Luxury Features in a City House w/In-law or Rental Suite

3871 West 36th St $69,900

CALL (440) 391-1304 FOR DETAILS! Community: Cleveland Subdivision: Brooklyn Center MLS Number: 3389460 Comments: This impeccably maintained colonial in historic Brooklyn Center is a legal single family with an in-law suite and separate utilities. Can be converted. Downstairs has 4 beds/1 bath. Kitchens are huge and all appliances stay, including washer& dryer. In-law suite upstairs features 2beds/1 bath. Both upper and lower have in-suite laundry. Home features large, partially covered deck and hottub in a covered gazebo. Both the upstairs and downstairs tubs are whirlpool tubs and the downstairs shower features a rainhead. Newer windows, roof, cement work, updated kitchens and baths, etc. Never worry about a power outage. Home comes with an auxiliary power generator. Security alarm services provided by ADT. Pride of ownership shows here. Market rents estimated at $575-600 up and $650-700 down.

Listed By: Michelle Stanifer Cell: (440) 391-1304 Russell Real Estate Services 12198 Pearl Road Strongsville, OH, 44136 www.GetListedGetSoldMove.com

The "Self Walk"

Me: It's raining.  Forget chaining the dogs to pee this morning.  They aren't going to want to stay out there.  I'll  just open the door, let them run out back and do their thing; they will be back on the deck wanting in by the time I put on the coffee.

Penny:  It's warm!  It's Spring!  I am not chained to the deck!  Quick, Chloe, where's the warden?  Do you see her?

Chloe:  Checking... nope!  No sight of her.

Penny:  Come on, Red, we're blowing this joint!

Fade in:  Two red dogs running down the street, muscles rippling, hair flowing, big goofy grins on their face, soundtrack to Born Free playing in stereo in their heads.

Cut to:  Stupid look on my face as I approach French doors to find no dogs waiting for me.

And that, my friends, is how the "self walk" happens at our house.

Spring is in the Air

Each day, I open the door to let the dogs out in the frozen tundra of our yard and am grateful I don't pee outside.  Some mornings, I have to push them out because it is just too cold to go.  I feel for them, sincerely.

I live in a suburb, but my yard backs up to the Cleveland MetroParks.  The sound of the woods in the winter is almost silent.  Sometimes there is a rustling but not much else, aside from the traffic that passes down Valley Parkway.  The woods are teeming with animals still, I'm sure, yet it seems the noisy ones are either hibernating or have flown south.  There is not much stirring out there aside from a few deer.  OK, more than a few deer.

This morning is gloomy and grey, but something is different; there is a stirring.  I can faintly hear the river behind us rushing its way to open waters somewhere.  Familiar birds have returned and are squawking, and there seemed to be movement aground, even without any breeze.  Scurrying hungry little critters in the bramble, perhaps?  As I write this, I hear geese.  Geese!

The air seemed to be warmer and the smell was a little different too.  I detected that fresh, oh so Spring-like scent of wet mud.  Warm wet mud that will soon give way to little green things that, after so long of white and brown, are like soft kisses for the eyes.

I wasn't the only one who noticed, either.  Normally, Chloe bounds off the back deck and drops to pee the instant her paws hit the lawn, while Penny daintily prances off the deck to sniff the yard and detect any intruders in the night before relieving herself.  But not today.  As I surveyed the changes and allowed the romance of Spring to swirl in my head, I glanced over and noticed both my girls standing with me on the deck, nostrils flaring, wistful expressions on their furry faces.  I could only guess at the runs, swims, and chases they were imagining.  We are all so ready for the Spring!

To Buy, Then Sell or Sell, Then Buy?

There are, quite obviously, two schools of thought on this subject.  Choosing a new home is an emotional decision.  Many people fear that if they sell their current home first, they will not be able to find their next "dream home" before they close the sale on their current home.  Conversely, many fear that if they make an offer on the home of their choice before selling their current home, they may not be able to sell in time and could end up making two mortgage payments.  Both opinions are valid; however, one is riskier than the other.  

In our real estate market, agents have some tools to assist with either scenario.  The first is the Contingency Clause or Concurrency Clause.  The second is the Subject to Specific Purchase Clause.

