Texas Hill Country Ranches

West of Austin and north/northwest of San Antonio lies the Texas Hill Country, true to its namesake with rolling hills and deep valleys. Settled in the 1800s, the Hill Country offers a diverse yet rural population who enjoy living the way things used to be. Many of the early settlers were liberal minded Germans who were fleeing after the Revolution of 1848 and with them they brought Old World tastes and traditions that one can enjoy by pulling into town. Towns like Fredericksburg offer beer gardens, markets and restaurants that celebrate this...

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Kissimmee, Florida: Real Estate and a Little History

Kissimmee, FloridaThe village of Kissimmee(pronounced "kiss- emmy) is linked to one of Florida's least-known tribes, the Jororo Tribe. Other names through the years were Atissimi, Jizimi and Tisimi. In 1752, a Spanish map called this area "Cacema" which eventually became known as "Kissimmee."First founded in the mid-19th century as Allendale, it became "Kissimmee" when it was incorporated in 1883. A man by the name of Hamilton Disston started a two-million acre drainage operation. Mr. Disston contracted with the State of Florida to drain the southern...

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Why Moving To Toronto's Leaside Neighbourhood Is A Good Idea

This Toronto neighbourhood is named after the first family who arrived in the area. In 1819, the Lea family left Lancashire, England, and arrived in what is now known as Leaside. When John Lea Sr. passed away in 1854, his son William Lea built an octagonal home on the acreage, and he named it Leaside.The Ontario and Quebec Railway purchased a few acres from William Lea for the line to Peterborough, and Ottawa. The junction that's now used today for the residents was originally built in 1894! The Ontario and Quebec Railway was later purchased by...

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Understanding The Process of Buying a Manufactured Home

Buying a manufactured home can be a great experience or it can be quite confusing, frustrating and expensive if you don't understand the unique nature of the home buying process. This article is designed to give consumers the important information they can use to make wise decisions when buying a factory built home.When buying a manufactured home there are some basic things to understand about the industry that varies significantly from the site built home buying experience. Generally speaking, when you buy a site built home new, you work with...

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Land Surveyor: What He Can Do for You

People often overlook the importance of getting their real estate properties surveyed. Some of the good excuses are, they got the property from a mortgage/lender company, or it is a waste of time and is expensive. Well, let us discuss why you must have the property surveyed by a land surveyor if you plan to purchase.Mortgage companies are wise enough to pass the responsibility to the buyer. They do not have the property surveyed before handing it to the buyer simply because they are aware of the significance of not including the survey matters...

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Five Tips For Folks With Bad Credit Who Want Home Mortgage Loans

If you have bad credit, finding funds to finance your dream of home ownership will not be a walk in the park, but there are lenders out there who want to help you. Just be persistent and do not restrict yourself to one lender and then give up. Here are five tips when you start your quest for bad credit home mortgage loans.Tip One: Find a Good DealFinding a property that already has some equity when you purchase could mean an easier path to financing with a bad credit home mortgage loan. Lenders may view it almost as favorably as a down payment....

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Kid-Friendly Staging

Preparing your Summit NJ real estate property for sale can be a challenging task. When you add children to the mix it can seem nearly impossible. Keeping a home clean, uncluttered and ready for a showing is definitely tougher with little ones but there are some tricks and tools that can make it a little easier.Laundry BasketsThis simple dollar store item can help keep your floors toy free. Pick up several of the nylon pop-up type at a discount store. These can be folded up when not in use and stored in a drawer or another unobtrusive place. Keep...

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The Differences Between Lenders And How They Affect Mortgage Rates

A first-time home-buyer can be confused by the loan process. With many types of loans and lenders who make commissions in differing ways, it can be daunting choosing the right provider for a home loan. Proper knowledge about mortgage rates is essential when researching where to go for a loan.When an individual takes out a mortgage they use the house as collateral and the bank or lender provides the money (usually 80%). There a numerous different kinds of loans, many that should be avoided, and there are many kinds of lenders, who make commissions...

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What Makes Mortgage Rates Rise and Fall?

The first place to start when trying to understand how mortgage rates rise and fall is where the money to fund mortgages comes from. Mortgage money comes from a variety of sources, including deposits at banks, but most of the funds come from investors through what is collectively known as "capital markets." Capital markets are where investors go to purchase securities like Treasury notes, corporate bonds, or Mortgage Backed Securities (a package of home loans bundled together into one asset).Mortgage Backed Securities, the main funding source...

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FHA 203k - 5 Tips to Make Your New Roof Last Longer

Whether it's home improvements or house repairs or full-on rehabilitation, the FHA 203k is a great option. The mortgage loan option covers new purchases OR refinancing. Let's take a quick look at what the FHA 203k is:A home buyer can finance a house and many repairs, renovations or improvements right into the monthly payments, amortizing the work over the life of that home mortgage loan. The great thing is that with interest rates where they are right now, it will only add about $6 a month for every $1,000 in repairs or renovations you finance....

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