Collard Greens in the Garden

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In our garden this week we have lots collard greens.

Collard greens are one of my favorite things to grow each year. They have a reputation for being southern, but greens can be grown almost everywhere because they are resistant to heat and cold. Collard Greens are more heat-resistant so they have a stronger southern cuisine reputation. Whereas cold weather greens like kale don?t have much of a southern connection. Collard greens are actually distant cousins to wild cabbages grown in Europe. Maybe we should call them Europeans greens instead? ;)

Collard greens, like cabbage and other greens are very good for us. Collard greens have the ability to lower cholesterol, fight off cancer, and are especially high in carotenoids. ?Carotenoids protect your cells from the damaging effects of free radicals, they help our reproductive systems function properly, and they enhance our immune systems.

So you can grow collard greens in your backyard garden and they are good for you, but I still hear gardeners and foodies complain about collard greens! I often get told that collards take too long to cook, or that they get tired of eating them since there is only one way to prepare them. Well let me tell you more about these lovely greens and maybe I can change a mind or two.

Growing

  • Collard greens are good for beginners since they are relatively easy to grow and harvest. Our family of four generally grows six plants each winter to assure that we will have a fair serving of greens each week for many months.
  • There are many varieties of greens so do your research based on your gardening zone.?The Vates variety of collard greens are frost resistant and popular in the mid-Atlantic states. The Morris Heading variety can be up to thirty inches tall and is great for fall gardening. This year we grew Georgia Southern, a variety that can stand cool weather and holds its nutrients the best when it is cooked or frozen.
  • Collard greens like deeply tilled soil and need their space. I grow my plants about 1 ?1/2 feet apart. Some gardeners recommend up to three feet apart.
  • Collard greens love water. The perfect amount of moisture is the key to a good crop. Occasionally mixing the water with a little fish emulsion or manure tea keeps the leaves from turning weak and pale during growing season.

Harvesting

  • It is actually best to harvest collard greens the moment you see that they have real leaves.
  • Harvest the plant by cutting the outside leaves while leaving the layers of the center leaves to propagate.
  • When you harvest from the plants regularly, they will provide you with continuous produce!
  • For gardeners who have short season types, harvest the whole crop all at once and put it in the freezer for preservation. I have found that fresh collard greens?can be stored in the refrigerator for at least seven days.

Cooking

Yes it is true that collard greens require a longer cooking time compared to other leafy vegetables, but not that much longer! Start your greens first and they will be ready with the rest of your food.
When I am short on time I remove all of the stems and chop the greens into ribbons. Then I throw them in a large pot of sea salted water and bring to a boil.?

Many recipes tell you to wait to add the greens to boiling water, but I never do. Just bring the water to a slow boil with the greens in the pot and stir occasionally. Boil for a few minutes and then turn down to a simmer. The greens?become soft and buttery as they cook and they easily take on a smoky flavor. Most use pork or turkey to get this smoky flavor, but it is recommended for vegans and vegetarians to use smoked sea salt to achieve the same results. You can also add garlic, lemon, onions, or red pepper flakes for a little extra flavor while cooking greens.

I have yet to get tired of eating collard greens! I put them in my smoothies, use steamed leaves for sandwich wraps, and add them to black bean soup. I stir fry chopped collards with garlic and onions, and sometimes I served them over a bed of mashed potatoes. ?About 45 minutes before dinner I have been known to throw them in the crock-pot on high with some broth, garlic and red onions. I could go on and on! Check your favorite cookbooks and websites. I?m sure you can put a new twist on classic collard greens. ?They are so versatile and so good for us!

Happy Gardening!

~Bee

Related posts:

  1. {Food and Gardening} Edible Garden Weeds: Pickled Purslane and More
  2. {Food and Gardening} 10 Ways to Conserve Water in the Garden
  3. {Food and Gardening} A Gift from the Garden

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The Wooden Bee ? has written 13 awesome posts on Eco Etsy.

