teaspoons of sugar a day. That’s about 25 grams of sugar, or what’s in a typical can of soda. But the latest surveys show the average person eats about 18 teaspoons (75 grams) of sugar every day.

Even if you stay away from sweets like cookies, cakes, and doughnuts, there are “hidden” sugars in processed food that you’d never know. For example, sugar is often added to frozen pizza, soup, and even mayonnaise.

The concern is more than just preventing weight gain. A Harvard Nurses’ Health Study found that people who eat more than the recommended amount of sugar nearly doubled their risk of heart disease. They also tend to look older because sugar triggers body chemicals that accelerate aging of your skin.

If you want to reduce the risk of heart problems, lose weight, feel better, and even look younger, here is some shocking news: You need to go off sugar completely. Not forever, just a temporary “detox” to cleanse your body so it doesn’t have cravings that make you eat more sugar. That’s the advice from two doctors who wrote the highly rated book “The Sugar Detox” that has a two-part plan…

STEP #1: Go off sugar completely – for 3 days

The first goal is to reset your body’s ability to even taste natural sugars that are in foods like apples. Consult your doctor before changing your diet, especially if you have hypoglycemia or diabetes. But if you don’t have a blood sugar problem, cut out the following for three whole days: foods or drinks with added sugar (read the label on everything)… starches (pasta, bread, crackers, cereal, potatoes, and rice)… fruit (except a lemon or lime to flavor water or cooking)… dairy (milk, cream, yogurt, and cheese)… and also cut out artificial sweeteners and alcohol.

Here’s what you should eat: protein (lean red meat, chicken, fish, tofu, and eggs)… vegetables (such as broccoli, lettuce, asparagus but not starchy veggies like corn, beets, or squash)… nuts (peanuts, walnuts, almonds, and cashews)… and lots of water. During this time you may feel tired and might even get a headache as sugar exits your body kicking and screaming.

STEP #2: Reintroduce certain foods into your diet – over 4 weeks

Week 1: Continue to eat healthy foods and not anything with added sugar, but also eat up to an apple a day… up to one serving of dairyper day (8 oz milk, 1 oz cheese, 5 oz plain yogurt, or 1/2 cup cottage cheese)… one serving of whole grain crackers per day… and you can also drink wine if you like.

Week 2: Add back more natural sugars by increasing fruit and dairy in your diet. In addition to an apple each day, have a half cup of berries, and two servings of dairy each day. You’ll start to notice how sweet fruit is, and you can also add a small sweet potato each day.

Weeks 3 and 4: Start eating grains again, but make sure they’re “whole grains” and not carbohydrates like white pasta, white bread, and white rice that have fiber stripped off and are easily converted to sugar by your body.

You should now have more energy and feel better too! And if you still have a sweet tooth, the book says 1 oz of dark chocolate daily is fine.

Your Internet speed can vary depending on service providers and types of connection you have, but if your downloads and searches are slow, try these easy tips to improve your connection speed:

1. Update your Internet browser. Your current browser can be so obsolete it may slow your connection. Update your browser version or try one that’s faster such as Mozilla Firefox at www.firefox.com, or Google Chrome at: www.google.com/chrome.

1. Clear your Internet browser history. Too much data in your history can slow things down. On most browsers, look under Tools and “Clear Recent History.”

1. Optimize your cache. Your cache (pronounced cash) stores temporary files on your system. These are files like images and videos that make a webpage load faster. But too many of these files can slow your entire Internet performance. Limit your cache to 512 MB or 2% of your total network hard disk size, whichever is smaller. Once your cache is at the limit, it will start to eliminate old files, freeing up your network resources. You can also clear your cache at any time. Each browser has different steps, so search for “clear cache Firefox” or “clear cache Chrome.”

1. Check your connection speed. If your computer is still slow, perform a free check of the Internet speed at www.speedtest.net. Then compare the result to the speed listed on your Internet plan. If the speed is slower than what you’re paying for, call your Internet service provider to have them check your connection. They may suggest replacing your modem or wireless router to boost the speed.

Free Internet Radio Websites . . .

• www.pandora.com – Listen to the music you love. Type in a song or artist and it creates a “station” just for you.

• www.spotify.com – Select from thousands of songs and play them on demand. It connects to Facebook so your friends can see what you’re listening to.

• www.iheart.com – Access more than 1,500 live radio stations from every genre. Download their app for Apple and Android devices.

Sleep Positions To Feel Better . . .

If you’re a snorer, sleep on one side or the other. If you sleep flat on your back, your throat narrows, causing those dreadful noises. Good to know if you have a condition called sleep apnea.

If you have heartburn, sleep on your left side. This makes it harder for stomach acid to leak into your esophagus. Also, consider raising the upper part of your body by using a wedge pillow or putting blocks under the head of your bed.

Great Organizing Tool . . .

Need to organize volunteers for an event or project? Check out www.signupgenius.com. It confirms who is available and sends reminders.

Have A Laugh . . .