Month: August 2018
Shanty Creek – Northen Michigan Resort
Four Season Place To Be
Finding a long lost treasure in your closetMemories flood your brain, relationships attached to the treasure warm your heart. Youd do anything to recapture that time and place.
Thats how you want to feel about each and every one of your vacations, winter or spring breaks with your family and friends.
Fortunately that lost treasure has been dusting itself offBellaire, Michigans Shanty Creek Resorts. As a vision in the 1960s of founder Roy Deskin, the property became a world-class customer service resort peaking in the 1980sBut then quietly falling into the forgotten friend category as several different owners failed to recapture the glory.
Northern Michigan Paradise
I don’t want a fast car
Don’t need a four lane highway
There’s not another place I’d rather be
Cuz out here in the country
Bluebirds sing for nothing
And the shade comes free with a tree
Yeah the shade comes free with a tree
The tree came with a mountain
Right beside the river where the ground makes one heck of a scene
Shade-Joe Nichols Country Artist
Deskin never met Nichols but his popular song could have been spun in this Northern Michigan paradise. When Deskin thought about the high, tree-green hills and curving valleys surrounding Bellaire in Michigan’s Antrim County, he envisioned a challenging ski and golf resort, satisfying for everyone. He labored toward that dream, overcoming a typical run of obstacles, from the early 1960’s until his death in 1969. His estate then ran the resort until 1977 and in 1978 the Hilton Chain bought Shanty, consisting of the main lodge, golf pro shop, four chalets, and more than 480 acres comprising the Shanty Creek golf course and ski area.
One Mountain Over
Already dreaming about his mountain, Chicago stockbroker Daniel Iannotti’s envisioned a ski and golf resort patterned after those in Coloradoone that closely resembled a friendly European hamlet. In December 1968, his village, “Schuss Mountain, became a reality. Golf was added in 1972 with a nine hole followed by nine more holes in 1977. An eatery, Ivanhoff Restaurant (now called Ivans) was added and in 1982 the famed SchussyCats began their annual summer run, staging song and dance shows.
Club Resorts Inc. purchased Shanty Creek in 1984 and Schuss Mountain in 1985. In 1986, they merged the two resorts, in essence doubling the recreational opportunities and amenities of both beautiful destination resorts. Two-thirds of the four season paradise was now complete.
Add Another MountainCedar River Village
In 1997, Shanty Creek broke its ties with Club Resorts Inc. and became a privately owned property with individual investors at the helm.
The ownership change allowed Shanty Creek to embark on the multi-million dollar Cedar River Village expansion project with more skiing, a fourth golf course and an 85-unit upscale suite hotel with surrounding condominiums. Even Golfing legend Tom Weiskopf designed an 18-hole golf course (opened in 1999), the Cedar River Golf Club.
But the cornerstone property, Shanty Creek, even with an infusion of building in the surrounding area had become a forgotten wonderland that many owners had tried to breathe new life into but didnt have the cash flow to fulfill the project. Then this past spring, Trinidad Resort & Club bought the resort and has started restoring it. Trinidad has a
wealth of experience in ski and golf resorts as well as real estate development. Their marketing and operational expertise developed the popular Copper Mountain Ski Resort in Colorado. Their desire is to bring Northern Michigan new ideas and programs and quality opportunities.
The restoration process and new ideas are a welcome relief to many long-time Shanty Creek employees. Golf Pro Roger Gieseck, who began as an apprentice at Shanty in 1984 says, Its nice to come to work and focus on my job of helping folks learn to play golf and improve their game. Not worrying about where I can find a broom to clean something up.
Refreshed and Improved
If you cant remember your last trip to Shanty Creek or if youve never had the pleasure, the resort and club is a great place to vacation or base your vacation out of as theres plenty to do in Northern Michigan.
Shanty Creek offers golf on several challenging levels with courses designed by Arnold Palmer, The Legend, Weiskopfs previously mentioned Cedar River Golf Club, The Summit Golf Club and Schuss Mountain Golf Club. Golf Magazine rated a Silver Medal Resort and the Best Family Golf Resort in the Midwest by readers of Great Lakes Golf Magazine.
We have four of the best golf courses, not only in the state, but across the country, Gieseck says.
After youve played these courses, many more are within driving range just down the hill as the Chief and Bellaire Golf Clubs offer plenty of challenge and fun. A little further toward Traverse City are more professionally designed courses as well as many more cities in Northern Michigan.
