Top 10 ways to lower your rent

Lower Your Rent

Here's how to use what leeway you have.

In these difficult financial times, it is helpful to save money in any way that you can. The following tips could help you reduce the rent on your house or apartment.

1.      Negotiate with the property-owner

Before you renew your lease, research the prices that are charged for similar rental houses or apartments in your area. Write a respectful letter detailing your understanding of the current average rents in your area and make sure you emphasize your excellent record as a tenant. Property owners may be willing to negotiate rent prices with current tenants rather than going through the hassle of finding new tenants.

2. Use Craigslist to secure a roommate

Craigslist's "rooms and shares" section can be a good way to get a roommate or roommates who can help reduce your monthly rental costs dramatically. You could cut your rental costs in half, and typically, the more roommates, the more you can expect to save. Make sure to screen any potential roommates for poor hygiene, bad boyfriends or body odor ahead of time or suffer the consequences.

3. Be willing to walk or ride the bus

In larger cities with well-established public-transportation systems, apartments that are closer to train stations and bus stops can be more expensive. If you are willing to walk a block or two, you could save yourself a couple hundred dollars a month. It also could be cheaper to rent an apartment when you do not need to reserve a parking space for a car.

4. Help out the landlord

Some landlords will be happy to give a discount if you offer to do some extra work around your rental unit. If you are renting a house, offer to perform seasonal work, such as cleaning out the gutters or shoveling snow. If you are in an apartment, offer to paint the walls or refinish the cabinets. When you can perform the maintenance yourself, the property owner will not have to hire someone else. You and the owner can save money.

5. Ask someone you know

Talk to your friends or colleagues about helping you find a cheaper place to live. Someone in your social network could have inside information about a property that is offered at a substantially lower rate. Renting from a friend can make moving smoother and more fun, in addition to saving you money.

6. Prepay or sign a one-year lease

Some landlords may offer discounts for tenants who prepay their rent. The guarantee of having a tenant who has already paid for the next few months makes it easier for a landlord to cut the price of the unit. A one-year lease also offers a more stable relationship between the landlord and tenant than does a month-to-month agreement, and that can lead to a rent reduction.

7. Work as an apartment manager

If you are handy with tools and are willing to work as an apartment complex manager, you might be able to live rent-free. The reduction in your rent will depend on the level of expertise you are expected to provide and the size of your apartment building. You could get a discount for simply offering to keep an eye on the property, collect rent checks and report any potential problems to the owners.

8. Expand your search for a new apartment

Do not limit yourself to the apartments that are listed in the newspaper or online. Drive through the neighborhoods you would like to live in and look for for-lease signs. Rentals that do not advertise extensively can offer lower rent because they do not spend as much money looking for tenants.

9. Be flexible

Older apartments and houses are generally less expensive to rent than new ones. Do not accept a building that is falling apart, but keep in mind that older dwellings that are well-maintained can be just as comfortable for far less money.

10. Consider a new city

Location is a large part of the price of rent. Sometimes you can save a substantial amount by driving just a little farther from your desired location. Research the cost of renting outside of your immediate neighborhood. It can also save you some money if you have the flexibility to move to a new city where rents are lower overall.

By Chad Fisher of U.S. News & World Report

Buying a Home With Good Resale Value

The time to think about selling your home is the day you buy a home. If you buy a home with good resale value, it should be fairly easy to sell if and when that time comes. But some home buyers never consider resale value when they buy. They make the mistake of focusing solely on whether the home suits their own needs.

Number One Rule of Home Resale Value

Location. You hear agents repeat the phrase in triplicate: location, location, location. If you choose a home in a desirable location, odds are that location will remain in favor, which will always attract a larger pool of home buyers.

Alternatively, if the location is less than desirable, it's possible that your future sales price will always be less than the other homes around it, and you may attract a smaller pool of home buyers.

A few years ago I listed a home on a busy street in the Land Park neighborhood in Sacramento. It wasn't selling because the sellers had picked a sales price in line with comparable sales around the corner, on quieter streets. I asked why they ever bought this home. Because it was the cheapest home for sale in Land Park. We lowered the price to make it the least expensive home in Land Park, and it immediately sold.

Be careful that the characteristics of the neighborhood are not undergoing a change. I once bought home in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, that enjoyed pond frontage. If I had checked the city records, I would have known a major thoroughfare was in the works about a block away. Five years later, it was difficult to sell this home with cars zooming by at 60 MPH.

Basic Indicators of a Home With Good Resale Value

First, define the type of buyer who would purchase such a home. Then think about the type of home that kind of buyer would need. Does your home fit those parameters? Here are indicators of a home with good resale value:

• More than 2 bedrooms.

