Rental Property Industry Support

Rental Property Reporter--the landlord guide to profitable property management For the Week of December 26, 2005 Solutions for the Rental Property Industry Support Rental Property Reporter advertisers A Business Where Landlords Can Help Other Landlords s Tip of the Week: Getting a Great Deal When You Buy Properties Get FREE Property Management Information by Email Winter Telephone Class Series January 18, 2006 --"Dirty Tenant Tricks and How to Beat the Tricksters" February 8, 2006 --"How to Write Classified Ads That Work!" February 22, 2006 --"Low- and No-Cost Marketing that Gets Units Rented" Sign up for two classes and get the third one free Results of Tenant Selection Survey Access the Landlord-Tenant Laws from all 50 States Rental Property Consulting & Coaching Having a problem with your rental property? Ask an expert Answers to Landlord Questions Find a Property Management Company Find an Apartment or Landlord Association Near You Find a Tenant Screening Company Top Dollar for your note or trust deed Message Board-- Landlords Helping Landlords Realtors and Property Managers: We want to publish your newsletter on this site Click here for more information TIP OF THE WEEK LANDLORD STORE LANDLORD BULLETINS CURRENT & BACK ISSUES PRODUCTS FOR LANDLORD SUCCESS INFO ABOUT THE NEWSLETTER ASK THE PUBLISHER NOW IN THE LATEST ISSUE OTHER INTERNET SITES SPEECHES & SEMINARS ADVERTISE HERE CONTACT US Rentalprop Message Boards Enter city or US Zip red Tip of the Week Landlord Bulletin Current & Back Issues Products Speeches & Seminars About the Rental Property Reporter | Ask the Publisher Now in the New Issue Other Internet Sites Secure Shopping Cart How to Advertise Here Contact Us Get a FREE Monthly Property Management Column by Email Is it really safe to use your credit card to make purchases on the Internet? © 1997-2005 Cain Publications, Inc. Look for Rental Property Reporter in search engines and web directories under rental property reporter, lease, landlord, landlording, property management, rental management, real estate management, residential management, fair housing, and landlord education. Read the landlord guide and landlord handbook. Landlord manual for landlord information and tenant or tenant screening. Tenant selection and tenant interview so you can choose tenant and tenant management for real estate and real property. Rental property and property management for property lease and rental income is rental management and rental property. Overdue rent and eviction news for lease management and lease, lease, lease. Survival to survive the fair housing and housing condition report or premises report. Credit for rental property and landlord guide or rental management. Report damage for damage deposit on furniture damage. Bob Cain is a guest speaker, lecturer and conducts training seminars as speaker, keynote speaker. Bob Cain conducts workshops and is a author, writer of books for publication. Class study and newsletter for landlord and tenant relations. Rental landlord guide and rent collection for renter screening and screening for renter selection. Tenant screening for tenant selection is essential to effective property management.

Investment Property

Investment Property Databank IPD Home About IPD Portfolio Analysis Services Events Indices and Market Information Indices for Derivatives Online Services -- Home Company Overview Directors IPD Measurement Methods Locations Sponsors IPD Links IPD Awards FAQs Press Releases Contact Us Jobs at IPD IPD Frequently Asked Questions Q: Who is IPD? Q: What countries do you cover? Q: What is the company structure? Q: What does IPD do? Q: What services does IPD offer? Q: What is OPD? Q: Who are the IPD's main clients? Q: How do the clients use IPD information? Q: What do you gain from using IPD? Q: How do I join IPD? Q: What type of information is required to join IPD? Q: How do you start a new country service? Q: Who is IPD? A: IPD is an independent research company, who employs over 100 graduates to provide investors, occupiers, advisors and researchers with objective, reliable property benchmarks and indices. back Q: What countries do you cover? A: We cover a growing range of countries. At present we have databanks in the UK, Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden and USA. back Q: What is the company structure? A: IPD’s Head Office is based in London, UK with subsidiaries in Paris, France (IPD France) , Johannesburg, South Africa (IPD South Africa) and Sweden (IPD Norden). In other countries we work with local partners who are established within their particular country to provide a regional contact in the national language. back Q: What does IPD do? A: IPD produces high quality reports and results which are used around the world by investors, occupiers, advisors, lenders, analysts and researchers. These consist of : • Portfolio analysis on commercial property investment funds. This gives fund managers and investors fair benchmarks