Contingency or Concurrency Clause

A Contingency Clause states that a Buyer is making an offer on a new home, but completing the transaction is Contingent upon the sale of his current home.  If another Buyer offers on the Seller's property before the Buyer can sell his own property, he will be given the option to remove the Contingency within a prescribed number of days and move forward with the purchase without regard to the sale of his current home or to release the Seller from the purchase agreement, rendering the agreement null and void.  In this case, all deposits will be returned.

A Concurrency Clause states that both Buyer and Seller will offer their homes for sale Concurrently.  If the Seller finds another Buyer before the Buyer sells his home, or if the Buyer cannot sell his home within the specified time period, the sales agreement immediately becomes null and void and all deposits shall be returned.

PROS:

• Allows a Buyer to make an offer on his dream home while not obligating him to complete the sale if he can't sell his current home.  
• It allows a Buyer to be certain that he will be able to negotiate acceptable price and terms on the home of his choice before committing to sell his current home. 

CONS: 

• Sellers are reluctant to accept a Contingent offer; although still considered an active listing in the MLS for showing purposes, the status must change to Contingent, dramatically reducing showings.  
• In the case of a Contingency, if another offer comes in on the property, you will have a few days (usually 1-3) to remove the Contingency, that is, to perform on the contract regardless of the sale of your current home, or forfeit the property. 
• In the case of a Concurrency, the MLS status remains Active and the home continues to be marketed.  It is a race to sell before the Seller finds another Buyer and the first Buyer forfeits the property.

Subject to Specific Purchase Clause

A Subject to Specific Purchase Clause is when a Seller accepts a Buyer's offer, however the Seller stipulates that he must find an acceptable replacement home within a specified period of time, which will close in conjunction with the sale of his current home.  If the Seller is unable to find a replacement home within the prescribed time per the sales agreement, the Seller is under no obligation to sell his home to the new Buyer.  

PROS:

• Allows a Seller a specified period of time to perform his new home search while retaining a Buyer for his current home.
• With the Seller's current home under contract, the lender can qualify him for a new mortgage up to his maximum buying potential.

CONS:

• A Buyer may be reluctant to sign such an agreement, as this commits him to wait and hope that a Seller will find a suitable replacement property.  

In this instance, a seller still has options.  The Seller can accept the Buyer's offer without the Subject to Specific Purchase Clause, but counter-offering a longer closing period to allow time for his new home search.  Rather than lose a good Buyer in a sluggish market, a Seller may choose to consider a short term rental or even rent back his current home from the new Buyer until he finds the right home.  

Buying before you sell without a any protective clause

This option is one that I have seen many unrepresented and some represented buyers take and it is one that carries several significant risks that must be considered before moving in this direction:

• Lower selling price for your current home.  Selling under duress, which in some cases fits this scenario, often results in lower offers.  I can't tell you how many times I have heard a buyer touring an empty home state that they thought they would get a deal because the home owner has already bought a new home and "needs to sell."  Even if you are still living in the home, an over-zealous listing agent may recommend the terminology "motivated seller" in the listing comments which will often result in a lower offer.  Regardless, when neither the home is vacant nor the agent has compromised your bargaining position, the pressure to accept a low offer for fear of losing the buyer is present.  
• Dual mortgage payments.  Even if you have the income to support it, making dual mortgage payments can be a significant financial strain. Consideration should be given to how such a burden will effect the family's current lifestyle and whether the shift in priorities is worth the risk.  A change in your employment situation, such as a pay-cut or job loss could have a devastating effect.  

Home buying is never one size fits all.  Whichever option best suits your personality type, it is important that you choose an agent that is willing to listen to your wants and needs and one who is well versed regarding protective clauses in the contract to look out for your best interests.

Chuckwagon Stew

My husband loves his comfort food.  Recently, I have been making what I call “Chuckwagon Stew.”  It’s a beef stew made with ground beef.  It’s quick, easy, cheap and, a term I heard once, ghettolicious! 

The last time I made it, I thought I would like to try it with dumplings.  I haven’t had a dumpling since I was perhaps 8 years old.  I wasn’t even sure I remembered what they were supposed to taste like.  I have heard of dumplings that were heavy and doorstop-ish so care must be taken to avoid that dumpling recipe! 

