• ---------BETTER JUDGEMENTS--------- Better Judgements eZine Terria Judge, Realtor CRS, ABR, GRI, Broker Associate Better Judgements is a newsletter on home matters, from Terria Judge, your Garden City, KS real estate agent! Contact Terria Judge at 620-271-2129! Terria Judge Coldwell Banker, The Real Estate Shoppe, Inc. John P. Judge, Broker 1135 College Dr. Suite E Garden City, KS 67846 620-275-7421 x 223 http://terriajudge.com http://gardencityksrealestate.com http://gardencityrentals.com tjudge@gcnet.com Subscription Management at end of newsletter. Thanks for your subscription to Better Judgements, the newsletter from your Garden City Kansas Realtor, Terria Judge. ---------BETTER JUDGEMENTS--------- In this Issue ============= 1. Easy Fix Recipe: Awesome Crab Soup 2. New Listings 3. Article: How To Make A Raw Land Purchase For Custom Built Homes 4. Article: Is There a Fungus Among Us? ---------BETTER JUDGEMENTS--------- Recipe ====== Awesome Crab Soup Creamy crab soup at its best. I can honestly say that this is perfect. Prep Time: approx. 10 Minutes. Cook Time: approx. 20 Minutes. Ready in: approx. 30 Minutes. Makes 4 servings. 1/2 cup butter 1/3 cup all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning TM 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth 1 cup dry white wine 1 cup half-and-half cream 1 (2.5 ounce) package country style gravy mix 8 ounces crabmeat 4 drops hot sauce 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper Directions 1 Melt butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Stir in flour all at once, and cook until bubbly. Stir in Old Bay seasoning and Worcestershire sauce. Gradually stir in chicken broth, wine, and half-and-half. 2 Prepare gravy according to package directions, and stir into soup. Thin with more half-and-half if necessary. Simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. 3 Stir in crabmeat, and season with hot sauce, salt, and pepper. Simmer 2 minutes, or until heated through. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Copyright © 2004 www.allrecipes.com ---------BETTER JUDGEMENTS--------- New Listings ================== 1. 1625 Conkling -- http://terriajudge.com/1625conkling.html -2 plus 2 bedrooms -Newer carpet, vinyl, windows, sink, 50 gallon water heater -Covered privacy patio, redwood deck off master -Work shop in storage building -Carport in fenced backyard Searching high and low for an affordable nice home? See this beauty. Newer windows, vinyl, carpet, sink. Sliding doors from master to redwood deck. Huge storage building with workshop. Swing out gate to carpet. 2. 1110 Nth 7th -- http://terriajudge.com/1110seventh.html -Decrabond shingles warranty passes to buyer for 46 years -All brick & steel soffit and facia with warranty -4 bedrooms, 3 fireplaces, 2 baths -Vinyl fence, covered patio -Oversized double detached garage Worry free from top to bottom! With this kind of exterior--what else could you want? Shade trees bless this warm, charming, and affordable home. The covered patio will be a cool secluded, shady retreat on hot summer afternoons. --See all of Terria's listings at http://terriajudge.com! ---------BETTER JUDGEMENTS--------- How To Make A Raw Land Purchase For Custom Built Homes By Lewi Glenis We all dream of owning our own home. We also dream of building ourselves a custom-built home to specifications on that "ideal" piece of land. Wouldn't it be nice to find the right parcel of land nestled away that you can develop to build your dream home... just the way you want it? A real estate agent can help you find the perfect piece of land and guarantee that the proper zoning specifications are met to build your custom home. Two major criteria to begin your search are: * Is the property zoned for residential? * Are utilities available to be connected to the property? When building a custom home in a rural area you may have to... * dig a well to supply your water * install a septic tank for your sewage needs * conduct a "perc test" to learn if the property can support a septic tank (in certain areas only) * you may need to install a propane gas tank that will need to be recharged occasionally * a new parcel of land may need to be "graded" (if not graded already) These conditions apply mostly to buying raw land requiring these specifications to be met, before you can break ground for construction. You can also make a land purchase that is "builder ready", which in many cases, can save you money for land that is already developed for construction. Generally, lenders require a 50% down payment and may require shorter loan terms for raw land loans in your land contract. These loan terms are typically much shorter than standard mortgage terms. Additionally, you will need to finance the construction of your custom built home with a construction loan. In most cases, you can pay on just the interest for construction loans until the building project is complete, and then convert the construction loan into a mortgage. At that time, you will begin to pay on both the principle and interest for your new home mortgage loan. Plus, you will always have the option of refinancing your custom built home at a later time with a home mortgage refinance. "Do you have a permit for that?" Yes, now the fun begins. Consider these steps when planning your custom home building project: * finding a site or lot for your raw land purchase or "builder ready" land * planning the development of your custom built home from start to finish with time frames * learning and applying for permits and inspections for a new home construction * applying and allowing time for land use, zoning changes, and conditional use permits * building site and architectural reviews * certain conditons apply to a building's size and may need an environmental review As a property owner, you or your contractor will apply for building permits. Building permits are required for all new construction projects of any kind. Applying and pre-qualifying for a land purchase online can help you save time and get the ball rolling to begin your new custom built home project. It is a wise practice to learn what your financing options are before consulting a real estate agent. Many real estate agents tend to work with affiliated lenders and may not necessarily provide you with the lowest interest rates and best loan terms available. This may take a little more leg work on your part, but the