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Can the Tiny Housing Movement Help Save the Planet?

7/11/2017

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Today is the 30th World Population Day. This global holiday started on July 11th, 1987 when the world population approximately hit 5 billion people.

Now, on the 30th anniversary, our World population is around 7.6 billion people. BBC News says, by 2100 the world is projected to have a population of 11.2 billion people. 

Our global society (especially richer countries) is fueled by consumerism, and that is leading to overconsumption of our world's resources. According to research conducted in 2000 by SERI (Sustainable European Research Institute),

"Humans today extract and use around 50% more natural resources than only 30 years ago, at about 60 billion tonnes of raw materials a year. -- On average, an inhabitant of North America consumes around 90 kilograms (kg) of resources each day." The equivalent of about 198 lbs. per day! 

The amount of weight we consume in 2017 is higher and is predicted to keep increasing if we don't start to work towards positive changes as a global society.
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via academia.edu
Living more sustainably doesn't mean you need to give up all your modern comforts or break the bank. Biologicaldiversity.org has a list of 12 ways to live more sustainably. 

​In SERI's research conducted in Europe, 31% of their resource consumption came from housing and infrastructure. 
One sustainable living trend that has gained popularity in the last few years is the tiny housing movement. 
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via academia.edu
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via Cameron Huddleston/Go Banking Rates
Tiny houses come in all styles and range in size anywhere from 100 to 500 square feet. Because of tiny houses size it cuts way down on overall costs and resources to build and maintain them. Let's explore some of the beneficial impacts tiny housing can have on the world. 
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Via Zillow

Consume Less Natural Resources

CO2 emissions are one of the main causes of global warming. Tiny House Build provides detailed stats on the difference in CO2 levels between an average home and the average tiny home. For the full infographic with all the stats head to Tiny House Build.
Average Home
  • Square footage: 2,598
  • Takes 7 trucks of lumber on average to build the average size house.
  • Has an average of 45 lightbulbs in the home, consuming 639 kwh/year
  • Combined average use of electricity, cooling and heating, resulting in 28,000 lbs CO2 emitted per year. 
Average Tiny Home
  • Square Footage: 186
  • ​Takes 1/2 a truck of lumber on average to build a tiny home.
  • Has an average of 6 lightbulbs throughout the home consuming 85 kwh/year
  • Combined average use of electricity, cooling and heating, resulting in 2,000 lbs CO2 emitted per year. 
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Students at Laney College in Oakland, California built a "net-zero, solar-powered" tiny home for a competition.​ Named "The Wedge" it's designed to create as much energy as is used in the home. It's solar panels supply most of the homes energy. They also thought about California's issue with water scarcity and put a compost toilet in the house that uses greywater. Read the full article about The Wedge.


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6 Tips to Lower Your Electric Bill

6/21/2017

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In Arkansas, summer arrived early this year. With temperatures rising up in the high 80's and early 90's this spring, my air conditioning has been working on overdrive. ​I was shocked last month to receive an astronomical electric bill. I have lived in my home for 4 years and the highest bill I've ever had was only half of the cost of last month's bill. 

In an effort to cut my electric bill in half, I've been researching the most effective ways to conserve home energy use during the summer months. These easy, affordable tips will help save you hundreds of dollars over the course of the year. ​
Do you have any other useful tips to cut costs on your electric bill? Comment below and let me know! 
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Low Maintenance Plants that Boost Curb Appeal

3/16/2017

4 Comments

 
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Spring has finally sprung! With temperatures rising into the 70's and 80's, now is the time to start planning your summer garden.

The past three years I have planted a variety of plants in containers with some successes and a few failures. I have realized that the green thumb I hoped for has still yet to develop.

​One of the reasons is that my summer schedule seems more hectic and I'm not home as much. Because of that I have been researching low-maintenance plants to plant this year to help boost curb appeal. If you're a lazy gardener, like me, here are a variety of resilient plants that will thrive with little care. 

Carissa Holly

Scientific Name: Ilex Cornuta
Size of Plant: 3-4' tall and 5-6' wide
Amount of Light Needed: Full sun to partial shade
This commonly used foundation bush is low maintenance and drought resistant. It's the perfect plant for the lazy gardener who wants a simple hedges to boost their curb appeal. In April to May it blooms small white flowers. 

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Romantic Homes Throughout History

2/13/2017

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Have you ever wondered where Shakespeare and his wife Anne Hathaway lived? or what ever became of Yoko and John's central park apartment in The Dakota? This blog explores homes owned by famous couples throughout different time periods in history. 

​William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway: 
​Hathaway's Cottage - The Hamlet of Shottery

​This 12 bedroom estate situated on 90 acres, is not necessarily a "cottage" by today's standards. The Hathaway cottage is Anne's birth home and family homestead. Although the couple never lived here while married, they spent quite a bit of time on the property while William Shakespeare was courting Anne. The cottage and the gardens are now a museum that are open to the public to tour.