As I usually do when I have an idea for a recipe, I research the food on the web and then I improvise.  They turned out light, velvety, and delicious.  I was impressed with my dumplings, so I am sharing.  I hope you like them too. 

Dumplings

INGREDIENTS:

1 ½ c all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp white sugar

½ tsp salt

2 TBS cold butter

1 egg

½ c milk

*** 1 TBS parsley flakes

DIRECTIONS:

1. Sift or stir together flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt in medium size bowl with wire whisk until light and well blended. I use my Kitchen Aid Mixer with whisk attachment.  I hate sifting, so I just whip on low until my dry ingredients are light and fluffy.  *** To make parsley dumplings, add 1 tablespoon parsley flakes to the dry ingredients.
2. Cut in butter until crumbly.  I also use my whisk attachment for this.  I whisk on low until the butter and flour mixture resembles cornmeal.  

3. With a hand held wire whisk, whip egg until well blended.  Whisk in milk until thick and fluffy. 

4. Add egg and milk mixture to dry ingredients and whip for 30 seconds to blend and make a soft dough.

5. Drop by spoonfuls into boiling stew or soup. Cover and simmer 15 minutes without lifting lid. Serve.

Chuckwagon Stew

INGREDIENTS

1 lb lean ground beef

1 large onion, diced

4-6 cloves garlic, smashed, peeled, minced

2 ribs celery, chopped

2 carrots, sliced thin

8 oz sliced mushrooms

¼ c flour
½ c green beans, cut (optional)

2 large potatoes, cubed

½ tsp ground black pepper

2 lbs canned diced tomatoes (+/-)

2 c water

2-3 tsp beef base or 3-4 beef bullion cubes

1 TBS flaked parsley or minced fresh parsley
2-3 bay leaves

DIRECTIONS:

In Dutch oven or large pot, brown ground beef with onion and garlic.  Add celery, carrots and mushrooms.  Cook until softened. 

Sprinkle on flour and stir with wooden spoon until incorporated.  Add remaining ingredients.  Mix well, cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are softened. 

Once potatoes are softened, add dumplings, cover and simmer another 15 minutes. 

Makes 4-6 servings depending on how hungry you are.  

A Sweet Treat for You & Your Sweetheart

Valentines day is a wonderfully romantic date night that I love to celebrate.  What I don't love is dining out in crowded restaurants and paying exorbitant prices for sometimes mediocre food.  One year, I decided that it would be my gift to my husband to cook and serve him a 12-course meal.  I set a pretty table with candles, chilled several types of wines for the various courses, bought expensive cigars, a nice port, and then cooked my brains out.

If you have never done this, I will advise you to plan ahead and begin eating early.  If you start with the appetizer around 6:00 PM, you may get to the final course by 11:00 PM.  We have done this several times.  It is something that is a lot of fun to do with a group of friends.  Well, a group of friends who can have a few glasses of wine and still be fun, that is.  Do not try with moody drinkers.  Take your time between courses and make your portions small or you won't make it to the end!  

The one thing I have made more than once and is now the one dessert that I think of every Valentine's Day is a Mocha Truffle Cup.  The little cups are made of chocolate, the filling is mocha mousse and it is topped with a chocolate covered coffee bean.  It was a simple but sophisticated little dessert that I found in an old cookbook.  I now see that another site has posted it word for word, but doubled, and is claiming it as their own.  They have requested that it be attributed to them if copied.  Since it was mine first and someone else's before that, I do not feel the need.  I will share it with you and I hope you and your sweetheart will enjoy it as much as we do.

After Dinner Mocha Truffle Cups

18 Chocolate cups

                1 cup chocolate chips

                ½ Tbs shortening

Melt over low heat or in double boiler, stirring constantly to prevent scorching.  Remove from heat as soon as chocolate melts.  Spoon about ½ TBS melted chocolate into each of 18 small foil candy cups.  Brush chocolate up the side of each cup with a clean paintbrush, coating foil completely.  Carefully wipe off any chocolate that may have run over top of foil cup using tip of finger.  Place cups on a baking sheet; let stand in cool place until firm.  Do not refrigerate.

