Rose Cottage Ltd

What the heck is going on in this world?

How can a cable network as large as HGTV allow itself to be bullied by about 5% of the population?

Of course I am talking about HGTV’s decision to cancel the pending show, “Flip It Forward” with David and Jason Benhem. Apparently, some remarks they made commenting on their own beliefs about religion and about homosexuality are not properly aligned with the latest rush of atheist and pro-gay push that is inundating this country.

++ Interview with the Benhem brothers

My first comment about this is that I don’t know WHY I have to be hearing about anyone’s sexual orientation OR about their religious leanings. I’m not going to a party to socialize in person with these guys and I am not going to either a religious retreat OR an atheist club event – I just want to see how they flip houses and how they help people afford homes they otherwise couldn’t own.

But now I can’t because some handful of people locked in on several statements made by one or the other of these brothers (and in one case, something their FATHER said,) and started whining.

I hate whining – and the phrase “get over yourself” comes to mind.

Let ME speak out for a moment on a few things that “offend” me and one I noticed just this past week. Bravo TV has a HUGE gay agenda and to be honest, they are coming close to dropping off my radar for good.

Watch “Flipping Out” or “Million Dollar Listings” – Los Angeles or California. Gays EVERYWHERE. They can’t seem to get enough homosexuals on nearly every show on the network. On Million Dollar Listings New York just last week, a homosexual man made repeated and harassing overtures to a heterosexual agent – which was uncomfortable for him and uncomfortable for me to have to watch. It got even worse when the “client” continued to call Luis “Ricky Ricardo” based on the character played by Desi Arnaz in the “I Love Lucy” TV show. Luis is so young he had NO IDEA who “Ricky Ricardo” was – and when it was pointed out that Luis is Puerto Rican, NOT Cuban like Desi Arnaz AND Ricky Ricardo – the client acted as if that made no difference. I imagine it does to Luis. I have HUGE respect for Luis for not punching the guy out – it would have been more than deserved – on both counts!

I can only imagine what would happen if a heterosexual male tried to “sway” a homosexual over to his way of thinking – and then joked about his ethnicity. The outrage would be immediate, loud, and public. But no, Luis is supposed to try to laugh it off and attempt to get the other guy’s mind back on business.

Either you decide the show is worth watching and NOT offensive to you or, you use that little thing that comes with the TV called the remote – and you change the channel.

There is a LOT to be said for that old “don’t ask, don’t tell” era. I really don’t care, don’t want to know, and don’t think the offended feelings of the 3% gay population or the maximum quoted 5% atheist population should control what the MAJORITY see and hear. Keep your lifestyle and your thoughts about what you don’t believe in to yourself and you’ll find that most others will do the same.

Keep on limiting what I can watch based only on YOUR views – and you may find the wrath of the 92% to 95% will be awakened.

We’ll return to the regular real estate news next week – as soon as my blood pressure drops a bit and assuming (fingers crossed) that nothing else this ridiculous happens before then!

Happy May!

++ These cities are rising real estate stars

++ The Plug-and-Play Luxury Home

++ Grow Plants Indoors!

++ The Housing Rebound Stalls

Note: Thank you! I am so tired of reading about but not seeing our “thriving” US economy – which means those doing well now were always doing well. Some markets have seen SIGNS of movement toward recovery and the luxury market will always have interest but many areas of the US remain flatlined.

++ Debunking 4 Mortgage Loan Myths

++ Free Shipping on Select Bird Feeders

++ The True Cost of Bad Credit

++ The 10 Best Cities to Flip a Home

++ America’s Highest (and Lowest) Property Taxes?

++ $237 million apartment sale sets record

++ Garden.com Clearance – up to 80% off!

This week’s post is not really about real estate, but about the constant rise in our general cost of living. I’m not here to quote a bunch of statistics, but to do some research and rework of monthly household expenses.

