LifeandHomes Capital Region NY December 2022

Table of Contents

News Shorts 3

Julie & Co 4-5

Deborah Fontes 6 Ms Sam's Tutoring 6 Tracey Lewis 6

Sterling Homes 7 Tech Smart Home Inspections 8 Barbara Ippolito 8 Empire State Stone 8

Joseph Krongold 9

Bradley Park Builders 10

Craig LeClaire 11

City of Schenectady 12

Michelle Thompson 13 Dominic Indelicato 13 Protect NY 13

Chris McCabe 14 PMD Business Group 14 Sterling Homes 15 Professional Career Ctr 16

John Brown 17 ADK Realty 18-19

Fulton Montgomery 20 Birds Adirondack Realty 20

Marketing Listing Service 21

Products & Services 22

Great North Lighting 23 Ann McGrath Law 23

Adirondack Hearthside 24

Life and Homes

CAPITAL REGION, NY EDITION

Corporate Office

Lisi Merchant Solutions, Inc. PO BOX 18 HOLLAND PATENT, NY 13354 315-865-5845 www.LifeandHomes.com

Owner DAVID P. LISI Davidplisi7@gmail.com

Corporate Editor KIM LISI kim.lisi.79@gmail.com

Advertising Deadline

January 2023 Issue December 9, 2022 (New Year 2023 issue)

Senior Account Executive David Lisi, RMC Davidplisi7@gmail.com P: 315-865-5845

Sales Representative Doug Benson, RMC dbenson@LifeandHomes.com P: 315-368-5040 (call or text)

Sales Representative Joseph Krongold, Lic. Assoc. RE Broker New Abode joe.krongold@gmail.com P: 518-867-1299

LifeandHomes™ is published monthly by Lisi Merchant Solutions This information has been compiled from public records and other sources we believe to be reliable, but we make no guarantee with respect to its accuracy or completeness or the absence of restrictions on use and are not responsible for any liability, loss, or risk that subscribers may inquire, directly or indirectly, from using the contents of this site. Copyright © 2022 Lisi Merchant Solutions, Inc

"Prillionaires" - A New Definition of Wealth

There are millionaires and there are billionaires. Then there is the latest definition of wealth that is beyond the millions and the billions. Prillionaire is the new term for wealth in different forms, not counting the zeros, but rather the multiple facets of wealth. A prillionaire is someone who has several bank accounts in the country or across borders and has some different forms of investments; properties, stocks, cars, businesses, retirement accounts, and even multiple crypto wallets. It denotes someone who belongs or soon will belong to an elite community of those living in affluence or luxury yet not a millionaire.

London-based husband and wife team Laszlo and Krisztina Peter are behind the new nextgeneration Prillionaires wealth tracker and net worth calculator app and the partnering new website prillionairesnews.com. The website aims to attract prillionaires, the new generation of wealth who can discover financial and money management tips that will enhance their financial status even more.

This luxury lifestyle and inspiration news website has content with facts and figures that provides answers in all areas of luxury lifestyle, up-to-date financial and investment tips, articles for digital nomads, ex-pats, and likeminded cosmopolitans and integration of Prillionaires Wealth Management application.

Chief marketing officer Krisztina said, "People with less than $1 million but more than $100,000 liquid assets are considered subHNWIs, do not meet the requirement to have a financial advisor. The world has never been wealthier—with large variations across countries and households. In the meantime, inflation and cost of living prompt a wealth literacy crisis, and retirement uncertainty."

The Prillionaires News website and the application are designed to support people who want to grow financially or learn financial literacy and manage their wealth themselves. (PR.com)

Ultra-Realistic 3D Options For Interior Design & Floorplans

Visualizing the dream for a new home build or remodel can be difficult. Many times, it comes down to a hand drawing by a professional, an expense many have difficulties affording. The downside is the hand drawing often doesn't capture the vision meaning returning to the artist's board and starting over.

