May... Memories... and MORALES!!

			Mar '12		Apr '12		May '12
St Charles
# Active			462		477		469
# Sold			39		43		53
MKT Time			217		193		180
Med Sold $			$385,000		$310,000		$260,500
Geneva
# Active			184		204		198
# Sold			24		34		28
MKT Time			129		154		162
Med Sold $			$358,750		$277,250		$324,500
Batavia
# Active			144		155		159
# Sold			18		19		22
MKT Time			165		202		224
Med Sold $			$171,000		$292,000		$243,625
Elburn
# Active			83		73		79
# Sold			13		9		12
MKT Time			245		257		263
Med Sold $			$185,000		$281,000		$248,000
Sugar Grove
# Active			56		65		58
# Sold			6		6		14
MKT Time			165		147		179
Med Sold $			$213,500		$196,000		$250,000
Maple Park
# Active			28		30		28
# Sold			6		6		2
MKT Time			707		203		31
Med Sold $			$287,000		$182,500		$123,950

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.
Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart & intuition… Stay hungry. Stay foolish.” – Steve Jobs, Stanford University, 2005

           

My little tribute to high school graduation... oh the memories!!

Savor the moments that are warm, special and giggly. - Author Unknown

Its not the days in your life you'll remember, it's the memories. - Author Unknown

I always knew that I would look back on the times I cried and laugh, but I never knew that I'd look back on the times I laughed and cry. - Author Unknown


Don't forget to remember me! 
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Flag Flying Fun... from MORALES!

Many of us use Memorial Day weekend as a reason for a vacation, family gathering, or barbecue.  But let us all remember the true reason for the holiday – to honor those who died serving our country.

Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day;  It was meant as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers.

Maj. Gen. John A. Logan declared that Decoration Day should be observed on May 30 because he thought it was at this point that flowers would have bloomed to be at their most beautiful.

After World War 1, all American soldiers were honored. Up until this point Memorial Day only officially celebrated those soldiers who died in the Civil War. Since then Memorial Day honors all soldiers who served and died for the United States.

We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.

It was from this reference that people wear poppies as a small honor to US service men and women lost in battle.

Below are proper etiquettes for  displaying the American Flag. 
Many of these I knew, and some I just learned...
I hope you'll proudly display your flag on Monday!! 

• When flying the flag from a vehicle, attach it to the antenna or clamp the flagstaff to the right fender (or window).
• Hang the flag above any other flag on the same pole.
• When hanging the flag over a street, hang it with the field of stars to the east (on a north-south street) or to the north (on an east-west street).
• On multiple flagpoles, all poles should be of equal height. Hang the U.S. flag on its own right.
• Hang the flag vertically in a window or draped over a building, with the field of stars to the left of anyone looking at it from the street.
• The point of honor is on the extreme left from the standpoint of the observer ("the flag's right").  The order from left to right of flags flow together is:  the Stars and Stripes, other national flags in alphabetical order, state flags, county and city flags, organizational flags, personal flags.
• It is proper to fly the Stars and Stripes at night, but only if it is spotlighted.
• In a public gathering (lecture hall, church, etc.), The Stars and Stripes should be to the right of the speakers or on the wall behind them.
• The Stars and Stripes should be in the center of a group of flags only when the center pole is taller than the others or when a fan-like arrangement makes the center pole higher than others.
• When hanging the flag in a hall or lobby, it should be across from the main entrance with the field of stars to the left of anyone coming through the door.
• A salute (hand over heart for those not in uniform) should be rendered when the flag is raised, lowered, or carried by on parade; when the Pledge of Allegiance is played (unless the flag is not present).

As always, your kind referrals are warmly appreciated!
Follow MOVIN WITH MORALES on Facebook!

    Diane Morales

          630.709.9882

http://www.eldercounselblog.com/2012/05/memorial-day-facts-you-may-not-have-known/
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/120525/memorial-day-5-historical-facts-know-weekend
http://proadvance.com/flagdisplay.html
http://www.flagandbannersupply.com/flag-etiquette.htm
http://blubabalu.blogspot.com/2011/05/memorial-day-never-forget-always-honor.html

It's an aMAYzing e•MAY•l ... from Morales!!