There are many expenses associated with “living” as well as with real estate. Rent or mortgage, food and water, utilities, property taxes if you’re a homeowner, insurance, etc., etc. Some of these you can control. Unless you signed up for an adjustable rate mortgage, that payment will remain the same for the length of the loan (barring those potential property tax increases.) But there are those little sneaky payment increases that can blow your attempts at staying on budget right out of the water. Two of the major culprits of this are utility companies and cable/internet providers.

You can’t do a whole lot about utilities since our state and local governments have allowed basically monopoly businesses to control who offers service and how much we have to pay. Constant mergers of cable and internet providers is rapidly presenting the same situation for those industries. Remember when you could get internet access through your land line for $10 a month??? So, on the chopping block this week is Cable TV and apparently I am not alone:

++ Rising cable costs entice customers to other options

The article mentions digital antennas. Here’s one I found on Amazon:

++ Receives free broadcast High Definition TV signals with enhanced gain, range and frequency performance

++ Extra long high quality coaxial cable (15′) included

++ Black on one side white on other

++ TV reception may vary, HD antenna reception depends on the home’s distance from a broadcast tower, the terrain, and the surroundings

++ No Assembly required; Made in USA

UPDATE: You can check your local area for channels available and signal strengths here.

There’s a higher-priced “Extreme Performance” antenna that runs around $70, but for most of us, this little $35 option might solve one major monthly budget problem since we only have to buy it ONCE!!!

This is a GREAT solution for renters who either can’t afford or aren’t allowed to put a normal, outdoor antenna on someone else’s roof!

If you or I can drop the cable portion of our monthly expenses, how much does that save? For some or for those who don’t even know what they’re paying for cable – you won’t think making a change is worth the effort. But for the rest of us – or for those who think paying $13 a month for a DVR box that is REQUIRED for cable service is ridiculous, getting rid of this non-essential might feel pretty good.

My Ultimate Choice: Winegard FL5500A FlatWave Amplified Razor Thin HDTV Indoor Antenna

There are a LOT of monthly expenses we can’t control like the price of a gallon of gas, the ridiculous expense of municipal water and sewer, and ever-increasing food prices. But instead of focusing on those, pick away at what you CAN control – and last I checked, watching TV was not a requirement for life.

And a Happy Easter Weekend!

++ Americans: Real Estate Best Long-Term Investment

++ Sales of luxury US $1m+ homes ‘explode’

++ Property priced at US $4,683/sqft?

++ Free Shipping on Select Items at BloomingBulb

++ The 20 hottest real estate spots in the world

++ Exterior-Accents – 10% OFF

Note: Speaking of square-foot prices, did anyone catch the one New York apartment for sale on the TV series “Million Dollar Listings New York” where the amenity fee for the apartment was $9,000 PER MONTH? Even worse, there were hardly any amenities…no valet parking, no security. Not very “amenitized” for $9 grand per month!!

++ Top 10 cities: Where to buy now

++ Connecticut estate sells for record $120 million

++ Most expensive residences for sale in the U.S.

And a few items to ponder the next time you dream about remodeling the bathroom…

++ Most Expensive Bathtubs in the World

Sorry this is a bit later than usual. Some “attack” on WordPress servers had me blocked out of my own blogs earlier this morning. Getting this out quick before they shut things down again. Damn hackers – you are a plague on humanity!!!

I am, like many of you, watching and wondering about what is going on at the Bundy Ranch in Nevada. I’m not going to get into the various sides of the disagreement, or reinforce my OWN personal concerns about some of the Bureau of Land Management’s policies, or pick sides on the particular issue.

What I am both concerned and annoyed about is the FACT that an agency of the US Government has launched a full-scale attack on a US Citizen, on his own land, on US soil.

This is the same government who is fining another landowner for building a pond on his own property – AFTER he got the “required” permits to do so.

You can read more about that here.

And the same government whose EPA is trying to stop people from using wood stoves. In their own homes, on their own property.

Here’s a bit about that proposed grab.

I am pretty fed up with the Fed right now – and not too happy with most of the states either. There is something very fishy about this entire Bundy Ranch assault. And why does the Bureau of Land Management have a “Special Ops” team? I read somewhere this morning they are sending in their “special ops” because they’ve found that quite a few “average” citizens are NOT happy when the government starts abusing those who are paying their salaries.

