The Dream of Living in a Log Home is Alive in Northern Michigan - My North - April 2010 - Northern Michigan

The Dream of Living in a Log Home is Alive in Northern Michigan - My North - April 2010 - Northern Michigan

Photograph by: Todd Zawistowski

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WWF - Earth Hour 2012 - Dare the World to Save the Planet

Speeding up spring means work for farmers

Speeding up spring means work for farmers: The last day of winter is feeling a lot more like summer, and these hot temperatures have farmers across Northern Michigan scrambling to get ready for an early crop.

Real Estate Terms and What They Mean

By Patricia Orsini | Posted Sep 8th 2010 3:40PM

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Jaime Uziel knows that as a real estate attorney his clients depend on him to interpret the legalese that's part of any real estate transaction. He's happy to do that, he says, but he also tries to educate his clients about real estate terms and what they mean.

"They are the ones signing these documents, and they should know what it all means," says Uziel, who practices in San Francisco. "I want them to know what a title is and what exactly goes into closing costs."

Here are common real estate terms that homebuyers encounter when they work with real estate agents, mortgage brokers and real estate attorneys. Be prepared by knowing these real estate terms and what they mean before you sign on the dotted line.

How to Shop for Your First Home

By Aaron Crowe | Posted Jun 29th 2010 11:50AM

The need for more space was what got Kim and Jason Fitzsimmons thinking about buying their first home. They'd been married for a year and realized that a small apartment, even with two bedrooms, wasn't big enough for all they'd accumulated.

But it wasn't until they had their income taxes done that they learned from a tax preparer about the deductions they could get from owning a home. The Fitzsimmonses then got serious about buying their first home, and about doing it before the end of the year. Deducting the mortgage interest from their income taxes would make buying a home less expensive than renting. While that isn't true for everyone (check with your tax preparer first on home deductions), the couple started doing their homework and soon were out looking for their first home.

3 Ways for Twentysomethings to Get Ahead Financially - Kiplinger

3 Ways for Twentysomethings to Get Ahead Financially - Kiplinger

In Light of Recent Weather Events, Here are "Winter Storm Questions and Answers" for Home Owners

Winter Storm Questions & Answers

Posted: 12/22/2011

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Q: What are some steps homeowners can take in advance of a winter storm to help prevent or minimize damage?
A: Have a plan. What will your alternate heat and/or power source be? Where will you go if your residence is not fit to live in? Most areas have emergency plans — who can you contact locally for assistance? City/County/Red Cross/Faith-Based Group? Good general maintenance of your property will minimize opportunity for loss during winter storms. If you lose power during freezing temperatures and it becomes necessary for you to leave your residence unattended, turning off the main water source could prevent serious water damage if any plumbing is affected.

How did you weather the Up North Storm of 2012?

The storm started Saturday evening, and announced itself with a 30 ft tree branch knocking on our front door!

Throughout the night, many branches weighed down by heavy, wet snow continued to fall around our property. By morning, we were out power and our driveway was blocked by fallen and bent over trees.

During this storm, we went the day without power, had a creosote fire in the vent of our wood burning furnace, called 911, had 7 of Grand Traverse County's finest fireman here on the scene very quickly to take care of what could have been disastrous! We had pizza and played Euchre with our lovely neighbors and hunkered down for the night anticipating another day without power. THANKFULLY before we could put our weary heads to rest...The POWER came back ON :-) So today, Sunday after the storm, we continue to clean up from our adventure as well as partake in some fun activities. So working on the igloo in the yard and taking the kids sledding is on the list of activities today! We hope not everyone had as eventful day as we did, and that other Up Northers are safe and warm this Sunday morning! More pictures to come...Be safe, Stay Warm, and Love the Up North!

March home-maintenance checklist - MSN Real Estate

March home-maintenance checklist - MSN Real Estate

It’s time to see what winter’s wind, rain and snow have done to your home and make fixes quickly to head off water-related damage. First, head outside.
Outside
Spiff up the front entry. One way to stay on top of your home’s maintenance and protect your investment is to look at it as though you’re a stranger considering it for purchase. Perform repairs as the need arises and try each year to add a little to the home’s attractiveness on the outside. One good way to boost curb appeal, as real-estate agents call it, is to make the entrance more appealing. Once the weather is dry, check steps, decks and porches for wood rot and peeling paint. Repaint porch steps and railings yearly with durable deck paint. Wash winter grime and dust off the front door and door frame. Repaint or stain the front door to protect wood doors and give the whole home a little face lift. Consider using a fun accent color such as barn red, black, hunter green, navy blue or gold, depending on the other colors on your home’s exterior. You may want to add built-in planters to a deck or front porch and change the plants with the season.

How to choose the right house for the right reasons - MSN Real Estate

How to choose the right house for the right reasons - MSN Real Estate

Just as most of us have a list of traits that are non-negotiable in a spouse, every house hunter has a list of things he or she wants in a house. Of course, these features and amenities won't necessarily ensure a match that stands the test of time.
We asked our readers to tell us what they love most about their current home and what, in hindsight, was clearly just a passing fancy. In this month's Buying Advice, we'll look at the real-estate love letters they wrote and compare them with what buyers are shopping for today.
We'll also check in with the latest home-sales data that hint at a bottoming market and answer a question that many first-time homebuyers have: "Where do I start?"

February home-maintenance checklist

The transition between winter and spring is the time to get a jump on moisture damage and heat loss, make quick work of organizing storage areas and work in some garden prep before spring.

By Marilyn Lewis of MSN Real Estate

Don’t let winter slip away without using the cold, wet weather to help you detect where your home is leaking water and heat, giving you a chance to seal it up tight and develop a wish list for energy-saving improvements. Your first order of business inside your home is to make sure no water is getting in.

Goodbye, paper. Hello, 'e-closings'

Electronic processes are poised to make homebuying easier on the wallet — and on trees.

When Charles Schaffner of West Haven, Utah, closed on a home recently, he didn't leave with a giant stack of paperwork. Instead, he left with a CD containing electronic versions of all closing documents.
The closing took less than 20 minutes, and yet Schaffner knew exactly what he was signing; he'd reviewed all of the documents at home the night before.
Schaffner got his loan through Mountain America Credit Union, which is one of the first banks in the country to roll out an electronic-closing option. Encompassing home contracts, closings and loans, electronic processes are saving time and money. (Bing: Paperless real-estate transactions)
Schaffner says his experience with electronic closing was a far cry from previous closings.