"The finest
compliment I
can ever receive
is a referral
from my friends
and clients!"





Renata V. Lewis
REALTY USA
Licensed Real Estate
Salesperson
518-439-2888 ext 243
518-312-2069 CEL
L
(Voice Mail & TEXT)




























The finest
compliment I can
ever receive is a
referral from my
friends and
clients!"
Renata V. Lewis
Licensed  Real Estate
Salesperson
If your house is already listed with a Realtor®, please disregard this offer.
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Decorating Tricks for Your Bedroom

Hanging a graphic quilt is an easy solution to the “big blank
wall” issue. Complementary bed linens pull the decor together.

Nightstands and adjustable
lamps affixed to walls smartly
save space in a small room.

Gauge the size of your bedside
lamp by the scale of your bed:
A four-poster would call for a
big fixture; for a low bed, choose
something smaller.

A wall lamp eliminates any need
to juggle items on the nightstand.
Equip it with a multi-watt bulb to fine-tune the light for reading or
relaxing.

At the bold end of the scale, go for saturation with a favorite
color. Use a variety of tones and textures to give your room a
layered feel.

Make your most personal space even more so with artwork of
those you love, whether photographs or framed cameos of your
little ones.
Source: RealSimple.com


Save Money by Winterizing Your Home

Find Energy-Sucking Culprits:
Some unsuspecting areas include dryer vents, outdoor faucets,
cable TV and phone lines, and electric and gas service lines.
On a cold windy day, turn on bathroom fans and stove vents
and walk around the house holding a burning incense stick.
Drafts will blow the smoke. Close a window or door on a piece of
paper. If you can pull it out without tearing it, you're losing heat.

Insulation investment
Make sure your heating system
is serviced. Replace the filter
monthly. Check that vents,
including return ducts, are not
blocked by furniture, toys or
piles of clothes. Cover your air
ducts with insulation.  You can
add new insulation on top of
old if you don't add the
kind with paper backing. Determining the proper amount of
insulation is tricky. A quick guide is that you should have at
least 12 inches, enough to cover the ceiling joists.
Source: MSNBC.com



Remodeling:  Cost vs. Value Report for 2009-10





Welcome to our 22nd annual report on the relationship
between remodeling costs and resale value. On this site,
you can compare national and regional averages for 33
popular remodeling projects; you can also download a PDF
with project data for any one of 80 U.S. cities. To learn more
about how the Remodeling 2009–10 Cost vs. Value Report
was put together, click on the link
HERE.

The Capital Region City Report is available on a PDF file. To
open and print any PDF file, you will need the Adobe Reader®
software installed on your computer.  

To begin downloading the city data, click on the this
LINK.  



NYS Tax Credit Revised & Expanded

First-time Home Buyers Tax Credit

First-time home buyers have been eligible for tax
credits of up to $8,000 since January as part of the
economic stimulus package. With that program
scheduled to expire Dec. 1, Congress voted to
extend it into the spring -- and include people who
already own homes.

Who Qualifies for the Extended Credit?

• First-time home buyers who purchase homes
between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010.
• Current home owners purchasing a home between
November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010, who
have used the home being sold or vacated as a
principal residence for five consecutive years
within the last eight.

Which Properties Are Eligible?

The Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit may be
applied to primary residences, including: single
family homes, condos, townhomes, and co-ops.

How Much Is Available

• The maximum allowable credit for first-time
home buyers is $8,000.
• The maximum allowable credit for current homeowners
is $6,500


Click here for more details



February Quote:

“I don't understand why Cupid was chosen to represent
Valentine's Day. When I think about romance, the last thing

on my mind is a short, chubby toddler coming at me with a
weapon.”   ~Unknown

Adopt a Foolproof Credit Card Strategy for 2010

Make this the year you tackle that credit card debt once and for
all. Doing so will make you and your family stronger and happier—
forever. What happens to the stock market and the housing
market is completely beyond your control. Credit card debt,
however, is completely within your control. Every time you pay
off a card with a 15 percent interest rate, you get a 15 percent
return on  your money.

See if you can qualify for a balance
transfer card that offers a low or 0
percent introductory interest rate
for the first six to 12 months. If you
can get a good deal, move your
high-rate debt to that new card. Do
not use the card for any new charges,
and push yourself hard to pay off the
balance as soon as possible. If you
don't qualify, no worries. Always pay the minimum due on each
card, on time, every month. Whenever possible, send in some
extra money on the card that charges the highest interest rate.
Your goal is to get the costliest balance
paid off first. When the first card is cleared, direct your payments
to the card with the next highest interest rate. Keep doing this until
you've zeroed out the balances on all your cards.
Source: Suze Orman for Oprah.com



Super Bowl Chili

Ingredients:

1 pound mixed ground beef and sausage, browned & drained
1 medium onion, diced
1 green bell pepper diced
2 cups chopped celery
2 (28-ounce) cans diced tomatoes
1 (28-ounce) can whole,
( peeled tomatoes )
Ground cumin
Chili powder
1 (14.5-oz) can pinto beans
    drained & rinsed
1 (14.5-oz) can black beans
    drained & rinsed
1 (14.5-oz) can kidney beans
    drained & rinsed
1 package chili seasoning mix
Shredded cheddar, sour cream, chopped green onions(for garnish)

Directions:

In a skillet brown ground beef and sausage, drain and set aside.
Spray large pot with nonstick cooking spray and heat over medium
heat. Add the onion, green pepper, and celery and saute briefly.
Stir in the diced and whole tomatoes. Add cumin and chili powder,
to taste, and cook for about 8 minutes or until vegetables are
tender. Add the beans, browned meat, and chili seasoning.
Partially cover, and let simmer for 4 hours. Serve with Cheddar
cheese, sour cream, and green onions.



KIDS CORNER

Candy Rings

These candy rings are quite wearable! They make a sweet little gift
for friends and classmates and they are simple to make. Once they
are done wearing them, they can snack on the delicious wrapped
candy.


What you'll need:
1 chenille stem per ring
(pink, purple, light blue,
white, or red)
White craft glue
Wrapped candies

How to make it:

Wrap the entire chenille around the child's finger, and then slide
it off. Take the end of the chenille and wrap it around the circle
to secure the ring. Place a wrapped candy on the table and add
some white craft glue. Place the ring in top of the glue and let dry.

Tips:
Do not use unwrapped candies for this project. Not only would it
prove to be messy and sticky, you don't want children ingesting
even small amounts of craft glue. Chenille stems have pointy ends,
just be careful with smaller children. Foil wrapped chocolate hearts
are an ideal candy for this project!



Warranty Wisdom

Whether selling or buying a home, you can never predict when
problems will occur. Unexpected home repair expenses can ruin
family vacations and holidays, and put a strain on the family budget.
A HomeTrust Warranty® home service agreement gives you the
protection you need against breakdowns of covered appliances and
major systems such as plumbing, heating, electrical and air
conditioning. View the Home Trust Warranty Home Guide
HERE



RealtyUSA awarded for the Best Place to Work - for the
second consecutive year!
518.312.2069
RLewis@RealtyUSA
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