For more information on Lemonade day click here to visit their website.

For you grown-ups that loved your childhood lemonade stand or always wished you had one, check out this addicting iPod/iPhone game App:  Lemonade Tycoon Free

QE2 stands for Quantitative Easing – Round 2.

The ultimate goal of QE2 is to pump more money into our financial system to avoid deflation, and right now what is the main focus in avoiding deflation……home sales. Specifically, QE2 is aimed at moving the existing surplus of vacant homes sitting on the market. The Fed (Federal Reserve) is currently easing the actual home mortgage interest rate by buying it down to a historically all time low. For example, at the end of 2010 we were seeing rates in the 4% range, more recently we have seen a slight increase into the 5% range. Although this is an increase, it is still a record low for the mortgage industry.

In short, what does this mean for home mortgage rates after June 2011? Well, with Federal easing out of the picture it means that rates will increase. In fact, as we approach the June 2011 QE2 removal date, the market is preparing for the change and interest rates have already started a slow ascent.

So if you have been planning on investing in a new home, perhaps investing in your very first home; the time to act is now. With mortgage interest rates still in the 5% range for qualified buyers, financing your new home will not be cheaper than now.

If you would like to talk with a professional about buying a home, I would be honored to answer any questions you may have and help you take advantage of this great Buyer’s Market that we are in. You can reach me at homes@kutterandsmith.com

For more interesting articles on QE2 and the future of mortgage interest rates here are some links that you may enjoy:

Article 1

Article 2

Article 3

Article 4

It’s the return of morning-hustle-out-the-door, scheduling, and paperwork chaos. No problem: Here are some tips to stay on your “A” game this school year.

Entryway

Welcome to the supersize equivalent of a junk drawer – a massive catchall for jackets, backpacks, shoes, and rain boots that also happens to be front and center for all to see. That’s why you need an eye-pleasing system to organize the madness.

Kitchen

The kitchen should realy be called the living room. It’s where your family congregates most, whether you’re eating dinner, putting together a science project, or hosting pantry-raiding friends. Here, five ideas for your home’s command central.

Bedroom

In the not-too distant future, your child will become a teen. For now, you still have access to his sleeping quarters, which is why you should seize the opportunity to streamline his routine.

America the Beautiful

O beautiful for spacious skies,

For amber waves of grain,

For purple mountain majesties

Above the fruited plain!

America! America!

God shed his grace on thee

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea!

Top 10 Texas Superstar plants

By KATHY HUBER, Garden Editor
Copyright 2010 Houston Chronicle

“Texas gardeners need plants that tolerate extremes. Searing summer heat. Drought. And as we’ve recently been reminded, winters that can alter the landscape.

Thanks to research led by Texas A&M University researchers and extension horticulturists, we have great options. For 21 years, they’ve tested plants in search of top performers — types that tolerate our extremes with minimal soil preparation and watering and no pesticides.

They’ve deemed more than 50 plants — including trees, shrubs, annuals, perennials and vegetables — Texas Superstars. The list includes plants that scoffed at the miserable summer of 2009 and are now returning from their hardy roots after last winter’s big freezes.

Here are 10 that are showing their resilience after a hard winter. And they’re fascinating whether you’re a Master Gardener or are just beginning to get your fingernails dirty.”

1. My firebush or hummingbird bush (Hamelia patens) was a proud, 8-foot mound last fall and nothing but sticks after last winter. But new shoots are inching upward, and I look forward to visiting butterflies and hummingbirds who love the nectar-filled orange-red tubular blooms.

2. ‘Gold Star’ esperanza, Tecoma stans, is also making a return. This easygoing, 4- to 6-foot shrub produces golden-yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers spring to frost.

3. Plumbago (Plumbago auriculata), an old-time, popular heat- and drought-tolerant wonder, offers a profusion of blue, butterfly-attracting blooms spring until frost. It likes an occasional drink during extended dry spells. In sun or shade, the long, arching stems make a soft mound or can be trained vertically like a vine.

4. Texas lilac vitex (Vitex agnus-castus) earns gold stars for its summer tolerance and fragrant, butterfly-attracting, 8- to 12-inch purple flower spikes. Native to China and India, it has several common names: hemp tree, lilac chaste tree, Mexican lavender, monk’s pepper, sage tree and Indian spice. Improved varieties ‘Montrose Purple’, ‘LeCompte’ and ‘Shoal Creek’ are all marketed under the Texas lilac name.

