Burn Calories With A Fence

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When you make that old resolution to lose weight beginning on Jan. 1, you are probably setting yourself up for failure. You will go all out to begin with, but after a few weeks you will burn out and you won’t feel like working out anymore. The rest of the year will go by and again on Jan. 1, you will try the resolution again. It won’t always work out, so what can you do to lose weight and not give up?

The solution comes in the form of doing home maintenance, which is excellent exercise for the body. When you do home maintenance, you are able to get fit through the simple action of improving your home and your yard. You can burn as much as 576 calories an hour just shoveling snow, or 400 calories an hour mowing the lawn. Raking leaves takes up 384 calories as well.

Did you know though, that with the help of a fence, you can burn thousands of calories? Here is how.

First, building a fence will burn 340 calories per hour. It will probably take at least 10 hours to build a fence, and that means burning 3,400 calories total over the course of a week. That is a huge amount to burn, especially if you supplement it with eating healthy. In addition, you can wash a fence and burn 238 calories per hour. If you are painting a fence, another task that can take 10 hours, you can burn 2,380 calories over that course of time.

Something as simple as a fence can help you burn a lot of calories, help you get in shape and help you feel healthy and better about yourself. Oh, and you improve the market value of your home. No gym can do that. 

8 Worst Home Improvements

“With many factors to consider such as cost and time, deciding what remodeling projects to undertake can be a difficult decision for homeowners,” said National Association of Realtors® President Steve Brown. “Every neighborhood is different and the desirability and resale value of a particular remodeling project varies by region and metro area. Before undertaking a remodeling project, homeowners should consult a Realtor® as they are the best resource when deciding what projects will provide the most return upon resale,” said Brown.

1.       Home office remodel: You will only get back about half of the money you invest to create a home office when you sell your home. That's because even though more people are working out of their homes these days, not all buyers want a space dedicated exclusively to work. Such features can make it hard for a new owner to use the space as a bedroom if they wanted to. 
2.       Sunroom addition: Homeowners who add a sunroom to their house recoup on average sellers are lucky to recoup about half of their investments. Homeowners who are willing to sink $73,000—the average cost of a sunroom addition—into their house would be better off investing in a different home improvement project.
3.       Bathroom addition: Homeowners who build a bathroom addition recoup on average only about 60 percent of the project's cost when they sell the home, according to the report. However, homeowner's true return on this particular investment depends on how many bathrooms they already have. Homes with one less bathroom than comparable properties in the neighborhood would be better served by this project. If you are a bathroom short compared to other homes in your neighborhood, then it is going to make more sense.      
4.     Backup power generator: Homeowners who obtain a backup power generator recoup on average only about 59 percent of the project's cost when they sell the home, according to the report. Although most homeowners don't consider a backup power generator essential, its popularity varies a great deal from one region to another. 
5.     Garage addition: Homeowners who build a garage addition recoup on average about 62 percent of the project's cost when they sell the home, according to a report by National Association of Realtors  The limited versatility of a garage doesn't necessarily justify its high cost, which can average more than $58,000. A garage addition project is a labor intensive effort, often requiring builders to pour a slab, construct walls, and build a roof, among other things.
   
6.     Master Suites unless you plan on living in your home for many years to come you will only get about 60% return on your investment.
7.     Family Room Addition: The average cost of adding a family room can add as much as $80,000. If you really want to do add the room, do it for your family, not for the ROI.
8.       Pools. In ground pools are costly and do not add to the home’s value. Some buyers are turned off because of the high maintenance and insurance costs.

NFL Player With an Inspiring Story

The only deaf player in the NFL to play offensive, helps his team and millions of others reach Super Stardom. The Seahawks Derrick Coleman’s determination and resilience has inspired millions. Coleman’s main message is; “No matter what kind of problem … whatever you wanna do, it is still achievable. You just have to overcome certain obstacles”. Derrick has been deaf since the age of three. Early on Derrick had to rely on lip reading, a skill that has helped him on the football field where he plays in the loudest sports stadium in the league.  “My disability is actually an advantage over everybody else. They are trying to hear the play, they really got to focus … all I gotta do is look at him … when things really get loud that’s when I turn to reading lips.”

