The winner in the parks  category is old-school green, famous for its quaint, walkable streets and its 22 tree-lined squares, which date back to 1733. That relaxed, healthy atmosphere has apparently rubbed off on everyone else, too: the locals ranked near the top of the survey for being friendly , and the city won the category for romance .

By Frank Curran: Principal and resident at The Fairways at Savannah Quarters, west Savannah’s finest Active Adult community.

When is a $4 coffee mug worth $8? According to students at the Columbia University School of Business, the answer is “as soon as you own it”. Columbia professor Eric Johnson regularly conducts a classroom exercise that proves this point. He divides his class into two groups. The first group is shown a coffee mug, and asked how much they would be willing to pay for it. Most of the time the answer is around $4. The individual members of the second group are each given a coffee mug that is identical to the first mug, and then asked how much they would be willing to sell it for. The members of the “selling” group generally want, on average, about $8 each for their mugs.

The professor uses this experiment to begin a discussion of the principle of “loss aversion”. The essence of loss aversion is that simply owning something increases its value (to us). We don’t like losing something once we own it. When it comes time to downsize our household and move to more practical quarters, “loss aversion” sets in and makes us crazy. We dig in our heels and resist the idea of pruning our belongings to a more practical level. After all, we spent most of our adulthood accumulating a house full of furnishings, tools, and memorabilia and we are reluctant to part with any of it.

That’s a perfectly normal reaction: everyone has it. But, those individuals who have successfully downsized a household all tell me the same thing: it was remarkably easy (and fun) once they actually decided to do it. The trick, they say, is to look forward rather than backward. To a person, the downsizers I have spoken with have described the process as “liberating”. They say that they didn’t realize how much their belongings “held them down” until they got rid of most of them. Downsizers each developed their own individual system for getting the job done, but there are a few techniques that almost everyone used to make the downsizing process fun. Let me pass on a few of these tips:

1. Before even starting to consider the disposition of your personal property, begin by finding your new living quarters. Make a list of your ideal circumstances: what sort of people do you want for neighbors? What social activities are available to your neighborhood? What sort of things do you enjoy doing? Are those activities provided for in your “new” neighborhood?

Once you have decided on the “lifestyle” issues, begin to look at housing that will meet your needs. Make sure your quarters are big enough to be comfortable but small enough to be practical. How close do you want to be to shopping, hospitals, and transportation? How about security and maintenance issues?

2. Here’s the fun part: once you have decided on your new residence, shop for the furnishings you’ll need to make your new home livable. You can take favorite items from your existing home, buy new, or a combination of both. The point is to create a comfortable new living environment and separate yourself from your old residence. When you have completely furnished your new home, you have moved forward with your “favorite things” and left the rest behind.

3. Now, let go of the rest of your possessions. This will actually be easier than you think. Since your new home is comfortably furnished with many of your favorite things, you’ll find that your attachment to what is “left over” has diminished. But, you will still have to empty your house if you want to sell it. Here’s a painless way to proceed with liquidating your remaining household goods:

a. Invite your family members to choose items that they would like as keepsakes. Alternately, you can choose “who gets what”.

b. Hire an Estate Sale company, an Auctioneer, or a Yard Sale company to sell off whatever is left. Trust me; these folks are worth every penny that they charge. Organizing and executing a sale is tedious, hard work. It takes as much work to execute a sale as it does to move a household from one location to another. You can avoid the entire process by hiring it out. Plus, when the sale is over you get a check. What could be better than that?

If you decide to liquidate your remaining possessions by having a sale, let me recommend that you don’t attend the sale. Doing so will only dredge up old memories, and the purpose of the liquidation is to move forward with your life.

Downsizing your home can be an adventure. You get to choose your new life and your new living circumstances. You get to re-create yourself, to create the “you” that you’ve always wanted to be.

By Frank Curran: Principal and Resident at The Fairways at Savannah Quarters

Jim Henry, an oysterman from Mystic, Connecticut, struggled with illiteracy his entire life. Growing up in a family of oystermen, his father pulled him out of the third grade to help support his family. Reading and writing was less important at that time than food on the table, so dredging and scraping for oysters took priority over school work. For decades, Jim made a comfortable living without reading a book or signing his name. But he always felt that something was missing in his life. At the age of 90, he decided to learn how to read and write. At the age of 98, he published his first book, “In a Fisherman’s Language”. Of the experience, Jim says: ‘I’m so happy, I catch myself crying; it’s the difference between night and day for me. It’s like I’m born again”.

Of course, those who are reading this are literate; stories such as Capt. Henry’s are inspirational but don’t affect our lives on a personal level. That is, until we discover exactly what Jim Henry was trying to do: fill up his life with something that was missing. As we approach retirement downsizing and examine our lives, many of us realize that we, too, have “something missing” in our lives; a dream unfulfilled or a yearning unsatisfied. The questions we have to ask ourselves are: are we smart enough /sensitive enough to recognize what’s missing and are we brave enough to make a change?

