Buy Property
Buying a Home - HUD HUD News Newsroom Priorities About HUD Homes Buying Owning Selling Renting Homeless Home improvements HUD homes Fair housing FHA refunds Foreclosure Consumer info Communities About communities Volunteering Organizing Economic development Working with HUD Grants Programs Contracts Work online HUD jobs Complaints Resources Library Handbooks/ forms Common questions Tools Webcasts Mailing lists Contact us Help Buying a Home Information by State Esta página en español Print version Email this to a friend Counseling and Education Housing counseling agencies can give you advice about buying a home. Find a housing counselor near you. Common questions Homeownership videos More from HUD Mortgage glossary FHA mortgage limits HUD approved lenders HUD approved condos Healthy homes Environmental maps Energy info About appraisals Links Rural housing loan programs Loan programs for veterans Freddie Mac Fannie Mae US Postal Service Mover's Guide The homebuying process can seem complicated, but if you take things step-by-step, you will soon be holding the keys to your own home! Nine steps to buying a home Figure out how much you can afford Know your rights Shop for a loan Learn about homebuying programs Shop for a home Make an offer Get a home inspection Shop for homeowners insurance Sign papers Step 1: Figure out how much you can afford What you can afford depends on your income, credit rating, current monthly expenses, downpayment and the interest rate. The calculators below can help, but it is best to visit a lender to find out for sure. How much home can you afford? Buying vs. Renting Need help with your downpayment and/or closing costs? Homebuying programs in your state A housing counselor can help you figure out how to manage and pay off your debt, and start saving for that downpayment! Find a housing counselor near you Step 2: Know your rights Fair Housing: Equal Opportunity for All - brochure Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) Borrower's rights Predatory lending Back to Top Step 3: Shop for a loan Save money by doing your homework. Talk to several lenders, compare costs and interest rates, negotiate to get a better deal. Consider getting pre-approved for a loan. Looking for the best mortgage: shop, compare, negotiate - brochure Let FHA help you Step 4: Learn about homebuying programs Homebuying programs in your state FHA loan programs offer lower downpayments and are a good option for first-time homebuyers. Let FHA help you HUD's special homebuying programs Good Neighbor Next Door Program - for police officers, teachers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians Homeownership for public housing residents Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program (Section 184) Step 5: Shop for a home Choose a real estate agent Wish list - what features do you want? Home-shopping checklist take this list with you when comparing homes Homes for sale (including HUD homes) " Fixer-uppers " - home purchase and repair programs Manufactured (mobile) homes Build a home If you choose a home in a neighborhood with a Home Owners Association (HOA), be sure to request a copy of the HOA packet, so you can review before closing. Back to Top Step 6: Make an offer Discuss the process with your real estate agent. If the seller counters your offer, you may need to negotiate until you both agree to the terms of the sale. Making an offer Step 7: Get a home inspection Make your offer contingent on a home inspection. An inspection will tell you about the condition of the home, and can help you avoid buying a home that needs major repairs. For Your Protection Get a Home Inspection Step 8: Shop for homeowners insurance Lenders require that you have homeowners insurance. Be sure to shop around. Homeowners insurance 12 ways to lower your homeowners insurance costs Step 9: Sign papers You're finally ready to go to "settlement" or "closing." Be sure to read everything before you sign! Settlement Costs and Helpful Information Content updated December 1, 2005 Back to Top FOIA Privacy Web Policies and Important Links Home U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 451 7th Street S.W., Washington, DC 20410 Telephone: (202) 708-1112 TTY: (202) 708-1455 Find the address of a HUD office near you
Investment Property There is
Investment Property About The One Minute Millionaire Enlightened Millionaire? About Bob Allen About Mark Hansen Investment Property There is no better time than now to own an investment property. The world is only so big and land is a finite resource. Therefore investing in real estate is something that often pays off in the long run. There are a lot of options out there and you need to be sure that you will make the right choice. In short, investment property is any property that you own but don't occupy-it is property you own purely to generate profit. This could include real estate and apartments or commercial, retail, and industrial buildings. There is financing available for those that are interested and this plays a big part in your purchase of investment property. What