WeMo makes home automation awesomely easy!

Belkin’s new WeMo system is home automation made easy. So easy, you can control as much or as little of your home as you like. Turn on a light in another room, or turn it off from across town. Put your house on a schedule—living room lights go on in the evening, kids’ TV goes off at bedtime. You can check to make sure you turned the iron off, after you’ve already left the house.  Also with WeMo Motion Sensor you can truly automate activities in your home. Lights go on when and where you need them. Have WeMo guard the front door. Games and TV and stereos go off in the playroom when the kids leave and forget to turn everything off. It’s up to you!

Be an Active Home Seller

Since you first decided to sell your home, you’ve had to work hard – making home repairs, finding a REALTOR® you like, choosing the right asking price and dealing with all the paperwork, to get your home ready for market. Now that your home is listed at last, you might feel an overwhelming urge to sit back and let your REALTOR® handle the selling part.  But statistics show that home sellers who are active participants will sell their homes faster – and for the best price.

Competitive sellers stay informed about their real estate market. They check out homes in the area that have sold recently and see how they compare. They listen to their REALTOR’s and buyer’s feedback and make the necessary upgrades to improve their home’s appeal. They keep their home showing ready and work closely with their REALTOR® throughout the bargaining process.

Being an active home seller from beginning to end can make all the difference to the success of your home’s sale.

Portable stove or gadget charger?

Is it a portable stove or a gadget charger? How about both. The BioLite is a compact, portable stove that burns sticks, twigs, pine cones, and other renewable resources instead of petroleum gas, lighting quickly and bringing water to a boil in no time. In addition, it packs a USB port on the front that draws its power from the heat of the fire, letting you charge your phone, GPS, or LED lights miles from the nearest outlet.  Dont forget to bring this portable stove/gadget charger on your next camping trip! $130

Letter From the Heart – Feb 2012

I am always thinking about the Real Estate market, but especially this time of year. I say this because this past month, January 2012, I attended the Anchorage Board of Realtors forecast lunch. The purpose of the event was to review 2011 in terms of what took place since 2010 year end, within the Anchorage market, and to perhaps shed some light on the direction it may go in 2012.
Below are some statistics comparing 2010 and 2011.

2010                        2011
*Closed residential transactions                                                               2300                        2348                         +2% change
*Median sales price                                                                                      $295,000             $295,000
*Average days on market                                                                             65 days                   71 days

*Condominiums closed                                                                                 999                            844                            -18% change
*Median sale price (condos)                                                                    $185,000                $188,850
*Average days on market                                                                              90                                90

When I am asked about the market (which is quite often), I reply “which market?” We have two distinct markets in Anchorage. One market has those properties which are priced properly and are in good condition and continue to sell in a normal market time and sometimes with multiple offers. The other market contains properties that are priced out of the marketable range and have not been updated recently, and are therefore not selling.

Regarding the condo market, we have recently seen the “lower end” financing become quite tight. Banks are requiring projects to meet stricter guidelines than in the past. This is due to inadequate reserves, delinquencies, lower owner occupancies and a saturation low down payment loans.

If you would like a complete set of statistics either give me a call or send me an email and we will mail them to you. If you have more specific questions or need advice give me a call. May you have a safe and prosperous new year.

Instant Wine Chiller

Enjoy spontaneous wine tasting every time with this instant wine chiller by Ravi. No need to worry about stocking the fridge a day or two before. You don’t even need a chilled wine cabinet. Just attach the chiller to the spout of your wine bottle and it’s served nice and cold. Dust off those wine bottles and get the party started. $50 www.amazon.com

Healthy Recipe Ideas for Super Bowl Sunday

We all know that Super Bowl Sunday is not just about the game—it’s about the food! But pass on the store-bought snacks and take-out food—Try these easy Super Bowl recipes for healthier homemade versions or the traditional Super Bowl favorites. Regardless of who wins the game, you’ll score points among your fellow fans!

South Western Layered Bean Dip

INGREDIENTS

• 1 16-ounce can nonfat refried beans, preferably “spicy”
• 1 15-ounce can black beans, rinsed
• 4 scallions, sliced
• 1/2 cup prepared salsa
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/4 cup pickled jalapeño slices, chopped
• 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack, or Cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream
• 1 1/2 cups chopped romaine lettuce
• 1 medium tomato, chopped
• 1 medium avocado, chopped
• 1/4 cup canned sliced black olives, (optional)

PREPARATION

1. Combine refried beans, black beans, scallions, salsa, cumin, chili powder and jalapeños in a medium bowl. Transfer to a shallow 2-quart microwave-safe dish; sprinkle with cheese.
2. Microwave on High until the cheese is melted and the beans are hot, 3 to 5 minutes.
3. Spread sour cream evenly over the hot bean mixture, then scatter with lettuce, tomato, avocado and olives (if using).

