Year: 2015

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Homes for sale Land for sale Moving into a new home checklist

Here’s Why Real Estate on the Lake is the Most Popular Option for Home Buyers

Safe neighborhood

Moving to a new home has gotten a reputation of being stressful, but the truth is, it should be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. If you know what to look for in a great community, finding quality real estate is both easy and enjoyable.

These days, millions of homeowners are investing in beautiful lake property, and for good reason. Real estate on the lake often features incredible modern home designs, and lakeside homes are known for being in a safe, vibrant community. Plus, it never hurts to have a glistening lake right in your backyard to enjoy whenever you please.

Living the lake lifestyle is one of the most relaxing things you could ever do, and these areas are ideal for starting and raising a family. Here are just three of the many reasons that real estate on the lake has become the go-to option for home buyers across the country:

  • Building a dream home. If modern home design is what you’re looking for in a new home, then you need to check out a lake community. Many private communities offer land to build custom homes on, and there is no limit to the ways you can personalize your new home. Members of Generation X account for 27% of all new home sales, and if you plan on starting a family in your new home, it is highly recommended to build your dream home on the lake.

  • Vibrant community. Real estate on the lake is so unique because lakefront communities are truly unlike any other type of town. They are often ingrained in a historic community with rich tradition and values that have been passed on for centuries. Simply put, there is no better place to raise a family or retire to than a lakefront community. The neighbors are always smiling, and it’s never hard to find something fun to do.

  • Fun on the water. Speaking of finding fun things to do, imagine waking up every day and walking to the backyard for a quick fishing session. Having this easy access to low-impact activities is particularly important for retirees, which is why so many people in their golden years are investing in real estate on the lake. Good health is crucial, and in a recent survey, about 81% of retirees cited it as the most important ingredient for a happy retirement. Retirees in lakeside homes are typically more healthy than those who live elsewhere, and the gorgeous weather in these communities makes it much easier to stay active.

The home buying process should be one of the most memorable times of your life, and finding the right home can make all the difference in your future. Check out quality real estate on the lake and enjoy the infinite benefits of lakeside living.

Categories
Mortgages rates Online mortgage lenders Reverse mortgage advantages

3 Things You Should Think About to Get a Great Mortgage Rate

Mortgage rates in tennessee

Getting the best possible mortgages rates isn’t easy, but it can be done. Here’s what you need to know.

What type of mortgage you’re going to get. – There are two different types of mortgages: fixed rate mortgages or adjustable rate mortgages. The former locks you into an interest rate that you’ll pay over the course of the loan’s term. The latter’s interest rate fluctuates, as you might expect, and they usually offer lower introductory rates. However, it’s important to really remember that the interest rate can and will change eventually later on.

Whether you’re going to pay for points or not. – Points are basically upfront fees — one percent of the total mortgage amount — that’s paid to lower the interest rate by a fixed amount. Paying for points is a good idea if you’re going to be paying the loan off over a long time. However, upfront costs often outweigh these savings further on.

Whether you qualify for a special program. – You might be eligible for a special program that can make the house-buying process more affordable, which is why it’s a good idea to think before you buy. Some of the programs that you might qualify for include VA loans, FHA loans, USDA loans, and first-time homebuyer programs. Look into these options, and you may find yourself with in a better place to get great mortgages rates.

Getting home mortgage lenders to give you great rates isn’t easy, and the myriad of different factors — like the different types of mortgages or the difference between high versus low deposit home loans — doesn’t make it any less difficult. Nevertheless, you can get great home loans rates if you’re willing to put in the work.

If you have any questions about mortgages rates, feel free to share in the comments.

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Charitable donation Charity organizations Disabled veterans donations

Why We Should Focus on Giving This Holiday Season

Purple heart donation pick up

For many Americans, the holidays embody a sense of joy, wonder, and generosity that ought to be carried out through the whole year. A recent survey found that around 43% of those asked give more during the holidays than the rest of the year, with 44% stating that they give the same amount regardless of the season. Many spend the holidays giving gifts to our friends and families; here are some reasons to give donations to charities this holiday season.

