Still haven't found a gift for Mom?

It’s not too late to find that special gift for your Mom (or a Mom you know) for Mother’s Day. What would be really exceptional, really unforgettable? What would show her that you’ve been listening? How about a house?!?

Working at Lila Delman Real Estate, you’re bound to occasionally fall in love with a property in the inventory. So if I could choose gifts for some of the many wonderful, hard-working Moms/agents here at Lila Delman, here’s what I would choose.

Families…are you paying attention?

Laura Fauntleroy – 145 Prospect Farm Road – Her face lit up the minute she saw this outstanding home. Perfection in every direction.

Kim Doherty – 325 Ocean Avenue – For a lady who loves architecture and appreciates a masterpiece.

Susan Gustavson – 78 Macomber Lane – Susan has perfected her own beloved cottage and I picture her honing this little gem into her waterfront retreat.

Robin Nicholson – 330 Gray Craig Road – I know she looks forward to every appointment here and grows to like it more every time she visits.

Bridgette Soby – 25 Bedlow Avenue – More room, a nice private yard for play space, and a stylishly renovated house where no detail has been overlooked.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO BUY A HOME?

When you can get the most house for your money.When rates are at a historic low.When you have the itch to buy.

320 Grandview Rd in East Greenwich, RI

Rates have had an unbelievable run of late with the intent of stimulating the economy. The Fed reduced rates in January with the largest rate reduction in 20 years. They dropped even more in February and now they have done it again. Rates are at an historic low.

So then......NOW......is the time to buy your home!!!!

You hear from the media that the housing market is in a slump. This being true, this is when you can get the great deals on homes AND the great deals on mortgages.

So then......Who is the big winner in this game? YOU are!! You, THE BUYER, are the winner at this time when you buy a house today.

How Much Longer Can This Continue? In the long run, these rate cuts will entice more international investors, boost consumer confidence, leading to higher rates. Don't miss out on this great opportunity to purchase your home. Start your search today. See mortgage options.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

House Love

Does everyone have a love affair with her home? I do and I enjoy being part of the process that brings that feeling to others. I'm talking about the feeling you get when you live in a place where you are happy just to be there and to share it with others. Your home is meant to be your retreat and haven, after all.

When someone is delighted with a house, it shows. You can never tell what will capture the imagination - a garden, some small detail like a French door, the clasp on a window, a little nook with a window seat, a stone floor - who knows? For every person it is different. Some people go crazy for outbuildings. When people see that special place or detail, they light up at the sight of it. There is a real connection between person and place. It can be a very soulful experience and I love being involved with that.

You work, you pour through listings, you do comps, you drive around, you make appointments, you look and look and look at houses. And then something magical happens. One of my clients summed up the combination of hard work and practical magic, and shared this with me - You have a dream in which your ancestor appears, and you receive a sign in the form of a cloud, and your horse stamps his foot three times, inexplicably; and there you have it - your new home!

Yeah, it's like that.

Historic Newport

It always irks me that visitors to Newport - locals too, for that matter - put so much emphasis on the mansions, and focus so little on what really makes Newport special - the spectacular richness of its everyday historic properties.

Probably the single most little-known fact about Newport is that it contains more intact colonial architectural fabric than any city in the country. That's right - in the entire country! More than "Colonial" Williamsburg...more than Boston...more than Savannah, or Salem, or Plymouth, or any other historic city you can name

Newport's streets are lined with literally hundreds and hundreds of historic structures, from private vernacular-style residences to notable public buildings to nationally-known architect-designed buildings from the 18th, 19th & 20th centuries. Not only that, they're still in use, these houses are still alive, not just living on as museum sets or recreations. Scholars from all over the world come to Newport because there is such an abundance of significant early American material still here, in everyday use, material embedded into our every neighborhood and streetscape, the same neighborhoods & streetscapes we drive through evey day and routinely ignore.

If you live around here, authentic 18th century buildings start to seem like they're a dime a dozen, ho hum, and building restrictions & guidelines imposed by the Historic Commission are nothing more than an annoying impediment to getting things done. Few of us ever stop to consider the uniqueness of the almost unbelievable historical authenticity that underlies the facades surrounding us. Does anyone even know or care that Newport is currently seeking inclusion in the list of World Heritage sites? I doubt it. All I ever hear anyone talk about are the mansions...

Curb Appeal

You never get a second chance to make a first impression!

In todays market it is important to get noticed. Spring is the perfect time to make some important changes that are sure to impress potential buyers. Most buyers select the homes they wish to see by exterior photos seen in ads or on the internet or from a drive by the property.

Let's face it, what buyer would want to see the inside of the house that has overgrown shrubs, peeling paint and a yard that is full of clutter ?

Here are some tips to clean things up and make your home shine like this one in Narragansett.

• Front door/entryway: a fresh coat of paint, new welcome mat and some potted plants will make this focal point shine.


• Mailbox: replace if needed, add a new set of house numbers and some plantings.


• Seal the driveway: this can be an easy do it yourself project that will give your driveway a clean look.


• Clean up clutter: put trash containers out of sight, clean up toys and keep in the backyard.


• Wash your windows


• Power wash the exterior: get rid of cobwebs, dirt and mildew.


• Wash exterior lights and change light bulbs


• Front porches/Patios: sweep, add hanging and potted plants and some great patio furniture.


• Exterior paint: touch up wherever needed, shutters should not be faded.


• Landscaping: keep grass mowed, clean up leaves and debris, add fresh mulch and trim all hedges and plantings.


• Walkway lighting: Many potential buyers will drive by several times if they like a property. Make your home look great at night too with walkway lighting and accent lighting in gardens.

Remember a buyer will assume there is a beautiful interior if the exterior looks great.