I don’t pretend to know what’s really going on, but I will tell you one thing – it is NOT a happy time in America when citizens are mass-assaulted on their on property and in their own country – while illegals come and go and do seemingly as they please. I certainly don’t see the Fed putting this much time, money and effort out to protect US ranchers being overrun by illegal aliens on our southern border…

I guess the rest of the question would be “Can You Take In One Lifetime?”

“Nostalgic?” How about nearly sickening???

For the moment let’s ignore the fact that Richard Nixon was Vice President and just look at the cost of these items in 1956. I picked this year because it is the year I was born, ergo, my lifetime. I think I’ve had enough already – and I (knock on wood) have a couple more decades of “change” to survive!

My mom gave one of these to each of her six children as Christmas gifts one year. I thought it was a nice idea until some of us started comparing prices. I’m the eldest and my brother, born in 1964, is the youngest. We’ll have a look at his birth year’s costs in a day or three.

My point is that from what I remember about costs when I got out of high school and started working in 1974, NOTHING could have prepared me for what things cost now – 40 years later.

In 1956, a new house could be purchased for under $12,000. The house my family purchased even in 1966 only cost $17,000 – and it was 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, about 1600 square feet, on a half acre of land. During the housing “crisis” when prices started to skyrocket, I did some research on that same house. The “valuation” – since it wasn’t for sale…$220,000. Same house, same street, 40 years later.

My mom and I have some interesting conversations about this since she will be 78 in June this year. In her lifetime prices are up enough to cause the big one but, prices changed less and slower in the 40 years leading up to say 1964 – than they have done in the 40 years since. I’m not sure how some people can afford what they are able to do these days. With vehicles costing 3 times the cost of a 1956 house, who knows what 2054 will bring??? I hope I’m not around to see the 1600 square foot, 3 bedroom, 2 bath house for a price of $2.9 million!

I need to go lie down with a cold cloth on my forehead – and pray I don’t live to be 98!!!

Don’t forget to push your clock forward one hour tonight or you’ll be running “late” before you even get out of bed tomorrow!

Series News: Those wacko guys from “Million Dollar Listings – New York” will be back again starting April 2nd.

Here’s one to give budding real estate investors some motivation:

++ 20 Richest Real Estate Tycoons – Forbes Billionaires List

And if you think R.E auctions and online auctions are not “big business”

++ Google Invests $50 Million in Property Broker Auction.com

No – All are NOT equal”

++ Questions You Need to Ask a Real Estate Agent

Looking for a Baltimore, Maryland estate?

++ Tyrconnell

I’d need them to define “weekend” first!

++ 10 weekend projects to improve your home’s value

Want to buy property from the US Government?

++ Properties for Sale by the USDA-RD and USDA-FSA

My birdfeeders are going crazy right now. There is often “standing-room-only” and I may need to look at adding additional feeders for Spring 2014. Duncraft Wild Bird Superstore has a LOT of options – sizes, shapes and colors. Look for your feeders there – many products made in the USA!!

++ Duncraft – USA made products. Wild Bird Feeding Solutions!

Apparently, Mother Nature does not follow any calendar nor is she impressed by the first day of March. Severe winter storms in the northeast US and torrential rains up and down the coast of California. Be safe out there…

Anywhere in North Carolina? You’ll be amazed at what Duke Energy was getting away with BEFORE their coal ash spill. But don’t worry, the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources is now making threats. I’m sure Duke Energy is really worried…

++ DENR threatens Duke with fines over coal ash spill

Get these while you can. This administration doesn’t like the phrase “tax breaks” and will close every single one they can find…

++ 3 Often Overlooked Real Estate Tax Breaks

In the saga, “The World Seems Full of Criminals” – here’s the latest real estate scam.

