Home Lighting

Home Lighting – Lighting with Glass Blocks is an unusual way to decorate
By Nancy Woodward

Have you ever considered using Glass block draw light into your home? Many years ago, glass block was used in factory buildings and basements to allow light flowing into the area but still provided some security and privacy.

Glass block has been used in showers and windows for bathrooms in higher priced housing. Home owners are only limited by their imagination when considering this durable material.

I’ve seen glass block used to create furniture such as desks and tables. Other suggestions for its use are for kitchen counters and divider walls. Since the blocks are not opaque, they blur and dim images while still allowing the flow of light.

Glass has many additional benefits – durability and resistance to weather.
Glass block is sealed with mortar on the exterior of your home. Since it is sealed this way, you eliminate leaks that allow outside air to enter your home. This in itself will help reduce your utilities. Glass block reflects light by refracting rays around the room. Glass alone allows light to pour into a room and perhaps fade carpets and furniture.

If you are interested in using this material, check out the material with a professional. Installing this product requires knowledge and experience. I’m planning to use glass block to enhance my home design and interior lighting.

Nancy Woodward is a Real Estate Agent with an interest in design and lighting.
Carpet and lighting
HomeLighting

The Economy of the US - Overspending

Living in the United States - Are We Spending Ourselves into Bankruptcy?
By Nan Wood

For years the United States Government has been adding each year’s deficit into the total of the National Debt. Generally when you hear people discussing the problem, they are usually referring to the current years’ deficit. The problem is much larger than this year’s overspending.

The gap between the amount the government spends and the actual amount of taxes it receives to support this is increasing rapidly. In 2002, the United States Treasury commissioned a study on this subject. The result of the study showed a $45 trillion gap.

Since that time, there have been more tax cuts and discretionary spending has continued to increase. One large increase came in the area of Medicare which now covers prescription drugs.

Former Fed and Treasury economists Jagadeesh Gokhale and Kent Smetters now estimate the gap to be at $63 trillion. Since senior benefits tend to grow almost twice as fast as the economy, the problem will continually grow larger. Baby boomers are reaching retirement and entitlement age. This group is the largest in history to reach retirement at one time.

The unpopular answer would be to restructure benefits thereby reducing the cost for the entitlements given out in the future. Of course this is not a popular approach and it would be hard for the lawmakers to pass the necessary measures to put this into effect.

An equally unpopular way to solve the problem would be to increase taxes or cut actually discretionary spending in other ways. Since there have been no major changes in Social Security since 1983, this program just continues to expand. We will not improve the future by allowing status quo to continue.

Since markets are affected by the economic health of our nation, I am slowly reducing my investments in the market. I was one of the unfortunate people who held a fair amount of technology stock at the wrong time. I am now considering investing in Canada. The Canadians, as well as other countries, have very low fiscal gaps. I am watching to see what moves our politicians make toward closing this fiscal gap to make long term progress in reducing the debt.

Nan is an Account and Business Writer. Her online presence is for information purposes at RealEstateLady

Real Estate - Creating Efficient Reach in closets

Creating Efficient Reach in Closets
by Nan Wood

Reach in closets are the most popular types of closets in homes today. Usually most bedrooms have a reach in closet which consists of a top shelf and a hanging rod for suits, shirts and pants. Reach in closets are usually 3 or 4 feet deep and either a couple of feet across or 6 or more feet across. Unfortunately for many people, reach in closets are always not the best way to store your belongings and wardrobes. Reach in closet tend to get cluttered easily have low light and can increase the chances that your clothing gets wrinkled. If you would like to change your poorly designed reach in closet into a great way to store your belongings and wardrobe, here are some tips.

One of the ways to make reach in closets extremely practical and give it the ability to truly organize your stuff and clothing is with closet systems. Closet systems are ingeniously designed shelves and bins and hanging rods that make it easier than ever to fit all your stuff in your closet in a very organized efficient manner. This means that not only is it easy for you to find the right place to hold or hang your clothing or items, but when you need it fast you can find it quickly without it being stuffed in a corner wrinkled.

