Welcome to the historic, revitalized New Orleans! With a rich and enduring culture, New Orleans has come back with a vengeance.
The world-renowned Mardi Gras celebration brings people from all over the world for the celebration of a lifetime, while a thriving visual art and jazz scene keep this city active all the year round.
Original French and Spanish architecture remains in the city’s French Quarter, the oldest and most famous neighborhood of New Orleans. The French Quarter is home to Bourbon Street, a hotspot for music and nightlife, while charming historical buildings are found on every corner.
Nestled along the Mississippi, New Orleans is one of the most visited cities in America. This international city has been influenced by European, African, and Southern American cultures to create a unique style all its own.
With Creole and French cuisine, the dining atmosphere is truly top-notch, and you’ll find many establishments that cater specifically to the locals. From crawfish to étouffée, both casual and haute cuisine will leave you wanting more.
New Orleans is also home to several major universities, creating a rich intellectual atmosphere in the midst of artists, musicians, and longstanding locals. With one of the most active ports in the world, the Mississippi is a hotbed for business and industry, with jobs in every sector and a close proximity to the Gulf of Mexico.
Three active streetcars lines provide easy and unobtrusive public transportation around town, while old country mansions are both showcases and the pride of this city. As one of the most cultural cities in the world today, New Orleans has so much to offer!
Head to Buyowner.com right now to check out New Orleans properties listed for sale by owner!
The Treasure Coast truly lives up to its name as a treasure of Florida, with gorgeous sandy beaches, fine restaurants, abundant shopping spots and unique attractions. Stretching from Hobe Sound in the south to Sebastian in the north, the beautiful east coast of Florida offers a relaxed atmosphere and a laid-back lifestyle that is sure to appeal to anyone looking to get away from the busy pace of the big city.
Home to the PGA Golf Club, the Treasure Coast features some of the best golf courses in the world. Packed with museums, theatres and parks, this area is also rich with culture, history and natural beauty.
Miles of unspoiled natural beaches and crystal clear waters make this a prime spot for swimming, fishing and sunbathing. Indian River County comprises one of the fastest-growing areas of Florida, while Sebastian is a popular destination for surfers, boasting the biggest waves in the state. Also part of Florida’s Treasure Coast, Vero Beach is known for its outstanding beaches.
With world-class golfing, pristine beaches and easy access to top attractions, Treasure Coast is unlike any other area in Florida.
Head to Buyowner.com right now to check out exciting properties listed for sale by owner in the Treasure Coast!
Well-known as a top vacation destination, Central Florida is home to a long list of world-class destinations from Walt Disney World and Universal Studios to the Kennedy Space Center and the Daytona International Speedway.
Because of its thriving tourist industry, this region has attracted all kinds of upscale shopping malls, high-end restaurants and even major designers like Chanel and Louis Vuitton, showcased at The Mall at Millenia.
Tourist attractions aren’t the only convenience of this area. Major medical centers surround Central Florida, with many new developments underway. A new Veterans Administration hospital and a major biomedical research facility are set to complete in the next few years, along with a medical school at the University of Central Florida.
Like much of the state, Central Florida benefits from a wealth of natural resources.
St. Johns River, the Ocklawaha River, the Econlockhatchee River, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and over 1500 lakes and ponds create a scenic community filled with recreation opportunities and beauty.
With so many features and conveniences, Central Florida is a great place to call home!
Head to Buyowner.com right now to check out hot Central Florida properties listed for sale by owner!
Another database update is scheduled for Tuesday, May 7, at 7:30 AM EST. We estimate the service to be down for no more than one hour.
Although you may not see any cosmetic changes, the update will be enhancing the database functionality. We will be moving to a faster, more powerful database server.
New and exciting features are in store for both buyers and sellers.
South Florida offers all the things that come to mind when you hear the phrase “Sunshine State.” From its sandy beaches to its multicultural night life, this region leaves no doubt as to why it’s a premier destination for visitors nationwide.The tropical climate boasts warm and humid weather throughout most of the year, with the average monthly temperature never dropping below 65°F and usual summer highs in the 80s and 90s. Coastal living gets even better when you consider the wealth of attractions filling the community.
Home to Miami, which boasts the largest downtown skyline in the United States, and Fort Lauderdale, known as the “Venice of America,” South Florida features exciting cities and thriving commerce.
South Florida offers the best mix of sunshine and play for sports fans. Dolphin Stadium, located in Miami Gardens, hosts both the Florida Marlins baseball team and the Miami Dolphins football team. The Miami Heat basketball team and the Florida Panthers hockey team also call South Florida their home.
Virtually every city in South Florida hosts a unique lifestyle. From its waterfront communities along the ocean or the Intracoastal Waterway, to the inland cities and rural areas, South Florida also has a abundance of historic neighborhoods spanning from West Palm Beach, all the way down to Key West. Popular destinations like Boca Raton, Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale, Sunrise, Miami Beach, Key Largo, Wellington and Port Saint Lucie offer a wide variety of housing choices and local entertainment.
South Florida provides the best of everything: a thriving economy, bustling metropolises, abundant entertainment options and incomparable natural beauty.
Head to Buyowner.com right now to check out hot South Florida properties listed for sale by owner!
As some of you may have seen, the BuyOwner.com web site was down for a few hours for some database maintenance. These new changes to the database have been put in place to accomodate some new and exciting features we have in store.
The BuyOwner.com IT department appreciates your patience as we continue to better your home selling and buying experience.
After your have chosen the kinds of plants you would like to flourish in your vision of a garden, it’s time to make the dream a reality!