If almost every home in your neighborhood has only 2 bedrooms, owning a home with fewer than 3 bedrooms is most likely not a drawback. But it is a drawback if you're trying to attract, say, a couple. Many couples need a guest bedroom and an office, if not an office for each occupant. A home with 3 bedrooms or more is always a better choice to ensure future resale value.

• More than one bathroom.

Buyers will still buy a one-bath home but they expect to pay much less for it. Given a choice between a two-bath home versus a one-bath home, first-time home buyers will almost always opt for the two-bath home, even if the cost to install a second bath is much less than the price difference between the two homes.

Moreover, it's not enough to simply have two or more baths. A home without a master bath will suffer a lower resale value.

• Family space.

The term family is a bit misleading. A family space is any space in which a group of people can congregate. Whether to entertain friends or host a neighborhood gathering, buyers want an extra room that is spacious and informal. The days of the formal living room and parlors are over. Every space in a home today has a specific purpose and sometimes a dual purpose.

• Storage space and closets.

Don't ask me why, because it goes against my grain, but people in the 21st Century collect too much stuff. They've got to store it somewhere. Walk-in closets are almost an essential. Homes with small closets are hard to sell.

• One level.

When I was a kid in the 1950s, homes with 2-stories were more desirable but that trend has reversed itself. Even if the sacrifice is yard space, most buyers prefer a one-story home. Single levels are handicap accessible. However, in neighborhoods with a mix of two-story and one-story homes, don't buy a single-level home surrounded by multiple-story homes as those have a bad home resale value.

• Garage.

Unless you live in an urban area that relies mostly on public transportation, you need a place to park your car, preferably 2 parking spots. If it's a covered, enclosed area, all the better.

• Good flow, layout.

Few buyers want a chopped-up, closed-in space. Home buyers prefer natural light and open spaces, with a common sense flow that is interconnected without satellite rooms. A wing is acceptable; however, many families with young children do not want the master suite separated from the other bedrooms.

• Updates, remodeled.

Simple, do-it-yourself home improvements can greatly enhance a home's resale value. The two best rooms to remodel are the kitchen and baths. Home buyers prefer central heat and air, and some loans such as the energy efficient mortgage will provide for such updates upon purchase.

Resource: By Elizabeth Weintraub, About.com Guide

21 ways to winterize your life

Feel that chill in the air? Old Man Winter is coming.

Whether you live in Washington D.C. or Washington state, chilly weather is nature's way of telling you it's time to check up on a few things: your home, your car, your wallet and even yourself. So as you prepare for winter, here are a few tips to help ensure you and your loved ones stay safe, dry, snug and warm.

Your home

1. Drain outside spigots. Make sure outside spigots are off. Then find the inside shutoff valve, which should have a drain plug attached, says Tom Silva, general contractor on "This Old House" and "Ask This Old House." Shut it off and leave the drain plug open. Then go outside and open the faucets and leave them open. That way, any remaining water drains out and won't freeze.

2. Clean all the debris from gutters and down spouts. Be sure to clear out those outside window wells, too, says Silva, to prevent the debris from freezing where it is and blocking water drainage.

3. Check the windows. Make sure your storm windows are "completely protecting your window" and ready to meet the cold, says Silva. And make sure the weep holes, which allow condensation to drain, are clean and open.

4. Caulk. For home use, Silva recommends one of four varieties of caulk: butyl, latex with silicone, acrylic with silicone or tripolymer. "You don't want to use (straight) silicone," he says. Use caulk on openings or outlets around pipes, foundation, windows, etc. "You want to stop any migration of water and air," he says.

5. Check storm doors. Make sure they close properly. And now's the time to add that weather-stripping around doors and thresholds if you need it, Silva says.

6. Insulate water lines. Put foam rubber insulation -- you can buy it sized in a home store -- around hot and cold water pipes, says Silva. You'll increase efficiency and save energy.

7. Get those heating units maintained. Make sure your heating appliances "are cleaned and serviced and ready for winter," says Silva. "Tune-up time."

Your car

8. Check your antifreeze. "The most important thing is antifreeze," says Bob Cerullo, author of "What's Wrong with My Car?" What you do depends on where you live and whether you've added water to the antifreeze during the year. If you live in a place that gets really cold in the winter and you've added a substantial amount of water to the antifreeze since last winter, you probably want to flush it out and start fresh. Otherwise, you probably only have to flush it every three to five years, as the owner's manual dictates, says Cerullo. Other signs of bad antifreeze: it's discolored or "has a strong odor."You can also test your antifreeze with a hydrometer, which will tell you to what specific temperature it can protect you, says Cerullo.

