The Luck of the Irish... with O'Morales!!

FEBRUARY '13 STATS

 

St. Charles 

# Active 350

# Sold 39

MKT Time 181

Med Sold $ -- $260,000

  

Geneva 

# Active 140

# Sold 22

MKT Time 166

Med Sold $ -- $299,000

 

Batavia 

# Active 118

# Sold 17

MKT Time 130

Med Sold $ -- $231,000

   

Elburn 

# Active 69

# Sold 5

MKT Time 48

Med Sold $ -- $217,926

 

Sugar Grove

# Active 56

# Sold 8

MKT Time 90

Med Sold $ -- $244,000

Maple Park

# Active 17

# Sold 0

MKT Time -

Med Sold $ --

A leprechaun is a mischievous male fairy of Irish folklore.

We normally picture leprechauns in green suits today, but according to Gaelic tradition they used to wear red.  Older works of poetry and story always depict the leprechaun as wearing a red waistcoat. Some believe that solitary leprechauns wear red coats, while leprechauns who live in colonies wear green.

Legend says that leprechauns are the cobblers (or shoemakers) for all the fairy folk. They are often depicted with a leather apron, holding a shoe.  According to legend leprechauns are cobblers because they do so much dancing that they are constantly wearing out their shoes!

Each Leprechaun has his own pot of gold hidden at the end of a rainbow.  A leprechaun's stashes away one gold coin for each year of his life.  By this logic, you should hope to catch an old leprechaun!  To obtain the leprechaun's pot of gold, you must capture him and not take your eyes off him until you get your gold.  Fairy law requires the leprechaun to be honest with you if captured, but only for as long as you look him in the eye. It does not forbid tricks, only lying, but as soon as you look away the leprechaun can vanish, lie to you, or anything else he can dream up.

Leprechauns have a reputation for being foul-mouthed, are known to swig drink from their ceramic jugs, and smoke pipes that are quite foul smelling.

May you work like you don't need the money,
Love like you've never been hurt,
and Dance like no one is watching.

“It is easy to be pleasant when life flows by like a song, but the man worth while is the one who will smile when everything goes dead wrong. For the test of the heart is trouble, and it always comes with years,
and the smile that is worth the praises of earth is the smile that shines through the tears.”

“You've got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your grandfather was.”

And when you've outgrown your current home, call me.
I'll help you find a lucky home to keep your treasures in...

Discover the Diane Difference...
    Diane MOOrales
Keller Williams Fox Valley Realty
          630.709.9882

"Like"  MOVIN WITH MORALES on Facebook!
      
http://www.funtrivia.com/en/subtopics/Leaping-Leprechauns-313731.html
http://ezinearticles.com/?A-Little-Leprechaun-Trivia&id=4100037
http://thinkexist.com/quotation/leprechauns-castles-good_luck_and_laughter/152916.html

The SUPER Spring Market ... with MORALES!!

Someone told me recently that the Superbowl was the start of the Real Estate Spring market.  I guess I learn something new everyday.  LOL.  All I can tell you is that the Spring market here in Realtor-land is already on fire!! 

As you can see, median sales prices are mostly level, but the number of closed sales is up, up, up!!

ST. CHARLES/CAMPTON HILLS

ELBURN




MAPLE PARK




Discover the Diane Difference...
    Diane MOOrales
Keller Williams Fox Valley Realty
          630.709.9882

"Like"  MOVIN WITH MORALES on Facebook!
      

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"Wood" You Be My Valentine... from MORALES!!

JANUARY '13 STATS

St. Charles 

# Active 349

# Sold 37

MKT Time 219

Med Sold $ -- $250,000

  

Geneva 

# Active 138

# Sold 23

MKT Time 124

Med Sold $ -- $299,990

Batavia 

# Active 118

# Sold 11

MKT Time 79

Med Sold $ -- $129,000

   

Elburn 

# Active 80

# Sold 13

MKT Time 175

Med Sold $ -- $226,000

Sugar Grove

# Active 51

# Sold 6

MKT Time 64

Med Sold $ -- $226,000

Maple Park

# Active 21

# Sold 4

MKT Time 229

Med Sold $ -- $160,450

Roman Empire, Claudius didn't want men to marry during wartime because he believed single men made better soldiers. Bishop Valentine went against his wishes and performed secret wedding ceremonies. For this, Valentine was jailed and then executed by order of the Emperor on February 14. While in jail, he wrote a love note to the jailor's daughter signing it, "From your Valentine."