You Need to Know Financing . Depending on what type of investment you are going to make you will need to assess the different financing needs that you have. There are a lot of different commercial lenders available and you will be able to find one who can give you the money you need at a reasonable interest rate and give you personal attention along the way. This is an aspect that many people don't look into enough and it can make your investment property even more profitable. Time Horizon . The property you invest in depends on the length of time you intend to keep it. If you keep a property for only five years, you often won't have to invest as much into it in terms of maintenance and repairs. You do, however, risk trying to sell in a volatile market. Longer term (like 20 years) investments require greater expenses for maintenance but they pay themselves in that time. Decide up front which you prefer and make your decisions accordingly. Networking . You can find out about available properties in a variety of ways from searching through local newspapers or on websites. One of the best ways, however, is to develop a network of contacts from real estate agents to other property owners. Doing this will get you connected with what is going on and will keep you informed. Additional Real Estate Advice There are also many people out there who can give you many helpful tips and advice as you look more into investment property. Two such individuals are Robert Allen, New York Times best selling author of The Road to Wealth and Nothing Down , and Mark Victor Hansen, co-creator of the bestselling Chicken Soup for the Soul series. They have teamed up to produce The One Minute Millionaire: The Enlightened Way to Wealth , a book that teaches how you can be on the path to becoming a millionaire through creating wealth. One of the ways that is a great source to building true wealth is through investment property. Visit the One Minute Millionaire website to order a copy of The One Minute Millionaire , register for one of their motivational seminars , or to read about becoming an Enlightened Millionaire . Become An Affiliate | Contact Us | Privacy Policy
Selling Home
MSN Money - 6 reasons your home isn't selling MSN Home Hotmail My MSN Sign In Money S earch MSN Money: Help Home News Banking Investing Planning Taxes My Money Portfolio Loans Insurance Banking Home My Accounts Bill Pay Mortgages/Loans Services Credit Reports Financial Tools Track your bills Resources Decision Centers Home Buying Guide Home Financing Your Credit Rating Financial Privacy Better Banking Credit Card Smarts Bankruptcy Guide Commentary Index Related Links Manage Debt More on Budgeting Print-friendly version Send this to a friend Tap your home for extra cash Mortgage rates in your area Your credit score in seconds Home mortgage FAQs Find It! Article Index Finance Q&A Tools Index Site Map Recent articles by Bankrate.com: Will I lose my frequent-flier miles? , 10/6/2005 Should you insure your airline tickets? , 9/26/2005 10 after-the-disaster do's and don'ts , 9/21/2005 More... Related Articles Speed your home sale with these fast fix-ups The hidden financial truth about remodeling Smart -- and stupid -- ways to pay for your remodel The Basics 6 reasons your home isn't selling advertisement So, you're in agony because your home has languished on the market week after week. Here are some culprits that may be keeping buyers away in droves. By Bankrate.com Has your lawn grown up around that "For Sale" sign? Have the wasps moved into the lock box on your front door? Did you just receive an invitation to your real estate agent's retirement party? If so, chances are your home sale fizzled. Here are the six most-common reasons why homes don't sell and what you can do about it. Your home is overpriced Optimistic home sellers love to parrot the old adage, "There's a buyer for every home." But they often leave off the qualifier: "at the buyer's price." Find a loan that's right for you at the Loan Center The fact is that buyers, not sellers, ultimately determine the market value of a home. You can ask for the moon and set your listing price well above comparable properties in your neighborhood, but at some point it will be up to you, the seller, to accept what the buyer thinks your home is worth. Overpricing is the most common reason homes don't sell. When you ask an unrealistic price, it sets in motion a process that often works against you. Here's why: Most real estate agents, and hence most qualified buyers, will see your new listing within 30 days. If it is overpriced by as little as 5%, it will be duly noted and interest in your property will wane, especially if you show no intention of coming off your asking price. You likely already priced out buyers who might have qualified for financing at a more reasonable price. Even if you manage to find a buyer at your inflated asking price, the property may not appraise at that figure and the financing will fall apart. Your real estate agent may have approved or even suggested the inflated asking price to secure your