If you are one of those with the goal of someday owning your dream home, then consider if you will the current state of affairs. Indeed it is a buyers market out there and this means you have time to shop, look around and get that perfect home. Of course hopefully you are not like most Americans with credit card debt or perhaps upside-down in your current home; owing more on the mortgage than it is worth.

You see if you have been careful with your finances and now find yourself with a low debt to income ratio perhaps this maybe the right time to look around and find that perfect dream home you have been thinking of for all these years? Maybe you want a big house or a cabin away from the hustle and bustle?

Maybe you want a home with a view of the water; a lake, river or ocean? Maybe you want a quiet view over looking the valley and a place to relax and eventually retire. All this can be yours, if you will focus and do your research and make lists of all those things you are looking for in a dream home.

One wonderful thing about America is all is possible and you can have the dream home of your choice if you are responsible with your finances and focus on your dreams. By turning your dream into a set of goals you can locate, find and purchase your dream home and live happily ever after in your version of the American Dream. Please consider all this in 2006.

Today’s home owners are more and more willing to invest in purchasing outdoor lighting items, since they can be used to improve the general look of a house as well as incorporate the outdoor with the indoor living space. Improving the external house design is not a matter of luxury anymore, as weather conditions and contemporary house designs permit people to experience the outdoors again as it being an important part of their home.

Outdoor house designers support that contemporary decks, patios and yards have as much thought put into their décor and ambiance as the house itself. Thus, selecting the right type of lighting should be part of improving the living quality of a person as well as enhancing the retail value of the house itself. So, it is extremely important now to choose the right external lamps and place them adequately in a porch or garden area.

However, there is a tip, no home owner should forget when purchasing outdoor lamps. Since usually the area that needs to be lightened is much bigger than that of a indoor house room, and because walls do not exist to reflect the beams of light and keep it contained into a single room, choosing the appropriate fixture is as important as purchasing the right style of lamp. Finding the correct size of an external lamp though, can be rather tricky. The most common mistake made is to purchase fixtures that are too small for the selected external house area. For that reason it is advised to select fixtures that are suitable for the area you wish to light and are sized proportionately in order to best serve their lighting purpose. If one is considering of choosing a lamp for the outdoor area of a house door, for example, it is wise to use a fixture that is based on the height of that specific door. Single lanterns should be about 1/3 of the door’s height, while a pair of lanterns can be ¼ of the height of the door.

Two general rules one has to follow when selecting lamps for outdoor use, is to mount the lamps at eye level or slightly higher and be sure that the fixtures selected are large enough to be noticed from a distance. Since, today’s outdoor lighting incorporates much more than just safety and security concerns, the overall look and décor of a house depends on the proper external lamps selection. Walk through your favorite neighborhood and you will discover plenty of good ideas of outdoor lighting. Avoid purchasing the wrong size lamps just because they are on sale. It is much wiser to consider the particular needs of your house and outdoor activities, as well as your house “look and feel” effect. Illuminating the wrong area or even your neighbor’s garage door is not an option. Ask for experts’ advice if you want to be on the safe side, but if your budget does not allow you these types of services, your local outdoor lighting salesman will be more than willing to visit your premises and offer you the best deal for your outdoor space. Search the offered designs, compare prices and browse other people’s homes and the final effect will be the one you intended.

There are nice homes, and there are luxury homes. I guess everyone's idea of a luxury home is different, but for me, it's size and age which define the 'luxury' in a house. There really are some beautiful new homes around these days designed by some very clever architects, but I personally love the character which comes with an old and well maintained building.

The United Kingdom has some of the most impressive stone built luxury homes I have ever clapped my eyes on. Some of these places are reaped in local history and have been occupied for generations by the same families, sometimes for hundreds of years. Even if they ever placed these properties on the market they would be well out of my budget. Oh well, one can but dream!

My sister, who also has a fascination for the luxury homes of the rich and famous, is so enthralled by how the other half lives that she often poses as a potential buyer when such places come onto the market. This way, she gets a personal guided tour around houses she would otherwise never get to see but from afar. It's all a bit cheeky but we love to gather round her at coffee mornings and hear all about the places in detail. We also get a good laugh out of it too, as she tells the story of how the estate agents believe she is of 'old money' and seriously considering a move into the area.

It doesn't seem to matter where you live, luxury homes are never too far away. Just about 2 kilometers from where I live, there's this gigantic house on a hill called Maple Place and it just looks so majestic and mysterious. No one knows who lives there for sure, but rumor has it's a widow of a billionaire shipping magnet, but know one has ever sighted anyone other than the gardener. Sometimes, on an evening when there's not too much mist rolling on the hill, you can just make out a dim light coming from a solitary window on the North tower. It's all very strange yet enchanting.

Some years ago, I was lucky enough to live in a beautiful part of town in Rotterdam, Holland. An old friend of mine rented his place out to me while he worked overseas for a couple of years. The luxury homes in the nearby neighborhood were nothing short of stately. Each house was detached and surrounded by ponds, moats, and huge trees. All were old and full or character. They were very large too, and each one had at least 3 floors with big circular balconies on the top bedrooms. Oh I could probably write a chapter or perhaps even a book on each of these fine places.