Needless Waste

Every year, America throws away roughly 10.5 million tons of clothing and other textiles to landfills across the country. While nearly 100% of these clothing articles could have been recycled, only 15% of the average American’s wardrobe gets recycled. As one of the world’s largest countries, we also happen to be among the largest producers of needless waste in the world.

The Benefits of Charitable Donations

Used clothing donations in 2006 spared approximately 2.5 billion pounds of fabric from landfills. With many of America’s landfills rapidly filling up, every article of clothing donated is a small victory for environmentally-keen Americans. Up to 45% of recycled clothing is worn regularly as secondhand clothing; even clothing with minor wear and discoloration can be given a new lease on life in many circumstances. Although many give charitable donations for altruistic reasons, any donation worth more than $250 can qualify as a tax write-off so long as the individual in question has a receipt: proof that good deeds don’t go unnoticed.

How to Donate Clothing to Charity

Donating clothing is a simple matter of determining what you no longer need. As a general rule of thumb, if you haven’t worn an item in six months to a year you might want to consider donating it as someone may need it more. Many charities have dedicated drop-off locations for donations, although there are an increasing number of clothing donations that pick up at home. Those donations that pick up at home schedule a pick-up time at the donor’s convenience. Let’s remember what the holidays are about this season: family, love, and generosity — even the smallest act of kindness can mean the world to someone in need.

Categories
Cleaning services Maid services Sacramento house cleaning

Three Times In You’ll Life That You’ll Need House Cleaners

Professional house cleaning

It shouldn’t surprise anyone when we tell you that 98% of homeowners feel good when their houses are clean. That should go without saying, shouldn’t it? For that matter, maybe the number should be 100%! Either way, it’s no wonder that we all love clean houses. But we don’t all love the work involved in getting to those clean houses. For example, 63% of homeowners hate cleaning bathrooms more than anywhere else in the house. That’s because cleaning the bathroom is often disgusting — in fact, cleaning most of your house can be disgusting! This simple fact is what leads many Americans each year to hire professional house cleaners. After all, we hire many other professional services; why not house cleaners? House cleaners can make your life a lot simpler. So: let’s talk about the advantages of different types professional cleaning services.

Regular Home Cleaners

For some, having someone regularly come in and clean your home may seem silly. For others, it’s fantastic; and for more still, it’s the only option. For people with on-the-go jobs and lifestyles, cleaning the house on your own as much as you should simply isn’t an option. And the negative consequences that come from letting your house stagnate go far beyond the surface; certain germs can live on dry surfaces for several hours, and on moist surface for up to three days! Along those lines, some have regular cleaners over because they’re caring for a chronically ill loved one. Although cleanliness in these circumstances in particular is an utmost priority, the time just isn’t there. Whatever your reason for hiring regular cleaners, don’t feel guilty or judged for not cleaning on your own. Just do what’s best for you.

Last Minute Home Cleaners

Sometimes, you’re about to have family or friends over for a big event — whether the holidays or a fancy dinner party — and it the midst of all of your preparation, you look around and realize that your home is still a disaster. Circumstances like these are what leads many people to call cleaning services for an “emergency” cleaning. This kind of cleaning is quick and fast, and will have your home looking beautiful just in time for the big event.

Home Cleanings For Show

A major factor to consider as you attempt to sell your home is what kind of impression its cleanliness will make. Of course, the cleaning of the house will be up to the new owners once those papers are signed. But many home owners can’t physically be there to clean their homes before an open house or a big showing. That’s why they hire professional cleaning services. At times, these can be referred to you by your real estate agent. But if you want to handle things by yourself or if you’re trying to sell your house on your own, there are plenty of cleaners available.

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Best preschool in coral gables Preschool in miami Private preschool

How to Find a Preschool — 5 Important Things to Watch Out For

Miami child care

Every parent wants to be able to impart quality education to their children. With the right start, your children can develop themselves for later life, inculcate various important qualities, learn about important realities and develop physical coordination. The right preschool training can also help them develop the rudiments of creative abilities and better communication with their peers.

