While it’s always wise to watch out for someone trying to take advantage of you, in times of economic uncertainty, it’s a good idea to be even more wary. With the downturn in the U.S. real estate market, there has been an increase in complaints about real estate investment scams.. This should come as no surprise, as many buyers of vacation home properties are members of the baby boom generation, widely billed as the richest generation in history. It reminds me of the answer to a question posed to Willy Sutton, a famous bank robber after he was arrested. “Why do you rob banks?” His answer: “because that’s where the money is”. Throughout history, thieves and con artists have gravitated toward ‘where the money is’.

There are a variety of methods employed by scammers in the real estate business. The difficulty comes in discerning who is honest and who may be crooked. The basic rule has always been, if it’s too good to be true, it usually is. Many honest builders, developers and real estate pros sell properties during the construction and even pre-construction phase. If you are approached with offers of this type, examine them closely. This is one area in which some of the scam artists operate as well as the honest marketers. Offers of special incentives such as subsidized closing costs, pre-paid mortgages (for a limited period), or free property management are used by both honest and dishonest sales organizations. In some cases these offers are nothing but a come on to relieve you of your money, in most cases, they are legitimate offers made by reputable companies trying to compete in a slow market..

A detailed article appeared recently in RealtyTimes that is filled with practical advice on this subject.

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Everyone loves a campfire. But in some areas, open fires are against local regulations, and building a proper fire pit can be very labor intensive and exhausting. But, you can purchase a pre-made campfire pit or chimnea and enjoy a campfire at your vacation home whenever you wish.

Copper Cauldron Firepit from Smith & Hawken. The large (36” across) is available for $459, the small (25” across) is only $279

Gas Firepit from Smith & Hawken. $699

Rectangular 34” Copper Table Firepit from Home Depot, doubles as a patio coffee table when not in use, $299

Cast Iron Pagoda Outdoor Fireplace from Yardiac, $279

Southwestern Firepit from Yardiac, Designs include wildlife motifs, Chinese symbols, evening sky, horseshoe, bear & pine tree, Kokopeli and more, $159 - $449

Lyra Slate Gas Firepit Table from Patio Embers. $1299

The Red Volcano Scandinavian Centerpieces from Specialty Living, available with a stone or stainless steel base. $649.99

Sarasota Outdoor Gel Fueled Firepit Table from Amazon. $359

San Simeon Firepit with Granite Base from Amazon. $2,039.99

Arctic Cast Iron Leaf Style Chimnea from Teak, Wicker & More. $285

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These days, when it come to the U.S. residential real estate market, it seems as if behind every silver lining there’s a cloud. Faced with rising mortgage rates, failing sub-prime loans, bankruptcies and foreclosures up; what’s an optimist to do? And especially someone who has a house on the market, (like me!).

Being a glass is half full kind of guy, I read as many articles on the market as I can, looking for helpful selling hints and for signs that there is light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. My brother, ever the pessimist, said that light was the headlight of an oncoming train. He never won me over to the dark side.

This week my persistence was rewarded when I found a detailed article on the attitudes of U.S. homeowners that supports cause of hope. Apparently there are more optimists in the U.S. population than the gloom and doom headlines would lead one to believe.

According to a study recently quoted by RealtyTimes, “fifty-five percent of Americans say their home would sell for more money now than it would have a year ago. That’s down from 59 percent last summer, but still a majority, according to a recently released survey by Michaels Opinion Research, Inc. conducted for the Boston Consulting Group.”

In case you are in need of an additional dose of good news about the housing market, you can read the whole article.

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As we head off for our vacation spots, don’t forget to make sure your home is safe and sound. There are usually more break-ins during the summer than in other seasons. In part, this is because many of us spend one or more weeks away from home at this time of year.

There are several ways you can provide greater assurance that your home will be protected while you are out of town.

The AP Wire Service has a report on the subject via the Houston Chronicle.

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It’s that time of year. Massive thunder boomers roll over the countryside. Inevitably, especially in rural areas, the power goes out. If it’s nighttime, this usually causes a scramble in the dark for the nearest flashlight. I don’t know about you, but the last time that happened I found the flashlight. The only problem was, the batteries were dead. Then started the hunt in the dark for matches and then the candles.

There’s got to be a better way.

There is: just crank it up! There are a number of hand-cranked flashlights on the market. What a concept. No more dead batteries. No more schlepping to the store to get new ones. And that’s not to mention how polluting the darned things are. Mercury, Cadmium, nickel, oh my!

For more details on the subject check out this great article from Realty Times.

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