DiMarco Realtors - March 2022

DiMarco Realtors - March 2022

San Diego Orange County Inland Empire Los Angeles Bay Area 888-271-7760 | DIMARCOREALTORS.COM | DIMARCOLEGAL.COM | MARCH 2022 News From Your Home & Loan Resource Network DiMa r c o ’ s 2 C e n t s

Finding Luck A Poignant Reminder This St. Patrick’s Day

Months later, the man’s horse returned with several other wild horses. The neighbors couldn’t believe it! “What good luck,” they exclaimed. But the man said,“Who knows if that won’t bring bad luck?” One day, the man’s only son was bucked from one of the new horses and broke his leg. Once again, the man’s neighbors offered apologies.“What bad luck,” they said. But the man again said,“Who knows if that won’t bring good luck?” While the son’s leg was healing, the oldest son from every family in the village was ordered to serve in an impending war. But because of his broken leg, the man’s son was spared battle. The man’s neighbors were happy for their friend, saying,“What good luck!” Good luck and bad luck beget each other.We have no way of predicting each. All we can do is our best to accept it and move forward. You never know when your “luck”might change or what those forecasts of “bad luck”may bring. All you can do is keep your eyes peeled for opportunities that may create the good fortune you have always sought. And, in the spirit of the holiday, perhaps a four-leaf clover couldn’t hurt either.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Do you feel particularly lucky this month? Couldn’t we all use a little more good luck!? I’m not a deep thinker about this “luck” concept, but it seems to me it’s not always some random act of fate that brings us luck. Sometimes our good attitude or enthusiastic approach helps us identify opportunities in front of us bringing a stroke of unexpected, good fortune. On the other hand, I do concede there are events that are completely out of our control. For those instances, I suggest referring to an ancient Chinese parable (I’ve translated it to English for you). It’s the story of a man with an interesting outlook. A man had one horse and one son. One day, the horse ran away, and the man’s neighbors shared their sympathies. “What bad luck,” they said. But the man said,“Who knows if that won’t bring good luck?” Your Legal Resource 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.

Best of luck this St. Patrick’s Day!

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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3 Books for Spring Reading It’s time to dust off the bookshelf and liven things up this spring. If you’re looking for a new read, check out this list of trending books that will have you gripped until the very last page. ‘PeopleWe Meet onVacation’ by Emily Henry With more than 88,000 votes for Goodreads best book of 2021, “PeopleWe Meet on Vacation” is an easy, fun, and modern read that will inspire your next big adventure. Alex and Poppy are best friends who, despite living hours apart and living different lifestyles, took a big trip every year for the past 10 years. But after a major rift, they spend two years apart. Can their relationship be repaired with one big trip?Will this trip change everything for good, or will the fantastic duo be together once again? ‘The Comfort Book’ by Matt Haig Consider “The Comfort Book” by Matt Haig as a letter to your future self. Over several years, Haig wrote small stories and essays to himself, offering poignant reminders that, despite how low things may seem, everything was going to be okay. The book blends Haig’s experiences with global and scientific knowledge to offer a love letter of sorts to the “unpredictability of existence.” Living in the world that we do, it’s no wonder that Haig’s book was ranked as one of the top nonfiction books on Goodreads in 2021.

‘The One HundredYears of Lenni and Margot’ by Marianne Cronin

What would you do with just months left to live? That’s the question Lenni and Margo ask themselves when they meet in their hospital’s terminal ward arts and crafts class. The former is 17 and has a terminal illness. The other is 83 years old and refuses to follow the rules during her final days. Between them, they have 100 years of living, and they want to make every second they have left count.When the duo decides to create and leave a legacy depicting their century of “life,” the result is a beautiful story that is sure to pull heartstrings. You can learn more about each book online at Goodreads.com, and you can purchase the books through your local bookstore or at Amazon.com.

Meet France’s 4-Legged Doctor ‘Dr. Peyo’ the Therapy Horse Will See You Now!

“What really pushed scientists to take an interest in him and open the health establishment doors to us was this [seeming] ability to greatly reduce [the patients’ dosage of] all hard drugs and thus allow a more peaceful departure,” Peyo’s trainer, Hassen Bouchakour, told The Guardian. Peyo has been working as a therapy horse since 2016 and stood vigil by the bedsides of more than 1,000 people, bringing them comfort and letting their children ride him through the hospital halls. It’s an amazing achievement for a 15-year-old horse! Of course, Peyo is far from the only animal visiting hospitals to bring people comfort. Here in the U.S., Johns Hopkins partners with more than 15 volunteer therapy dog teams that make patients smile, lower their blood pressure, improve their mood, and reduce their pain. At least 45 hospitals in the country have similar programs. Want to know if your local hospital employs therapy animals?Visit their website to find out.You might be surprised by what you learn!

