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If you dream of going off the grid…  If you giggle at the thought of paying less than $500 a year for electricity…today’s solar power may be perfect for you.  

Here are a Few Resources and Tips to Help You Decide

1. Read Ed Begley Jr.’s Guide to Sustainable Living
2. Watch the Planet Green channel
3. Do a home energy audit at energystar.org or call your power company.
4. Find Cash Back Offers.  Tax incentives abound for energy savings.   Too see what is offered in your area, check for incentives and rebates on a federal, state and local level. 
5. Check Tax Rebate and Credit websites dsireusa.org and greenmadesimple.com

Improvements in solar technology mean financial savings within 6 years, depending on your location and property.  Check it out.  Solar may be the perfect answer for your needs.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net FREE homes for sale and rent website.  We provide Free Home Listings, MLS and Realtor.com packages, Legal Forms and More.  We’ve helped buyer and seller connect for 21 years.  We can help you, too!!

I’m thinking Turkey.  The leaves have fallen, lawn mowers are stored and furnaces are in use.   It’s at this time of year that many of our customer’s ask…  “Should We Take Our Home Off the Market During the Holidays?”

The answer is definitely ”NO”.  There are a lot of reasons to keep your home listed right through the New Year.  And, there’s a special timely reason this holiday season!!

1. The First Time Buyers Tax Credit has been extended until April 30, 2010 AND it’s been expanded.  Step Up Home Buyers, who make a lot of money, can also receive $6500 in Tax Credits until April.   Big tax incentives mean that smart buyers will be house shopping vs mall shopping this holiday season.  
2. Interest Rates are at Record Lows.  30 year fixed rate mortgages are below 5 percent.  But, with the dollar weak and falling, low rates may not be around for long.   Serious home buyers are aware of the difference that even a small interest rate increase would make in their house payment.  The combo of Tax Credits and Low Interest Rates create strong urgency among buyer’s.  Smart seller’s spruce up their homes and play into the pressure.
3. Holiday Shoppers are Serious Buyers.  Trust me.  Everyone of us loves the holidays.  So, the people who are out looking for homes in November, December and January are SERIOUS Buyers.  Do you really want to pull your house off the market when the most serious people are shopping??  Think about it and gear up!!
4. Less Competition.  Many sellers don’t read our blog.  They foolishly pull their homes from the market during the holidays, and this year will be no exception.  Less competition and MLS exposure could make the difference between For Sale and Sold, this Christmas. 
5. Houses are Pretty during the Holidays.  Staging your home is easy during the holidays.  The mood is festive.  Holiday colors are warm and inviting.  Candles, centerpieces and decorations touch the heart and convey a peaceful lifestyle.  Light the candles, make a roaring fire, bake some goodies and turn on some relaxing holiday music.  Buyer’s love to see a home decorated and looking special.  Don’t let this once a year opportunity pass you by.
6. Curb Appeal.  If your landscape and lawn isn’t that great, breathe a sigh of relief that no one else’s is this time of year, either.   Add seasonal color, a wreath, perhaps some decorations.  Just keep it subtle and classy.  No mowing, no weeding and trimming, and best of all snow covers all…

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net FREE homes for sale and rent website.  Thanks to all Veterans and Active Military Personnel!!!  Call us today and receive a FREE Property Listing Upgrade as our gift to you.

Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11th is a very special day for all Americans. 

It is our special time to say thank you to all the men and women who serve and protect this country.  It is our special time to say thank you for keeping America free.  It is our special time to take a moment of silence for all who paid the ultimate price for us to protect this nation.

As our special way of saying thank you to all Veterans and Active members of the military, InfoTube.net is offering FREE Featured Home Listing Upgrades on Veterans Day!!!   Just phone 1.800.858.6000 or send an email to nicole@infotube.net with your ad number.  It’s that easy!! 

We are happy to report that other Businesses are joining us in giving back to Veterans and Active Military Personnel on Veterans Day!!!   Check out the Free Offers of Food, Goods and Services for all Veterans on Wednesday.