The Wooden Bee is operated by a husband & wife team. Bee & Kyle are true Floridians, with a love for all things natural. Together they are raising a young family, enjoying the environment, and creating eco-friendly home decor and upcycled craft supplies. Follow the wood at www.thewoodenbee.com

Source: http://blog.ecoetsy.com/2012/12/food-gardening-collard-gardens/html

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Facebook Could Earn Up To $1B A Year On Gifts Now That It?s Rolled Out To All U.S. Users

Facebook WineNow it's time to see if Facebook Gifts will be a nice supplement to the company's revenue, or a core chunk of it. Facebook could make between $127.5 million and $1.02 billion on Gifts per year now that it's rolling out to all U.S. users today after two months in testing with tens of millions of people.?It's also launching a wine category, and more charities you can gift to. Let's look at Gifts' earning potential.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/krs6hiXexk8/

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The looming alternative minimum tax debacle

Tens of millions of Americans will?face a huge tax increase when they file their 2012 tax returns early next year?from the expiration of the temporary increase in exemption levels under the alternative minimum tax, Toder writes.

By Eric Toder,?Guest blogger / December 11, 2012

In this April 2011 file photo, Max Martinez, dressed as the Statue of Liberty, tries to alert motorists on the final day to file taxes.The biggest immediate tax problem for many Americans comes from the expiration of the temporary increase in exemption levels under the alternative minimum tax, Toder writes.

Tony Dejak/AP/File

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The Tax Policy Center (TPC) has estimated that?going over the fiscal cliff?will raise taxes on average by about $3,500 per household in tax year 2013, compared with extension of 2011 tax law. But tens of millions of Americans have a much more immediate problem. They?ll face a huge tax increase when they file their 2012 tax returns early next year. And many of them don?t even know it.

Skip to next paragraph TaxVox

The Tax Policy Center is a joint venture of the Urban Institute and Brookings Institution. The Center is made up of nationally recognized experts in tax, budget, and social policy who have served at the highest levels of government. TaxVox is the Tax Policy Center's tax and budget policy blog.

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The trouble: A number of major tax benefits expired earlier this year, including the deductibility of state and local sales taxes as well as many business incentives. But by far the biggest problem comes from the expiration of the temporary increase in exemption levels under the alternative minimum tax (the ?AMT patch?).

In 2011, the exempt income levels under the AMT were $48,450 for single taxpayers and $74,450 for married taxpayers. If Congress fails to act, these exemptions will decline to $33,750 for singles and $45,000 for couples.?As a result, 28 million more taxpayers will be hit by the AMT, and many of the 4 million who would owe AMT even with a patch will owe even more. ?

Overall, AMT liability will rise from $34 billion to $120 billion. Of that $86 billion increase, new AMT taxpayers will owe $64 billion?an average of about $2,250?while those currently on the tax will pay another $22 billion?an increase of about $5,500 each over the nearly $8,500 average they would pay with a patch.?

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Critics' Choice Awards 2013 Nominations

The 18th Annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards will be broadcast on January 10, 2013, but nominees were announced today, led by a record number of nominations for a biopic of a certain American president. In addition, this year features a new category -- Favorite Film Franchise -- which has been opened up to public voting, and you can make your voice heard right here on RT. See below for the rest of the nominees!

    Best Supporting Actor

  • Alan Arkin - Argo
  • Javier Bardem - Skyfall
  • Robert De Niro - Silver Linings Playbook
  • Philip Seymour Hoffman - The Master
  • Tommy Lee Jones - Lincoln
  • Matthew McConaughey - Magic Mike

    Best Supporting Actress

  • Amy Adams - The Master
  • Judi Dench - Skyfall
  • Ann Dowd - Compliance
  • Sally Field - Lincoln
  • Anne Hathaway - Les Miserables
  • Helen Hunt - The Sessions

    Best Young Actor/Actress

  • Elle Fanning - Ginger & Rosa
  • Kara Hayward - Moonrise Kingdom
  • Tom Holland - The Impossible
  • Logan Lerman - The Perks of Being a Wallflower
  • Suraj Sharma - Life of Pi
  • Quvenzhane Wallis - Beasts of the Southern Wild