for total returns, plus a full evaluation of investment strategy and portfolio quality. • Indices and market information to give the definitive statement for property returns in each country and each city. This provides a consistent basis for comparison with other assets, and for research that informs investment decisions from international portfolio allocation down to individual building selection. Annual indices are free and can be downloaded from this site. Other publications are various prices and come in the from of an annual subscription. Please email marketing@ipdglobal.com" marketing@ipdglobal.com for more information or call +44 (0)20 7643 9246. back Q: What services does IPD offer? A: • Portfolio analysis (PAS) & benchmarking • Market information and publications • D-PAS – (Desktop-PAS). Available for PAS clients this software can be used to analyse the performance and characteristics of the portfolios and benchmarks from your own PC, with exclusive access to figures not available in the report. • IPD Online - Available for PAS clients, this is a secure delivery mechanism giving secure access to report publications. • Research - Publications and custom data. • TICCS - Tenants, Income, Credit Rating & Covenant Strength - adds business information to Dun & Bradstreet on each tenant, to give investors unique benchmarks of portfolio income quality and the covenant strength of individual tenants. • Management Cost Survey - the only source of comprehensive benchmarks for overall costs of portfolio management, the eficiency of in-house management teams and charging rates of external providers. • Remuneration Service – This offers independent design advice to instruct lawyers, help with selection of appropriate benchmarks and targets, ability to model historic or potential out-turn of proposed schemes and authoritative advice on all technical aspects of performance measurement. • IPD Events - These include conferences , training and briefings. back Q: What is OPD? A: IPD Occupiers Property Databank is the market leader in its field of performance measurement for occupiers, with clients from a long list of FTSE 100 and multinational companies. The Databank contains a building-by-building record of complete estates showing total occupational costs, building utilisation, facilities and estate management overheads to give owners a thorough profile and comparative management tool. OPD also runs a Facilities Management benchmarking group, a Workplace Productivity Appraisal and publishes the International Total Occupancy Cost Code. To see OPD's website go to www.opd.co.uk. back Q: Who are IPD's main clients? A: IPD’s clients are mainly Pension and Life Fund companies. IPD has over 300 UK clients, internationally over 200 clients. OPD has approximately 60 clients. back Q: How do the clients use IPD information? A: Property owners need an industry standard yardstick against which they can compare the returns they achieve on their investments and evaluate their performance. The IPD annual database is the most reliable benchmark of direct property performance in the UK. It comprises 11,000 properties (with a total value of over €170bn at December 2004), equivalent to 45% of the total property assets of UK Institutions and listed property companies. back Q: What do you gain from using IPD? A: • An independent audit of investment returns, calculated on an industry standard basis • A benchmarking service which gives owners an objective measure of their performance against relevant yardsticks • Systematic analysis of the sources of above- or below-average performance • A powerful internal management tool to help to set agendas, monitor progress against targets, and to guide strategy, stock selection and active management decisions • Results in electronic form to permit further internal analysis. back Q: How do I join IPD? A: Please contact claire.herd@ipdindex.co.uk or call +44 (0)20 7643 9217 to join or for more information. back Q: What type of information is required to join IPD? A: To participate in the Portfolio Analysis Service you will need to provide: • A series of annual Open Market capital values, carried out to standard RICS Red Book specification, property level rent passing and open market rental value. • A schedule of tenant leases as at the most recent valuation date, including tenant level rent passing and market rental value. • Annual capital expenditure amounts, preferably timed to the month or quarter. • Completion dates of transactions, with gross and net purchase and sale prices. • Property management costs. • Other non-recoverable revenue expenditure (vacant rates, non-recoverable maintenance costs, bad debts etc). back Q: How do you start a new country service? A:IPD systems can be established in any country where property investors are committed to understanding the financial performance of their holdings. This commitment can then ensure that the essential building blocks of the IPD databank are in place: • Valuations: In the property market where transactions are few, appraisals of market value are needed to form the capital basis of the return calculation. If necessary, IPD will work with local bodies to develop valuation standards to performance measurement. • Participation: IPD databases require a critical mass to build adequate samples of properties to cover complex national markets. Typically investors holding at least 20% of the investment market are required to form the core of the new system. • Definitions: Nationally accepted and appropriate data definitions must be agreed to ensure the compatibility between investors while maintaining the application of international principals. How will the system be established? • Promotion: IPD will work within the market, most likely in collaboration with a local partner, to identify and secure the critical mass of participating investor organisations. • Development: The databank will be constructed by IPD in collaboration with participating investors to ensure that market characteristics are reflected and their reporting needs are met. • Data Testing: IPD will analyse the data initially submitted to ensure its quality is sufficient to support the benchmarks and market indices. Improvements will be proposed and verified before full products and services are available. 1 St. John's Lane London EC1M 4BL Tel: +44 (0)20 7336 9200 Fax: +44 (0)20 7336 9399 Privacy Policy | © 2005 IPD Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Home | About IPD | Portfolio Analysis Service | Events | Indices and Market Information | Indices for Derivatives | OPD Designed by Webrepro

Property Search

REALTOR.com: Real estate listings & homes for sale Welcome, Visitor! Sign Up to: Save Searches Save Listings Sign Up Now! Already a member? Sign In Homebuying Tools Find a Lender Find a Mover Market Conditions Neighborhood Tour Real Estate 101 Buyers Sellers For REALTORS® Resource Center News REALTOR.org Search the Web Select a Top Search: Bad Credit Contractors Homeowner's Insurance Debt Consolidation Interior Design Mortgage Rates Loan Types Rates Points 30-yr fixed 5.74% 0.37 15-yr fixed 5.38% 0.28 ARM 3/1, 30Yrs 4.87% 0.26 Updated: 12/29/2005 12:05:52 PM Check Local Rates Search our national directory of mortgage brokers and lenders. Find a Home Over 2.5 million listings for sale! State/Province AB AK AL AR AZ BC CA CO CT DC DE FL GA GU HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MB MD ME MI MO MN MS MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK ON OR PA PR RI SC SD TN TX UT VI VT VA WA WI WV WY - OR - Minimum Price $0 $500 $1,000 $1,400 $2,000 $5,000 $10,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $45,000 $50,000 $55,000 $60,000 $70,000 $75,000 $100,000 $125,000 $150,000 $175,000 $200,000 $225,000 $250,000 $275,000 $300,000 $325,000 $350,000 $400,000 $450,000 $500,000 $550,000 $600,000 $650,000 $700,000 $750,000 $800,000 $850,000 $900,000 $1,000,000 $1,250,000 $1,500,000 $1,750,000 $2,000,000 $2,250,000 $2,500,000 $2,750,000 $3,000,000 $3,500,000 $4,000,000 $4,500,000 $5,000,000 $6,000,000 $8,000,000 $10,000,000 to Maximum Price $1,000 $1,400 $2,000 $5,000 $10,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $45,000 $50,000 $55,000 $60,000 $70,000 $75,000 $100,000 $125,000 $150,000 $175,000 $200,000 $225,000 $250,000 $275,000 $300,000 $325,000 $350,000 $400,000 $450,000 $500,000 $550,000 $600,000 $650,000 $700,000 $750,000 $800,000 $850,000 $900,000 $1,000,000 $1,250,000 $1,500,000 $1,750,000 $2,000,000 $2,250,000 $2,500,000 $2,750,000 $3,000,000 $3,500,000 $4,000,000 $4,500,000 $5,000,000 $6,000,000 $8,000,000 $10,000,000 no maximum Beds 1+ Beds 2+ Beds 3+ Beds 4+ Beds 5+ Beds Baths 1+ Baths 1.5+ Baths 2+ Baths 2.5+ Baths 3+ Baths 3.5+ Baths 4+ Baths More Search Options Map Search Hurricane Relief Find or offer immediately available temporary housing to assist Hurricane victims: HurricaneHousing.net Relief.WelcomeWagon.com -- Find a REALTOR State/Province Alabama Alaska Alberta Arizona Arkansas British Columbia California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District Of Columbia Florida Georgia Guam Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Manitoba Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Ontario Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virgin Islands Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming From the National Association of REALTORS ® Join REALTORS® in supporting hurricane victims Why Use a REALTOR® With a GRI? Make the most of every moment with FamilyTime, an interactive DVD celebrating the family. Visit REALTOR® Magazine Online Read current NAR Press Releases For REALTORS ® REALTORS Relief Effort exceeds $5.2 million for Hurricane victims, donate now... Enter the Business Success Zone at REALTOR.org! Find out how REALTOR.com can help you secure more listings, sell homes for more and promote yourself and your brand NEW name for NAR member benefits offeringsthe REALTOR Benefits(sm) Program. Learn about the practical, everyday solutions for your professional and personal life! Reach new levels of success with NAR partner, The Pacific Institute! About the National Association of REALTORS ® Representing Home Owners State & Local Associations Real Estate Specialty Organizations Find an Appraiser Find a Commercial Property International Real Estate Search in popular metros: Atlanta | Austin | Boston | Chicago | Dallas | Denver | Houston | Las Vegas | Long Island | Los Angeles | Memphis | Miami | New York City | Orange County | Palm Beach | Phoenix | Sacramento | San Diego | Seattle Site Map | Corporate News & Info | Contact Us | Advertise With Us | Join our staff Terms of Use and PrivacyPolicy . 