His hearing impairment required him to work extra hard, but it was his attitude that propelled him forward. In his own words Derrick talks about this with NBC. "Freshman or sophomore year of high school is where I had that mindset of if someone tells me that I can’t do something, well I’m going to try real hard to do it," he said. “If I succeed great, and if I don’t well at least I know I gave it all I got and I didn't leave any excuses on the table. I’m capable of doing what everybody else can do, whether I have a hearing problem or not. You can’t use your problem as an excuse, because … you use an excuse you’re not gonna get to your dreams”

Coleman is an inspiration for so many young people with disabilities. His message that even though we have a disability, we can do anything really touches so many. Recently, just before the Super Bowl hearing impaired twin girls wrote to Coleman, and he responded. Good Morning America was instrumental in making the girls dream come true. Watch the video here:

After a Duracell ad aired during the Super Bowl with Coleman featured, the ad went viral on You Tube. The commercial had over 4 million views in five days. See if you are inspired to overcome your own obstacles.

Homeowners Relieved After Senate Delays Insurance Hikes

Yesterday the Senate passed a bill to sharply delay the increases in flood insurance rates for millions of property owners in coastal and flood-prone areas. The bill effectively guts a 2012 law (“Responsible Implementation of Flood Insurance Reform Act”) that had aimed to overhaul the nearly bankrupt National Flood Insurance Program. The Program which subsidizes insurance for buildings in flood zones, had a $24 billion deficit following claims from Hurricane Sandy. The law’s aim was to raise revenues for the federal flood insurance program. The law had also required updating of federal flood zones, which could determine which property owners will be required to purchase flood insurance by their mortgage holders.

Although the bill delaying the rate increases had bi-partisan support it still drew criticism from a broad spectrum of outside groups.  “It will return the program to a state of insolvency,” and “General taxpayers will be footing the rest of the cost.” according to an article written in the New York Times that quoted Shai Akabas an analyst at the Bipartisan Policy Center, a Washington research group. The aim of the 2012 law was to shift the financial risk of insuring flood-prone properties to the private market from taxpayers. The debate over who will pay for the nation’s rapidly rising costs for flood damage remains unclear.

Over the past year, millions of coastal property owners were hit with flood insurance rate increases that sent their premiums soaring up to five or 10 times the previous amounts. As their insurance bills soared and their property values plummeted, homeowners begged lawmakers to block or delay the 2012 law. 

Most Tybee properties are located in the highest risk flood areas, known as V zone. With few exceptions, Tybee non-primary residences with a first floor not built off the ground would have seen a significant increase. Many other parts of Chatham County are also located in high flood risk zones, and many homes built before the creation of the National Flood Insurance Program have long been eligible for subsidized policies.

Savannah morning news reported: Russ Pennington, director of policy and public affairs with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, said Tuesday the impact hasn’t been drastic so far.

“What we’ve seen in other parts of the state that have preceded Effingham area specifically, it seems to be a wash,” he said. “Some areas are found to no longer be in the flood zone; some new areas are found to be in the flood zone. That’s just a process that is working itself out.”

Find out more from FloodSmart.gov the official site of the National Flood Insurance Program.

Savannah A Growing Romantic City

Savannah is really starting to grow and take on a new shape, with its ‘downtown’ boundaries and neighboring residential areas expanding. Historic Savannah, the hostess of the south, had a good year in the press (see below) setting the city up for some great continued success. According to SEDA’s 2014 business outlook 'Savannah’s long-term growth prospects are among the best in the nation. Savannah's unique ambiance and transportation infrastructure make it both an attractive place to live and do business.’ We are definitely seeing signs of that growth already.

In 2013 Savannah received the following recognition:

• One of the "Top Ten Romantic Cities" – Livability.com, February 2013,
• "Best City for Affordable Getaway" –Travel + Leisure, May 2013,
• "Best Romantic City" –AAA Southern Traveler, August 2013,
• "America’s #1 Most Charming Accent" – Travel + Leisure, April 2013,
• "Top 50 Destination for Labor Day" - TravelersToday.com, August 2013,
• "Tybee Island: Top Family Friendly Beach Town" –TravelNerd.com, June 2013, and
• "America’s Top 10 Waterfronts" –USA Today, May 2013. 

