Dina Baxter's Blog

Run 4 Shelter- Saturday September 14, 2013- Great Charity

2013-05-24T11:18:00.001-07:00

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Just Listed Anne Arundel County

2013-05-14T11:45:00.001-07:00

So Blessed by You, Mom

2013-05-12T04:00:00.001-07:00

A mother who always cares,

A mother who’s always there.

A mother who always prays,

A mother who always stays.

When things get rough,

When life gets tough,

When all is just too much to bear,

God’s Word she shares.

God’s light she shines.

So blessed God made this mother mine.

Author Unknown

Landscaping for Curb Appeal

2013-05-10T10:25:00.001-07:00

A well-landscaped yard creates curb appeal and helps your property retain maximum value. Here are a few tips and tricks for sprucing up your outdoor spaces yourself.

Appraisers are quick to praise the allure of a well-tended lawn and good-looking landscaping when it comes time to sell your home, but most do not assign any specific increase in monetary value for upkeep.

“Landscaping is going to add to the appeal of the property and it may sell quicker, but it’s hard to determine value,” says John Bredemeyer, president of Omaha-based Realcorp. “You have to have a number to compensate someone if you drove into their tree and killed it, but is it really market value? Probably not.”

Nevertheless, most professionals agree that curb appeal and a well-maintained appearance prevent your property from losing value. Here are the top suggestions from real estate agents, appraisers, and landscape designers for boosting the curb appeal of your yard:

Green up the grass

If your house has a front yard, make sure it‘s neat and green. You don’t want bare spots, sprawling weeds, or an untrimmed appearance.

“It’s so simple to go to Home Depot, buy fertilizer, apply it every six weeks, and water it,” says Mitch Kalamian, a landscape designer in Huntinginton Beach, Calif. “It will green up.”

If the yard looks really scruffy, you may decide to invest in some sod. According to the National Gardening Association, the average cost of sod is 15 to 35 cents per sq. ft. If you hire a landscaper to sod your yard for you, labor will add 30% to 50% to the total cost of the project.

Another alternative is to plant low-maintenance turf grasses. Turf grasses are durable and drought-resistant. Expect to pay $18 to $30 for enough turf grass seed to plant 1,000 sq. ft. of lawn area.

Add colorful planting beds

Flower beds add color and help enliven otherwise plain areas, such as along driveways and the edges of walkways. In general, annual flowers are a bit cheaper but must be replaced every year. Perennials cost a bit more but come back annually and usually get larger or spread with each growing season.

If you’re not sure what to plant, inquire at your local garden center. Often, they’ll have a display of bedding plants chosen for their adaptability to your area. Also, they‘ll be inexpensive because they’re in season, says Peter Mezitt, president of Weston Nurseries in Hopkinton, Mass. Try pansies in the summer, and asters and mums in the fall to add vibrant color. “That’s what we do around the entrance to our garden center,” Mezitt says.

Valerie Torelli, a California REALTOR® who dresses up her clients’ yards to sell their houses faster and for more money, says that in her market, she can put in a bed of colorful annuals and bark, as well as cutting down overgrown shrubs, for less than $500. “We can buy gorgeous plants for $3.99 to $15.99,” she says.

Add landscape lighting

For homeowners who have made a sizeable investment in landscaping, it makes sense to think about adding another 10% to 15% to the bill for professional lighting. “You can’t see landscaping after dark,“ says Brandon Stephens, vice president of marketing for a landscape lighting firm in Lubbock, Texas, “and buyers are not always looking at houses on a Saturday afternoon.”

The cost of a system runs from $200 for a DIY installation to more than $4,000 for a professional job. If you‘re doing it on your own, the key is to light what you want people to see, such as mature trees and flowering shrubs.

Plant a tree

The value of mature trees is particularly difficult to determine. Lucco says that in his market, mature trees contribute as much as 10% of a $100,000 property’s overall value. In addition, a properly placed shade tree can shave as much as $32 a year on your energy bills. Expect to pay $50 to $100 for a young, 6- to 7-foot deciduous tree.