1995- NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS and Homestore, Inc. All rights reserved. Equal Housing Opportunity REALTOR.com is the official site of the National Association of REALTORS and is operated by Homestore, Inc. REALTOR -- A Registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. Inquiries regarding the Code of Ethics should be directed to the board in which a REALTOR holds membership.

Texas Land

Texas Veterans Land Board In Texas, call us Toll Free:1-800-252-VETS (8387) Outside Texas? Call 1-512-463-5060 (long distance charges apply) (PDF) -- • State Veterans Home Resident Awarded Bronze Star (PDF) • VLB is accepting nominations for naming the Texas State Veterans Home being built in Amarillo. Read the Press Release (PDF) and the Policy for Naming Texas State Veterans Homes ( Word2000 ) ( PDF ) and complete the Nomination Form ( Word2000 ) ( PDF ) • Corpus Christi awarded next Texas State Veterans Cemetery (PDF) • The Results of the October 25, 2005, FLS are now available on-line (PDF) • Watch the archived edition of the October 25, 2005, FLS Web cast • First Texas State Veterans Cemetery dedicated in Killeen (PDF) • Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery Dedication Information • James Baker III to help dedicate first Texas State Veterans Cemetery (PDF) • Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery Groundbreaking Information • Work begins on Valley's first Texas State Veterans Cemetery (PDF) The October Type I Forfeited Land Sale Handbooks are now available online (PDF) -- • Chairman Patterson visits veterans in Iraq • VLB Board Member, Mike Ussery, passes away after attending the dedication of the Texas State Veterans Home in McAllen, scheduled to open July 1, 2005. (PDF) • "Where Honor Lives" • "Voices of Veterans" Oral History Program • "Defending Freedom" A new TV Announcement honoring Texas Veterans from 1836 to today. Play Video 60 seconds High | Low Play Video 30 seconds High | Low Broadcaster Information (PDF) • Texas Veterans Voice Fall 2005 Veterans Voice Newsletter (PDF) Archived Editions of the Veterans Voice Newsletter • Media and Press Releases • Financial help available for activated Texas Reservists and National Guard members (PDF) ATTENTION-Loan Program Changes!!! VLB Land Loan maximum now $60,000. Land Loan now available for one-acre tracts. VHAP Changes Effective March 4, 2005: New-Construction housing loans must meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star ® rating as an energy efficient home. The Greenbuilding and Troops to Teachers Programs will no longer be available. The interest rate discounts previously associated with these programs will be re-directed to reducing the overall base rate for the Housing and Home Improvement Programs. The veterans with Disabilities Program discount will be available only to veterans with a VA compensable disability rated at 50% or higher. • Federal legislation filed to end discrimination in veteran loan eligibility • Convert your semiannual land loan payments to monthly payments (PDF) Message from Chairman Patterson Chairman Jerry Patterson Speaks to Veterans About the Veterans Land Board. (run time: 10:15) Play Video High | Low Land Loan Account Status Free Public Seminars and Educational Events • For Veterans • For Lenders • For Real Estate Professionals--view our upcoming events . Contact your nearest Outreach office for training opportunities. Registration for Veterans, Real Estate Professionals, and VLB Participating Lenders • Registration for Veterans to receive VLB program updates • Registration for Real Estate Professionals to receive VLB program updates • Web listing updates for VLB Participating Lenders Veterans' Resources • The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) now accepting requests for some military records via the Internet • The Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) for information on VA benefits Laws and Rules • Laws and Rules PDF Files require the free Adobe Acrobat reader. Video media require the free Real Player . Privacy Policy Links/Accessibility Policy For our customers who are hearing impaired: The VLB TDD number is (512) 463-6367 or contact any of our program areas through Relay Texas at 1-800-735-2988. For more information, contact us .

