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Brookside Community Comes Together

Brookside Community Comes Together While Maintaining Social Distance

Even though times have been uncertain for everyone here in the Brookside/Waldo communities there is still a lot of good to be found when taking the time slow down and take a look around. In the words of, Ellen Zetmeir, with Brookside Real Estate,

“I have really been challenging myself, my friends, and my clients to observe the good that is happening right now and the closeness of the community through all of this. I am truly blessed to live in Brookside. The community coming together in this time just reminds me of all of the reasons that I was excited to move into this neighborhood in the first place. “

For example, some kind individuals are offering their help by sewing masks either for free or simply for donation; other neighbors are purchasing and delivering groceries to elderly friends who are stuck at home. A couple of kind hearts are volunteering simple joys like free flowers and other plants from their own gardens in the hopes of brightening people’s days. The Brookside community is more close-knit than ever thanks to thoughtfulness. chalk hopscotch

It is evident that the community’s creativity is alive and well. Many families are taking the time to create sidewalk chalk art – these bright and colorful creations include fun hopscotch games and meaningful messages of encouragement!

Brookside’s creativity has also forged a way for the community to still share music; sit out on your front porch some evening and you may well hear “Front Porch Concerts” drifting through the streets. From cellos and violins to pianos and flutes, neighbors are serenading the community from their very own homes. If you’re lucky, you might even witness ukulele concerts or some pretty phenomenal bagpipe playing!

Following proper social distancing and precautions of course, Ellen recommends getting out and breathing some fresh air.  Take note of the fluffy dogs delighted to have their humans home; watch for the kids on bikes or playing in their backyards.

See if you can discover which neighbor has a pet tortoise! Admire the sweet signs of spring like bright tulips! Wave to your neighbors! Remember, there is plenty of joy to go around! Take a stroll around your lovely Brookside community and you might just be surprised at what you find.

Ellen knows all about buying and selling homes, but she also has all the key insights into the Brookside community! Contact Ellen today for any questions about your home or any tips on becoming more involved in your Brookside neighborhood.

And please, feel free to share your own messages of encouragement with Ellen! Brookside Real Estate is delighted to have you as part of our beautiful Brookside bunch!

 

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First Time Buyers Enjoy Home Buyer Happy Hour on the Patio!

If you weren’t able to make it to Brookside Real Estate’s recent Home Buyer Happy Hour on the Patio we can only say one thing: You missed out! It was a great evening filled with food, fun and a great discussion on renting vs. buying a home! The short presentations from our expert panel were quite informative and our inquisitive group of attendees came prepared with many questions for our seasoned home buying experts to casually field over cocktails and appetizers.

Mortgage expert Mike O’Neill gave the first presentation and talked about what a renter needs to think about as he or she looks to buy a house. Mike made it clear that there were many personal and professional considerations that should be taken into account as a potential homebuyer looks toward making one of the biggest decisions of their life!

One of his key recommendations was to speak to a lender sooner rather than later. He noted there are often some financial wrinkles that need a little ironing out before jumping headfirst into the buyer pool. Mike also advised that speaking to a lender will give you a better idea of the timeline that you have to work with and the amount of home you can afford – very helpful advice as you decide if buying or renting is the best decision for you.

Brookside Real Estate’s own Courtney Kraus spoke next and walked through the basic steps and timeline of the home buying process itself. She kept it fun and upbeat with stories from past buying and selling experiences that had the whole patio laughing as they also learned what things to do and not do. Courtney also explained the importance of having an experienced Real Estate Agent. Not only can you save a great deal financially – and emotionally – but for a home buyer, having a Real Estate Agent is generally FREE! If you didn’t know that before, you do now!

As one guest commented, “I had no idea that learning about such a scary topic could be so fun! It gave me a lot to think about and now I know who to ask when I have more questions!”

If you missed the June Home Buyer Happy Hour, don’t worry, we are planning another session soon. Stay tuned for details – and take a look at the photos below from the event!