Shanty Creek offers lessons and hosts the Shanty Creek PGA Classic tournament each summer. Last years purse was $16,000.
Im Hungry
A new Executive Chef, Andrew Reh, has signed on to the Shanty staff. A Traverse City native, Reh has spent time in the Washington D.C. area working for the Ritz Carlton before working at the White House during the Clinton Administration for State Dinners and foreign diplomatic visits. With his Degree in Culinary Arts and wealth of experience, Reh came back to Michigan in 2004.
As he is just getting acclimated to the Resort and its menus, Reh does plan to put his stamp on the food offerings there.
I have a passion for food and Id like to bring a fusion of flavors to our menus, he says.
One of Rehs passions is ice carving and he has competed in many ice carving competitions state wide and nationally.
Id like to bring a competition here to the resort, he says. It draws a crowd rather quickly and is fun to watch and compete in.
With a stellar resume and experience at hand, Reh seemingly has the resorts menu in capable hands.
Work Off The Guilty Pleasures
If you feel those calories clinging to you or if you just want to work out, keep in shape or pamper yourself, Shanty has a full service Fitness Center complete with Wellness Spa, Nautilus equipment, sauna, Jacuzzi, steam room, manicures & pedicures, tanning and massage.
Guest can enjoy the spa facilities at Shanty Creek year round for the ultimate in relaxation. Within the spa guests will have access to the separate men’s and ladies’ locker areas, steam rooms, saunas and whirlpools, and fitness center.
Family Affair
Each person in your family is an individual. Shanty Creek understands that and offers plenty of action or rest for each member. Named the Best Family Golf Resort in the Midwest by Great Lakes Golf, Shanty Creek offers an unforgettable summer experience for everyone in the family.
Shanty Creek keeps kids busy! Camp Gandy for 5 12 year olds include activities such as swimming, hiking, games, arts and crafts and much more. And they dont leave out the younger bunch. For the 2 month to 6 year olds, Shanty Creeks Childrens Center combines quality care with creative play. Children in the center will experience a nurturing, playful and safe environment that includes stories, free play, art, music, outdoor play and rest time if needed.
While the kids are at play, parents can indulge in some fun of their own by teeing off on one of the resorts four championship golf courses: Cedar River, The Legend, Schuss Mountain, or Summit Golf Club. Dad can iron out his game by spending the day at the Shanty Creek Golf Academy. Mom can treat herself to some well-needed pampering at our Wellness Spa with a soothing massage, or kick back and relax poolside or check out one of Shanty Creeks several on-site retail shops.
Once the parents and kids are reunited, Shanty Creek offers a host of family-friendly activities. Families can explore Northern Michigans majesty by taking a guided hike through the resort enjoy a family campfire at Terry Wootens Stone Circle, where the renowned poet leads storytelling and songs. Goofy Golf, a Shanty Creek favorite, allows kids of all ages the chance to play a goofy game of putt putt style golf with crazy challenges and prizes. Families can challenge each other to a game of disc golf or head to the Summit Village outdoor pool and catch the Summit Splash pool party, pool games and more. Its rare to find a resort that captivates kids of all ages – but Shanty Creek fits the bill with activities sure to please everyone in the family
Lets Get Wet!
An indoor poolan outdoor poola beach clubShanty Creek has plenty of ways to get you wetindoors and out.
On the lower level of the Summit Lodge the indoor pool with a maximum depth of five feet and a hot tub built in beside are a great place to hang out if theres inclement weather or you need to hide out from the sun burn youve accumulated. And for added benefit, use the house phone and order some poolside food and beverage service. Towels are provided and there are plenty of snack and beverage vending machines just outside of the pool. Oh, and bring plenty of quarters for the miniature arcade and be sure to loosen up the animals in the crane game for my next visit.
Just outside the Summit Lakeview Dining area is the outdoor pool. Once glance at this beauty and youll swear Esther Williams filmed a movie there. The 60s era beauty has plenty of deck for sun worshippers and plenty of water for everyone else. Be warned, the pool is solar heated and you are in Northern Michigan. But its never been too chilly to not get in on a sunny summer day. And again, take advantage of the poolside phone to order your favorite Lakeview snacks and drinks.
And if the lakeside is what you need, head down to the Shanty Creek Beach Club on Lake Bellaire. Plenty of sandy shore and a nice warm and extremely shallow lake provide a grand setting for swimming, relaxing or playing on the beach. There are picnic area and a snack area with restrooms available.