    Best Acting Ensemble

  • Argo
  • The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
  • Les Miserables
  • Lincoln
  • Moonrise Kingdom
  • Silver Linings Playbook

    Best Director

  • Ben Affleck - Argo
  • Kathryn Bigelow - Zero Dark Thirty
  • Tom Hooper - Les Miserables
  • Ang Lee - Life of Pi
  • David O. Russell - Silver Linings Playbook
  • Steven Spielberg - Lincoln

    Best Original Screenplay

  • Quentin Tarantino - Django Unchained
  • John Gatins - Flight
  • Rian Johnson - Looper
  • Paul Thomas Anderson - The Master
  • Wes Anderson & Roman Coppola - Moonrise Kingdom
  • Mark Boal - Zero Dark Thirty

    Best Adapted Screenplay

  • Chris Terrio - Argo
  • Tony Kushner - Lincoln
  • David O. Russell - Silver Linings Playbook
  • David Magee - Life of Pi
  • Stephen Chbosky - The Perks of Being a Wallflower

    Best Cinematography

  • Life of Pi - Claudio Miranda
  • Lincoln - Janusz Kaminski
  • Les Miserables - Danny Cohen
  • The Master - Mihai Malaimare Jr.
  • Skyfall - Roger Deakins

    Best Art Direction

  • Anna Karenina - Sarah Greenwood/Production Designer, Katie Spencer/Set Decorator
  • The Hobbit - Dan Hennah/Production Designer, Ra Vincent & Simon Bright/Set Decorators
  • Les Miserables - Eve Stewart/Production Designer, Anna Lynch-Robinson/Set Decorator
  • Life of Pi - David Gropman/Production Designer, Anna Pinnock/Set Decorator
  • Lincoln - Rick Carter/Production Designer, Jim Erickson/Set Decorator

    Best Editing

  • Argo - William Goldenberg
  • Les Miserables - Melanie Ann Oliver, Chris Dickens
  • Life of Pi - Tim Squyres
  • Lincoln - Michael Kahn
  • Zero Dark Thirty - William Goldenberg, Dylan Tichenor

    Best Costume Design

  • Anna Karenina - Jacqueline Durran
  • Cloud Atlas - Kym Barrett, Pierre-Yves Gayraud
  • The Hobbit - Bob Buck, Ann Maskrey, Richard Taylor
  • Les Miserables - Paco Delgado
  • Lincoln - Joanna Johnston

    Best Makeup

  • Cloud Atlas
  • The Hobbit
  • Les Miserables
  • Lincoln

    Best Visual Effects

  • The Avengers
  • Cloud Atlas
  • The Dark Knight Rises
  • The Hobbit
  • Life of Pi

    Best Animated Feature

  • Brave
  • Frankenweenie
  • Madagascar 3
  • ParaNorman
  • Rise of the Guardians
  • Wreck-It Ralph

    Best Action Movie

  • The Avengers
  • The Dark Knight Rises
  • Looper
  • Skyfall

    Best Actor in an Action Movie

  • Christian Bale - The Dark Knight Rises
  • Daniel Craig - Skyfall
  • Robert Downey Jr. - The Avengers
  • Joseph Gordon-Levitt - Looper
  • Jake Gyllenhaal - End of Watch

    Best Actress in an Action Movie

  • Emily Blunt - Looper
  • Gina Carano - Haywire
  • Judi Dench - Skyfall
  • Anne Hathaway - The Dark Knight Rises
  • Jennifer Lawrence - The Hunger Games

    Best Comedy

  • Bernie
  • Silver Linings Playbook
  • Ted
  • This Is 40
  • 21 Jump Street

    Best Actor in a Comedy

  • Jack Black - Bernie
  • Bradley Cooper - Silver Linings Playbook
  • Paul Rudd - This Is 40
  • Channing Tatum - 21 Jump Street
  • Mark Wahlberg - Ted

