According to economic expert Lawrence Yun, housing is the key to sustainable growth in the American economy. Why is this true?

Consumer wealth is tied to the strength of the housing market. When home prices fall, people feel the pinch and reduce their spending. Consumer spending is vital to economic growth- such spending constitutes 70 percent of the nation's GDP.

Did you know that each completed home sale generates about $65,000 in economic activity? This economy boosting activity comes from hiring moving trucks, and buying furniture and appliances. Rising home values also helps with tax revenue. This money stays in your community.

There are signs that the U.S, economy is on the rebound. Recent released figures on home sales show that housing market prospects have improved considerably.

New home starts are up over 10 percent-the highest increase since August, 2008. And nationwide, home prices are up for the first time in three years!

Home mortgage rates are still low and there is a resurgence in home buyers applying for and receiving new jumbo mortgages which were essentially unavailable during the past few years.

Is The U.S. Economy Recovering Faster Than Expected?

It could very well be. The venerable Wall Street Journal trumpeted on its front page that the economy of our country is rebounding faster than originally thought.

The essential key to consumer confidence is retail sales. And for the first time in two years, retail sales in the U.S. increased two percent during one month. Also, The Beige Book, published by the Federal Reserve, reported that housing activity has increase in eleven out of twelve bank districts.

What is also promising news is that Freddie mac loan activity is up 10 percent higher in 2010 than in 2009.

In March, 2010, 162,000 new jobs were added and most were in the previously hard-hit manufacturing industries. Experts foresee 1,000,000 new jobs being created this year and 2,000,000 new jobs for 2011.

There's further good news about homeowners who are in trouble with their mortgages. In April, 2010 the percentage of home loans that are thirty days late in payment dropped for the first time in four years!

All this information means that the real estate industry is rebounding along with the economy. Not as fast as we would all kike, but the future looks brighter today than in more than four years.

Trying to Sell? Here's Great Staging Advice!

Any real estate professional will tell you that the key to a successful home showing is keeping the prospective buyers in side your home for as long as possible. This gives buyers a chance to really see your home in the way that they can visualize actually living there!

• Staging experts give these following suggestions to show your home in its best possible light:


• Reclaim your yard and the front door area of your home. If you have to hire a landscaper for a makeover, do it. With a critical eye, look at your home's front door. Paint the front door, add a decorative door knocker, make sure the steps and porch are swept and replace the front lighting fixture.


• Your home's foyer is the first interior room buyers will see. Make this first impression count by painting the walls, refinishing the floors and adding homey touches such as fresh flowers and a small bench.


• Banish beige from your home. Add splashes of color by painting some walls a bold color and using dramatic art and area rugs.

Sign Up For An Energy Audit And Be DUMB

With the advent of being "green" evolving into the practicality of being energy efficient, many homeowners are embracing the newest trend of energy audits. These audits are provided by both private consultants and your local energy providers.

These energy consultants use an easy-to-remember acronym to demonstrate the different areas of energy loss/inefficiency. DUMB is an easy way to show the four main areas in which homeowners can improve their home's systems and change behaviors that can benefit both you and the planet.

• DON'T lose it. One of the first places an energy consultant examines is where your hot air is going. Findings show that most of the heat in your home is lost through basement floors and above the attic or highest floors. A simple and cost effective solution lies in insulation both the roof and basement. This can be done for less than $800 and will last 10-20 years
• UPGRADING to efficiency. Upgrading appliances is one of the more expensive improvements. However, auditors have prioritized which ones can make the biggest difference. While a hot tub is the most energy-inefficient , the next culprit is your refrigerator. If upgrading it isn't an option, auditors recommend changing the seal every year and cleaning the coils every 3-4 months. Washers and dryers are the third and fourth energy vampires, but surprisingly, the furnace is the most efficient among appliances.
• MAINTAIN all systems. The home works as a system unto itself and when one or more parts are in need of maintenance, it can make the rest of the mechanisms perform poorly. Easy maintenance, such as replacing your furnace filter every month or two will not only keep your air cleaner, but keep it from needing major repairs in the future.
• BEHAVING more efficiently. From replacing incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent to using a water heater blanket to using a programmable thermostat, the habits owners practice can coax the most energy savings possible out of their home.