One thing that fascinates me almost as much as these luxury homes is the folks that live in them. Do you ever wonder who the inhabitants are of these splendid residences? I often wonder where they come from and what they do to afford and maintain such costly real estate.

In 2004 and 2005, real estate listings for Henderson Nevada were a hot commodity for investors because of steadily increasing property and appreciation values. What investors want to know now is whether a stake in Henderson, Nevada real estate remains a good bet, or more of a high stakes gamble?

Henderson, Nevada, with a population of 252,516 is the second largest city in the state, and nicknamed “the gateway to Southern Nevada.” Henderson is located approximately 5 miles from Las Vegas, and is home to many major corporate distribution offices including Levi Strauss and Company, Ocean Spray Cranberries, and Ford Credit. Residents take pride in their city’s nationally accredited parks system and low crime rates, if not its average temperatures, which can range from 91-108 degrees in the summer to a chilly 58-41 degrees in the winter.

Local surveys of real estate listings for Henderson, Nevada report that the average home price is $200,781, a decline from 2004, when it was $353,798. While the consensus among many local real estate experts seems to be that the housing bubble in Henderson has already burst or soon will, a few remain optimistic that because of the city’s stable economy, due to the amount of industry and tourism employment opportunities, property values will peak again next year and real estate listings for Henderson Nevada will reflect this trend.

According to Realty Times, an online real estate blog, both the housing market and the appreciation rates of area homes have slowed down dramatically since peaking in 2004. Real estate listings for Henderson Nevada do seem to show a decline in home sales when one considers the high amount of “reduced to sell” and re-priced listings.

Many investors are keeping a pile of chips on the sideline as more distressed and foreclosure properties hit the market. The thinking is that “cash positions” will give investors the advantage in case it does become more viable to examine real estate listings for Henderson Nevada for possible reinvestment strategies in the future.

Real estate investment is a lot like spinning a roulette wheel or playing the slots: sometimes you make a profit, sometimes you get your money back, and sometimes you end up with your bank account in the red and nothing but lemons to show for it. Skilled investors know that there is a time to bet high, and a time to wait it out and spend some money on a few lobster dinners and $4.99 casino buffets in Las Vegas instead.

The notion of a Florida house floor plan brings to mind surf, sand and plenty of sunshine. Along with the sunshine are house plans designed with the warm, humid climate in mind. While you may see a multitude of architectural styles in Florida, the most prevalent will be Mediterranean, Spanish and the European villa look of Italian Renaissance.

Though the styles may be multicultural and mostly Mediterranean in nature, the recurrent theme is a house plan designed to be comfortable and livable in the warm Florida climate. Stucco exteriors with clay tile roofs are common as are large living areas with plenty of open spaces. An open floor plan allows for air to circulate more freely throughout the home.

Design elements such as numerous arched doorways, cast stone columns and balustrades, mahogany trim and marble floors give the Florida house floor plan a definite feel of an Old World European villa that could have been constructed several hundred years ago. To further emphasize the Old World feel, particularly in the case of multi-story homes, arched windows, cathedral or domed ceilings and curved staircases with balcony overlooks are favorite additions.

The appearance of natural cut stone is another important element to consider when designing a Florida house floor plan. The cut stone look can be seen in Mediterranean, Spanish and Italian style homes and lends an elegant, upscale feel to the design. The look can be created with raised plaster work or cast stone.

Completely or partially shielding the main entry from view can be accomplished with a landscaped courtyard and archway. The courtyard serves a dual purpose in both adding privacy as well as affording attractive views from the homes front facing windows. This type of design element is both Spanish as well as Italian Renaissance in nature. The most important thing to remember when designing your Florida house floor plan is to execute all the various element details carefully and keep the Old World flavor in tact.

I can't speak for everyone but for my wife and me, looking for our first new home was as exciting as anything could be. Fleeing the nest of our parents and building one of our own was just an exhilarating experience for us young lovers. Of course, back then we had no real pressures, time was on our side, we knew out budget, and both families were right behind us ready to offer support, advice, and practical gifts in order to get us off to a grand start. Yep, the first ever home search was fun all the way. Unfortunately, it's a different ball game when you're ready to move on to your second home, and especially if there's a young family to consider into the move.

In fact, when we were ready to move for the second time, it was not so much a 'moving in' experience, but a 'moving on' one. It became a big upheaval for the entire family, which by this time were my wife and our 2 young children. The new baby had no idea what was going on, but our 3 year old lad seemed deeply upset about leaving behind all the people, places and things that had become so familiar to him in his world. This upset my wife greatly and she too, was getting stressed out about moving in to the unknown. We had been so happy here, but we needed more space and so a new home search was inevitable.

It's often said that moving house is perhaps one of the most stressful things a person can go through, and we can fully relate to that. Apart form the costs of moving and the additional cost of the mortgage, there's also the time and preparation involved, let alone the uncertainties of whether you'll take to your new home and the surrounding environment.

We decided that our next home was to become the permanent family home and with a little luck, we would find a place that we would be happy to spend the rest of our lives in. This meant we were perhaps going to have to spend a little more than first anticipated and so the early days would require a bit of sacrifice financially, as we needed to allow for the growth of the family, yet still have room for overnight guests.

