Making the decision to buy your own home can be one of the most stressful but rewarding choices of all. If you’re a first time buyer, the entire process can seem very intimidating. A few common sense tips can help you ease your way through it much easier. First off, go visit your local library and borrow a few books on basic real estate principals. Make a sincere attempt at learning the jargon associated with the real estate process, so once you’re sitting in a meeting with a seller, a real estate agent and a bank officer, you’ll have a better idea of what everyone is talking about. Second, know what the difference is between “pre-qualified not pre-approved”, “pre-qualified” and “pre-approved”. Sound confusing? It can be. It all relates to how serious of a buyer you are. If you’re “pre-... 09/01/2011

If you've dreamed of real estate riches along with dreaming of being in the position to help out those who have hit a few bumps in the road along the way but are generally good people fallen on hard times then you may want to consider a type of real estate investing in which you purchase properties and then work out a lease to own agreement with people who, for one reason or another, cannot get the financing to purchase their own properties right now. This type of real estate investing is a great way to make money while helping out your fellow man and there are many other benefits to this type of arrangement as well. First of all, renters have no stake in a property. For this reason you will often find that renters have little regard for damage done to the property beyond how it affects... 09/01/2011

The average family can save money simply by using coupons. The manufacturer places coupons in the papers, in circulars, and online to encourage people to try their products. As you redeem a coupon the store exchanges it with the manufacturer to help keep their costs the same. You get a good deal and often you get to try out a new product.   It's like a double bonus when you get to have a coupon for something you need and it's the brand you like best. Finding coupons on your favorite items is always a positive experience because you simply end up with what you needed anyway. Buying something just because there is a coupon is not necessarily going to save you money. If you didn't want, weren't planning on, and have little need for peanut butter how is buying it because there is a coupon h... 08/25/2011

Can you ever really be prepared for tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, and tsunamis? Being prepared does not mean being immune to the destruction of a natural disaster, and all warnings and mandatory evacuations should be heeded. However, you can minimize your risk of damage and increase your chances of survival with every small step you take.   Tornadoes are very difficult to prepare for because there is very little time. The same applies to tsunamis. For tornadoes, you want to have non-perishable items packed and placed in a storm shelter. Along with those items you want to have a high quality first aid kit, lights or lanterns, blankets, and a battery operated radio with fresh batteries tucked away in the shelter. Tornadoes come at you fast and they leave fast.   While you want all t... 08/25/2011

  Flu season is one of the more challenging times in the lives of those who have other chronic illnesses. It's also a threatening time for babies, new mothers, and those over the age of 65. Being at risk doesn't mean that you have to live in fear. Unfortunately, the flu can be a very serious illness that in some cases still causes death in otherwise healthy adults. If you're in a high risk group the fear is compounded.   Wash your hands. Hand washing is by far one of the more predominantly simple and effective ways to keep the flu at bay. Antibacterial soap and hot water help to kill the germs that are passed from surface to hands. If you are not washing your hands you are inviting germs directly into your body.   Use a high powered antibacterial cleaner to remove germs from common surf... 08/22/2011

Wrong. This is an assumption that is made only when the pay structure and the home pricing is not clearly understood. If it has been explained to you but you still aren't sure, that's understandable. It's hard to relate to the structure that is the real estate business. So, let's try to explain it in a different way.   When you run into a store and you make a purchase you can see by the price tag what the cost is. Yet, when you pay at the register the price goes up because of the tax. Imagine how much easier it would be if the cost of the item and the tax was displayed as a total on the price tag the first time.   The Realtor pricing is already displayed. You don't pay for the home and then pay for the Realtor. When the price was set the commission rate was already built in. The price w... 08/22/2011

When you're buying a home that is under construction or being built specifically for you, it's possible that you will question if you need a Realtor since the builder already has a sales rep. While it may be tempting to skip the idea of adding a Realtor commission to the cost of the home it's generally not recommended.   You don't need a Realtor in the traditional sense to show you from one house to another. Your home is already being built. What a Realtor offers you is knowledge. Realtors have to understand the laws, the codes, and the requirements. These are not things that you are expected to know and the sales rep and the builder know this as well. Walking into a home negotiation without a Realtor is like walking into court without an attorney. It can be done, but it usually doesn't... 08/22/2011

