ActiveRain Community

Kickstart your morning with a quick brain stretch!This little puzzle is a great way to get your mind moving and ready for the day.Even if you don’t get it right, your dendrites are waking up and doing their job! 🧠💪Answer for Saturday I am loudest when I’m not wanted and silent when you need me. What am I? Answer: an Alarm  Brain Buster for Sunday, July 6 A man builds a square house. All four walls face south. A bear walks by. What color is the bear? 07/07/2025

Kickstart your morning with a quick brain stretch!This little puzzle is a great way to get your mind moving and ready for the day.Even if you don’t get it right, your dendrites are waking up and doing their job! 🧠💪Answer for Friday I spin without moving and shout without a voice. What am I? Answer: a Tornado  Brain Buster for Saturday, July 5 I am loudest when I’m not wanted and silent when you need me. What am I? 07/05/2025

Kickstart your morning with a quick brain stretch!This little puzzle is a great way to get your mind moving and ready for the day.Even if you don’t get it right, your dendrites are waking up and doing their job! 🧠💪Answer for Thursday I fly around all day but never leave my home. What am I? Answer: a Ceiling Fan  Brain Buster for Friday, July 4 I spin without moving and shout without a voice. What am I? 07/04/2025

Kickstart your morning with a quick brain stretch!This little puzzle is a great way to get your mind moving and ready for the day.Even if you don’t get it right, your dendrites are waking up and doing their job! 🧠💪Answer for Wednesday I’m broken every time someone tells the truth. What am I? Answer: a Lie  Brain Buster for Thursday, July 3 I fly around all day but never leave my home. What am I? 07/03/2025

Kickstart your morning with a quick brain stretch!This little puzzle is a great way to get your mind moving and ready for the day.Even if you don’t get it right, your dendrites are waking up and doing their job! 🧠💪Answer for Tuesday What gets dressed every morning, but never leaves the house? Answer: a Bed  Brain Buster for Wednesday, July 2 I’m broken every time someone tells the truth. What am I? 07/02/2025

Kickstart your morning with a quick brain stretch!This little puzzle is a great way to get your mind moving and ready for the day.Even if you don’t get it right, your dendrites are waking up and doing their job! 🧠💪Answer for Sunday What can you hear but not see or touch, even though you control it? Answer: Your voice (or sound)  Brain Buster for Monday, June 30 I exist when two are together, but vanish when one is gone.  What am I? 06/30/2025

I’m deeply drawn to this quote by Thich Nhat Hanh because it reminds me that peace is not something we find after quieting the mind, it’s something we cultivate within the motion of everyday life. It’s a gentle call to slow down, notice, and walk our path with grace.“The mind can go in a thousand directions, but on this beautiful path, I walk in peace. With each step, the wind blows. With each step, a flower blooms.”— Thich Nhat HanhThese words speak to the restlessness we all experience. Our minds naturally scatter in many directions, worrying, planning, remembering. Yet, Thich Nhat Hanh offers a simple, powerful reminder: peace is available right now, not in some distant, perfect moment.The “beautiful path” isn’t a specific place, it’s a way of being. When we choose presence over dist... 06/30/2025

The mind boggles, when you consider the moment that never ends is called eternity. Pause for cause here. Bring yourself to full awareness into the moment that you are reading this. Notice how helpless & vulnerable you are as the mind cannot grasp the eternal concept. Seek objectivity, by being calm, & center yourself i.e. little or no thinking, distractions, ignore the push & pull of "hurry up & read this", watching how your mind tries to leap into the future & when that fails, then it tries the past using thinking & dreaming. Be still! If you can stay focused long enough, you just got a glimpse, even stepped into eternity although fleetingEVERLASTINGSomething that lasts forever? Who can grasp this in its glimpse, thought, concept or fullness? What makes it so fascinating is that we kno... 07/01/2025