9. Examine the belts and hoses. "If belts are worn, the engine can overheat," says Cerullo. Similarly, if the rubber hoses that connect the engine to the radiator deteriorate, you can lose coolant and overheat, he says.

10. Look at the tires. Depending on where you live, winter means snow and ice or sometimes just a lot of rain. In any event, you need tires with a good amount of tread so that you have traction.

"A worn-out tire where the grip is very thin is not going to work as well," says Cerullo. And check the pressure while you're at it. Tire pressure changes as the temperature drops. Just because it was right in July doesn't mean it's still good, says Cerullo. Match it against the recommendation on the inside of your car doorjamb or the auto owner's manual. "Never go by what's printed on the tire," he says.

11. Re-evaluate your wiper blades. Make sure they're in good shape. And if you live in an area prone to ice and rain, you might want to consider winter wiper blades. They feature a "special blade wrapped in rubber film that keeps leakage from freezing," Cerullo says. They are about the same price as regular blades, he says. "A lot of people leave them on (all year) and they work fine." And while you're at it, make sure that you have wiper fluid that will withstand the cold temperatures you'll encounter.

12. Assemble a cold-weather car kit. This is especially important if you drive cold, lonely roads or areas prone to snow and ice, says Cerullo. Include a coat (in case you have to walk), blankets, nonperishable food (put it in a coffee can or lunch box), water, candles with matches and -- most importantly -- a working cell phone to call for help.

Your finances

13. Check your home insurance. For cold-weather homeowners, winter is a season that can bring damage from snow and ice, says Chris Farrell, author of "Right on the Money! Taking Control of Your Personal Finances.""So it's really a good time of year to look at your homeowners policy."

14. Get your credit reports. The time to do this is before you start your holiday spending, says Ryan Sjoblad, public relations manager for myFICO.com.

In addition, correcting any errors can raise your scores, which means you pay less for credit.

15. Make your 529 contributions. "If your state offers tax deductions for 529 plans, and many do, the contribution must be made by Dec. 31," says Timothy Hayes, president of Landmark Financial Advisory Services LLC.

16. Reapply for college financial aid. Depending on where your child is going to school, deadlines can run from late winter to early spring, says Farrell. But many colleges have their own earlier deadlines, so it pays to do it now, he says.

17. Think about your investments. This is the time of year that investments, like mutual funds, make distributions. And some of those can have tax consequences, says Hayes. You can usually find out if there's a distribution, and how much it will be, by going to the fund company's website, he says. And then you can plan to hold 'em or fold 'em, depending on what makes the most sense for you.

18. Shop your vacation. Whether you have a craving for a sunny climate or are suffering from "cabin fever," planning a long getaway is a good antidote, says Farrell. Not only do you give yourself time to find the best buys, but you can cure that winter claustrophobia at the same time.

Your health

It's cold and flu season, not to mention the time of year when we all get to enjoy the least amount of daylight and spend a lot of time indoors. So try to winterize yourself, too.

19. Get real. "It's easy to get sucked into the TV fantasy ads and what the holiday 'should' be, and how you 'should' celebrate," says Mark Gorkin, author of "Practice Safe Stress: Healing and Laughing in the Face of Stress, Burnout & Depression." Instead, be realistic. Admit to yourself that no one can do it all. And the holiday visit might not be the best time to try and change a relative "who hasn't changed in 30 years," he says.

20. Reach for healthy comfort foods. For instance, warm cereal in the morning. "Warmer feels a little more substantive, a little more soothing," Gorkin says.

21. Make time and find a place to exercise. It will fight depression and help you out if you want to indulge in some of your holiday food favorites. Gorkin recommends going right after work, if you can. Not only do you boost the helpful chemicals in your body with vigorous exercise, but you get to soak up what light there is. If you're a tennis bug, this might be when you pay for a monthly gym membership and move the game inside. Says Gorkin, "You don't have to go into hibernation."

Resource: Yahoo Finance

Best Places to Live: Best Places for the Rich and Single

Follow the money to these towns and cities, where affluent young professionals are abundant.

1. Newport Beach, CA

Population: 79,661

Single: 30%

Median Family Income: $144,917

This hip coastal town offers the glamour of nearby Los Angeles without the grunge of the big city. Add the sun, surf, and sand to this suburban paradise, and it's no surprise Newport Beach ranks at the top of our list of best places for affluent singles. After you land that date with a wealthy surfer, take a romantic gondola cruise -- or better yet -- shop for yachts which are plentiful here. Afterward, take a romantic stroll along the mile-long stretch of Corona Del Mar with a latte in hand for a day of window shopping at fashionable boutiques, vintage stores and even a doggy spa. 