You can make your own initial assessment of the value of your property’s trees by visiting the National Tree Benefit Calculator. For example, a mature Southern red oak tree with a diameter of 36 inches in the front yard of a house in Augusta, Ga., would add $70 to the property value this year, according to the calculator.

By: Pat Curry/House Logic

Search Homes

Just listed Queen Anne's County

2013-04-28T13:02:00.001-07:00

Turning Mason Jars Into a Creative Light Fixture

2013-04-23T14:04:00.001-07:00

I just love mason jars, those wide-mouth glass canning jars that hold everything from strawberry jam to fireflies. That’s one reason I’ve fallen for the DIY mason jar light fixture made by Taylor of the MaryJanes & Galoshes blog.

Although Taylor originally wanted it to light up her gazebo, she loves it so much she’s going to relocate it to her living room.

Taylor glued the jars to a wood plank, stuffed strings of Christmas lights into the jars, then hung the whole thing in her gazebo, giving the fixture a saloon-meets-fairyland feel.

It all took only four hours (not including drying time for the stain) and $31 to build. Can’t beat that!

How She Did It

Taylor takes you step-by-step in her tutorial. Here are the basics:

Decide how long you want the fixture and select a plank accordingly. Taylor used a 2-by-12-inch plank that she cut 4 1/2 ft. long.

Lay out the mason jars (without tops) and cut holes in the plank using a hole saw bit the size of the tops of your jars. Sand the board until smooth.

Drill two smaller holes in each end to attach rope to hang the fixture.

Stain if you like.

String 6 ft. of rope through the end holes.

Glue the open end of the jars into the plank. Wait 48 hours for the glue to cure.

Stuff jars with Christmas lights.

Hang.

Lessons Learned

In her tutorial blog, Taylor says to use construction adhesive to glue in the jars. But she now refines that because construction adhesive “isn’t real pretty and can be seen through the glass.” She advises using a clear epoxy instead.

Choose lighting with a brown cord, which is less conspicuous than white or green cord.

Make sure you tie a secure knot when hanging the fixture. “Obviously, if this thing fell it would be a huge glass mess,” she says.

Here’s What it Cost

12 mason jars: $5 from a flea market.

Rope: $5.

Stain: Free, because Taylor used what she had on hand.

Wood: $10.

Christmas lights: $8 (off-season).

Adhesive: $3.

Total: $31

For more ideas on how to use mason jars, check out our 5 Bright Garden Lighting Ideasand 5 Deck Makeover Projects Under $300.

Check out the other stories in our Perk Up Your Patio series: A Pretty Pergola Goes Up in Only 14 Hours and Making a Vertical Garden Out of an Old Window Frame. At the end of the month, you can vote for your favorite.

Be sure to see our other amazing projects series, including our laundry room redo ideas, our fabulous pantry projects, and these delightful stairway makeovers.

By: Lisa Kaplan Gordon/House Logic

Search for your next dream home

What I Wish I Knew When I Bought My First New-Construction Home

2013-04-19T14:15:00.001-07:00

Building a new home lets you personalize your house for today’s needs and tomorrow’s dreams. Here’s how to plan your new home for future needs.

When I was designing our dream home 15 years ago, I was chasing around our toddler while laying out rooms and selecting finishes.

Back then, I didn’t let Ben out of my sight and couldn’t imagine a time when we wouldn’t be attached at the hip. So, I selected new-home options perfect for parents of a 16-month-old, never questioning if they’d work for parents of a 6-year-old, or 16-year-old.

Here are things that seemed like a good idea at the time.

Kitchen/great room combo: I figured one big space would be great for watching tiny Ben while I was cooking; he’d drum on a pot while I fixed him buttered noodles. But Ben grew up and now likes to watch “Law & Order” on TV while I talk on the phone with my mom, and my husband runs the disposal after dinner. The room sometimes sounds like Grand Central, and I now dream of a separate family room and a little less togetherness.