Homeownership Still Pays!

Jeff and Sally Hanson purchased their first home three years ago. During that time, and because of the economic recession in the U.S., the value of their home has fallen so low that their home today is valued less than their current mortgage balance.

This hit to their home equity, has given this young couple pause to wonder if it was the smartest financial decision to own a home.

But the good news, based on figures of Federal Reserve data, shows the answer is a resounding "Yes!"

In the Federal Reserve or Consumer Finances, it was announced that in comparison with renters, home owners have much greater household wealth. A typical owner's wealth exceeds that of renters by a factor of 50-to-1; a median of $205,200 versus a median of $4,200.

The main wealth difference between the two is home equity, of course. But even for households who've only owned their home since 2003, home equity gains are the rule rather than the exception.

Sure, times have been tough for homeowners in many struggling markets. And households in these areas who have owned their home for five years or less do have some negative equity.

Yet, in all 150 markets, including those hardest hit by the recession, households who have owned their homes for 10, 15 and 20 years have enjoyed strong equity gain despite the downturn.

This data clearly shows that homeownership remains the largest store of wealth for the typical household, even when markets have been through some rocky years.

Wicker outdoor furniture is some of the most popular types of garden furniture. With its combination of style, flexibility, and comfort; wicker is a great choice for anyone looking to decorate their patio, pool, or sunroom. However, wicker isn?t the most durable of furniture choices, and requires some care and attention to maintain. Here are some tips to help keep your wicker pieces looking like new.

The first, and easiest, step to protecting your wicker outdoor furniture is with furniture covers. Covers come in a variety of colors and fabrics, and help protect wicker against excessive moisture. The two most popular types of covers are vinyl and polyester. Vinyl covers are tougher, cheaper, and easier to clean; but are less attractive, and tend to be heavy. Polyester covers are more lightweight and breathable, as well as being slightly more attractive. Most covers come with two or three-year warranties, and can be found in almost any size.

Moisture and mold are the biggest threats to wicker outdoor furniture. To avoid a buildup of mold, regularly rub your wicker furniture down with a damp cloth; then again with a dry cloth. Regularly washing and thoroughly drying your wicker furniture will prevent mold buildups that can cause severe damage if left untreated. Removing mildew stains from wicker patio furniture is also easy. Simply spray the mildewed areas with a combination of one part bleach, nine parts water, and let the affected areas dry in the sun. Repeat the process until the stains are gone, allowing the furniture to dry completely before spraying again.

Another option for keeping wicker outdoor furniture is to keep it indoors when not in use. While this does take up additional space, it also helps protect the furniture against excessive sunlight. If not enough interior space is available, it?s best to keep wicker furniture in the shade. Excessive sunlight can cause warping in the wood, and cracking in the varnish.

Most pieces of wicker furniture come already varnished, but cracks in the varnish can occur over time and lead to significant damage. Regularly re-varnishing your wicker outdoor furniture can not only help protect it against the elements, but also helps it retain its shine and finish. There are a wide variety of varnishes available for use on wicker furniture, but those that combine varnish with a sealant provide the best level of protection.

There are many types of wicker outdoor furniture available, including bamboo, rattan, cane, synthetic, and resin. Synthetic wicker and resin-coated wicker are much less vulnerable to moisture, mildew, and sunlight, and are significantly more durable than the others. Resin-coated wicker in particular provides greatly improved durability without losing any of wicker?s comfort and aesthetic appeal.

With proper maintenance, wicker outdoor furniture can last as long as any other type of garden furniture, and be a stylish, comfortable addition to any outdoor space. If you follow the tips listed above, you won?t have any problems keeping your furniture looking clean and new.