2. Newton, MA

Population: 82,139
Single: 31.3%  
Median Family Income: $138,070

It may be the home of Heartbreak Hill, the legendary slope that challenges runners during the final stretch of the Boston Marathon, but don't let that discourage you. Boston's rich and famous shack up in this suburb just west of Beantown, and you might spot some young hunks like "The Office's" John Krasinski, who frequents his hometown for a weekend visit to his parents' house. Keep your night casual with pizza and beer as you cheer on the Red Sox or the Celtics at a local bar -- or head to Boston and tour the historic city on the Old Town Trolley. 

3. Brookline, MA

Population: 57,929  
Single: 42%  
Median Family Income: $124,035 

If you're looking for suave and sophisticated company, start your search in this suburb, which is full of Boston's highly educated. In fact, nearly half of Brookline's population boasts a master's degree. Slip on your golf or tennis polo (or even your curling sliders) and head to the oldest country club in the nation to schmooze with high-profile politicians and corporate executives. If you're lucky, you might even score an invitation to one of their vacation homes on Cape Cod.

4. Sandy Springs, GA

Population: 82,674  
Single: 35.6%  
Median Family Income: $115,171  

Charming Southern gentlemen and sweet Georgia peaches in this Atlanta suburb are making the rounds at one of three major hospitals in the area or running operations at a Fortune 500 company like United Parcel Service or Newell Rubbermaid. Thanks to the natural springs the city is named for and the Chattahoochee River that flows through it, Sandy Springs offers a tranquil and peaceful setting for romance to blossom. After taking a stroll along the riverbank, head to Buckhead, Atlanta's vibrant uptown district, for a night on the town.

5. Irvine, CA

Population: 207,500  
Single: 31.3%  
Median Family Income: $113,768 

A stone's throw from Laguna Beach and an hour's drive from bustling Los Angeles, Irvine serves as home base for many tech startups, so look no further for both engineer and business types. Take your date on a tour of a local strawberry farm, or if you're feeling more carnivorous, head to the In-N-Out Burger -- which is headquartered there -- for a burger and shake to die for. (Hint: Try ordering from the secret menu). Then work off those calories at one of the city's several championship golf courses or with a game of ultimate Frisbee.

6. Milpitas, CA

Population: 67,503  
Single: 30.4%  
Median Family Income: $113,735 

Ever dream of flying? Give it a try in this Silicon Valley town, which serves as the epicenter of Northern California's hang gliding and paragliding community. Milpitas has one of the largest ratios of residents to parkland in the San Francisco Bay area. All that wide-open green space and a warm, Mediterranean-like climate make it great for outdoor sports all year-round, and young singles enjoy hiking, fishing and cycling in Ed R. Levin Park. Plus, the dog park there can be a great place to find puppy love.

7. Sunnyvale, CA

Population: 133,876  
Single: 30%  
Median Family Income: $110,276

Geek is chic in this hub for tech companies, where you're likely to meet an engineer from Yahoo!, Honeywell, Palm or Lockheed Martin at the latest Tweetup or "Tech and Beer" happy hour. Flirt over the latest gadgets and a cup of Joe at the Sunnyvale Art Gallery's café, where Thursday is open mic night. Or take a romantic walk through the historic Murphy Avenue area downtown -- a popular place for bar-hopping, open-air summer concerts and farmers markets.

8. Mountain View, CA

Population: 73,093  
Single: 34.8%  
Median Family Income: $109,215 

With NASA and Google in town, Mountain View is the perfect place to find a rocket scientist. Googlers alone range from former neurosurgeons, CEOs and puzzle champions to alligator wrestlers and Marines, so there's no shortage of interesting dates. But since eligible bachelors outnumber women in this town, the savviest singles may want to head to wine-tasting classes, get involved in a local charity, or try yoga -- instead of standing around in a bar. 

9. Chapel Hill, NC

Population: 53,713  
Single: 50.6%  
Median Family Income: $106,865  

Who doesn't love a little southern charm? This college town has a lively nightlife, rowdy Tar Heel games and home-style cooking for singles of all ages to enjoy. Mingle with eligible bachelors and bachelorettes on bar-lined Franklin Street, or take a date to Crook's Corner for some nationally-acclaimed grits and banana pudding. Cheering on your favorite U.N.C. team is also a surefire way to take the edge off a first date. And if you're into music, find someone who will rock your world at nearby Cat's Cradle, a small venue where local bands perform alongside big acts like The Counting Crows, John Mayer and Iggy Pop. 

10. Santa Clara, CA

Population: 110,200  
Single: 34%  
Median Family Income: $105,516  

European-style streets lined with upscale shops, spas and restaurants give this Silicon Valley `burb a sophisticated appeal. Stroll along Santana Row for luxury boutiques and bars. Like many of Santa Clara's neighboring towns, you're likely to meet wealthy techies here, but that's not all. Since the 49ers are headquartered here, you can also rub elbows with eligible single football players and cheerleaders. 