When we set off to do our first homes search as a young engaged couple, we had to trudge around the city and surrounding areas on our free days looking at one place after another. Back then this wasn't a problem, as we had lots of free time and no kids to consider. Actually, thinking back, this was all part of the fun! If we had to do that this time around, it would have been a home search from hell. Thank goodness for the World Wide Web! Fortunately the internet has taken a whole lot of stress out or this painful task for parents with young children. Once we got familiar with doing home searches online, we became a lot let hassled by the experience, and the thought of moving began to feel a little excitable once again.

My wife (who is the computer expert in our house), found a couple of great local websites which enabled us to do some pretty comprehensive home searches online. We were able to really break down the search options with such things as location, rooms, size, and price. In fact, you name it, we could search by it and what wasn't available through the search facilities was usually covered in the descriptions.

There are also some pretty comprehensive property portals out there too, that cover all manner of things like, mortgage rates, lenders, locations, realtors etc. Perhaps 2 of the best ones we found were realtor.com and fishforhomes.com.

One thing is for certain, you no longer have to put all your home search options into the basket of a chosen real estate agent. All the ground work and short-listing can be done from the comfort of home by you, and once you're ready for the formalities, you can arrange all the other stuff as and when.

For most grown ups, childhood days are consistently linked up with the home where all the sweet memories are rooted. I know of a person who spent his early days in North Carolina and after years spent in different states, his homing instinct brought him back to the same state. “I must find a place here”, he said to himself, confident that here in North Carolina he would retrieve his peace of mind, long lost in roaming all over the United States. As luck would have it, his darling wife was also raised in North Carolina and he planned his progeny to become enduring residents of the state of his choice, too. He became intent on buying a home in North Carolina to spend the rest of his life there and started searching for North Carolina houses for sale.

Selection of site posed no problem at all since he knew his state in and out. “Foothills of North Carolina wouldn’t be pricey”, he argued with himself, but downtown Chapel Hill where he lived at first would cost quite a fortune. So he had a make a decision at this critical juncture. “Do I prefer to lead a secluded country life or go for a downtown dwelling? Which one will be more appropriate for me”, he asked himself.

But at the back of his mind he always thought of finding North Carolina houses for sale. Also, some other factors muddled his head. Since he had married late in life and had to raise his children, the place had to be safe from all angles. Finding out good schools nearby counted a lot, too. “What are the prospects in near future,” he inquired about the likely rise in value of property in North Carolina, over the phone. After all, every possible angle needs to be covered. You do not know what tomorrow may bring. “I must find a comfortable home whose value should appreciate over the coming years”, he assured himself. Having settled on all the factors, our man in sat content before his PC to do a search of North Carolina houses for sale.

Google.com, his best friend, was already there when he tapped the Internet and the sale was through in the shortest possible time. So, for people considering North Carolina houses for sale, all they need to do is just hit the search engines and they are sure to find many properties to make a pick from. Finding North Carolina houses for sale is not really a very difficult thing to do.

With today’s Phoenix real estate market, new home construction seems to be happening everywhere. There are great reasons to buy right now from a Phoenix Home Builder. Take advantage of our great climate, employment opportunity and beautiful landscape today!

1. Pricing: Right now the competition among builders for a limited amount of buyers means they are dropping the price by giving heavy buying incentives like discounts from the base prices, free upgrades from flooring to even pools in some cases. So look around, find the area you want to live, and then find a real estate agent who will give you a rebate at closing. I have been doing that for years.
2. Simplified Financing: Many builders are not even charging closing costs right now. And you have the added advantage of one-stop shopping. Through the builders preferred lender, you can wrap any upgrades not paid for by the builder into your single mortgage payment, even a pool!
3. Floor Plan Option: Most builders offer a wide range of floor plans so they have one that suits almost anyone's needs. Additionally, the sales office specifically tailor a home to your personal requests.
4. Colors and Finishes: . Each home is no longer a cookie cutter home. In almost all cases you can choose the interior colors, front door, and color scheme on the outside. Inside you have choices of appliances, cabinets, flooring and even insulation types
5. Modern, New Appliances: Consider for a moment that you will automatically be getting brand new appliances, dishwasher, oven, microwave, washer and dryer, the works, all sparkling and brand new.
6. Materials: Your builder will be using the latest technological material to build your home to our climate. In almost all cases, painting is a thing of the past, required rarely because of new materials.
7. Energy Efficiency: Your builder will offer you a high level of energy efficient items such as two pane windows and modern insulation to help keep your home cool during the warm summers.
8. New Home Warranty: New home owners are guaranteed at least 1 year on everything, and 10-20 years on foundations and structure, and sometimes 5 years for major systems like heating, ventilating and Air conditioning systems.
9. Increased life of your living space: Everything in a pre-owned home has a shorter life expectancy due to day-to-day maintenance, mold, and regular deterioration. A new home maximizes this life expectancy, since it’s all brand new.

For home builders who crave a comfortable and cozy home that evokes the spirit of nature, nothing says rustic American design quite like the icon of early housing. The log house floor plan fits the bill both in structure and aesthetic appeal. The appealing feeling of warmth most people marvel at is quite unlike any other type of home.

A log house is quite literally a nest type home whose peculiar beauty is a byproduct of its woodland charm. In spite of the durability of log homes that derive their character and strength from tightly woven trees, the appeal of a log house floor plan is limited to less than one percent of all new homes built every year.

