Hello All!

Hello Everyone! I haven't posted in a while because I have been quite busy. But I need to dedicate at least a half to one hour a day to post some type of useful information for my readers.

Foreclosure sites to Avoid

Here's a good site for Investors or any one, for that matter, who has considered using a foreclosure website to search for so called great deals: http://www.foreclosures.com/pages/sites_to_avoid.asp

Some real estate listings for the very well-heeled

By Vicki Hyman ~ The Star-Ledger Monday May 7, 2007 Page. 27

In the market for a gated 35,000 square-foot limestone manor on four park-like acres in Saddle River? How do 10 bedrooms, his and hers master bathrooms, and indoor and outdoor swimming pools with waterfalls, caves and a Jacuzzi grab you? Here's the trump card: a formal, tented salonn with a towered stone firplace carved to look like a lion's head.

Now, how much you would pay?

The palatial estate of hip-hop mogul Russel Simmons and wife Kimora Lee Simmons is on sale for $23.8 million. The property, represented by Prominent Properties Sotheby's International Realty in Tenafly, also has a movie theater with marquee and popcorn machine, a sprawling gym and a wine cellar with sit-down tasting areas.

If Saddle River doesn't do it for you, there are two other homes with a celebrity pedigree for sale in Englewood, on the other side of Bergen County.

If you're bargain-hunting, Eddie Murphy has slashed the price on his seven-bedroom gated Colonial-style estate on five acres from $30 million to $22 million. "Bubble Hill" has a huge gourmet kitchen, a music studio, indoor pool and spa, and bowling alley.

Rapper 50 Cent is selling his 52-room Farmington, Conn., estate that was once owned by Mike Tyson. He bought the 18-bedroom, 37-bathroom home in 2003 for $4.1 Millon; it's unclear what the asking price is, but it's believed to be around $10 million. Cent (real name: Curtis James Jackson III) updated the property with a helicopter pad, a movide theater, and an infinity pool and spa.

To view this complete article: Go to www.nj.com

Have you Faced Housing Discrimination?

Intelligence Report by Lyric Wallwork Winik-Parade Magazine

Have you Faced Housing Discrimination? If you're buying or renting a home there's a law that protects your rights.

The Fair Housing Act became law in 1968, yet thousands of people still are illegally turned away from renting or owning a home in the U.S. each year. Those with disabilities are most likely to be discriminated against, followed closely by Blacks, Hispanics and Asians. What is "housing discrimination"? Refusing to allow a person with a disability to have an accessible parking spot or a service animal. Charging higher rent or a larger security deposit for some tenants because of race and religion. Telling prospective tenants that housing is no longer available when it is. Imposing restrictions on families with children, such as saying kids are not allowed on the property. Asking for sexual favors in lieu of rent. To learn more about your rights under the Fair Housing Act or to file a complaint, call the HUD hotline, 1-800-669-9777, or visit www.hud.gov/fairhousing

5 Tips for Energy Efficient

1. Check windows and doors. Heat lost through windows and doors represents a significant chunk of most heating bills. Some sources estimate that loss through windows alone could account for up to 35 percent of heating bills. If you are tired of watching your hard earned money slip through the cracks, there are things that you can do. 2. Conserve with ENERGY STAR.® By choosing ENERGYSTAR for every application in your home, you can Save up to 20 percent or about $400 per year on your energy bills. Appliances account for about 20 percent of your household’s energy consumption, with the refrigerator and clothes dryer being the biggest culprits. A typical household does nearly 400 loads of laundry per year, using about 40 gallons of water per full load with a conventional washer. An ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washer uses 18-25 gallons per load, saving you 7,000 gallons of water! An ENERGY STAR refrigerator uses less energy than a 75-watt bulb, saving you between $30-$70 a year. 3. See the light. Compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL) are the most energy-efficient of all light bulbs. They use 67 percentless energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last longer: They cost more, but last up to sixteen times longer than incandescent bulbs. 4. Programmable thermostats help reduce energy costs by lowering energy use during those times when you do not need it. A programmable thermostat can tell your home’s heating system to gear up for your arrival after work, or to knock off a bit until an hour or so before you get up in the morning. 5. Turn down your water heater to 120° F and save up to 50 percent of a household’s hot water costs. Electric heaters benefit most from this approach to saving energy. Timers are also available which allow you to make the water heater conform to your water usage schedule. They prevent the water heater from trying to maintain hot water during periods when it is never used. Check out the complete article @ https://www.lowesrealtorbenefits.com/newsletter/pdf/042007.pdf