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What Does Your Front Door Say About Your Personality?

8/16/2016

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The color of your front door is the first impression guests see before entering your home. Different colors will reflect the mood of your home. Let's explore what colors people psychologically associate with different emotions. 
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  • Yellow is the color most likely to evoke an emotional response from people. 
  • Most people relate the color to sunshine. 
  • The right shade of yellow creates a feeling of optimism and cheerfulness.
  • Guests will expect a warm, hospitable environment if your door is an inviting shade of yellow.
 "SOME PAINTERS TRANSFORM THE SUN INTO A YELLOW SPOT,
​OTHERS TRANSFORM A YELLOW SPOT INTO THE SUN."

​
- Pablo Picasso

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  • Because orange falls in between yellow and red, it represents balance. 
  • It evokes emotional and physical responses. 
  • ​Fun fact: the color orange increases your appetite.  
"ORANGE IS THE HAPPIEST COLOR."
- Frank Sinatra

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  • Red creates a feeling of excitement and energy and it draws attention ​to your front door.
  • Guests will expect your house to be a fun, entertaining environment.
"RED IS THE FIRST COLOR OF SPRING. THE REAL COLOR OF REBIRTH. OF BEGINNING."
- Andie Condie

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About Rural Development Loans

8/9/2016

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10 Homes Made Famous By Film

6/21/2016

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Some films spend millions of dollars on set production to create a fictional town, like The Shire in Lord of the Rings. Or spend millions to rent and decorate a colossal mansion, like Iron Man's 11,000 square foot estate. 

Have you ever wondered what happened to these properties in famous movies after cameras stop rolling? Let's explore the history and current condition of 10 properties made famous from film. 
Hobbiton
Lord of the Rings fans can tour the set of Hobbiton. For more information visit Hobbiton Tours Website.

  • Located in Matamata, New Zealand off of Buckland Rd. Many of the buildings from the film are still standing. A main attraction to Matamata is to tour the Hobbiton Movie Set (AKA The Shire).
  • Originally bought in 1978 by the Alexander family as a farm, this 1,200 acre property was home to 13,000 sheep and 300 angus beef cattle.
  • In 1999 they built 37 hobbit hole facades on the property for filming of Lord of the Rings.  

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Want to see more of Villa Laura? Or rent it for an 'Under the Tuscan Sun' dream vacay? Visit their website.​
  • Frances' (Diane Lane) falls in love with this Italian villa and renovates the home in Under the Tuscan Sun. In reality the filmmakers didn't renovate the property, just cleaned it up a bit and shot the after renovation scenes in warmer lighting.
  • In 2006 Villa Laura went under extensive renovation and is now available for vacation rentals.

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For more information on 4 Privet Drive visit Harry's Potters Wiki Site.
  • ​12 Picket Post Close (AKA) 4 Privet Drive was used for the Dursley's home for the 1st & 5th Harry Potter movies.
  • Residents of Picket Post Close were paid for the inconvenience of filming on their street.
  • They decided for the second film that it would be easier and less costly to build a permanent 4 Privet Drive set at Leavesden Studio.

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7 Tips to Sell Your Home in Winter

2/26/2016

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1. Keep the temperature up during showing and open houses. This will create a warm and welcoming environment that potential buyers will notice immediately as they enter the house.
Photo by Paul Moon Design
​2. Showcase the fireplace. If you have a fireplace in your house, keep a crackling fire going to keep the house cozy and draw attention to this selling feature.
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​3. No Shoes! Post a sign on the front door or entrance that asks guest to take their shoes off. If snow is on the ground and many people are touring the house, this will cut down on the amount of water and mud that will get tracked in.
Photo by JAUREGUI Architecture Interiors Construction
4. Emphasize rooms that will be appealing in winter months. Attract attention to rooms like home gyms, theater rooms, heated garages and sheds.
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5. Add some greenery. Planting evergreens in pots or urns out front will add some much needed color to spruce up the property’s curb appeal. Most front yards are brown during the winter, the contrast in color will really make the house stand out in the neighborhood.

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    Sarah Stricker

    Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.

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  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • Our Listings
    • 601 SE 10th St
  • Blog
  • About Us
  • NWAR Real Estate Mkt.
    • May '18 NWAR Market Update
    • March '18 NWA Market Update
    • February '18 NWA Market Update
    • Sept '17 Market Update
    • August '17 Market Update
    • July '17 Market Update
    • May '17 Market Update
    • February '17 Market Update
    • July '16 Market Update
    • June '16 Market Update
    • May '16 NWA Real Estate Market Update
    • March '16 NWA Real Estate Inventory Update