This Thursday Tanger Factory Outlet Centers confirmed that they plan to develop Tanger Outlets Savannah in partnership with Atlanta development firm Ben Carter Enterprises. Pooler’s outlet mall is the sight of the new partnership and will have approximately 400,000 square feet of leasable space.  “We are very pleased to add Tanger Outlets Savannah to our existing portfolio of successful resort and destination properties,” said Steven Tanger, CEO of Tanger Factory Outlets. “Our joint venture with Ben Carter Enterprises in the Savannah market is a strategic move to help us deliver a world class outlet experience to this thriving Southern market.”

Also new to Savannah is Bruster’s real Ice Cream which opened a store in Victory Station, where Whole Foods, Chipolte and Zoe’s Kitchen also just opened. All are new to the Savannah market, and so far have been real received. The Whole Foods effect which I wrote about in July is taking place as the shopping plaza Victory Crossings across the street from Whole Foods is expanding. Whole Foods’ apparent success in Savannah is a clear signal to other corporations that Savannah might be a more promising location than previously thought.

In the downtown area we have two new hotels expanding the boundaries of the walkable downtown area. The new Embassy Suites Savannah is open at 605 W. Oglethorpe Ave. The hotel boasts 150 rooms and its own parking garage. A significant new entry in downtown’s inventory of hotels. Later this year, opening in May, will be the renovated Mulberry Inn, renamed The Brice, which was purchased by the Kimpton Hotel Group. 

SCAD students will also be benefiting from our growth. One West Victory Square, a student apartment/retail complex at Victory and Bull streets, will also be home to an Italian-inspired eatery called The Florence.  The Florence will measure 7,000 square feet spread over two floors and will occupy the yellow-brick building being preserved on the site. The restaurant with a bar and patio will of course be open to local residents as well. For One West Victory Square the location of a neighboring burgeoning artistic community the shopping, eateries and entertainment venues are plentiful. Located in the Starland Art district students will have full access to a thriving art scene, and is sure to add a boost to local business.

And just in case you weren’t sure of Savannah’s growth, Jet blue comes to Savannah/Hilton Head airport, with flights to JFK and Boston starting Feb. 13. 

Why Winter Is a Great Time to Buy Real Estate

This Story was originally posted on LearnVest  by Pauline Millard on Dec 23, 2013

December is usually when people are looking to deck their own halls—not buy new ones. But buying a home in December and January can be a smart move.

Michael Corbett, Trulia’s real estate expert and a bestselling author, is a big fan of the holiday season, what he likes to call “the lull.” He says that savvy home buyers should take advantage of this time if they’re serious about buying.

Why?

“Mortgage rates are low now, although they are higher than they were six months ago, and higher than they were last March,” Corbett says. “The price increases that were common in metro markets such as Las Vegas, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando are slowing. Even Atlanta, which had an average 19% price increase last year, is showing signs of cooling.”  Corbett explains why the holidays are no time to take a long winter’s nap if you want to buy a home.

LearnVest: What do you like about what you call The Lull, which is in December and January?

Corbett: There isn’t a lot of competition. People know they’re going to be busy or traveling during the holidays, so most deals have been wrapped up or people have put off looking until after the New Year. There are still homes on the market, but not as many people gunning for them. This is an advantage to both buyers.

LearnVest: If it’s a slow season, doesn’t that mean inventory will be lower?

Corbett: Yes, but the sellers are motivated. These are likely the homes that for whatever reason didn’t go during the peak season. The sellers will want to get the deal closed, especially for tax purposes. For a lot of people, it’s mental. It’s the end of the year and they want to tie up loose ends. This is an advantage for buyers, especially if there are points to negotiate.

LearnVest: Would other key people in the equation, such as realtors and mortgage brokers, also be scarce?