When we were children, we could imagine that we were anything that we wanted to be: a cowboy, a pirate, a princess, an astronaut. As we grew older, childhood fantasies turned into teenage aspirations: we would become a doctor, a musician, a sailor, an artist, a writer. We would travel and see the wonders of the world. Teenage aspirations turned into adult ambitions, and then our lives were underway. We packed our childhood fantasies and teenage aspirations away into “mental boxes” and moved ahead with our lives.

Forty or fifty years later we find that our children have grown and gone, our careers have come to an end, and some of our friends and loved ones have passed on. We wonder how it all could have happened so quickly. At this crossroad, many of us are unsure about the next chapter in our lives; our thoughts on the matter were always fuzzy and incomplete. We thought that “retirement planning” meant saving and investing money, and we gave little thought to our most valuable resource: our time.

And now the time is upon us for retirement downsizing. It’s time to turn the page and open the next chapter of our lives. Some of us don’t want to do that. Change can be hard; it requires a movement and a new vision. We don’t want to change because we’re comfortable where we are at the moment. We begin and end every day in our familiar surroundings. In the back of our minds, we know that we will eventually have to deal with downsizing but we put off dealing with it.

There’s a scene in the movie Gone With The Wind where Scarlett O’Hara, beset by more troubles than she can handle, says: “I can’t think about that right now. If I do, I’ll go crazy. I’ll think about that tomorrow.” So it is with many of us; we all have our limits. There are some things that we just can’t think about now; we’ll think about them tomorrow. For those of us approaching retirement the idea of downsizing is daunting, and it’s one of those things that we prefer not to think about. Sorting and packing our furnishings and figuring out what to do with a lifetime of memorabilia makes us crazy, so we don’t think about it. We put it off until another day.

One thing is certain: you can’t start a new chapter of your life if you keep re-reading the last chapter. Moving on can be your decision or you can procrastinate for so long that someone else will make the decision for you. If you want to remain in control of your life, then it’s up to you to turn the page. Yes, change can be hard; but it can also be wonderful and fulfilling. What was it that Capt. Jim said? ‘I’m so happy, I catch myself crying; it’s the difference between night and day for me’. Capt. Jim turned the page on his own and opened a new chapter in his life. He fulfilled his dream and quenched his yearning. You can, too. You once put away your teenage aspirations in order to pursue your adult ambitions. What were those aspirations? Did you want to see the world? Paint? Write? Sail the Seven Seas? Visit the National Parks?

It’s time to open the boxes of your youthful aspirations, examine them, dust them off, and see if they still glimmer. How do you feel when you think of them? Which ones still shine? Downsizing your home isn’t an ending: it’s a new beginning, if you’re brave enough to make the move. Ask Capt. Jim Henry.

The theme of any St. Patrick’s Day Parade is obvious: It is a commemoration of the patron saint of Ireland. The tradition of honoring his memory began in Savannah in 1813, when a small group of Hibernians sought to draw attention to the plight of poor Irish immigrants by marching from the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist to City Hall on March 17.
For a dozen years the parade was their private affair, and then it turned into a military review, and has remained that way until today.
It is said that Savannah hosts the second largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the world behind New York City. But there is no question where I’d rather be, and there are hundreds of thousands of visitors who agree with me.
I don’t want to brag — or maybe I do — but while you will find several pipe and drum corps units from New York in our parade, you won’t find a single Savannah entry in theirs.
I’m sure they have a fine time in New York, but I’d rather spend springtime among the azaleas in the most beautiful historic district in the United States than wander through a canyon of skyscrapers in Manhattan.
There is one other important distinction between our celebration and New York’s: we do not simply celebrate the day; we celebrate the season, beginning on Feb. 17 with the Irish Festival and continuing through a month-long celebration, including the Greening of the Fountain, the Irish Heritage Dance, Tara Feis, Celtic Cross Ceremony, Jasper Green Ceremony and the Ceremony to Honor Deceased Past Grand Marshals.
It isn’t all about the drinkin’ and the partyin’. We celebrate all facets of our Irish heritage: The music, the dance, the folklore. All are family affairs intended for everyone to enjoy.
So, while Savannah may be second to New York in the size of our parade — and we’re catching up — we are second to none when it comes to scope and dimension.
Of course, our parade hasn’t always been the four-hour procession that it is today. Back when I first joined the Adjutant Staff 40 years ago, the parade was over in an hour and was strictly a local affair. It was the quintessential, small town celebration with local high school bands and dignitaries. But now we have official representatives from Ireland’s government and military and marching bands from all over the nation.
The Adjutant Staff are the men in white jackets that are responsible for putting this show on the road, the elite corps of the Parade Committee, and they are in charge of the parade. You will find them everywhere: In the staging area and at key security points, and they are there to maintain order and handle questions and emergencies.
You will find them marching at the end of the parade, and for 40 years that’s where I’ve been, in the last unit. But as it says in the Book of Matthew: “The last shall be first, because many are called but few are chosen.” And I am honored to have been chosen Parade Marshal this year.
Tim Ansley is Grand Marshal of the 2012 St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

By Frank Curran, a Principal, of The Fairways at Savannah Quarters an Epcon Community, one of the leading developers and franchise operators of Condo/Townhome developments nationwide. He can be reached at 912 450 9876 or by email at frankcurran@fairways-sq.com or log on to www.fairways-sq.com for more information.

