Cool things to do and see in the coastal towns of Southern Rhode Island.

Leah & Cathy at 2014 Volvo Transatlantic Pre Start

Summer in Newport, RI means world class sailing of every description - on the Bay, in the Ocean, through the harbor.  

All. The. Time.

But there was special excitement in the air the afternoon of July 9th at Fort Adams State Park when Cathy & I took a break from real estate to cheer on Volvo Ocean Race teams, Abu Dhabi and Alvimedica, at the Pre Start of their Transatlantic voyage. Team Alvimedica’s crew includes three Rhode Islanders, Nick Dana (Newport) Charlie Enright (Bristol) and on board reporter Amory Ross (Newport).

Wishing two great boats and two great crews a speedy and safe crossing. This is the only time we will see two Volvo Ocean Race boats together until their return to Narragansett…

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Hogan Associates’ Broker, Matt Hadfield, wanted to do something more this year than simply sponsor a family over the holidays. He wanted to do something in the spirit of giving the whole year through. Earlier this year, he came up with the idea of "Project Re-Give". The goal of Project Re-Give is to collect unwanted or duplicate holiday gifts and donate them so that resident's of Lucy's Hearth may receive presents to celebrate birthdays and other milestones throughout the year. 

How it Works: Instead of returning an unwanted or duplicate gifts, we are asking people to donate these gifts to Project Re-Give. We are not asking for anyone to go out and purchase gifts, simply to donate gifts that they may not otherwise return. Items are being…

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I am proud to announce I’m officially a homeowner. Finally!  I’ve been practicing real estate for nearly four years with the goal of purchasing my own
little slice of island paradise.  It was quite the experience for me to sit at the other end of the closing table; to sign that stack of papers, and feel what dozens of my buyers have undergone.  Here’s a bit about my experience:

 The Right Realtor

 I found the best realtor in town for me.  That was, of course, me, because I understand my needs and wants.  I wanted a multi family - 2 or 3 units, but at times I considered a single family I could turn around myself.  It can often be good to view products outside of your original needs and wants. This helped me realize my original decision for a two…

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UFO Display by Newport Boys & Girls Club

You could be forgiven for thinking we Newporters hibernate all winter with nothing to do.  You would be sorely mistaken, however, as winter activities abound here, including one of my glittery favorites, the Annual Illuminated Garden at Ballard Park which will take place February 21st, 22nd and 23rd from 6:00 - 9:00 PM.

Ballard Park is Newport's only nature Preserve.  It is supported by an active non-profit group, and every February the Friends of Ballard Park collect old Christmas lights, yards of extension cords, lampshades and other artsy materials in preparation for a really big outdoor show.  Local school groups, companies, artists, teachers and, well, just about anybody who wants to create a dazzling…

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Capitol Hill

The ball at Time Square wasn't the only thing that dropped last night.  The US economy took a cliff dive thanks to our elected officials on Capital Hill.  The so-called “fiscal cliff” has been looming for months.  The Senate threw out a life line passing a Bill on New Year’s Day but the House must ratify the Bill before it is presented to The President. 

So we’re not there yet, but here’s an outline from the current Bill explaining how it affects your real estate and what it means for 2013:

1. CAPITAL GAINS

-Capital Gains and dividends rose from 15% to 20% depending on your tax bracket.  Please keep in mind, the exclusion of $250,000 for singles and $500,000 for married couples is still in place, so as long as you’ve owned your home for at least…

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I am about to make a bold statement about the Newport, RI real estate market – a statement that’s been made nearly every year since 2006. This time, however, the evidence is strong, sustained and hard to refute, so here it goes:

 Newport's residential real estate market has finally, officially, turned a corner.

 If you don’t believe me, consider these Newport and Aquidneck Island real estate metrics from RI’s Multiple Listing Service.

2 Years Median price vs. inventory, Newport, RIMedian price vs. inventory, Newport, RI, 11/8/12

Iventory

The decrease in the number of homes on the market (the dark line) from fall 2011 to fall 2012 is startling!  Approximately 200 homes were on the market last fall versus 130 this fall! Down 35%. Take a look at this chart displaying 4 years of price vs.…

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Garden RavioliNewport Restaurant Week Nov. 2-11, 2012

Like many of you out there, I absolutely adore food; especially the fall comforts – from pot roast to pumpkin pie and everything in between it’s all delectable to me!  Thanksgiving Thursday, in all of its splendor, is a day I usually indulge the cravings that I fight tooth and nail to ignore throughout the year.  

There is one event, however, that puts my willpower to the ultimate test.  It’s right around the corner, and after checking out this year’s menu items, I think my mind will once again lose a battle with my stomach.

The event, Newport Restaurant Week,  November 2nd  – 11th.   If you’re lucky enough not to worship food in the way that I do, than use this opportunity to inspire your own Thanksgiving…

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Most children, at one time or another, dream of the perfect tree house. A place that they can hang out with friends and decorate to their liking - a place to call their own. If you have children, you may have at one time thought about building a play house for your kids.

Below are some charming, some amazing, and some truly creative play houses. Happy dreaming!

Simple Tree House Designs

If you are looking for simpler designs, something that will take an afternoon, not a summer, to complete, check out these cute tree house designs.

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This week I’ve been granted the amazing responsibility of watching my brother’s dog Finn while he and his family visit Arizona.  He’s a 6 month old Short Haired Wheaton Terrier.  I love dogs but I’ve never had the pleasure of owning one.  This week will be a nice trial to see if I could handle the responsibility and hopefully get one of my own!

Newport is a great city for dog lovers.  There are parks at nearly every corner, the Cliff Walk, downtown streets and beaches galore to entertain both you and your pup.  Many establishments in town have outdoor areas allowing you to enjoy everything Newport has to offer with your companion.  Just this past Sunday I had breakfast at Corner Café on Broadway with a friend.  Finn and I walked there from my house in…

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Tall Ship in NewportTall Ships come to Newport July 6-9, 2012

It seems everywhere I go these days I overhear people chatting in eager anticipation of the Tall Ships arrival to Newport this summer. The buzz generating around this maritime festival is quite contagious, and I too have caught "the bug". I have quickly come to realize if I'm to call myself a Newporter, I must be in the know about such a highly acclaimed event and what it means for the city. So, I did some digging, and here's what I found.

Newport last boasted official host port to the Tall Ships Challenge in 2007. The festival at that time drew an estimated 200,000 people to Rhode Island creating an enormous economic impact on the state. As 2012 marks the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812, organizers of…

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