It has been seen that preschool education can have quite a positive impact on children. There are many palpable benefits of preschool education and finding a good preschool should be one of your top priorities. You are sure to encounter many options, as about 30% of three and four-year old in the country attend preschool, which makes for daily preschool visits for more than five million children. The difference-maker for you is whether you know how to find a preschool that matches your criteria.

While choosing the best preschool for your kids, there are five main factors that you need to weigh –

  • To start off with, look for a preschool which incorporates basic teaching of letters and numbers in the curriculum. Being able to read and count early are signs of rapid development, and the best preschools help your child achieve that.

  • Look for places which include generous amounts of physical activity and play time during the daily routine, especially of the innovative kind. These activities help develop motor functions, encourage teamwork and communication, and bring in basic training in behavioral skills.

  • While learning how to find a preschool, it is essential that parents look for places which help inculcate home and family values through their teaching. If a school displays similar traits handling emotional and social issues as you do at home, you might have a winner.

  • You should look out for teachers who can develop and maintain a relationship with your child that provides nourishment and nurturing. Teachers get to spend long duration with your children in preschool and have an important impact on their development.

  • Look for a private preschool that encourages participation. Letting children choose at least part of their activities and egging them on to suggest interesting ones is a great way to promote development.

The percentage of children pursuing preschool education has gone up significantly over the last decade, and with good reason. Following these tips on how to find a preschool can ensure that your child remains in safe hands and receives optimum attention during these important formative years.

Categories
Charitable donations Clothing donation Organizations that help military families

Extend a Helping Hand for the Holidays How to Give Back the Right Way

Donations for non profit organizations

This holiday season, there are plenty of families and children in need of warm winter clothing and other assistance. If you’ve been thinking of cleaning out your closets or cupboards and donating, now is the time to do it! For children in need clothing can be a huge gift and you can know that you helped someone in need simply by giving away what you didn’t want. It’s a win-win for everyone — families get warm clothes that are in good condition and you create more space and less clutter in your own home. You also save that material from ending up in a landfill or dump somewhere.
Does Donating Really Help?
Believe it or not, if you donate clothing or other household items, it keeps those items in the consumer loop and prevents them from just being thrown away. About 12 million pounds of clothing or other textiles are thrown out every year in the United States — a huge waste, when it could be used by someone else. For children in need clothing like your kids’ old winter coats could be the difference between staying warm and well during the winter season or coming down with colds.
Additionally, many people enjoy shopping for secondhand clothing. Americans buy about ten pounds of gently used clothing every year, which is great, considering that 90% of the clothing or textiles tossed every year could have been reused. The lower prices on secondhand clothing and the variety to be found in secondhand stores can make it a fun shopping experience — a little like a treasure hunt!
It’s also a popular option for donations — in 2011, for example, about 2 million pounds of clothes or other textile materials were donated or recycled.
It also teaches your kids to give back to the community they live in. It’s great to establish a culture of philanthropy in the house early and promote giving back. Teaching by example is one of the best ways to foster this and will make everyone in the entire family feel good!
Where Can I Donate?
There are multiple charitable organizations in the United States — from charities that will pick up donations to places that you can drop donations off at. If you have a specific charitable interest, such as supporting military charities, veterans charities, or helping families in need more generally, there’s an organization for you to give back to. However, if you’re just starting to think about giving back, a quick online search about a cause you care about or an organization you may have heard about will yield certain results.
Some donors prefer giving material goods as opposed to money, because they feel more certain that their donations are reaching the intended parties without any third party interference. (Many have concerns that a portion of their donations go towards funding the organization itself, instead of reaching the people they’re trying to help.)
For children in need clothing can be a huge way to give back. Consider looking into a charity or a local shelter to donate to — your efforts are sure to be appreciated and you could help turn someone’s life around in a positive way.

Categories
Charity clothing pick up Charity foundations Purple heart donations

Why You Should Give to Charity

Charity foundations

When trying to find a charity to support it can be difficult to choose because there seem to be so many. So what are the best charities to donate to? Most charities can be broken down into seven groups. We will go over them in this article.

