See My Nevada

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Should my strategy change?

With more and more people losing their homes, do you wonder where they will go? An apartment maybe, or I’ve heard of people walking away from their mortgages because they can rent a nicer home for half the price they were paying to own….

So my next question is who is making money right now? The rental owners or the banks with mortgages? The banks are working hard to correct their balance sheets but the investors in rental property are where the money is, and will be for a while.

I’m wondering where this is all heading. I would like to sell my home to upgrade in acreage but I’m caught in the same trap as the majority of people these days. But the smart people are always the ones to take advantage of a crisis. I want to be one of those people and I want to know all of my options.

Buying houses now, that sometimes cost less than when they did brand spanking new 4 years ago, is where the economy seems to be going. Those who were financially strong through the boom, and continued to keep financial stability during the bust, are the ones who are snapping up properties now. Especially if you realize that people have to live somewhere, the affordable investment is more secure than the 401k or IRA of last year.

The rental investor can offer such competitive rates and of course there is demand. Any industry that people create wealth in has to have a demand and investors able to take advantage of the situation. Of course, the demand stems from home owners not able to keep their investment but still needing a home and DESIRING a nice home to live in.

The investors with the courage to snap up short sales and foreclosures for 50% (or less) of their value will continue to make a profit for years to come. With the affordable prices, they are gaining a real estate asset immediately. With demand, the business model is a sure bet. With desirability, they are proud of where their money is parked.

Affordable. Demand. Desirable. Today wealth isn’t created like the automobile industry at the turn of the century or even the computer industry in the 1990’s, it is real estate. Where will your investment be tomorrow?

Me? I’m thinking it is time to quit my relationship with Wall Street and channel my funds into making my home a rental property. I have been a landlord before and it is a huge responsibility. At least it is if you don’t want to be a slum-lord. But, my husband and I are looking at our options. If we can’t sell our home for what we owe maybe we should rent it. We have been approached by rental opportunities but we were wary. I think it is definitely time to come up with a game plan and pursue this path.

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Is Your Name Stuck or Waiting?

There are two types of clients in the real estate market today. They are called Stuck and Waiting.

Stuck is hardest hit. This is the person who’s home has dropped in value to an extreme degree and cannot make the move they were planning. There can be many reasons Stuck is in this position….. Priced home too high when the market was changing and didn’t adjust accordingly or waited too long to list home on the market. Stuck’s biggest problem is keeping a positive outlook and continuing to prepare to make their move when the time is right.

Waiting’s name is exactly that. Waiting is looking to see when the market will hit bottom to make the most out of their next purchase. The economy is affecting Waiting but not so much that Waiting can’t make their move when they decide the time is right. Waiting’s biggest problem will be making sure he doesn’t wait too long before the economy rebounds.

I’m reading articles daily that discuss the real estate market in very vague terms or there is a comparison of micro economies to illustrate extremes around the country. “Chinese are being bussed around to buy homes”, “Rust belt never recovered from the recession in the 80’s and 1 in 3 homes are vacant”

None of this matters to Stuck or Waiting. Neither have any need to hear about what is going on everywhere else. Instead, they need to pay attention to what is happening in their own micro economy and plan accordingly. Stuck needs to keep working, keep planning the next real estate venture and take time to look at his financial situation. This situation will not last forever so Stuck needs to focus on what he can change today so he can change his name. Today, Stuck is learning what went wrong in his circumstances and Stuck will never let it happen again. Waiting better be careful. Sometimes Waiting can wait too long because the longer the wait the more anxiety builds. That anxiety can leave waiting with nothing to show for those careful decisions when subtle changes happen in his micro economy. This situation will not last forever so Waiting needs to develop an action plan to carry out immediately. Does Waiting know what the next purchase will be? If Waiting has it picked out, Waiting should be discussing options with his Realtor. Waiting should also be aware that properties don’t stay listed forever so Waiting should be ready to engage in the transaction immediately. Whenever that should be.

