Just as back when I was on active duty; all military personnel are required to complete a Power of Attorney. This instrument permits a person(s), identified as the principal(s) to appoint another as their agent. The agent is allowed to execute specific or certain kinds of acts on behalf of and for the benefit of the principal(s). All of us should grant Power of Attorney to an honorable person to act as our agent. Spouses should consider appointing each other. Parents should appoint their (adult) children, and friends should identify that principled individual to represent their interest. This instrument will make legal and business matter tasks less complicated to accomplish. Please consider executing this instrument as soon as possible, and use a reputable attorney. Negotiate the fee, but use an attorney. If you need a referral to a good attorney, email me or call at 919-951-1807.
POA may sometimes be needed when selling or buying property.  If you or someone you know is looking to buy or sell, please contact The JAHLAH Group.

Okay, that time of year is here.  So from me, the Urbanite, to those of  you who own yard space, a few… MOWING TIPS

• Don’t cut your grass too short, particular for cool season grasses. Higher grass heights usually provide for a deeper root system, look better, and are less likely to have weeds invading, particularly crabgrass.
• Don’t remove any more than one third of the grass leaf at any one cutting. If circumstances arise that a lawn gets too tall and you just have to lop off a bunch to get caught up, bite the bullet and break it down into several mowings to get caught up with 3 or more days between cuttings.
• Try to avoid mowing when the grass is wet.
• When mowing only a third with each cutting, you can safely leave clippings that will quickly decompose and add nutrients back into the soil. Contrary to popular opinion, grass clippings do not add to thatch buildup. Grass blades are made up of about 75% water.
• Mow your lawn in a different direction with each mowing, especially with lawns of shorter grass types. Altering the direction ensures a more even cut since grass blades will grow more erect and less likely to develop into a set pattern.
• Keep your mower’s blade sharp, which means having it sharpened several times during the mowing season.  Keep several blades around so you’ll always have a sharp one on hand.
• Don’t forget to change your mower’s oil at least once during the mowing season.  If you didn’t drain the gas tank in the fall, or use a fuel stabilizer, don’t use that old gas, it can cause a number of problems.  Better to use fresh gasoline in the new mowing season.

Intermittently, clients inquire about real estate investing or income property. Income property is real estate that generates rental income. Examples are: apartment buildings, shopping centers, office buildings, and/or warehouses.
Investment property is purchased real estate that is expected to increase in value over time. An example is a single-family house or multi-family dwelling. Both of these properties are purchased to generate X dollars over Y time. The key to this equation is over time. An investor, either large or small, must allow their investment to work for them over a length of time, and not expect immediate profits. At times, there can be a loss.
Real Estate Investing is the desire to, or act of achieving a portion of your annual income from business activity that centers on real property. Real Estate investing means different things to different people. It can be as simple as owning one rental property, or it can mean being a partner in a multi-million dollar commercial enterprise. In other words, you as an investor, decide where and how you will earn money due to real estate. Be aware that this form of investing can take many routes. There are wide ranges of income opportunities for the real estate investor.
A potentially successful real estate investor should possess the following character traits.
· The ability to set realistic goals
· The ability to prioritize activities
· The ability to manage time
· A willingness to learn
Another paramount trait is Patience. Considering investing requires a review of your personal financial budget. If you do not have one—may I suggest you check out the www.motleyfool.com site.
For those who have a personal budget, discern how much you can possibly lose without crying all night or behaving as if you lost front row tickets to the Superbowl! If you are going to take food, shelter, or clothing from you or your family-forget about real estate investing for now. Return when you have more cash or you are credit worthy. (Becon scores above 800.)
Investors have to decide on an investment property niche. [If commercial properties are more your inkling and you have the capital, call me immediately: Tony Hawkins, ABR @ 919 951-1807.] A probable starting point for a first time investor is the multi-unit family residence. These are 1 to 4 units (apartments) located within a 50-mile radius of your principle residence. This gives you the opportunity to property manage the site yourself. Collect the rent, landscape, fix the plumbing, repair the windows, advertise for tenants, and develop good landlord-tenant relations. However, if you would like, I can property manage the site for you. (Part of the investment calculation is to account for a vacancy rate.)
Presently, most lenders require a 20% to 30% down payment on investment properties. If you do not have a particular lender in mind, I can recommend a few for you to interview.
I will meet with you to discuss your requirements, location, and property choices and how patient you are. We will work together to discern how much money you are able/willing to invest, and do some math together. I will assist you in locating the correct property(ies) for you.
This is an overview of a real estate investor for informational purposes. The Internet, while providing some facts, does not consider the uniqueness of Land, where the property is physically located, the local market’s economic cycle, and the community’s zoning laws. The availability of property, prices, terms & conditions, etc. vary tremendously from locale to locale.
The basics of a real estate investment: it can be a very lucrative and yet potentially risky business venture. Investment property ownership is wonderful. Being able to provide housing or space for those who need it is quite benevolent, especially if you can get paid for it. However, you can lose your shirt if you are not careful. Call or e-mail me for further discussion on income producing properties.