Corbett: I know a lot of realtors who love this time of year. They say they get a lot of business done because the people who are out looking are serious. As a buyer, your broker will have more time to focus on you, as opposed to other times of the year when they might be juggling more clients. You may not be able to close before the end of the year, but it’s a good time to get something under contract.

“Buying in winter may be the ultimate litmus test for a home, since all the big systems such as heating, plumbing, and the roof and gutters are put to the test in the cold.”

LearnVest Could a homebuyer miss or overlook something while buying in the dead of winter?

Corbett: Buying in winter may be the ultimate litmus test for a home, since all the big systems such as heating, plumbing and the roof and gutters are put to the test in the cold. Some of the curb appeal may be gone, but fixing landscaping is a lot less expensive than finding out months later that your boiler doesn’t work.

LearnVest Would a slow winter market be prime time for investors?

Corbett: Investors are looking for fresh properties, often things that aren’t even on the market yet. The chances of getting outbid by an investor during a winter house hunt is unlikely. Few brand-new properties come on the market this time of year, so the investors won’t be circling.

January Home Maintenance Check List

Keeping up a home requires a lot of time and effort. During the winter when it’s cold outside or raining it can be a challenge to keep up with the maintenance. However there are always plenty of indoor projects that keep your home running smoothly. Here is a list of tasks that are often forgotten about, yet are easy to do and don’t take a lot of time.

1. Change water and icemaker filters - When filters become clogged, the flow of water slows
   
   and can allow mold to form inside the filter.
2. Clear the drains in bathroom sink & tub - Hair and debris can build up in your bathroom drains and let dirty water to stand in your sink or tub, allowing mold and mildew to grow both in the basin and in the pipes.
3. Clean or replace shower heads – watch the video. 
4. Check your furnace filter monthly in the winter to see if it needs replacing.
5. Seal air leaks- Check for leaks that could be allowing heated air to rise into your attic. Also check around dryer vents, pipes and where electrical wiring enters the house. Add more attic insulation to keep warm air downstairs where it belongs.
6. Make sure your attic has adequate ventilation so the air in the attic is a similar temperature as the air outside.
7. Compile or update home inventory - Record purchase dates and sources on your spreadsheet, and attach receipts and any appraisal statements to the inventory. Or, you can scan relevant document and attach them digitally to your inventory spreadsheet.
8. Inspect furniture, cabinets and vanities for loose knobs, pulls and hinges. Tighten or repair as
   
   necessary. Lubricate squeaky door hinges with lightweight machine oil. Free sticky doors by trimming edges or shimming hinges with thin pieces of cardboard.
9. Look for pests seeking shelter

a.    Seal any cracks where pests enter.

b.   Empty compost and garbage frequently.

c.    Keep food covered and put away; keep counters clean.

d.    Fix leaky pipes quickly.

e.    Pour boiling water down bathroom and kitchen drains monthly, preventing the buildup of bacteria-laden sludge; scrub removable drain covers weekly.

f.     Check basement, attic, crawl spaces and the back of cupboards and cabinets for mice droppings or holes. If you find evidence, install traps immediately or call a pest-control service.

g.    Pick up and dispose of outdoor pet waste promptly; turn compost piles frequently.

Using Drones to Enhance Listings

Amazon isn't the only company to use new technology to set themselves apart from their competitors. Real estate agents are starting to use drones to enhance their listings. Technology has advanced to a degree that small, remote-controlled drone helicopters are more affordable than they once were, making aerial photography and video captured using drones an increasing phenomenon in a number of industries, including real estate. Video's have been used in real estate for some time now, but the use of drones for aerials brings a new perspective to the industry.

There are still many unanswered questions regarding the legality of drone usage for anything other than military needs. The commercial use of drones in real estate and other industries has picked up in the last year despite the fact the FAA's ruling in 2007, that said commercial use of drones is illegal. The FAA, which currently shuts down commercial drone operations when it learns of them, is expected to clarify rules for using drones that weigh less than 55 pounds sometime in 2014 and broader rules for drones in 2015. Currently the FAA permits recreational, personal use of drones, but they are not supposed to fly higher than 400 feet or near airports.