  1. Animal charities. This includes wildlife conservation organizations, pet an animal welfare organizations, hunting and fishing conservation groups, and zoos and aquariums.
  2. Environmental charities. The two main subgroups for this kind of charity is environmental conservation and protection and parks and nature centers.
  3. Community development charities. This would include things such as fundraising organizations, community foundations and housing and neighborhood development.
  4. International organizations. These charities usually are based out of one country but actually work in another. This type of charity includes international development NGOs, disaster relief and humanitarian NGOs, peace and human rights NGOs, conservation NGOs and child sponsorship organization.
  5. Health charities. These charities support and treat the sick and disabled, try to find cures for diseases, and promote public awareness. This type of charity includes diseases and disorders, medical services and treatment, medical research to charities and patient and family support charities.
  6. Education charities. These kind of charities take care of students from all age groups and focus on making education more accessible and effective. This would include private elementary, junior high and high schools, universities and colleges, scholarship and financial aid services, school reform and experimental education and support for students teachers and parents.
  7. Arts, culture and humanity charities. This last group of charities work to preserve artistic and cultural legacies and celebrate the arts and our heritage. This includes museums and art galleries, performing arts, libraries and historical societies and public broadcasting and media.

There are a few charities that do not fit within the seven types of charities but for the most part everything can be broken down between the seven categories.

Hopefully the type of charity that you want to support or donate to his class within one of these categories. If not I’m sure it would not be difficult to find out how exactly your particular charity is categorized.

Maybe you weren’t planning on donating and don’t even know why it’s a necessity or wonder what are the best charities to donate to. Let me cover a few reasons donating is beneficial.

  1. Donations are tax deductible. The money you give is tax deductible but also any travelling done for a charity, parking fees or even event fees as long as you haven’t been reimbursed for anything.
  2. You’ll become part of something bigger. It may not seem like you giving much but if everyone gave just a little time or money it would become a lot and could make a huge difference.
  3. Benefit the world’s neediest people. This pretty much says it all. Just $450 can fund an entire fistula surgery to repairs obstetric injuries that happened due to complications at birth.
  4. Feel good It might seem like a selfish reason to do something so selfless but there are medical studies that prove giving to other people can make a person happier with themselves.

These are just a few of many, many reasons to donate clothes, money or time to people in need. So what are the best charities to donate to? The one where your charitable donation could save someone’s life. More info like this.

Categories
History of oriental rugs Oriental rug repair company Oriental rugs for sale

What You May Not Have Realized About Caring for and Cleaning Oriental Rugs

Oriental rug interior design

If you’ve been following the latest design trends in home magazines or tuning in to HGTV’s programming, you’ve probably noticed that there’s one familiar decor staple that’s making a comeback. That’s right — oriental rugs are trendy once again, and this form of carpeting is popping up everywhere. These rugs typically feature unusually thick pile of up to 160 knots per square inch and have very rich color combinations. From being a centerpiece in the dining room to making a family room extra cozy, you can class up your home with one of these beautiful and unique handmade carpets.

Yet what most people don’t realize when they jump on this trend is that Oriental rugs are incredibly delicate and usually made from either silk or wool. Because they are hand-knotted, they must be handled with care, whether they’re on display in a central location of the home or only brought out for special occasions.

As a result, caring for and cleaning Oriental rugs can be difficult without the use of a professional Oriental rug repair and cleaning service. For the most part, cleaning Oriental rugs needs to be done with special solvents, and it’s best to do this with antique rugs made from natural materials. However, even synthetic materials may need proper care, so they don’t fade or fall apart.

Fortunately, you can also take care of your rugs at home with these helpful tips:

  • Oriental rug dealers will often give you information about where your rug was made and what it’s made out of if you’re buying a truly authentic piece. Make sure you write this information down somewhere, so you have it handy when the time comes for you to get a professional Oriental rug cleaning.
  • By moving furniture around regularly, you can avoid leaving permanent dents in your furniture. If you keep something like a dining room table on your Oriental rug, make sure to move the table and chairs a few inches every now and then to avoid serious wear and tear on the carpet.
  • Don’t try to clean the rug yourself! Even supposedly “gentle” household cleaners can have disastrous effects on your rugs. Make sure that you have a professional repairing and cleaning oriental rugs for you, so they have the best chance of lasting a lifetime or more.