There are two types of closet systems, customized closet systems that are created with the help of a consultant and assembly required closet systems that are easy to install and have the ability to fit almost any reach in closet. If you are looking for a way to get all your stuff in order and reduce your clutter, look into creating efficient reach in closets.

You will find that your real estate value increases with all the personalized touches that improve the appearance of all parts of your home. this is one way to create value for the future and organize your life now.

Nan is an Accountant and Business Writer with an information site online for RealEstate Currently she is offering a free mortgage calculator.

Real Estate - Non-traditional Roofing Materials

Real Estate Improvements – Non-metal Roofs are now Available
By Nan Wood

There are advantages to using the new roofing products. The cost, durability, and life cycle are longer. The new products are created from recycled and natural materials. When your roof, made of shingles, needs repair, the old shingles are removed and taken to a landfill.

If you are considering one of the newer roofs, you must take the weight of the material into consideration. Some of the newer materials, such as slate and tile, can weight five to ten times more than asphalt shingles; therefore, the supports must be strong enough to hold the added weight.

While this will increase the expense of installation, the expense will only occur once. To determine the actual cost, you must take both the cost of the product and the added expense of strengthening the rafters or trusses. Then determine the length of time of your product warranty.

If you are concerned about the environment, you can use recycled plastic products. Since they weigh approximately the same as shingle, you will not have to strengthen the support system. This will save you added expense while still allowing you to gain the benefits of the new materials. Plastic can carry a warranty as long as fifty years.

Other quality materials to consider using are:

1. Slate
2. Tile
3. Shakes
4. Fiber-cent
5. Cedar Shakes
6. Pine shakes

There are companies out there today specializing in a variety of roofing materials. Check online for more information.

Nan is an Accountant, Real Estate Professional and Business Writer. She is online with an information site RealEstate

Real Estate - Non-traditional Roofing Materials

Real Estate Improvements – Non-metal Roofs are now Available
By Nan Wood

There are advantages to using the new roofing products. The cost, durability, and life cycle are longer. The new products are created from recycled and natural materials. When your roof, made of shingles, needs repair, the old shingles are removed and taken to a landfill.

If you are considering one of the newer roofs, you must take the weight of the material into consideration. Some of the newer materials, such as slate and tile, can weight five to ten times more than asphalt shingles; therefore, the supports must be strong enough to hold the added weight.

While this will increase the expense of installation, the expense will only occur once. To determine the actual cost, you must take both the cost of the product and the added expense of strengthening the rafters or trusses. Then determine the length of time of your product warranty.

If you are concerned about the environment, you can use recycled plastic products. Since they weigh approximately the same as shingle, you will not have to strengthen the support system. This will save you added expense while still allowing you to gain the benefits of the new materials. Plastic can carry a warranty as long as fifty years.

Other quality materials to consider using are:

1. Slate
2. Tile
3. Shakes
4. Fiber-cent
5. Cedar Shakes
6. Pine shakes

There are companies out there today specializing in a variety of roofing materials. Check online for more information.

Nan is an Accountant, Real Estate Professional and Business Writer. She is online with an information site RealEstate

Real Estate - Save money on home insurance

Save Money on your Home Insurance Bills
By Nan Wood

Since your home is your most important and valuable asset, you need to carry insurance to cover all inevitabilities. You should do some research to determine if you are getting the best buy. Some of the ways to reduce the actual cost of this insurance coverage are:

1. Raise the deductible – Raising the deductible is the most obvious way to reduce the expense of insurance. The higher your deductible, the lower your premium will be. It is possible to raise your deductible from $500 to $1000 and reduce your insurance cost up to twenty-five percent.

2. Disaster proof your home. If you are in an area where your home is susceptible to hurricanes or tornadoes, consider adding shutters and other reinforcements to protect your dwelling.

3. Home-security sytems - Installing a home security system can reduce your insurance cost. Contact your agent and ask what this will do for you prior to installing it. If you install a fire or burglar alarm system that notifies the police or a monitoring company, the insurance provider generally will give you a discount.