This is my fourth and final entry for the Active Rain June 2025 Challenge, hosted by the wonderful Debe Maxwell, CRS  and Anna "Banana" Kruchten! It’s been inspiring to read all the imaginative ways fellow members would spend their imaginary points, we’ve joked about them for years, and this month we've been given the chance to dream big with them!As fun and creative as this challenge has been, my final post takes a more personal turn.If I could cash in my 5,000,000+ Active Rain points, I wouldn’t spend them on something for myself. I would donate every single one toward finding a cure for pancreatic cancer, a disease that has deeply affected my life and the lives of those I love. In December 2019, just after spending Christmas with my brother John and his family in Pittsburgh, I receiv... 06/29/2025

When I work with clients looking for homes, I always ask at the end of each tour, "What don’t you like about this property?" Their answers help me understand what matters most to them and whether the home could be a good fit. Some factors, like location, are unchangeable. For instance, if a house is located on a busy street near the beltway and the owners are worried about noise and safety, that's a concern that can't be easily addressed. When we bought our home almost fifty years ago, it was on the same street as our best friends!  There were three things we didn't like. We specifically wanted a ranch-style house, and this one fit that requirement. Once in the house, everything is on one level. Built on a hill, the backyard and front are walk-out levels. However, the garage was at stre... 06/29/2025

  My seller asked me what to do to prepare for his upcoming settlement. Good topic, so here goes:When preparing to move to a new home, it’s important to follow several key steps for a smooth transition. Start by gathering all necessary keys and remotes, including those for the gates, garage, and mailbox. If your home has a security system, be sure to notify the provider about your move and pass along any access codes to the new owners.Next, contact your gas and electric companies, such as BGE, to notify them of your move and arrange to cancel your services. Remember to bring a recent utility bill to your closing appointment. For water services, no action is usually required, as these charges will be prorated at closing.Remember to cancel your home insurance policy effective after the cl... 06/30/2025

The ActiveRain Point is closing in 3 short days! If you haven't entered the June Challenge and spent some of your well earned points - you still have time!  See original  June Challenge Post for all the details.  On the mark, get set, use your points!!I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you about an organization that Gary and I have been involved in for quite some time.  They are a fabulous group of very caring and dedicated volunteers and staff caring for kids of all ages. OCJ Kids   Gary and Tammy Webb, the founders,  began their good work in 2005 by helping out thousands of foster kids in Arizona through various programs, events and opportunities. They continue their good work to this day.  I just learned yesterday that they recently made plans to expand and are moving into a n... 06/28/2025

  The first time the buyers saw the house, it seemed like a daunting challenge, but it ultimately turned into a fantastic success thanks to our amazing team. Buyers had sold their home and needed to purchase quickly.House before any renovation This home was not scheduled to go on the market until it was completed. And it was far from complete. We introduced the buyers to this gutted home, which consisted only of the brick walls, the fireplace, concrete floors, and the new extended roof, to accommodate the carport. They saw a bare shell on their first visit!  We did have a set of floor plans (above) as we walked through and described these preliminary drawings. I was excited, envisioning the finished home, and the buyers, instead of being discouraged, saw an incredible opportunity.    Ha... 07/02/2025

On June 23, 2025, National Association of Realtors® (NAR) reported that median home value price was $422,800 in May of 2025 higher 1.3% from the price of $417,200 in May of 2024.Single family home sales were at annual rate of 3.67 million units in May of 2025 up 1.1% from April of 2025, and grew 0.3% from home sales in May of 2024. The median single family home price was $427,800 in May of 2025, rose 1.3% from May of 2024.Condominium and co-op sales were annual rate of 360,000 units in May of 2025 declined 2.7% from April of 2025, and fell 10.0% from May of 2024. Median existing condo price was $371,300 in May of 2025, higher 0.7% from May of 2024.Distressed homes sales were 3.0% in May of 2025 increased from 2.0% in April of 2025, and from 2.0% in May of 2024.Lawrence Yun, NAR chief ec... 06/28/2025