++ Real estate scammers duping Kansas City residents

I’d add to the following list – don’t do a DIY project with someone who THINKS they know what they’re doing. They’ll cost you too much time and money, aggravate the cr*p out of you, and the job might end up being unsafe or just ugly. Hire a professional or wait until you can afford to do so. Sometimes your “significant other” isn’t so significant.

++ Top 10 mistakes of DIYers

Looking for rural real estate to purchase? Want lots of land, or a ranch? Here’s a good place to visit. Get your fresh cup of coffee first – if you are like me, you might be on the site for a long while!

++ Land Broker

Interesting article series on the top real estate markets in the US. Week Two’s Choice?

++ Top U.S. real estate markets: Dallas-Fort Worth

Last but not least – It looks like I am not the only person aggravated by the EPA’s grab for my wood stove

++ EPA Wood-Stove Proposal Prompts Rural Backlash

Have a great week and don’t forget, Daylight Savings Time begins March 9th…I’ll remind us all again next Saturday!

It’s been a long week in North Carolina. While snow was still on the ground, the temperatures climbed to 70 degrees. Within 24 hours, a tornado watch! More cold coming next week with even more wacky February weather? It’s all getting a bit draining.

So this week, no real estate “news.” I thought it might provide a nice break to just sit and look at some really beautiful rural real estate. Nothing to buy, nothing to “click,” nothing to calculate – just enjoy!!!

Stick a horse in a photo of rural property and you’ll get my attention! While I’ve never owned a horse, I can picture myself on 20 acres or so with a nice pasture and few “rescued” older horses. In my experience, they make great neighbors – pun intended.

What else catches my eye? Water. Creek, pond, lake, river, or oceanfront. I’m equal-opportunity when it comes to having a natural source of water on real estate I own – or appreciate.

While not necessary, having a posh estate in the country wouldn’t hurt my feelings either! This property above certainly has a lot to offer – while resting comfortably in its private and rural surroundings.

Another for the “estate” list – and another property that seemed destined to be built here. Don’t know about you, but I can “hear” the quiet!

Now here’s one for the “I wouldn’t do” list. Why? It’s just too much house for the majority of people.

However, it has a fantastic setting and it is obvious that some care was taken to build this beautiful home to take advantage of the surrounding view.

I didn’t take much notice of location when selecting these properties but this one looks like it would fit nicely in the Virginia countryside. A stately home sitting in its protective pocket of trees and a beautifully maintained farm and barn area.

Sometimes I really think I was born in the wrong century…

Happy Weekend!

How can I scam thee? Let me count the ways…

If there is one time in your life you really need to have your wits about you it is during a real estate purchase. Whether you are a investor or a single-family, first-time purchaser, there are many ways you can lose, and lose BIG!

This week we’ll do a little research on what types of scams are currently in vogue. This does NOT include the situation where mortgage lenders lend you more than you can afford to buy a house you can’t afford. If one doesn’t have enough common sense to figure that out for themselves, no blog post can help them.

Bad deeds, fraudulent signatures, bogus rental ads requiring a “deposit,” short-sale and foreclosure scams, etc., etc.

++ Disbarred lawyer sentenced in multimillion real estate scams

++ Sheriff warns of real estate scam

++ Denver Man Sentenced in Multi-Million-Dollar Real Estate Fraud Scheme

++ Feds arrest real estate agent accused of short-sale fraud in Patterson

++ Stamford Attorney Pleads Guilty To Mortgage Fraud

I would never think of perpetrating these frauds and it would be a nasty and potentially devastating moment to find out what others will do. This is why I need to keep up-to-date with things that are happening and how they are accomplished – and this list is unfortunately just the tip of the iceberg.

The good news and sometimes the bad is the internet. Believe half of what you first read and do your own research. Check the validity of “licenses.” Look for comments from other real estate, mortgage, appraisal, title company and banking customers. Some of the fraud in the links above was perpetrated against banks and mortgage lenders. Don’t think “they deserve it.” When a bank loses money, they look for other ways to get it back – and guess who ends up fronting THAT bill?

Purchasing real estate can and should be a great achievement and a rewarding experience. Don’t let anyone take that away from you.