CrossCountry Mortgage has become the largest residential mortgage lender on Cape Ann!
Happy 2021! 2020 was certainly different, with new challenges. Working from home, changes in teammates and keeping everyone safe. It’s been tough and the main reason why I hadn’t been able to post that much this year. The good news was mortgage rates were a bright spot and we were able to save people a lot of money while also keeping everyone working!
In 2020 Team Pratt was able to help over 180 families either purchase a new home or refinance their current home into historically lower rates.
In addition, CrossCountry Mortgage has become the largest residential mortgage lender on Cape Ann! This is why we are in Gloucester, as we are filling the need for low-fixed rate mortgages, VA, FHA, Masshousing jumbo mortgages and the like. We also have ZERO down payment mortgages too! Fixed rate mortgages are in the low 2’s today….LOW 2’s!
Thank you everyone who trusted…
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Dinner and a Show
We didn’t want to startle 2021 too much, so we decided on a quiet “dinner and a show” kind of day early in the New Year. We started out at Gloucester Cinema with a showing of News of the World with Tom Hanks. We were the only ones in the theater so we felt nice and safe. Very reasonably priced, nice seats, socially distanced…great movie too!
Then we went to the Fox Creek Tavern in Ipswich for dinner. This has become a favorite stop for us. We started with the gigantic Irish nachos, then Jim had the sliders and I had lemon cilantro chicken tacos (out of this world good). Chocolate creme pie in drink form for dessert! Win Win!








Who in your family needs this toilet timer?

First Bake With The New Baguette Pans!

$19.99 for 2- Here’s The Link To Purchase: https://amzn.to/2XgsDx2

For this recipe I’ve been using Jim Lahey’s “Stecca” Small Baguette recipe from his book:
“My Bread The Revolutionary No-Work, No-Knead Method”

Here’s the fist bake:
TranquiliSea, The Wellness Space at Beauport Hotel Gloucester
Now Open To The Local Community!
Walking the Dog From Jackie Bennett

Another amazing sunset
At this time of the year sunsets in Magnolia are amazing.

Moments
January morning….

Update from Sugar Magnolias
We had lunch today at Sugar Magnolia’s on Main Street today (‘cuz it tastes good!) and I’m glad we stopped. We learned that their last day will be Saturday Jan 9 until reopening in March. So, if you’ve been thinking about take out or sit down, you should make your plans this week. Amy, a podcast listener, skillfully and efficiently handled orders as well as phone calls for takeout. Our lunch was fantastic. Jim had the Western Ave Grilled Cheese special…yum…and I had the Buffalo Chicken wrap which is a go-to favorite of mine. Thanks, Amy, for the cookie. You were 100% correct about how good it was!






Dean Salah’s George’s Coffee Shop Once Again Shines In The Comfort Food Category!



Tide Coming In at the Breakwater
Yesterday Jan 5 2021:
HUBBARD ADVISORS

ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT RUNNING OUT OF MONEY? WILL YOU OUTLIVE YOUR MONEY OR WILL IT OUTLIVE YOU?
Are you successful? Do you have adult children who are struggling? Do you want to give them a leg-up in this challenging world they face today? One way to transfer some of your assets to a younger generation while you are alive is to purchase and fund permanent insurance for them, employing the ‘BE YOUR OWN BANKER‘ concept, i.e., stacking the cash value and using the accumulation for a source of loans for their personal use, business purposes and investment opportunities without having to go through financial underwriting, or for a stream of future, after-tax income. Another approach: if you are able to employ premium financing solutions towards any variety of complex financial and tax problems you may be facing, consider purchasing a significant amount of permanent insurance with premium…
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Working Remotely? Have A Day-cation. Introducing New Beauport Day Rates.