			Feb '12		Mar '12		Apr '12
St Charles
# Active			458		462		477
# Sold			18		39		43
MKT Time			170		217		193
Med Sold $			$314,147		$385,000		$310,000
Geneva
# Active			181		184		204
# Sold			20		24		34
MKT Time			180		129		154
Med Sold $			$322,750		$358,750		$277,250
Batavia
# Active			136		144		155
# Sold			10		18		19
MKT Time			307		165		202
Med Sold $			$297,920		$171,000		$292,000
Elburn
# Active			75		83		73
# Sold			10		13		9
MKT Time			216		245		257
Med Sold $			$212,000		$185,000		$281,000
Sugar Grove
# Active			64		56		65
# Sold			5		6		6
MKT Time			127		165		147
Med Sold $			$219,300		$213,500		$196,000
Maple Park
# Active			27		28		30
# Sold			1		6		6
MKT Time			71		707		203
Med Sold $			$178,000		$287,000		$182,500

Misc. crazy and fun-filled facts about the Month of May:

• May is named after the Greek goddess, Maia -- Her name related to a Latin word that means increase or growth.
• May day marked the end of the harsh winter months, welcomed the beginning of Summer
• Traditional May Day celebrations included dancing around maypoles.
• There is an old tale that says that May dew has magic properties and that anyone who has washed their face in it will have a beautiful complexion all through the year. This dew was supposed to be able to remove freckles and also spots and pimples.
• The month of May was considered an unlucky month particularly for getting married. -- 'Marry in May and you'll rue the day'.
• Being born in May was thought to produce a sickly child.
• Never buy a broom in May or wash blankets. -- It is believed if you wash a blanket in May, someone in your family will die.
• Cats born this month will not be good rodent catchers and even worse, will bring snakes into the home.
• The flower associated with May is the Lily of The Valley and the birth gem stone is an Emerald.
• “No Pants Day” is celebrated on the 1st Friday of May.
• Have you ever noticed that no other month in our calendar starts on the same day of the week as the month of May?

Yes, I know... I'm a MAY-niac with these trivia facts!!  It's just that I find this stuff so aMAYzing!  Play MAYke believe!  Cause some utter MAYhem!  Put some MAYk-up on! 

And Don't forget to remember me... ExclaMAYtion Mark!! 

Follow MOVIN WITH MORALES on Facebook!

    Diane Morales

          630.709.9882

http://woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/year/may.htm
http://purpleslinky.com/trivia/history/may-trivia-and-unusual-facts/
http://voices.yahoo.com/interesting-facts-month-may-8134776.html

There's NO fooling... with MORALES!!

			Jan '12		Feb '12		Mar '12
St Charles
# Active			427		458		462
# Sold			29		18		39
MKT Time			236		170		217
Med Sold $			$320,000		$314,147		$385,000
Geneva
# Active			161		181		184
# Sold			13		20		24
MKT Time			214		180		129
Med Sold $			$311,000		$322,750		$358,750
Batavia
# Active			129		136		144
# Sold			13		10		18
MKT Time			167		307		165
Med Sold $			$228,500		$297,920		$171,000
Elburn
# Active			81		75		83
# Sold			3		10		13
MKT Time			24		216		245
Med Sold $			$200,000		$212,000		$185,000
Sugar Grove
# Active			55		64		56
# Sold			6		5		6
MKT Time			132		127		165
Med Sold $			$298,500		$219,300		$213,500
Maple Park
# Active			30		27		28
# Sold			1		1		6
MKT Time			294		71		707
Med Sold $			$365,000		$178,000		$287,000

April fun facts:
Many believe the month is named after the Greek Goddess, Aphrodite.  (There is speculation as to whether it was called this because of the Latin meaning, which is “To Open”, or if it is in honor of the Greek goddess of love; Aphrodite.)
The April flower is the daisy (sweet pea)
Diamond is the gemstone

April 3, 1860 began the Pony Express
Martin Luther King Jr. as assassinated on April 4, 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee
April 9, 1865, General Robert E Lee surrendered to Ulysses Grant- officially ending the Civil War.
Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865.
April 15, 1912, Titanic struck an iceburg and sunk
Tax Day, when we all have to line up and start paying our taxes, happens every April 15.
Earth day is celebrated each April 22nd
William Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564 and he died on the same day, in 1616.
April 30, 1939, Televisions first public broadcast (from atop the Empire State Bldg)

April Fools
Did you know that before 1582, most people around the world did not celebrate January 1 as New Year's Day? Many ancient cultures celebrated the New Year on or around April 1.  The new year date was set as January 1st by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 and back then word didn't spread quite as quickly as it does now a days -- So, while many people were celebrating the new year in January, there were also many people sticking to the old traditions of celebrating the new year in April. Those who celebrated in April were referred to as "April Fools" and it is believed that they were ridiculed as well as made the butt of various other practical jokes.  Here are some of the better and more well known jokes that have been played in recent years:

• In 1996, Taco Bell took out a full page ad in the New York Times claiming they purchased the Liberty Bell to "reduce the country's debt". They also claimed that they would be renaming it to the "Taco Liberty Bell".
  
• In 1998 Burger King ran an ad in the USA Today, saying people could now order left-handed Whoppers. The funny part is that people actually ordered the new burgers, and some others requested the old right handed version.


