​It’s finally Spring!  
   It’s finally Spring in the Adirondacks and I have a crocus in the yard to prove it.  
   Yes, Springtime temperatures have been slow to appear, and so has the list of available homes for sale in our area.
   Many potential sellers believe that waiting until Spring is in their best interest, and traditionally, they have been right. With Spring 2019 now officially underway, the first thing homebuyers need to understand is that inventory levels are low. In fact, the biggest challenge buyers in the Adirondacks face today is finding a home to buy.
   

​   Thirty-three percent of millennial homebuyers in a recent Harris Poll said their desire to own a home is partially driven by their dog.  
   Surprising?  Not likely. Sixty-eight percent of U.S. households, or about 85 million families, own a pet.
   

“One of the downsides of being self employed is not having someone to tell you to stop working.” – Moby

    Living in the Adirondacks means finding a balance.
    While it’s important for us to work at our professions and look for ways we can better serve our clients, it’s also important to spend time with family, and enjoy this place we call home.
    Many of our friends in suburban areas live where they live solely because that’s where their job is.  In the Adirondacks, it’s often quite different.  We live here because we love our lakes and mountains, and we are willing to sacrifice financially (and otherwise} to be here. 
    We can work hard, but we also need to take time to celebrate living in the Adirondacks. 
     It’s all about finding balance.  
     Is that easy?  
     Not for me, but I’m trying!
 
     Cheers.

​   Lake Placid is a small village in the Adirondack Mountains that  welcomes the world.  For the over 3 million overnight visitors that join us every year, we are a scenic vacation destination place, and it’s easy to understand why.
   Visitors come for the challenging mountain peaks to hike, and crystal clear lakes, waterfalls and gorges to swim.  
   A resort community, we offer music in the park, Olympic venues to tour, and an Olympic mountain to ski.  There are quaint and unique Main Street stores to shop, and wonderful restaurants to dine in.  
   There is more to Lake Placid than being a resort.  For the approximately 2800 people who live here, Lake Placid is home. 

   I remember first visiting Saranac Lake. 1987.  Roads bordered by beautiful lakes.  A festival in the park.  Quaint Main Street shops and restaurants.  Mountain vistas all around me. People I didn’t know saying “good morning”. Cars actually stopping to allow me to cross the street.  I was smitten with this mountain village, and I still didn’t know the half of it.  
   Saranac Lake is special; just ask anyone who lives here.  Saranac Lakers know their village is like no other, and will happily share their love for this community with anyone willing to listen. The area's rich history, natural beauty, artistic vibe and local food scene may be what attracts visitors, but the close knit sense of community is what keeps many from ever leaving, and calling Saranac Lake home.

        As a Realtor, I earn my living helping people buy and sell homes.  That said, once in a while it’s important to help both buyer and seller clients consider other options.
        I met with a wonderful older woman in Lake Placid last year who told me that she wanted to sell her home and move into a condo. After my second visit and a conversation over coffee it became apparent that what she really wanted was to not  sell her home, but she would need her sons to help her maintain the property.  

​   Purchasing a home can be quite a bit easier and more simple than you may imagine, as long as you have thought out your intentions, and have done your homework.  The following are a few tips to help you navigate the start of the home buying process and avoid costly mistakes.