3D interior rendering has some great benefits, like being able to see a space from every angle, getting a better sense of how furniture will look in a space, and making more informed decisions about furniture placement and layout. Additionally, 3D interior designs and floor plans can help identify potential problem areas in a space before construction or renovation begins, which can save time and money down the road.

2D3D Floor Plan Company's expanded service offers affordable photo-realistic 3D interior rendering and visualization to directly help real estate professionals like agents, brokers, custom home builders, realtors, and home renovation companies to communicate their design inspirations to the customers," says Sandy Smith, Client Engagement Manager, "Enhancing the virtual reality of real estate properties always assists home buyers and tenants to make informed decisions.”

The software provides the opportunity to make quick and easy changes with little effort. Each design is customized to the specific needs of the customer. To see samples and learn more visit https://the2d3dfloorplancompany.com/ . (PR.com)

4 Ways to Protect Your Holiday Packages

A Chamberlain Group survey found that 69% of homeowners worry about their package deliveries going missing during the holidays and 74% of homeowners take extra measures to ensure they are home when their packages arrive.

Following are four ways to protect your holiday packages from porch pirates without having to reorganize your day:

Get deliveries inside your garage - Smart garage door openers by LiftMaster and Chamberlain include myQ smart garage technology that works with some of the nation's largest retailers, like Amazon Key and Walmart+ InHome, for a convenient, secure in-garage delivery experience. With in-garage delivery, you don't have to worry about packages going missing or groceries being left out in the rain. Packages and groceries are securely delivered to the garage where they stay until you are free to get them, whether you're home or away.

You might already have a myQ smart garage door opener and not know it. Look up at your opener to see if there is a myQ logo and a WiFi logo, or if it says "powered by myQ" on your garage opener. Then download the myQ app and link to Amazon Key or Walmart+ InHome in app. If you don't have one, you can easily add myQ to your existing garage door opener with a myQ Smart Garage Control device.

Request a signature - If you are ordering expensive items online, it's smart to require a signature for delivery. Requesting a signature ensures that your online purchases are never left unattended. If you're not at home, the mail carrier will typically leave a note with options for rescheduling the delivery or picking up the package in person.

Do the neighborly thing - Work with neighbors and friends to look after each other's packages. If a neighbor is home when you are expecting a delivery, ask permission to have packages sent to their address or have them hold deliveries that come to your front door. Don't forget to treat them to some holiday cookies as a thank-you.

Put your packages on hold if you're traveling for the holidays - If you're traveling, check to see if your mail carrier or delivery service offers a temporary hold on eligible packages. Placing a hold on deliveries ensures the packages are kept in a secure location until you can retrieve them and can be a convenient way to ensure packages don't pile up on the porch while you're away. When you return from your travels, you can pick up your packages or have them delivered to your home depending on the service.

Give yourself the gift of peace of mind by trying out some of these package delivery tips and spend more time enjoying the moments that matter. (BPT)

The Monika Cronin Team Joins Sterling Homes Real Estate

Monika Cronin, Alex Cooley and Melissa Shufelt, of “The Monika Cronin Team” have joined up with Sterling Homes Real Estate, the Ballston Spa brokerage. All three have decided to join Sterling after many successful years of building trusted relationships with Capital Region home buyers and sellers.

Monika began her real estate career in the Capital District after her move from Chicago 15 years ago. She fell in love with the region and Saratoga Springs; where she resides. Her market knowledge and unequaled concern for her client’s needs has helped her in becoming a top-producing agent. She loves helping people optimize their selling experience and assisting buyers find that place where they can call home. She is also a specialist in new construction. She holds several designations, including Certified Real Estate Team Specialist (C-RETS), Real Estate Negotiation Expert (RENE), Seller Representative Specialist (SRS) and Certified New Home Sales Professional (CSP).

Alex Cooley is also a Capital Region expert who was born and raised in Saratoga Springs. He has made his mark in the field and is known for his knowledge, professionalism, ethics, and hard work for his clients. He holds the Military Relocation Professional (MRP) designation which allows him to help active duty and retired Veterans with their real estate needs. Alex also enjoys helping clients make their visions of new construction a reality. “Above all else, giving my clients a 5-star home buying/selling experience is most important. Transitioning to Sterling Homes, I feel confident they will continue to receive that same treatment and even more with the additional training and organizational resources now available in my arsenal,” says Alex.

