Thanksgiving Thanks from Integrity Realty

I would like to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving from Integrity Realty. I hope that you have a moment this busy weekend to take some time with friends and family and be thankful for the great things in your life and how your little, thoughtful actions may have a great positive impact on someone else.

I know that everyone probably knows this story but it’s one of my favorites! Enjoy!

There was once a wise man that used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

He was walking along the shore one day when he saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself as he didn’t think anybody would dance on the beach at this time of the day. Hence, he began to walk faster to try and catch up with the person.

As he got closer, he saw that the person was a young man and he wasn’t dancing. Instead, he was reaching down to pick up something on the beach every now and then before throwing it into the ocean very gently.

When the wise man got closer, he called out, “Good morning! What are you doing?” The young man looked up and replied, “Throwing starfish into the ocean.”

“Why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?”

“The sun is up and the tide is going down. If I don’t throw them in they’ll die.”

“There are miles and miles of beach and there are starfishes all along it. You can’t possibly make a difference!”

The young man listened politely. Then he bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves. He said, “It made a difference for that one.”

Each of us can make a difference to this world. Everybody is useful and it is just a matter of whether you want to make a difference.

Keep Your Black Hills Home Energy Bill Down During Holidays

As the holidays are creeping up on us so are your energy costs for your Black Hills home. As we’re busy cooking and entertaining this holiday season, there are some great tips on how to save on energy without sacrificing warm toes as those temperatures plummet.

Pre-plan for success

1. As you are planning your menu, take into consideration any dishes that can be cooked alongside the turkey to reduce the amount of time the oven will be running. Not only is it easier on the cook, but it will save energy too!

2. Installing a dimmer switch for the dining room can help extend your bulb’s lifespan and will reduce the amount of energy you will use. The $10 a dimmer switch costs will well be made up in savings at the end of the holiday season.

Let the cooking begin

3. Once the fateful day arrives for all the cooking and baking, lower your house thermostat by a few degrees. The oven will keep your house warm and once the baking is complete, slightly open the oven door to let the warm air escape into the room. You can also use your ceiling fan direction to help distribute heat throughout the house.

4. When cooking those delectable dishes, use ceramic or glass pans. The oven temp can be turned down by 25 degrees since these materials retain heat so well.

5. Use your oven’s convection feature. It circulates the heated air around the food and reduces the required cooking time and temperature. If you do not have a convection oven, this may be a good update when renovating your kitchen to increase your home’s value.

The slow clean up

6. Good news! Using your dishwasher over hand-washing saves energy and water; only hand-wash those things that are not dishwasher-safe. Want to save even more energy? Turn off the dry cycle, crack the door and let your dishes air-dry.

If you are planning to sell your home this winter, you should know exactly what it’s worth before making such an important decision.  At Integrity Realty, we determine the value of Black Hills area homes daily. I’d love to talk with you about giving you a Comparative Market Analysis of your home to determine the best course of action for you. Our expertise in the Black Hills or Rapid City markets will ensure you a stress-free experience. Contact me, Jim Peterson, at (605) 574-4444 or email me to discuss how I can help you with all your real estate needs. My office is in the heart of Hill City and as a tourist spot, restrooms are hard to find – mine are always open for your convenience!

A Black Hills Thanksgiving Day Thanks

I can’t think of anyone who doesn’t love Thanksgiving. Besides all the great food, it’s one of those holidays where we can just be happy for our friends and families and all of the wonderful things we enjoy here in Black Hills. Did you know that there are also real estate benefits to the holiday? Being thankful for what we have and taking stock of all that we already have gives us license to realize that our real estate position may be even better than we thought.

When we compare our homes to others without taking into consideration that fair appraisal, it lends itself to frustration with what we have. If your home fits your family needs, lifestyle and budget, you should count your blessings! If it’s time to sell your home, being in a realistic frame of mind can help market your home better because you’ll already know what great features to highlight in your home.

If you are looking to buy a new home in the next 6 months, be careful not to get caught up in the shopping frenzy that ensues the day after Thanksgiving. Running up debt could affect your mortgage application, or even affect the pre-approval you may have already received. What’s more, you are trying to de-clutter to show off your home, sell it and move, not add more to clean, organize, and hide before potential buyers come to view your home.

Make a list of realistic wants and needs before you start your home shopping. Those things that are merely “wishes” can probably be added later on when the urge to spend has passed.

Throughout the year I’m reminded how lucky I am to live in the Black Hill region and what wonderful friends my clients have become. I wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving! Email me or walk on in anytime to chat! You can also Call me, Jim Peterson, at (605) 574-4444 or email me to discuss how I can help you with all your real estate needs. Our expertise in the Black Hills or Rapid City markets will ensure you a stress-free experience. My office is in the heart of Hill City and as a tourist spot, restrooms are hard to find – mine are always open for your convenience!

Your Retirement Home is Waiting for you in the Black Hills

Retirement. For some of us, it’s not that far off. If you are beginning to ponder where you ultimately want to retire, then it’s worth taking a look at Hill City and the surrounding Black Hills communities.  There are many communities in the area that cater to early retirees and finding a vacation home now, that will turn into your retirement oasis, can be a good investment.

Kiplinger recently published an article with the 10 Best Cities for Early Retirement and Sioux Falls came in the top 5 on the list. Some of the things they accounted for were tax-friendliness, household incomes, living costs associated with housing and health care, and like-aged residents to enjoy your retirement with peers around you.

Now that everyone will be flocking to Sioux Falls, your perfect retirement home in the Black Hills is ripe for the picking. Most of the accolades listed making it part of the Top 10 are perks to all of South Dakota; the best place for a small business – due in part to the state’s lack of corporate income tax. South Dakota also levies no individual income tax, good news for retires, across the whole state, as Social Security benefits and other retirement income would not be touched.

Whether you are looking now for a home to retire in and enjoy the good life, or are looking for investment or vacation property that can later be turned into your retirement oasis, check out Hill City and the surrounding Black Hills communities. I would love the opportunity to discuss with you how the Black Hills may be the right choice for you.

Our expertise in the Black Hills or Rapid City markets will ensure you a stress-free experience. Contact me, Jim Peterson, at (605) 574-4444 or email me to discuss how I can help you with all your real estate needs. My office is in the heart of Hill City and as a tourist spot, restrooms are hard to find – mine are always open for your convenience!