Home Equity Can Create a Never-ending Money Cycle
March 26, 2007
What could you do with $10,000? Well, you can have it, now in a new home equity loan! Did you know that if you have been in your home for just one full year, you may already have the opportunity to take out huge dollars in equity from your home — tens of thousands, even! Did you also know that you can get this money with no closing costs, use it any way you like, and, best of all, it will cost you as little as the price of your cable bill each month, and you can create an amazing money cycle that will give you an endless supply of cash.
Unlike conventional mortgages, home equity loans are paid back with interest-only payments, and have no taxes or insurance added, which make for extremely low payments. This means you can get tens of thousands of dollars for as little as $33 per month on your equity loan. Imagine having 10,000 dollars and paying this little to get it! What’s more, if you use this equity properly, you can pay off debt, saving hundreds monthly. Then, in a few years, you can get a new home equity loan, with the new equity you have built in your home from simple appreciation in value.
Lakeside Patios ? The Water Makes Decisions For You
March 26, 2007
If you are putting in a new patio on a lakeside, you have unique considerations that other homeowners do not have when it comes to purchasing patio furniture.
We built a new patio on a 700 acre lake and I had to look around for just the right outdoor furniture. It can get very windy on the lake so you don’t want furniture that will blow right into the water. That leaves out PVC, plastic, lightweight aluminum etc. My choices were wrought iron, or any of the hardwoods. Our lake is located in the North woods so I thought wrought iron would be too fancy. The look of scrolled wrought iron did not match our wide timber stairway leading down to the lake and patio. The timber stairs and trim are rustic cedar that fits our setting perfectly. Wrought iron would be lovely in a urban or suburban setting or backyard, but it just didn’t match our house. I don’t think wrought iron is very comfortable and not good for lounging on a lazy weekend. We entertain a lot and I wanted furniture that people would feel comfortable to sit around in and relax while enjoying the action on the water.
Top Ten Remodeling Tips
March 26, 2007
My husband and I just completed our first remodel. It was a period renovation of a Victorian Gingerbread Craftsman. (I’m so thrilled I can talk about it in the past tense). We haunted architectural salvage houses for just the right windows, bid on eBay for period-correct light fixtures, spent an entire afternoon driving all over L.A. for a screw that they stopped making in the thirties and generally worked to the point of insanity. Tiptoed up to the line but never crossed it.
So here, ripped from the headlines so to speak, are my Top Ten Tips for Remodeling. Read ‘em and weep.
1. There is a solution to every situation. But it’s not necessarily yours. You go where the solution is - it doesn’t come to you.
2. There is no medicine for whatever ails you quite like hard, exhausting, purposeful work.
3. Chew your own food. Don’t make your problems other peoples. They’ve got their own.
4. I’m not psychic. Maybe you are. Guesstimates of time and money are just that. Reality has a way of intruding. When in doubt - go with Reality. (I don’t know when I’m going to die either).
Home Automation Enhances Your Lifestyle and Saves Money - Exciting Home Automation Applications
March 26, 2007
Wouldn’t it be nice to have your home take care of things for you, automatically, without you having to lift a finger? You bet it would. That is the promise of home automation. There are many different systems, especially in larger homes, that can benefit from being integrated. Some of these systems include security alarm, HVAC, audio / video, and lighting. Home automation integrates these systems together, enabling them to function more efficiently, improve functionality, conserve resources and enhance your lifestyle.
That’s the name of the game; an enhanced lifestyle. Everyone can benefit from a better life and modern electronic systems can help provide it. In addition, as the cost of resources continues to rise and the price of electronics continues to fall, home automation systems will prove to be even more cost effective. The combination of the modern consumer’s thirst for convenience and increasing economic advantages will propel home automation more into the mainstream.
So, what are some of the fun things a home automation system can do for you? Here are some common applications:
Plantation Shutters Bring Antebellum Elegance To Modern Homes
March 25, 2007
Choosing plantation shutters for form or function? Plantation shutters offer both to today’s homeowner. These unique window treatments trace their roots to ancient Greece. The Greeks used them for both privacy and security. Interior shutters were used to close windows. Along with imposing columns, shutters are hallmarks of Classical Greek Architecture. This ancient order and form in building design later influenced buildings and architecture throughout the Western world.
Before the widespread use of glass, shutters were used to close windows. They were used to protect the interior of the house from the weather and from intruders as well as provide privacy. They could be opened to allow sunlight and fresh air into the building or home.
Elements of Greek architecture are seen in many buildings and homes from the late 18th century, the 19th century and the early 20th century in the United States. It was especially prevalent in banks, office buildings and many public and government buildings. The plantation mansions of the old South borrowed heavily on the architecture of the Greeks. The antebellum mansions of the great plantations from South Carolina to the western edge of Mississippi borrowed heavily from the building concepts of the Greeks. A number of these grand old mansions have been restored and preserved at Natchez, Mississippi.