Increased use of drones for business is a concern to groups like the Electronic Privacy Information Center, a Washington, D.C., a group that focuses on the civil liberties and privacy issues raised by emerging technology.

Matt Murphy, founder and president of Boston Virtual Imaging, will ask the question 'what do drones mean for real estate?' at the Real Estate Connect conference in New York City on Jan. 15. He will be providing a demo of drones and share the latest news about their use.

 

Keep the Holiday Season Fun and Safe

 Its the holidays, and everyone is having a great time! Such a great time in fact that what is often forgotten are safety issues. There are more home hazards during the holidays than usual that need attending so that a family remains safe. Unfortunately accidents do happen, but there are things that can be done to lower the risks. Awareness is the first step towards holiday safety. Here are a few hazards to be a ware of in the coming weeks.

• One of every three Christmas tree fires are caused by electrical problems. Make sure to unplug the tree when you leave the house and go to bed. Keep the plug free of debris, such as discarded wrapping paper.
• Inspect lights for frayed wire or other defects before use.
• Make sure to keep the tree watered. A dried out tree becomes a fire hazard sitting in your living room. When it does become dried out, promptly discard it.
• Keep the tree away from a heat source.
• We love candles during the holidays! Keep them clear of anything flammable. Like gift paper, and tree branches that might be used as a part of a decoration for the table. In December, 11% of home candle fires began with decorations compared to 4% the rest of the year.* Consider flame-less candles for use in table decorations.
• Check your smoke alarms, make sure all the batteries are good.

Get the whole family involved in being safety conscious. Introduce the children to Sparky the fire safety dog. Sparky.org is an interactive website with everything from animated shorts, to activities and down-loadable coloring pages. Sparky also has a fire safety checklist.

These are a few suggestions to keep a home safe. As you get to thinking about safety you will surely come upon your own safety practices. Enjoy the holidays, and be safe!

* Source: National Fire Protection Association

Equinox Orchestra Concert Benefits The Empty Stocking Fund

Tonight at the Westin Savannah Harbor and Resort there will be a benefit concert with Equinox Orchestra along with a three course dinner. The event will benefit the annual Empty Stocking Fund sponsored by Savannah Now, tickets are $50.00. The Empty Stocking Fund benefits Savannah families in need during the holiday season.

The Savannah Now newspaper runs stories about some of the families that will be recipients of the fund. Read about today's story which describes the difficulties of a woman, with a five year old girl, in an abusive relationship and how she is turning her life around.
http://savannahnow.com/latest-news/2013-12-16/battered-mom-flees-abuse-seeks-help#.Uq8cNPRDuVA

Read more more the fund hre: http://savannahnow.com/opinion/2013-12-10/empty-stocking-fund-continue-tradition#.Uq8Pj_RDuVA

There is still time to reserve your seat at this evenings concert here: https://equinox.thundertix.com/

Solid Housing Recovery Taking Hold

Properties starting the foreclosure process in November dips down to its lowest level since December 2005, according to RealtyTrac's U.S. Foreclosure Market Report for November. Foreclosures are down 10% from the previous month and down 32% from a year ago. Bank repossessions in November were down 19% from the previous month and down 48 percent from a year ago, the lowest level since July 2007.

 "While some of the decrease in November can be attributed to seasonality, the depth and breadth of the decrease provides strong evidence that we are entering the ninth inning of this foreclosure crisis with the outcome all but guaranteed," said Daren Blomquist, vice president at RealtyTrac.  "While foreclosures will likely continue to stage a weak rally in certain markets next year as the last of the distress left over from the Great Recession is dealt with, it is highly unlikely that there will be a foreclosure comeback that poses any major threat to the solid housing recovery that has now taken hold."

Savannah Housing Market

How is Savannah fairing in the foreclosure market?  Keller Williams Real Estate Broker Don Callahan said; "As the amount of distressed home sales decline and the overall inventory decreases we are beginning to see an increase in home values. It is refreshing to see the stabilization of our local market." Good news for the Savannah housing market.

