How Much Interest is Your Home Equity Earning?
October 29, 2006
How much interest are you earning on your home equity? If you answered nothing, zero, zilch, zip you are correct. What would you do if you could get triple compounding on your equity? Would you take action and build a fortune that would allow you to pay off the mortgage and create a retirement fund?
We use a strategy called Early Mortgage Pay Off System or EMPOS?. The strategy involves using common knowledge that is applied uncommonly. In other words, we have been told for years that a fixed mortgage is the way to the American Dream of having our homes paid off free and clear. But is that really a dream, when all along the way you struggle to make those large payments? What if you could reduce your monthly mortgage payments and increase your cash flow?
By using the right mortgage product you can keep your monthly payments low and redirect some of that cash back to yourself in an investment that gets triple compounding because it is tax deferred.
Whats Underfoot? A Quick Guide to Patio Surfaces
October 29, 2006
Patios and terraces have always been popular outdoor spaces. Whether a Parisian courtyard or a rooftop alcove, only porches and sunrooms beat out these paved (or semi-paved) retreats in a recent survey of my readers as the most ideal outside living space. Let’s examine some of the wide variety of patio surfaces.
Patio Stones
Somteimes called flags or slabs, patio stones are flat square or rectangular blocks of pressed concrete. Standard sizes generally include 2′ x 2′, 2′ x 2˝’ and 2′ x 3′ (60 x 60 cm; 60 x 75 cm; 60 x 90 cm), with a 2″ (5 cm) thickness. They are a very well-known and popular choice for both homeowners and home builders and are favored both for their ease of installation and low price.
Once only grey or greyer, patio stones are now available in a range of colors. Choose a color that blends with your garden or house, or make a patterned floor with two different colors. Patio stones are especially attractive when combined with an edging of a contrasting material. On my web site, I have some suggested patterns combining them with bricks, but you can use a rot-resistant wood such as cedar, landscape rocks, or even aluminum.
Toxic Pollutants & Their Effect on Fish Health
October 28, 2006
Once water temperatures increase in the summer months, fish become more active and produce increasing amounts of waste, leading to potential water pollution. Fish produce waste in the form of ammonia, which is broken down into nitrites then nitrates by beneficial bacteria. Both ammonia and nitrite are very harmful to fish, even in very small quantities. Ammonia, in particular, is more toxic at high temperatures and can cause severe problems. In fact, water can hold five times as much dangerous ammonia at 77°F as opposed to 41°F. The effect on water quality is exaggerated by a high pH, resulting in the formation of more toxic ammonia.
High nitrite levels are also more dangerous in low oxygen water levels. Nitrite causes the hemoglobin in the fish’s blood to form metheamoglobin, which cannot carry as much oxygen around the body of the fish, therefore making fish lethargic.
Nitrates are relatively harmless to freshwater fish and act as great fertilizers for plants. However, they also encourage the growth of unwelcome algae, such as green water or blanket weed. So, be sure to test the water quality every few weeks with a kit.
Tips and Suggestions To Help You Plan and Build Your Own Log Home
October 28, 2006
Log Cabin Homes: They have come a long way. Here are some tips and suggestions to help you plan and build your own. Plus be sure to consider the floor plans and not overlook anything.
Typically, log cabin homes are small structures that have little or no wasted space and are built from all natural materials. However, new trends have surfaced, making log cabin homes appear as luxurious, rustic, and cozy houses. At the same time, many of these luxury log cabin homes still use all natural materials, but there are new building techniques and systems used for drying the logs effectively at proper rates.
Log cabin homes are useful for you as a main house or as a vacation home. In fact, any design and style can be created with log cabin homes. No matter what design you decide upon, log cabin homes will surround you in nature always have a comfortable yet rough feel.
Maintenance problems from log homes are often unavoidable. However, new knowledge and technology can help prevent many of the problems from happening. Many of the new techniques can also stop some maintenance problems from happening, and if they do occur, they will not be as extreme.
Nursery Room Decor
October 28, 2006
The nursery is your newborn’s first room, his own little world: the environment, which in part will influence and shape his personality. As a parent your goal is to provide a surrounding that is comfortable, secure, inviting and cozy.
A functional, safe and stimulating environment precedes aesthetic needs. Here is one illustration for decorating a boy’s nursery. Instead of restricting the color to a single monotonous tone, a variety of bright blues, yellows, reds, pinks and green were selected. According to studies, introduction to bright colors and shapes help stimulate babies’ imaginations. The inspiration for the nursery can be derived from an adorable multi-colored hand hooked rug with animals and alphabets. The animals on the rug provide a theme for the room and form the central focus for design. The motifs can continue with the use of animal mobile overhead, crib bedding, pillows and other accessories.