    Best Actress in a Comedy

  • Mila Kunis - Ted
  • Jennifer Lawrence - Silver Linings Playbook
  • Shirley MacLaine - Bernie
  • Leslie Mann - This Is 40
  • Rebel Wilson - Pitch Perfect

    Best Sci-FI/Horror Movie

  • Cabin in the Woods
  • Looper
  • Prometheus

    Best Foreign Language Film

  • Amour
  • The Intouchables
  • A Royal Affair
  • Rust and Bone

    Best Documentario Feature

  • Bully
  • The Imposter
  • Queen of Versailles
  • Searching for Sugar Man
  • The Central Park Five
  • West of Memphis

    Best Song

  • "For You" - performed by Keith Urban/written by Monty Powell & Keith Urban - Actor of Valor
  • "Skyfall" - performed by Adele/written by Adele Adkins & Paul Epworth - Skyfall
  • "Still Alive" - performed by Paul Williams/written by Paul Williams - Paul Williams Still Alive
  • "Suddenly" - performed by Hugh Jackman/written by Claude-Michel Schonberg & Alain Boublil & Herbert Kretzmer - Les Miserables
  • "Learn Me Right" - performed by Birdy with Mumford & Sons/written by Mumford & Sons - Brave

    Best Score

  • Argo - Alexandre Desplat
  • Life of Pi - Mychael Danna
  • Lincoln - John Williams
  • The Master - Jonny Greenwood
  • Moonrise Kingdom - Alexandre Desplat

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1926446/news/1926446/

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"Lincoln," "Les Miserables" lead SAG film nominees

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The actors of drama "Lincoln," musical "Les Miserables" and comedy "Silver Linings Playbook" led nominations for the Screen Actors Guild film awards on Wednesday, winning four nominations apiece, including best ensemble cast.

Joining them among nominees for best movie cast - the organization's top prize - were the actors of Iranian hostage drama "Argo" and British comedy "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel."

Thriller "Zero Dark Thirty" about the U.S. hunt for Osama bin Laden was left out of the best ensemble cast picks but Jessica Chastain was nominated best actress for her performance as a CIA agent.

The awards from the Screen Actors Guild, or SAG, are among the most-watched honors during Hollywood film awards season leading up to the Academy Awards because actors make up one of the largest voting groups for the Oscars.

As a result, SAG nominees usually figure prominently on many ballots by members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which hands out the Oscars in February.

The SAG awards will be given out in Los Angeles on January 27 in a live telecast on the TBS and TNT networks.

"Lincoln," director Steven Spielberg's movie about U.S. President Abraham Lincoln's battle to outlaw slavery, brought nominations on Wednesday for lead actor Daniel Day-Lewis and supporting actors Sally Field as his wife, and Tommy Lee Jones.

Hugh Jackman was nominated for best actor while Anne Hathaway was chosen for her supporting role in the movie adaptation of hit stage musical "Les Miserables."

Other actors nominated on Wednesday included the stars of quirky comedy "Silver Linings Playbook" - Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert DeNiro - and John Hawkes and Helen Hunt for the independent movie "The Sessions" about a disabled man and his sex therapist.

One of the biggest surprises was "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel," the story of a group of elderly Britons who retire to a ramshackle Indian hotel. The film, which stars Judi Dench, Tom Wilkinson and Bill Nighy, had two nominations - best ensemble and best supporting actress for Maggie Smith.

Smith also was nominated in SAG's television category for her role as a sarcastic aristocrat in period drama "Downton Abbey." The show also was among the picks for ensemble acting in the TV category.

Other TV drama nominations went to the casts of "Boardwalk Empire," "Homeland," "Mad Men" and "Breaking Bad."

In TV comedy, old favorites "30 Rock," "Glee," "The Big Bang Theory," "Modern Family," "Nurse Jackie" and "The Office" were nominated.