5. ‘Texas Gold’ columbine (Aquilegia chrysantha hinckleyana) is my favorite April-blooming perennial. Numerous volunteer offspring have reseeded from the “mother” I planted years ago. The soft-yellow, long-spurred blooms wave above lacy, blue-green foliage that looks best in part or bright shade.

Click here to finish reading the article at Chron.com.

The bill essentially remains intact but has a handful of important changes:

If you are interested in learning more about the new tax credit or about homes in your area, speak with Ryan or Tiffany at the Kutter & Smith Real Estate Team soon.  homes@kutterandsmith.com

The opinions expressed in This Month in Real Estate are intended to supplement opinions on real estate expressed by local and national media, local real estate agents and other expert sources.  You should not treat any opinion expressed on This Month in Real Estate as a specific inducement to make a particular investment or follow a particular strategy, but only as an expression of opinion.  Keller Williams Realty, Inc. does not guarantee and is not responsible for the accuracy or completeness of information, and provides said information without warranties of any kind.  All information presented herein is intended and should be used for educational purposes only.  Nothing herein should be construed as investment advice.  You should always conduct your own research and due diligence and obtain professional advice before making any investment decision.  All investments involve some degree of risk.  Keller Williams Realty, Inc. will not be liable for any loss or damage caused by your reliance on information contained in This Month in Real Estate.

To take the Energy-Saving Tour click on the image below.

Make windows work for you

• On sunny days, open draperies and blinds to let in the sun’s warmth. During the summer, draw drapes and blinds to prevent solar heat gain.
• Close draperies and blinds at night to insulate against cold air outside.
• If you have storm windows, be sure they are installed during heating season.

Turn down your thermostat

The easiest and most economical way to cut energy costs is to adjust your thermostat.

• Set thermostats between 65° and 70° during the winter, and to 58° when away from the house for four or more hours. For homes with elderly people or children, warmer temperatures are recommended.
• For greater temperature control, use a programmable or setback thermostat.

Keep warm in winter

• Close vents and doors in unused rooms.
• Keep hot and cold air registers free of dust and do not block with carpet or furniture.

Turning down water heater setting

The water heater accounts for approximately 15% of the average household’s energy use. Using it wisely can save you money.

• To lower energy cost without sacrificing comfort, set water heater temperature to 120°.

Showerheads/faucets

• Install water-flow restrictors in showerheads and faucets.
• Repair leaky faucets. A leak that fills a coffee cup in 10 minutes wastes 3,280 gallons of water a year.

Washer/dryer

• Run washing machines and clothes dryers with full loads only.
• Replace old, outdated appliances with high efficiency models.

Stop drafts and air leaks with caulking and weatherstripping

By adding insulation and sealing air leaks, you can have a significant impact on your energy bills.

• Guard against heat loss by sealing leaks around doors, windows and other openings such as pipes and ducts.
• After you have caulked and sealed bypasses, adding insulation can help you reduce energy use and save on future fuel bills.
• Be sure attics have recommended levels of insulation. Contact your local insulation company to come check your insulation.

Maintain your heating system

70-80% of a typical home’s natural gas use is for heating and cooling. Use your energy dollars wisely with these tips:

• Change or clean furnace filters once a month during heating season.
• Have your furnace or boiler tuned by a qualified technician once a year to help improve your system’s operating efficiency and help prevent breakdowns.
• If you have an old heating system, consider replacing it with a high efficiency system. The more of an efficiency upgrade you make, the more energy savings you will see on your heating bills.

For more information about saving energy at home, visit the Texas State Energy Conservation Office.

Thank you to CenterPoint Energy for these very helpful energy saving tips.

New traffic, criminal laws set to go into effect Sept. 1

HB 2730 is the DPS’s Sunset Legislation, and many of the DPS-related bills this session were included in HB 2730. Notable traffic and criminal laws that go into effect on Sept. 1 (unless otherwise indicated) include*:

Driving: HB 55 makes it illegal to use a wireless communication device in a school zone unless the vehicle is stopped or a hands-free device is used. Cities or counties wanting to enforce this law must post a sign at the beginning of each school zone to inform drivers that using a wireless communications device is prohibited and the operator is subject to a fine. It is a defense to prosecution if the operator was making an emergency call.

Cited: DPS online at www.txdps.state.tx.us. Press Report released August 11,2009.