listing. Conversely, other agents often use overpriced properties like yours to help sell their own listings. ("Here's what they are asking. Now would you like to take a second look at that first house I showed you?") "If you have a house that really should be priced at $200,000 and you've got it listed at $260,000, you are trying to compete against homes that really are worth close to $300,000 and all of a sudden your home really is not competing well," says Jeri Fisher of Jeri Fisher Real Estate in Missoula, Mont. "You want to compete with what is available out there among homes similar to yours." If your home remains on the market for too long, agents and buyers may begin to wonder if there are other, perhaps more serious reasons why it isn't selling. "It becomes shopworn, the same as a jacket hanging in the store week after week," says Fisher. "People are aware that it has been on the market a long time and agents stop showing it." Your home doesn't 'show' well Your home is competing against shiny new houses in those pristine subdivisions out in the suburbs with their attractive prices, incentives and community amenities. Face it: Even the best old house needs a little makeover if it hopes to attract a qualified buyer. The good news is most of the work will be cosmetic and relatively inexpensive: a new coat of paint, a few attractive window boxes, a thorough cleaning of floors and carpets. Voila! The place may look good enough to reconsider. A good real estate agent can advise you on where your time and money are best spent. "Price and condition are two things that the seller can do something about," says Fisher. "I always give people my 'honey-do' list. I think paint is probably a seller's best friend because it makes things smell fresh and look fresh. If it's time to paint, it's time to paint. It's the best return on investment." You're in a bad location Nothing has a greater effect on your home's value than its location. Your humble abode might be worth a king's ransom were it located in Palm Beach, Aspen or San Francisco. It might even jump thousands in value just two streets over in the next (and far superior) school district. "If you're in one of the higher-ranked schools around here, you're going to add $50,000 to $100,000 to the price of the same house," says Lenn Harley, a broker with Homefinders.com Inc. in Maryland and Virginia. The point is, location rules in real estate. If your home's location is less than desirable, your options are somewhat limited. A good real estate agent will do his best to help you accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative of your circumstances, say by using foliage to screen off offensive adjoining properties or dampen traffic noise. The best way to compensate for a poor location is to reduce your asking price or offer attractive incentives such as seller financing or a lease option with rent credit. You have a lousy listing agent Yep, they exist: Real estate agents who mislead, misfire and misbehave. Their bad advice can cost you plenty in time, money and the sheer hassle of keeping the place show-ready 24/7. The agent from hell will allow you to overprice your home ("Here's what I can get for you if you list with me!"), not market it properly, fail to screen for qualified buyers, be unresponsive to interest from other agents (if they sell their own listing, they don't have to split the commission) and keep you totally in the dark throughout the process. What's more, if your agent is abrasive, arrogant or otherwise difficult to work with, other agents may not want the hassle of showing any of their listings to prospective buyers. You are battling competition or market conditions We've all heard the terms "buyer's market" and "seller's market." In real estate, market conditions are affected by any number of external forces, some of them predictable (the weather, sort of), some of them unpredictable (the local economy, interest rates, public optimism or pessimism). In a "hot" or seller's market, homes go fast. Inventory (homes on the market) may be low, meaning less competition for you. Chances are better that you will get your asking price in a hot market; in fact, it is not uncommon to even be offered more than your listing price. But in a "flat," "cold" or buyer's market, sales slow to a trickle, inventories grow and buyers can find bargains, especially when they know the seller is motivated (i.e., paying on two mortgages). If you're trying to sell in a flat market, you're not only competing against all that vacant new construction, but against rentals as well. In this case, be prepared to settle for less than top dollar, or wait to sell until the pendulum swings once again in your favor. You have ineffective marketing Gone are the days when an agent could simply place your listing with the local multiple listing service, hold a halfhearted open house and wait for another agent to bring forth a buyer. Today's top performers launch a multilevel marketing plan that includes listing tours for area agents, newspaper and even TV ads, weekend open houses, listing fliers