Two main-floor bedrooms: We downsized our master suite to squeeze in a second bedroom next to us — perfect for soothing a preschooler’s nightmares. Turns out kids outgrow nightmares, but skimpy closet space is forever.

A pass-through instead of cabinets: I gave up two kitchen cabinets to cut a pass-through from the kitchen to our mud-cum-crafts room so I could keep an eye on Ben’s finger-painting sessions. Ben hasn’t dipped a finger in paint in 12 years, and I could really use that storage now.

The Future is Now

If I were buying a new home today, I’d do things differently: I’d crystal-ball my thinking and plan for my future needs. That’s the beauty of buying new construction: You can focus on want-to-dos, rather than to-dos — even if you can’t anticipate all your wants.

Luckily, builders know the life of a new home is a journey, and have consultants who help you fast-forward your thinking about features you can install now that will make life easier later.

I brainstormed with a couple of executives from Toll Brothers and Ryland Homes about some forward-thinking, new-home options.

A main floor den that could be converted into another bedroom as your family grows.

On a related note, see how people are reinventing their living rooms.

Bedroom soundproofing to ensure privacy.

Credit: Toll Brothers, Inc.

Roughed-in plumbing and electric for an eventual attic or basement bathroom and kitchenette. If you don’t have the resources now, this is a great way to plan ahead. This extra living space not only could accommodate elderly parents or boomerang kids, but will increase the value of your home when it’s time to sell.

A double-deep, tandem garage that can fit three cars now, but can be walled-off later to add indoor space for an extra bedroom or bathroom.

More: Attic conversions | Garage conversions

Upgraded structured wiring throughout that can handle a souped-up Internet connection and other tech revolutions. Handy if you telecommute.

Temporary partition walls that attach to hardwood flooring, rather than subflooring. If you eventually want to combine bedrooms — kids move out — you’ll only have to do a floor repair and refinishing, rather than patch a gaping hole.

Plywood sheathing behind drywall and tile in bathrooms. These sheets of plywood let you attach grab bars anywhere without hunting for studs.

Credit: Mosby Building Arts

Grab bars aren’t just for our later years. They’re also good for kids and aching weekend warriors who need a little help getting into and out of a tub.

An addition. If you can site your home to accommodate a bigger footprint later, plan to run conduit through exterior walls for future electrical and plumbing needs.

Credit: CQ Surveying

Unless you’re psychic ...

You’ll never know today exactly what you’ll need in the future: It’s hard for me to imagine life beyond next Tuesday.

But choosing options for tomorrow is one perk of buying new. These forward-thinking selections can mean years of enjoyment as your family changes, and can make it easier to sell if moving — and buying new again -- turns out to be the best alternative.

By: Lisa Kaplan Gordon/House logic

Can You Make It Through This Short Film Without Crying?

2013-04-17T11:19:00.001-07:00

Nothing to do with Real Estate but cute nontheless

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Help find SAM!!

2013-04-11T12:49:00.004-07:00

I AM LOST! WON'T YOU PLEASE HELP ME GET BACK HOME! My name is Sam and I know I shouldn't have left my yard, but, I did and can't find my way back home without your help! I am a friendly yellow lab - 10 yrs old, 85 lbs, eyesight failing

Last Seen March 20 at 11:00pm - Three Creeks Neighborhood. I know my family misses me terribly and are worried sick. If you see me, or perhaps you have taken me in out of the goodness of your heart, for which I do appreaciate, but, I wanna go home. Please call my daddy, Tony Gorski, at 443-618-2511.

PLEASE HELP ME FIND MY WAY BACK HOME!! PLEASE SHARE THIS ON YOUR PAGE!
... YOUR FUREVER FURRY FRIEND - SAM

Supersized Crabs Bad News for Seafood Lovers

2013-04-10T04:30:00.001-07:00

The giant crabs are coming. And they're hungry.