• Applebee’s, McCormick & Schmicks and Golden Corral are serving up FREE meals.  Drop by and enjoy a juicy steak, shrimp, chicken or whatever makes you happy.
• Outback Steakhouse may be from “down under”, but they love US Vets!!   Stop by Outback for a FREE Blooomin’ Onion Appetizer and Beverage.
• Krispy Kreme donuts will sweeten up your life with FREE Hot Ready Now Donuts.  YUMMY!
• For Vet’s in the mid-west, Hy-Vee Supermarkets is providing a FREE, all you can eat, Breakfast Buffet.  Stop by start your day right!
• Home Depot and Lowes are offering a 10 percent discount at the register!!  Save big on your home improvements or holiday needs.
• The Federal Government offers FREE access to all Federal Parks and Recreation Sites.  Grab the family and enjoy a day together.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net homes for sale and rent website!!  To all Veterans and Active Military, THANK YOU and please don’t forget to claim your FREE Home Upgrade on Wednesday.

Great news for home buyers, sellers and owners, alike.  The homebuyer tax credit has been expanded to include step up buyers, who have owned a home for 5 years.  It also extends the tax credit through the end of 2010.  

GREAT NEWS! 

It appears that Senate Democrats have recognized the tremendous value of the First Time Homebuyers Tax Credit and odds are it will be renewed soon. At this time, it is believed that the credit will allow anyone purchasing a home, by April 30, 2010, to participate and receive the full credit available.

The credit will continue until the end of 2010, but the amount of tax credit will drop by 2 percent every 90 days.  The graduated benefit should help the housing market recover into and through the 2010 summer selling season.

Here is the text of the story as reported in Bloomberg News today:
Senate Democrats on Board with Credit Extension

Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) says Senate Democrats have agreed to extend the first-time home buyer tax credit.  The latest version extends the program to home sales signed not closed by April 30. Purchasers would have another 60 days to close the sale.  The credit will also be expanded to include so-called step-up buyers who have lived in their current home for at least five years.

The credit would be cut slightly to a $7,290 cap.  Income eligibility for first-time home buyers would stay the same, but it would rise for step-up buyers to $125,000 for individuals and $250,000 for couples.
Source: Bloomberg News, Dawn Kopecki and Ryan Donmoyer (10/27/2009)

 Halloween, October 31, 2009.  This year Halloween falls on a Saturday and marks the end of Day Light Savings Time.  Be Safe and Don’t Forget to Roll your Clocks back at 2:00 am, Sunday morning.

InfoTube.net FREE homes for sale and rent website is wondering:  “Would you would eat these cakes???”   We will feature more incredible, edible Halloween cakes everyday this week.   Then, we are off to celebrate Halloween in New Orleans, LA and check out the housing recovery in the Big Easy. 

Thank you as always for visiting InfoTube.net.  Click the comment box below to weigh in on your favorite Halloween Cake.   Tommi Crow’s favorite is the one above.  Too Cool!!

I would probably eat this one.  Funny, but not too nasty and I love cake.

Now that is pretty knarly, but that dark chocolate looks good.

Which one is your favorite???  Click the comment box and tell us.  If you have a cake you want to brag about, email a photo to tommi@infotube.net

If you are considering an update for the old vinyl flooring in your home,  go natural.  Natural linoleum, made from wood and cork, limestone dust, pine rosin and linseed oil, is a fantastic, green material substitution for the petroleum-based products of old.    Natural linoleum is available in either sheets or individual tiles, it offers an endless suppliy of color and pattern choices and is a great product for residential or commercial use.

Why We Like Natural Linoleum

It’s Versatile.  Marmoleum is available either sheet or tile forms.  It is used in both residential and commercial settings.  Great for resturants and offices, too.  The product can be used on floors and countertop surfaces.  It is sold in a wide range of colors and patterns.  Some patterns mimic quarried stone, others are mottled for subtle texture and other options include high tech MRI images.  The applications and decorating options are only limited by the owner’s imagination and tastes.  A Do-It-Yourselfer can easily install the tiles themselves, just like vinyl.      It’s Low Maintenance.  Manufacturers estimate the lifespan of natural linoleum at 30-40 years, compared to 10-20 for vinyl.  Scratches are no problem.  The surface is hard, and even becomes harder over time.  Additionally, any surface scratch can be buffed out, because the color extends through the entire thickness.  For cleaning, a dry mop is recommended for routine maintenance.