Baby Its Cold Outside
Theres plenty of outdoor winter fun at Shanty Creek also, two separate alpine areas, 49 downhill runs, two Terrain Parks, 10 lifts, 30 km of Nordic trails, Nordic Center, tubing runs, two full service rental shops, snowsports academy, and snowsports seven nights a week. And there are plenty of incredible snow ski and snowboard instructors whether youre six or 60. Theyll get you up and skiing like a pro in no time.
Silent Sports
Any sport that doesnt involve a motorthats the definition of silent sports. And Shanty Creek Resorts has hired a Georg Schluender to direct the area.
We are committed to making this Shanty Creek a leader, Schluender says. We just put fifteen thousand dollars into our mountain bikes and accessories. Weve got seven miles of multi-use trails ready.
Schluender has worked all over the country as an outdoors guide from the West coast to the East coast and many spots in between. His enthusiasm for these sports and his dedication to creating the best atmosphere for resort guests should make Shanty Creek the place.
We want to partner with the best outfitters and not just charge our guests $35 bucks an hour and throw them in a kayak. We want to teach you how to kayak and then take you on a guided tour of the amazing chain of lakes.
Their growing list of sports also includes disc golf and they are pursing a relationship with the Professional Disc Golf Association
Working for the Weekend
A great way to enjoy the amenities of Shanty Creekplan a business meeting there. The helpful staff offers 26 meeting rooms that provide over 35,600 sq. ft. of meeting space. And they can accommodate meetings of up to 1,000 people. You have your choice of The Lodge at Cedar River with state-of-the-art conference facilities. Complete audio/visual services and a fully equipped business center available. Or set ups at The Summit can handle your business meeting needs.
If youve just escaped for a weekend of work without your business friends, youll be able to relax in resort comfort and take advantage of Shanty Creeks free wireless Internet.
Providing high-speed Internet access is a growing trend for some resorts many at a fee. Shanty Creek now offers high speed Internet across all three villages, including guest rooms, lobbies and meeting pace.
Offering this service at Shanty Creek is important to us because we value every guest, says Scott Maison, Director of Lodging at Shanty Creek Resorts We strive to provide the tools necessary for our guests to be comfortable at their home away from home.
Local Flavor
And if your seeking to hit the sights and wonders of Northern Michigan, Shanty Creek Resorts can be your hub as it sits within a half-hour of Traverse City fun and about 90 minutes from Mackinac Island. There are plenty of places to play in Traverse City as it handles all the needs of tourists and locals alike. Miles of beaches with swimming, kayaking, para-sailing and much more available are open during the summer months.
Nightlife, shopping and even minor league baseball can be found easily in this Northern paradise. For more details on the area, log onto the Traverse Citys Visitor and Convention Bureaus Website at, www.
Heading north and east will take you on a fun drive through Petoskey and other storied Michigan cities and towns on the way to Mackinac. Wildlife and man co-exist in these hamlets that offer fun in the sun and plenty of places to hang out with family and/or friends. At Mackinac City you have the option of playing on either side of the five-mile long Mackinac Bridge. Both ferry services offers rides from both sides of the bridge and plenty of fudge, sundries, water parks and restaurants to entice you. But its worth the five dollar round trip to venture over the bridge to the upper peninsula and get the sight of where Lake Superior and Lake Michigan come together. And theres a bridge museum where you can get the full story on this historic landmark and see photos of the building process.
Once in the UP you can hop on either ferry and be on Mackinac Island in minutes. Step back in time and enjoy fudge, carriage rides, biking, shopping and much, much more.
Closer to Shanty Creek and Bellaire is Torch Lake. If youve got the itch to fish or swim or just cruise the worlds third most beautiful lake, then head to Butchs Marina. Hes got plenty of rental boats available along with everything you need to enjoy yourself on the water. And be sure to call in your broasted chicken order, folks drive for miles around to snatch up this delicacy and you dont want to be left out.
All around Shanty Creek there are fun things to discover. U-pick cherry orchards and farms, charter fishing on larger lakes in the area, trout farms where you can catch your own, Bellaire Smokehouse for the best bacon and smoked whitefish anywhere (and theyll smoke your trout for a small fee) and plenty more. Northern Michigan is a paradise waiting to be discovered everyday and Shanty Creek Resort is your first step in rediscovering this land.