(This story corrects spelling "Downton" in 11th paragraph)

(Editing by Xavier Briand and Bill Trott)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/argo-lincoln-among-top-sag-nominees-141419545.html

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Feds seek end of religious birth control lawsuit

ATLANTA (AP) ? The federal government has asked a judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta and other religious institutions seeking to overturn a provision in the federal health care law that requires group health plans to provide free birth control.

The groups argued in a lawsuit filed in October that their religious beliefs prohibit them from providing the required coverage for certain services provided for in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

In a filing Monday, lawyers for the federal government argue the groups haven't shown any actual or imminent harm. They also argue that proposed amendments would accommodate religious groups' objections to covering contraceptive services.

The lawyers note that similar lawsuits have been filed around the country, and several courts have already dismissed them.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/feds-seek-end-religious-birth-control-lawsuit-155855830.html

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UN panel: Cuba's jailing of US contractor 'arbitrary'

By Michael IsikoffNBC News

/

American Alan Gross, a 63-year-old U.S. government subcontractor from Montgomery County, Md., has been in prison in Cuba since late 2009.

A United Nations panel has called on Cuba to immediately release jailed American contractor Alan Gross after finding that his detention was ?arbitrary? and violated international human-rights standards, according to a report obtained by NBC News.

The 16-page decision by the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which has not yet been publicly released, is a? victory for the legal team working to free Gross, a State Department contractor who was arrested three years ago for allegedly smuggling sophisticated satellite equipment to Cuba?s tiny Jewish community.


The Cuban Foreign Ministry dismissed the findings as a result of ?pressures exerted by the United States? and vigorously defended its detention of the 63-year-old American. Gross ?was sentenced for committing acts against Cuba?s national security and public order, not for promoting freedom,? the ministry said in a statement also obtained by NBC News. A Cuban official said that the working group reached its findings without visiting Cuba or interviewing Gross. The official also noted that the same U.N. panel has in the past criticized as ?arbitrary? the detention of five Cuban agents prosecuted in the U.S. on espionage related charges.

Gross? imprisonment and the 15-year prison sentence imposed on him last year by a Cuban court has become a new flashpoint in U.S.-Cuba relations. Last week, the U.S. Senate passed a unanimous resolution calling for Gross? immediate release. The dispute over his detention has been further heightened by assertions by Gross? family that he has lost over 100 pounds in prison and that his health is failing.?

The working group, an arm of the Geneva-based U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, conducted its investigation in response to a petition submitted by Gross? lawyers. Its findings can now be? submitted to the U.N. General Assembly and, if adopted, put further international pressure on Cuba over its treatment of the jailed American. A spokesman for the High Commissioner did not respond to a request for comment.

In Cuba, American contractor Alan Gross has been imprisoned for three years for smuggling satellite equipment to the country's Jewish community. NBC's Michael Isikoff reports.

According to lawsuit he recently filed against the U.S. Government and the contractor that employed him, Gross has charged he was a ?pawn? in a larger U.S. government program to change Cuba?s government and was never advised about the dangers he faced. (The State Department has declined comment; the contractor, Development Alternatives Inc., has said only that Gross? release is its ?highest priority.? ) Gross made five trips to Cuba between March 30, 2009 and November 2009, delivering telecommunications equipment that he said was designed to ?increase Internet access in Cuba,? according to the lawsuit.

The? U.N. panel?s report found that Gross? detention near the end of his fifth trip was ?arbitrary?? and that? he was tried and? convicted after a two-day trial by a Cuban court that did not operate in an ?independent and impartial? manner. It ?further found that he was charged under a Cuban law ? prohibiting ?acts against the independence and/or territorial integrity of the state? ? that was too vague by international standards. The panel also concluded that? Gross should have been released on bail during the 14 months between his arrest and his conviction by the Cuban court.

?On those grounds, the Working Group requests the Government of the Republic of Cuba order the immediate release of Mr. Alan Phillip Gross,? the report states.