Bare Root Roses
March 25, 2007
Bare Root Roses, what to look for when buying
The first thing to look for is the plant’s grade.
Nearly all bare root roses sold today are grown in the field and are approximetly two years old. They are sold in three main grades.
Grade 1 is the best and most expensive grade. In order to obtain this grade the plants are required to have at least three strong cains, two of which must be at least 18 inches in length for hybrid teas anf grandifloras. The canes should be at least 1/8 inch in diameter.
Grade 1 1/2 is the most popular grade due to it’s lesser price. In order to obtain this grade the plants are required to have at least two strong canes which must be at least 15 inches long for hybrid teas and grandifloras. The canes should be at least 1/8 inch in diameter.
Grade 2 is the least expensive grade. These plants are only required to have two canes 12 inches or longer. These plants can be a gamble as they may be stunted.
Refinancing and Car Finance - Is it worth it?
March 25, 2007
Refinancing and Car Finance - Is it Worth It?
No doubt you have heard of refinancing your mortgage. It has become all the rage, but now you can also refinance your car loan.
You stand to save several hundred dollars over the term of the loan.
My take on it is go for it. Competition is healthy and it will keep the finance companies on their toes providing better service for all. There’s just one thing to be careful of online:
Just make sure you go with a reputable company. There are car finance companies on line these days such as E-loan or Capital 1, which are proving themselves worthy adversaries to the standard brick-and-mortar loan companies.
It’s not hard to see why? Simply apply from the convenience of your home rather than trudge all the way into some downtown office and line-up in a queue.
It’s even better than on the phone, because you can send your application in and forget it. Before you blink you have an approval or not. If you don’t, then you can simply find another one.
You can start off with a higher interest rate if you have bad credit and then refinance to a better rate later on.
Making a Pen with Your New Wood Lathe
March 25, 2007
So you just purchased a wood lathe but do not know what kind of project you should start out with. As soon as the right amount of skill is obtained, beautiful pieces of woodwork can be created with a wood lathe. However, before you get too over your head, it is best to start out with a basic woodturning project. My recommendation would be beginning by carving your very own pen.
Pen turning is a common hobby or past time. These homemade pens can make excellent gifts for any event. Pen turning is a fun yet practical project that can help you get a taste of the capabilities of your wood lathe. The following are some tips in preparing your wood for the lathe that will help you make your first wood lathe experience successful.
1. Pick an interesting wood blank. One of the great things about pen turning is you can use any sort of wood you want, including scrap pieces from other projects. Pick out a piece of wood with interesting figuring. Be aware that some wood changes appearance with light and air exposure and will begin to look dull with time, such as Paduak or Purple Heart wood. If you are not comfortable using a scrap piece of wood there are numerous wood blanks that can be purchased in all sorts of exotic woods.
Imported Tools vs. Brand Name - Are They As Good?
March 24, 2007
So you are looking for hand or power tools on the Internet or in a “brick & Mortar” tool store, and you keep running into tools imported from China, Taiwan, Korea, Germany and various other countries. A lot of these tools seem to be priced well under the comparable “name brand” tools you are used to? are they as good or better, or are they just cheap knockoffs.
A larger percentage of these tool deserve a better look, they are in many cases as good as, or better, and usually a very good bargain when compared side by side with their “brand name” counterparts.
In the last few years the quality of tools produced in many of the Asian countries has increased significantly…they are no longer the “knuckle busters” of the past. This is really the same path that the Japanese tool producers followed in the sixty’s and seventies, we all recall the rather poor quality of Japanese products coming to the US…cars, tools, electronics were all of dubious value. As these producers learned more about our market, our expectations and started making money…the quality of what they produced and offered for sale became very good. Today many of the products from Japan rival the quality of anything produced anywhere in the world.
How To Close A Timeshare Sale ? Minimize The Hassles
March 24, 2007
Making the decision to dive into the world of timeshares for investment or family vacation fun is a huge one. With a small financial exchange and the stroke of a pen, the commitment to join an ownership group in the maintenance of a piece of property, sometimes a world away, is sealed.
Getting from Point A to Point B, however, can be a tough road, especially with so many timeshare opportunities available in locations that are exotic, alluring and simply fantastic for vacations. The first step on the road to closing on a timeshare sale is to first decide where to invest. From the balmy beaches of Florida to wonderful, historical European locations, timeshares exist in just about every corner of the world. Typical practice under a deed or ownership certificate system involves picking a destination. A points program might help alleviate the choice, but the closing will still require signatures and a financial commitment.
After location has been chosen, it’s a very smart practice to check into the companies that offer timeshare sales and management. Some major players in the real estate world, such as Re/Max, also specialize in timeshares, making some of the worries go away.