4. Combine policies - By combing my automobile insurance and homeowner’s insurance I was able to get a fifteen percent discount. Request individual policy costs, as well as, a combined cost to determine which way to go.

5. Longevity – Insurance companies tend to give long time customers with a good track record, larger discounts.

Be sure you understand how much coverage your are purchasing and the cost of this insurance. On pay for the insurance you really believe you need. Do your due dilligence.

Nan is a Real Estate Agent with an online research site RealEstate

Real Estate in New Jersey - Prices are Skyrocketing

Home Prices in New Jersey are Skyrocketing
By Nan Wood

Home prices in New Jersey have been skyrocketing for some time now. Unfortunately, the average income has not been doing so. In 1995, the median single-family home in the Atlantic City area was approximately four times the average annual income in the area. It price is now more than eight times the average income in the area.

Home prices are just too expense for many workers, especially the first time buyers. Average income in Atlantic County was approximately $32,000 a year in 2004. The average income for the State of New Jersey at that time was $$41,000 a year. So many people are looking for houses at inflated prices while they live on lower personal incomes. Prices of homes rose 22.5% in 2005, while wages rose 3.6% . This translates to workers in South Jersey are spending a larger portion of their income on housing costs.

Here are a few ways to increase the chances of starting out:

1. Buy a townhouse or condominium first. Prices are generally lower for this type of housing.
2. Buy a house that requires work. You can buy a house at lower prices when you are willing to do the work it requires to bring it up to your standard.
3. Consider buying a home with a loan from relatives, thereby lowering your interest costs.
4. Consider buying your home with family members to reduce the cost to both of you.
5. Pay down your existing loans, credit cards to reduce your overall debt before you start looking for your new home.

If you work with a Real Estate Professional and explain your current situation, they can help you move forward. Your agent can suggest you get a pre-approval for a mortgage which will help you determine what you can afford.

You should not make any larger purchases prior to buying your new home. That new car you need that requires a loan should wait until after your own your home. Work with a Real Estate Professional – your new home is out there.

Nan is an Accountant and Real Estate Professional. She works with ‘The Dream Team’ in South Jersey. RealEstateLady
MortgageFinancing

Homes Sales Dip in New Jersey

Real Estate – Homes sales are Dipping In New Jersey
By Nan Wood

The Real Estate Market is slowing down. The shift is in favor of buyers. The home sales in the Philadelphia, Delaware, and Southern New Jersey area has fallen more than four percent in 2006. This is the first drop in ten years. The number of days a property is remaining on the market has increased forty-eight percent. According to the Ocean County, New Jersey, clerk’s office, the number of real estate transactions has fallen twenty-five percent from the 2004 high.

Sellers must recognize this and perform accordingly. When they receive offers below their listing price, they must decide if it is realistic to wait for a better offer. Waiting could cost them more in the long run.

Most real estate agents believe the decline will level off. They believe the sales will move slowly for a time. The current interest rate is approximately seven percent which is still one of the lowest in twenty years. This will help sales.

In Atlantic County, developments are going up all over the place. Many are townhouse and condo communities. Many of the units have been sold earlier this year when sales were going like hotcakes. The movement of real estate in this area has slowed recently as well.

In the long run, the housing market will continue to move forward, perhaps at a slower pace. The large wins of the past may remain in the past since the market is readjusting itself.

Nan is an Accountant, Real Estate Professional and Business Writer. She has an information site online for research in the
RealEstate area

You need to know how to calculate your credit score

Calculating Your Credit Score
by Nan Wood

Once you understand what a credit score is, how it affects your life, and why it is important to build and maintain good credit, you may also want to know how, exactly, a credit score is calculated. The process is not simple, and each of the three major companies in the United States that reports credit score and history uses a slightly different method, so your credit score will probably vary slightly from one report to the next. However, there are some factors you can take into consideration if you want to roughly estimate your own credit score.