As the oceans absorb significant amounts of atmospheric carbon dioxide, the water becomes more acidic and carbon-rich, and these higher levels of carbon are giving rise to the supersized crabs.

That's bad news for oyster lovers: The shellfish are a favorite food of crabs, and big, ravenous crabs can wipe out an oyster bed in record time.

"Higher levels of carbon in the ocean are causing oysters to grow slower, and their predators — such as blue crabs — to grow faster," Justin Baker Ries, a marine geologist at UNC, told the Post.

Moreover, the fast-growing crabs have less meat in them, making this doubly bad news for fans of seafood.

It's been known for some time that as the oceans become more acidic, the shells of sea creatures — from microscopic plankton to oysters and scallops — are becoming thinner.

Nowhere is this change in ocean water chemistry more dramatic than in the coastal zones of thenortheastern United States. In a 2009 study published in the journal Geology, the UNC researchersfound that Chesapeake blue crabs grew nearly four times faster in tanks containing water with high levels of carbon than in low-carbon tanks. Fast-growing crabs also have insatiable appetites. In a 2011 experiment, UNC researchers placed mud crabs and oysters in a high-carbon tank environment.

The result was "like watching lions tear apart lambs," the Post reports, as the aggressive crabs ripped open oyster shells and gobbled up their insides.

By Marc Lallanilla, Assistant Editor | LiveScience.com – 21 hrs ago

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40 slip Marina-Chester MD-One Half Acre Zoned Suburban Industrial

2013-04-08T16:03:00.002-07:00

$399000 40 Slip Marina (Chester, MD)

Offered at $399,000

1743 Little Creek Road
Chester, MD

Click Here for More Information

DESCRIPTION

Little Creek Marina-Kent Island. A true Gentlemen Marina offering 40 Slips-Easy access to Eastern Bay. One Half Acre Zoned Suburban Industrial. Tons of potential and possibilities with this unpolished gem. Dream the dream or live the dream....up to you

SELLER CONTACT INFO

Dina Baxter
Rosendale Realty
216 Island Plaza Court
Stevensville
Maryland 21666
(410) 643-2166
dina@dinabaxter.com

Posted: April 06, 2013

Check out Casper! Pit Bull Terrier: An adoptable dog in Stevensville, MD

2013-04-06T15:56:00.002-07:00

CASPER

Pit Bull Terrier: An adoptable dog in Stevensville, MD

Medium • Baby • Male

I know. I am the cutest thing on earth. Thank God the breeder dumped me at animal control with my brother. Now, we're with a rescue who will make sure we go into safe and loving forever homes. I am 8 weeks old, up to date on my shots, happy, confident, affectionate, and playful. I live with two other big dogs and am learning good dog manners from them. I am working very hard on my housebreaking and sleep quietly all night long with my foster mom. Homeowners over 25 please call 443.871.6181 to apply.

MORE ABOUT CASPER

Spayed/Neutered • Up-to-date with routine shots • Primary color: White or Cream

CASPER'S CONTACT INFO

Island Puppy Rescue, Stevensville, MD

443-871-6181
Email Island Puppy Rescue
See more pets from Island Puppy Rescue
For more information, visit Island Puppy Rescue's Web site.

Springtime Gardening and Landscaping Safety

2013-04-05T07:04:00.001-07:00

Call Before You Dig: In most areas, an organization or public official needs to give approval to excavate even the smallest areas. This is because of the damage and destruction that can result if an unaware homeowner compromises a natural gas or electrical line. Major utility providers will almost always send a representative to the proposed dig site to evaluate the safety of the proposed location. Utility lines and pipelines are often located deep underground, often with a marker indicating their depth. If the proposed excavation is extremely dangerous, a building inspector or code enforcement office may become involved and deny the necessary permit. Never dig without notifying the utility providers. Otherwise, you could experience tremendous loss and put other people in danger.