Many believe the 'X' symbol became synonymous with the kiss in medieval times. People who couldn't write their names signed in front of a witness with an 'X.'  The 'X' was then kissed to show their sincerity.

In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who would be their Valentine. They would wear this name pinned onto their sleeves for one week for everyone to see. This was the origin of the expression "to wear your heart on your sleeve."

Physicians of the 1800's commonly advised their patients to eat chocolate to calm their pining for lost love.

15% of U.S. women send themselves flowers on Valentine's Day.

Approximately one billion Valentines are sent out worldwide each year -- second only to Christmas.

Olive your referrals! 

I dig working with you!!



I'm lost without your business....

For out of this world service...call me anytime!!

Discover the Diane Difference...
    Diane MOOrales
Keller Williams Fox Valley Realty
          630.709.9882

"Like"  MOVIN WITH MORALES on Facebook!
  
http://www.sheknows.com/holidays-and-seasons/articles/807655/fun-facts-about-valentine-s-day 

http://sewdarnthrifty.blogspot.com/2013/01/101-adorable-valentine-puns.html 

Keeping Your Resolution​s... with MORALES!!

DECEMBER '12 STATS

 

St. Charles 

# Active 341

# Sold 51

MKT Time 172

Med Sold $ -- $260,000

  

Geneva 

# Active 125

# Sold 23

MKT Time 222

Med Sold $ -- $325,000

 

Batavia 

# Active 123

# Sold 14

MKT Time 75

Med Sold $ -- $303,000

   

Elburn 

# Active 78

# Sold 7

MKT Time 166

Med Sold $ -- $200,000

 

Sugar Grove

# Active 39

# Sold 4

MKT Time 50

Med Sold $ -- $212,500

Maple Park

# Active 21

# Sold 5

MKT Time 131

Med Sold $ -- $181,500

 

 

 

Top 10 New Year's Resolutions

1. Spend more time with family and friends
2. Get fit
3. Tame the bulge
4. Quit smoking
5. Enjoy life more
6. Quit drinking
7. Get out of debt
8. Learn something new
9. Help others
10. Get organized

Yup, sounds pretty right-on to me!! 

 

A New Year's resolution is a commitment that a person makes to one or more personal goals, projects, or the reforming of a habit. A key element to a New Year's resolution that sets it apart from other resolutions is that it is made in anticipation of the New Year and new beginnings. People committing themselves to a New Year's resolution generally plan to do so for the whole following year. This lifestyle change is generally interpreted as advantageous.

The ancient Babylonians made promises to their gods at the start of each year that they would return borrowed objects and pay their debts.

88% of those who set New Year resolutions fail, despite the fact that 52% of the study's participants were confident of success at the beginning.

 

 

“To make 2013 your year, keep it simple:

1) Count your blessings first
2) Whatever you did last year, Do it better
3) Go step by step, One day at a time.
4) Create/make your own opportunities.
5) Believe in your abilities at all times,
6) Quitting is not an option. Keep Going.
7) Finish what you started”
― Pablo

 

 Now there are more overweight people in America than average-weight people. So overweight people are now average…
which means, you have met your New Year's resolution.  -Jay Leno

Discover the Diane Difference...
    Diane MOOrales
Keller Williams Fox Valley Realty
          630.709.9882

"Like"  MOVIN WITH MORALES on Facebook!
      
http://pittsburgh.about.com/od/holidays/tp/resolutions.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year%27s_resolution

 

http://quotations.about.com/od/specialdays/a/newyear3.htm

OH Christmas Tree... Trivia and Joy... from MORALES!

