In an unprecedented move, lawyers from the Bank of America submitted an urgent motion to void an eviction order against a Wisconsin family, based on humanitarian reasons, just days before the county sheriff was due to serve the notice.

Minneapolis, MN -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/10/2012 -- In an unprecedented move, lawyers from the Bank of America submitted an urgent motion to void an eviction order against a Wisconsin family, based on humanitarian reasons, just days before the county sheriff was due to serve the notice.

Needless to say, the homeowner welcomed the motion from Bank of America as a blessing, being too sick to move and with a son who was just recovering from a serious depression that almost ended up in a suicide a few days before the order came out.

However, Wisconsin Judge Todd L. Ziegler finds himself in a sticky situation on this case, not being able to sign the motion to void the sheriff sale and eviction. “I received your Notice of Motion and Motion to Void Sheriff’s Sale and Vacate Order Confirming Sale and proposed order in the above-referenced matter,” began his explanation. “I do not believe it is appropriate for me to sign (it) at this time because the order does not also provide for a dismissal of the foreclosure action.”

He continued, “If I sign the proposed order, the matter would be pending indefinitely for confirmation of sale without adequate reasons that I can determine based on the affidavit.”

Apparently, Bank of America’s hands are tied in the case, whether to append the motion with a dismissal of foreclosure action or to stay the order for an indefinite period pending a confirmation of sale, but they did try to do right by this homeowner, as real estate practitioners observed.

“Many families all over the US at risk of losing their home daily, some situations so sad that I break into tears just reading their stories,” says Steve Triebernig from All Things Real-Estate in Princeton, Minnesota. “It breaks my heart to know that some people face such tough battles of their life. I did not set out to just work with homeowners in distress but once I had seen the size of the issue, I could not look away. I was taught as a child that if you see someone in need, you should do everything that you can to help. If you don’t help, you are part of the problem. I took this teaching to heart.”

“Is this a change in direction for the nation’s largest bank?” he mused. “Only time will tell."

About All Things Real Estate Inc.
All Things Real Estate Inc. is a Princeton-based company that lives by the slogan “For a Better Life” and owned by Steve Triebernig. They may be reached through email via zriimn@gmail.com, phone numbers 763-280-3407 or their website, http://www.allthingsreal-estate.com.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/bank-of-america-stops-eviction-in-wisconsin-just-in-time-before-sherriff-removes-homeowners-171376.htm

Schaumburg, Illinois based Mortgage Broker Dan Schwellenbach reveals mortgage secrets at a new web site that is full of free reports, a home buying guide and free mortgage calculators. The site is designed to give the self-employed and other Illinois residents all the facts so they can make an educated decision when obtaining a mortgage.

Schaumburg, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/10/2012 -- Second homes aren&apost just for the rich and famous anymore. More and more middle-class Illinois residents are finding that buying their dream vacation homes is easier than they thought.

"This is one of the best times in the last five years to go ahead and invest in a second home," says Dan Schwellenbach, a Schaumburg, Illinois based mortgage consultant. "They&aposre becoming much more attainable now, thanks to low interest rates and a variety of other factors than benefit buyers."

In fact, Dan Schwellenbach is seeing this trend first hand in his own business and now works with investors who are looking to earn rental income, as well as those who simply want a gathering place for family vacations or weekend getaways, practically every day.

If you&aposve been thinking about investing in a second home, here are some things to remember:

- The IRS has rules that can affect whether or not the interest on a mortgage for a second home is tax deductible. A financial advisor can explain these details to you. You don&apost want to get hit with an unexpected tax bill simply because you didn&apost know the rules.

- Consider the rental market. If you won&apost be visiting the vacation home more than a few times a year, you might want to consider renting the property during times when you won&apost be using it. This can help offset the cost of the new mortgage.

- Shop for the best rates. You wouldn&apost make any other major purchase without first shopping around, so there&aposs no reason why you shouldn&apost do the same thing when looking at your financing options for your vacation home. This is also where a trained mortgage broker can help. Mortgage brokers have access to dozens of lenders and mortgage products many people don&apost even know exist, and can be a great choice for people who want expert advice on making the right financing choices.

Schaumburg, Illinois - based mortgage expert Dan Schwellenbach specializes in providing information to Illinois residents that allows them to make informed decisions about their mortgage financing options and learn the insider secrets that can save them thousands of dollars over the life of their loan – even second home and vacation home loans.

Dan Schwellenbach is available for interviews and will welcome all your mortgage related questions.

Call (847) 907-9357 for a Free No-Obligation Consultation or visit http://chicagomortgagesecrets.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/illinois/mortgage-expert/sbwire-171388.htm

Fareham, Hampshire -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/11/2012 -- It&aposs been a long recession and a lot can be forgotten over the course of many years of economic decline. Particularly in the housing market, people may have a hard time recalling how many investors were buying, upgrading, and flipping spec homes for profit just a handful of years back.