Keep an Eye out for Dangers: Gardening is a favorite spring pastime, but beware of potential dangers lurking in your lawn and gardens. Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac are dangerous plants that can cause life-threatening reactions in many people. Know how to spot them and safely remove them from your property.

Also, keep an eye out for pests. Moles, chipmunks and other small animals present little threat to your family, but if you find a nest of field mice, a litter of baby raccoons, or any other potentially dangerous animals, call the local authorities to request traps or removal services.

Insect threats are also common in the spring. If you notice a beehive, wasp hole, or termite nest, call the exterminator or carefully remove the hazard on your own. Wear protective gear and a mask if you are working with dangerous chemicals. Spring is a good time for this extermination, because in many areas of the country the fledgling insects have not yet hatched or are still docile and harmless.

Don’t Overdo It: Most people have limited physical activity during the winter. Therefore, be extremely cautious when starting outdoor projects in the spring. Just because you could easily lift your mower over a walkway in September does not mean that you won’t hurt yourself in April if your muscles are out of practice.

Take your projects slowly. You do not want to spend the rest of the spring recovering from a muscle injury that could have been avoided easily.

April Showers: The old adage is true – April showers do bring May flowers, but they can also bring dangerous conditions in some areas. Spring storms may cause flooding or power outages. If you live in a flood-prone area, be prepared. Keep your basement clear and keep your belonging off of the floor as much as possible. Most items damaged by floodwaters become unsafe and need to be replaced.

Power outages are almost always uneventful, but it is best to be prepared. Candles are an excellent source of light, but they should never be left burning unattended. Avoid accidental fires by being vigilant when burning candles during a power outage.

Unplug your electrical equipment. A single power surge can destroy computers and stereo equipment. Once the power is on again, plug in only one item at a time.

Spring is a wonderful and beautiful season. It is the perfect time to pay attention to your home and garden and ensure that the rest of your year will be free of danger. Protect your assets against the damage caused by springtime storms and heavy rainfall that are common in many areas during April and May. If you take preventative measures now, you can relax knowing that you have taken the necessary steps to increase the beauty and safety of your home and garden.

BRAND NEW CONSTRUCTION-104 Hammond St Easton 21601

2013-04-03T16:31:00.001-07:00

Offered at $164,999

104 Hammond St
Easton

Click Here for More Information

DESCRIPTION

BRAND NEW CONSTRUCTION for this price!!!!!! Ready in 30 days!! 3 Bedroom, 21/2 bath colonial ...almost done includes cherry, upgraded cabinets, full appliance package including washer and dryer, and breakfast bar. Sit on your front porch and watch the world go by!! Where else can you find all this…

SELLER CONTACT INFO

Dina Baxter
Rosendale Realty
216 Island Plaza Court
Stevensville
Maryland 21666
(410) 643-2166
dina@dinabaxter.com

Chester MD Real Estate Update

2012-01-25T12:52:00.000-08:00

Chester Homes For Sale

Half-Marathon Finisher Gets Caught Cheating, Is A Dog

2011-05-24T13:03:00.000-07:00

Here's Dozer the Goldendoodle crossing the finish line of the Maryland Half Marathon last week. Already he's become something of a local legend, with media interviewing his owner and volunteers pledging thousands of dollars in donations on his official runner page. But something's not right. Look at that video again. Dozer barely appears tired, trotting along with a big smile on his face. Is that the face of someone that just ran 13.1 miles?

Sadly no. As we build our heroes up just to tear them down, so must we rain on Dozer's parade. According to his owner, Dozer escaped from his front yard as the half-marathon passed by his house, near the 5 mile marker. Yes, Dozer, beloved by children and sportsmen alike, didn't even complete a third-marathon.

And yet this canine Rosie Ruiz is still being held up as a feel-good story, something for the nation to rally around in the midst of a recession and two wars. It's our own fault, I suppose. In these trying times, we all wanted something pure to believe in, something true and real and good. We thought we had it in a 3-year-old Goldendoodle's fight against all odds to complete an unknown little fun run, and despite all the evidence against him, we still want to believe.