With lifelong roots in the Greater Capital District, Melissa Shufelt found her passion in real estate. Melissa’s knowledge of the market from Albany to Lake George and surrounding counties has been an asset to anyone looking to call the area home. Her passion for building lasting relationships, coupled with her integrity, ambition, and positive attitude, has allowed her to help numerous clients purchase and sell in an extremely difficult and competitive market. Melissa can best be described as passionate, knowledgeable, honest and tenacious - all of the qualities you would want in a realtor to help you buy or sell a home!

Sterling Homes, Inc. is a top real estate brokerage in the Capital Region, specializing in new construction, resale, condos, investment properties, land development and more! The brokerage has over 20 years of experience as the local real estate experts and have a highly skilled team that provide the best experience possible when buying or selling.

Season of ILLUMINOCITY Creates Community Pride & Shines Light On Not-For-Profits

Mayor Gary McCarthy has invited downtown properties to light up their buildings to create a festive community atmosphere in the city all season long.

“The City of Schenectady is pleased to join with the Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation and other partners and sponsors to have ILLUMINOCITY light up our downtown once again and support our local not-for-profits. ILLUMINOCITY builds on the resurgence happening in Schenectady and will light up businesses and buildings to make our downtown more attractive and festive for the holiday season and give people a reason to come downtown, ” says Mayor McCarthy.

As presenting sponsor for the ILLUMINOCITY Holiday Lighting Experience, Rivers Casino & Resort General Manager, Rick Richards says, “We’re thrilled to be able to partner with the City and the Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation in support of our community partners and local not-for-profits. It’s an exciting initiative that will also bring even more folks to the city, boost local business, and continue to drive Schenectady forward.”

“We are excited for ILLUMINOCITY to amp up the seasonal experience here again this year. We invite everyone to visit, view, and vote for their favorite displays while enjoying our many restaurants, shops, and entertainment venues,” encourages Jim Salengo, Executive Director of the Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation

Collaboration between Schenectady’s business community and local not-for-profit organizations shines a bright light on the spirit of Schenectady each holiday season, according to Todd Garofano, Executive Director for Discover Schenectady. “Visitors and locals alike will be awed by the creative displays throughout the downtown area while enjoying our restaurants, shops, hotels, and nightlife throughout the holidays.”

Last year, 28 businesses and 27 not-for-profits participated and lit up their buildings with several design categories. Participants were awarded a total of $25,500 for their lighting with various prizes to support a range of not-for-profits.

ILLUMINOCITY had its big reveal at the 2022 Schenectady Holiday Parade in November and will wrap up after the New Year. Prizes will be awarded at a special ceremony in January 2023.

The following is a sample of business/not-for-profit pairings to date:

Bear and Bird Boutique + Gallery / Schenectady ARC Horticulture Center

Electric City Apartments / Homeward Bound

Great Flats Brewing / Boys & Girls Clubs of Schenectady

Highbridge Management / Umbrella of the Capital District

Katie O’Byrnes / Jack’s Place

Law Office of Kathleen M. Toombs / Legacy Project – Capital Region Veterans Memorial ME Engineering / SICM

Meier Law Firm / Safe Inc. of Schenectady

The Nest / SLOC Musical Theater

New York Folklore / New York Folklore

Pioneer / Miracle on Craig Street Proctors / Proctors Collaborative ReStore / Habitat for Humanity of Schenectady County Schenectady County Office of Probation and Children and Family Services / City Mission Schenectady Hardware & Electric / Northern Rivers Family of Services Take Two Café / Crossroads Center for Children

The Schenectady Trading Company / Schenectady Greenmarket

The Silver Shop / Things of My Very Own Suriano’s Deli / Animal Protective Foundation

Trustco Bank / Schenectady County Historical Society

Urban Co-Works / Mission Accomplished Transition Services Wedgeway Barbershop / Friends of Schenectady Co. Child Advocacy Center

The Whitney Book Corner / Friends of the Schenectady County Public Library

Additional sponsorship support for ILLUMINOCITY is provided by National Grid, Discover Schenectady, Pioneer, The Daily Gazette, Trustco, and Berkshire Bank. For more information, please visit www.illuminocityny.com

Cost segregation is a way for commercial property owners to accelerate their tax deductions.