What are Brown Recluses and Black Widows and How Do I Avoid Them?   Brown recluses are spiders that are known to have potentially serious bites. They are found throughout the southeastern part of the US and can cause serious illness or death in the event of an untreated bite. Named for their long, brown body these spiders are found inside and outside.   Indoors they are often found in dark places. You can find them in the recesses of the shower or in dark corners of the closet. They also like furniture. Most bites happen when the spider rests in the bed and finds itself trapped. They do not go in search of humans to bite but rather only use biting as a defense. This is why most people are bitten in their sleep.   If you find a spider bite in most cases there is nothing to worry about if... 08/22/2011

The 15%You Save by Getting that Store Card Could Cost You Thousands   It's a very tempting offer to receive when you are all ready to check out. You know that offer. If you sign up for the store card today you will receive 15% off your purchase immediately. It sounds good. In fact, it sounds fantastic. In most cases you even get to use the card immediately, which means you don't have to pay anything at all today.   And then you get the bill. Credit card promotions, even those that are presented in store on your way out, are never ever in the customer's best financial interest. The store is going to make much more on the interest. Carrying even the smallest balance will essentially cost you more than you saved on the day you signed up for the card.   Promotional rhetoric is designed to s... 08/22/2011

Hanging a picture straight the first time is a lot like trying to walk a tightrope with your eyes closed if you don't have any help or a method of getting the angle just right. There are lots of little tricks that you can use to ensure that when your pictures are hung they are all straight, even, and adding their depth to your home.   Some of the tricks are very simple and cheap. For instance, a strip of masking tape can be used across the back of the frame. Make sure that it makes contact with the hooks intended for hanging on the nails. The pressure of the tape can be used to make holes or marks, provided that you're careful not to move the tape in an effort to pierce it.   Then you simply remove the tape and place it on the wall. If you check with a  level first you will know whether... 08/22/2011

Recycling is often one of those things that we do simply because most cities and towns provide a container for us to use. Yet we often don't consider what is actually recyclable and what isn't. One of the best ways to start recycling is to find out what your local plant does recycle and what it doesn't. While many will recycle paper a good percentage will not recycle chip board, which is what cereal boxes are made from.   Once you know what the local municipality will care for then you can decide how to manage the rest of the recycling. Many major cities allow you to dump everything that is recyclable into one container and they come and pick it up, meshing it all together anyway. Other cities and many smaller towns require you to pick only one type of recycling product for the pick up ... 08/22/2011

There are all kinds of activities that you can do that help your kids appreciate the environment and start to understand ecological responsibility. While it is not necessary to preach doom and gloom of the planet to a 3 year old, introducing the kids to the outdoor world and natural environments is a good place to start.   A simple nature hike can certainly be fun. Adding in some nature eye spy or even a treasure hunt can give you the opportunity to teach many fun based lessons at once. You can expressly tell them not to pick the flowers or pull leaves off the trees while they are hunting for treasure and you can explain why. You can also help them learn to identify the kinds of animals and bugs that live within the ecosystem. You can teach the importance of visiting without leaving any... 08/22/2011

I'm sure there are parents sighing all over both districts now that the morning rush hour is over!  Traffic was especially challenging at Sloan Creek Middle School today...new traffic officers will need to find their groove to keep everyone rolling efficiently.   As you travel through Allen, Lucas, or Fairview, please remember to slow down in the school zones.  Also, please make those calls and send texts when you are parked and safe to do so.   We want all of our children to be safe and protected on their way to and from school. Let's work together as a community to make this the best time in our children's lives!  Before you know it, you will be packing them up for college because time seems to fly by so fast nowdays. If I can help you buy or sell a home in Allen, please give me a cal... 08/22/2011