But we can't keep up this charade any longer. Dozer must be stripped of his medal immediately, and an investigation must be launched into his rumored use of Purina Pro Plan, identified by WADA as a banned substance. We fell for this before, with Lance Armstrong; we're not going to have our hearts broken again, by a duplicitous puppy hungry for glory at any cost.

By Barry Petchesky

See video below of dogie crossing the finish line

Eco Friendly Kitchen Design- Going Green

2011-05-18T16:24:00.000-07:00

10 Tips to lower your Home Owners Insurance Costs

2011-05-16T06:57:00.000-07:00

Seven is ready for a home!

2011-05-13T10:21:00.000-07:00

Ruff Ruff! My name is Seven

What's this?

Seven's Info...

Breed:	Labrador Retriever Mix	Color:	Tan/Yellow/Fawn	Age:	Puppy
Size:	Large 61-100 lbs (28-45 kg)	Sex:	Male

I am already neutered, up to date with shots, good with kids, and good with dogs.

Seven's Story...
Entered 5/10/11
Cute Puppy with a sweet disposition. This 13 week old male Lab puppy is anxiously waitting for find his new home and family.

Seven will be neutered, up-to-date on shots, and micro chipped by the time he goes home. In the meantime, he and his sister, May, will entertain their caregivers at ARF .
Call the center to inquire about Seven. 410-643-8700

Stevensville MD Real Estate Overview

2011-05-11T17:11:00.000-07:00

The median sales price for homes in Stevensville MD for Feb 11 to Apr 11 was $289,900. This represents an increase of 3.1%, or $8,700, compared to the prior quarter and an increase of 10.6% compared to the prior year. Sales prices have depreciated 18.3% over the last 5 years in Stevensville. The average listing price for Stevensville homes for sale on Trulia was $727,520 for the week ending May 04, which represents a decline of 1.2%, or $8,772, compared to the prior week and a decline of 8.9%, or $70,786, compared to the week ending Apr 13. Average price per square foot for Stevensville MD was $177, a decrease of 7.8% compared to the same period last year.

Stevensville Homes For Sale

Stevensville Recently Sold Homes

Very Funny Dog Video

2011-05-06T08:37:00.001-07:00

This has nothing to do with Real Estate but this is very cute!

My Next Home

Bin Laden's Brother's Pad in ST Petersburg Florida- 5 Bedroom

2011-05-06T07:31:00.000-07:00

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – For sale: a five-bedroom, Mediterranean-style mansion with a red, barrel-tiled roof and arched doorways and windows. It even comes with some notoriety as it was once owned by one of Osama bin Laden's brothers.

Khalil bin Laden, one of the terrorist mastermind's 54 siblings, bought the home in 1980 for $1.6 million, but the wealthy businessman and his family fled their vacation spot under police escort shortly after 9/11, fearing they might be targeted because of the terrorist attacks. The 1920s-era mansion has sat empty ever since.

The home is in Oakland, Fla., a quiet small town about 20 miles west of Orlando. There's a pool, horse stables and a four-car detached garage. It has fallen into a bit of disrepair due to vandals and humid Florida weather, but the real estate agent in charge of selling the property said it can easily be restored to its previous grandeur.

Asking price: $1,999,000.

Khalil bin Laden's children used to run up and down the stairs, playing near the quiet lake in the back when the bin Laden name meant wealth and prestige. Then came Sept. 11, 2001.

Eventually, boards covered windows that overlooked the 1,200 feet of private lake shoreline.

In February 2006, at the height of Florida's housing boom, Khalil bin Laden sold the property for $4 million, property records show, to a businessman who later went bankrupt and was sentenced to seven years in prison for fraud.