First, if you have never owned a credit card, had bills in your name, or borrowed money of any sort, your credit score is zero. While this is not considered bad credit, it is almost as hard to get a loan with no credit as it is with bad credit. Some companies may be willing to take a chance on someone with a zero score, but it is much better to build up a little credit by owning cards, and living a stable life.

Credit history is about 35% of your total credit score, so this is very important. Bills that have gone unpaid or debts that have defaulted will hurt your credit score for 7 to 10 years before they are erased, so remember that the bad choices you make today can hurt you in the future. Even if you repay these past debts, they will still show up on you credit history as bills that were late. Another 15% of your credit score is length of credit history. Therefore, it is important to start building credit as soon as possible. Your credit score will improve with age as long as you maintain bank accounts. Information such as length of employment or residence can also fall under this category, so if you have a very stable life, you’ll have a better score than someone who moves around often.

About 30% of your score depends on what you currently owe. Even if you are not late on bills, if you have many loans out already, it may be possible that you are denied another. Therefore, it is important to only take out the loans you really need and to repay them on time or early if at all possible. By paying off your loans early, you will not only see a jump in your credit score, but you will also save money on interest. This shows up as good credit on your history. However, try to keep your money in one place if possible. 10% of your credit score is based on new accounts. They will look at how many different loans you’ve applied for in the past and how many different accounts you have open. Opening and closing accounts quickly is not recommended.

Overall, use common sense. By knowing how your credit score is calculated you can easily spot mistakes, which may hurt your credit now or in the future. You are entitled to see your credit report annually for free, so review this, as well as your credit score, to be sure that you are being treated fairly.

Nan is an Accountant and Business Writer with a site online MortgageFinance resources.

Should you fix up your house before you list it?

Real Estate Sales – Should you fix up your home before listing it?
By Nan Wood

Yes, you should fix all of the obvious things you can. When buyers visit homes, they look for the things they see that obviously need some fixing. Most buyers would rather not see the repairs in front of them. They want to buy a house that is in ‘perfect’ repair.

You should put yourself in the buyer’s shoes. Think like a buyer. Would you want to repair or fix up anything in your new home? No, you would not. While you are still in the buyer’s frame of mind, tour your house. Make a list of all the things you see that need repair.

Here are eleven obvious things to look for and correction any defects:

1. Do your walls need a fresh coat of paint?
2. How about the trim?
3. Are all of your floors and carpets in good shape? Do they need cleaning?
4. Are your windows and shades okay? Are the screens in good condition?
5. Do your appliances work properly?
6. Eliminate squeaks and cracks of all kinds.
7. Is your basement clean and organized?
8. Is your roof in good condition and non-leaking?
9. Check all faucets, fixtures and knobs.
10. Make your lights as bright as you can.
11. Clean the fireplace.

The time and effort you put into this list will save you money and aggravation in the sales process. You can do these repairs yourself or hire someone else to do them for you. The money you spend doing this will come back to you in savings. Your house will show better and sell faster in tip-top shape.

Nan is an Accountant and Real Estate Professional with an information and research site online RealEstateLady and a Business
Writer with a blog BusinessTips

Credit Unions help with loans for members.

A Second Chance: Credit Unions

A credit union is an organization available to individuals based on their place of residence or employment. It works a lot like a bank but offer loans exclusively to their members that are usually of a lower interest rate. Those who deposit money are able to also borrow money because it is run by its members. This is the perfect place for someone who earns a steady paycheck but has somehow managed to accumulate bad credit because the community is familiar with each other enough to base loans on character. A bank will turn you down in an instant if your credit rating is not favorable, but with a credit union you have a chance to state your case before you are approved or denied.

You could benefit financially just for being a member of a credit union. A savings account in a bank will accumulate interest that is given to your account over time. It is determined by a small percentage of what your balance is over time. Credit unions pay higher dividends to their members and the interest rates on any loans you must pay back will be much lower. Any profits that are accumulated will go into serving the members because it is a non-profit organization that is run entirely by volunteers in the community.

