Real Estate Investing

Today we’re going for something completely different on banks.com … some coolio decorating ideas for your house!  Maybe my taste is just plain eclectic, but I’d *love* to have this floor tiled with pennies in my house.  How many do you suppose it took?  It’s like guessing the jelly beans in a jar at a birthday party…

See more photos from NotCot.com.

Some more furniture finds at NotCot …

Only the COOLEST lamp ever.  Go to Kristin Birna Bjarnadottir to see more under Illuminant tab.  The lampshade and threads are made of a reflective material and hangs from the ceiling with fishing line, resembling a jellyfish. I wish I could figure out how to order one… if you do please comment and let me know! Also follow through the other links to see the amazing designs by Kristin.

And finally a way to fit a pool table in your house.

I have a guilty pleasure.  In addition to watching Survivor, LOST, and American Idol that is.  (Guilty!)  I love my Facebook page.  I do try to be careful about what I write because of course the whole world can see it, but I couldn’t stand not illustrating my friend’s experience today while she was on the phone with me.  I groove on Pathwords, Scramble, and WordTwist - it still annoys me that my sister-in-law didn’t even allow me a full day before she kicked my butt out of first place on Word Twist.  I think her whole family must’ve helped her but don’t tell her I said that - I’ll deny it! 

My latest favorite place to be on Facebook is Yoville.  I’m an official resident, a Yovillian.  My character is Katalina.   I have lovingly decorated by earning money at the Widget Factory and buying furniture, flooring, landscaping, etc.  Here’s my place.

So for anyone who likes virtual decorating, there are many places to go online to see what your project will look like once you’ve added a new floor or paint color.  Here are some of my favorites (besides Yoville on Facebook).

iVillage Room Decorating Ideas

National Wood Flooring Association Design a Room

Daltile Design a Room

Pure Contemporary - I like this one because it also lets you arrange furniture too!

Your other option is to invest in some CAD software (computer aided design), but be picky about what program you choose.

See you on Yoville!

I wonder what Abraham Lincoln would think about today’s log homes.  At the urging of one of my seller who is considering a log home as their next option, I walked inside a model for Southland Log Homes this weekend.  It was on the way back from the Girl Scout cookie depot where our goal is to make people fat and happy while earning troop money.

As I understand it, the log homes come in a “kit” that is priced very affordably.  You’ll have to provide the land on which to build the house, but the company will help you find a builder with the experience and know-how to get the job done right.  When you buy a log home, you do have the ability to get a mortgage loan that will pay up front - allowing for the kit to be sent.  According to the literature from the company, a construction to permanent loan combines financing for the purchase of land, the construction of your log home, and your permanent mortgage into one loan with one closing.

I’ve looked at locations for this particular company and they have sites mostly in the south, southwest, Rocky Mountain states, and the upper Midwest (as opposed to the Plains states).  If you want to find a log home company in your own area, Log Home.com offers a search tool to  locate both a company and a builder.

Home prices will vary depending on the size of the home.  When you pick an existing plan or have a new plan designed, the log home companies will calculate the building materials needed, including log overlay elevations.  Inside a log home are all the standard and upgraded features you’d find in any home - wood flooring, granite counter tops, stainless appliances, walk-in closets, garden tubs, etc.  Your decor can range from wallpaper, paint, elegant, simple.

The biggest surprise for me was affordability.  Homes can range from as low as $100,000 if you build it yourself to several hundred thousand dollars.  They are very comparable to regular site built homes price-wise.

Don’t tell anyone, but they are having a drawing this spring to win a free log home.  I’ve entered and my fingers are crossed.  I could see myself in a log home overlooking a calm lake with a warm breeze caressing my face.  Munching on a box of thin mints or do-si-do’s.

Photos from Southland Log Homes.