Source: Realty Trac US Foreclosure Market Report 
http://www.realtytrac.com/Content/foreclosure-market-report/november-2013-us-foreclosure-market-report-7946

Easy Ways To Make A Difference in The World

How To Make A Difference To The World

Many people believe that they don’t have what it takes to make a difference to the world. They believe only people like Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Theresa, Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Bill Gates, and the likes, are capable of making a difference.

The truth is, every one of us is put in this world to contribute and make a difference to the world in our own unique way. Read more on how to make a difference. From the Change Blog by Mark Foo.

4 Totally Realistic Ways To Make A Difference In The World

Want to make a difference but don't know where or how to start? Consider these unexpected but realistic ways... from a man who's spent his life giving back.  Jim Ziolkowski provides four ways to make a difference, and one of them starts right with your own family. Read more ...

From the Huffingtonpost By Leigh Newman

Beyond-Basic Coaching Helped Don Grow His Business

Don Callahan and his assistant Laura Hyatt were growing their business. They followed the business-building plans from the book The Millionaire Real Estate Agent. They tracked the details of their business and as a result increased the volume dramatically. However Don realized after attending Keller Williams Mega Camp, KW–MAPS Coaching’s annual gathering that he could be mastering the business and growing his own business even further.

Read in the Keller Williams Out Front magazine how Don made this incredible increase in his volume as seen in the tables below.

Out Front Magazine online:
http://issuu.com/kellerwilliamsrealtyinc/docs/kwri-outfront-2013-q3_lowres/9?e=8039000/4998311

COACHING STATS

Before 

2010	$7.1 Million
2011	$8.89 Million

After

2012	$11.38 Million  ( a 75% Boost in GCI over 2011)
2013 (Jan. – July)	$9.2 Million

Big Weekend with Savannah Events

This weekend in Savannah there are two big events that are a must go. Saturday from 11-6pm at Daffin Park WellFed hosts Food Day. Food Day is a nationwide celebration and a movement for healthy, affordable, and sustainable food. More than 4,500 events in all 50 states are happening to celebrate Food Day in 2013! Here in Savannah our event includes over 25 FREE workshops and classes with topics as organic gardening, cooking classes, sustainable living, nutrition, and more. This year, the festival is also partnering with the city of Savannah’s Play Streets event, making this two festivals in one. Play Streets will include free children’s fitness activities, such as bicycle courses, a skating rink, obstacle course and more. Read more at www.wellfedsavannah.com 

Also This weekend starting on Saturday is the week long Savannah Film Festival. The Savannah College of Art and Design presents the annual festival, filled with cinematic creativity from both award-winning professionals and emerging student filmmakers. Each year more than 40,000 people attend the eight day Savannah Film Festival. The festival is host to a wide variety of competition film screenings, special screenings, workshops, panels, and lectures. – See more at: http://filmfest.scad.edu/ and view this short video on what defines an artistfrom the 2011 Film Festival

Savannah,GA Well Known For Our Food

Travel & Leisure magazine just announced that Savannah GA is in the top 10 best cities to visit in the nation. This distinguished placement is based on ratings in six categories; culture, friendliness, atmosphere, restaurants, lodging, and shopping. 

With the famous Paula Deen and her culinary family hailing from Savannah, we are known for our great food. Among some fantastic restaurants we also have lots of festivals that either include or feature some mouth-watering eats.

Coming next weekend, Saturday Oct 26th is a nationwide celebration (the largest in the country), Savannah Food Day which will be held at Daffin Park, and it's free. There will be everything from a Farmers' Market, workshops, live 

music, and activities for the kids. Of course there will also be delicious treats from some of Savannah's favorite restaurants. Read about the workshops schedule, vendors, and more here: http://wellfedsavannah.com/foodday/

Ahh but there is still more to look forward to in the near future. There will be a week-long festival coming November 11- 17: The Savannah Food & Wine Festival which will feature James Beard Award winning chefs, and some of the historic city's best chefs. Pick up a delicious Crab Bisque recipe and read more about the festival here: http://blog.savannahvisit.com/what-is-hot-in-savannah/savfood-wine-november/