Chris Fletcher, a lawyer for Gross, said in an email: ?If what is being reported is accurately quoted from the U.N. Working Group opinion, then it reaffirms what we said previously: the government of Cuba is violating its international legal obligations. It should therefore immediately release Alan Gross from prison and allow him to return to the United States to be reunited with his family.? Moreover, regardless of the outcome of the case, Alan?s health is declining and it has long been clear he should be immediately released on humanitarian grounds.?

Related stories

Cuban official accuses US of 'lying' about health of jailed American contractor

American held in Cuba wants US to sign 'non-belligerency' pact to speed release

Cuba pushes swap: Its spies jailed in U.S. for American contractor imprisoned in Havana

In its response to the U.N. report, the Cuban Foreign Ministry condemned the United Nations working group for its ?hasty? analysis.?

?Mr. Gross was detained, prosecuted and sentenced for illegally and covertly introducing in Cuba communication equipment using non-commercial technology, which is only meant to be used for military purposes and for creating clandestine networks.? He did so to implement a U.S. government program ?with the aim of subverting Cuba?s constitutional order," to overthrow the Cuban government, the foreign ministry statement said.?

A senior Cuban official, Ricardo Alarcon, recently told NBC News that the Cubans would consider releasing Gross, but want the U.S. government to take similar ?humanitarian? steps by releasing the so-called Cuban Five, the convicted Cuban agents in the U.S. whose prosecution the U.N. had also criticized.?

Michael Isikoff is NBC News' national investigative correspondent.

More from Open Channel:

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Source: http://openchannel.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/10/15827073-cubas-jailing-of-american-contractor-arbitrary-un-panel-concludes?lite

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AP Source: Obama to help unveil factory expansion

DETROIT (AP) ? President Barack Obama will help announce expansion of a truck engine plant when he visits a Detroit suburb.

The president is visiting the area on Monday to build support for his plan to avoid the fiscal cliff.

A person briefed on the matter says Obama and Detroit Diesel will unveil a $100 million investment at the factory in Redford Township, Michigan.

The person says the plant owned by Germany's Daimler will be expanded to make transmissions and axles. It was unclear how many jobs would be added. The person didn't want to be identified because the official announcement hasn't been made.

Obama is scheduled to tour the plant and speak to workers before returning to Washington in the afternoon.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ap-source-obama-help-unveil-factory-expansion-143403561--finance.html

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Buying Done Right ? Real Estate Advice That Makes It Easy ...

Purchasing a piece of real estate is daunting for a first time buyer. But, it can make a great investment, and when you choose the right property, you can enjoy a better quality of life right away. This article has some information to help you get started buying real estate whether you are a first-time buyer, or a veteran.

Be sure to look for a good neighborhood if you plan on opening your own business. By placing yourself in an unattractive location, you dissuade potential customers. Consult your Realtor about the best neighborhood to open your business.

A good home-buying tip to use is to find a real estate age who is intimately familiar with the area. Ask your agent if he or she has ever lived in the general area. An agent who is relatively new to the area won?t be as familiar with the roads, neighborhoods, zoning and projected growth as someone who has lived there for many years. An agent residing in the area 10 years or more is preferable.

Hiring a quality Realtor is a necessity for you when you are ready to buy. You can find a lot of helpful information online and also from the Better Business Bureau. The most reliable references that you can get will be from co-workers, family members and friends.

Term Goals

When you are plunging into real estate, make sure you have clear goals in mind. Do you want to work on achieving your short-term goals or your long-term goals? If the current property you are considering does not fit within your goals, don?t even consider it. Many investors make the mistake of purchasing a property that does not meet their needs, and they wind up losing money.

If a home is in need of many repairs and updates, it is likely to be sold at a greatly reduced price. This offers the opportunity to purchase relatively inexpensively, and then make repairs or improvements on your own schedule. You can customize your home in the way you like, as well as build equity and add value with every improvement that you make. Concentrate on placing emphasis on the home?s possibilities instead of its flaws. The home of your dreams might be waiting for you behind an outwardly rough exterior.