A log house is quite literally a nest type home whose unusual beauty is a byproduct of its woodland charm. In spite of the durability of log homes that derive their character and strength from tightly woven trees, the appeal of a log house floor plan is limited to less than one percent of all new homes built every year. Of those log houses built on a yearly basis, approximately 90 percent are kit houses

For those home builders determined to have a log house of their very own, they should be aware of the fact that they face certain challenges unique to the log house.

1. Because most log homes are built from a kit, finding a lender can be difficult.

2. Most lenders want to be assured that the home is appraised appropriately. Home appraisal of log houses isn't easy because of the lack of comparable log homes and this can lead to difficulties in obtaining a construction loan.

3. Underwriting of mortgages is based on approximately 3 comparable sales and one must be a log house. Underwriting criteria for do-it-yourself kit houses such as the log house tends to be much more strict than for a traditionally constructed home.

Beyond the financial challenges of owning a log house, there are further considerations.

1. Dust collection: Dust collects on the rough interior planed surfaces of a log house over time and is difficult to remove. This can be a problem for those with house dust allergies.

2. Chemical Sensitivities: Allergic individuals should double check that logs haven't been treated with chemicals, stains, sealers, or solvents. Most chemicals are added to prevent rot or deter pests. This can also pose a long term problem.

3. Finally, it's hard to change the decor if you grow weary of it - you can change the floor covering, the window dressings and wall art, but the basic flavor of the home will always stay the same.

How much does a home built from a log house floor plan cost?

The cost of a log house is comparable to other home types but is dependent on several factors:

1. The average cost for a kit log house runs between $85 to $125 per square foot. this is for the kit house only. The costs of land, septic, and water well are not included in the price per square foot.

eNeighborhoods Neighborhood News

Buyers and sellers find balance as housing market cools

For the last few years, residential real estate burned hot in the headlines with speculation, soaring property values and brisk sales. But now, with mortgage rates rising and sales slowing in many areas, the tide is turning. Clearly, with homes selling at a slower pace, buyers have some additional leverage to apply at the bargaining table.

With housing inventory up, buyers typically have a larger selection to choose from, and more time to make buying decisions. Also benefiting most homebuyers is the lack of competition from speculators. As home prices shot up in the last few years, it was possible for investors to “flip” properties by buying and quickly reselling at a profit, but current market conditions make this practice much more difficult.

In fact, a time-tested strategy to maximize returns on residential real estate is to simply stay put. Just like buy-and-hold investors, homebuyers who keep their homes for more than five years are much more likely to see profits than those who buy and sell in a shorter time period.

But that doesn’t necessarily mean the party’s over for sellers. Nationally, home prices have remained solid and a well-priced home in a desirable neighborhood should move quickly regardless of current conditions. And though interest rates are rising, they are still low by historical standards…as anyone old enough to remember 30-year mortgage rates north of 16 percent in the early 1980s can attest.

Did you know?

After raising the Federal Funds interest rate 17 straight times in 27 months, the Fed left it at 5.25 percent in early August, saying it wanted time to study the rate’s effects on inflation.

Has your home insurance kept pace with property values?

Homeowners policies are long, complicated documents that aren't exciting to read. Many people avoid them because they feel confused by the language and complexity, but there are some basics every homeowner should know. For example, in case of a total loss, does your insurance enable you to rebuild a comparable house in its place?

In many areas, home values have soared in the past few years. If you’re fortunate enough to live in such a neighborhood, now is the time to check with your insurer – not after you've filed a claim and learned your coverage isn't up to par.

If you’re not sure, ask directly what your replacement policy covers. You may be surprised to learn that "cash" or "fair market value" may not replace all that was lost. For example, fair market value factors in wear and depreciation, so you might receive what your furniture and appliances were worth before being damaged, not what it cost to replace them after. Ask your insurer if your policy includes “full replacement value” for your home’s contents.

Did you know that you could drastically increase the value of your home without having to invest heavily in having your home remodeled or refitted? Yes, it’s possible! And you won’t even have to spend as much just to make it happen!

If you are selling your home, getting a good value for it could prove troublesome. But before you throw in the towel and sell your home for a price way below your expectations, you could try doing some inexpensive renovations to increase your home’s value up to 20%. That’s not a bad figure, is it?

Here is a brief walkthrough of the steps you can undertake to make your home worth much more that it is today.

The Kitchen: Bigger is Better

The kitchen is one of the critical areas to address in your efforts to increase your home’s worth. Homebuyers are looking for spacious kitchens that are clean, in good repair and have the necessary furnishings for working.

To make the kitchen look more spacious, try installing lights that will make it look brighter. You could also redo the windows to remove clutter and make it spill in more light. This will have the effect of making the kitchen look bigger. Make sure the floorings and the table tops are in good repair. If it is not beyond your budget you could even replace the current flooring with stone or tile, which is a lot better than linoleum that cracks and tears.

Keep the kitchen in good repair. It doesn’t cost much to have scratches and bumps fixed. If you have busted fixtures or electrical outlets, have them repaired with good materials.

A paint job will do wonders not just for your kitchen but for the whole home. So consider adding a good layer of paint on your home.

The Yard

Simple gardening would do much to make your home more appealing. Keeping the yard in order, and tending to the garden would result more in a yard that would most likely attract buyers.