The furniture should be kept simple. An inexpensive entertainment center can be used as an armoire, which is practical, and most importantly has ample storage. Built in cabinets conceal clutter, help organization and present a neat tidy look. Both the armoire and the cabinet are excellent long-term choices not restricted to age and can be used as the child grows. These furniture items with simple white distressed finish complement varied kids of décor can be alternately used in another room.
Painting and Decorating Tile
October 28, 2006
Ceramic tile can be beautiful and elegant. But it can also be bland and uninspired. If you want to add a little color or creativity to your tile, here’s how!
Remember to clean your tile and let it dry before you begin any project.
1. Seal both tile and surrounding grout with a water-based floor varnish.
Ask your home improvement retailer for suggestions about a good water-based floor varnish for your area.
2. Brush paint primer on both tile and grout.
Let it dry for at least 12 hours before you begin painting.
3. With an artist’s brush, paint your pattern with latex paint.
Simple designs are best. You can use stencils or, if you are brave, try painting your own original design directly on the tile. Let the tile dry before sealing.
4. Seal the tiles with two coats of water-based varnish.
Let the tile dry between coats.
Decorating your old tile can be easy and fun. Now, anyone have a great idea for rescuing an old bathtub? (Without making it a backyard planter, that is!)
About The Author
A Guide to Selecting a Mortgage Broker in Australia
October 27, 2006
Once you have made the decision to buy a home you will need to obtain mortgage financing for your purchase. Until about fifteen years ago buyers had to go directly to banks to obtain loans and shopping around for the right fit was a long process. Mortgage Brokers are experts in home loans who will consider your financial situation and financing requirements and then shop around for various lenders to find the best possible deal on financing for your purchase.
Because mortgage brokers understand the loan process and the criteria used by lending institutions in evaluating borrowers they are able to make sure your loan application is completed correctly the first time resulting in a much smoother process. This can ultimately lead to faster approval. In addition they have access to hundreds of loan products with many different lenders resulting in the flexibility to find the best possible loan and interest rates for your situation.
It is no wonder mortgage brokers now write about 30% of all mortgages in Australia. Your mortgage broker will not only find you the best rates and programs based on your needs, they will also help you understand the process, and if necessary negotiate on your behalf if you have less than perfect credit.
Poster, Print or Painting - Where Are You Going To Put It?
October 27, 2006
If you are redesigning or decorating a room, or house, care has to be taken where your piece of art is to be displayed. Even if you have bought a picture on impulse there are a few tips that will not only enhance the picture but its surroundings.
As a good rule of thumb it is good to hang a picture so that its centre is roughly at eye level. If you have a grouping of pictures then also the centre of the group should be at approximate eye level.
Wall size.
- For a narrow wall go for a smaller picture, or group of small pictures.
- For large walls go for the larger pictures.
- For walls that link to a low ceiling go for pictures that are vertically longer as this will help give the illusion that the ceiling is higher and open the room up.
Picture framing.
- As a guide neutral coloured, plain or soft /delicate paintings will suit a more basic plain frame.
- Dramatic pictures may deserve a much bolder frame.
- Will the frames go together if pictures are hung in a group?
Picture grouping.
Door Hardware - the Focal Point of the Home
October 27, 2006
The door is the focal point of the home which is why door hardware is so important, creating a striking first impression as well as securing your property against intruders.
The right door fittings and locks will enhance your property both by adding to its value, keeping it secure and improving its appearance There is a huge range of door hardware available that has been made to suit all types of home.
Brassart produces a range of door and window furniture suitable for castles,palaces and other such gand buildings.As you can see from their name they mostly produce solid brass hardware, however they will supply ironmongery in gold plated brass. They also produce door hardware specially to suit the period of the building.
For those with smaller homes Kirkpatricks produce ranges of antique black iron and flat black iron which look perfect in a log house or country cottage.This company were established in 1855, still making much of their ironmongery using the same moulds and methods that were used then. Giving a really authentic feel to their products.
Keeping the Balance of Nature: Pond Water Maintenance
October 27, 2006
You might be tempted to let Mother Nature, tend to your backyard pond, and who could blame you? After all, she does a pretty good job of taking care of really big ponds, so why would your backyard ecosystem pose much of a challenge to her?
Unfortunately, the fact is your backyard pond is only going to get some cursory attention from Mom; the rest of the work is going to be left up to you.
In the “real world” chlorinated water doesn’t find its way into ponds very often. “Big” pond water passes through a great many natural filtration and oxygenation systems, and the various fish and flora work together to keep the pond clean and fresh. Our backyard ponds don’t have quite that much help, so here’s where you need to step in:
If you are going to keep fish then you absolutely must remove all traces of chlorine from your pond before your favorite Koi set up housekeeping. Pond fish cannot live in chlorinated water so don’t even try. There are many products available to remove chlorine quickly, or you can opt for the old-fashioned, natural way if you have the time to spend.
