DiMarco Realtors February 2019

DiMarco Realtors February 2019

San Diego Orange County Inland Empire Los Angeles Bay Area 888-271-7760 | DIMARCOREALTORS.COM | DIMARCOLEGAL.COM | FEB. 2019 News from Your Home & Loan Resource Network DiMa r c o ’ s 2 C e n t s

Random Acts of Kindness

Have you ever been on the receiving end of a random act of kindness? February 17th is Random Acts of Kindness Day, and the idea behind it is to encourage everyone to carry out kind acts solely for the purpose of brightening someone’s day. It could be a surprise box of donuts or sticky notes with inspiring sayings left on people’s cars. Our very own Cristina Iacobelli experienced a great example just last week. Cristina had gone to the car wash, paid at the counter using her credit card (and racking up airline miles), and then sat down to wait for her car to be ready.When she noticed the car was just about complete, she realized she had no cash to tip the worker. She raced back to the cashier to explain the situation and see if she could get cash using her credit card so that she could pay the tip.

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There was nothing the cashier could do. Another patron, however, overheard Cristina’s predicament and handed her a $5 bill. Of course, Cristina offered to write him a check or otherwise repay him. He would not let her. Instead, he just asked her to accept this random act of kindness to a fellow human being and pay it forward. Cool guy! This February 17th will remind us that we can be intentional about creating opportunities to practice kindness. Let’s all spread some smiles!

As an attorney and advisor for real estate and loans, I get a lot of requests for help on a wide range of topics including getting out of debt, rental properties, insurance, partnerships, trusts, and taxes.While I can’t provide legal representation or advice on all topics, I can be a helpful resource by giving you direction.

When you need practical advice and don’t know where to go, I’m here for you.

Darren DiMarco | [email protected]

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Andy Says ... I want to share some information regarding trusts. Although most people have heard that a trust can be beneficial, many never get around to creating

Benefits of a Trust

time — some may take longer than a year. Probate fees can be quite substantial, too, even for the most basic case with no conflict between beneficiaries. Also note that when your will is admitted to probate, it becomes public record and can be accessed by anyone who wishes to review or scrutinize it. • A trust can ensure that your retirement assets are distributed as you’ve planned. For instance, maybe you’re concerned that the beneficiary of a retirement account will liquidate that account, resulting in a large income tax obligation that year. Naming a properly created trust as the beneficiary of a retirement account at the grantor’s death can help resolve this issue (get more details from a professional on how this works). Bottom line: With a trust and proper planning, you may be able to avoid the costs and delays involved with probate and gain greater control over how your estate is settled. If you would like an introduction to a trust and estate planning attorney, please let me know.

one or even becoming more informed. There are others who already have a trust but sometimes neglect to keep both it and their assets updated in order to receive full benefit from it. A trust is a legal structure that contains a set of instructions on exactly how and when to pass assets to beneficiaries named in the trust. An estate planning professional (not me) can help you determine which type of trust is most appropriate for you — especially given current tax law.

Here are two top benefits:

• A trust can ensure that your heirs have timely access to your assets — avoiding delays and substantial costs. With a will and no trust, your estate is settled through a procedure known as probate. Probate proceedings will take

Couples Who Sweat Together Stay Together Why You Should Exercise With Your Significant Other

EachValentine’s Day, people all over the world rush to the store to buy chocolates and all the ingredients necessary to whip up a romantic dinner for two. Unfortunately, these calorie-laden holiday traditions can undermine the fitness resolutions you made just six weeks before. Instead of throwing your goals by the wayside this February, why not make fitness a couples activity?

Try Some Rock Climbing! This is a great way to get a good workout while simultaneously building trust with your partner. Most rock-climbing gyms offer classes in belaying, and staff members can give you tips to improve your form. Sign up to work with an instructor and test your personal limits together.

The National Library of Medicine published a study showing that couples who focused on their health together went to the gym more often and reported feeling more connected in their relationship. These findings were corroborated by a study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Scientists claimed that partners who exercised together reported higher levels of happiness and satisfaction in their relationship. If you and your sweetheart are looking for a romantic way to burn some calories this month, here are some great workout ideas for two.

Play Catch! Grab a medicine ball and do some overhead passes, feet-to-feet situp passes, and back-to-back twists with each other. All of these easy at-home workouts help build a solid core. Go for a Run! If the weather is nice, the two of you can lace up and hit the pavement together. You could even make a couples playlist to listen to as you run. If the cold temperatures are preventing you from enjoying the great outdoors, head to the gym and challenge each other on side- by-side treadmills.

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Can a Referral Make a Difference?

St. Jude is on the front lines in the fight against childhood disease, and we want to help. Do you know someone who is moving? Refer them to us, and for every referral we help, we donate $500 to St. Jude.Your referral makes a difference.