Through this method, a real estate owner is able to depreciate the individual components that make up their property in the shortest amount of time possible.

Cost segregation is the method of re-classifying components of your commercial building from real property to personal property.

This process allows the assets to be depreciated on a 5-, 7-, or 15-year schedule instead of the traditional 27.5- or 39-year depreciation schedule of real property.

The Owners current taxable income will be greatly reduced, and there cash flow could increase by 5% – 8% of your building’s cost.

Commercial building and income property owners have used cost segregation studies for years. These studies have resulted in advantageous depreciation deductions for taxpayers and have become a common method of depreciation.

DecKa Real Estate COST SEGREGATION

Division provides Cost Segregation services to commercial property owners so they can significantly increase their cash flow NOW! Time Value of Money!

Pleased to be your guide!

Specializing in Southern Adirondack Properties

Thank you to my sellers who put their trust in me! Best wishes on your next adventures!

Thank you to my buyers. Enjoy your new homes!

Thank you to each secretary, assistant, paralegal, attorney, mortgage broker, banker, home inspector, handyman/woman and everyone else that helps me in my success, I truly appreciate all of you. Thank you!

Let the spirit of giving continue throughout the holiday season and into next year. Carry the kindness with you.

God Bless you and God Bless America. - Mel

Fulton Montgomery

Fulton Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce recently announced Anne Boles will assume the role of Executive Director. While she will become the organization’s top executive, her day-to-day focus will be tourism, special events, and member services. Boles has been the Chamber Tourism Director for nearly three years. She has more than 17 years of management experience with progressive growth in responsibility and has become the area’s go-to tourism expert.

Boles commented, “I am honored to take on the challenge of Chamber leadership. While losing management of the I Love NY program will certainly be a change, the Chamber has always developed top-notch programs to promote regional tourism and support our members’ growth. Without the constraints of the New York State program, the Chamber can be nimble and creative in our approach.” She added that the Chamber team would work on community-oriented strategies as part of the associations’ reinvention and plans to strengthen ongoing relationships while fostering new opportunities.

Longtime Director of Workforce Development Nicole Walrath has been promoted to Executive Vice President. Nicole has led successful Chamber initiatives linking education with business, including her work with the nationally recognized HFM BOCES Pathways in Technology Early College High School program. She adds responsibility for office coordination and Chamber operations in her new post. Walrath said, “I am happy to grow in my career with the Chamber. We have an exceptional team, and I look forward to working together to exceed our members’ expectations.”

The Fulton Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce is comprised of businesses, individuals, and community organizations committed to improving the region’s business climate, economy, and quality of life. With nearly 600 members, the Chamber is the leading voice of business in the area providing advocacy, resources, and solutions for its members.

Anne Boles Fulton & Montgomery County Tourism Director / Executive Director tourism@fultonmontgomeryny.org

Nicole Walrath Director of Workforce Development / Executive Vice President nicolew@fultonmontgomeryny.org

Real Estate

STERLING HOMES, INC.

518-688-2211

Specializing in resale homes, condos, town homes, new construction, commercia, land development. Over 20 years of experience. SterlingHomesRealEstate.com

Water Systems

AMBER WATER PROS

315-484-5959

Pools/Spas

518-993-5151 Member Since 02/18

One piece fiberglass pools, 28 models to choose from. Quick installation, easy to clean, built in steps and seats, no seams. Available in white or colors. Glimmerglassspas.com

Water systems. Well drilling: new, cleaning, repair, low yield hydrofracking. Pump service: repair, pressure tank replacement. Water conditioning: softeners, filters, UV disinfection, storage systems. AmberWaterPros.com