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2010-03-11T00:01:00.002-10:00

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NeighborCity Real Estate Listings

2010-02-14T14:48:00.000-10:00

View and Map Real Estate Listings at www.neighborcity.com

Who Links To Me

2010-01-20T01:01:00.001-10:00

Growing Popularity of Handyman Services

2010-01-06T12:36:00.000-10:00

Handyman Services for Home Repairs and Remodeling...how daring are you going to be with your single most costly life possession - your home?
Long gone are the days of handyman services by the unexperienced side job. Now days, you get licensed contractors competing for your home repair business. These days in home repair and handyman services, you really get the best price and the best quality work adding extra value to your investment and maintenance service.

While it may not always be the case, for those of you lucky to live in the Arlington, Texas area....that handyman is a licensed builder. Not only licensed....but also insured and offering you a flat price quote and estimate on your entire job. Sounds too good to be true? Not if you live in the Mansfield/ Arlington, Texas area. IF you are lucky to be a resident in this part of the United States, you can rest assured, The Neighborhood Guy is about to be your best new friend.

Michael Milford is The Neighborhood Guy in Arlington, Texas. Milford has more than 31 years experience in the building trades as a home builder. His company is both licensed in the state of Texas and insured. The Neighborhood Guy is also a proud member of the Better Business Bureau and the Mansfield Chamber of Commerce in Texas.

What is most impressive is the way Milford prices his work. Only the benefit of experience can allow for such a pricing strategy as a flat one price quote for the entire job. It is no wonder folks in the Fort Worth, Texas metro area call Milford, the "Most Reliable Handyman in Mansfield/Arlington Area".

Home Services Articles

2009-12-12T22:38:00.001-10:00

The Box

2009-12-10T15:34:00.001-10:00

The Box

View more presentations from Scott Schwertly.

Sno Shield - Roof Matching Snow Guards

2009-11-16T22:32:00.002-10:00

From the beginning, SnoShield products emerged to fill a gap in the construction and building materials roofing market. The inventors of Sno Shield products, have more than 20 years of experience in the roofing industry. With the majority of this company's expertise originating in the large, commercial construction market where snow guards are used extensively due to liability considerations relating to property damages.

Catering to large commercial construction projects with a resume boasting state, local and federal contracts for schools, medical facilities, and residential developments; you are safe to assume that this knowledge and wisdom has earned a reputation of trust among peers in this industry. If you happened to ask them to comment on their work history, this is what you can expect to hear:

We’ve installed various kinds of roofs in more states than most people probably travel in a lifetime. We have worked in every type of weather imaginable. We’ve seen and scrutinized just about every type of snow guard on the market and know what works and what doesn’t.

Accordingly, the idea for Sno Shield products stems from what was then a two product roofing decision. In respect to roofing, there were only two types of snow guards to choose from – metal or polycarbonate. Both types had their own particular benefits that made it distinct from the other. However, there was no third option. A gap in the industry was eyed optimistically by Sno Shield and soon Sno Shield with Color Armor emerged to fill the roofing niche. This niche product is a unique polycarbonate snow guard which has a sort of chameleon characteristic that allows the snow guard to be covered matching the existing roof. If you are in the market for roofing protection against snow, you should consider these new superior snow guards to protect your home or building from damages as the winter months are just around the corner. The Sno Shield product line web site: http://www.snoshield.com/

Real Estate

Toilet Repair: D.I.Y. Plumbing Repairs

2009-11-03T17:54:00.000-10:00

Toilet Clogs Plungers Will Not Clear Can Be Trying On Homeowners

Recently, we discovered our toilet in the master bedroom at the overflow threat level and attempted to clear the obstruction causing the clog with the traditional plunger remedy. Fortunately, we have a friend who is a professional plumber and reached out for his assistance. As luck has it in times of need, usually the help one needs is hard at work on another problem and unable to lend a hand. Why the man of the house opted to simply use another bathroom in the house; myself, the female prefer not to join other household members in such shared utilities. I much prefer to entertain my business discreetly.

Obviously, according to the standards of another...this problem had been resolved and we would wait for the plumber no matter how many days it might take. Not me! While I will not incur a repair bill in this instance. I was determined to role play this fix on my own.

Total Time Involved in this D.I.Y. Toilet Repair?

40 minutes including research and googling.