NOVEMBER '12 STATS

 

St. Charles 

# Active 371

# Sold 55

MKT Time 156

Med Sold $ -- $290,000

  

Geneva 

# Active 149

# Sold 30

MKT Time 125

Med Sold $ -- $302,439

 

Batavia

# Active 141

# Sold 12

MKT Time 233

Med Sold $ -- $247,000

   

Elburn 

# Active 84

# Sold 8 

MKT Time 96

Med Sold $ -- $215,500

 

Sugar Grove

# Active 51

# Sold 9

MKT Time 104

Med Sold $ -- $238,387

Maple Park

# Active 22

# Sold 2

MKT Time 402

Med Sold $ -- $130,000

 

 

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree.... Thy leaves are so unchanging!

• 21% of US homes have a real tree - 48% have an artificial tree - and 31% have no tree
• Christmas trees take an average of 7-10 years to mature
• Oregon is the leading producer of Christmas trees
• The favorite tree is the Scotch Pine
• 82% of real trees are pre-cut.  Only 18% were cut-your-own
• Franklin Pierce was the first president to place a tree in the White House
• You should never burn your Christmas tree in the fireplace.  It can contribute to creosote build-up
• According to data analyzed from Facebook posts, two weeks before Christmas is one of the two most popular times for couples to break up.
• Each year there are approximately 20,000 “rent-a-Santas” across the United States. “Rent-a-Santas” usually undergo seasonal training on how to maintain a jolly attitude under pressure from the public. They also receive practical advice, such as not accepting money from parents while children are looking and avoiding garlic, onions, or beans for lunch.
• Some people bring roosters to the midnight mass, a gesture that symbolizes the belief that a rooster was the first animal to announce the birth of Jesus.
• In Poland, spiders or spider webs are common Christmas trees decorations because according to legend, a spider wove a blanket for Baby Jesus. In fact, Polish people consider spiders to be symbols of goodness and prosperity at Christmas.
• Each acre of land dedicated to growing Christmas trees will provide the daily oxygen required for 18 people.
• The average child receives 16 presents under the tree
• Rudolph" was actually created by Montgomery Ward in the late 1930's for a holiday promotion.
• For many years, only the tops were cut off the trees and used as Christmas trees.  They were usually no more than 2-3 feet tall and usually stood on a table.
  During the Victorian era this changed as people became fonder of large floor-standing Christmas trees and it became a status symbol to have the largest tree in your neighborhood.
• Around 1900, the Addis Brush Company started producing the first artificial tree.  It was made of the same material that they used for toilet brushes.  The material was simply died green.  The overcutting of trees for the holidays caused a legislation to be passed in some areas banning the cutting of live trees for the use of Christmas trees!  The artificial tree was a hit!

 

 

Although most mistletoe is parasitic, and, therefore, harmful to the trees on which it grows, the Celts thought it had magical powers for healing wounds and increasing fertility, so they placed it throughout their homes for good luck and to ward off evil spirits.  In ancient Britain, mistletoe was considered so sacred that it could only be cut with a golden sickle. Today, Americans decorate doorframes with this plant in hopes of catching a smooch from a sweetheart while standing under its leaves. This tradition is credited to Frigga, the Scandinavian goddess of love and beauty, and is said to date back to the eighth century.

 

 

One of the real joys of the Christmas Season
is the opportunity to say Thank You! 
So, THANKS for "sticking" around with me!! 
I appreciate your business!!

 

Discover the Diane Difference...
    Diane MOOrales
Keller Williams Fox Valley Realty
          630.709.9882

"Like"  MOVIN WITH MORALES on Facebook!
     

http://pickyourownchristmastree.org/facts.php

 

http://facts.randomhistory.com/christmas-facts.html

 

http://egotvonline.com/2011/12/23/12-fun-facts-about-christmas-trees-infographic/

 

http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/christmas-trivia5.htm

 

http://www.christmas-celebrations.com/trivia.htm

 

https://mail.google.com/mail/?tab=wm#drafts/13b76e1dc42cd321

YouTube - Videos from this email

A delivery... from MORALES!!