Our food is so good that we have the First Squares Food Tour. What is a food tour you ask? Here is a quote directly from their website: A food tour with Savannah Taste Experience is a 3-hour walking and tasting tour where you will enjoy a fun, one-of-a-kind culinary experience while strolling through the gardens and historic, cultural landmarks of the squares of Savannah, the Hostess City of the South. Read more about the tours here: http://www.savannahtasteexperience.com/

We also have several Savannah Cookbooks, some which are; Mrs. Wilkes Boarding House Cookbook, Paula Deen - The Lady & Sons Savannah Country Cookbook, and several books and editions of The Savannah Cookbook.

Quaint Bungalow For Sale in Savannah, GA

Listing Details

302 East 55th Street, Savannah, GA
Bedrooms: 3
Baths: 2.5
Year Built: 1950
Living Area 2,162 Sq. Ft.
Offered at: $330,000
MLS Number: 114959

Quaint and Cozy Bungalow

This fabulous Ardsley Park home is located on a quiet block within easy walking distance of Hull Park. The front porch has handsome iron railing, and there is a large, welcoming entrance foyer. All rooms are well-sized throughout the house. The living room is generously sized with a fireplace and tons of natural light. The separate dining room sits immediately adjacent to the living room for easy dinner parties. The sharp, galley style kitchen with built-in desk, has updated all stainless steel appliances including double ovens and gas cooktop. There is a large den/family room or an office with built-ins, a wet bar and beautiful French doors that led to the rear garden. On the same floor are three good-sized bedrooms and two baths. There is also a utility/mud room with access to the garage and yard. The home has been extremely well maintained and is in move-in ready condition.

Location Location Location

From the house it is an easy jaunt to red-hot Habersham Village with its bars, restaurants and shops including Barberito's burrito bar, TailsSpin pet store, Bikram yoga studio and Bella’s restaurant, and Deli Coffee cafe to name a few. In addition the property is close to two hospitals and convenient to the Truman Parkway and Abercorn St with all of its shopping plazas. Less than two miles to the new Whole Foods and the bustling Victory/Skidaway corridor. Ten minutes to the heart of Historic Savannah, this is a great location, an awesome house with the right price.

See more about this listing.

Mansion For Sale: Swim In Your Living Room

A solar powered home with a grand foyer, hall with 24 ft walls that frame the pool in the living room. If this mansion in New Jersey is a bit much then look for historic homes in downtown Savannah GA, or quaint bungalows in the popular Ardsley park neighborhood, here.

How to Stop Condensation in the Crawl Space Under Your Home

If after all the rain we have had this summer you have developed some mold or condensation problem in the crawlspace under your home. Here are a few suggestions to help solve this problem.

Watch a one minute video from Today’s Homeowner with Danny Lipford plus a here a few more tips:

• Assess Damage: To get an idea of what you are going to have to do you need to check out the amount, and extent, of the mold problem. If you decide not to remove the wood completely these are your next steps. If you are concerned about having found some mold here is a video , from the National Mold Resource Center, that talks about physical symptoms of having been exposed to black mold.
•  Prepare For Mold Removal: It's important for you to wear a toxic chemical protective suit, and mask.
• Apply Mold Removal Chemicals: This is generally for a small mold outbreak. It will kill the mold, but you will still have to remove it from the surface with a scraper.
  
• Blast Mold: If the mold has been able to grow for some period of time before you noticed it then you will need to use a surface blaster.

If you want to stay away from all these problems, then have a mold inspection before buying a home. If you are a homeowner already then you should either inspect the home yourself or have a professional do it every few years. This will help you to eradicate an infestation at an early stage.

Prevention: Once you have gotten rid of the mold you have here are some steps towards prevention.