For the record, here is how you manage a tough toilet clog with a weak flushing appliance:

Search Google for D.I.Y. Solution
Make Certain the Solution You Undertake has no potential for harm
Try the tired plunger approach again in hopes it works
Follow the D.I.Y. Instructions and Hope it works

In my particular situation, I discovered you can pour a drain cleaning solution such as Draino down the overflow tube located within the toilet tank area. Using a mixture of 1:10 Draino: Water, I slowly poured the mixture into the overflow tube and excitedly watched and listened to the fizzing, bubbling and gurgling. A new minutes later, the mixture in the tube erupted like a volcano. At which point, I became nervous and quickly began pouring plain water down the overflow tube for fear the entire toilet might explode. Then, with renewed courage...I decided the hell with it and mixed another batch and poured it down.

I am so thoroughly impressed with myself. Yes, it works and the toilet repair is complete. I wonder how much money I saved in the process of taking matters into my own repair hands? If I can handle this type of situation everyone of you can also. Special thanks to AsktheBuilder.com for providing the insight and instructions to manage this D.I.Y. plumbing repair. Read this and other instructions for household plumbing repair problems if you opt for a do-it-yourself approach.

Excerpt from new book, "Time to Eat the Dog"

2009-10-25T03:01:00.000-10:00

An online article by NewScientist.com offers a rather bizarre twist on the concept of our ecological footprint. Apparently, gas guzzling transportation vehicles are not putting the planet in jeopardy. Instead, it is our family pets and most notably 'Man's best friend', the dog.

New Scientisit even has the audacity to quote information from a new book, 'Time to Eat the Dog'.

According to the authors of the new book Time to Eat the Dog, it takes 0.84 hectares of land to keep a medium-sized dog fed. In contrast, running a 4.6-litre Toyota Land Cruiser, including the energy required to construct the thing and drive it 10,000 kilometres a year, requires 0.41 hectares. Dogs are not the only environmental sinners. The eco-footprint of a cat equates to that of a Volkswagen Golf.

The authors' suggest we should recycle our pets by either eating them or transforming their remains into pet food at such time as when they expire or perhaps sooner based on the tone of this article.
The solution according to those particular authors?
Toss out the dog or cat and adopt a chicken.

Source: NewScientist.com

Eye Popping Solar Roofing Tiles

2009-10-22T04:33:00.000-10:00

Solar Roofing Shingles are astoundingly beautiful and offer a bit of relief from the high cost of cooling your home especially in tropical environments. We borrowed the pertinent information from the online provider of these eye popping roofing tiles. That company is SRSEnergy.com

Photovoltaic (PV) systems convert sunlight into electricity, powering everything from lamps to air conditioners in a residential or commercial building.

In PV systems, direct current (DC) electricity is produced. Appliances and machinery, however, operate on alternating current (AC). The DC energy produced by the panels is fed into an inverter that converts the DC power into AC power, which then feeds into the main electrical panel that powers a home or business. Any excess generation is fed back into the utility grid.

According to SRS Energy web site, if you desire further information or want to purchase these striking and still functional roofing tiles...

The Solé Power Tile™ is currently available in the U.S. in select West Coast markets through US Tile as an upgrade to the company’s vast array of kiln-fired clay roof systems. SRS Energy and US Tile have combined the timeless style and durability of clay roofscaping with the new-age performance and efficiency of seamless solar technology. Get a Solé Power Tile™ integrated roofscape from US Tile, the most trusted name in authentic clay roof tile, by filling out contact form.

Plus, the U.S. Federal Government offers a variety of home owner rebates on year end taxes. To discover how easy it is for a home owner to apply for federal tax credits within the 2009 and 2010 tax years, Visit this earlier post regarding ' U.S. Government Tax Credits for Home Energy Improvements'.

Federal Tax Credits For Improving Home Energy Efficiency

2009-10-16T06:15:00.000-10:00

Tax Credits for Consumers:
Home Improvements
Tax credits are now available for home improvements:

must be "placed in service" from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2010

Must be for taxpayer's principal residence, EXCEPT for geothermal heat pumps, solar water heaters, solar panels, and small wind energy systems (where second homes qualify)
$1,500 is the maximum total amount that can be claimed for all products placed in service in 2009 & 2010 for most home improvements.

EXCEPT:
Geothermal heat pumps, solar water heaters, solar panels, fuel cells, and small wind energy systems which are not subject to this cap, and are in effect through 2016. Must have a Manufacturer Certification Statement to qualify.

Record keeping:
save your receipts and the Manufacturer Certification Statement.

To Claim:
Improvements made in 2009 will be claimed on your 2009 taxes (filed by April 15, 2010) — use IRS Tax Form 5695 (2009 version) — it will be available late 2009 or early 2010.

