Running will make you more MONEY!
Running will make your more money!I know, catchy title riddled with cringe. But I actually believe it does…here is why. This weekend, my brother Jeff and I competed in our first USATF event at Smiling Hill farm in Westbrook. It was the New England Cross Country Championships, and yes we were running. Why? After my October marathon, I made the decision to continue training and go after an ambitious goal to run a Boston Marathon Qualifying time in May 2025 at the Sugarloaf Marathon, also known as a BQ. For my age, I would need to shave over 30 minutes off my best time. For context, that’s going from an 8:15/mile page, to just under 7:00/mile pace. Yikes! Whenever I have had an ambitious business goal, I’ve always sought out mentorship or coaching. So I thought, why not do this with running? I remembered during the marathon, a plethora of black & white racing singlets dominating the half marathon. On their chest, was the word, VALOR. I looked it up, and the Valor Track Club is a very accomplished running program in Maine and on the West Coast. I signed up immediately online, not really knowing the commitment, but excited to get 20% off shoes at Fleet Feet. What was next? Weekly track workouts on Tuesday night at Fitzpatrick Stadium, led by our champion coach, Paige Mills. The best part? After two weeks of training, Jeff signed up for the team too. It was like we were back in High School, always training together…but back then - Jeff was chasing his dream of being a pro soccer player, and I was chasing…him. How lucky I am to have him as a role model. So how does relate to making more money? The mantra I am living by right now for my real estate team, Places In Maine, is “all conversion happens in conversation.” This quote comes from Sharran Srivatsaa, the President of REAL, and the leader in our industry who has the largest following of any C-suite in the space. He earned this audience through his no BS videos, that help agents regardless of affiliation, grow their business with actual tactics he has tested and proved. Joining this new community at Valor, has allowed me to have conversations with new people in my community as we train together, warm up together and race together. I don’t have these conversations just to get new clients, but I have these conversations because I am surrounded by people with similar goals, and if they ever be a client, that is bonus… because I love working with like minded folks. Do I run just to make more money? No, I run because I want to be healthy enough to do this business for a very long time and it gives me incredible joy. The conversations that are a result of this passion, is an incredible bonus. Whether it’s running or pickleball or spinning…keep going. Keep pushing yourself and you may just surprise yourself into an amazing new community. If you are interested in hearing more about the run club, my sauna adventures, monthly cold plunges or what I’m reading about…drop your email below. Let’s continue to build. https://placesinmaine.com/wellness #wellness #running #Maine #club #conversion #passionseeking
Innovative Bowdoin housing program sees first loan closing with Chris Davis
Portland, Maine - April 2, 2024 - Chris Davis of Places in Maine Real Estate Group in Portland successfully closes the first home under the Bowdoin College first-time homebuyer initiative. “An amazing program! This has been a seamless transaction and I can’t wait to watch other Maine businesses follow in the footsteps of Bowdoin College.” said Davis. Earlier this year Bowdoin, the renowned private liberal arts college in Brunswick, announced its new first-time home buyer assistance program aimed at alleviating the challenges faced by employees looking to purchase a home. This program offers a forgivable loan for eligible buyers for up to 10% of the purchase price of the home within 40 miles of the college campus.. Chris Davis—team lead at Places In Maine Real Estate Group—has been instrumental in spreading the word and praise of this program, the first of its kind in the state. “In the competitive real estate market we find ourselves in, this program provides the edge our clients need. It just makes sense for employers that are looking for quality, long-term employees! Taking away the stress of finding a rental within commuting distance, inflated rental prices, and the fatigue of multiple-moves puts a strain on employees. Giving them the upper-hand in this market is the ultimate “thank you” and show of faith, by meeting their hires much more than half way.” This initiative not only helps address the housing crunch in the area but also increases employee attraction and retention efforts by providing a pathway to homeownership. Eligible properties include single-family, condominiums, and mobile homes that will be affixed to the employee’s land.This level of flexibility allows for many desirable options within the 40 mile radius boundary set by the school. By partnering with local financial institutions like Kennebec Savings Bank or Bath Savings, Bowdoin has brought a nationwide trend of Employer Housing Solutions to Maine. An allocation of approximately $1 million for the program’s first year demonstrates the college’s commitment to addressing the housing challenges in the state, but the College has an established mechanism to provide the loans to employees even if the loans exceed $1 million in the first year. Davis continued, “We look forward to helping many Bowdoin-bound faculty find their first-homes this year and beyond. And we will continue to support and boast about this program until we see many other amazing Maine companies & institutions join the ranks”. For more information about Bowdoin College’s First-Time Home Buyer Assistance Program, please visit Bowdoin College Housing Assistance Program. Chris Davis is the Team Lead for Places In Maine Real Estate Group, with Real Broker LLC. He has been a top producing agent in Southern Maine since 2020 and Places In Maine was ranked as a “Top 10 US Small Teams” in the USA for Real Broker. Real Broker is the fastest growing publicly traded Real Estate company in America. www.placesinmaine.com
Moving to Maine: Turn up the HEAT
Maine is located in a colder climate than most parts of the United States, and we have found with a majority of our out of state clients that are relocating to Maine for a new way of life…that they have many questions about HEATING. In this post, we will break down the 4 most common types of household heating we find in Maine homes. But first, we must dispel a common misconception in heating, and that is the often interchangeable use of furnace and boiler. These are two very different types, and the simple way to think of it is: Boiler - this heats water that then gets distributed throughout your house, usually through baseboards Furnace - this heats the air, that is then sent throughout your house, through a duct system Oil Furnace/Boiler - Maine has long been a state that relies of #2 Oil to heat our homes. For this type of heat, a homeowner will have an oil tank in their house, usually in their basement, that gets filled by a delivery truck, 2-4/year depending on usage. The oil goes from the tank, to the furnace or boiler, via a thin copper pipe that is wrapped in a protective sleeve (this is a building code requirement). Gas/Propane Boiler - Natural gas is becoming more present in our state, especially in the larger cities. Where natural gas isn’t available, bottled gas, is very common. The benefit of gas boilers, is they can be vented out the side of the house through PVC, and don’t require a typical stone chimney that we often see with Oil Boilers. We see gas boilers in new construction almost every time, as it is more cost efficient when you don’t need to build a chimney. Heat Pumps - These have grown in popularity and have been highly incentivized by a non-profit called Efficiency Maine. Heat pumps, despite their name, also do cooling. They are a more efficient use of electricity than the 1980’s electric baseboard, and provide year round cooling. Wood! Yes, many of us Mainer’s still love our woodstoves and fireplaces. But did you know there is another way to use wood, without the chopping? Pellet stoves are popular, and use a local produced wood pellet to create heat. Pellet stoves can be filled with pellets and then slow released out of the hopper, which means less visits to the stove during the day. There you have it. These are 4 ways to heat your home in Maine. There are other ways of course, but this is what we see the most.
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