Buying a fixer upper is a great way to save money and invest wisely. Watching the value of your property go up is an immediate investment return. Your value might well rise more than your initial investment.

Many programs exist to ease the burden of making a down payment, and you have no reason not to see if you qualify for some of them. Pairing this in conjunction with getting the closing costs covered by the seller can really minimize how many dollars you have to stash away prior to buying a home.

It is a good idea to retain an attorney who specializes in real estate when you are involved with foreclosure purchases. There are many complications that can come up when you are buying a pre-foreclosed or foreclosed home. It is wise to have legal representation that is on the lookout for your best interests. Having this person could possibly save you a lot of money over the long term.

Sex Offenders

Try to contact your former clients around the holidays and during anniversaries of their purchases. When they hear from you, they will remember how much you helped them out. Give them a friendly reminder that you make money through referrals, so you would be pleased if they could mention your name to others.

Before choosing a neighborhood to settle down in, check the national data base for sex offenders living in that area. Sex offenders must be registered, but that doesn?t mean that someone selling a home is obligated to mention that to you. It is your responsibility as a home buyer to research the safety of any location you are considering as your next home.

When purchasing real estate, it is important to have additional funds set aside because there might be unexpected costs. Buyers typically figure out their closing costs by totaling the down payment, any points that they pay to the lender, and all real estate taxes after they are prorated. The closing costs can often include extra charges like improvement bonds, school taxes, and other local charges.

Look at properties and do your homework before you buy them. You will be looking for certain factors when you search for rental property. The first is whether the property is sustainable. Is the rental property in good condition, and will it stay that way without a great amount of upkeep? The next key factor is location. Where the property is located should be a critical part of your decision, because it will be for your tenants. You tenants will want a location that is convenient to retailers and restaurants, as well as service providers. The third is the average income of the area. This is very important due to the fact that a higher rental amount can be charged for an area of higher income. Location is not as much of a deal breaker for high rent areas.

Determine your offer ahead of time. You already know what the asking price is, but having carefully considered your offer point will be beneficial. With a little help from the seller, you can settle on a cost that is good for both of you.

Be moderate in your real estate negotiations. It can be counter productive to be too aggressive in your bargain hunting. You can have a firm idea of what you want to pay, but let the Realtor and lawyers have some leeway.

If you have already been approved for a loan, it may entice sellers a little more. On the other hand, if you are not approved, this can extend the timeline of the purchasing process, which can result in additional costs.

When shopping for a home, do not let the home?s decor affect your purchase decision. Your decision as to whether you will purchase a home should be based on the quality of its build and your requirements for sizing. If you buy a home primarily because it has structural details that appeal to you, you may fail to recognize critical flaws that can end up costing you thousands of dollars down the road.

Don?t pay too high of a premium just for a good view. This feature is entirely subjective and perhaps your buyer will not find it interesting. Before you make an offer on a home with a view, investigate the local market to be sure you are not over paying.

Buying a property is likely to be the largest purchase you make as far as value is concerned, so the decision needs to be weighed appropriately. The suggestions outlined in the above article may give you more confidence and help you with those big decisions, and may help you to avoid the many pitfalls that others have fallen into when it comes to buying real estate.

If you want to succeed with anything, you need to be educated on the topic. The following article will help you be successful in understanding Overseas Property Investment. Read the article again so that you make sure that you have learned the information. From there, move forward with your plans.

Source: http://www.davidstanleyredfern.com/general-news/buying-done-right-real-estate-advice-that-makes-it-easy-2

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Watch This Phallic UAV Get All Grabby With Its Scary Six-Foot Arm

When it comes to handy features for UAVs, your mind probably doesn't jump to towering, phallic protuberances and grabby arms for gingerly setting things down before darting away. Well DARPA's does, which is why they funded and demonstrated this monstrosity. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/BrpCNr6Nn3A/watch-this-phallic-uav-get-all-grabby-with-its-scary-six+foot-arm

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