With apartment rents moving up in many markets renters are likely to find themselves facing a pinch in making their monthly payments. Twenty percent said they spend more than half of their monthly income on rent. Fees, including those for pets, laundry-machine usage, and cable television or telecommunications offerings, will impact a budget. Also renters should watch out for extra expenses like fees for lost keys, an extra parking spot, garbage pickup, or payment for using amenities like a gym or pool.

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This summer, in the face of record droughts and water shortages, communities from the Gulf Coast to Sonoma Valley are imposing unprecedented restrictions, and even outright bans, on lawn watering. They’re also stepping up enforcement — raising fines, sending out patrols, staffing hotlines and even shutting off service to repeat offenders. But to the most committed grass lovers, these restrictions have become a test of ingenuity. Some are creating personal reserves by digging wells or installing rainwater tanks. Others are pumping from backyard streams or using reclaimed sewer water that must be kept away from children.

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Just listed is this beautiful Wilkes County NC Log Home and Mountain Property.

MLS Number: 50863, List Price: $359,900

Bedrooms: 3, Full Baths: 2, Half Baths: 0, Est Total SqFt: 2600, Type/Style: Log Home, Area: Area 6, Middle School: Cntrl Wlks, High School: Wlks Cntrl, Construction: Log

Foundation: Combination, Roof: Metal Roof, Floors: Carpet/Hardwood/Tile, Garage/Carport: None-Garage, None-Carport, Interior Features: Master Bedroom, Main Level, Large Master Bedroom, Walk-In Closet(s), Hardwood Floors, Fireplace(s), Great Room, Exterior Features: Double Pane Windows, Wooded Lot, 1-5 Acres, Hot Tub, Subdivision: N/A, Lot Size: 2.47, Apx SqFt: 2600 - 2800 SF, Basement: None

Contact Elizabeth Carter, 336.973.5594 or Greg Stikeleather, Broker, 704.880.5247 or email eacarter@charter.net

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The cost of home ownership might be a lot more than you think, more than just the down payment or monthly mortgage payments. Although buying a home is a big investment, owning one comes with a new set of expenses you may not have had while renting or living with Mom and Dad. These extras can put a strain on your daily finances if you aren’t prepared. So to help you estimate your own cost of ownership and come up with a realistic housing budget, consider the expenses of property taxes, utilities, homeowner association dues, maintenance, lawn care, pest control and even any remodeling you might want to do.

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For an older deck that is discolored and that you intend to stain, your best bet is to use a product that is specially formulated for cleaning wood decks. Unlike older products that utilized chlorine bleach for cleaning, these newer-generation products clean the wood without lifting and damaging the wood fibers, and will not leave the wood unnaturally white. Cleaners such as Wolman’s DeckBrite are powdered and simply mixed with water. You can put it on with a roller, brush or garden sprayer, and it’s very effective in getting rid of stains and gray wood fibers. Products such as these also help open the pores within the wood so that the finish material will penetrate more readily.

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Individual Retirement Accounts aren’t restricted to just stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and the like. You can actually invest in a broad range of potential money-makers — including real estate. There are a number of rules to follow. For one thing, you probably can’t do this if your IRA is maintained through your brokerage or a bank. They prefer that you fill your IRA with items they sell. You’ll need a “self-directed IRA,” probably managed by an independent administrator. Other rules include a restriction that you not live in the property while it’s in your IRA — it should be an investment, not a home. You can rent it out and park the rental income in the IRA.

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