Simple life in Manhattan: A 90-square-foot home
By Kirsten Dirksen for ecomii_healthy_living 27 Comments
This tiny apartment may not have a kitchen, but it has a great view of New York City and saves this renter tons of money. Read full post »
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Curving wood floors make less waste
By Philip Proefrock for ecogeek 10 Comments
Wood floors aren't normally what you would think of as high tech. But a Dutch company called Bolefloor is using computers and CNC production to produce attractive and distinctive wood flooring that maximizes the amount of wood used. ... Read full post »
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New cement is carbon negative
By Philip Proefrock for ecogeek 27 Comments
Cement is one of the most significant single sources for carbon emissions, due to the intense energy required for its production and the volumes of it that are produced annually, as well as from material itself, but an alternative is now available. ... Read full post »
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Steam showers: Save water, ease stress
By Chaya, selected from Networx for care2 4 Comments
by Linda Merrill for Networx Steam showers are the modern day equivalent of the steam baths of ancient Rome and the traditional Finnish saunas. Read full post »
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Revamp your living room for under $500
By Chaya, selected from Networx for care2 2 Comments
Spruce up the room by rearranging things, adding color, and making affordable changes that will liven up a tired look. Read full post »
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Chewing gum becomes art
By Trystan L. Bass for greenpicks 37 Comments
A British artists turns sidewalks into paintings. Read full post »
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Artist's awe-inspiring underwater reef complete
By Katherine Butler, Mother Nature Network for guest_bloggers 89 Comments
'The Silent Evolution' by Jason deCaires Taylor is comprised of 400 permanent sculptures in Mexican waters. Read full post »
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Mukesh Ambani builds an aggressively opulent home
By Matt Hickman, Mother Nature Network for guest_bloggers 105 Comments
Antilia, the world's first billion dollar home, is completed in Mumbai. While initially marketed as being "green," the home's size -- 398,000 square feet -- renders any claim of sustainability obsolete. Read full post »
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Give used Halloween candy wrappers a second life
By Beth Buczynski for care2 17 Comments
Recycle candy wrappers into cool products by mail, for free. Read full post »
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Student flies like a bird, powered only by himself
By Jerry James Stone, TreeHugger for guest_bloggers 2356 Comments
Leonardo da Vinci dreamed up a wing-flapping, human-powered flying machine over 500 years ago. But it wasn't until now that someone could actually make it work. Read full post »
Saturday, May 7, 2011
World's Strangest Homes
Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg Buys $7 Million Home By Morgan Brennan, Forbes.com May 6, 2011 Provided by: tweet172 Send Print Mark Zuckerberg's $7 million Palo Alto home. Photo: Alain Pinel Realtors Mark Zuckerberg is, at age 26, on the young side for a firs
Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg Buys $7 Million Home
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| Mark Zuckerberg's $7 million Palo Alto home. Photo: Alain Pinel Realtors |
Mark Zuckerberg is, at age 26, on the young side for a first-time home buyer these days. But the Facebook cofounder and chief executive isn’t exactly stretching financially to make his first purchase. Valued at $13.5 billion, and with a persona made famous by the Oscar-winning film The Social Network, Zuckerberg recently plunked down a relatively paltry $7 million for his first home.
The restored historic Palo Alto, Calif. abode encompasses 5,617 square feet on a 17,100 square-foot plot. It includes five bedrooms, five and a half baths, a banquet-size dining room, a music alcove and glassed-in porch. The backyard has a saltwater pool, a spa, an outdoor gazebo with a wood-burning fireplace and a carport. The lot, located on Edgewood Drive in the Crescent Park neighborhood, is shielded from nosy neighbors and gawkers by a wall and citrus trees. Crescent Park itself is a high-end neighborhood where median single-family homes went for an average of $1.9 million in February, according to the Zillow Home Value Index.
More from Forbes.com » Homes With The Most Outrageous Amenities» America’s Prettiest Towns |
The young billionaire’s new pad hails from an earlier structure erected by William A. Newell, a physician and politician who helped establish and govern the area in the late 19th century. It was razed and rebuilt by another physician in 1903. Since then, it changed hands roughly seven times, going through several remodelings, before being acquired by the social media entrepreneur.