A Lesson About Risk From The Big Boys

Neither Stuck or Waiting are acting like the big players in real estate. Take Donald Trump for example. He learned his lessons the hard way, like most of America right now, he suffered through mounting debt to develop one of the largest real estate empires. Through recessions, gains and losses, he never quit trying, he never gave up. Think what you will about him personally, he has made his mark (not to mention his wealth) in the real estate world. I’m not saying Stuck or Waiting have to be the next Trump. The point is the lesson we all learn from successful entrepreneurs experiences. Have your game plan and build your team.

“You can’t know it all. No matter how smart you are, no matter how comprehensive your education, no matter how wide ranging your experience, there is simply no way to acquire all the wisdom you need to make your business thrive.” -Donald Trump

Basically, you are only one person. Get help and don’t give up. Outdoor & Resort Properties provides the team you need to change your name from Stuck or Waiting to Successful. They have the experience to make your real estate circumstances change and thrive. Rock bottom prices on Short Sales and Foreclosures will not last forever. Didn’t we learn this lesson by waiting too long to sell our home before the bubble burst? You do not want to make that mistake again. The economy will rebound and Outdoor & Resort wants you to be successful when it does.

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Garden to Suppress Sound

 

 

My local source is Dry Creek Gardens in Reno, NV

Slope plantings according to height, placing the tallest against your fence and the lowest closest to your outdoor area. Choose plants by density of leaves to create a thicker barrier. I would recommend a mixture of evergreens with deciduous trees or shrubs mixed in to give seasonal change while keeping a year round barrier. Then choose lower growing plants to fill in the bottom and act as a border.

 

Give thought to colors of leaves and flowers when making selections. Don’t hesitate to consult with the experts at your local nursery, they are always happy to help. When you actually decide to place the plants, do not forget to give them room to grow!

 

This will not cure all sound problems, but it will help muffle and absorb most of it. A garden will add beauty to your landscape and peace to your space.

I intentionally do not give plant recommendations because every area is completely different. This is to give you an idea of using textures and colors together to create a pleasing garden that will help suppress sound.

 

 

 

 

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Wall with a view

This is something I swear we will enjoy forever. Privacy fence structured to work with wind and not block your view! 

We had this style fencing around our back deck in Alaska to maintain privacy around our spa. We used this to surround the entire deck, but changed the angle to avoid sight to and from neighbors and roads. The beauty of it equals the practicality when you want your investment to last.

Ours faces our neighbors so we have privacy to enjoy our views and our outdoor room. In the spring, there is a lilac that grows like a weed on the outside that provides more privacy in a natural way. From our living room, we still have a panoramic view of the valley!

Ours was built by framing the area needing the privacy screen with 2×4’s. Using fencing slats that are set at the desired angle, then cut spacers using 2×4’s. At the top and bottom of the frame nail in the spacer, set the slat, nail the spacer, and repeat until the frame is filled. This privacy wall is raised about a foot and a half off the ground so the winter snow can melt under it, without rotting the fence.

This technique isn’t new but I don’t believe it is as widely used as it should be. Here is a book with more detailed instructions

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Your Fence is your frame for your walls

 First Rule is the old cliche, Good Fences Make Good Neighbors

While not completely accurate, I’ll give it credit as a good start. You have to set the boundary that you allow people to cross (even inadvertently)

The sturdier the fence the better. Many people do not care for chain link, but it is excellent for outdoor insulation. My fence is cattle panels that are galvanized wire panels attached to wooden posts. Not particularly attractive or ugly, just very boring. But sturdy so I don’t have to worry about neighborhood dogs plowing into my yard. I have enough dogs and don’t need anymore help! 

Useful for Keeping the Wildlife from Eating the Garden!

But I digress.

 

 

With a sturdy fence you have a multitude of options for making it more private because you can attach something to it. This is an economical and attractive solution. It is economical because you can buy what you need in sections to suit your needs. With the design and sturdiness of bamboo fencing, it will survive wind, rain and snow. 

You can read my earlier post on bamboo fencing to get an idea of its many uses.

