Google's Solar Power Facility over the Mojave Desert
In the Mojave Desert located at the foot of Clark Mountain, a strange landscape arises. It looks like a cross between Carl Sagan’s Contact and Lord of the Rings. Three 459-foot towers rise above the creosote and pinyon pines, their tops glowing with a solar intensity like the eye of Sauron (in this case tripled); and were it not for the sparkling concentric rings of glistening glass surrounding them like alien acolytes, this would be full-on Tolkien. But the mirrors feel too modern, and a closer look reveals the power plant structures at the base of the towers.
This then is neither alien nor fantasy, but the ambitious solar project known as the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating…
Owning a home is an exciting feat that we all look forward to at some point in our lives. However, there is also a lot of responsibility that comes from owning a home rather than just renting.
With the proper maintenance and care, your home can stay in pristine condition for years to come, but there are some home maintenance tasks that commonly go overlooked.
So, continue reading below as we describe some of the maintenance oversights that you should avoid making in your own home.
Clean Refrigerator Coils
If you had to remember the last time you cleaned the bottom or back of your fridge, chances are, it’s probably been a while.
Refrigerator coils are what keep the appliance cool, though…
Are we currently in a recession? That’s not an easy question to answer. According to an economic benchmark established in 1974, which states that if the gross domestic product of the U.S. contracts in two consecutive quarters, the answer is yes. However, the National Bureau of Economic Research, which is tasked with labeling official recessions, has yet to announce a recession. That may be because the unemployment rate has held at just around 3.5% with plenty of jobs still available.
Regardless of what we call these times of economic uncertainty, house prices have surged and in response to record inflation, interest rates have risen. The result has been a slowdown in home buying and in…
Buyers In California Are Pumping the Brakes Amid Rising Interest Rates
People in California have put the brakes on buying houses because of the ever-increasing interest rates. So, when will the housing market bounce back?
In light of the Federal Reserve’s effort to try and curb inflation by increasing interest rates, there has been a slowdown in California’s real estate market. People are worried about rising interest rates and soaring home prices, where the median price is now over $900,000. It’s no wonder that home sales have decreased by 50% in November 2022.
Despite the fact that only 13% of California real estate agents who participated in Homelight’s California Real Estate Insights report characterize their local market as being a seller’s…
Are you one of those people who finds themselves on evening walks admiring the delicate yellow buds of Coreopsis, considering the layout of a neighbor’s neat rows of Cardinal flowers accented by the pink plumes of Astilbe, only to return home and wonder how to make your own garden look so good? You don’t have to be a landscape designer to create a colorful and inspiring garden if you follow a few basic principles for color design.
Create the proper backdrop: Materials for borders and planters should be in neutral colors and made of local natural materials if possible. Flintstone and brick make ideal backdrops that allow your plants to take the limelight. Avoid green materials whenever possible as the…
If there’s one thing that everyone can agree on, it’s that filing taxes should be a whole lot easier. But you don’t have to stress about the coming tax season and put all preparation off until next spring.
Continue reading to see some of our tips and strategies for early planning to best prepare for the next tax season.
Get Organized
The first course of action to an easier tax filing season is to stay organized. As you go throughout the year, keep all of your tax-related documents in one place.
Plus, you’ll want to keep past year’s returns easily accessible in case you’ll need that data. Come time to file your taxes, you’ll be grateful that you don’t have to scramble to gather all…
How to Determine the Best Height for Your Home Fence
If you’re considering putting in a new fence or even replacing an old one, you’ve probably put lots of thought into what you want it to look like, including the materials you want to use, the style of the fence, and even its positioning. But have you considered the height of your fence? There are a number of factors that go into the choice of how high to build that are important to consider before you start buying materials.
As you plan your final design, here are a few things you might ask that will help you determine what should be the best height for your fence.
Cost: Not all fences are made the same and choosing wrought iron over wood may make a difference in your…
Bauhaus has always been known for its charming 20th-century designs, which can easily be integrated into modern design and styles. So, let’s take a look at how you can identify Bauhaus-style furniture pieces, and what you can look for when seeking pieces of your own.
What is Bauhaus Furniture?
Bauhaus furniture originates from the Bauhaus School founded in Germany in 1919 by architect Walter Gropius. The school was short-lived as it closed in 1933 when facing mounting pressure from the Nazi regime, though its long-standing impact on the design world is somewhat unrivaled to this day.
This style is based on a couple of main pillars, giving them a distinct style that is still highly…
Have you ever felt like your dining table might seem too outdated or dull? You don’t need to spend thousands on a new one or throw it away. There are many things one can do to spice up an old flat top, from a quick setup refresh to a fun DIY project. Add light to your dining room, and watch how the space transforms. Here are some ways to spruce up your dining room table without breaking your budget (or furniture).
1. Repainting Everything
The easiest and cheapest way to transform your dining table and chair set is to repaint them. If you have a light wood or beige-colored table, you may either tint it darker or prime it to add some color warmth. If you have a dark wood table, consider sanding it down…
If you are looking to buy, sell, or refinance a home, the transaction will almost certainly involve a home appraisal (unless an all-cash buyer is involved). A home appraisal is an unbiased opinion of the value of the home provided by a professional who is licensed or certified and who knows the local area. Federal regulations mandate that the appraiser must be impartial and should have no stake in the sales transaction of the property.
A home appraisal is usually ordered by the lender and paid for by the buyer (or refinancer) with a typical cost running between $300 and $450. The purpose is to ensure that the mortgage amount does not exceed the value of the property so that, should the lender have to…
