Joseph Pettinella's blog

It seems reasonable to assume that most people consider trees to be a positive landscaping feature. Following that train of thought, most people would probably guess (correctly) that houses with trees sell for more money than houses without trees; however, far fewer people would be able to correctly guess the size of the price difference. Go ahead, decide on a number in your head. Ready for the answer? According to the U.S. Forest Service's Pacific Northwest Research Station, having even a single tree in front of an urban house increases that home’s sale price by an average of $7,130! Even if you don't plan on selling, that same tree can provide serious benefits in other ways as well.

Attaining a perfect credit score of 850 isn't easy; after all, that's like graduating from college with a 4.0! Luckily, all scores of 760 and above are considered to be in the best credit score range. If your credit score is in this category, then CONGRATULATIONS!  You've obviously done some things right to get it there! As a result, lenders really want your business and will therefore offer you their best products at their lowest interest rates. 

Of course, many of us aren't perfect! In that case, a good score is one that falls between 700 and 759, while a fair score is between 650 and 699. A lower score means you’ve had some dings on your credit history. The lower the score, the greater risk you are in the eyes of the lender. You will likely still qualify for a mortgage, but will probably not receive the same rate/cost structure as people with the highest scores.

Are you ready for a celebration of all things Irish? The 23rd annual Dutchess County Saint Patrick's Day Parade is coming up soon! Join thousands of spectators and participants at this celebration of Irish heritage, happening March 3rd in beautiful Wappingers Falls!