Referring is easy: just call or text me at 949-391-7511 or email [email protected]. We, and St. Jude, thank you.

Spicy Salmon Tartare

Ingredients

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1 8-ounce boneless, skinless salmon fillet

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1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

Pay It Forward 3 I deas for S preading K indness

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1/4 teaspoon lime zest

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1/4 cup cucumber, seeded and finely diced 1 1/2 teaspoons jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced

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As Darren shared on the cover, February 17th is Random Acts of Kindness Day. It encourages us all to engage in kind acts and spread positive feelings around the world. Here are a few ideas to help you carry out a random act of kindness and have a profound impact on someone. 1. Pay for someone’s groceries when they can’t afford to. This idea is inspired by the story of another random act of kindness.Violet was grocery shopping with her grandmother, and they were in the checkout line getting ready to pay. A young woman in line next to them was crying as she swiped her credit card, which wasn’t working.Without making a big deal of it,Violet’s grandmother quietly paid for the woman’s groceries. 2. Give a genuine compliment to everyone you encounter. This one requires some commitment, but you’ll be amazed at how seeking to give simple words of affirmation for one day encourages you to notice positive aspects of every person you come across. Before long, seeing the best in others will become second nature to you. 3. Offer your time to a nonprofit organization. Seek out a cause you feel passionate about — a community organization, a school, or any other program — and give back by supplying some of your efforts. Find a one-time event you can help with or dedicate yourself to volunteering on an ongoing basis.You might just discover your new passion. Here’s another idea for a kind act: Refer your friends and family to DiMarco, Realtors. For every referral we work with, we donate $500 to St. Jude Research Hospital to assist their quest to end childhood cancer and other diseases. Be part of the change and tell your friends and family why they’ll love DiMarco, Realtors.

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1 1/2 teaspoons shallots, minced

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3/4 teaspoon fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated

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1 1/2 teaspoons fresh cilantro, minced

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1 1/2 teaspoons fresh chives, minced

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1 1/2 teaspoons grapeseed or vegetable oil

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Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

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Crackers or chips, for serving

Directions

1. Place salmon in freezer for 20 minutes to make slicing easier. 2. Meanwhile, prepare other ingredients for mixing. 3. Thinly slice salmon into sheets and

cut sheets into strips and strips into cubes.When finished, you should have 1/8-inch cubes.

4. In a mixing bowl, combine

salmon with all other ingredients. Season with salt and pepper.

5. Garnish with chips or crackers and serve.

Inspired by Epicurious

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Darren DiMarco 949-391-7511 Call or Text [email protected] Realtor®, CalBRE# 01071383, NMLS# 361115 Diane DiMarco 949-829-1570 Call or Text [email protected] Realtor®, CalBRE# 01896291 Chris Hertsgaard 949-391-3411 Call or Text [email protected] Realtor®, CalBRE# 01363354 Cristina Iacobelli 760-519-3294 Call or Text [email protected] Realtor®, CalBRE# 01986394

DiMa r c o ’ s 2 C e n t s News from Your Home & Loan Resource Network

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PO Box 704 San Clemente, CA 92674

Law Offices of Darren J. DiMarco

Your Real Estate Advisors: Darren, Cristina, Diane, and Chris

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Random Acts of Kindness

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Andy Says: Benefits of a Trust

CouplesWho Sweat Together Stay Together

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3Ways to Spread Kindness

Spicy Salmon Tartare

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All About Chocolate

What You Didn’t Know About Chocolate

chocolate,” named after its inventor, Sam German, an American who made sweet chocolate for baking. Adding sugar to the chocolate made it a go-to option for bakers around the world, and the base for German chocolate cake was born. For chocolate to be classified as Swiss, it has to be made in Switzerland, as chocolate-making is considered an art form in the country. Known for its “melt in your mouth” quality, Swiss chocolate uses condensed milk to add a velvety texture. Many chocolate makers outside of Switzerland will refer to their interpretations of Swiss chocolate as milk chocolate instead.

Chocolate is a treat savored by people all over the world. What we know as the sweet, creamy decadence that sustains Valentine’s Day actually has greater historical and cultural significance. Fermented chocolate drinks have been dated back to as early as 350 B.C. The Aztecs believed it was the beverage of wisdom, and the Mayans saw it as something to be worshipped.While the history of chocolate is as rich as its flavor, there are some common misconceptions about the treat. Dutch chocolate doesn’t necessarily refer to chocolate made in the Netherlands; the name refers to a specific chocolate-making process that uses the cocoa press. Before Dutch chemist and chocolate-maker C.J. van Houten invented the machine in 1828, chocolate was only used in beverages. Dutch chocolate is chocolate that has been modified with an alkalizing agent in order to produce a milder flavor, making it a fantastic option for use in baked goods, candy, and ice cream.

German chocolate actually has nothing to do with the country of Germany, either. It used to be called “German’s

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