Nichols seems to sum up Shanty Creek Resorts and the founders original dream:
The mountain counts for something, the view is worth a fortune
And the shade comes free with a tree
I never had a dollar that could buy me what I’m feelin
But I’m feelin bout as good as I can be
I need to be reminded when I’m lookin for a bargain
Not to overlook what’s right in front of me
I’ll never make a killing tryin to make a living
But I make enough to raise a family
I bought a piece of heaven off county road 11
Where the shade comes free with a tree
Yeah where the shade comes free with a tree
I never had a dollar that could buy me what I’m feeling
And I’m feeling bout as good as I can be
I need to be reminded when I’m lookin for a bargain
Not to overlook what’s right in front of me
I don’t want a fast car
Don’t need a four lane highway
There’s not another place I’d rather be
Down county road 11
There’s this little piece of heaven
Where the shade comes free with a tree
Yeah, where the shade comes free with a tree
Yeah, the shade comes free with a tree.
Buying Singapore Public Housing At Subsidy – Understanding The Government Cpf Rules.
Central Provident Fund (CPF) was started on 1 July 1995 and is administered by CPF Board. It is a compulsory comprehensive social security network which aims to provide working Singapore Citizen (SC) and Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR) with sense of security and confidence in their old age. Your monies in the CPF’s can be used to fund the purchase of Singapore Public Housing – by Housing Development Board (HDB) resale flat in the open market. To buy HDB resale flat at subsidy, you can apply for CPF Housing Grant for the resale flat purchase, if you meet the criteria set by HDB resale and CPF rulings.
Generally you are not eligible for CPF Housing Grant Scheme in cases where you have previously enjoyed a housing subsidy from HDB, or you and all co-applicants are undischarged bankrupts, or own any of the private residential property (including HUDC flat, Executive Condominium), houses, building, land and commercial property in both local or overseas, or have not disposed of these properties within 30 months prior to the application, or if you are buying a 1-room flat or a resale flat of any flat type that has been announced for redevelopment under the Selective Enbloc Redevelopment Scheme.
If you are cleared by the prerequisites, you are entitled to apply one of the CPF Housing Grant Scheme, and later upgrade to another scheme if further qualified for higher grant. The catch is, you need to commit 5 years of minimum occupation period before you are eligible to sell your resale flat in the open market. Also you will be required to pay a resale levy should you choose to purchase another flat directly from HDB. The amount of resale levy is ranged from $15,000 for 2-room flat to the highest of $50,000 for Executive flat.
There are 7 CPF Housing Grant Schemes targeting to different eligible buyers. Family Grant Scheme is cater for married couples who are first-timer applicants. You must be Singapore Citizen (SC), at least 21 years old, must include at least one listed occupant who is SC or Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR), and form a family nucleus such as your spouse and children (if any), or your parents and siblings, or your children under your legal custody (if widowed or divorced). The average monthly household income ceiling must not exceed $8,000. Under this scheme, SC with SC household shall entitle CPF subsidy of $30,000 while SC with SPR household shall entitle $20,000.
Higher-Tier Family Grant Scheme is targeting the same recipients as mentioned above, but choose to buy a resale flat near their parents’/married child’s house, where parents are staying with you in the resale flat, or your parents and married child are the owner-occupant of property in the same town or within 2 km. SC with SC household shall entitle more CPF subsidy of $40,000 while SC with SPR household shall entitle $30,000.
The CPF grants are flexible for upgrade with the changing household profile. For instance, when your SPR family member eventually takes up SC or when you have a SC child, you can enjoy the full housing subsidy by applying for the CPF Top Up Grant to Family Grant. This Top Up Grant is also targeting to Singles SC who subsequently get married. They can apply for the Top-Up Grant for their existing flat or when they buy another resale flat, if their eligibilities matched.
If your average monthly household income ceiling over the last 1 year is $5,000 and below, you can also apply for the Additional CPF Housing Grant (AHG) Scheme in addition to the eligible Family Grant, Higher-Tier Family Grant, or CPF Top-up Grant. The AHG is meant to give extra financial assistance to people in lower-income brackets. The amount of AHG you will be eligible for is graded based on income ceiling. For examples, if your income ceiling is $1,500 or below, you’ll entitle the AHG of $40,000. The AHG reduce to $5,000 for income ceiling fall between $4,500 and $5,000,
Government has comprehensive schemes to assist SC who are Singles, also known as unmarried or divorcees. To qualify for the Single Grant Scheme, you must be at least 35 years old who are buying the resale flat to live on your own. Alternatively you can also apply with another Singles jointly up to maximum 4 applicants. Your income ceiling must be $3,000 and below if buying a 5-room or smaller resale flat. If you are living on your own, you can get $11,000 CPF subsidy. In joint applicants the subsidy will be $22,000. Singles who choose to live with their parents are eligible for the Higher-Tier Single Grant Scheme, which entitle you $20,000 CPF subsidy.