½ c whipping cream

1 egg

½ c semisweet chocolate chips

1 TBS prepared espresso, cooled

½ TBS coffee flavored liqueur

½ tsp unflavored gelatin

Sweetened whipped cream

Chocolate covered espresso beans for garnish (I get mine at Cafe Ah Roma in Berea)

* Prepare chocolate cups and set aside. 

* Place large bowl and beaters in freezer until cold.  Pour whipping cream into chilled bowl and beat with mixer at high until soft peaks form.  Refrigerate.

* Beat egg in separate bowl at high about 5 minutes or until thick and lemon colored. 

* Melt chocolate chips in double boiler .  Add a small amount to egg and stir to blend.  Add egg mixture to remaining chocolate and cook over medium heat 1 minute stirring constantly.  Remove from heat.

* Place espresso and liqueur in small saucepan and sprinkle with gelatin.  Let stand 1 minute to soften.  Heat over low heat until gelatin is completely dissolved, stirring constantly.  To test for undissolved gelatin, run a finger over the spoon.  If it feels smooth, the gelatin is completely dissolved. 

* Gradually add gelatin mixture, a few drops at a time to chocolate mixture, whisking until smooth. 

* Gently fold ½ of chocolate mixture into chilled whipped cream with rubber spatula by gently cutting down to bottom of bowl, scraping up side of bowl, then folding over top of mixture.  Repeat until chocolate is incorporated.  Add to remaining chocolate, gently folding until combined and no steaks of chocolate remain. 

* Spoon chocolate mixture into reserved chocolate cups with small spoon, filling to top; refrigerate at least 3 hours or until firm. 

* Garnish with whipped cream and beans.

Quest for Coffee

I have declared myself on a quest for the perfect cup of home brewed coffee.  I am a coffee lover.  I love the aroma, flavor and the community of a well brewed cup of coffee.  I like it strong but smooth.  I like my roast dark, but not burnt. (Sorry, Starbucks.)  I use small batches of whole beans kept in an airtight vacuum canister and grind them fresh to order.  I use cold filtered water and favor a stainless or glass coffee urn, no plastic or aluminum, if you please.  I will likely try roasting my own beans soon.

I had a Kitchen Aid automatic drip brewer that we used for several years.  It brewed average to above average coffee into a stainless steel thermal carafe.  One day, something went wonky with the clock and without being able to get it to stop flashing, the coffee wouldn't brew.  I tried everything.  Finally, out of frustration, I smacked the button of the clock with the back of a spoon and it stopped flashing.  We were back in business!  We were never able to set the clock again, but we at least could brew our coffee.  I don't know why everything in the kitchen needs a clock anyhow.  There's the clock-clock, the coffee maker clock, the stove clock, the microwave clock, the phone clock...  Why do I need all this?  I think simple is better.  But, I digress.

After a couple of months of brewing with a mis-set clock, the clock went out entirely.  That was it.  We could no longer brew.  I got online and began researching coffee makers.  I spent time learning what makes good coffee so I could narrow down my choices.  One thing I kept reading over and over again was people declaring percolated coffee to be the best they ever had.  Suddenly, it occurred to me that I had an old percolator.

It was a Corningware pot that I had picked up at a garage sale years ago when I was maybe 13 and stored it in my "hope chest" for my first place.  I used it a couple of times when I was 16 but then soon got my first automatic drip brewer and packed it away again.

I pulled it out, ran it through the dishwasher, and brewed a pot.  It made the most amazing coffee ever.  It was smooth and rich and so perfect.  I was in love.  I would never need to buy another coffee maker again.  It had no electronic or moving parts to break.  It was a simple, practically indestructible stoneware pot with a stainless steel basket.  What could go wrong?

Well, unbeknownst to me, about 37 years ago, these pots were recalled.  It seems that the plastic they used to make the ring that gives the grip between the stoneware pot and the stainless steel collar melts.  I was leaving for an appointment one morning.  My pot finished brewing and I removed the basket, replaced the lid and began to fill my to-go cup.  Suddenly, the pot began sliding out of the collar.  I couldn't set it down fast enough to prevent the pot from dropping to the counter and the just boiled coffee from splattering all over my arm, melting my skin.  Honestly, I was more sad to be losing awesome coffee than the skin on my wrist.  Is that wrong to say?