Buy Property

Brisbane - Buying property in Brisbane - ourbrisbane.com Search ourbrisbane.com: Skip to page content Start major navigation What's On Living In Active and Healthy Visitors’ Guide Start minor navigation Members' Area Email News & Weather Transport Maps About Brisbane Dining Guide Mostly Sunny. 23-32 °C . Currently 25.7 °C Living In Start side navigation Introduction Find a suburb Brisbane Real Estate Buying Guide Buying Property in Brisbane Statistics, Tools & Tips Legal Considerations Selling Guide Search Homes for Sale Search Homes for Rent Renting in Brisbane Renovation and investment tips Mortgage Calculator Maps Moving to Brisbane Jobs Brisbane Life Gardening in Brisbane Home Renovation Home Security Start page content Buying property in Brisbane What’s different about buying real estate in Brisbane? Well, some things stay the same no matter where you’re buying, such as finding a good agent and knowing the features you want in your new home. But there are things unique to Brisbane, such as local planning, zoning changes and flood information that influence the local property prices . The architecture of the property you buy can also impact the price. Find out the difference between a traditional Queenslander, a workers cottage and a reproduction Queenslander. If you haven’t bought property in Queensland before, we can help by connecting you to organisations and businesses that will advise you about the relevant legal processes and related laws. Plus there are a few things that can affect Brisbane’s local property prices which you need to know about. If you are new to living in the sub-tropics and in Queensland architecture, we explain some of the different housing styles and what you should look for in your new home to stay cool and comfortable. Looking to buy in Brisbane? Use our inspection checklist when you’re looking at various properties. Print out a few spares to take with you when you’re checking out potential new homes. It’s an easy way to remind yourself of the features, benefits and drawbacks of each of the properties you’ve looked at. If you’re not sure about where in Brisbane you want to live, use Brisbane Suburbs Online . It has everything you need to know, including statistics, demographics, local services and suburb profiles. back to top Legalities of buying a home in Brisbane The website for the REIQ has a wealth of information about the legalities and processes of buying a Queensland property. Read the recommended steps when buying and understand the associated costs . It is usual to get a pest and building inspection prior to buying and acceptance of the contract can be made subject to a satisfactory pest and building inspection. Termites (also called white ants) can be a very real threat and it is best to get the property checked by an expert. See the list of inspectors offering this service in Brisbane . The Office of Fair Trading publishes a helpful guide for consumers buying property. The guide is called ‘Real Estate Realities’ and it can be downloaded as a large pdf file or call 1300 658 030 for a printed copy. It outlines your rights and some common pitfalls. The guide also explains what ‘buying off the plan’ involves and your rights if buying at auction. Buying off the plan and bidding at auctions can be complex and your rights are different to those under a regular REIQ contract, so protect yourself by being well informed. See the houses available at auction from the Public Trustee and for sale . If you are considering buying a property at auction from the Public Trustee, you should read their conditions first. When you buy or sell a house you need to transfer the property title. This is called conveyancing. You’ll need to budget for the costs of conveyancing and searches when you buy. The ourbrisbane business directory has listings of local conveyancing companies to help you with the legal aspects of buying or selling your property. Some searches required for conveyancing can be lodged online through Brisbane City Council . You can also search for existing building plans and Brisbane property through Brisbane City Council. Buyer’s agents – if you would rather someone else did the househunting and tricky negotiations, think about using a buyer’s agent. They can also do research on the property and location or bid at auction on your behalf. Buyer’s agents charge a fee for their services. back to top What influences Brisbane housing prices? House prices aren’t just influenced by boom or bust real estate cycles. In Brisbane there are a number of factors that could affect house prices, including: The South East Queensland Draft Regional Plan as proposed by the Queensland Government, intends to limit development