Chuck Barberini Real Estate

  "Just Thinking" By the end of the 1950s, the transition from radio to television was, for the most part, a fait accompli. Shows like  The Lone Ranger ,  The Shadow , and  Gunsmoke  seamlessly transferred their loyal fans to the new form of household entertainment. As television evolved, new shows emerged, and new stars became mainstream. Some transitioned from radio, others moved from the big screen, and many took advantage of the new medium to achieve mainstream success. Starting with this transition and for the next quarter century, three names—representing five actors—were constant figures on television or on the cover of  TV Guide : Conrad, Connors, and O’Connor. The first actor of note is Chuck Connors, known as the Rifleman, an athlete turned actor. Born in Brooklyn, he attended Seton Hall University on an athletic scholarship and served in the Army during World War II as a tank warfare instructor. After his service but before becoming an actor, Con...

  “Just Thinking” On this day in 1983, M*A*S*H aired its final episode after 11 seasons, featuring a special finale watched by 77% of the television audience. This was the largest audience share ever for a single TV show.  I think that M.A.S.H. would be a great article by itself, with 11 seasons of material to choose from, I could also include references to the classic movie starring Elliot Gould and Donald Sutherland. We are, however, going in a different direction. I got to thinking, once again, about television shows that we watched growing up, on one of the 3 networks, on our one TV with the entire family. Hollywood Squares was one of the shows that was often watched on our family’s television. I remember Mom and Dad cracking up and us not getting most of the jokes. Peter Marshall was the long-time host and straight man who would pitch the set-up lines to the squares. The squares were famous actors, but I didn’t know many of them for anything other than Hollywood Squares; ...

    Check out This Weeks Newsletter In January, the average mortgage rate was 6.71% and the average home value was $355,328 In 2025, affordability may improve somewhat as rates inch down. But prices will likely continue to rise. Hopeful buyers should start preparing as early as possible by saving money and improving their credit. Thanks to climbing home prices and high mortgage rates, it's been a tough few years for the housing market, leaving many hopeful homebuyers eager to get off the sidelines and into a home. Housing market conditions may ease somewhat in 2025 now that the Federal Reserve has started cutting rates. But it's likely still going to be expensive to get a mortgage and purchase a home. If you're planning to buy or sell soon, here's what you need to know about housing market predictions in 2025, and how you can prepare. Overview of the housing market The average home value in the U.S. is $355,328, according to Zillow — up 2.7% year over year. In January, ...

  Check Out This Weeks Newsletter Homebuyers across the U.S. may find a welcome change this year, as the housing market begins to offer more favorable conditions after years of challenging affordability. However, while the landscape in some regions is changing to favor buyers, some areas continue to present difficulties. Why It Matters The current shift in the housing market affects home prices, inventory levels and mortgage rates, impacting both buyers and sellers. According to Realtor.com, existing home sales are projected to increase this year. While active inventory levels are expected to rise by 11.7 percent, increasing options for buyers, many markets still face supply constraints that favor sellers. These changes highlight the complex and regionally varied nature of today's housing market, with implications for both affordability and economic stability. Are Home Prices Dropping in the U.S.? While home prices are not dropping, they are rising at a more moderate pace compared ...

  “Just Thinking” I had a sad day yesterday; I attended the funeral of my friend and high school classmate F.X. Crowley. It was a beautiful celebration of his life, there was a packed house at St. Ignatius Church on the USF campus. His children all gave beautiful, heartfelt talks about their favorite memories of times spent with their father. I was so happy to see so many of my fellow classmates, to catch up, to tell stories of our times with F.X. and to talk about our great sense of loss. Yesterday was also the 6 th  anniversary of my Dad’s passing, so when I got home, I had a lot to reflect on. I thought a lot about legacy, about family and about how fleeting our time is. I went through some of my journals and notebooks and came across one of my favorite poems, “If” by Rudyard Kipling, although addressed to a young man, it is really a father sharing his life’s learned lessons to a child , a beautiful testament of his love and legacy. If you can keep your head when all about ...

  Check Out This Weeks Newsletter Buyers are increasingly turning away from fixer-uppers—and opting for remodeled or move-in-ready homes instead. According to a recent Zillow report, this trend is fueled by a desire for convenience and rising renovation costs, which have made the allure of “TLC” homes much less appealing. Here’s a breakdown of what’s happening and why the era of the fixer-upper may be nearing its end. Remodeled Homes Are in High Demand In a market where every penny counts, buyers are willing to pay a premium for homes that are move-in ready. Zillow’s analysis found that homes labeled as “remodeled” see the highest sale price premium of any listing keyword—3.7% higher than expected. This translates into an additional $13,194 on the sale of a typical U.S. home. But it’s not just about price—these homes are also gaining attention. Listings that highlight being “remodeled” receive: 26% more daily saves 30% more shares with shopping partners Buyers are clearly eager to ...