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Russia sold Alaska to the U.S. for 0.02¢/acre

The United States bought the 375 million acres we now
call Alaska from Russia in 1876 for $7.2 million
(or about $126.5 million in today’s market).

Though the Alaska Purchase Treaty certainly provided some
upside to Russia at the time, the U.S. has come out a huge financial winner in the deal thanks to the massive oil deposits
discovered in the 49th state in 1967.
Homes for Sale
UNDER CONTRACT
Multiple Offers in 5 Days
2 Victoria Drive
Flanders, NJ
COMING SOON
Franklin Place
Morris Plains, NJ
COMING SOON
7 Williamson Lane
Chester, NJ
Contact us here for more information or to request a showing
of these and/or other properties in your desired area.
Is it Really Better to Rent or Own a Home Right Now

You may have seen reports in the news recently saying it’s better to rent right now than it is to own your home. But before you let that impact your decisions, you should understand what these claims are based on.
A lot of the time, these reports are assuming things that aren’t realistic for the average household. For example, the methodology behind one of those reports says that renting is the smarter financial option because of the opportunity to invest money elsewhere. It assumes renters take the money they’d spend on costs tied to buying a home and put it in an investment portfolio. click here for full article.
In this issue of "Doug Talks..."
Interior Home Moulding

The term “mouldings” refers to strips of wood or other materials used in creating architecture details. Originally, moulding served a purpose and were designed to cover the area where two surfaces joined or provide some protection to expensive walls. These days, mouldings are used mainly for decorative purposes to add interest and detail to the decor. Moulding typically is placed around doors and windows, along the base of a wall, or in the middle of a wall. Mouldings may be painted to either contrast or blend with your wall color, or left natural to show off a gorgeous wood species.
Crown Moulding
Of all the different types of moulding, crown is the best known and — true to its name — the most regal. Crown mouldings, which connect the walls and ceiling, tend to be very elaborate, with decorative substyles such as dentil or egg-and-dart.
Baseboard
Baseboards are a wooden trim which are placed at the transition from wall to floor. These 3-5” wide mouldings are usually simple in style. Thick and detailed baseboards are the hallmark of classic style. If your thin modern baseboards could use some sprucing up, try adding a smaller moulding an inch or two above the existing baseboards and paint the space between the same color as the baseboards to instantly add depth.
Casing
Casings are traditionally 2-4” mouldings which surround the frames of windows and interior or exterior doors. Also known as architraves, casings may be quite intricate to highlight a breathtaking view or to welcome guests to your home. Thicker casings in intricate styles look right at home in a Victorian home while plain casings (or no casing at all) can create a clean modern look.
Chair Rail
Chair rails are simple narrow strips of moulding, usually 32-36” above the floor or about one-third of the wall height, which add a pleasing sense of proportion. Although many people claim their historical intent was preventing diner chairs from scuffing the walls, another theory goes that the Shakers of bygone days hung chairs from these rails while washing their floors.
Board and Batten
Sometimes called just “batten” board - batten is a moulding applied to hide the space between two adjacent wall panels. It gets its name from the makeup of the wall. Boards are lined up edge to edge and the “batten” is a small piece of trim that hides the edges.
Wainscoting
Wainscoting is a form of decorative wood paneling, which is used on the lower 3-4 feet of walls, in most cases. This versatile trim works well in any room of your house and comes in a variety of popular styles, including shiplap and beadboard.
The "Doug Talks..." section will be featured in our monthly real estate email
and will include articles and/or videos showcasing some aspect of
home improvement, construction, or design.
Best Advantages of buying a home in the Spring

Buying a home is one of the largest financial commitments someone ever makes in their life. 30 years of payments and several years' worth of salary is enough to intimidate many home buyers, but the fact remains that most people need to buy a home at some point during their lifetime. One thing that many potential buyers don't realize is that the time of year can greatly impact the options they find while house hunting.
 
The housing market shifts drastically throughout the year. Different seasons bring different advantages and disadvantages to both buyers and sellers. The winter months tend to be a slower time for the industry, while the warmer weather of the summer is more likely to cause bidding wars. However, there is nuance to each season within the real estate market!
 
Most of the nuance and seasonality have to do with supply and demand between buyers and sellers. Fortunately (or unfortunately!), there is not much seasonality in interest rates, and mortgage lenders will likely offer similar packages throughout the year. click here for full article.
Doug Collinson Real Estate Group
44 Whippany Rd, Suite 230, Morristown, NJ 07960
Office (973) 539-1120

Doug Collinson Cell: (973) 214-0347
Doug Collinson Email: dtcollinson@gmail.com
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