Resource: Finance.Yahoo.com

7 Towns Where Land Is Free

 

As small towns suffer from a continuing flight from rural toward-more urban living, some economic development groups and governments in these troubled areas have chosen to stay and fight.

The Homestead Act of 1862 is no longer in effect, but free land is still available out there in the great wide open (often literally in the great wide open). In fact, the town of Beatrice, Nebraska has even enacted a Homestead Act of 2010.

As with the homesteaders of the 1800s, the new pioneers must not be the faint of heart—they can't be the type to shy away from the trials of building a home from the ground up, or the lack of Starbucks on every corner, or unpaved roads (extremely remote location and lack of infrastructure is probably what caused a well-publicized land giveaway in Anderson, Ark. to flop). If the Google Maps overhead view of the vast open space surrounding the modest street grids of these towns doesn't instill cabin fever, then read on—these parcels are up for land grabs.

Marne, Iowa

Marne is a southwestern Iowa community with a population of just 149 or so, about 60 miles from Omaha and 80 miles from Des Moines. It was never a big town (pop. 617 in 1875), but the head count really began declining around the turn of last century, through the teens and 20s. "The decline of the family farm affects rural areas like this, says Mayor Randy Baxter.”Back in the '60s and '70s, there more smaller farms, and small towns supported the folks in the country, but now those homes aren't there anymore."

In hopes of boosting that number, the Marne Housing and Development Corp has made four free lots available: 3 for private and 1 for commercial use. The first family to take advantage of the free land moved onto their new property the fall of 2008, also availing funds from the USDA's Rural Development Agency for building their home, and they qualified for $10,000 down payment assistance from the Southwest Iowa Planning Council.

To take advantage of the free land in Marne, applicants need only to submit a proposed floor plan for the house they want to build. It's not restrictive, but Baxter notes that it must be within reason-- no trailer homes, no horses or livestock. Among the unreasonable proposals for the land: "They want to bring a camper in hogs, or store junk there."

New Richland, Minn.  

New Richland is a town of about 1200 in southern Minnesota, 75 miles from the outskirts of the Twin Cities, offering lake recreation and many fine churches. If this sounds like home, then consider a free 86' x 133' lot on the Homestake subdivision on the northwest side of town. Those who claim lots must build a house on the property within one year.

The land itself is free, but assessments for services provided by the town such as streets, curb and gutter, water and sewer. The fee for these is about $25,000, which suddenly sounds a lot less like "free," but through Tax Increment Financing this number is reduced to about $14,000 for qualified candidates, which is paid over 15 years on a semi-annual basis along with real estate taxes.

Kansas

Kansas has so much free land offered throughout the state by local Kansan governments and development groups that there's an online hub to organize all the information, the appropriately named Kansas Free Land.

"Most rural areas in Kansas have been declining in population since 1900, so rural Kansas communities either fight or disappear," says Jenny Russell, Republic County Economic Development Coordinator for Republic County in northern Kansas.

Her county has opted to fight. Republic County has a free land option available for the right industry and free residential lots throughout its communities for new home construction. Russell cites the area's rural advantages: very low overhead costs compared to cities, and "With developing technologies, businesses are now able to conduct their operations from almost anywhere."

Kansas Free Land links to more than a dozen communities, from Herndon, population 124, to Wilson, population 9698, each with their own offers and requirements.

Beatrice, Neb.

One city in southeastern Nebraska that reaped the benefits of the original Homesteading Act of 1862 has created a new version of what worked so well before. The Homestead Act of 2010 offers several parcels of land for free on a first-come, first-served basis. As with the original act, applicants must occupy their parcels of land for five years.

With a population of about 12,564 and situated just 40 miles south of Lincoln (via the Homestead Expressway) and 99 miles from Omaha, Beatrice is one of the most populous and more accessible locations on this list. In this case, the aim is not to stave off the death of a town with a dwindling population, but to clean up neglected properties and get them to generate taxes and utility fees once again.

Muskegon, Mich.

Hoping to attract industrial employers, the city and county of Muskegon, Michigan, (pop. 174,344) launched Muskegon 25 .Under this program, companies that will bring in 25 full-time jobs or more will be granted industrial park property for building, complete with all services, gratis. In addition, the industrial parks are situated in low tax "Renaissance Zones."

Muskegon Area First is hoping to attract food processing industry, other suppliers for local industries, and alternative energy providers. New or existing companies creating 25 jobs are allotted five acres, 50 jobs get 12 acres, 75 jobs get 20 acres, and 100 or more jobs get 20 acres. The program also provides discounts at rates proportionate to the amount of jobs created. The 25-job companies are entitled to 50% off water and sewer bills, and the discounts increase from there, down to 20% of the full rate.