Atlanta Buckhead Midtown - What I Bought At The AR Point Store -Deciding to spend my points took courage. I spent many years accumulating them. Now I knew on what I wanted to spend the points. I needed a complete change of environment. AND, I knew it would be very expensive. After checking my balance, I decided to leave 3105 points behind.So I had a total of 1,150,000 points to spend!It has been a frustrating year for gardening in Atlanta Georgia. The deer don't have enough to eat so they have widened their list of acceptable foods. All the Hosta beds in my yard were already secured behind mesh fencing to keep the deer from nibbling them down to the roots. Had to put up mesh fencing around the Native Azalea since they were eating all the new growth. The last straw was when they started ... 06/27/2025

 The Annual Bike Decorating Contest is just 7 days away! Taking place on Friday, July 4th at Whetstone Park, this event is beloved by Clintonville families.📍 Registration begins at 9:30 AM at the small shelter house🎉 The kids’ parade starts at 10:00 AMShare with your network—it’s a great reminder of what makes this area special for growing families 06/27/2025

  Please join us in congratulating Erik Hiss for ranking in the Top 2% of all REALTORS® in the Columbus and Central Ohio Region for production volume! Out of over 8,000+ members, this recognition reflects Erik’s unmatched dedication, hard work, and results-driven approach. 👏 We’re proud to have such a standout professional on our team. Way to go, Erik! 🏆💼  #Top2Percent #ColumbusRealEstate #RealtorRecognition #KWCapitalPartners #EliteRealtor #TeamSuccess    06/27/2025

 Opportunity knocks in North Columbus! We're thrilled to present our latest listing: a move-in-ready 3-bedroom home with modern updates, a fantastic layout, and a great location near parks and commuter routes.📌 Listing Highlights:• Brand new stainless steel appliances• Fresh paint & new flooring (2025 updates!)• Partially finished basement – ideal for work or play• 2.5-car detached garage for storage or workshop needs• Mechanical updates include newer furnace (2018), A/C (2022), and hot water tank (2024)Best of all, this home qualifies for NO MONEY DOWN financing for eligible buyers!Whether you’re a first-time buyer or looking to invest in Columbus real estate, this property offers outstanding value and flexibility. Convenient access to I-71, public transit, and local parks make it a wi... 06/27/2025

 We’re excited to share that 2429 Pomeroy Place in the sought-after SoHud neighborhood has officially SOLD!This 2-bedroom, 1-bath cottage stole hearts with its vintage charm, original hardwood floors, and thoughtful updates—plus, the flexible layout (formerly a 3-bedroom) offered great potential for both homeowners and investors. The screened-in front porch, newer deck, and private yard made outdoor living just as appealing as the inside.Its prime location near Ohio State University and downtown Columbus made it a hot listing—and it didn’t take long to find the right buyer.✅ Character-filled cottage✅ Flexible layout + investment potential✅ Prime location near OSU & downtown✅ Off-street parking and new front retaining wallCongratulations to the new homeowners on this charming SoHud gem! ... 06/27/2025

 The little decisions you make each day—what you eat, how you rest, and what you focus on—compound into greater mental strength and clarity over time. Daily Tip: Start your day with one small win: drink a full glass of water, take a 10-minute walk, or spend five minutes journaling—your future self will thank you. Rate App Feature of the Day:A heat building class to start off the day. Follow this pushup heavy morning routine to open the hips and activate your core. https://z6u9c.app.link/1YQfJI8pByb  #ThankfulTips #DailyPositivity #DailyPositivity2025 #PositivityQuote #PositivityQuotes #GuaranteedRate #Mortgage #MortgageLender #Atlanta #AtlantaMortgage #AlabamaMortgage #ArizonaMortgage #ArkansasMortgage #CaliforniaMortgage #ColoradoMortgage #FloridaMortgage #GeorgiaMortgage #IndianaMortg... 07/03/2025