To stress the significance of a good yard, mature trees will typically add about $1000 to the value of your home. So imagine the impact of a well-tended garden to the value of your home!

The Living Room

Like the kitchen, living rooms must give the impression of space. Some people do so by installing mirrors. However, this technique is also suited to the bedroom. The little repairs – like light bulbs and electrical outlets.

Make sure the living room is airy, a coating of light colored paint, installation of good lamps, and a general cleanliness of the living room will contribute much to this effect.

Bedroom

Like the other rooms, the bedroom has to be particularly spacious, airy and bright. Mirrors are particularly effective at accomplishing this effect. Most five-star hotels have to project an impression of space, and they employ this technique to its full effect.

Make sure the rooms have a sufficient number of electrical outlets. The flexibility this offers will add much to the value of your home.

If you plan to install new surfaces, you might also want to consider using natural materials such as stone, marble, quality wood, and others. Studies have shown that many people react favorably to these materials. They also add a feeling of cleanliness to the rooms. Make the cabinets and closets as large as possible without making the rooms they are in look cramped, you may have to employ a few illusionary tricks here but the results are astounding.

Bathrooms

Use fluorescent lighting instead of incandescent lighting to provide your bathrooms with a light feel. Installing inexpensive amenities to your bathroom like towel holders, racks, shower curtains, shower fixtures and other will enhance the appearance and appeal of your home.

If you are looking for finance to help you buy your house, then the world of banking makes available to you numerous options that enable you to do so. A home loan has two basic connotations. It is a loan taken to buy a house or a loan taken by keeping your home as a security to pay an outstanding debt. A home loan in America is commonly referred to as mortgage. It generally refers to debt, which is secured by the mortgage. Taking a home loan presents some calculated risks. When you pledge your property as security, then you stand to lose it if you cannot repay the loan. This is unimaginable risk. But at the other end of the spectrum, these loans are generally low risk for the lenders. Money lending organizations give borrowers an amount, only if they know that the concerned person has sufficient financial ability to pay back the borrowed amount.

In many countries, people fund the purchase of their homes with the help of mortgages. The market for home loans has developed significantly in countries, when there is an increasing demand for home ownership. This scenario is largely prevalent in countries like the United States, Great Britain and Spain. Though the legal jargons and terminologies are different in each country, the whole concept of home loans and the home loans process remains the same.

There are two integral components of a home loan namely, the creditor and the debtor.

Creditors include banks, financial institutions, insurers and other such organization that provide loans for the purposes of buying real estate. Creditors have a legal right to the debt that has been secured by the mortgage taken by borrowers. The debtor is the borrower. He must confirm to, and meet all the loan conditions laid down by the creditor. Debtors include individuals and businesses who want to purchase property. Taking home loans is a complicated business and there are various other participants that are involved in the process.

These might include the likes of lawyers, solicitors, and conveyancers. At times, debtors, approach professionals like mortgage brokers, and financial advisers, who refer them to the best creditor who can satisfy their home loan requirements. The various types of home loans include package loans, hard money loans, and term loans, amongst others.

The banks and various other money lending organizations take into consideration various factors before approving your home loan. The most important evaluation factor is the inherrent capacity to repay the loan. This in turn is decided by taking cognizance of various points like income, employment, qualification, assets, liability, stability, and the number of years spent at the present residence, and of course the savings history.

It is only after going into this information in some detail that you get the much anticipated nod from your lender. Taking a home loan primarily requires a good credit history. But, more and more options are increasingly becoming available to those who dream of taking a home but have a poor credit history. So do analyze your needs, evaluate your options, and then go for the home loan that can best suit your requirements.

Decorating the inside of your home for Halloween can be a lot of fun. It is a wonderful time to use your imagination and just go wild. Halloween is the best time to let loose and be creative. Start by finding a means to keep enough light to see, but dim enough to be mysterious and alluring. If you use candles make sure that they are placed in areas that are safe from causing an accidental fire. Be sure and keep them away from decorations and out of reach of the guests and children to prevent them from being knocked over.

Use fake spiders and webs to line the corners and the walls of your home. Look for the ones that are designed to look lifelike and you will enjoy these decorations much more. A combination of wall posters and plastic witches, ghouls and monsters will add to the overall Halloween theme. Add a few skeletons dangling around to reach out and grab anyone’s attention as they walk by. Sound effects add to the fun as guests are startled by the occasional scream or rattling of chains as they walk from room to room.

Go all out by not limiting yourself to decorating just one room; instead decorate all the rooms inside your home. Even the bathroom is no exception so that your entire house holds a surprise for anyone brave enough to enter. A room full of scary bats just waiting for prey will keep your guest on their toes. You can even have a few of them set up where they can swoop down on an unsuspecting visitor. Another room could be set aside for the gathering place of the living dead, while other monsters are lurking around every corner of the home.

Are you looking for something a little less dramatic? Then, how about creating a room full of happy ghost and goblins enjoying a Halloween get-together? They can be colorful and designed in different shapes and sizes to add variety to the setting. Some can be posed as if they are dancing while others can be enjoying a friendly beverage together. Add some Halloween music and special effects and the inside of your home is decorated for Halloween in a way that no one will soon forget.

