Today's housing market offers exceptional opportunities and incentives to achieve the American dream. "Your Key to a Successful Home Financing" presents unique resources that will help you understand and simplify the loan process, identify available mortgage programs to meet your goals, and enjoy the advantages of being a homeowner. This book will also prepare you with the essentials for a loan approval and tips on how to improve your credit. I will describe fundamental benefits of using government loans, such as buying with no money down or getting additional funds to repair your home, and options to receive down payment assistance from your city, county or state. I'll show you how to save money by obtaining a seller credit towards closing costs, reduce your interest rate and its cost, and obtain federal and state tax credits. In addition, you will learn ways to buy foreclosures with low down payment. As a mortgage consultant, I strongly believe in full disclosure to my clients; I'll describe important key documents that need to be reviewed before looking for a house and at the closing of your transaction. I was motivated to write this book because I frequently witness loan officers failing to provide existing programs and resources to homebuyers. Ultimately, this lack of expertise or ability can be detrimental at the moment of purchasing your home. Throughout "Your Key to a Successful Home Financing" outstanding online support for homebuyers and homeowners will be listed, and you will discover secrets banks may not necessarily want you to know. Its chapters were designed for readers that don't have time to study vague and lengthy narratives about financing. It provides direct, current and crucial advice to find the most appropriate home loan program to fit your needs, because now it's a great time to take action

The classic bestselling resource for every American home. Choosing fabrics, cleaning china, keeping the piano in tune, making a good fire, folding a fitted sheet, setting the dining room table, keeping surfaces free of food pathogens, watering plants, removing stains -- "Home Comforts" addresses the meanings as well as the methods of hands -- on housekeeping to help you manage everyday chores, find creative solutions to modern domestic dilemmas, and enhance the experience of life at home.
Further topics include: Making up a bed with hospital corners, Expert recommendations for safe food storage, Reading care labels (and sometimes carefully disregarding them), Keeping your home free of dust mites and other allergens, Home safety and security, A summary of laws applicable to the home, including privacy, accident liability, contracts, and domestic employees and more in this practical, good-humored, historic, philosophical, even romantic, guidebook to the art of household management.

Go green with this rollicking guide to eco-friendly cleaning alternatives that will help you save your health, your money, and your planet.How many times have you said you're killing yourself trying to keep your house clean? You might have been joking, but you're closer to the truth than you think if you're using expensive commercial cleansers. Karen Logan, an environmentalist with years of experience developing and selling her own line of eco-friendly cleaning products, reveals the secret of using simple, ordinary ingredients--like baking soda, vinegar, soap, lemon juice, and salt--to make safe, inexpensive cleaners. For instance, did you know: -Olive oil is not only good as a salad dressing, but also as a furniture polish. -Plain club soda works great as a window cleaner. -You can make your copper-bottomed pots sparkle with just lemon juice and salt. -Ordinary liquid soap and water will clean up those ants marching through your kitchen.

This book describes the architecture and protocols for interconnecting media devices in home networks. The architecture and protocols described in this book have been developed during the last 10 years by R&D teams from several companies working jointly in two industry organizations known as UPnP and DLNA. This book mainly deals with the DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) protocol. This text is especially relevant for the design and development of smart homes, where media devices, communication devices, appliances, and sensors are all integrated in an intelligent network.

Hanging drywall properly can be a difficult and tedious job, which is why it's so expensive to have a professional do it for you. "Drywall" has received rave reviews from readers for its thorough and clear instructions and this revised version gives readers information on new tools and materials and techniques that the author has field-tested since the last revision in 2008. For the first time the book also includes a bound-in DVD with tips and techniques for hassle-free drywall installation. "Drywall" offers the very latest information with the familiar easy-to-use format that made the first three editions such great successes.

Ships in November 2011. Watch the DIY series Million Dollar Contractor with Stephen Fanuka. In What's a Homeowner to Do?, Stephen Fanuka and Edward Lewine explain the basics of home repair and maintenance. From assembling a tool kit to understanding the pros and cons of casement and double-hung windows, from the ins and outs of moldings, faucets, and electrical outlets to the best way to maintain appliances and driveways, you'll find out everything you'll need to know to keep your home in fine working order. With hundreds of clear, helpful illustrations, this essential reference covers such topics as how to install a ceiling fan; determining the right amount of paint to buy; how to repair a loose stair tread; choosing the proper child safety gate; and many more. Most important, you'll get expert advice on when a repair is something you can do yourself and when it's best executed by a professional. In the process, you'll learn more than enough to speak knowledgeably about any problem with a hardware store clerk, a repairman, or a contractor. What's a Homeowner to Do? is the best home improvement guide ever!

For those looking to raise a family in a storybook American town, or a change of pace from hectic city life, this book is the answer. It includes information on: the cost of the home, recreation facilities, cost of electricity, schools, sales tax rates, per capita income, geography and climate, and a host of other pertinent information about the nicest, most affordable, cosiest towns in the US Even includes interviews with town officials, librarians, teachers, shop owners, and other residents. An excellent resource that will never be out of style.

This expert guide walks you through the practice of cost segregation analysis, which enables property owners to defer taxes and benefit from "accelerated cost recovery" through depreciation deductions on assets that are properly identified and classified. A relatively new practice that evolved from various court decisions and Internal Revenue Service rulings, cost segregation can be applied to new buildings under construction, renovations of existing buildings, leasehold improvements, and purchased real estate - going back as far as 1987.