August 21, 2011

So, is the recession really over? Haven’t you heard that our nation is suffering from the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression? Haven’t you heard about the recent volatility on Wall Street? How could you not? The 24- hour news channels thrive on all of this gloom and doom. And, the irratings – unlike our economy – are soaring. It’s no secret that the economy could be much better. However, recessions are the natural growing pains of a strong nation. Historically, they have occurred about every 50 months almost like clockwork. Our nation, though, always rebounds stronger than we were before. During 1990, Time Magazine had a cover story on the demise of the housing industry. What kind of shape would you be in now had you purchased a home then? Smart and savvy home-buyers are recognizing that a “perfect storm” of circumstances has formed to make this the most profitable time to invest in a new home. Generational low interest rates are evolving as our government continues to advance initiatives to lower mortgage rates, stem the tide of foreclosures and enhance the opportunity to purchase real estate today. In fact, the Federal Reserve said last week it would keep interest rates very low for at least the next two years. All of this is good news for homeowners who see bargains out there and are willing to act now. Present home loans are very close to January’s all-time interest-rate lows, and can provide the opportunity to buy the home of your dreams while they are still on sale. Here are some things you should know.

Smart and savvy home-buyers are recognizing that a “perfect storm” of circumstances has formed to make this the most profitable time to invest in a new home.

Thirty-year mortgage rates are at all time lows.

• The current conventional, 30-year mortgage rate of less than 5 percent versus the 6.5 percent rate of years past could save you $50,000 or more in interest over the life of the loan. Can you afford to lose out on this opportunity?

Home values are…. Kind of irrelevant?

• That’s right. Whether values are historically high or low, everyone is on a level playing field. For most of our customers, the possibility of receiving a lower-than expected price for their existing residence is more than offset by the lower price they are receiving from a builder on their new home. Subcontractors and suppliers are hungry for business and are slashing the input costs for new construction, allowing builders to price homes aggressively low. All this is great for homebuyers, but it won’t last.

If you are like most people, the choice isn’t whether you are going to own a home; it’s whether to keep investing in your existing home or invest in a new one.

• Which investment is more likely to appreciate – your current, older home or a home freshly designed and built to be relevant for today’s and tomorrow’s buyer? After all, while you wait for the market to recover, wouldn’t you rather be waiting in a new, maintenance free home, customized to your taste and style rather than wondering if your lawn mower is going to start this spring? Sometimes playing it safe isn’t very safe at all.

Buy low; sell high is the first rule of investing.

• Home purchases are not meant to be short term investments and smart buyers know that waiting for a stronger market means paying high prices. You’ve heard the news that new housing starts have been falling. That means supply is rapidly decreasing. This also means that when demand returns to normal levels and new homes are in short supply, prices will undoubtedly skyrocket –it’s Economics 101. Don’t lose out on your chance to invest near the bottom.

Experience the difference.

• Builders are rolling out the red carpet for their customers these days. The customer is king now more than ever. Customer changes are no problem. Don’t miss out on the chance to have a great buying experience with a customer-focused builder before they get too busy to go the extra mile.

Quality Counts.

• Homes built in slower housing markets are constructed with more care and by more highly talented craftsman. A lot was overlooked in the old days of “How fast can we build?” The omissions were not done on purpose, but at the break-neck pace of a few years ago, builders didn’t have time to be picky. Now, builders are able to be a lot more hands-on one and make sure attention is paid to the details. Plus, with a lighter workload, only the best tradesmen have been retained by subcontractors, which in effect weeds out the amateurs. The difference shows. I challenge you to come to our site and our builders and see how quality is apparent in the community and has been acknowledged to us by visitors throughout our Epcon network.

Made in the USA.

• With the housing industry comprising one-fifth of America’s Gross Domestic Product, it’s no wonder the economy is struggling. Our country has lost a significant number of construction jobs. Most Americans feel a patriotic duty to buy American-made products, but does it really make a difference? Think about this – virtually all of the dollars spent building and buying a new home stay in your community. Now that’s what I call a stimulus package (where it counts).JFK said it best, “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”Simply put those who wait on the sidelines are continuing to compound the problem. However, those who can afford to purchase a car or home during a time of recession and actually do it are patriots and should be applauded.

Frank Curran is a Principal of The Fairways at

Savannah Quarters an Epcon Community, one of

the leading developers and franchise operators of

Condo/Townhome developments nationwide. He can

be reached at 912 450 9876 by email at frankcurran@

fairways-sq.com. Log on to www.fairways-sq.

com for more information.