The real estate market in New Hampshire is experiencing a slowdown in 2006. A question that is often asked by both home buyers and home sellers is “How long will the market be like this?” Although no one can predict the future, it is helpful to take a look at what is influencing the market.

People who are making a home buying or home selling decision are often influenced by several factors.

* Their job outlook -Will they have one and where will it be located?
* Home Prices- Influenced by supply and demand, population trends and interest rates
* Interest rates- influences home affordability

So how does the future housing market look for New Hampshire?

New Hampshire continues to have a strong job market that is expected to outperform the other New England states and the national average.

* State unemployment was at 3.4% for Q1 of 2006
o Below the national average of 4.73%.1 Continuing a trend seen since 2000 and one expected to continue.
* The New England Economic Partnership (NEEP) projects employment growth:
o 0.8 percent in 2005
o 2.2 percent in 2006
o 1.1 percent in 2006

1. From a New Hampshire Economic Outlook Presentation by Erica Menard (May 10,2006)

Although New Hampshire is loosing its manufacturing industry (NEEP projects manufacturing employment to continue to decline an average of 0.4% through 2007) other industries are growing. The industries that are expected to grow over the next 5 years are:

Professional & Business Services (15.2%)

Education & Health Services (14.8%)

Information (11.2%)

Leisure & Hospitality (11.1%)

Other Services (5.5%)

Source: New England Economic Partnership

Population growth for the state is at 0.9%2, on par with the national average of 1.0% but well above the growth of surrounding states. The counties in the lakes region are expected to have the largest growth through 2010. With increasing population comes demand for housing.

2. From Bureau of Labor Statistics obtained from the FDIC “State Profiles” NH Economic Profile Summer 2006

Mortgage interest rates are holding steady (just under 7% for a conventional 30 yr fixed mortgage) which should take some of the downward pressure off the market. When interest rates increase buyers are more apt to hold off buying, or to offer a lower price due to the higher monthly interest payments.

In summary, New Hampshire has a growing job market coupled with changes in the types of jobs available. This should cause more buying and selling in the market as people move with the jobs. There should also be an overall increase in the demand for housing due to the moderate growth in population. Continued low interest rates should enable more buyers to be able to afford a home. So it seems there is no fundamental reason for this slowdown except for the rising home prices which were out pacing the increase in salaries over the last 3 years. This finally caught up with us. As home prices stabilize or even come down a bit it should allow potential home buyers to catch up. This slowdown may not last for very long, perhaps only until the spring of 2007. But again, no one can foretell the future.

Installing Hardwood Flooring in your house is a wise decision and a long-term investment in your property. A Hardwood Floor hold its value, or even increase your home’s resale value, exceeding the initial installation cost of the Floors. Hardwood Flooring has enjoyed widespread popularity for many decades.

Known for its durability and elegant looks, Hardwood has graced the Floors of everything from early rural Mansions to modern urban Condos. Wood Flooring is one of the most beautiful Floors you can use in your decorating scheme. There are not only several colors available but there are also many different species as well and each have their own distinct characteristics.

Choosing the right wood Floor for your specific taste and needs can be a challenge. There is no denying that the look and texture of solid Hardwood Floors have a unique appeal. They lend a sense of hominess, a sense of performance and old-world reliability that cannot be delivered in the same way by any other type of Flooring. And Hardwood also lends notable structural benefit to a property as well.

This is significant not only for overall longevity of your home or commercial space, but also a greater value to that property too. Hardwood Floors truly stand alone; a Floor that exudes class, and in a class by itself.

With so many choices, it can be hard to decide on a Flooring product. Of course you want a Floor that looks good and adds the right style for your home. But you also want to consider a material's durability, comfort, and ease of installation, as well as how simple it is to clean. Your home is a special space. You will want to make a decision that will not only suit your style but will also be durable and easy to maintain so you can enjoy your new Flooring for years to come.

Hardwood Flooring is available in a wide variety of species: Birch, Cherry, Jatoba, Maple, Oak, and more, allowing you a great selection for your particular Flooring application. Stained Hardwood Flooring is another attractive option you may consider. For Hardwood Flooring board, there are several varieties from which to choose, and all of them have advantages as far as look and practicality are concerned.

Hardwood Flooring is a healthy Flooring choice for interior living environments. There is much lower levels of chemical emissions from natural wood products. In addition, Hardwood Floors do not accumulate and trap dust, particulates and allergens that commonly occur with carpets.

Location, location, location. Never has a statement proved truer than when searching for an affordable home. Where your property is located can make a difference in the home’s pricing. It can be as little as a thousand dollar difference, or up to a one hundred thousand dollar difference. So if you have wanted to purchase a home in a certain area and just can’t afford the pricing of the homes, you might want to consider viewing properties and homes on the immediate outskirts of the area.

Sometimes when you look a little outside the area you want to be in, you will find great deals and drastic price drops. And with these homes being just a short distance from your desired location, it will not make such a difference in things such as your commute to work, commute into town, or even your trip to the grocery store for supplies. The most important aspect of your life this decision could impact is in the weight of your pocket book.

Although pricing is important, nothing is more important than the safety of your chosen neighborhood. Be sure and check with your local police departments about the crime rate in your potential neighborhood. If you have school-aged children, check with the local board of education about schools in the area. Also, a great source is the local Chamber of Commerce, for data and population density information about the neighborhood. If all of these things pan out, then go forth and save money. You’ve earned it!