• Not Enough Vent Space: You may need more ventilation in the crawl space. The rule of thumb is to have at least one square foot of vent area for every 150 square feet of crawl space.
• Inadequate Cross Ventilation: You also need to have adequate cross ventilation with vents on all sides of your house, not just two.
• No Plastic Ground Cover: The plastic sheeting should be covering the ground of the crawl space, to keep moisture from coming up through the soil, not stapled beneath the insulation.
• Leaky or Un-insulated Ductwork: If you have ductwork for your HVAC system under your house, have it inspected for any air leaks, and to make sure it has enough insulation to prevent condensation on the outside of the ducts when the air conditioner is running during the summer.
• Add Fan Venting: If you’re still having problems, have a small fan installed on one of the vents with a humidistat set to turn the fan on at 70% relative humidity to remove excess moisture from your crawl space. Be careful that you have no mold in your crawlspace before installing fans. Other wise the fans will simply blow the mold spores onto other surfaces.

Renovated Bungalow in Midtown Savannah

Listing Details

415 East 61^st Street, Savannah, GA
Bedrooms: 3
Baths: 1
Year Built: 1950
Living Area 1,330 Sq. Ft.
Offered at: $169,000
MLS Number: 114440

Quaint and Cozy Bungalow

A quaint front porch looks out to a freshly landscaped shady front yard in this renovated bungalow. Once inside the living room creates a cozy feeling with hardwood floors, a fireplace and plenty of great natural light. An open archway leads into a breakfast bar, dining area and updated kitchen. Off the kitchen is the family room/dining room which has a built in shelf, a wall of windows, access to the back yard and a bedroom that which could be used as an office.

Details Throughout

The master bedroom and the hallway has entry to the bathroom which has been updated with a cute pedestal sink, a large circular mirror, and new cabinetry. The bedrooms are well lit and feature the molding and corner round floor to ceiling, matching the rest of the interior giving it a finished, polished look.

Location Location Location

There is a spacious fenced in backyard ready for plenty of garden beds. The detached building in the back is large enough for a car and a workshop. This home is well located in midtown Savannah, close to the exploding Skidaway Rd – Victory Drive area. Plenty of shopping and eateries abound in this area with a movie theater, the new Whole Foods Market and Zoë’s Kitchen, and Chipotle. Grayson Stadium, and Daffin Park are also a hop skip and a jump to this home. Also nearby is the Memorial Health complex. 

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Surfers For Autism a Transformative Event

I awoke with excitement and anticipation and organized myself to head out to Tybee Island for the 3rd Annual Coastal Surfers for Autism event this past Saturday. This is our biggest and favorite charitable event we participate in every year. By the time my feet hit the warm sand there were some 20 tents set up and several hundred people gathered. There was a wonderful breeze and the surf was definitely up! Finally after some introductions and a prayer the surfing began.

Miracles Happen

Family and friends stood at waters edge as they watched the kids go apprehensively out on surfboards with their supportive team. Then miracles began to unfold before us. As each surfboard loaded with a belly down child clinging to the sides returned on a wave, there were huge smiles and giggles of tickled pleasure. Soon we began to see the children begin to stand on their board and catch a wave. At each successful wave surfed, teams, family members and the young surfers would jump and throw their arms in the air in jubilation. The transformation from uncertainty to confidence and success was mesmerizing. One of the family members Joe Costello said it best with a post on his Facebook:

"Thank you for the smile on my son Sean's face! Thank you to the professionals from SFA, Tybee Police, Tybee Fire, Tybee Ocean Rescue, volunteers, and businesses who made this a wonderful event. I watched another boy cry hysterically on his first set, the next wave he popped up and rode it in to the beach to the cheers of all. It is overwhelming all that you did this past Saturday for so many. This was our first event, but it will not be our last."

Fun Under The Tents

Although surfing was the main event there was much bonding and fun being had in the sand under the tents. The loving, warm, friendly energy was palpable. There was an atmosphere of non-judgment and ease in connecting with others. Everyone was partaking in fun activities out of the water, and bonding with new found friends. The energy of the day spread to everyone.

"David Costrini: I'm not exaggerating when I say that I went to this event, and that it was one of the most amazing and powerful things I've ever seen. The kids, families, and volunteers were just over the top incredible and inspiring."

I was told this would be a life changing event, and it was. I am already thinking about next year, as I am sure the children are too. Maybe we will see you out there next year?

Watch a WTOC News channel video on this event.