The home was eventually foreclosed on, said Autumn Norris-Makin, the Florida real estate agent who has been trying to sell the property for over a year. It was recently named by Forbes as one of the "creepiest abandoned mansions" in the U.S.

Norris-Makin said she's had a lot of interest despite the asking price. One person was thinking about turning the property into a bed and breakfast. "It's an amazing property," she said Wednesday. "But not a lot of people have that kind of money right now. It would sell in a second if everyone knew the economy would turn around."

By TAMARA LUSH, Associated Press Tamara Lush, Associated Press

FIND YOUR NEXT HOME

Chester Maryland Real Estate Market Summary

2011-05-06T07:07:00.000-07:00

Average price per square foot for Chester MD was $168, a decrease of 2.9% compared to the same period last year. The median sales price for homes in Chester MD for Jan 11 to Mar 11 was $216,000 based on 21 home sales. Compared to the same period one year ago, the median home sales price decreased 14.5%, or $36,500, and the number of home sales decreased 12.5%. There are currently 82 resale and new homes in Chester on Trulia, including 4 open houses, as well as 8 homes in the pre-foreclosure, auction, or bank-owned stages of the foreclosure process. The average listing price for homes for sale in Chester MD was $475,443 for the week ending Apr 27, which represents an increase of 2.9%, or $13,547, compared to the prior week.

Chester Homes For Sale

Chester Recently Sold Homes

Check out My homes

Are you a Tycoon in the making?

2011-05-06T01:53:00.000-07:00

."NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Malynda Williams didn't set out to be a real estate tycoon. But the 40-something has managed to acquire four properties over the past three years, and she's looking for more.

Her first buy came in October 2008, a vacation home on the Texas Gulf Coast, 225 miles south of her home base in College Station. She and husband John planned to retire there someday.

"My husband used to travel for work in the oil fields," she said. "We knew it was reasonable to buy a home there, and the people are so friendly."

They bought a four-bedroom place for $540,000 in Aransas pass near Rockport, a city of 8,000 residents on Aransas Bay.

The area boasts a nice beach and great fishing. Visitors from all over the world make it their base for trips to Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. Rockport is also home to many "winter Texans," northerners escaping the big chill.

America's most (and least) affordable cities

John soon sold his business building natural gas facilities, and began spending time in Rockport. Malynda kept her retail consulting job for Xerox in College Station. To be able to stay in Rockport most of the time, she decided to install a home office and hired a cabinet maker to put it in.

The cabinet maker mentioned that he also builds vacation homes to rent, and a light bulb went off. "I can do that too," Williams said to herself.

Williams found a two-bedroom on the water for $250,000. It sleeps 12, has its own dock and provides easy access to great fishing waters. "There was very little work to do on it and the deal included the furnishings," Williams said. (Ask the Expert: 'Should I buy a vacation home?')

The next purchase was a five-bay storage property she bought for $119,000 in April 2010. She and John use it for their own stuff, but it came with a 750 square foot apartment, which she rents for $600 a month. (Latest home price forecasts in your area.)

The latest deal came this past winter and seemed, at first, like a steal. Williams paid just $140,000 for a six-bedroom, five-bath, "lodge-like" house a few blocks off the shore, but a problem cropped up.

"The home is 2,180 square feet," she said, "and 460 of that, right in the middle, was a mobile home. Its axles were rusting."

A previous owner, maybe two, must have expanded the living space of the mobile home by building wings all around it. Fixing the axles involves tearing out the core and rebuilding it. That will improve the house but cost upwards of $25,000.

Williams had been getting calls from renters since she first put the rental online in late March, at $1,800 a week and up. Now, she can't book until June when the repair is finished, so there's lost income.

5 things to know about buying a vacation home

She rents out the homes for short-stays -- weekends, weeks or months. That's more work, because she has to manage the bookings and supervise maintenance and cleaning crews. But it's also more profitable, as long as tourists keep coming.