If you are a first-timer SC who marries a second time and if your spouse has previously enjoyed a housing subsidy, you can apply for the Half Housing Grant Scheme, which entitle you CPF subsidy of $15,000. If you are buying a resale flat near parents/married child like in the Higher-Tier Family Grant, the CPF subsidy will increase to $20,000.
In summary, CPF Housing Grant money can be used to offset the purchase price of the HDB resale flat from the open market, thereby reducing the housing loan amount a buyer needs to secure. You may consult reliable realtor for further advice on your eligibility to apply for CPF housing grant. A professional property agent should furnish you the latest Government, HDB and CPF rulings and transparent information such as recent transaction and current market trend to help you be well informed so that you can buy a HDB resale flat safely and at fair or subsidized price.
Family Tax Matters Capital Gains, Filing Status, Deductions And Alimony
Now that tax time is approaching, we thought it a good idea to discuss some common tax issues associated with divorce and separation. As with every other aspect of divorce, a well-prepared decree and clear communication with your former spouse are the best ways to avoid misunderstandings that could cause you problems when dealing with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Another way to avoid problems is to utilize the services of your tax professional before you make filing decisions that you could come to regret later.
Capital Gains Tax and the Principal Residence Rule.
More often than not, the marital residence is the most valuable asset that a married couple owns. During the divorce, it is not unusual for the couples home to be sold and the proceeds distributed between them. If the home was sold for more than it was purchased for, meaning there was a gain on the capital asset, then there are specific rules affecting the spouses capital gains tax liability.
Transfer Between Spouses. In general, if you transfer your interest in the marital home to your spouse, or former spouse as incident to your divorce, you will not have a capital gain or loss. Thats the result even if you received cash or some other property in exchange for your interest in the marital home. (The exception is if your spouse or former spouse is a nonresident alien.)
The marital home could be a house, houseboat, mobile home, cooperative apartment, or condominium, but generally not vacant land.
When your home is sold and there is a capital gain, can you avoid a capital gains tax?
That depends on whether you owned and lived in the home, as your main home (not a secondary residence), for at least two years in a five-year period ending on the day the home was sold. This is the principal residence rule for capital gains tax purposes.
Maximum Exclusion. If you satisfy the principal residence rule, then you can exclude up to $250,000 of the gain on the sale of your main home. And if you are married and file a joint tax return, that exclusion could be $500,000 ($250,000 for each spouse).
Problems can arise when the marital home isnt sold to a third party during or shortly after the divorce. Say, for example, that after the divorce is final, the home is lived in by one ex-spouse who has primary physical custody of the children. He or she lives there for many years before the home is sold and the proceeds divided. The ex-spouse who resided in the home for two years in the five-year period ending on the date of sale would avoid capital gains tax. The other ex-spouse — who doesnt satisfy the principal residence rule — would not avoid capital gains tax.
Selecting Your Filing Status.
After youve filled in your name, address, and social security number, your tax status is the next question to answer on your individual income tax return (Form 1040). Your options for filing status are determined by your marital status on December 31, 2010. Selecting your filing status can have an impact on your overall tax liability, so its a good idea to consult with your tax professional about which option is best for you based on your particulars.
Single Taxpayer. If your divorce was finalized by the last day of the tax year (December 31), the IRS will consider you unmarried for the entire year and you can file as a single taxpayer.
Head of Household Taxpayer. If you are considered unmarried and you pay more than half the costs of keeping up your home and at least one other qualified person, you may qualify for “head of household” filing status. Filing as a head of household would allow you a higher standard deduction and a lower tax rate. If youre not a head of household, however, your filing status will be “single.”
Married Taxpayer. If your divorce was not final until January 1, 2011, or thereafter, then you may select married filing jointly [with your spouse or former spouse] or married filing separately, but not as a single taxpayer even if you were living separately. If you file jointly with your spouse or former spouse, both of you must sign the joint return.
Individual and Joint Liability. When you file jointly with your spouse or ex-spouse, and you both sign the return, then you are both liable for any tax, interest, or penalties that are due. There may be language in your divorce decree stating that one spouse, or the other, will be liable for any taxes, interest, penalties due on any jointly filed return. The IRS, however, says that your joint and individual responsibility applies even if your divorce decree states that your former spouse will be responsible for any amounts due on previously filed joint returns.