My quest continued.  Now I was sure I wanted to buy another percolator but I didn't want an electric one.  While it may brew amazing coffee, the heating element in the base would continue to "cook" the coffee and spoil the flavor within minutes of the end of the brew.  I hate cooked coffee.  It had to be a stovetop version.  I didn't want aluminum due to the connection with Alzheimer's disease, which I already suspect is creeping up on me.  Plastic tends to transfer tastes so no plastic either.  I found a Coleman all stainless pot that looked beautiful, appeared well made, had good reviews, and could make 12 cups.

It's pretty, right?  It was about $40 on Amazon.  I couldn't wait for it to arrive.  As soon as I opened it, I washed it out and brewed a pot.  Just a short pot of 4 cups.  It was awful.  It never really perked and all I achieved was slightly brown water.  Then I tried an 8 cup pot.  Also awful.  It brewed, but it just wasn't good.  I experimented for days tweaking this and that trying to get it right.  It just never happened.  It took a long time to percolate also, so my husband never had time to make it in the morning to take on the train to work with him.  I wasted $40.  I am sad again.  The quest continues.

The more I research, the more I learn what I want and what I don't want.  First, I don't want a clock.  Evidently, they are trouble makers.  I want a cone shaped filter basket rather than a flat bottom basket, as I understand that this allows for a richer brew.  I want a permanent filter because they don't absorb the oils from the beans that should be in the coffee and there is no taste transfer.  I want the option to brew 2 cups or 10 cups as needed and still be happy with the results.  I want a thermal carafe.  I do not want a heating plate or element of any kind.  I want a water filter, if possible.  I have decided that a percolator requires more personal involvement than is practical for our lifestyle, particularly my husband's, so in fairness to him, I am seeking an automatic drip brewer again.  Most importantly, I want a brewer that operates at the correct brewing temperature for ideal flavor extraction.

Every time a found a recommendation, I would read the reviews on various sites, like Amazon, Zappos, and Bed Bath & Beyond, only to be dissuaded.  People like to complain about their coffee makers.  Through a site I found called Hula Daddy which sells my favorite, Kona coffee, 8 brewers were recommended as being able to brew at the proper 200˚ F.   I read the reviews and researched them all.  The Krups recommendation was non-specific and I was not sure which model was being recommended, so I researched several.  One sort of stood out.  It was the Krups KT720D50 10-Cup Thermal Filter Coffee Maker.  

I found the negative reviews to be whiny and annoying and didn't really deal with the coffee brewer and the positive reviews to be very good.  And it didn't hurt that I loved the look.  I was just a little worried, by the photo, that it was going to be too huge for my counter or possibly not fit under my cabinets.  I pulled the trigger.  As you can see by the photos, it fit just fine under the cabinet.  The photos on the web made it appear from the side view that it would protrude on the counter also, but it didn't.  And look at the cool blue lights.  One light is under the water reservoir to illuminate the water so you can see how much is left to brew during the brew cycle.  I am really thrilled with the aesthetics of this machine.  

When it arrived, I couldn't wait until morning to brew a pot and try it out so I washed it out and made a pot immediately.  For some reason, I thought that this machine came with a water filter, but I was mistaken.  That was the only real let down upon unpacking.  I used the Aroma setting for our first pot, which is supposed to produce a richer brew.  It took approximately 10 minutes to brew approximately an 8 cup pot.  The manufacturer says that it brews 10 cups but don't believe it.  The water measures less than an 8 cup pot by Mr. Coffee standards.  I will measure tomorrow as my experimentation begins.  I used 8 scoops with the measuring scoop that came with the machine.  It was the equivalent of 4 regular coffee scoops.  The brew was a tad strong and a little bitter.  I tested the temperature immediately after brewing and it registered somewhere between 155-160 F.  

After a few days of breaking it in, I have decided that this machine makes pretty good coffee.  It's not the same smooth, rich brew we got from the Corningware pot, but then it doesn't fall apart and melt the skin off my wrist, either.  I am happy, for now.  I hope after some more time of breaking it in, the brew temperature will improve, as I have read that this happens.  As it stands, I give this brewer pretty high marks.  If you are in the market for a pretty and fairly good coffee brewer, I would suggest that you give this one a try.  I will post any updates that may change my recommendation in the future.  Stand by...