Are you thinking about moving to live in beautiful Colorado, there are many, many choices of where you could live, it would be beautiful to live way up in the mountains there, the scenery is gorgeous you also have the choice of the big city if you so choose, just remember it will be a little bit more hectic. Colorado is a wonderful place with extremely wide open plains which tend to run down the eastern part of the state, the rugged mountains are more central and there is even high desert to the south and west.

The Real Estate Agents in Colorado are very knowledgeable and know their stuff if you are wanting to move there, they can provide you will a wealth of information you won't find anywhere else. I think the best bet would be is to make quite a few visits just make sure you know all the areas and can make a true informed decision, I suppose though that if you are moving there because of work you will be tied down to location anyway, but if you really do have a specific location in mind the local Colorado Real Estate Agents is the place to go.

Another good place to look of course is online there are many good if not great websites that can help you locate the home of your dreams in Colorado, just start looking, it took me two minutes to find relo-experts.com and alamode.com and they do seem to have some exceptional help for you there. What I would do is start asking around; also if you’re like me you will have a million and one questions, if you want to narrow down that perfect place. Also vitally important is the vicinity of the house, will you be in a good neighborhood that's close to all the amenities like schools, museums and other places of interest any Real Estate agent worth their salt will be able to give you that type of information.

Remember their out to make a sale so the easier and more informed they can make you, the easier their job will be. And always remember Colorado is a beautiful place with many things going on, it's not just its gorgeous scenery that attracts people, although it does help. If you are the outdoors type and often love adventure, then this is the place to be, go get in touch with that Real Estate agent now. You won't regret it.

Have you decided yet where to live, if ever you wished to move to a retirement community after you retire? Well, if you haven’t, you can start delving into Florida Retirement communities where it offers a wide variety of retirement homes or a second home for retirees. If you don’t know yet, Florida is one of the ideal places to retire due to its warm climate. No wonder, it is popular as a retirement state.

Let me give you some of the known and preferred Florida Retirement Communities to select. For more information and questions concerning Florida retirement communities, you may visit retirementhomes.com.

Bellaire Towers

Bellaire provides an active lifestyle/independent living type of care, wherein all amenities are included in monthly rent. They have full understanding that a great retirement lifestyle is a full one, which is why they have a variety of planned activities to choose from each day. You also get to dine in style and comfort as you enjoy delicious chef-prepared breakfast and full course dinner every day. Monthly rental is at $ 2450 to $ 2800.

Regency Residence

Regency has active lifestyle/independent type of care with monthly rental of $ 1900 to $ 2775. Meals and other amenities are also included in the monthly rental. This facility has been operating for over 10 years now.

Palazzo Di Oro

Palazzo provides an active lifestyle/independent living/assisted living with monthly rental of $ 1295, by which all the amenities, such as 24- hour staffing, on-site medical services, meals, and many others are included in the rental fees.

Top of the World

Top of the World is one of Florida retirement communities that offer active lifestyle/independent living/congregate living with monthly rental fee of $ 850 to $ 1500. Top of the World communities is located in the heart of central Florida offering new exciting neighborhoods. You have choices when it comes to your home and elegant living areas. Amenities include indoor outdoor floors, golf course, lighted tennis courts, health and wellness opportunities and more.

Highland Ridge

Highland Ridge offer active lifestyle type of care with a golf course view that most retirees would want. This retirement community offers their residents modern amenities and the facilities to stay healthy and fit with the help of their wellness partner, Florida Hospital Heartland.

Among the many different Florida retirement communities, choosing one could be difficult. However, your choice should be based in terms of amenities, monthly rental fee, and services which the retirement community is offering. Know that retirement communities differ in amenities and services that they provide; whichever suits your needs and taste should be the one you’d settle with.

For the past many years, you have worked so hard to earn and save to have a comfortable life when you retire. And now that you are retiring, don’t you think it’s about time that you let yourself taste the sweet reward of your hard work? I bet you do, all of us do! So, if you want to have a better way to spend your retirement golden years, spend in a retirement community in Arizona. Why Arizona? Well, it is just a perfect place to build retirement communities. Truth of the matter is, such communities are often built in warmer climates such as in Arizona. In other words, it is where you can find plenty of retirement communities from which you can choose.

If you want to know where exactly you can find a perfect retirement community in Arizona, start checking out Quail Creek? It is located in beautiful Sahuarita in the Green Valley area south of Tucson, Arizona. It possesses a truly picturesque setting with the stunning Santa Rita Mountains that can pass as a postcard view. Not only that! The surrounding area offers many different things to do and see such as shopping centers, medical services, and more. Madera Canyon is one of the places worth your time, because it is known for exotic bird watching and hiking trails in the cool pines. Bird watching and hiking are ideal for nature lovers and hikers alike.

The most favored Madera Clubhouse, a multi-million dollar amenity, can provide you with the perfect social atmosphere to meet people and make friends who share the same interests like yours. It offers a ballroom/auditorium, banquet room, lounge, conference room, and multi-purpose rooms that can be used to enjoy a wide variety of activities. When you live in this particular retirement community in Arizona, your social life will never be in vain. In fact, you can enjoy more of your social life while staying here.