Cost segregation practice requires knowledge of both tax law and the construction process. In this book, the authors share their expertise in these areas with tax and accounting professionals, cost segregation consultants, facility owners, architects and general contractors - providing guidance on major aspects of a professional, defensible cost segregation study, including: The legal framework for cost segregation, as defined by the IRS, tax courts, and federal agenciesReview of key IRS cases, court rulings, and revenue proceduresClassification and depreciation methodsUnderstanding construction plans and specificationsProfessional takeoff and cost estimating proceduresOptimizing cost segregation in new construction - from design choices to proper project documentation

With a glossary of terms, sample cost segregation estimates for various building types, key information resources, and updates via a dedicated website, "The Practice of Cost Segregation Analysis" is a must-have resource.

Marge Jones has mastered an alternative slip-covering technique to help people with all levels of sewing skills create their own snug-fitting covers for chairs, benches, sofas, and more. With detailed instructions and photos, Marge guides you through the process of refurbishing and customizing virtually all your living room, dining room, bedroom, and even patio furniture. Her method eliminates the muslin or paper pattern-making process, saving precious time and energy, while achieving a tighter, more attractive fit. This edition includes special sections on how to install essential components such as zippers and decking, and tips on how to add height to and restyle arms on furniture. Snug-fit, easy-to-make custom slipcovers fit so well that the furniture looks brand new. Home furnishings of all shapes and sizes are restored in this indispensable manual, proving that almost all furniture can be custom-slip-covered.

This book was previously published under the title Using Natural Finishes. With the increasing awareness of eco-building techniques alongside the desire to make our homes healthier, the historical benefits of using natural renders and paints are being rediscovered. Clay and Lime Renders, Plasters and Paints is an in-depth guide to the selection, mixing and application of lime and clay based plasters, renders, paints and washes. Step-by-step instructions for applying lime and clay based plasters, renders and paints. Information on the benefits of natural finishes for personal health, the environment, and for buildings. Drawing on traditional methods & materials for using lime & clay finishes on new and historic buildings. A comprehensive and up-to-date online resourceguide to suppliers, practitioners and courses. Easy to follow DIY projects guide the reader through all aspects of using these natural finishes, with beautiful photographs of techniques and examples from the UK and abroad.

Repairing, even just painting, an old house with some of today's conventional building materials could begin processes leading to decay, or bring about changes that erode interest and value. Old house owners have a big investment to protect and many will want to do this as economically and sustainably as possible.

". . . readers will count on Popular Mechanics' advice." --Booklist (starred review) For any home repair, big or small, homeowners can turn to this practical and portable reference. Got a squeaky floor or a rattling door? Is your grout a color you don't recognize anymore? From quick fixes like linking broken chains and patching drywall to more involved projects like replacing a fuel line and bleeding your brakes, Popular Mechanics How to Fix Anything is the handy and reliable go-to guide for the most common household problems offering a primer on plumbing, unexpected hacks like using a golf tee to fill a stripped screw hole, instructions for tuning up the garage door, and so much more. Throughout the book Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics' senior home editor, answers questions about the trickiest fix-its, including how to deal with a recurring ceiling cracks or get rid of that stench from the kitchen sink.. And because it's organized room by room, from basement to bathroom to bedroom, it's simple to find the solution you need--so you won't have to hire someone else to do the job.

A detailed guide to installing high performance felt and torch on roofs, for both DIY enthusiasts and professional roofers. From safety precautions, to the tips and tricks to keep a flat roof water-tight for many years, Felt and Torch on Roofing will teach the novice how to successfully complete their first felt roof to a high standard, and provide the professional with new techniques to undertaking the best quality work on felt and torch on roofing.

A concise guide to managing your digital life. Today, we collect and store an ever-increasing volume of digital personal information on convenient portable devices and create substantial amounts of personal textual and visual digital information on their personal computers. We have become accustomed to using a variety of tools that involve interactive social activities. Because of social media, there is a large amount of user-generated content related to all aspects of our lives and there is no way for creators to save it all and invaluable content ranging from personal notes to photos to medical information may be lost. Because we may lose so much information, it is helpful to find out as much as we can about how we can manage our personal digital information. This book is a primer to preventing that loss. Here is an introduction to Personal Information Management (PIM) intended for a lay audience. The basic premise is that everyone needs to manage their digital information. This book introduces readers to the kinds of tools people most commonly use today. It will also consider the pros and cons of each of these tools. This book cover he concepts associated with preserving and managing personal digital information. Visual and textual examples illustrate how to use best practices to ensure the longevity of information, while considering current solutions to the problems associated with personal information loss. The book is a detailed guide to the steps involved in managing information and images of all kinds: Receiving Generating Keeping Using Organizing Re-finding Sharing. Most of us don't know how to prevent information loss; this book introduces tools that will ensure the longevity of our digital lives.

A guide to tackling the problems experienced in a project of this nature relevant to planning and building control procedures.

For those who love to live in old houses or want to invest in one, this completely revised and updated book levels no stone unturned. From evaluating a property to making foundation repairs to adding on a porch, it's a comprehensive guide to every aspect of making renovations and repairs--whether you already live in, or are contemplating buying, an older home.