TIPS & NOTES

• Make Ahead Tip: Prepare through Step 1, cover and refrigerate for up to 1 day. To serve, continue with Steps 2 & 3.

 

Smoky Corn & Black Bean Pizza

INGREDIENTS

• 1 plum tomato, diced
• 1 cup canned black beans, rinsed
• 1 cup fresh corn kernels, (about 2 ears)
• 2 tablespoons cornmeal
• 1 pound prepared whole-wheat pizza dough
• 1/3 cup barbecue sauce
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella, preferably smoked mozzarella

PREPARATION

1. Preheat grill to medium.
2. Combine tomato, beans and corn in a medium bowl. Sprinkle cornmeal onto a large baking sheet. Stretch the dough into about a 12-inch circle and lay it on top of the cornmeal, coating the entire underside of the dough.
3. Transfer the crust from the baking sheet to the grill. Close the lid and cook until the crust is puffed and lightly browned on the bottom, 4 to 5 minutes.
4. Using a large spatula, flip the crust. Spread barbecue sauce on it and quickly sprinkle with the tomato mixture and cheese. Close the lid; grill until the cheese is melted and the bottom of the crust is browned, 4 to 5 minutes.

 

Chocolate Crunch

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup Wheat Chex cereal, (2 ounces)
• 1 cup pretzel sticks broken in half, (2 ounces)
• 1/4 cup salted roasted almonds, (2 1/2 ounces)
• 3 tablespoons bittersweet chocolate chips, melted (see Tip)

PREPARATION

1. Combine Chex, pretzels and almonds in a medium bowl. Drizzle with melted chocolate; stir to combine. Spread the mixture on a wax paper-lined baking sheet and refrigerate until the chocolate is set, about 30 minutes.

TIPS & NOTES

• Make Ahead Tip: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

• Tip: To melt chocolate: Microwave on Medium for 1 minute. Stir, then continue microwaving on Medium in 20-second intervals until melted, stirring after each interval. Or place in the top of a double boiler over hot, but not boiling, water. Stir until melted.

Enjoy!

Thermal Leak Detector

Energy costs are sky high these days, but the Black & Decker Thermal Leak Detector is here to save your day. Featuring HeatSeeker technology, this high-tech dectector finds leaks along walls, molding, ductwork and more, helping you locate and stop money-sucking cracks and crevices that cause your heating and cooling systems to work overtime. And for all you DIYers, the Auto Color Change provides quick, intuitive feedback on where to caulk, insulate and otherwise patch up problem areas.

How It Works:

1. Aim at surface
2. Set threshold for color change
3. Move along wall, window, ceiling, etc.
4. When device hits a hot or cold spot, light changes to red or blue
5. Temperature is also displayed on LCD screen

- $50.00

Home Warranties – To Buy or Not to Buy

Home warranty contracts are growing in popularity these days.  Even though they are an added expense, they alleviate the possibility of incurring a greater expense during the buyer’s first year of home ownership.

A home warranty usually covers major operating systems and appliances for one year, such as plumbing, heating and electrical systems, and most large appliances.  The one-time fee for a year’s coverage is paid up-front at the closing of the home purchase, while additional one year terms can be subsequently purchased if desired by the owners. The initial fee is usually paid by the seller and considered a good investment, as it’s an added appeal to prospective buyers.

When shopping for a home warranty plan, check with several companies that serve your local area.  Fees and coverage vary significantly from state to state.  Be sure to read the fine print in the contract — there may be notable exclusions that make the contract less valuable.

Related articles

• Sales of Home Warranties Increase (prweb.com)

Transparent Smart Window

If you want a large, interactive display on your wall typically you have to make space for it by moving any pictures out of the way, and finding room next to any shelves or lighting you have installed. Samsung‘s idea is to remove that problem by creating a transparent display that replaces an actual window, or at least sit over the top of one.

The display uses ambient light during the day and then can switch over to a more traditional black background as a night time mode. If you want to shut the daylight out it has virtual blinds you can draw to help darken a room.

As well as taking up no space because it doubles as a window, you get a fully functional touchscreen PC with access to a range of apps including Twitter, Microsoft Office, maps, flight info, music, video, and pretty much anything you’d expect to find in an app store.

 

 

 

 

Great Ideas for Kitchen Organization

I came across this wonderful website that showed all sorts of ways to help you organize your kitchen by utilizing the inner part of your cabinet doors. En genius! I posted a photo of my favorite but many more great ideas at the link below.

http://www.infarrantlycreative.net/2011/08/5-ways-to-organize-with-cabinet-doors.html