She set the weekly rates at $900 to $1,500 for the two-bedroom, and the house has been booked about 70% of the time, bringing in $40,000 or so a year. Williams said that's enough to cover all expenses and turn a tidy profit.

That setback has not discouraged Williams. As early as later this year, she plans on adding to her five properties, which includes the old College Station residence, now rented out. She figures she can handle as many as 10.

She paid cash for her three of her acquisitions but she got the cash for the most recent by borrowing against the couple's investment portfolio of stocks and bonds.

That means lower closing costs, and the interest rate on the loan against her portfolio is less than that of a mortgage.

She has also started to manage vacation home rentals for other owners, which only adds lightly to her work, since she's already doing that for her own properties.

This new career will be a perfect retirement fit, she thinks, providing extra income and -- just as important -- fun.

"I can't be idle," she said, "and I don't want to be tied to a desk."

By Les Christie, staff writerApril 27, 2011: 12:03 PM E

Did the Winter Destroy Your Lawn?

2011-05-03T05:10:00.000-07:00

Spring has rolled around again, and it’s great to get outside when it’s nice out. However, when you step out onto your front porch to look over your lawn, you are not too pleased. The winter months have won, your lawn lost – as evidenced by the overriding brownish color. Or perhaps there are just a few spots on your lawn that need help. Either way, if you want your brown lawn to glow green once again, here are a few steps to pamper your lawn with a little effort. Reviving your lawn does not have to be an intense process or an incredibly time consuming job, but you will need a few bucks and a few hours, perhaps a Saturday afternoon. And DO NOT wait until summer. Grass seed that gets established before the summer heat hits will be less likely to dry out. The following four steps will bring life and health back into your lawn.

Decision

Your first step is to look closely at your lawn. Do you have a few brown spots that need attention or does your whole lawn need help. If you simply have a few brown spots, try to identify why those spots are brown. Maybe you have a water drainage problem. Or perhaps you have skunks or groundhogs digging around for grub, which means that you need to take care of the grub problem first. Or perhaps you have ruts in your lawn. The depression needs to be filled in an inch higher than ground level to allow for settling.

Dethatch

Your next step is to look closely to see if the lawn is compacted with more than a half inch of thatch. What is thatch? Thatch is simply dead grass and leaves pressed down among the roots. Thatch blocks water and nutrients from reaching grass roots, weakening the whole plant. Thatching can also trap moisture near the blades of your grass, which can lead to lawn disease. By regularly dethatching the grass buds are forced to grow near the base of the grass stem, freeing up the new grass to grow in healthy and thick. If the thatching is less than half an inch, simply rake it out. If you have heavy thatching, you may need to rent a dethatcher or a power rake.

Aerate

Your lawn may need aerated if your soil is too compacted from heavy use. Buy or rent a coring device that will cut three to four inch deep holes in the soil, leaving the cores on the lawn to decompose naturally. The holes created by the aerator provide the grass roots with the ability to receive fertilizer, water, and oxygen.

Overseed

Before you jump into reseeding, you must get rid of current weeds. You can either dig them out with a pronged tool, or spot spray them with a broadleaf herbicide. Then give the area a good soaking. To prepare the soil, drag a rake over the bare spots. Then, take a good look at your lawn and determine which kind of grass seed you will need. If you have blue grass, an overseed of any kind of blue grass will do just fine. But do not use the old seed in the garage, it may be dead already. Do not put all your hard work down the drain by using dead seed to try to replant. After you get the seed, sow the seed at twice the rate that is recommended for a new lawn and simply use your hand to lay the seed. Then lay a very thin layer of light organic topsoil so that the seed won’t blow away, approximately an eighth of an inch. Make sure that the topsoil is not laid more than a forth inch thick.

Fertilize

Your final step is to fertilize. Use a spreader to distribute slow-release granule over the entire lawn. Keep the newly seeded area moist until seeds germinate, at which point you can back off of watering. Now you are equipped to transform you’re struggling lawn to a healthy, thriving lawn. Have fun reviving your land.