It’s Green and Better for the Environment.  Natural linoleum is much better for the environment than petroleum based, vinyl products.  Vinyl’s are not sustainable and are highly polluting in their manufacturing process.  Natural linoleum is made from wood, rosin, limestone and linseed oil.  All these materials occur naturally and are sustainable.  When it’s time to remodel, natural linoleum can be shredded and turned into compost for the garden versus filling a landfill.  Additional bonus, natural linoleum will last and look good for a least least twice as long as vinyl.

Disadvantages.  The linseed oil in the products “off gas” and some people are sensitive to its fumes.  We advise that you air out the product for a few weeks before you install it, if you have a sensitive reaction to the smell.   Like most plant-based products, linoleum doesn’t perform well in area’s with constant moisture.  Test the moisture content of floor slabs before installation.  Use Caulk to seal edges around tubs and showers where flooring abuts.  The only other disadvantage is probably the initial cost of the product.  Marmoleum costs around $4.00 per square foot, compared with $1.50 to $2.00 for vinyl flooring.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net FREE homes for sale and lease website.  Search for properties or post your listing.  We connect thousands of buyers and sellers each day, and we can help you get more exposure, too.

Thomas Edison’s light bulb, invented in 1879, will not be sold in the U.S. after January 1, 2012. 

As part of the Clean Energy Bill, signed in 2007, most wattages of incandescent light bulbs, will go the way of leaded gas and oil based paint.   Australia started the light bulb ban in 2007.  Europe followed in September, this year. 

Even though Americans hate forced change, there are some reasons this change makes sense.  According to Energy Star, “a qualified compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) will save about $30 over its lifetime and pay for itself in about 6 months.  It uses 75 percent less energy and lasts about 10 times longer than an incandescent bulb.” 

Futhermore, Noah Horowitz, with the Natural Resources Defense Council stated “it would eliminate the need to build 30 new coal power plants and save as much electricity as used by all the homes in Texas.”

Astounding Energy Savings, No More Coal Plants and Free Money, too, what’s not to love??  Well, a couple of things…First of all, fluorescent bulbs contain mercury.  Remember the dangers of mercury?  If a bulb breaks, the mercury scatters around the room or hides in the carpet and toys.  And, don’t throw the new bulbs into the trash.  To dispose of these bulbs, if they don’t break first, they need to be handled like hazardous waste, ie: paint, chemicals, batteries, etc.  Home Depot, True Value, IKEA and other retailers will recycle them, but you need to carefully pack them up and drive them to the store.

Secondly, fluorescents can’t be used with a dimmer switch.  My personal favorite trick for creating ambiance.  And, I’ve already tried CFL’s and found they don’t produce enough light, or maybe the right hue of light, for easy reading and other close up tasks.  And, probably most concerning, they also aren’t a great light for those of us who look for bulbs that cast flattering, soft light ):

Change is coming.  Adjust or stock up before January 2012.   Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net your FREE homes for sale and lease website.  Have a great weekend and happy home selling and buying.

Marketing a vacant home can be difficult challenge, because empty rooms are hard to size up and they don’t stand out in a buyer’s mind.  This leaves every vacant home looking like the one next door, with the only difference in a buyer’s mind being, which home has the lowest price.

This problem may have been solved by Krisztina Bell, a smart Atlanta Realtor, who invented and patented a software program that will “virtually” stage any vacant property for around $250.  Her company has been heralded by the Chicago Tribune, San Francisco Chronical and other publications as the answer to giving the effect of a professionally staged home at a fraction of the cost.

With 90 percent of home buyers doing their shopping online, and thousands of vacant homes on the market, Ms Bell’s idea is smart and timely.  Her technique transforms listing photo’s of vacant homes into homes with professionally designed interiors, using a library of attractive furnishings, accessories and artwork.   The resulting “after” photo’s are realistic, authentic and hard to distinguish from a home that has been actually staged with furnishings.

To view the Photo Gallery of some impressive Before and After Pictures, please visit her website VirtuallyStagingProperties.com, by clicking this link.  You will be amazed.  And, if you have a vacant home to sell, you should seriously consider this inexpensive option and make your home pop.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net homes for sale and rent website.  If you virtually stage your home, be sure to upload the slideshow to InfoTube.net.  Thousands of buyer’s search our site daily for new information on properties.

A fireplace can be a huge selling point for any home or an eyesore that detracts from the room.  If the fireplace in your home is out dated or just plain ugly, you can transform it into a sexy, focal point without spending a lot of money.