The property was listed through Sherry Bucolo of Alain Pinel Realtors. Both Bucolo and Facebook declined to comment on the sale, but public records indicate the deal closed in mid-March. As with most real estate transactions involving rich and famous homebuyers, the sale was conducted through a third party LLC.
The young billionaire has long been a fan of renting and of relatively modest digs. His last two places were rentals in the College Terrace neighborhood of Palo Alto, both of which were close to Facebook’s offices and significantly smaller than the new home.
Zuckerberg, who ranks 52nd on Forbes’ list of the World’s Billionaires, paid $1 million more than the previously listed asking price of $5.85 million. The $7 million paid is about what the home is valued in the expensive 94301 zip code, according to Zillow.com.
That might seem like a hefty price tag to many middle Americans, but it’s pee wee league among billionaires. Yuri Milner, a venture capital billionaire and Facebook investor, shelled out $100 million for an 11 acre, 25,000 square foot estate in the area earlier this year. In April, news broke that Rinat Akhmetov, Ukraine’s wealthiest billionaire, had snatched up a London penthouse for $221 million, the most ever paid for an apartment anywhere.
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| Mark Zuckerberg's $7 million Palo Alto home. Photo: Alain Pinel Realtors |
Mark Zuckerberg is, at age 26, on the young side for a first-time home buyer these days. But the Facebook cofounder and chief executive isn’t exactly stretching financially to make his first purchase. Valued at $13.5 billion, and with a persona made famous by the Oscar-winning film The Social Network, Zuckerberg recently plunked down a relatively paltry $7 million for his first home.
The restored historic Palo Alto, Calif. abode encompasses 5,617 square feet on a 17,100 square-foot plot. It includes five bedrooms, five and a half baths, a banquet-size dining room, a music alcove and glassed-in porch. The backyard has a saltwater pool, a spa, an outdoor gazebo with a wood-burning fireplace and a carport. The lot, located on Edgewood Drive in the Crescent Park neighborhood, is shielded from nosy neighbors and gawkers by a wall and citrus trees. Crescent Park itself is a high-end neighborhood where median single-family homes went for an average of $1.9 million in February, according to the Zillow Home Value Index.
More from Forbes.com » Homes With The Most Outrageous Amenities» America’s Prettiest Towns |
The young billionaire’s new pad hails from an earlier structure erected by William A. Newell, a physician and politician who helped establish and govern the area in the late 19th century. It was razed and rebuilt by another physician in 1903. Since then, it changed hands roughly seven times, going through several remodelings, before being acquired by the social media entrepreneur.
The property was listed through Sherry Bucolo of Alain Pinel Realtors. Both Bucolo and Facebook declined to comment on the sale, but public records indicate the deal closed in mid-March. As with most real estate transactions involving rich and famous homebuyers, the sale was conducted through a third party LLC.
The young billionaire has long been a fan of renting and of relatively modest digs. His last two places were rentals in the College Terrace neighborhood of Palo Alto, both of which were close to Facebook’s offices and significantly smaller than the new home.
Zuckerberg, who ranks 52nd on Forbes’ list of the World’s Billionaires, paid $1 million more than the previously listed asking price of $5.85 million. The $7 million paid is about what the home is valued in the expensive 94301 zip code, according to Zillow.com.
That might seem like a hefty price tag to many middle Americans, but it’s pee wee league among billionaires. Yuri Milner, a venture capital billionaire and Facebook investor, shelled out $100 million for an 11 acre, 25,000 square foot estate in the area earlier this year. In April, news broke that Rinat Akhmetov, Ukraine’s wealthiest billionaire, had snatched up a London penthouse for $221 million, the most ever paid for an apartment anywhere.
Friday, May 6, 2011
The Money Pit May Newsletter
 Spring gardening season is underway… but when your garden starts to grow, do you have to worry about feeding the local wildlife? If deer and rabbits treat your yard like a buffet line, we’ve got tips on how to get them snacking somewhere else. You can do-it-yourself, but you don’t have to do it alone.  