Whether your rugs are simply for decoration or are a priceless family heirloom, make sure they get the proper care they need and deserve. Have more questions about caring for your Oriental rugs? Ask away in the comments below or bring them to a professional.

Categories
Master-planned community Tampa bay homes

Looking for a Change? Move to Florida for Warmer Weather and Financial Freedom!

Modern home design

If you or someone you know as been contemplating about checking out the real estate market for a new home, you should consider Florida as your next new home. Not only does Florida have a booming economy, but the sunshine state really lives up to it?s name with cities like Land O?Lakes having an estimated 248 sunny days a year! No matter the area of Florida you?re interested in moving to, there are plenty of communities and homes to choose from. Enlist the aid of master planned community developers to build your dream home, or have a realtor show you how to buy a new home that’s already been built. There are a lot of single family homes out there, so the options are endless.

States like Florida aren?t just for retirees anymore. Young professionals and people of all ages are seeking out the warmth the state has to offer. Another reason why Florida is a prime destination state for those looking for a change is that it is one of the few states that doesn?t collect income taxes. Other states that don?t collect income taxes include Alaska, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. Because of this unique aspect of the state, some people can really benefit financially by moving to Florida, especially if they live in a state with a high income tax rate, like New York.

Other benefits of moving and buying a home in Florida is that if you declare a place your primary residence, you can receive an exemption for up to your first $50,000 in property taxes. Thanks to master planned community developers, the suburban landscape is also growing throughout Florida, which is a good thing because nearly 66% of millennials seeking to buy homes prefer living in more modern homes in the suburbs, as opposed to 24% who prefer more rural locations and 10% who prefer city living.

So if you?re one of the many people who want a change of pace, move on down to Florida where you can enjoy not only the warmer weathers, but also the financial benefits from living and owning a home in the nation?s sunshine state!

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Amish sheds in new jersey Large sheds Pergolas

Furnish your home uniquely and beautifully

Wooden playsets for kids

Amish furniture is handcrafted by the Amish in America and is usually made from 100% wood. Amish furniture is usually more traditional style. They do not just sell couches and coffee tables like you might think but actually Amish furniture can extend to a pool house, custom sheds, they even have barns for sale. To give you a little better idea of what Amish furniture can bring to your home I’m going to go over a few things that they sell.

Pool houses They say that most of their buildings can be made into a pool house but the ones they prefer are called ‘Victorian’ or ‘Elite’. These feature a large overhang and a porch but the porch can be optional. Columns, large windows and glass doors are the traditional look of a pool house made here but every piece can be customized or updated to your liking. A pool house can either be made on site, at your location or it can be made and then delivered in one piece to you.

Dog Kennel Dog kennels can be pretty upscale and fancy. The ‘Elite’ dog kennel features light gray paint, white trim, charcoal shingles and black doors. It is eight by 10 shed area, connected to a four by eight insulated box, ending with six by eight run area that has the option of having a chain link fence installed.

Dutch Corner Cupboard When it comes to indoor furniture, there are five collection types to choose from. For the purpose of this article we are looking at the David collection. The dutch corner cupboard is made of oak wood for easy of staining or painting to the owner’s specification. It features 3 open shelves framed by an arch and a door for storage at the bottom.

Weathervanes Weathervanes, just like any other piece of Amish furniture, are mostly made of wood. However, weathervanes do differ slightly as they can also be made out of copper or brass.

These are just a few pieces to give you an idea of the types of things you can buy at an Amish furniture store. These pieces will are beautiful and since they are handmade, no two are going to be exactly alike. Sure, to the naked eye they may seem like that but that is what makes handmade items so rare; the little differences that you could never see unless you look very closely. Of course, you can also have each piece customized to your liking so this will make your furniture even more unique and special.

As far as price goes, you can pay all up front or work out a payment plan for a rent to own deal. What kind of Amish furniture would you buy?