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Month: January 2015

Here Comes Awards Season

January and February means one thing for most film fanatics: Awards Season. If you care enough about films (and television), then you’re probably waiting on the edge of your seat to find out if your favorite films of the past year have been nominated for any of the numerous award shows that are coming up or already annoyed because they’ve been snubbed for some award or another.

Arguably the three biggest awards shows coming up are the Golden Globe Awards, the Screen Actors Guild Awards and the Academy Awards. The Golden Globe Awards were last weekend while the Screen Actors Guild, BAFTA’s (British Academy Film Awards), Film Independent’s Spirit Awards and Academy Awards are January 25th, February 8th, February 21st and February 22nd, respectively.

Some of the movies looking to take home the biggest awards are The Imitation Game, The Theory of Everything, Birdman,  Boyhood, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Foxcatcher and Selma.

At the Golden Globes, Boyhood beat out The Imitation Game, The Theory of Everything, Selma and Foxcatcher for Best Motion Picture in the Drama category. While in the Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy category The Grand Budapest Hotel took on Into The Woods, Birdman, St. Vincent and Pride and came out on top.

 

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Will Birdman Take Flight?

Birdman has been creating buzz since its release and now it seems to have paid off, earning more than a few nominations for fan favorite Michael Keaton, Director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, supporting actor Edward Norton, along with best screenplay and best original score.

Does it have what it takes to win at the Academy Awards though? Only time will tell.

The Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy category was anybody’s game. Joining Keaton in this category were four guys who are no strangers to award season, Bill Murray (who has a home in nearby New York State), Ralph Fiennes, Christoph Waltz and Joaquin Phoenix, but Keaton walked away with the Globe.

Not to be outdone, the Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy category included some of today’s best actresses and one with just as bright a future as her present. Julianne Moore, Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, Helen Mirren and 11-year-old Quvenzhane Wallis rounded out this category. In the end, veteran Julianne Moore took home the award.

How About Those TV Shows?

Let’s not forget that the Golden Globes also honor the best (well, arguably) on television in the past year. No surprise here that Downton Abbey, Game of Thrones, House of Cards and The Good Wife were nominated for Best TV Series, Drama, joined by newcomer and surprise winner, The Affair.

One of the toughest television categories was surely Best Actor in a TV Series Drama, which had Kevin Spacey (who was born in New Jersey), Liev Schreiber, Dominic West, James Spader and Clive Owen against each other for the Globe. After having been nominated 8 times previously (for House of Cards last year, as well as other previous television and film works), Kevin Spacey finally picked up his first Golden Globe.

Best Actress in a TV Series Drama was another category that couldn’t be called ahead of time. Most people may have expected last year’s winner Robin Wright to take it again. Perhaps Claire Danes who won two years ago and lost to Wright last year. Juliana Margulies was also up in this category again, as well as Viola Davis and Ruth Wilson, who had been nominated previously in 2008 when the strike happened. Wilson didn’t win in 2008, but she did come out on top this year.

 

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One thing is for sure, the Golden Globes are just the beginning of awards season and the next few weeks are sure to be interesting for any film fan.

Million Dollar Question!

Million Dollar Question! Is the real estate market getting better? I’m a New Jersey Realtor who focuses on Luxury Real Estate in Bergen County, NJ. I do not recall a single seller or buyer that has NOT asked me the million dollar question. “What do you think, are we in a good real estate market or will it be getting better?”

The “Million Dollar Question!” has always intrigued me and makes me chuckle. Here is the answer as I always answer it the exact same way… “I have no idea and if I did, I personally would be selling or buying more New Jersey real estate instead of lottery tickets!”

Of course there are many people who predict the market is on the rise. Many of these same people also believed that in 2005. Others say “no way” it will be 5-10 years before we see a strong market again. The main issue with the question is that it’s just way too vague. What is each persons definition of the Million Dollar Question!? What is a “good” real estate market? It’s all in the eye of the beholder or we can say in the eye of the “seller or buyer.”

So here’s the best advise I can give to anyone asking the Million Dollar Question! “is this a good real estate market and will it be getting better?” If you are ready to sell your home then there’s no better time than the present. It’s pretty simple if your local real estate agent has provided you with a full market analysis and the value of your home and your comfortable accepting that price than list your home with them and sell it. On the other hand if you “need” more money or “don’t want to leave money on the table” (if I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard that statement) then don’t sell your home.

Just remember if you make the choice not to sell today then 3 things may happen down the road…
1- You may make more money when you decide to sell in a few years.
2- You may make less money in a few years from now than today.
3- You may make the same exact money down the road than you would if you sold today.

Now to all you buyers out there who want to know, “Is this the best time to buy real estate?” Again, very simple… That all depends on your particular situation. Are you tired of throwing money away renting when you could be earning equity in real estate? Do you need somewhere to invest your money rather than the stock market? Is your family outgrowing that 1 or 2 bedroom apartment? Do you want to downsize from your large house and stop shoveling your driveways? These are all questions that only you can answer for yourself.

Another question we as real estate agents are commonly asked is, “are interest rates going up or going down?” Again easy answer, “interest rates are not 18% like they were when my parents bought their homes so the real question is… With the current interest today of approximately 4%, can you afford to buy the home you want and afford to pay your bills for that home? If so, then what are you waiting for? Call your real estate agent today to buy and/or sell your property. There’s no better time than the present.

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Lighting up New York for the Holidays

On Wednesday, December 3rd, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree will be lit up, signaling the official start of the New York City holiday season. Thousands of people will fill the sidewalks of Rockefeller Plaza (between W 48th and W 51st Streets between 5th and 6th Avenues) to see it in person, while millions will be watching all around the world on television.

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The tradition began in 1933 with the opening of 30 Rockefeller Plaza (although workers decorated a small tree during the construction, so unofficially the tradition began earlier). Typically the tree remains lit through January 6th, which is the date of the Christian feast of The Epiphany, though this year it will remain lit until the evening of January 7th before it is removed and recycled.

This year’s tree is an approximately 90-year-old Norway spruce from Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania that stands at 85 feet tall and weighs nearly 13 tons. The tallest tree on record was a 100-foot Norway spruce from Killingworth, Connecticut in 1999.

As always there will be live performances, as well as pre-taped ones aired during the tree lighting between 7-9pm on December 3rd. Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett, Cyndi Lauper, Idina Menzel, Pentatonix, LeAnn Rimes, Trisha Yearwood and Seth MacFarlane featuring Sara Bareilles are set to perform at the lighting ceremony this year.

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Aside from the Rockefeller Center tree, most local towns have their own lighting ceremonies for the upcoming holidays, be it Hanukkah or Christmas. Check local borough halls and town calendars for any and all Holiday events and ceremonies.

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