Did u know that October is National Pizza Month?? 
And I'm delivering a whole bunch of fun-facts...

• Saturday Night is the most popular night to eat pizza
• Kids 3-11 prefer pizza over all other foods
  
• Pizza comes from the Latin root word Picea
• 93% of Americans eat pizza at least once a month
• Pizza was designed to be eaten without utensils - and to use fresh produce to get rid of leftovers
• Pizza includes items from ALL food groups (bonus!)
  
• Eating pizza once a week can reduce the risk of esophageal cancer (as tomato sauce and olive oil have proven cancer-fighting powers)
• 36% of people like pizza for breakfast
• The most popular pizza size is 14" in diameter
• The average American consumes 46 slices/year

How long will your pizza take?  The answer is 3 years...

• The crust which is made from flour -- from seed to harvest:  6 months
• Tomatoes-- from seed to sauce:  7 months
• Sausage/Canadian Bacon/Pepperoni/ham-- from pig to pepperoni:  5 months
• mozzarella cheese -- from milk to cheese:  3 years (as a cow cannot produce milk until she has had her first calf at about 2 years old)
• mushrooms- 3 months
• onions- 5 months
• Basil- 3 months
• Garlic - 9 months
  

Top 10 favorite toppings! 

1. Pepperoni
2. Cheese
3. Sausage
4. Mushrooms
5. Pineapple
6. Bacon
7. Ham
8. Shrimp
9. Onions
10. Green Peppers
    
    AND just for fun... click on the link to check-out the favorite toppings in other countries!! 
    

Wanna hear a good pizza joke?

Nevermind, it's cheesy! 

Waiter, will my pizza be long?

No sir, it'll be round!

What kind of pizza does a person who hates salt like?

A pepper-only pizza!

I'm looking for a "bite"... IF you have the "dough"
and are looking to get out your current living arrangements,  call me today. 
We'll "slice" up the town looking for your new home!

        
Discover the Diane Difference...
    Diane MOOrales
Keller Williams Fox Valley Realty
          630.709.9882

"Like"  MOVIN WITH MORALES on Facebook!
      

http://pizza.com/fun-facts
http://memebase.cheezburger.com/puns/tag/pizza

House Haunting... with MORALES!

Halloween FUN facts --

• The first Jack O’Lanterns were actually made from turnips.
• Halloween is the second highest grossing commercial holiday after Christmas.
• The word “witch” comes from the Old English wicce, meaning “wise woman.”
• The owl is a popular Halloween image. In Medieval Europe, owls were thought to be witches, and to hear an owl's call meant someone was about to die.
• Fifty percent of kids prefer to receive chocolate candy for Halloween -- Well, duh!  The most popular candy for trick-or-treaters is Snickers.
• According to Irish legend, Jack O’Lanterns are named after a stingy man named Jack who, because he tricked the devil several times, was forbidden entrance into both heaven and hell. He was condemned to wander the Earth, waving his lantern to lead people away from their paths.
• Black and orange are typically associated with Halloween. Orange is a symbol of strength and endurance. Black is typically a symbol of death and darkness and acts as a reminder that Halloween once was a festival that marked the boundaries between life and death.
• Scarecrows, a popular Halloween fixture, symbolize the ancient agricultural roots of the holiday.
• Scottish girls believed they could see images of their future husband if they hung wet sheets in front of the fire on Halloween. Other girls believed they would see their boyfriend’s faces if they looked into mirrors while walking downstairs at midnight on Halloween.
• Mexico celebrates the Days of the Dead (Días de los Muertos) on the Christian holidays All Saints’ Day (November 1) and All Souls’ Day (November 2) instead of Halloween. The townspeople dress up like ghouls and parade down the street.
• 11.5% will dress up their pets.
• Tootsie Rolls were the first wrapped penny candy in America.
• If you see a spider on Halloween, it is the spirit of a loved on watching over you.
• Illinois, California, New York, and Ohio produce more than 100 million pounds of pumpkins each year. These states are U.S. leaders in pumpkin growing.  (Yeah Illinois!)