and placements in local real estate publications. Computers and the Internet also have changed the face of real estate. According to the National Association of Realtors, today more than one-third of all home buyers use the Internet for house hunting. The best real estate agents are computer-savvy. They have your listing in color on their laptops to show clients and communicate frequently via e-mail, a particular boon when working with out-of-town buyers. Suffice it to say that if your real estate agent isn't listing your home online through the company Web site as well as with the local MLS, you may not be getting the exposure necessary to find a buyer. "There are those who just put the listing in the multiple and pray it will sell and those that put a lot of effort into marketing their listings," says Fisher. "Unfortunately, with this weird system of compensation we have, they all get paid the same, whether they know nothing or have many years of experience." Editors' choice Don't get scammed by your mover Safeguard your Social Security number 5 ways to tap into the onshore drilling boom Your checkbook just became obsolete Turn $1 a day into $67,815 Readers' choice Ratings Top 5 Articles 9.30 Zombie debt collectors dig up your old mistakes 9.24 Keep thieves out of your bank account 9.22 Credit reports now free for entire U.S. 9.19 10 ways to avoid outrageous hospital overcharges 9.17 Tax breaks for Katrina victims -- and all of us View all top rated articles More Resources · E-mail us your comments on this article · Post on the Your Money message board · Get a daily dose of market news S earch MSN Money tips advertisement MSN Money's editorial goal is to provide a forum for personal finance and investment ideas. Our articles, columns, message board posts and other features should not be construed as investment advice, nor does their appearance imply an endorsement by Microsoft of any specific security or trading strategy. 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Florida Real Estate
Real Property for Auction JANUARY 2006 AUCTIONS CORNER LOT - ONLINE AUCTION 124 Sterling Street, Brooklyn, New York 11225 On-line Auction Starts: Monday, January 9, 2006 at 8:00 a.m. EST On-line Auction Ends: Wednesday, January 11, 2006 at 3:00 p.m. EST Total Site Area: 2,575 ± sq. ft. Description: 25 feet x 103 feet corner lot at the intersection of Sterling St. and Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn, NY. For complete details on this property click on the photo or CLICK HERE SINGLE FAMILY HOME 708 Kuhlman Road, Houston, Texas 77024 Auction: Tuesday, January 17, 2006 Auction Starts: 12:00 noon Total Living Space: 6,291 ± sq. ft. Description: Two level home with 5 bedrooms, 5 baths, 3 fireplaces, and a 3-car garage. Separate unfinished guest house with kitchen, family room, 3 bedrooms, and 2 baths. For complete details on this property click on the photo or CLICK HERE VACANT LAND - ONLINE AUCTION Ambrosia Street, Padre Island, No 3, Lot 4, Blk 71, Corpus Christi, Teaxas 78418 On-line Auction Starts: Tuesday, January 17, 2006 at 8:00 a.m. EST On-line Auction Ends: Thursday, January 19, 2006 at 3:00 p.m. EST Total Site Area: 12,379 ± sq. ft. Description: Located on Padre Island near the Gulf of Mexico. For complete details on this property click on the photo or CLICK HERE CONDOMINIUM 14514 Cabana East, Unit 306, Padre Island, Corpus Christi, Texas 78418 Auction: Friday, January 20, 2006 Auction Starts: 12:00 noon Total Living Space: 1,303 ± sq. ft. Description: Two level condominium with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, and rooftop deck. For complete details on this property click on the photo or CLICK HERE SINGLE FAMILY HOME ON 11.6 ACRES AND 7.158 ACRES OF LAND 105 L Anderson Road, Auburn, Kentucky 42206 Auction: Tuesday, January 24, 2006 Auction Starts: 12:00 noon Total Living Space: (Revised 12/20/05) 2,141 ± sq. ft. Description: Log home with 3 bedrooms, 1.25 baths, 2 fireplaces, and a one-car garage on 11.6 arces. Adjoining tract of 7.158 acres of land. Properties will be sold separately, then combined for Buyers Option. For complete details on this property click on the photo or CLICK HERE SINGLE FAMILY HOME 1311 S. Monte Cristo Way, Las Vegas, Nevada 89117 Auction: Friday, January 27, 2006 Auction Starts: 12:00 noon Total Living Space: 3,583 ± sq. ft. Description: Two level home with 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, and 3-car garage For complete details on this property click on the photo or CLICK HERE SINGLE FAMILY HOME 736 South 153rd Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68154 Auction: Tuesday, January 31, 2006 Auction Starts: 12:00 noon Total Living Space: 2,359 ± sq. ft. Description: Two level home with 5 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, fireplace, and a 2-car garage. For complete details on this property click on the photo or CLICK HERE FEBRUARY 2006 AUCTIONS SINGLE FAMILY HOME 6408 Jersey Lane, Arlington, Texas 76018 Auction: Wednesday, February 1, 2006 Auction Starts: 12:00 noon Total Living Space: 4,047 ± sq. ft. Description: Two level home with 6 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and a 2-car garage. For complete details on this property click on the photo or CLICK HERE SINGLE FAMILY HOME 6611 Wagner Way, San Antonio, Texas 78256 Auction: Thursday, February 2, 2006 Auction Starts: 12:00 noon Total Living Space: 4,851 ± sq. ft. Description: Three level home with 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, 2 fireplaces, inground pool, and a 2-car garage. For complete details on this property click on the photo or CLICK HERE COMING SOON SINGLE FAMILY HOME 477 Lee Street, Strasburg, Virginia Auction: Coming soon Total Living Space: 2,016 ± sq. ft. Description: 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths Further details on this property coming soon... 0.31 ACRE OF LAND 65 Circle Road, Staten Island, New York 10304 Auction: Coming soon Total Site Area: 0.31 ± Acre (13,361 ± sq. ft.) Description: Located in Todt Hill area of Staten Island. Adjacent to property being auctioned on Benedict Road. Further details on this property coming soon... 1.15 ACRES OF LAND 51 Benedict Road, Staten Island, New York 10304 Auction: Coming soon Total Site Area: 1.15 ± Acres (45,348 ± sq. ft.) Description: Located in Todt Hill area of Staten Island. Adjacent to property being auctioned on Circle Road. Further details on this property coming soon... SINGLE FAMILY HOME 2670 Moores Mill Road, Spencer, Virginia Auction: Coming soon Total Living Space: 1,571 ± sq. ft. Description: 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths. Located on 9 ± acres on the North Mayo River with scenic views. Further details on this property coming soon... SINGLE FAMILY HOME Located in La Habra Heights, California Auction: Coming soon Total Living Space: 2,253 ± sq. ft. Description: One level home with 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2-car garage and swimming pool Further details on this property coming soon... SINGLE FAMILY HOME Located in Rio Rico, Arizona Auction: Coming soon Total Living Space: 1,425 ± sq. ft. Description: One level home with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, and 2-car garage Further details on this property coming soon... SINGLE FAMILY HOME Located in Longwood, Florida Auction: Coming soon Total Living Space: 2,721 ± sq. ft. Description: Two level home with 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, fireplace, 2-car garage, and inground pool in screened enclosure. Further details on this property coming soon... SINGLE FAMILY HOME Located in Hollywood, Florida Auction: Coming soon Total Living Space: 4,912 ± sq. ft. Description: Two level home with 6 bedrooms, 5 baths, 2-car garage, inground pool and spa, seawall and wood dock on ocean access canal. Further details on this property coming soon... SINGLE FAMILY HOME Located in Heathrow, Florida Auction: Coming soon Total Living Space: 3,157 ± sq. ft. Description: 1.5 level home with 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, bonus room, 3-car garage, and inground pool in screened enclosure. Further details on this property coming soon... SINGLE FAMILY HOME Located in Miami, Florida Auction: Coming soon Total Living Space: 4,185 ± sq. ft. Description: One level home with 6 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, 2-car garage, guest house, and inground pool. Further details on this property coming soon... SINGLE FAMILY HOME Located in Homestead, Florida Auction: Coming soon Total Living Space: 2,312 ± sq. ft. Description: One level home with 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, and guest house on 2 ± acres. Further details on this property coming soon... SINGLE FAMILY HOME Located in Homestead, Florida Auction: Coming soon Total Living Space: 1,930 ± sq. ft. Description: Two level home with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, kitchen and living area on both levels, one-car garage and carport, and 2 horse barns on 2.5 ± acres. Further details on this property coming soon... SINGLE FAMILY HOME Located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina Auction: Coming soon Total Living Space: 1,338 ± sq. ft. Description: One level home with 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, carport, unfinished basement, and small barn on 2.9 ± acres. Further details on this property coming soon... COMMERCIAL VACANT LAND 3514 Boudinot Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45211 Auction: Coming soon Total Site Area: 7,012 ± sq. ft. Description: 55 ft. x 127.50 ft. commercial lot zoned B-4 General Business. The site is located along the east side of Boudinot Avenue just south of the Harrison Avenue intersection, and sits between a commercial building and a multi-family dwelling. Further details on this property coming soon... AUCTIONS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. YOU DO NOT NEED A REAL ESTATE BROKER TO BID. If you would like to receive an e-mail notification when the auction date has been scheduled for these coming soon properties, please click here to register online for the free e-mail notification service .