Important Deductions.
Deduction for Dependents. In general, the parent with child custody will claim the dependency deduction. This issue may have been addressed in the divorce decree, however, and both parties must follow the provisions of the courts decree.
Deduction for Alimony or Spousal Maintenance. Make sure that the spousal maintenance tax obligation shifts to the recipient of the money. The supporting spouse may deduct the money paid for spousal maintenance, or alimony. The spouse or former spouse receiving the alimony must include it as income on his or her tax return. If you made a non-cash property settlement in payments or as a lump sum for the benefit of the other party, then that is not deductible spousal support for federal income tax purposes. Any voluntary payments made, meaning payments that were not ordered in the decree of dissolution, are not deductible as alimony from income either.
No Deduction for Child Support. Child support payments are never deductible. If you are paying child support and spousal maintenance, and you didnt satisfy your total obligation, then the IRS requires that you account for the child support first (which is not deductible) before you account for the spousal maintenance paid (which is deductible).
Deduction for Mortgage Interest. Who shall claim the home mortgage interest deduction may also have been addressed in your final divorce decree. If it was not, then this needs to be discussed with your former spouse because you cannot both claim the entire amount on your respective returns. The mortgage deduction goes to the person who paid the mortgage and interest out of his or her separate funds. If both parties contributed to the mortgage, or it was paid out of marital assets, then the deduction should be divided proportionately. The IRS will cross-check both spouses returns against the 1098 Mortgage Interest Statement, so exercise caution.
Whenever you have specific questions about your personal tax liability — about what forms you should file, what you must report, or which deductions you should claim against your income — you should speak with your tax professional before relying on general information alone.
Tips To Organize An Open House For Your Tulsa Real Estate
If you own a home, Tulsa, OK and you plan to sell it by holding an open house, then there are many steps that you can take to make it very appealing to prospective buyers, who will offer a lucrative price right then and there. Here are some tips to make it successful for the house for sale Tulsa OK.
Always bank on the Internet for an advertisement. Promote your open house online. There are newspapers and other vehicles of advertisement but they are not popular for real estate transactions. Moreover they are expensive. Use the social networking sites like Facebook and other real estate websites like MySpace, Craigslist to reach out to a wide audience. Besides this, you can put up signs in your locality and around the town. Direct signs are one of the successful methods of advertising even today.
Make a welcome gesture to your audience. To do this, you start by arranging proper parking facility. Remove all you cars and vehicles from the parking lot, and make space for the guests. Ask your neighbors and friends not to create congestions by parking near your house. This will create an ample space for people who want to see your home for sale Tulsa, Ok.
Put on the lights so that the visitors can have a look at every nook and cranny of the house. Besides this open up the windows, remove the curtains and drapes and let enough sunlight come in. This will give the buyer an understanding that the house gets enough fresh air and light. Also clean up the house right from cellar to the attic. Make sure that your house looks the very best. Make all the needed repairs. Get the house painted in suitable color. Trim the bushes, mow the lawns. These factors are essential to make the house saleable. If you are too busy to do them yourself, take the help of professional services. A dirty house will never be inviting to buyers.
An arrangement of lunch will also be very useful. People love food. But dont make yourself busy by preparing a heavy lunch. Arrange a light lunch and present it beautifully. If you feel that you are too busy for it, you can take the professional help of a caterer. Hiring a caterer will be expensive, but it is worth as it will let you attend to other things. But ensure that there the items are simple but delicious, that will fill the house with a warm smell and invite the visitors too.
You can also create a slideshow on your laptop with pictures of the landscape around the house. You can add information about the amenities of schools, hospitals, shopping malls, railway stations and airports that are situated near your house for sale Tulsa OK. This is an effective way to showcase the garden and landscaping if you are trying to sell the Tulsa real estate in a time when flowers are not in bloom. Neither the lush green vegetation can be seen around.
Model Car Diorama Building Ideas
Building model cars can be fun and rewarding. It is a wonderful hobby that can build skill and allow you to showcase your talent. It is okay to display your car on a shelf but it can be even better to display it in a manner that will give it even more character. This can best be accomplished by displaying your model car in a diorama.
A diorama is basically a model of a natural setting created to scale. It can be of a cityscape, a natural scene, or any other sort of setting. It can be enclosed in clear plastic such as plexiglass or even in glass. They can also just be mounted to a board such as plywood for general display purposes. Now that you know what a diorama is it can also be helpful to know why you might choose this method for displaying your model car.