Take a look at this brick fireplace.  It is a fireplace, but it is doubtful that buyers would conjure images of sipping wine by a roaring fire, in its present condition.

Now, take a look at the transformation, after engineered stone was applied over the old brick and a mantle was added.  The fireplace morphs from an eyesore into a floor to ceiling, hearthwarming focal point

In another example, this unattractive, dated fireplace with painted brick got a great makeover.  The homeowner correctly felt the fireplace was out of proportion, due to the narrow sides and tall top.  The mantle was also too small.

The After.  The budget minded homeowner added an “in stock” simple mantel and pilasters from a do-it-yourself center.  The design updated the fireplace, hid most of the outdated, painted over brick and brought the fireplace into correct proportion for under $750.

If your fireplace detracts from your home, get your creative genius in gear and simply cover it up.  Examples of “coverup” materials that are inexpensive and easy to work with are tile, manufactured stone, granite, marble or wood.  Sometimes even painting over old, ugly brick will make a huge improvement. 

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net.  We love before and after pictures that we can share with our readers.  If you have completed a project and want a pat on the back, email photo’s to tommi@infotube.net

The large number of foreclosed homes have become a blight on the residential landscape.   But, swimming pools in abandoned, foreclosed homes, with no electricity, pose special problems.   Swimming pools become stagnate and unsantitary due to a lack of chemicals, then quickly grow thick with algae that is unsightly, and expensive to get rid of.

Enter the pleco algae eating fish, which are commonly found and abundant in fresh water lakes.   Only 15 pleco fish, placed in an abandoned pool, quickly eat away the algae and keep it away.

The environmentally smart solution leaves pools more sanitary, makes the homes more attractive to prospective home buyer’s and saves thousands of dollars in upkeep.   After the new owner moves in, they can return the fish to the lake or leave them in the pool for backyard fishing fun.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net homes for sale and rent complimentary website.  Search for some great deals or post your property for more exposure.  It’s FREE!!

Cash for Refrigerators.  $300 million dollars of stimulus money has been set aside for consumer’s who purchase new, energy saving appliances.   Rebates of $50.00-$200.00 will be available in October on purchases of refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines and air conditioners.

Program Eligibility:

1. To qualify, the consumer must purchase appliances with an Energy Star designation.
2. You don’t have to “trash” your old appliance to qualify.
3. States must apply to the program before October 15, 2009

Pro’s:

1. Upgrading to an Energy Star rated appliance saves a family $50-$150 per year in utility costs.
2. Rebates will ease the transition into new efficient appliances and help some consumers avoid going into debt in order to upgrade.
3. Could provide a boost to the beleaguered appliance and home improvement industries who are suffering in the bad economy.
4. Helps the environment.

Con’s:

1. No plan for the Trashed Appliances.  Currently there is no plan for proper disposal for the trashed appliances.  Old appliances can be donated or resold, which will not help the environment.
2. If we can’t find a way to recycle old appliances, the program will add more trash to the planet.

Tips for Consumers:

1. Most retailers will haul away your old appliances, when you purchase a new one.   Ask the retailer what happens to the old one, after they pick it up.   Buy only from retailers who can prove that they recycle or destroy the old appliances.
2. Use a Good Recycler to Take the Appliance Away.  Good recyclers will capture all coolants in the units which cause serious harm to the environment.  In addition, they will recycle all the metal and foam contained in the old unit.
3. GE and KitchenAid are offering additional manufacturer rebates on Energy Star Rated appliances now.  Click on the company name for details.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net.  We hope that Cash for Refrigerators is as successful as Cash for Clunkers.  If you have been waiting to update your appliances, October will be an excellent time.

Green News Alert:  A new paint additive, Insuladd, developed by the government, cuts energy costs and reduces mold and mildew.

Insuladd insulating paint additive increases the “Mean Radiant Temperature” of any home or office and provides energy savings by reflecting and dissipating heat.   Reports show an average decrease in utility bills of 20 percent (and, as high as 40 percent for in some homes) after a home or building has been painted with the additive.  