Quail Creek also features the Quail Creek Grill and Lounge, fitness center, oversized swimming pool, and championship golf course. Or, you can even choose to explore you creativity at the Arts & Technology Center, enhance your tennis game, or get up to a game of bocce ball. Now, isn’t it a place where you can get everything – fun, excitement, fitness, and a better quality of life? These are exactly what we want our lives to be when we retire, aren’t they? For those who love the extravagance of playing golf, Quail Creek Country Club features a championship golf course that might help you make up your mind.

We all have our share of hard work during our working years and now it is time to rest from the loads of work; it is just right that we take a break. So, check out this beautiful retirement community in Arizona at robson.com and decide to spend the rest of your happy years.

Retirement villages are essentially a community for seniors. The name is somehow an inappropriate designation because one doesn’t necessarily have to be retired at all to live in these retirement villages. However, the entry is normally restricted to people who have reached fifty-five years of age or have retired from permanent employment, and their spouses. The standard age is anywhere in the early to mid 70’s and the common entry age is in the mid to high 60’s.

There are mainly two kinds of retirement villages, resident funded and donor funded. Resident funded retirement villages may be owned and controlled by non-profit organizations or the private sector. The donor funded retirement villages are customarily owned and managed by non-profit organizations, which includes the element of charitable subsidy and entry usually restricted to the needy.

Retirement villages’ accommodation varies enormously when it comes to size and style, from bed-sitter apartments to spacious tile and brick homes. Nearly all retirement villages have common areas and an array of facilities on hand for the use and enjoyment of all residents.

When looking for retirement villages, it is important to know the levels of care provided in a particular village or to particular units because ones comfort and convenience depends on this. There a number of terms used to describe the level of care such as “independent living units” or “self-care units”, which offer the lowest level of care. An assortment of personal services may be obtainable on request for “flexicare” units and user pays on basis of this arrangement. “Assisted living units” or “serviced apartments” offers the highest level of care and generally includes regular provision of a variety of personal services.

Sometimes there is confusion when low level residential care facilities, often known as hostels, describe their accommodations as “assisted living units”. Hostels and nursing homes are regulated and partly financed by the Commonwealth Government and diverse legislation, where admission criteria and funding agreements apply.

There are at least eight different legal arrangements for retirement villages which include long-term lease, long-term license, strata title, community title, company title, unit trust, manufacture home, and conventional lease. These different arrangements can have diverse implications and raise various issues in terms of applicable legislation, GST, stamp duty, responsibility for refurbishment and capital replacement costs, service charges, operator default, security of tenure, termination, capital losses, credit risk, and vacating the premises.

Every state and territory has ratified specific legislation that regulates the operation of retirement villages. Retirement villages residents may be required to pay an initial entry price when they move, rent and/or recurring service charges during their stay and perhaps beyond and a fee called a departure fee, deferred management fee or exit fee when they leave.

Retirement villages will provide for an accommodation and lifestyle alternative that can suit a lot of senior people, but they can be quite complicated and looking for the right retirement villages that will appropriately fit ones need, can be quite challenging.

Have you ever considered moving house, hundreds of thousands of people do every year? If you have ever thought of moving more to the southwest, New Mexico would probably be a good place to start, it is a very much a large rural state, that has a lot to offer. There are all year round activities and many cultural events and celebrations to take part in. Although homes or houses do tend to vary a lot right through New Mexico, prices are dictated by where you choose to live. The capitol is Sante Fe which is in the more central part of the state, then there is Los Alamos which has the world famous Los Alamos National Laboratory and is just a mere half an hour a way from Sante Fe, then of course there is Albuquerque which is the largest city in the state and less than an hour away from Santa Fe.

If you go a little bit further south you will find Truth of Consequences also Las Cruces a big city in itself, also who could forget about the famous Route 66 which goes directly through Albuquerque always a good place to visit to see all the interesting businesses and historic cafes and bars. If you get onto the I-10 and travel about 50 miles south you would come to El Paso, Texas and the Mexican border. If you go west you would find yourself in Silver City which is way up in the Gila Mountains, if you go east you would come across Roswell, watch out for those aliens.

Let's move onto the selection of homes in New Mexico, if you decide to maybe move to Sante Fe or even Los Alamos you will find that house prices are quite steep, but that more than pays itself back to you in the fact that it is a beautiful area surrounded by mountains and spectacular views, if you think you would prefer something less pricey a good place to look would be Abiquiu and the Abiquiu Reservoir there are some really excellent places to live there and well worth a visit to see if it's for you. The more expensive places are near the waterfront but are much more reasonable near the town and outlaying areas and if you like large busier areas then Albuquerque could be the ideal place for you and house prices do vary dramatically. If you would prefer a move further south you won’t go to far wrong with Las Cruces and is ideal if you are thinking of retirement and at the moment is one of the top places in the country to retire to as everything is much more laid back.

A good place to start is the internet to start getting a feel for these places and the Multiple Listing Service contains many properties from where you could begin and don't forget that many sites now allow you a virtual tour, which make it almost like being there. I don't think you would go to far wrong in a purchase in New Mexico and would make a good investment, so if this is the lifestyle you think you would like why not go for it, life is much more laid back, the air is cleaner and the views are fantastic, you also have the weather which is warm and sunny almost all year round. In my opinion you won't go too far wrong in choosing a property in New Mexico.