 

Maybe you have a privacy fence already and you don’t need to worry about this. If so, you may want to read my post on gardening. This is where the sound barrier comes in.

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Dealing with Nosy Neighbors; a series

We put every ounce of energy and pride into our homes. We enjoy our gardens, have lovely outdoor spaces for us to relax or entertain, beautiful views to enjoy every season. Then. It. Happens.

A neighbor has invaded your space. It doesn’t mean they physically are in your space but they influence it in someway.

• Radio is too loud
• Their conversation is clear as bell (conversely, they probably hear everything you say too!)
• Copycats: everything you do you notice is being done next door?
• If you step foot outside, someone is watching you

Anyways, you get the idea. The point is, you don’t have to quit enjoying your space and you don’t have to lower yourself by acknowledging their inconsideration. Instead, focus your energy and pride into building outdoor insulation.

I compare my vision of outdoor insulation (patent pending) to the insulation you put in your walls. There are different techniques to insulation indoors or out but it is all about layers to make it work.

I’m going to break this out into different steps

• Fences
• Wall with a view
• Gardening

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Spring in Northern Nevada

Spring time is showing itself in small stages in Northern Nevada. It is a beautiful sight when the valleys are lush with green trees, roses blooming and bees in flitting here and there.

Crab Apple Trees Are Such Show-Offs!

It does tend to come with false starts though. We’ve had snow this week but the trees are still blooming. I usually enjoy the show my fruit trees put on in the spring but have never experienced any of the fruit.

The fruit trees I have were planted on the property when I moved in. Lovely dwarf plum, apple, peach and almond trees were spread all over the place. I transplanted them into smaller groupings for water conservation and close for enjoyment. I will have a lovely show of flowers before the leaves pop out. But every spring we have a cold snap and none of the trees have ever produced fruit.

I’m never one to waste a good, strong plant. I’m not sure if the previous owner realized these trees were not a good choice for our area, or if he just wanted a pretty show too. Either way, they bring the first displays that a new year of growing has begun.

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Gardening to save $ is not that easy.

 

I keep seeing headlines for articles like ‘Save Money – Grow a Garden’. When I read the actual article, I want to yell “HA! You really think it is that easy?” These short and sweet features are not written by gardeners. If they were, these lucky gardeners live in gardening heaven because instructions like “Plant seeds when warm, water and feed your family all summer” don’t work anywhere I have ever lived.

Working in Dirt

Some people might like the appeal of saving money by growing their own vegetables, but a show stopper is actually getting dirt. While I think it is great, I know many people who just DO NOT ENJOY IT. And that’s ok! Gardening is a labor of love but it is about fertilizer, soil amendments, etc.

There are always options though. Hire a professional. Ask at your local nursery, they might offer services. Friends and neighbors usually give references as well. Not all professionals are expensive but you have to ask to find out.

If hiring is out of the budget, ask a gardening friend to help out. I love to get my hands on other people’s dirt!

Water

This can be an art, depending on where you live. In our clay soil, it is a constant monitoring process to make sure the garden doesn’t have too much or too little water. And with the weather, the soil changes every year too, since we are constantly amending it for improvement.

Plant Choices

Once again, I recommend checking with your local nursery. There are different hybrids for every climate and elevation. My plants need to withstand harsh sun and wind while producing in a short growing season. Other areas may be able to plunk a Beefsteak Tomato in the ground and have more produce than they can eat. (I really envy those people) The best advice you will get is from other gardener’s experience.

Gardening is a wonderful way to subsidize your income. But it is work. Fortunately, it is work that I love to do!

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Let Em Run Foundation

Lacey J Dalton isn’t only a great entertainer, she is also a wonderful neighbor. Many people love to visit and see the wild horses, but not many know how much work goes into keeping them free.

In this video, Lacey’s Let Em Run Foundation partners with LRTC to get our horses back on the range.

I would also like to thank LRTC. They had a lead on 2 pregnant mares headed for slaughter. Through their community information system, I heard about these mares, and with a neighbor we were able to buy them. The pictures you see of horses on this blog wouldn’t be here without LRTC.

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