• In 2010, a TV show called The One Show from the UK, did a news story on "cloned unicorns".


• In 1997, Pat Sajak and Alex Trebek switched hosting roles. Pat hosted Jeopardy and Alex hosted Wheel of Fortune.


• In 2010, Google advertised a new "animal translator" which they would be adding to their other translations.

Don't be a fool to be Movin' Without Morales?!

Follow MOVIN WITH MORALES on Facebook!

    Diane Morales

          630.709.9882

http://purpleslinky.com/trivia/trivia-facts-about-april/
http://roadtickle.com/the-facts-about-april/
http://www.interestingfactsonline.com/interesting-facts-april-fools.asp

Your Proper Change... with MORALES!

			Dec '11		Jan '12		Feb '12
St Charles
# Active			437		427		458
# Sold			28		29		18
MKT Time			106		236		170
Med Sold $			$254,950		$320,000		$314,147
Geneva
# Active			180		161		181
# Sold			20		13		20
MKT Time			215		214		180
Med Sold $			$279,500		$311,000		$322,750
Batavia
# Active			125		129		136
# Sold			26		13		10
MKT Time			193		167		307
Med Sold $			$220,000		$228,500		$297,920
Elburn
# Active			80		81		75
# Sold			5		3		10
MKT Time			75		24		216
Med Sold $			$180,000		$200,000		$212,000
Sugar Grove
# Active			56		55		64
# Sold			10		6		5
MKT Time			180		132		127
Med Sold $			$223,750		$298,500		$219,300
Maple Park
# Active			27		30		27
# Sold			2		1		1
MKT Time			389		294		71
Med Sold $			$178,950		$365,000		$178,000

Since the price of gas seems to be everyone's least-favorite subject right now, I thought I'd chime in. 
Here are some ideas to help you save gas:

• Avoid rapid acceleration/braking
• Observe the speed limit --You can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.30 per gallon for gas.
• Remove excess weight
• Avoid excessive idling (the difference with or without a/c is only about 1¢ savings!
• Use cruise control to maintain a constant speed
• Use Overdrive
  

Below is my blog that I wrote last year in January.  Seems only fitting to include it today. 

Diane's Daily Discovery 01.06.11

Can someone please explain this to me?!  I've tried for so long to understand HOW gas companies can get away with this...  No where in our monetary system do we offer a fraction of a cent.  Maybe we do?!  But in my 46 years of life, I've never seen or learned about one.  We've had denominations that have come and gone:  $500, $1000, $5000, $10,000, and $100,000 ~and an 1865 law did allow for a $3 National Bank Note, and designs were engraved for a potential $3 Legal Tender Note around the same time, but in each case no $3 notes were ever actually printed for circulation.  Fractionals were issued in denominations of 3¢, 5¢, 10¢, 15¢, 25¢, and 50¢.  But NO WHERE do I find a 9/10 cent!  (The British "had" a haypenny worth 1/2 cent.  But alas, the coin was demonetized and withdrawn from circulation in December 1984.)  SO tell me HOW can gas companies legally charge $3.15 9 for a gallon of gas?!    Seriously.  IF I pump exactly 1.0 gallons of gas, I should be entitled to 1/10 of a cent change.  Correct?  IF I pump exactly 5.0 gallons of gas, I deserve 5/10 or half a cent back.  Guess what?  I want my money back...  Let's see, IF you add up all the gallons I've pumped in my lifetime:
30 years of driving x 52 weeks/year = 1560 weeks of lifetime driving.
1560 x 15 (average car gas tank) = 23,400
No matter what the price of gas was at the time, it was always something and 9/10...
So, if I take that 23,400 x .001 = 23.40
I WANT MY $23.40 IN CHANGE!! 
Ok, so it's not a lot... but it's the principle of the matter.  Gas companies should be prohibited from charging in fractional cents.  Who's with me?  I say we should protest and file a class action lawsuit against all the gas companies...  Ok, not really (I'm actually against frivolous law suits) but I do think this practice should be abolished. 

As a Realtor®, I drive a lot. So, the cost of driving is something that I'm seriously aware of.  I kind of chuckle to myself every time someone asks me "where" I do business?  Naively, when I started Real Estate, I thought I'd be working just St. Charles, Geneva, Batavia and Elburn... Boy, was I mistaken!  I go where my clients need me to go (and if it's a bit TOO far, then I can refer you to an agent you can trust!  As we have a huge network of qualified agents all over the US and Canada!). 

Next time you're filling up your tank, "Don't forget to remember me!" Ask the clerk for your proper change (LOL) and let me know if you do get that 1/10¢ back...Until then drive safely.  =)

• Find the cheapest gas prices in your town

Your friendship and goodwill are the heart of my business!
Thanks for your continued support and referrals!!

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