Different types of termites are found all over the world. They have different rates of destruction and often different patterns of destructive behavior. All termites live in colonies and serve their nest's greater good. You can count on some types destroying a home in just a few months while others eat at a slower rate and give you a few years before the damage is overwhelming.   There are 5 different types of termites. The Eastern Subterranean is a termite that is known for eating soil. This particular group is found all over the United States and is considered to be the most common kind. Colonies are huge, and can be 5 million in number. Most are not that big. If you find a colony in your back yard don't be surprised if there are at least 50,000 of them just under the surface of the g... 08/18/2011

If you haven't heard of Xeriscape yet you probably will soon. This is definitive method of reducing water consumption through the appropriate use of landscaping. The state of Texas has been struggling with numerous water related problems, including drought and a population explosion. Recent analysis of the situation showed that as much as one quarter of the state's fresh water supply has been going to water the landscaping.   By using seven simple but effective principles the Xeriscape can be applied so that homes and businesses do not have to give up their landscaping but the fresh water consumption can be cut dramatically. Focusing on water conservation right now will help the state remain fertile and sustainable in the future. This is an imperative step when it comes to improving the... 08/18/2011

How does an air conditioner work so tirelessly to maintain our comfort? We rarely stop to notice things that we rely on every day and ask how it works or how to fix it should it break. Usually, we wait until something breaks and then we call someone who knows how to fix it. Understanding how an air conditioner works not only gives you a new appreciation for what it does, but it also can help provide insight for whether a professional technician is actually needed in the event of failure.   Of course, not all air conditioners are the same. Window units are very different from central air conditioning. The same basic principle is involved but the operations of each can be quite polar. The cool air you feel is not coming from the outside. It's actually the coming from inside your home. Tha... 08/18/2011

When the summer temperatures climb heat stroke can become a reality for anyone. There are certainly those who are more at risk than others, but in the right conditions anyone can succumb to heat stroke. It's important to understand the risk factors, the likelihoods, and the early symptoms in order to prevent a tragedy from happening.   Heat stroke is essentially the process of overheating the internal organs of the body in a way that shuts off the brain. It happens to children, adults, the elderly, and those with chronic conditions. Unfortunately, every year children and family dogs are left in cars during the summer heat and perish under the extreme intensity of the sun through the glass. Never leave anyone in your car unattended, not even just for a few moments.   A car without air co... 08/18/2011

School ratings for Allen Tx 2011 have just been released and once again the Allen Independent School District has faired very well. And it's just in time for all the back to school excitement. Overall Allen ISD earned a Recognized Rating under the 2011 Texas Education Agency accountability rating system. Twelve individual Allen ISD campuses were rated Exemplary, which is the highest rating, and nine campuses were rated as Recognized - see individual school ratings below. The ratings are based on high school completion rates, dropout rates and passing rates on the state test, the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS). Increasing standards and the elimination of the Texas Projection Measure (TPM) resulted in fewer schools and districts earning an Exemplary accountability rating ... 08/17/2011

Yippeeeeee!  We have a slow soaking rain pouring down on us this morning.  What a way to wake up and greet the day....all refreshed and ready to go!  Let's get out and Make it a Great Day! See....even the weatherman finally put rain in our forecast....today!  LOL         08/13/2011

Allen Texas Home on a Beautiful Premium Wooded Lot!  Suncreek, Allen Texas 75013 1429 Rollins Drive  Allen Texas  75013  Click to search more Allen Texas homes for sale.   Looking for a great Allen Texas home for sale near a gorgeous wooded greenbelt?  This Allen Texas home has all the amenities you’re looking for on a striking lot!  This Allen Texas home is listed by Michael Coburn 972-390-2480 of RE/MAX Town & Country and is offered for sale at $289,900.   This Allen Texas home has all the upgrades in the kitchen!  The kitchen of this Allen Texas home has a large eat in area, spacious island, under-mount sink, nice backsplash, great wood floors, and black appliances.    The elegant staircase in the foyer of this Allen Texas home greets you as you enter!  The formal living and dining a... 08/11/2011