In the Fall, while watching the birds and squirrels prepare for the coming winter one can assume from their activity if we may be in for some serious weather.  If that’s the case, we need to prep also.  During autumn we have a chance to clear dead limbs, clean up yard debris, and generally get our shelters ready for the coming winter months.  Although the Carolina Hurricanes pro hockey team have a home in Cary, their ‘icing’ problems are a lot different than the ones we can face during adverse weather conditions.
If icing occurs on our trees, and limbs break and fall; or the wind moves powerfully through our neighborhood causing trees to fall on either their property or ours creates an issue.  Avoiding the issue before it happens is best.  Complicating the situation is the unfortunate matter that insurance companies have recently adopted outrageously bad attitudes toward their customers of “You file a legitimate claim; we raise your rate or cancel your policy.”   If you have a large claim, unless you can pay it yourself, you really have no alternative but to file a claim and hope your insurance company is ethical and won’t raise your rate or cancel you.  An insurance company might “subrogate” and sue the neighbor if there is evidence of the neighbor’s negligence, such as failure to remove a diseased tree, which was leaning toward your property before a storm or adverse weather event.  In either case, being prepared can help eliminate potential problems.

From the Hawk’s Cry January 2001

It is quite fitting to share news and my view, of the continuing explosion of e-business in this new millennium. In particular, the electronic transfer of information in the Real Estate market.
The e-transfer of real property information is becoming quite popular. It is commonplace for purveyors of homes to do their ‘shopping’ on the Internet. Prior to entering the business as a Realtor, my wife and I explored the possibilities of finding a home on the Internet. The Internet can assist the purchaser(s) in viewing the house with a diagramed ‘virtual’ tour. The tour can visually help buyers in the decision making process.
Depending on the web-surfers’ criteria, the Internet can assist potential buyers in examining the possibilities of owning a home with two, three, or four bedrooms; understanding how the floor plan does or does not meet their needs and how to possibly plan to decorate the living room. This scenario is provided visually with the overall set-up of the house’s virtual tour.
What the Internet cannot do is help the buyer ‘feel’ the house. Is the house well constructed? Are there enough windows? Is the fireplace too small? Is the hallway really that small-it appeared larger on the virtual tour? I didn’t know the neighbor’s dog yelped all night! I thought my SUV could fit in the garage! The virtual tour went round & round, I couldn’t tell there was only one window in the master bedroom!
The Internet also cannot tell you the local market’s rate at that time. Nor can it replace the expertise of a Realtor who is familiar with the particular market that is being investigated and the neighborhood. This market knowledge provides additional guidance for the buyer(s). A virtual tour is a 360-degree picture that prevents the potential buyer from sensing the property other than visually. Stevie Wonder probably wouldn’t buy a house on the net & neither should you.
After working with Internet savvy clients this previous year, whom I had the pleasure of assisting to purchase homes, I’m finding it more difficult to say, sign an offer after viewing the virtual tour. I have spoken with other Realtors who have contacted and contracted clients on the net. I would greatly encourage my clients to touch/feel, see, hear ‘taste’, the property prior to purchasing.
E-commerce is quickly changing the pace of the business community. However, it is still the human touch that enlivens the statement-a house is not a home, until it’s lived in. If you, your family or friends are exploring the possibility of using the Internet to investigate home-ownership, either as a first time buyer, or a buyer who’s moving up or downsizing living space as the case may be, show up and the see the subject property in real-time! Case the joint. Cruise the neighborhood. Where’s the grocery store? Where’s the school? Where’s the firehouse? Who are the neighbors?
As a savvy consumer, use the Internet to your advantage and not to your disadvantage. See the place first on the Internet. But before you make an offer to purchase, see the place first-hand. And when you make the offer to purchase, use a Realtor such as Tony Hawkins, ABR, your intelligent choice.