Looking for a different remote office for the day? Relax and work in the privacy and comfort of a Beauport guest room, complete with office space plus ocean or Gloucester city views. WFH (“Work From Hotel”) and enjoy a variety of amenities available for daytime guest use, including guest rooms with desks, a spacious lobby lounge, dining at 1606 Restaurant and Bar, massage, yoga and wellness treatments at the TranquiliSea Wellness Space, gift shopping at Beauport Boutique and more.
Our Day Rate Offer includes:・ 8AM check-in and 6PM check-out・ An energy snack pack to keep your workflow going・ Complimentary Wi-Fi・ Bottled water・ Usage of hotel printing services・ Additional business concierge services upon request
Both in-room dining and restaurant dining available, as well as our lobby lounge area or private dining rooms for social distanced in-person meetings.1/4/21-4/2/21, blackout dates apply. City view – $89, Ocean – $119, taxes are…
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Offloading at a snowy Fisherman’s Wharf 1981 From Jackie Bennett

Winter Specials at 1606
Burgers & Brews, Wine Wednesday & Prime Rib Sunday

Winter Specials at 1606
Cozy up in the 1606 dining lounge at Beauport. Enjoy ocean views, fire-side seating and fresh menu specials starting this week.
Monday Night- Burgers & Brews
A special burger menu (choice of 3) paired with one of our seasonal New England microbrews – $12
Tuesday Night- Prix Fix Menu
Three-course menu – $35
Wednesday Night- Wine Wednesday
A glass of wine chosen by our Sommelier Lynn Bennett, paired with a special appetizer created from our Chef John Welch.
$16.06 – 1 per guest
Thursday Night- New England Fish Fry
Fish, fries, slaw and tartar – $20
Sunday Night- Prime Rib
Twice baked potato, buttered asparagus,
au jus, Yorkshire pudding – $26
snowing, surfing Long Beach today – they weather the weather 😃🏄
Winter surfing, Long Beach, January 5, 2021
Whether the weather be cold or whether the weather be hot, they weather the weather, whatever the weather (and they like it a lot!)
Apply for Halyard apartments housing lottery Gloucester Crossing #GloucesterMA

30 housing lottery APARTMENTS
Looming application deadline for the housing lottery. See SEB info & flyers below:
OVERVIEW:
At Halyard, discover a collection of modern residences and thoughtful amenities that set a new wave for apartment living in Gloucester, Massachusetts. Walkable to everyday shopping necessities, close to downtown and the waterfront, and right next door to a brand new, state-of-the-art YMCA, Halyard will offer a contemporary haven for a lifestyle of fair winds and following seas. Located just off Blackburn Circle in Gloucester, Halyard will offer 200 apartments consisting of studio, one and two-bedroom apartment homes featuring spacious layouts and high end finishes with granite countertops, stainless-steel appliances, and vinyl plank flooring in all living/dining areas. 30 affordable apartments will be ready for occupancy starting in 2021. All affordable apartments will be rented to households with incomes at or below 80% of the area median income through this application process.
The community includes a 5,365 square foot Clubhouse that features a great room with tasting kitchen, fitness center, and a game room with shuffleboard and foosball. Work from home space is also available in the collaborative coworking areas. Four legged friends are always welcome with our pet wash and grooming station available, 24/7. Outdoor amenities include a gaming area, fire pit and BBQ area. Halyard is a smoke-free, and pet friendly community. Halyard is sure to set a new standard for apartment living with first occupancy expected in February 2021.
SEB housing
KEY DATES
January 11, 2021: Information Session: 6:00pm via YouTube at https://youtu.be/1CVjPJsGXlY (or just search for SEB Housing) and via Conference Call – (425) 436-6200. Code: 862627
February 12, 2021: Application Deadline: 100% complete applications must be submitted by 2pm
February 25, 2021: Lottery: 6:00pm via YouTube at https://youtu.be/8d7alq3O9Yw (or just search SEB Housing) and conference call — (425) 436-6200. Code: 862627
Maximum Allowable Household Income
1 Person Household: $67,400
2 Person Household: $77,000
3 Person Household: $86,650
4 Person Household: $96,250
SEB housing
photos at top: January 2021 Halyard apartment complex and YMCA construction status. For July 2020 photographs of the construction, see here
From Wingaersheek Beach
On Monday took a walk on Wingaersheek Beach. It was windy and the ocean was rough. The Annisquam Lighthouse looked very pretty as always.

Moments
Snow squall….

