to certain areas of South East Queensland. For updates, check with the Office of Urban Management . The proposed North South Bypass Tunnel , to be built under the Brisbane River. Depending on the final location of entry and exit points, plus the impact on traffic, this project could influence property prices. Keep up-to-date with the project’s progress. The Green Bridge – between Dutton Park and St Lucia for bus and pedestrian use may affect prices in those suburbs. Flooding - Consider getting a flood report from Brisbane City Council for a small fee. It’s a worthwhile investment, particularly if you are thinking of buying in an area prone to flooding . Zoning changes – The Brisbane City Council Call Centre is probably the best place to find initial information about zoning restrictions on any property you want to buy. Call 07 3403 8888. They can tell you what area the property is in, and any building restrictions. back to top Architecture If you are buying a house in Brisbane, real estate agents classify houses using some common terms. Here are our definitions of the main styles of architecture found in Brisbane (as understood by laymen and not architecture experts!). They are: The Queenslander - a traditional home built of timber, with VJ (vertical join) or tongue and groove walls, tin roof and surrounded by verandahs. Built in this style until mid-1930s, Queenslanders are built on stumps to increase airflow around the house and the floors are of timber that can be polished. Some of the pretty features includes breezeways above the doors, moulded or plaster ceilings, leadlight windows and window hoods. A Queenslander-type house may not be able to be demolished or removed, depending upon the relevant local Council laws and if it is in a demolition control precinct . The Queensland Museum has detailed information about the different styles of Queenslander house and history. Worker’s cottage - very similar to a Queenslander home but smaller, with usually only a verandah at the front and a single hallway. May have less ornate finishes and be on a smaller parcel of land. If you are new to living in Brisbane, and you want to live in a traditional tin and timber home, consider a couple of things: they require maintenance – they need to be painted every ten years and constant attention is required to keep old windows, doors and plumbing functioning properly. can be noisy – they usually only have single-skin timber internal walls, which means that noise passes through rooms easily. Polished floorboards and lack of insulation in external walls can add to the noise factor from inside and outside. hidden renovation costs – if the house is unrenovated you may need to pay for a lot of work that won’t be seen, such as replacing old stumps, reroofing and rewiring. However, they are beautiful, have character and we love them. And compared to brick homes, Queenslanders are relatively easy to lift so you can build underneath, and removing internal walls or building additions (assuming you have a good builder) is usually fairly simple. Post-war home - a less ornate timber home built in the years following World War II. Simple lines, plaster internal walls, plain timber windows (sometimes replaced with aluminium) and timber floors. There are fewer constraints on a post-war home as it can often be removed or demolished without special permission. Brick home - common in Brisbane suburbs established in the 1970s. These areas are generally around a ten kilometer radius of the city. Features includes a tiled roof, garage, aluminium windows, fly screens and security. Lots have swimming pools and can be updated to reflect current trends Reproduction Queenslander - a newly built home designed to look like a traditional Queenslander or worker’s cottage. However they feature new conveniences such as an ensuite, better use of floorspace to suit modern lifestyles, plenty of powerpoints and cabling, insulation, large deck and sometimes airconditioning. Apartments - warehouse conversions are new to Brisbane, with many apartments being built and renovated in the old industrial areas of Teneriffe, Fortitude Valley and West End. There has also been a surge in building residential units in inner-city areas. If you haven’t lived in a sub-tropical climate before, find out what you should look for in a house so that it stays naturally cool. For example, which direction does it face and does it have awnings, blinds or gardens that help deflect the sun’s heat? The Green Home factsheets include information for home owners about sustainable living practices. back to top Advertisements Start footer Advertise | Directory | Newsletters | About Us | Legals & Privacy | Contact Us | Help | Sitemap