Dioramas have been around for many, many years. They were created as a method of reproducing life size scenes but quickly adapted to depict scaled down scenes as well. Museums used them to recreate historical and prehistorical scenes of everyday life. Soon people, especially children, were creating their own dioramas at home. Typically using shoe boxes they would make miniature recreations of their own rooms complete with tiny dolls and all. Modelers, however, had completely different plans for the diorama.
Modelers would build dioramas to suit their favorite models. For example, a nineteen forties model sedan might be placed in a diorama modeled after a filling station complete with pumps, hoses, and all. A nineteen fifties model might be placed in one that is modeled after a drive-in dinner. The setting was totally up to the imagination of the model builder. As the years have moved on so have modelers. Some have gotten out of building models totally and others have just given up the skill of building a dioramas.
By choosing to build a diorama to suit your model you will be helping to continue an old tradition that could otherwise pass away. You might wonder how you would get started in your endeavor to build one. It is very easy however. The first thing you must do is to figure out what time period in which you wish to set your car. This will help you to know what sort of scenes will be available. You would no more see a Model T at a drive-in movie scene than you would see a futuristic model car parked outside a nineteen fifties malt shop.
Once you decide the time period for your diorama the next thing you must do is to research what sort of scene you wish. Be it outside a gas pump, a restaurant, or wherever you will want to know what they looked like in that time period. Luckily there are many pictures available to get ideas from. While you may not be able to get the exact scale from the picture if you can find one with a car sitting near it you can get a pretty decent idea. For the gaps of the picture you cannot see just use your imagination.
Whether you get your information on the Internet, from books, or from personal photos it does not matter. What matters is that you are now on your way to keeping the art of diorama building alive.
Steps To Consider Before Buying A Singapore Condominium
Each individual seeks out best of the methods by which they can save money and buy cheap condos in Singapore. Not only money saving tips people seek out rather, they seek out steps before buying a Singapore condominium. Before buying s condo unit, you have to know basic criteria and factors that will make your living smarter and safer. Buying a condo unit is quiet different and variant from buying a normal house. Where in normal house you do not have to check out for the norms and rules, but there are specific points that you have to keep in mind before buying a condominium.
Rules
While buying a condominium, check out for the norms and rules that the condo has set up for the customers. It is essential that you check out their rules and regulations & decide on whether you can live with the norms and regulation that they have set up. There are certain points that you have to ask with the condo association regarding what is allowed and what is not allowed. Do not think this way that everything is allowed in the condo unit. This may happen that you have a pet and at the end time you got to know that it is not allowed. There are certain rules and regulations that you have to follow.
Budget
The second point that you have to consider before buying a condo unit is to look for your budget. Singapore condominium may cost you higher and costly, so you need to have huge bucks before buying a condo unit. Whenever a person thinks to buy a condo unit, he has to think for the rules that re to be followed first and after this he has to think over for the budget. One should have efficient budget to have the luxurious condo unit and if you are planning to have it on loan basis, then there are certain aspects that you have to fulfill with the association of the apartment.
Lifestyle
Well, it is essential for you to know that along with norms and budget, Lifestyle is an important aspect that has to be considered before buying a condominium. To live a luxurious life it is essential that you have to live smartly and in an organized manner. There are surely no restrictions when you are at your unit, but when it comes to the get-together or communicating with the neighbors, going with the rules and regulation, all have to be considered before you buy a condominium.
Take Smart Moves While Entering Realty Sector
Real estate is one of the most important areas where you need to make smart decisions otherwise you will face great loss in this field. Buying, selling or renting and even relocating needs special attention so as to take a fruitful decision and in quick turnaround time. Buying any property is the biggest financial transaction, one can make in his life. There are number of risks evolved in this sector, so need to find out as much information as you can in this field. Before you begin you hunt, you must know some of the following factors before signing the contract, helps in getting the right direction and ultimately makes your investment worth.
Must educate yourself with different rules and regulations:
You are dealing in this sector for the first time or you have experienced before, it is advisable to get informed by new norms before investing in any property. This way, you will understand about the legal terms involved in selling or buying before signing the deals. Moreover, this will help in getting the great deals in terms of discounted prices. You can also search this type of information in different websites available on internet.