How to Keep Deer, Rabbits and Groundhogs out of Your GardenThis spring as warmer weather moves in and you make your way outside to enjoy your yard, you may find that you’re not the first one to get your hands (or should we say paws?) in the dirt. It seems every year more and more animals like deer, rabbits or groundhogs are finding their way into backyards, flower beds and gardens than ever before, causing homeowners more problems then ever. read more May Weekend ProjectsIt’s Mother’s Day weekend. No one works harder or does more for her family than mom… at least that’s the sentiment this weekend! The best gift you can probably give mom is by taking on some of her to-do list. So we’ve got tips on some great weekend projects you can do for mom. read more Green Weed ControlIf you’re an enthusiastic gardener, you may harbor a passionate hatred of weeds. But as long as you have to face off with them every year anyway, why not let go of your negative feelings and actually feel some gratitude for those weeds? It’s not as impossible as you might think, especially when you know more about weeds and how to control them using green, environmentally friendly, methods. read more Replacement Windows Have Big Time ROIReplacement windows are an excellent investment. According to the “Remodeling 2010-2011 Cost Versus Value Report” approximately 71 percent of the cost to replace your home’s windows with energy-efficient vinyl windows can be recouped with long-term savings on energy bills and added resale value on your home. If you’re considering replacement windows this year, your biggest problem may be which ones to choose. We can help! read more Kitchen Cabinet Organization TipsLearn tips for kitchen cabinet organization to help create more usable space, get ideas and advice for keeping local wildlife such as deer and rabbits out of your landscaping and garden. Find out about the best natural remedies for weed control without harsh chemicals. Plus get answers to your home improvement questions about, floor patching, cleaning roofing shingles, bad window seals, door replacement, mold in the basement, insulation, tiling bathrooms, laying vinyl tiling, and repairing a wood deck. read more Share This Information With A Friend!Simply forward this Email. And invite friends to register to receive this E-newsletter each week. If you would like to unsubscribe from our weekly newsletter, please refer to the unsubscribe directions at the bottom of this newsletter. | ||||||||||||||
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Mom's the Word
Mom's the Word
Last Minute Mother's Day Ideas
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Our moms play such an important role in all our lives, so it's only fitting that we create a special celebration on the day that honors them. Whether you've already found that perfect gift or you're still searching, you'll want to read on. Here are some ideas to add to the fun.
Sing...Sing a Song: This is especially great for kids who want to do something special for mom. Help them create a play, write a song, make a video, or recite a personal poem. It's the kind of moment every mom loves and will treasure forever.Plan Some Pamper Time: Spa treatments are a great way to celebrate mom on Mother's Day. After all, no one deserves to be pampered more than the person who usually pampers everyone.Plan a Special Meal: Design a special meal built around your mom's favorite foods. Not only will she get to spend the day with you, but she won't have to do any cooking or cleaning in the process.Plan a Day Trip: Surprise mom and take her away for the day. Museums, a play in a nearby city, or a drive to the coast or mountains for a picnic are just some things you can do during a day of fun.Plan Some Tea Time: A fun treat for Mother's Day is to take your mom to an English teahouse, or for high tea at an upscale hotel where you live. Combine this with a spa treatment for a double dose of bliss.Frame It: Does your mom have a favorite picture of the two of you? Or does your wife have a favorite picture of your kids? Enlarge it and buy a beautiful frame for it and then surprise her on Mother's Day by placing the picture on her nightstand. Plant It: For the mom who loves to garden, buy some perennials and then spend the day helping her plant. You'll gift mom in two ways: By spending the day with her, and by sharing something with her that she loves to do.Note It: Get a pack of cards and have everyone in your family handwrite a special message about how much mom means to them. Then, buy her a special keepsake box just for these cards. It's a tradition you can keep every year, and in the years to come, it will be a wonderful way for mom to look back and remember. We hope your Mother's Day will be filled with activities and events that the mom or moms in your life enjoy. Most of all, make sure you show her exactly how much you love her. And after you show her, be sure to tell her as well.Happy Mother's Day!Rental Costs Are About to Takeoff
Rental Costs Are About to Takeoff
Reasons NOW Is a Great Time to Buy
By The KCM Crew
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We are often asked whether it is better to rent or buy in the current housing market. The answer to that question is: "It all depends."