State business credits and other tax incentives are also available. To sweeten the deal further, the city will even throw in tickets to Lumberjacks hockey season tickets or a local boat slip to qualified participating companies.

Curtis, Neb.

Curtis is known as Nebraska's Easter City due to its famed 40-year-old Easter Pageant tradition. This 3.266-square-kilometer community of approximately 832 persons in southern Nebraska's Medicine Valley has the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture and an airport three minutes away.

Sound good? All right, then: Curtis offers two options for free-land claimers. Consolidated Companies, Inc. created Roll'n Hills lots to boost the local economy by providing free sites on paved streets with all utilities for single-family homes. Three of those lots now have occupied homes, says Ed Coles of Consolidated, and nine remain.

Additional free lots are available through the city of Curtis that overlook the all-grass nine-hole Arrowhead Meadows Golf Course, which is one of the best public courses in the state—at least according to Medicine Valley's economic development website.

Camden, Maine

Camden is the coastal exception in this otherwise-landlocked list of free land locales. The charming New England berg of about 4,052 citizens is offering 3.5 acres of land near Camden Harbor for a business that will create at least 24 jobs .The former industrial site on the Megunticook River, refurbished by the Town of Camden, comes equipped with 3 Phase Power, Sewer, Water, Cable, Broadband, and parking is available for up to 300.

Clearly, this is a prime deal for the right company. The Town of Camden is hoping for a company from industries such as biotech, information technology, financial services, medical labs, film, or green businesses. In fact, those last two listed industries are encouraged, as creative economy employers are encouraged and environmentally friendly businesses are given preference in this search.

Resource: Finance.Yahoo.Com

Why Choose a Green Home?

Green Homes

As the world continues to realize the horrendous effects of global warming and pollution, many people are changing the way they live today so that it can have a positive impact tomorrow. Green homes are slowly gaining much needed attention and popularity over the years. More and more people are getting concerned about proper living conditions and the potential health and financial benefits of green homes. Here we will go over just a few of those benefits in order to better inform people who are not completely familiar with this concept with the intention of encouraging them to move into one in the future.

1. Lowered Utility Bills in a Green Home

One of the most noticeable differences of living in Green home is the significant reduction in utility bills such as water and electricity. These homes are also known as sustainable structures. This means that they have been constructed through a specific process comprising of resource efficient material that enhances a home's entire foundation.

2. Better Temperature Control

Every room is properly insulated in order to keep the temperatures at normal levels. These insulation's prevent the air conditioning from working harder and longer in order to keep the house cool. In the same respect the insulation's trap the heat during winters and help the gas or electric heaters to run optimally. This directly impacts utility bills and saves the occupants thousands of dollars over the year.

3. Cost Effective Use of Solar Power

Another thing to note is that these homes also rely on readily available free solar energy to power up. They also store excess energy to be used at night. This makes them extremely cost efficient.

4. Aids in Waste Reduction

A Green home actively seeks to reduce waste of water, and other materials used during construction. Water is a basic need for every human being for consumption and other purposes around the household such as cleaning and gardening. In order to reduce the dependency on water treatment plants, these homes use waste water from dishwaters or washing machines for irrigation purposes for the garden or washing cars and toilets. Many homes come equipped with rainwater collectors which are used for similar purpose.

5. Improved Quality of Air

Green homes are built to counter and block air impurities that can easily get inside homes. Modern HVAC designs come fully equipped with adequate ventilation and air filtration for all rooms of a home especially the isolated ones such as the kitchen. The materials and products used for constructing such homes have extremely low emission ratings. This translates to improve indoor air quality. Many traditional building materials emit toxic gases. Environment friendly homes avoid them completely because these gases are hazardous to health and can severely harm infants and little children.

No one can argue with a healthy home that saves its occupants money every month. A green home is essentially developing into a trend as more and more people make them their choice of residence. The sooner you move into one, the quicker you and your family can start utilizing its health and financial benefits.

 Resource: Ezine Articles

5 Things Your Landlord Won't Tell You

1) "This building is in foreclosure."

In late 2009, Melody Thompson called her landlords to ask about the well-dressed picture-takers outside her four-bedroom Portland rental home. "Oh, we're refinancing," she remembers them telling her. Then in late April, a formal bank notification arrived in the mail, stating that the home was in foreclosure and would be put up for sale in late August. "I was immediately angry," says Thompson, the executive director of Financial Beginnings, a financial literacy nonprofit. "They lied." The sale has been postponed twice as the landlords apply for a mortgage adjustment, but Thompson is still hunting for a new place.

