Gardeners can help manage stormwater runoff by creating landscapes with permeable surfaces, rain catchment systems and more

Stormwater is essentially water that falls during a rain or snowstorm. You may be wondering what precipitation has to do with making your garden eco-friendly and how you can possibly be responsible for an act of nature. However, the current problems of stormwater runoff are entirely human-created, and the way you design your garden can influence what happens to rain that falls on your property. . . .

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Make home repairs to sell your home the second time around

When you’re trying to sell a house, there are few things more discouraging than seeing it sit in on the market, unable to attract any interest or offers – it’s like waiting by the phone for someone who never calls. . . .

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FInd out what you should know before buying a farm

For folks not raised on a farm, life on one typically starts as a dream. The whole notion of escaping city life for the wide-open spaces and self-sufficiency of farm life is intriguing to many. If farm livin’ is the life for you, it’s time to get better acquainted with the process of purchasing one. . . .

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Yale economist Robert Shiller has found that houses are not guaranteed to appreciate in value

Although the recent housing bubble and subsequent burst may have jaded some, the vast majority of homeowners and investors (and the real estate agents who sold them those houses) believe that house values appreciate over the long haul. What you’re about to discover may surprise you. . . .

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Simple, streamlined furniture and distinctive architecture are just two elements of modern interior design

Urban design and industrial mod style are easy to achieve by keeping only a few basics in mind. Modern style offers a clean, neat layout with simple, streamlined furniture in an architecture style that was influenced by German Bauhaus School of Design and Scandinavian modern design. Sleek smooth surfaces, bold geometric shapes and asymmetry are key characteristics of mod design. . . .

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Prudent homebuyers find the crime rates in neighborhoods they are considering buying homes in

There’s an episode of the popular TV show “How I Met Your Mother” in which Marshall and Lily find their dream apartment in an unfamiliar NYC neighborhood. Without researching the community referred to as “Dowisetrepla,” they purchase the apartment. Later on, they make a ghastly discovery that their newly purchased dream home is “down wind of the sewer treatment plant.” . . .

Read more about Choosing the Right Neighborhood

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You can save a ton of money while simultaneously being eco-friendly

By adopting simple practices and making smart changes to your home, you can save big in the long run. Whether you are looking to improve your house and environment, or just need to increase the value of your home for real estate season, making your house more eco-friendly is the smart thing to do. . . .

Read more about Saving Green by Going Green

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Choosing native plants and irrigating efficiently can save money and time while creating an eco-friendly garden

An eco-friendly garden works with, not against, nature. What does that mean in terms of water? Ideally, it means you’re not using more water than the ecological system in which you live can provide. In other words, your garden plants will grow without supplemental water from irrigation. That may sound like a lofty goal, but by choosing the right plants and irrigating only as needed, you can have a truly eco-friendly garden that still looks great. . . .

Read more about Water-Wise Gardening

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The VA will not issue home loans for fixer uppers

Veterans Affairs (VA) home loans have experienced tremendous growth in recent years. The VA expects to guarantee more than 620,000 home loans in 2013, which would be the agency’s most successful year on record. But real estate agents need to know that the VA home loan program is unique. It’s quirky. A failure to understand [...] . . .

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A flowchart that will tell homebuyers if they qualify for a mortgage loan

Not all homebuyers qualify for mortgage loans. Banks and other lending institutions will only give potential homebuyers the tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars they need if the homebuyers can demonstrate their ability to pay the lenders back. Use the flowchart found below to determine if you qualify for a mortgage loan. . . .

Read more about Qualifying for Mortgage Loans

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