savings will be well worth the effort. Plus, you will feel much more proud and accomplished knowing that you've assisted in the building of your custom built dream home for you and your family... saving yourself hundreds in the process. Once you've researched your construction loan financing options, you can approach a qualified real estate agent with confidence to help you locate your new raw land or "builder ready" property listing. At face value learning about custom built homes and buying raw land can seem like a daunting task. Keep in mind however that even though it may seem like a huge undertaking, the real estate and construction industries are very streamlined to help you accomplish your goals. You can find a wealth of research materials at your finger tips online and in your community when meeting each goal along the way by making the necessary effort. The journey of purchasing land for building a custom home can be rewarding beyond your wildest dreams... and will surmount to one of the greatest accomplishments of your lifetime. E-mail: home-life-links@cox.net Author's URL: http://www.home-life-loans.com/ Lewi Glenis is a successful Internet publisher, author, composer, and entrepreneur currently managing 10 websites as part of the Home Life Network. The Home Life Network is a network of websites providing consumer and business related information services and publications. Content topics include financial news and personal finance, consumer product reviews and recommendations, personal growth programs, advanced learning strategies, innovative marketing solutions, and search engine optimization consulting. Lewi is currently developing a revolutionary personal growth program in the area of brain wave neuro-technology featuring his original musical compositions and personal growth philosophies. Lewi lives in Tucson, AZ where he spends his free time hiking and discovering remote areas of the great southwest. ---------BETTER JUDGEMENTS--------- Is There a Fungus Among Us? by Wallace J. Conway Mold has taken hold! Not that the microbes have reached out and grabbed us, but rather they have captured our attention. A rash of recent high profile media stories have petrified many people with concerns for both their health and finances. While it is true in some situations that variations and concentrations of mold can kill us both physically and financially, in the vast majority of cases mold problems can be remedied simply and economically. Molds exist naturally all around us. Molds play a vital role in the decomposition of organic waste such as in a compost pile. Other molds are essential in the creation of some of our finest foods, such as wine and cheese. But, when mold growth occurs in an inappropriate place or in extreme concentration, the health of our home and family can be at risk. All molds need two basic ingredients to grow, food and water. The favorite food of mold is cellulose. In our home, cellulose is a common constituent. Wood, paper, cotton, and drywall are plentiful in construction and are great sources of cellulose. Water is everywhere in our homes, both on the surfaces and in the air. As the tightness of our homes has increased in response to a desire to conserve energy, the unintended consequence has been the trapping of moisture. The increase in moisture in our homes has in some cases resulted in a relative humidity above the 60% level needed to sustain mold growth in interior spaces. In some cases, the moisture level of the interior spaces is below the mold growth threshold, but the exterior wall cavities retain the required moisture level for rapid mold growth within the walls. To make matters worse, this condition is also perfect for accelerated wood rot and termite infestation. So what is a reasonable person to do? Much like a physical exam is the first step in a plan for personal health, a home inspection is the first step in a mold survey. The intent of the inspection is to seek out all sources of moisture that may contribute to an environment that is attractive to mold and to visually identify any existing mold colonies. Roof leaks, plumbing leaks, and improper sprinkler positioning are among the more common sources of mold-causing moisture problems. After identification of the moisture source, a reasonable and practical remedy can be prescribed. Areas with visible mold colonies can be thoroughly cleaned with detergent, followed by wiping with a bleach and water solution. Porous materials such as ceiling tiles and carpet are difficult to clean and often require removal and replacement in all but the most minor of outbreaks. In most cases, testing to determine mold species is not necessary to solve the problem. If an individual has an extreme or specific health risk factor, testing may be of value in assisting the medical professional in addressing the specific health situation. If the outbreak of mold is extreme, testing maybe wise in ensuring safety during remediation. The choice to test or not should always rest with the homeowner or potential homebuyer, but the decision should be an informed one made with the assistance of an ASHI certified home inspector who has received additional training specific to mold management. With a basic understanding of the management of moisture, household mold maintenance is simple. Molds have been around forever and will never be gone, and it is good that they are here. But like so many things, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. Stay informed, but don't get caught up in the hype. Remember, it's about knowing! Copyright © Florida HomePro, Inc. and Wallace J. Conway. All rights in all media reserved. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About the Author: Wally Conway is President of Florida HomePro Inspections, and is featured regularly on HGTV's "House Detective". As a speaker, writer, instructor, and host of The Happy Home Inspector radio show every Saturday at 5 PM on WOKV 690, Wally blends the right amount of up-to-date information with just the right amount of humor, insight, motivation, and real-world application. Visit http://www.wallyconway.com and http://www.gohomepro.com for more information! ---------BETTER JUDGEMENTS--------- This newsletter is compiled and published by Mitone Cooke, http://drbusinesscards.com, http://funkyfranks.com

  August 18th, 2004 at 12:35 pm

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