Imagine you’re sitting in a French hospital, minding your own business and waiting for a doctor to see you. Suddenly, the elevator doors slide open and a full-sized horse clip-clops out into the waiting room! That might sound like something out of a children’s book, but it’s actually a regular occurrence at Calais Hospital. There, a therapy horse named Peyo visits sick and dying patients to help ease their anxiety, bring them comfort, and distract them from their pain. Peyo — affectionately known as “Dr. Peyo” by the staff at Calais — wasn’t always a therapy horse. In his early life, he competed in dressage, but it didn’t take long for his trainer to realize Peyo was more interested in the crowd than the competition. In a moving article about Peyo, The Guardian reported,“After shows, he would pick out people in the crowd, approach them, and choose to stay next to them.” This was the first sign of Peyo’s secret talent: Like a bomb-sniffing dog, it appears Peyo can detect cancerous tumors. In the hospital, he uses a raised hoof to point his trainer toward rooms he’d like to visit. Inside, he comforts the dying patients and their families.

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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 donate $500 to St. Jude.Your referral makes a difference. Referring is easy: Call or text me at 949-391-7511 or email [email protected]. We and St. Jude thank you.

A 2021 report found 30% of Americans have anywhere from $1,001– $5,000 in credit card debt. That may not seem like a lot, but when you have monthly expenses, other loan payments, and social requirements, that “small” debt can add up — and limit your ability to buy and sell when you’re ready for a new home! Ready to Reduce Debt 3 Secrets to Lowering Your Credit Card Debt

In the spirit of Credit Card Reduction Day on March 21, we have a few little-known or often forgotten tips for overcoming looming debt.

Remember the Snow There are two common principles when it comes to approaching debt — the avalanche and the snowball methods. The avalanche method is the practice of paying off the debt with the highest interest rate first, which will create smaller monthly payments as you go. This method is usually the quickest way to wipe out debt. For others, this is too costly, so the snowball method is preferred. In this technique, start with your smallest debt. Pay that off first, and with the motivation of doing so, build your way up to your next debt. And so it continues. There’s no “right”method. Instead, find what works for you, and stick to it! Companies Actually Negotiate If you missed a payment or are struggling to pay down your debt, there’s a secret that many credit card companies don’t want you to know: They negotiate often! According to AARP, credit card companies are often willing to work with their customers in order to keep their business. (This same report found their margins are so thin, they need your business!) This may look like moving your payment date or removing stains from your record. They may also be willing to make exceptions for full payment at the due date for various reasons. Consider a Transfer FICO has a great tip! If you have multiple sources of credit card debt, try rolling all of that debt onto a card that has a 0% interest rate for new members. (This rate will increase after a period of time.) During this cooling off period, pay off as much of the debt as possible, which will ensure you pay as little as possible without incurring more debt!

Simple Bok Choy Chicken Soup

Inspired by TheSpruceEats.com

Ingredients

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1 garlic clove, chopped

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3 cups chicken broth

1 tsp red pepper flakes 2 tsp soy sauce 2 tsp sesame oil

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10 leaves bok choy, thinly sliced 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken

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Directions

1. In a medium saucepan, bring chicken broth to a boil. 2. Stir in red pepper flakes, soy sauce, sesame oil, and garlic. 3. Add bok choy leaves and rotisserie chicken. Simmer for 10 minutes or until the bok choy is dark green and tender. 4. Enjoy with slices of your favorite whole-wheat bread!

Learn more tips about managing your credit card debt online at MyFICO.com.

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

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

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

Law Offices of Darren J. DiMarco

PO Box 704 San Clemente, CA 92674

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

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Remember This on St. Patrick’s Day!

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‘Spring’ Into a New Book!

Meet ‘Dr. Peyo’— France’s Only 4-Legged Doc

ReduceYour Credit Card Debt

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Simple Bok Choy Chicken Soup

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MakeYour Media Room a Slam Dunk

Make Your Media Room a No. 1 ‘Seat’ for Sports 3 Expert Tips

Invest in tech. You may think you need a huge TV and DJ-quality speakers, but the truth is, you just need to find quality technology that meets your viewing needs. For instance, basketball and baseball fans will want televisions with the greatest picture quality since these sports are mainly about the visualization of the game. Football and hockey fans will want great sound quality because the arena-like atmosphere heightens the excitement. Find the aesthetic you want and consult with online and in-store experts to find the technology that will best serve you. Don’t forget the snacks. TV? Check. Sound system? Check. Enough seating? Check! Snacks? Oh no … Upgrade your snacking options from chips and dip to restaurant-quality offerings. Install a minifridge or small freezer in your space, and add a microwave or air fryer. This makes for easy access to warm food options. Consider upgrading your space with a small island or bar, and stock it with all the essentials, including cups, plates, napkins, silverware, chips, popcorn, nuts, sodas, and water. Try these fun ideas, then all you’ll really need to worry about on game day is if your favorite team will win!

Whether you’re forced to hunch over your phone to catch the big game or you’re bumping elbows with

strangers at the local sports bar, it’s no secret that there is a better way to cheer on your favorite team.

This March Madness season, turn your home into the go-to sports viewing destination for all your local friends and fans. And here’s a great bonus: Once your favorite season is over, all the upgrades you make will create a great space for family movie night! Check these out. Reimagine your space. Find a room in your house that will be the easiest to mold. A basement living area or large bedroom will work. Then, consider upgrades. For instance, Houzz.com explains that embedding speakers into your ceiling or entertainment system will declutter your space and create a full surround- sound effect. Mount your TV to save on space and create a theatrical experience. Then, fill the space with soft furnishings like rugs, couches, and even fabric walls and curtains. This will create an optimal sound experience.

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