Planting Your Garden
The most ideal time of day to plant your garden is morning. The fresh dew makes the soil easy to handle, and the sun is not at its hottest until later in the day. However, it would also be easier to plant on an overcast day.
There are several steps you need to take when planting your gorgeous garden.
- Water the plants in their pots before you remove them.
- Remove one plant at a time. You don’t want to take them all out of the pots at once and risk drying them out.
- Bury the plants the same way they were situated in the pots.
- Water your newly planted garden when you are completely finished.
Maintaining Your Garden
- Make sure that your garden gets at least an inch of water every week.
- If you get plenty of rainfall, do not water your garden by hand. You will risk flooding the garden.
- If there seems to be too much rain, you may want to purchase plant covers from your local nursery to keep them from getting too much water.
- Weeds will grow. Get rid of them!
- Removing dead bulbs from your garden will prolong the life of the rest of plants.
- If your favorite flowers do not survive, move on and plant something else. The possibilities are endless!
Enjoying Your Garden
Stop and smell the roses! Don’t get caught up in all that planting and weeding. Take a step back and enjoy what you have accomplished. Not only are you beautifying your neighborhood by creating a lovely garden, but you are creating something spectacular and pleasurable for yourself. After your hard work, it’s time to sit back, relax and appreciate your completed garden.
Bittersweet news for Illinois homeowners: median home prices are steadily rising amid a steady drop in home sales.
This could be interpreted in a number of ways; most importantly, we can see that desirable homes are selling for higher prices.
While many homes are still stuck on the market, this statistic may be an incentive to make your home as desirable as possible.
An article from www.suburbanchicagonews.com examines the ups and downs of this story:
“During March, home sales remained mired in slow growth activity due to low consumer confidence, tighter financing factors and a weakening economy,” said Kay Wirth, a broker with Re/Max Unlimited Northwest in Crystal Lake and president of the Illinois Association of Realtors. “There is a lot of pent-up demand, and while people are being cautious, given the uncertainty in the overall economy, the spring market is here and now is an ideal time to check out ample inventory in your area to purchase your dream home.”
If you’re looking in the Illinois area, it is best to take a look at the wide range of homes on the market. While buyers may not give away their homes, more balanced prices make this a fair and inviting time to buy or to sell in this micro-economy. This study examined the Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will counties, where easy access to urban areas and the lakeshore are some of the many reasons to buy in this area.
Now may be the perfect time to examine the best of listed properties in the Illinois area!
Is your front lawn looking pretty empty? Is something missing from your backyard?
Plant a garden to spruce up the look of your verdant landscaping! Not only does it add value to your home, but it gives you something pretty to look at any time of the day.
Not sure where to begin? Here are a few helpful hints:
Choose a Spot
What’s the point of having a garden if you are not going to enjoy its beauty? First and foremost, you should plant your garden in the place where you will enjoy it the most. Perhaps you can view it from a large picture window in the living room or from the lanai/patio in the backyard.
Second, you must take into consideration where the most sun hits your property. Many plants turn their faces towards the sun. This means that your plants will be facing west in the afternoon and early evening. Also remember, an afternoon heat is dryer than early morning, so you must be prepared to water your garden regularly if it is constantly exposed to the sun.
Start Small
Over time, you may want to create a huge sanctuary for pretty perennials and flourishing flowers. However, if you are planting your first garden, make sure to plant something that is easy to maintain. Once your small collection of foliage begins to blossom, if you enjoy the task of keeping up the lovely look of your new-and-improved green space, you can always add to it!
Check the Soil
- pH: Some plants cannot soak up the necessary nutrients unless the soil is at a certain pH. If you purchase plants from a nursery, there should be a label that tells you the pH needed to grow the plant. If it is not listed, a neutral range of 6.2-6.8 is fine.
- Texture: Whether your soil is rocky, sandy or anything else, if your soil is not the perfect mixture of dirt, it can always be improved with compost, which you can purchase from a local nursery.
Prepare the Bed
If you are lucky enough to have a small area that is full of soil, not sod, then all you have to do is make sure to clear out weeds and any unnecessary plant-life growing in your soon-to-be garden. If you choose an area that is grassy, you are going to have to remove the sod and add a bit of fertilizer to the soil beneath the grass.
Choose What You Want to Grow
After you have determined which plants need a lot or a little sun and which plants need a certain pH, you are ready to garden! Start by choosing colors that you like. You can choose your favorite colors, or colors that complement the hues of your home. You may also want to take a walk around the neighborhood and see what other people like to put on their lawn. However, keep the variety of the types of plants limited. This way, you know your bed will have the perfect pH in the soil and the perfect positioning towards the sun for the plant you choose. You can always spice up the space with several different colors!
Stay tuned for the second part of this series for more tips on finishing that pretty garden!
The difference in cost in renting and owning a home could make a world of difference to your financial situation. It is important to recognize the many different situations that, although they may seem cheaper at the time, will actually cost you more in the long run. Using loan calculators and rent-versus-buy calculators can give you some insight into how taxes, tax breaks, equity and general expenses can factor into this major financial decision.
Here are a few financial calculators that are simple enough to understand, but thorough enough to show you where your money typically goes when you buy or rent a home:
www.ginniemae.gov
Ginnie Mae is a government-backed security with a fantastic website, including several easy-to-understand charts and calculators that will give you a better idea of whether you should rent or buy. Three of the most useful calculators are the Loan Affordability Calculator the Rent Versus Buy Calculator and General Affordability Calculator.
These calculators help determine payments based on several simple variables, with a simple, itemized view of what-costs-what. And if your kids are looking to learn about their money, they can check out Ginnie Mae’s Super Cool Educational Cartoons to learn about saving and investing!