There are certain situations where renting short term probably makes sense. It may make sense if you are retiring to a different region of the country and are not yet sure where you want to set down roots for the next 25 years. It may make sense if you have a one-year employment contract that will probably require a move to another place upon termination.However, in most other cases, renting right now makes little sense for several reasons.- Even though prices may still soften, waiting to buy wouldn't make sense as the cost of owning a home may still increase.
- Mortgages may soon become much more expensive than they are right now.
- Owning a home is less expensive than renting a home in 72% of major U.S. cities.
- Rental costs are about to explode.
Let's take a closer look at the last reason. We have often said that the cost of anything is based on supply and demand. The number of widgets for sale and the number of widget buyers together create the price for widgets. That will also apply to rents. There is a much larger demand for rentals right now. The economy has forced many to leave their foreclosed homes and other buyers are afraid to plunge into homeownership.
At the same time, the supply of rentals is rapidly decreasing. Here is a graph from Calculated Risk showing the apartment vacancy rate in the United States:Apartment vacancy has dropped significantly since the recession, which ultimately drives up rental rates.
When supply is rapidly decreasing and demand is quickly increasing, prices have only one place to go – and that is UP! That is exactly where rental prices are headed.
Bottom LineIs now a good time to rent? We think not. You can buy a home today at a discounted price and get a 30-year mortgage at a historically low interest rate. You can set your housing expense for the next thirty years. On the other hand, rental costs are poised to increase for years to come.
Polar Bear: I come in peace
Polar Bear: I come in peace....Unbelievable
Polar Bear: I come in Peace Norbert Rosing's striking images of a wild polar bear coming upon
Tethered sled dogs in the Wilds of Canada's Hudson Bay.The Photographer was sure that he was going to see the end of his dogs when the
Polar bear wandered in.
It's hard to believe that this polar bear only needed to hug someone!
The Polar Bear
Returned every night that week to play with the dogs.I just loved this........ ......... ..AT 120 DEGREES IN AUSTRALIA , IT WAS SO HOT FOR A WEEK THAT KOALAS
WERE ASKING PEOPLE FOR WATER. IT'S NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE.
ONE WENT TO A HOUSE TO TRY TO HIDE FROM THE HEAT AND TO GET A BIT OF SHADE AND HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE OWNER GAVE HIM SOMETHING TO DRINK. IT'S REALLY CUTE.
"Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened."
5 Markets Ripe for Appreciation
Share Share Realtor.com recently unveiled a list of markets where property values are stabilizing, buyer traffic is picking up, and prices will likely appreciate soon. Here are the top five “turnaround towns” on its list. 1. Buffalo-Niagara Falls, N.Y.: List prices are increasing, and days on the market for inventory is shrinking (87 days, which is nearly half the national average).2. Los Angeles-Long Beach, Calif.: While housing values here have fallen 378 percent compared to the its 2006 housing peak, a turnaround is underway with list prices showing signs of stabilizing month-over-month and homes spending fewer days on the market. This area is also the third most-searched at Realtor.com, so buyer interest appears high. 3. Fort Myers-Cape Coral, Fla.: Vacation homes here are getting more pricey here: The median list price has risen 24.12 percent in March — the highest median price increase nationwide. However, distressed sales have weighed heavily on this market so prices are still 60 percent lower than the 2006 housing peak. 4. Dallas, Texas: Median list prices are down only slightly by 1 percent year-over-year, and the median age of Dallas' inventory stands at 100 days. While home values here have dropped about 10 percent from their peak (national median drop was 31 percent), Dallas has not faced as steep of property value declines as other bigger cities. 5. Boston, Mass.: Demand for homes here is starting to pick up. The median age of inventory is 130 days, which is 30 days below the national average. Median list prices are down just slightly — 0.26 percent — year over year. Source: “Top 10 Early Turnaround Towns From REALTOR.com, Part II,” Realtor.com (April 28, 2011)