Find out a reliable agent:
When it comes in choosing a broker make sure he has specialization in those field which you are looking for. You can find in many different ways,
Check online portals
Examine their services provided on their official websites
Verify their licenses and certification
Must have good communicating as well as negotiating skills
Once you have found your agent, you will be able to get independent legal advice and moreover he can keep you updated with new listings every time. This way, you can save much of your time, efforts as well as money.
Research about the property properly:
While buying, you must know that many of the sellers want to sell their space in as-is condition which can be really a costly affair later for the buyers. Therefore, making adequate research is often needed in this field to make a smart move. You must examine various things like,
Location: One of prime concerns while purchasing any property for any reason.
Proximity: Make sure the place you choose must be easily accessible from schools, grocery shops and have easy availability of transportation services.
Market value: Research effectively in this field so as to know what the current market rates are in the targeted society, to earn gains in future.
Do not make any decision in hassle, in order to avoid any regrets later in the future. Always look for decent properties which are located in the best locality in perfect conditions. On availing the services of real estate agents who work in this field on daily basis can guide easily and conveniently. They can also negotiate on your behalf and thus brings you the best results matching with your needs and requirements in shortest time possible. When you buying any possession make sure you are a long term owner and have the financial budget to pay off all your mortgage debts on time.
Pros And Cons Of Every Type Of Condominiums In The Philippines
Condominiums is one of the of the most popular types of housing in the Philippines today. Many Filipinos have come to consider living in a condominium basically because of several advantages or benefits that the other types of housing cannot provide. So what are the reasons why condominiums became so popular in the Philippines?
Why condominiums are popular
One apparent reason why condominiums became popular is because of its affordability. A condominium unit would usually cost around half the usual cost of a house or a townhouse, ranging from P500,000 Philippine Pesos to P2,000,000 Philippine Pesos. Although not as affordable as renting an apartment, buying a condo unit allows its people to achieve a more permanent residence than that of apartments.
Other than its affordability, there are other advantages to owning a condominium. However, this greatly depends on the type of condominium. Currently, there are two major types of condominiums available in the Philippines market today. One is the condominium building while the one is a the condominium complex.
Advantages and disadvantages of condominium buildings
Condominium buildings are usually found near or inside major business districts and commercial areas. The advantage of owning a unit from a condominium building is that it allows its residents to be within walking distance or mass transit distance to their work place or commercial areas, such as those found in Makati City.
The disadvantage, however, is that it can’t provide the same luxury which is usually found in condominium complexes. So what are these advantages that made condominium complexes popular?
Advantages and disadvantages of condominium complexes
Unlike the condominium buildings, almost all condominium complexes has amenities which are usually not available when buying a house, or usually found in expensive townhouse complexes. Amenities include resort facilities such as swimming pools, gyms, parks and playground equipment. However, the disadvantage of condominium complexes is that most of these are found outside cities, mostly in the outskirts or in provincial areas such as those found in Tagaytay.
Although this made it harder for residents to get back to the city, especially because of rush hour, it did provide a way for residents to enjoy a life outside of the busy streets of a city. However, according to several philippine real estate experts, there are some condominium buildings that could provide a small amount of amenity, such as indoor swimming pools and gyms.
Home Building Tips
Having your home built is an exciting time no matter whether it is a basic home or one chosen from a range of luxury homes. It is easy to get carried away by the fancy things that can be seen such as fittings and furnishing and not pay much attention to those things that are invisible when the home is finished.
But home builders in Perth know that things like the foundations and structure are the most important things in building a home. Custom home builders understand that if these are not done correctly, then no amount of plush carpeting or fancy wallpaper will make that home a good one.
Building a home involves a massive amount of money (all paid by the home owner) and so you must feel satisfied with the construction of your home. You have a legal right to expect a good quality home that is soundly constructed. And just because you signed on the dotted line doesn’t mean that a few things cannot be changed. However the watchword here is communication – and keeping a list of things added or deleted. You will have to pay a bit extra for added things, but the reverse is true if you delete them.
Costs should be kept in perspective. It may not cost as much as you think to change those bricks to some you like better. Even if they cost something like $10 per hundred extra, the whole cost won’t work out that much more overall. What is more likely to cost the earth is if you want something unique or far out, new technology or using untested materials.
Another thing you might want to look at is add-on features such as extra rooms or another garage. Some people may consider leaving room to add on things at a later stage, but it might end up being cheaper to have them added on during the building stage. At least you will have all the building over and done with rather having to endure noise and building dust at a later stage. And how much better would your life be to have that extra space right now?