There are various ways of finding out which credit unions are available to you based on your employment, residence, or involvement in an organization. If you have a steady job, you can ask your employer if there is one for which you are eligible based on your involvement with the company. There may also be a member of your family who belongs to a credit union that encourages members to have their families join. In most areas you may be available to join based on your place of residence. It is viewed as a way for the community to work together as one to take care of one another.

Everyone needs to be a member of a financial institution in order to build credit, gain eligibility to take out a loan if it is needed, and also to have a reference of stability on his or her credit report. Many people prefer credit unions to banks because they are welcoming and community oriented. Since they are non-profit, you will not have to pay a fee to be a member and take advantage on the positive things they have to offer. This will give anyone who has a bad credit history a chance to still be eligible for loans and rebuilding their credit score.

For more information online visit
MortgageLoan

Four Steps to Getting out of Debt

Four Steps to Getting out of Debt
By Nancy Woodward

If you are in debt, then you know the feeling, the stress, the anxiety, and the calls from creditors and letters from banks. If you are in debt then the first thing you would like to do is run. However, you don’t have to run away from your debt, here are some tips for getting out of debt.

Many people don’t realize that they are going into debt, they realize once they are in debt. If you realize that you are in debt don’t panic, first it is necessary to understand your expenses and your income. Create a budget to know exactly how much can be spent each month and how much money you have to pay back creditors.

1. Contact your creditors. It is highly advisable to contact your creditors and tell them that you are having financial difficulties. They are more than likely to work with you instead of bark at you for their money. If you are willing to work with them they see it as that you’re more reliable to pay them back.

2. Create a budget that is realistic. Stick to your budget.

3. Pay the largest amount back to the highest interest accruing debts first. By paying the highest interest accounts first you are able save money in the long run and get out of debt faster.

4. If you can't handle all of the above, contact a professional. If you require more information then talk to a lawyer or a debt consultant.

But if you are in debt, don’t run away from the problem, do something about it. You can repay your debts and bring your credit score into a good zone. Just take one step at a time.

Nancy Woodward is an accountant and real estate professional affiliated with “The Dream Team”. Visit Nancy online at
Real Estate and
Mortgage Loan

Summer Homes make Sense

Summer Homes
by Nan Wood

For many people that are lucky enough to get the summer time off or at least a few good weeks during the summer, summer homes make perfect sense. Summer home ownership in America has risen tremendously over the last few decades. Today, you no longer have to be a millionaire to enjoy your own summer home; almost any one can easily buy a summer home property. Here are some tips.

Summer homes are a great way to relax and enjoy quality time with your family or friends. Low interest rates and an emphasis on property ownership have made summer homes hot properties. More people than ever are buying summer homes to enjoy their free time.

No matter where you live, you can find great summer homes. For instance, if you live near a big city, there are plenty of summer homes that are close to recreational destinations, parks and beaches. Many people like to get away from it all and purchase cottages in woodland communities where the air is fresh and the surroundings are quiet. Not only are summer homes a great way to spend time with your family, but they make sense financially for a long term investment. No matter what your lifestyle or attitude, you can find a summer home that fits your needs.

Credit Reports

Credit Reports are Valuable Tools
by Nan Wood

If you are concerned about your credit and would like to see how you rate, one of the best tools to use is credit reports. Credit reports are extremely valuable tools that can help you understand your credit rating, in case you are buying a home or a car. Understanding how credit reporting agencies work is very useful, here are some tips.

You can easily request a credit report sometimes for free (depending on the state of residence) to determine if you have good credit or have blotches of bad credit. Practically all your lending institutions report their credit history with you and depending on how much loans you have out, how you paid off your previous debt and your current employment can determine how lending institutions approve you for mortgages, car loans, etc.

Credit reports are a very valuable tool, especially for the many people today that rely on their good credit rating. Credit reports help people protect themselves from identity theft and unauthorized charges. When you request your credit report, you can easily tell if another entity opened up a credit card or took out a loan under your name. Credit reports should be requested every year or even every 6 months to determine if identity theft has taken place.