Gardening Tips

For some people, gardening is a hobby, while for others it is simply an addiction. The nature lovers are simply fanatic about gardening. Gardens can be created in a number of ways. Either you may create a fragrant flower garden, a garden for fruits, vegetables or a landscape full of non-flowering plants. A beautiful garden can be created both indoors and outdoors. Whatever the location is, some things should be considered, when you decide to create a garden. Here in this section, we have given some tips for gardening outdoors as well as indoors.

Outdoor Gardening Tips
If you want to make your outdoor gardening experience a pleasant one, then you should follow the important aspects of gardening, which includes the right choice of tools, choice of location, irrigation, soil, use of fertilizers, manure etc. The basic tools required for outdoor gardening include hoe, rake, shovel, water hose or sprinkler and garden stakes. It is easier to work with them only if you keep them in good working condition. Wash them properly after finishing the work. Apply a thin coat of petroleum jelly on the sharp edges of the tools, so that they are protected from rust. Choose a moisture free place for storing the tools.

Gardening starts with proper planning. Therefore, always start the project with a rough sketch of the plan. Next, the choose the location. The best location for creating a landscape is the place that gets at least six hours of direct sunlight a day. In addition, the place should have plenty of drainage. To begin the project of outdoor gardening, you may start with the plants that are easy to grow, such as tomato, lettuce or carrots. You may grow the plants either from seedlings or from the seeds. Next, get a soil test for your garden. This will let you know the fertility, nature of the soil (whether it is acidic, basic or neutral) and the type of fertilizers needed. The soil should be perfectly suitable for the growth of the plants you choose. If you keep in mind the above mentioned things, you will ensure a good harvest for the season.

Indoor Gardening Tips
If you live in a part of the world, where you get only three good warm months for a year, then you will probably have to switch to indoor gardening. You may make use of your basement for creating a wonderful garden indoors. For the purpose, you need to decide the scale at which you are going to do this - whether you are going to plant a handful of plans, or do it a bit bigger. You may go for raised bed gardens or grow the plants without using soil. This will help you decide the budget for your indoor gardening project. Although indoor gardening is usually done on a small scale, the plants grown this way require more care than an outdoor garden.

All the basic factors, including lighting, pollination, soil, temperature, fertilization and watering have to be monitored closely for the project. Out of all the things, lighting plays a pivotal role, because unlike outdoor garden, the plants grown indoors would not receive much sunlight. Since lighting is an important factor, you should pick the plants that can be grown in medium to low light conditions. Consider supplying artificial lighting for the plants. Apart from lighting, you should pay special attention to the drainage system as well. By following the tips given below, you will ensure that you will be able to create a wonderful garden indoors.

Cactus Plant Care
Another perennial plant type that is quite famous all over the world is cactus. Cacti are also known as low maintenance plants.

Chrysanthemum Flowers
Chrysanthemums means 'golden flowers' , 'Chrys', which means golden and 'anthemon', which means flower combine together to give this name

Dwarf Plants
If maintaining a garden has become quite hectic for you then we have a tip for you. Small outdoor plants will not only design your garden

Fragrant Flowers
Gardening can be a lot of fun, especially for the nature lovers. It will be delightful to spend time in a heavily scented garden, after a day's hectic schedule.

Interplanting Vegetables
Interplanting is a way by which you can grow two or more types of vegetables, in the same place, at the same time.

Plant for Screening
No matter whether you are in the living room, bedroom or loitering in the garden, you will surely want to avoid unwanted attention and disturbances.

Alpine Plants In Container
If there is a scarcity of space then you can simply bring your garden to your room. It will of course fancy your pastime.

Shrub In Container
Growing shrubs in container gives both variety and unique design to your garden. One of the major advantages of growing shrubs in container

Trellis structure
Growing shrubs in container gives both variety and unique design to your garden. One of the major advantages of growing shrubs in container is that these can be used for accentuating

Eco+gel; Not Your Ordinary Dish Soap

It's well-known that the use of phosphates in dish and dishwasher soap can lead to harmful algae growth that clogs lakes and streams. And as the average American uses 150 gallons of water per day, a large part from dishwashers, that's a lot of algae. Up until now, no major brand of soap has totally eliminated the addition of phosphates. But Palmolive Eco+gel's detergent has. Available at $3 to $6, Eco+gel comes in three mature-inspired fragrances.