If you are building a new home, you can qualify for the tax credit for geothermal heat pumps, photovoltaics, solar water heaters, small wind energy systems and fuel cells, but not the tax credits for windows, doors, insulation, roofs, HVAC, or non-solar water heaters. More.
SUMMARY OF TAX CREDITS FOR HOMEOWNERS

Check to see if you have Home Performance with ENERGY STAR in your areas. Adding insulation to your home is covered. Windows & Doors Windows, Doors, and Skylights Before June 1, 2009: Must meet ENERGY STAR criteria

After June 1, 2009:
Roofing Metal Roofs,
Asphalt Roofs All ENERGY STAR qualified metal and reflective asphalt shingles 30% of cost, up to $1,5001 FAQ on Roofs.

Subject to a $1,500 maximum per homeowner for all improvements combined.

Source: energystar.gov/taxcredits

Robomow® Lawn Mower

2009-10-13T00:43:00.001-10:00

Sometimes technology devices actually do make a humans life easier and Robomow® Lawn Mower is one of them. You can easily handle your lawn care and yard grooming even to the point of automating it. Simply define the perimeter of your landscape and the machine automatically senses the boundaries. Next, pre-program the machine to automatically handle the task of cutting the grass. Built-in sensors recognize shrubs and trees in the yard along with the perimeter wire. The machine will return itself to its own charging station where it remains between tasks. Or simply hit the green "Go" button to start the machine. Check it out

Salary Calculator

2009-09-26T05:41:00.001-10:00

By hourlysalaries.com

Pre Fab Homes - Our Opinion

2009-09-26T01:16:00.000-10:00

Pre fab homes seem to be the way to go these days...at least that is our opinion at Box of Homes. To explain our position we have researched a site called HomeExpo in search of companies we believe provide value for the money. What we discovered is a company called TopSider Homes.

We simply love the selections offered by this company. If you haven't visited this site, we highly suggest you pay them a visit. This isn't a paid endorsement, in fact we know no one at this company. We just fell in love with their home plans and felt we should share this with you.

I.R.S. Tax Deduction for Burning Down Your House?

2009-09-25T15:55:00.000-10:00

The IRS is attempting to stop tax deductions for those who donate their homes to the fire department or so the story reported by Meghan Barr
Friday, September 25, 2009 and published by Associated Press suggests.
Excerpt from the story:

"Lured by the prospect of free demolition, homeowners around the country sometimes offer their houses to the local fire department for training purposes. The department burns down the house, clearing the way for the owner to build a bigger and better home."

"The Internal Revenue Service is trying to stop homeowners from claiming such deductions."
Get the entire story

9 Cutting-Edge Modular Homes

2009-09-19T10:02:00.001-10:00

9 Cutting-Edge Modular Homes

Posted using ShareThis

2009 Report Optimistic for Home Buyers

2009-08-26T02:17:00.000-10:00

Real Estate News August 20, 2009, 12:57PM EST text size: TT
Why Rent When You Can Buy?
In 20 metro areas around the U.S., the cost of buying a home is only a little more—and in two metros actually less—than renting

By Prashant Gopal

Home prices have dropped so much that the cost to own and maintain a house in many metros is only a bit more, and sometimes even less, than the cost of renting.

BusinessWeek.com teamed up with research firm Reis (REIS) to rank 20 metros where it's almost as cheap to buy as it is to rent. (Reis made the calculations using its own second-quarter rent data and second-quarter home value data from Zillow.com.) We found two metros, Detroit and Pittsburgh, where renters can actually lower their monthly expenses by buying. The rest of the list, featuring metros where buying was only slightly more expensive, included Rochester, N.Y.; Memphis; Tampa; Cleveland; Columbia, S.C.; Dallas; Las Vegas; and Providence.

To create a fair matchup between owning and renting, we calculated ownership costs assuming a fixed 30-year loan for 100% of the purchase price with no down payment. If we had instead decided to factor in a 20% down payment, owning would have been the cheaper option for the top 10 metros on our list.

"It's a great time to buy," says Mollie Carmichael, senior vice-president of John Burns Real Estate Consulting in Irvine, Calif. "If you can own a home for less than the cost to rent, then it's a logical financial proposition."
An Opportunity for New Buyers

The housing slump has brought the own-vs.-rent equation closer to where it was before the housing bubble drove sales prices way above rental costs. (Rents are also falling now, but at a much slower pace.)

The foreclosure crisis has trampled down prices from Tampa to Riverside, Calif. And low interest rates and government incentives such as the $8,000 first-time home buyer federal tax credit, which expires this year, is attracting new buyers previously priced out of the market. The American dream is getting more affordable. In Tampa, for example, owning was 15% more expensive than renting in the second quarter. But it was 46% more expensive than renting a year earlier.

Greg Ghodsi, senior vice-president at Raymond James (RJF) in Tampa, says buying a principal residence in Florida now makes more sense than it did during the housing boom.