Product Features:

• Increase the R value by making paint insulating.
• It is safe and non-toxic
• It can be applied to roofs, walls and ceilings.  Interior or exterior.
• It works in hot or cold climates.
• Reduced heating and cooling costs, while increasing comfort.
• It prevents mold and mildew by blocking moisture and condensation.
• It can be added to any house paint.
• Can be used for all residential or commercial paint applications

Tips for Using the Product:

• Add the mixture to your paint, then stir throughly before applying.
• If you want a satin or gloss finish, add Insuladd to the primer coat and first coat.  Apply a finish coat without the additive.
• If you want a high gloss coat on trim, don’t use the additive.
• Insuladd will leave a very slight texture to the walls that can be felt, but usually isn’t visable.  It may hide cosmetic defects such as gouges, dents and surface imperfections if 2 coats are applied.
• Insuladd is ideal for light colored paints and you will notice no change in the color of your paint.
• If you are using a dark paint, Insuladd may lighten the color by up to one shade.   If this is a problem, tint the paint one shade darker at purchase.
• Don’t pour the mixture into a one gallon paint can to avoid overflow.  The additive will overfill a full gallon of paint.  Pour the paint into a 5 gallon can, add additive and mix.  Left over paint with additive can be stored in the original container for touch ups.

Paint, insulate, save money on energy bills, increase the comfort of your living space, prevent mold and mildew.  What’s not to love.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net.  We have been helping home sellers since 1988 and we can help you too.  Check out all the freebies on our site.

Being raised in rural Missouri, the concept of using goats (goating out a property) to clear and maintain land is not a new one.  But, for many people, the idea of using goats, instead of noisy mowers, to help with the chores is an option they never considered.

Goats, What’s Not to Love?  In addition to being very cute and smart, goats are great at clearing brush and weeds without using gasoline, polluting the air or disturbing the peace.  Mowing by goat means less work for busy people, it is chemical free and the little darlings automatically fertilize as they work. 

Even Silicon Valley and other metro area’s are looking to the environmentally, friendly goat as a non-tech means of maintaining their grounds and property.  Google “hired” 200 goats to maintain the grounds at its Mt. View, CA headquarters.  Yahoo, located just a stones throw away, must have loved the idea because they also rented goats to cut their grass.  Even cities are joining in the goat movement.  Mesa, AZ has used goats to maintain the land around their water reclaimation plant for quite some time.

All “Kidding” Aside….  If Rent-A-Goat appeals to your lazy and green side, renting one is as easy as locating your nearest goat farm.  Or, you can visit GoatFinder.com, which has a directory for goat rentals for 10 states.  But beware before you rent, using goats has risks, like a deep attachment.  Goats are so cute and friendly, it can be very hard to say Goodbye when the work is done. 

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net homes for sale and rent website.   Please search our fresh listings for some great deals or place a FREE property listing about your home.

Cluck, Cluck…Do the funky chicken.  A new movement is occurring across urban area’s and cities in the country, namely raising chickens for “pure” food, fun and profit.  

Not just a hobby for hippies.  Today, urban Chicken farming has caught fire in some of the most sophisticated cities from coast to coast.  Madison, WI was among the first cities to allow limited numbers of chickens.  New York city has allowed chickens for years.  Other major metro area’s which give a thumbs up to fresh eggs from suburban back yards include:  Chicago, IL; Albuquerque, NM; Portland, OR; Seattle, WA; and many other major area’s.

• Don’t Run Afowl of the Law:  If raising cute little chicks appeals to you, make sure you know the laws in your area before you buy a cool coop.  Many cities, or nosy neighbors, may take issue.  For example, in Kansas City, MO, the birds can’t roam or be raised within 100 feet of a home or business.  No Crowing Roosters in Madison, only layers are allowed.  Some cities limit the number of chickens on residential property to 5 or 6.  So, please check the law before you get too excited about raising your own omelet.

Birds Eye View:  After looking into the new trend, we give a thumbs up for the chickens coming home to roost.   With Americans ripping up sod to grow victory gardens, aren’t chicken’s a natural next step?  And, who doesn’t think fresh eggs are better for your family and better tasting?  What do we have to lose?  Chickens are cool and advocates for urban chickens say that they are quieter and cleaner than dogs.  And, children of all ages love feeding them and gathering their own breakfast eggs.  

Chickens are a Good Thing.  For more information about raising chickens in your backyard, visit BackYardChickens.com, which boasts 30,000 members or urbanchickens.org.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net, your homes for sale or lease FREE website.   Please search through our listings for some great deals, and find a roost of your own!! For an MLS and Realtor.com listing for owners, builders and investors, click here.