Renters accounted for 40% of families facing eviction from foreclosure in 2009, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition. And unfortunately, they often hear about it as Thompson did -- from the bank, just weeks before the sale, says Janet Portman, an attorney and the managing editor of legal book publisher Nolo. "The landlord wants the tenant in there, paying rent," she says. The lack of notice was so pervasive that last year Congress passed the Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act, which gives tenants at least 90 days from the foreclosure sale to move out. (Previously, they had as few as 30 days, Portman says.) Provided the new owner doesn't want to live there, the law also lets legitimate tenants -- those who signed a lease before the sale and pay a market value rent, among other qualifications -- stay through the end of their lease.

2) "You should complain more."

When a steady drip, drip, drip of water from the ceiling led a third-floor tenant to complain, Adam Jernow, a principal at property management firm OGI Management in New York City, assumed they were dealing with a leaky pipe. It wasn't until a week later, when the tenants on the top floor two flights above that apartment finally called, that he realized they were dealing with a big roof leak from heavy summer rains. Had upper-floor tenants complained sooner, Jernow says, they could have limited the damage, and that third-floor tenant might not have had a problem at all. So while renters often assume quirks like hot-then-not showers or moisture on the walls is just part of big-city living - or that complaining to the landlord will just open up a can of worms - keeping a property owner informed can actually help a problem get fixed faster. Besides, most states require landlords to keep the property in good repair, with home systems and appliances in working order.

3) "There's more to negotiate than the rent."

Rental markets in many cities around the country have improved this year, which means landlords have less incentive to cut you a break. Just 31% of landlords lowered rent in 2010, versus 69% in 2009, according to property marketplace Rent.com. All the major real estate investment groups are asking for higher rent on new leases, and about half are doing so on renewals, says Peggy Abkemeier, the president of Rent.com.

But the market hasn't improved so much that landlords don't have incentive to keep good tenants, she says. The survey found that 44% of landlords are willing to lower security deposits, and 22% will offer an upgrade to a fancier unit (think better views, quieter neighbors, newer kitchen) without raising rent. And there's still that 31% of landlords who will offer a price break. "It never hurts to ask," Abkemeier says. In markets where vacancy rates are still high, such as Atlanta, Las Vegas, Orlando and Phoenix, tenants have a better chance.

4) "Your neighbor is not my problem."

Loud music. Late-night parties. More foot traffic than a mall on Sunday mornings. Kevin Amolsch, the owner of real estate investment company Advantage Homes in Denver, Colo., has heard all of these complaints and more from the tenants in the buildings he manages. Trouble is, there's not much he can do. States' tenant rights laws make it tough for landlords to intervene when there isn't a clear violation of the lease. Even when a "right of quiet enjoyment" is in the lease, those noisy neighbors usually have time to mend their ways. "Two weeks later [when they are free and clear], it's going to start up all over again," Amolsch says. And so does the clock on their grace period to pipe down.

The best bet is to reach out to the other tenant and try to smooth things over directly, Amolsch says. If that doesn't work, report problems to the police as well as the landlord, so the situation is well-documented. That makes it easier to initiate eviction proceedings, he says.

5) "You may have more rights than I do."

Brianne Vorse, a longtime renter, knows the number to her local tenant rights group by heart. Vorse first sought help four years ago to force her landlord to fix windows that wouldn't shut all the way, letting in cold air and the San Francisco fog. She called again after a sub-letter offered a higher rent if the landlord would break Vorse's lease and let him take over. "I found that [the landlord] couldn't legally do this," says Vorse, who sent the landlord an official tenant petition she found on the web site of the San Francisco Rent Board. "In the end, I got the apartment and kept the original lease."

Tenant rights vary widely by state, says attorney Portman. Arkansas doesn't even require landlords to provide "fit and habitable housing," but that's extreme. In the most renter-friendly states, including California, New York, Illinois and New Jersey, renters without say, hot water, can withhold rent until it is fixed (or pay to fix it and deduct that from the rent). "If the landlord tried to evict you for that, you would win that lawsuit," she says. Landlords aren't necessarily any better informed about what they can and cannot do, so it's up to the tenant to figure it out. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development maintains a database of tenants' rights by state, including groups that offer assistance with disputes.

Resource: Real Estate Yahoo

Hiring a Home Improvement Contractor - What to Ask?

When you need a good contractor, it is vital that you not hire any until you learn the right questions to ask them. Knowing what questions to ask will help ensure that you choose the best contractor for your home improvement needs.

The following questions will help you find the best contractor so you are not left wondering who to hire among a group of interested contractors.