House Haunting?  Please call and let me be of service to you!! 

			July '12		Aug '12		Sept '12
St Charles
# Active			474		454		433
# Sold			69		64		42
MKT Time			148		176		143
Med Sold $			$275,000		$278,250		$277,500
Geneva
# Active			202		188		180
# Sold			31		45		30
MKT Time			128		137		170
Med Sold $			$335,000		$314,000		$327,975
Batavia
# Active			151		144		142
# Sold			24		36		23
MKT Time			111		114		155
Med Sold $			$237,500		$220,000		$195,000
Elburn
# Active			95		94		87
# Sold			6		10		7
MKT Time			124		133		339
Med Sold $			$229,000		$195,000		$199,900
Sugar Grove
# Active			67		68		58
# Sold			16		10		9
MKT Time			122		112		194
Med Sold $			$216,000		$219,500		$278,000
Maple Park
# Active			30		29		28
# Sold			3		3		3
MKT Time			199		148		250
Med Sold $			$162,500		$130,199		$191,000

Discover the Diane Difference...
    Diane MOOrales
Keller Williams Fox Valley Realty
          630.709.9882

"Like"  MOVIN WITH MORALES on Facebook!
      

http://facts.randomhistory.com/halloween-facts.html
http://www.halloween-website.com/trivia.htm
http://tinyurl.com/8g7n5qw

Outgrown your shell? ... Call MORALES!!

			Jun '12		July '12		Aug '12
St Charles
# Active			492		474		454
# Sold			62		69		64
MKT Time			204		148		176
Med Sold $			$369,000		$275,000		$278,250
Geneva
# Active			212		202		188
# Sold			45		31		45
MKT Time			174		128		137
Med Sold $			$335,000		$335,000		$314,000
Batavia
# Active			149		151		144
# Sold			34		24		36
MKT Time			243		111		114
Med Sold $			$249,000		$237,500		$220,000
Elburn
# Active			90		95		94
# Sold			9		6		10
MKT Time			155		124		133
Med Sold $			$201,500		$229,000		$195,000
Sugar Grove
# Active			64		67		68
# Sold			12		16		10
MKT Time			158		122		112
Med Sold $			$243,000		$216,000		$219,500
Maple Park
# Active			28		30		29
# Sold			2		3		3
MKT Time			533		199		148
Med Sold $			$113,300		$162,500		$130,199

Have you outgrown your current home?  The real estate market is
full of great deals-- it's a wonderful time to make a move!
Call me for service will make buying your new home
feel like a day at the beach. 

Hermit Crab and Sand Crab were best friends. One day, the tide washes them ashore and they dry up and die. Hermit Crab goes to heaven and Sand Crab goes to hell. Hermit Crab likes heaven a lot, but he misses his friend. God gives him permission to visit Sand Crab in hell on the condition that the visit only lasts one day.

Hermit Crab takes the elevator from heaven to hell, and meets Sand Crab, who is glad to see him. Sand Crab tells Hermit Crab that hell really isn't a bad place. In fact, he has been made the owner of a dance club. Sand Crab takes Hermit Crab to the club. Because he has his heavenly harp, everyone there asks Hermit Crab to play a few gigs, so he does, and Sand Crab and Hermit Crab have fun all night.

At a few minutes before midnight, Hermit Crab knows he has to leave. After a tearful farewell, he steps on the elevator and returns to heaven. Once there, he says to God, "Wait, I have to go back!" God asks why. He says, "I left my harp in Sand Crab's disco!"


"All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered;
the point is to discover them." – Galileo Galilei


Discover the Diane Difference...
    Diane Morales
Keller Williams Fox Valley Realty
          630.709.9882

"Like"  MOVIN WITH MORALES on Facebook!
      

http://msgboard.snopes.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=71;t=001053;p=4