Poor Soil in Your Garden? Build a Raised Bed!

If the garden area in your backyard contains poor soil, such as construction "fill", building a raised garden bed may be right for you. The basic idea of a raised bed is that instead of battling poor soil conditions, you build it above ground on top of your native soil. It gives you absolute control over the soil texture and ingredients.You can choose a variety of materials to construct your raised bed. Wood is a popular choice, but you can use concrete blocks, natural stone or even brick. The ultra-simple, most inexpensive material to use is to just place bales of hay or straw into whatever configuration you desire, then fill it with good soil and compost before planting. This solution will give you only a year or two of use because the hay or straw will decompose. But if you're still developing a garden plan, it could be the way to go.After filling you bed with soil and potting soil, you can plant anything from herbs, vegetables to prize-winning roses!

Want to Be a Home-based Entrepreneur?

Starting a home-based business seems like a dream come true for many, but is working form home right for you? If your thinking about a new career as an entrepreneur, consider these important questions first:
Am I passionate about my product or service? The start-up phase is stressful. You'll need both physical and mental energy to get through the rough patches, especially when you are working long hours and waiting for the initial profits to come in. What is my tolerance for risk? There's no guarantee of success or ever a steady paycheck. If you're risk-adverse, entrepreneurship is probably not the best career for you. Am I good at making decisions? You and only you is in charge and early on, you'll have to decide how to handle such issues as "Do I incorporate?", "Do I advertise?", and "How do I finance this venture?" Will I be able to avoid burnout? Many entrepreneurs find it hard to step away from their responsibilities. You'll need to develop a work/life balance to avoid working seven days per week, losing touch with friends and upsetting loved ones.

Want a Speedy Home Sale? Here's How to List

Do you want to sell your home quickly? Even in today's difficult real estate market, there are a few things you as a seller can do to increase your chances of a quick sale.

First, don't overprice your home hoping buyers will offer a counteroffer. Today's buyers are looking for bargains and sellers must lower prices to compete in today's market. For example, a home price set at $555,777 may attract attention, but buyers who set their search maximum price at 550,000 will never see it. Prices ending in 000, such as $300,000, sell at greater discounts than those ending in 500, such as $325,500.

List your home on a Friday. Buyers peruse the listings on that day so they can gear up for their weekend search for a new home.

It it is possible, wait for any foreclosures in your neighborhood to be sold before you list your home. But if you must put your home up for sale, it needs to be priced competitively with any foreclosures that are located nearby.

Quick Household Fixes From ShopSmart

ShopSmart, a magazine published by Consumer Reports, says there are a few items every homeowner should have on hand for speedy DIY repairs. They include:
Assorted pins are good for temporary fixes of all problems. Upholstery T-pins are great for pinning the hems of chairs and sofas. Safety and stick pins are good for cleaning out the clogged ports on a gas range's burner.
Nail Polish can be used as touch-up paint on appliances and because it mimics the gloss of paint and patent leather, its ideal for patching up glossy surfaces. Use it to coat worn spots on belts, shoes and bags. Clear polish is great for sealing cracks on fragile objects such as holiday ornaments.
Good old-fashioned duct tape can be used to seal cracks and gaps. It now comes in a range of colors to match your fix. Use it to conceal a chip in a room vent, tuck in the fraying edges of a needlepoint or oriental rug, and keep a loose shower handle from popping off. Remember though, that it's not air or water tight so its only for temporary fixes.
Use a hair dryer to quickly dust intricate, tough-to-clean things like lamp and even window treatments. But use the cold setting to avoid burning the fabric.
Felt-tip markers can mask scratches on wood furniture. and they're great for tile and linoleum too. You can even use them or fabric.