1. What experience do they have? Make sure you are satisfied the contractor has been around long enough to stand behind work performed on your house. This will give you much needed piece of mind knowing that the problem will be fixed right from the start.

2. Are they registered where you live? Don't hire a contractor that is not registered because if they are not then you can be sure there is a good reason why they are not. Avoid working with handyman type contractors for projects that require more than one day to complete.

3. What are their prices for typical home improvements? While you shouldn't necessarily expect a written quote on a complex remodel on the first visit, a credible contractor should be able to quote ballpark prices per square foot for drywall, flooring, paint, tile, etc.

4. Do they offer a written guarantee? What about references? You will want to know this information well in advance of signing a contract.

5. What are the payment terms? Avoid contractors who insist on large down payments at the time of signing. That's usually a sign of a contractor who needs your down payment money to complete another job that they've underbid. Ten percent is customary on the first day of work, with remaining installments to be worked out on a schedule that you mutually agree to. Try to hold back the final 10 or 15 percent until all the work is done and you're completely satisfied that the work has been completed to your satisfaction.

By asking these questions you can ensure that you are hiring the best one out of all the contractors that are available these days. Don't hire any company without first asking some important questions because you can very easily find that you have made a big mistake in the plumber you chose.

Resource: Ezine Articles

How Are New Homes Environmentally Friendly?

As a growing segment of the population begins thinking green, more and more people are starting to take notice of the drastic differences between new and old homes when it comes to features like energy efficiency, water management and more. While many home designers and buyers have made a commitment to lowering their impact on the environment, the truth of the matter is that the majority of these buildings are designed to be so environmentally friendly because green technology simply improves everybody's bottom line. New environmentally friendly homes sell for a much higher amount that older inefficient homes because new homes are simply cheaper to own in the long run. Let's take an inside look at what makes new homes so environmentally friendly.

Most New Homes are Simply Better Insulated

Although it is tempting to dive right into solar power or alternative fuels when you are thinking about making a home more environmentally friendly, the fact is that the number one reason that older homes have such a larger carbon footprint is that they have such poor insulation. Even when an older home is kept in good condition and has had new siding and attic insulation, these older structures waste a tremendous amount of energy in order to keep occupants comfortable during the winter and summer. Modern homes are built out of the latest energy efficient building materials, such state of the art insulation materials and window treatments, that ensure a home can stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer by using as little energy as possible.

If you live in an area of the country that has much snow during the winter, you can see what a drastic difference there is between environmentally friendly new homes and inefficient old homes by simply driving around different neighborhoods shortly after a snow storm. Without a doubt, you will find that the roofs in older communities are nearly completely clear of snow within a short period of time, while the roofs of homes in newer communities will stay covered with snow until the weather outside warms up enough to melt the snow naturally. Not only does all of the heat radiating out of the roofs of older homes result in much higher energy bills for its occupants, this energy is completely wasted and contributes to higher carbon emissions for no good reason.

New Homes are Specifically Designed to Conserve Water

While any environmentally conscious citizen might shake his or her head at the amount of energy that is wasted in older homes, the real waste in natural resources caused by older buildings is a result of the building's plumbing system. From instant hot water to water efficient bathroom fixtures, new homes are designed to maximize the amount of usage that a person can get out of a relatively small quantity of water. Older homes, on the other hand, often require residents to waste gallons and gallons of water just in order to wait for hot water for a shower or flush the toilet.

Source: Ezine Articles

Choosing Between Furnished and Unfurnished Apartments

Are you thinking to shift to a new apartment? Have you ever given preference to a fully-furnished apartment? Whether you are shifting due to your job requirements or due to your higher studies, looking for an apartment on rent is a time-consuming task.

If you are not able to decide whether you should go for furnished apartments or unfurnished apartments, then this article might be of your help!

Generally, when we think of shifting to a new place, a lot of planning and research is required to find a suitable place that suits our taste, preferences and comfort level. The work gets multiplied when the long list of planning includes arrangements which need to be made for shifting the old furniture and other utility items to a new place. In addition to this, arranging the items in a new place is also one of the daunting tasks which require a lot of labor and time.

So, furnished apartments definitely help you to reduce the work of arranging the old furniture or purchasing new furniture to fit in your new apartment. Moreover, you do not have to spend money on purchasing expensive furniture and equipment for your home.

Well, if you are not purchasing new things to decorate your apartment, then you, of course, are saving a lot of time and efforts in selecting the perfect showpiece to match with the furniture and walls of your home.

So, when furnished apartments are saving time, money and efforts, then giving preference to unfurnished apartments is an impractical idea.

But still if you want to decorate your home in your manner, then you can surely opt for unfurnished apartments. The final decision is of yours!

Think wisely and act smartly!

Source: Ezine Articles