"If you have a job and are looking for a primary residence, you can get places here in Tampa that aren't cheap, but relative to where they were, are fairly priced compared to renting … The whole equation has changed," Ghodsi says.
Be Prepared to Stay a While

Of course, different people have different notions of what cheap means and buying isn't an option for everybody. Many renters are now losing jobs and banks are raising standards for mortgages. And the housing market still poses significant risks as prices continue to fall and foreclosures rise. Stan Humphries, chief economist at Zillow.com, says prices are likely to continue to fall and then begin to appreciate slowly, so buyers should plan to stay put for a minimum of five to eight years or risk making a loss.

"It's a fool's errand to try to time the bottom for both economists—and buyers and sellers," Humphries says. "If you found a house that you love and want to be in for a long period of time, now is potentially a good time to wade into the market."

But with the first-time home buyer tax credit expiring and the possibility that interest rates will start rising, it might pay to act quickly, says Victor Calanog, director of research for Reis. But rents are dropping, too, so tenants might also be able to cut monthly expenses by seeking out apartments with lower rents or concessions, he says.

"This might be the time to seriously evaluate the decision of whether to rent or own," Calanog says.

Article feed originally published at this url:
http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/aug2009/bw20090819_413146.htm

2009 First Time Home Buyer Federal Tax Credit

2009-03-26T22:25:00.000-10:00

Congress Enacts Bigger and Better
Home Buyer Tax Credit

In its efforts to stimulate the economy and revive the housing market, Congress has enacted legislation providing a tax credit of up to $8,000 for first-time home buyers. Unlike 2008 similar tax credit for first-time home buyers, which was limited to up to $7500; the new credit does not have to be repaid.

But time is of the essence for buyers who want to take advantage of this opportunity. Only homes purchased on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009 are eligible. The amount of credit available for tax year 2009 can be up to $8000. Here are the remaining qualifications:

*Must be first-time home buyer
*Home must be used as your principal residence

12 Ideas for Down Payment Funds

2009-02-28T16:49:00.000-10:00

If you are a would-be home buyer having difficulty coming up with a down payment, you might be interested in reading this article by Marcie Geffner published at Bankrate.com. It offers a dozen suggestions as to how you might come up with the funds for your home purchase. Read suggestions for obtaining down payment

Down Payment Assistance Programs - USA

2009-02-27T18:58:00.000-10:00

American Dream Down Payment Initiative
The American Dream Downpayment Assistance Act authorizes up to $200 million annually for fiscal years 2004 - 2007. ADDI will provide funds to all fifty states and to local participating jurisdictions that have a population of at least 150,000 or will receive an allocation of at least $50,000 under the ADDI formula. ADDI will provide downpayment, closing costs, and rehabilitation assistance to eligible individuals. The amount of ADDI assistance provided may not exceed $10,000 or six percent of the purchase price of the home, whichever is greater.

American Family Funds, Inc.
Nonprofit organization offers buyers assistance in obtaining a down payment through a gift program. Based in Mobile, AL.

The Center of Resources for Economic Education and Development, Inc. (CREED)
CREED, inc. is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) charitable organization that provides economic education to first-time home buyers and other people in the housing industry. This organization also offers down payment assistance programs to people who need help with a home purchase.

Genesis Program
This organization offers down payment grants to home buyers. These are in the form of gifts which do not require repayment.

HomeBuyer Funds.com
A website which offers users an opportunity to search local and regional areas for funding opportunities.

Rural Development Housing & Community Facilities Programs
The Housing and Community Facilities Programs provides a number of homeownership opportunities to rural Americans, as well as programs for home renovation and repair. HCFP also makes financing available to elderly, disabled, or low-income rural residents of multi-unit housing buildings to ensure they are able to make rent payments.

Don't Just Dream ...Own a home!

2009-02-18T10:43:00.000-10:00

Is lack of a down payment preventing you from purchasing a home of your own? Many people in the United States who rent pay as much as a normal mortgage each month so why not pay your own mortgage and build equity? Box of Homes.com has a solution and our directory intends to showyou the many alternative funding options for home buyers. Did you know the Federal and State governments have funding programs for the purpose of turning dreams of home ownership into reality. In addition, there are many charitable organizations which provide gifts, grants and low interest loans for this same purpose. We invite you to explore the listings in the BOH Directory and find out if you are eligible for these special programs.
We hope to enlighten you by introducing a variety funding options available to first time home buyers along with many grants and other types of down payment assistance. Each of these opportunities is focused on making home ownership an "American Reality" rather than simply an "American Dream". In addition, many of these funding options are in the form of a grant which do not require repayment. We invite you to explore our directory of funding options and down payment assistance programs for home buyers.