buy Home [Magazine Subscription]
Amazon.com: Better Homes and Gardens [MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION]: Magazine Subscriptions Your Store Magazine Subscriptions See All 32 Product Categories   Your Account | Cart | Wish List | Help | Advanced Search | browse subjects | top sellers | today's deals | gift ideas | newspapers | professional & trade Search Amazon.com Magazines Newspapers Newsletters Web Search This item is not eligible for Amazon Prime, but over a million other items are. Join Amazon Prime today. Already a member? Sign in . MAGAZINE INFO Explore this magazine buying info editorial reviews customer reviews See more images Customers also bought these magazines these other items Share your thoughts write a review write a So You'd Like to... guide tell a friend about this item RATE THIS MAGAZINE I dislike it I love it! 1 2 3 4 5 Edit your ratings Visit the DVD Store The Incredibles (Widescreen 2-Disc Collector's Edition) DVD ~ Holly Hunter Spec tacular Readers Never misplace your reading glasses again with the hip andstylish magnetic readers from CliC . Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering. A9.com users save 1.57% on Amazon. Learn how . Better Homes and Gardens [MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION] Cover Price: $41.88 Price: $15.97 ($1.33/issue) You Save: $25.91 (62%) Issues: 12 issues/12 months See more images Print a Magazine Gift Card Ordering it as a gift? Give your recipient a personalized Better Homes and Gardens gift card! ( Flash Player required.) See more magazine gift options . Magazine subscriptions always ship free, and they help you qualify for FREE Super Saver Shipping on the rest of your order! See details . Ready to Renew? Learnhow . Availability: The first issue should arrive in 6-10 weeks. Here's why See more product details Better Together Buy this magazine with Good Housekeeping [Magazine Subscription] today! Total List Price : $71.88 Buy Together Today: $25.97 Product Details Format: Magazine Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. Publisher: Meredith Corporation Abstracts and Table of Contents. See here . ASIN: B00005N7OV Average Customer Review: Based on 18 reviews. Write a review . Amazon.com Sales Rank: Today: #89 in Magazine Subscriptions Yesterday: #147 in Magazine Subscriptions For magazine orders, your name and mailing address will be shared with the appropriate publisher. This magazine subscription is provided by Synapse Services, Inc. Customers who bought this magazine also bought: Southern Living [Magazine Subscription] House Beautiful [Magazine Subscription] Country Living [Magazine Subscription] Woman's Day [Magazine Subscription] Explore Similar Items : 20 in Magazine Subscriptions , 4 in DVD , and 1 in Music What similar items do customers ultimately buy after viewing this item? 18% buy Sunset [Magazine Subscription] 8% buy House & Garden [Magazine Subscription] 7% buy this item(Better Homes and Gardens [Magazine Subscription] 4% buy Home [Magazine Subscription] 4% buy Fine Gardening [Magazine Subscription] Explore Similar Items : 9 in Magazine Subscriptions , 9 in Books , and 2 in Kitchen & Housewares Editorial Reviews From the Publisher This home and family service magazine is designed for husbands and wives who have a primary interest in the home and family. It services its readers in the form of ideas, advice, information and inspiration to achieve a better home and family. Description Better Homes & Gardens magazine is designed for people interested in turning home, cooking, and gardening inspiration into action. It is focused on decorating, building and remodeling, crafts, entertaining, cooking, healthy living, and gardening. It also has extensive information specifically for women and families. In addition to providing product reviews, practical homeowner advice, step-by-step instructions, and money-saving suggestions, the magazine covers the latest developments and trends... read more See all editorial reviews... Spotlight Reviews (What's this?) Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers. 11 of 11 people found the following review helpful: cluttered but nice , October 17, 2003 Reviewer: Alejandra Vernon "artist & illustrator" (Long Beach, California)- See all my reviews This magazine has a lower cover price than some of its competitors, and makes up for it with a massive amount of ads. A few ads contain coupons, for those that like to cut those little things out (unfortunately they are hardly ever for anything I want !). The paper is also a lot thinner than the higher priced home/garden publications, and the photographs do not reproduce that well on it. On the bright side, there are many nice dcor ideas, and simply terrific recipes. Taking the October 2003 edition as an example, Fall colors and produce are the theme. It has some ideas on how to display gourds, and an article on a community pumpkin patch, from the June planting by 140 neighbors and friends in a 6000 square ft. area, to harvest time. There are numerous articles on remodeling, "Foolproof Potted Plants", on the joys of having hardy succulents in your home, and a lovely piece with lots of photographs on actor Peter Strauss' gorgeous Ojai, California garden. The best article of all, is "The Magic of Soup", and some of these recipes are so good they might end up in your family for generations. They are simple to prepare, with easy to find ingredients, and will make a healthy, hearty meal for those frosty days ahead. Also included with the recipes is the preparation and cooking time, and nutritional statistics. As someone who writes a lot of notes and cards, I appreciate the final page which is about letter writing, and how this vanishing form of communicating is good for the soul. All things considered, this magazine gives good value, and is meant for those of us who do not live in a mansion or have hours to devote to a single recipe. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 7 of 7 people found the following review helpful: Essential for Decorating Tips! , December 30, 2001 Reviewer: Rebecca Johnson "The Rebecca Review" (Issaquah, WA)- See all my reviews If you are looking for ideas for that next decorating project, more than likely you can find at least one article each month to inspire you. With a focus on friends and family, gardening, interior design, building, family matters, flood, good health and shopping, you can't go wrong! I like the "Yours for the Asking" section where you can send away a postcard for more information instead of contacting each company. For mom's, the "kids project" section will be amusing and your kids will love the ideas. The cartoons are also cute and I had to laugh at the one that said: "Of course I love you. Didn't you get my fax?" Something about the pictures in this magazine always remind me of a bright sunny day. The open kitchens and lush gardens are just a treat to see. The recipe section really has a personality all of its own. The "Petite Caramel Apple" recipe they had in the September 2001 issue was so adorable! I look forward to every issue! Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) All Customer Reviews Average Customer Review: Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers. 3 of 3 people found the following review helpful: Better Ads & More Ads , June 20, 2005 Reviewer: theosuperstar "theosuperstar" (Hallstead, PA United States)- See all my reviews This magazine is a waste of money and bores me. Nothing here to see but ads. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 2 of 2 people found the following review helpful: I love this magazine but... , October 7, 2004 Reviewer: Miss Seattle (Parker, Colorado)- See all my reviews most of the beautiful gardens I see are in Washington or Oregon or back east somewhere. Having lived in Washington, I do enjoy seeing some of the plants that I am missing here in Colorado, but it would be nice to see a more varied selction of gardens becasue we all can't live in the Pacific Northwest. I have a subscription to Sunset so I guess that will have to suffice, but I do wish BH&G would take that into consideration. Otherwise, I LOVE this magazine. I used to get several magazines, but this was always my favorite. It is chock full of ideas that we can really use. And I love the photography. What sets BH&G apart is that you can see a hint of life in these beautiful houses. Slippers on the floor, newspaper on the table and often the owners of the home are in the pictures too. They are sometimes blurred from movement which is actually nicer than a posed shot. It helps set the feeling that this home is lived in and is attainable. I would say get this magazine right away. I would have given it 5 stars except for the whole garden thing. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 7 of 10 people found the following review helpful: AKA...Better Homes and Advertising , February 18, 2004 Reviewer: A magazine reader (Glendale, CA United States) I ordered this magazine recently only to cancel my subscription. There is way too much advertising in the magazine and none of the crafts or projects really enticed me to get creative. It's too bad. Go with Martha Stewart Living or Sunset magazines instead, both high quality. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 6 of 17 people found the following review helpful: Hello... , January 8, 2004 Reviewer: A magazine reader (St. Helens, OR United States) For those of you that complain about advertisments in magazines, what are you whining about? How do you think magazines get a nice chunk of their funding? They have companies pay to have their products advertised in the mag. so shut up. On a happier note, I love this magazine. It has wonderfuly lovely ideas for make your house look beautiful though some of the ideas do seem a little pricey. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) See all 18 customer reviews... So You'd Like To... Solve Your Back & Neck Pain For Female Athletes ? :by Dr Adam Weiss , Doctor and Author discover the Heart 'n' Soul of a BUNGALOW :by Lynda Thoreau , Arts and Crafts aficionado, ergonomist and designer Be a Southern Belle :by Krystn McKenney , Misplaced Southerner Listmania! Don"t bother me...I"ll be taking a LONG BATH. :A list by Jenni Moore , bath lover, spa scientist Interior Decorating Delights :A list by Psboston7 , 16 Various Magazine Subscriber Relaxing Gifts for Mom :A list by hugandkiss , anyone Browse for magazine subscriptions in: Titles, A-Z > B Subjects > Home & Garden > General Subjects > Home & Garden > Gardening I have read this magazine, and I want to review it. Is there a specific product you'd like us to sell? Tell us about it. 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