Independent entrepreneurs who had an eye for selecting out homes and commercial properties that needed what they called, “A dress-up”. This would surface issues without having to deal with major structural repairs that can drain the profit out on a project.

Declining home values, it turned out, did an even better job of taking the profit out of a project, and in fact it was what brought an end to the boom era of this type of speculation. All that is changing though, and changing fast as the property market has bottomed out and once again starts heading north.

Buying distressed properties however, can pose certain difficulties. That is that banks sometimes don&apost like to lend on them, preferring instead to finance deals that are in less need of repairs. So to find out more on this burgeoning trend, who better to contact then one of the leading online brokerage firms in the UK dealing with hard to place mortgages.

In a recent phone interview Alan Shaw, CEO of Findamortgageonline.co.uk took some time to lend us some professional input on the topic, and what he had to say was quite interesting.

He told us that. “It&aposs been the better part of a decade now that a lot of the distressed properties on the market have been sitting empty. Then when you stop to consider that buildings and all that goes into them have service lives, some are in pretty bad shape. So the bottom line that lending institutions tend to look at with a low deposit mortgage, is whether they are livable or not. That is that everything must be up to code, even if a home or commercial building is unsightly in terms of the general appearance. We&aposve been in business since long before the market decline set in, so we&aposre very experienced in dealing with this type of borrower and we&aposre starting to see more of them again.”

He also had some good advice for anyone considering getting into the fixer upper market on a speculative basis. For instance, he said that it helps if one has some previous experience in home building if they plan on doing any of the work themselves.

He also advised that anyone who is looking at any type of distressed property should bring in a professional inspector to go over it before they make the decision whether to buy or not. A professional building inspector can be good insurance that a buyer doesn&apost get stuck on any surprise major structural repairs. Find a Mortgage Online is a personal UK mortgage broker, with over 20 years experience offering service, and access to the ‘whole of market’ products.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/stable-housing-market-reviving-uk-fixer-upper-entrepreneurs-171346.htm

Fairfield, New Jersey Based Mortgage Lender Sean McKeown reveals mortgage secrets at a new web site that is full of free reports, a home buying guide and free mortgage calculators. The site is designed to give consumers all the facts so they can make an educated decision when obtaining a mortgage.

Fairfield, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/11/2012 -- Fairfield New Jersey based Mortgage Expert finally reveals the secrets at a brand new website

http://www.newjerseyhomeloancenter.com

This site is loaded with FREE REPORTS, an informative home buying guide, mortgage calculators consumers can use to run various loan scenarios and home buying resources you can use to save time and money before and after you purchase your home.

If you&aposre planning to buy your next home, your first home, that dream home, a condo, vacation home, investment property or looking to refinance in New Jersey or the surrounding areas, you will find that this site is a complete resource full of insider secrets that will allow you to choose the loan program best suited to your financial needs.

Here is just a small sample of the secrets revealed on this site...

- Little Known Secrets That Will Show You How To Improve Your Credit Score

- Important Terms You Must Know BEFORE Obtaining A Mortgage

- Tested and Proven Strategies For Building A Better Credit Record Faster and Easier

- The Top Mortgage Questions Borrowers Must Ask Before Applying For A Mortgage

- How To Finally Stop Renting And Own A Home Of Your Own

- How To Own A Home With Low Interest Rates And A Low Down Payment, Regardless Of Your Credit

- 7 Things You Should NOT Do When Applying For A Home Loan

- 12 Secrets To Lowering Your Homeowners Insurance Cost Your Agent Doesn&apost Want You To Know

Fairfield, New Jersey based mortgage expert Sean McKeown specializes in providing information to consumers that allows them to make informed decisions about their mortgage financing options and learn the insider secrets that can save them thousands of dollars over the life of their loan.

Sean McKeown is available for interviews and will welcome all your mortgage related questions.

Call (201) 403-7167 for a Free No-Obligation Consultation or visit http://www.newjerseyhomeloancenter.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/fairfield-new-jersey-mortgage-consultant-reveals-insider-loan-secrets-other-mortgage-lenders-dont-want-the-public-to-know-171387.htm

Roman and Sons is a family business that strives to continuously improve upon themselves by staying focused on what they do best—windows and doors.

Warrington, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/11/2012 -- Roman and Sons is now offering 0% financing for the upcoming winter months. The professional contractors at Roman and Sons have been providing the highest quality replacement windows and doors in Bucks County, PA, and they are now also offering this exciting deal for homeowners to take advantage of. Whether one is looking for windows in Willow Grove, Roman and Sons wants their customers not to worry about financing and to have a safe home environment.

The Roman and Sons customer Lisa P. of Feasterville said, “Just a note to say thanks so much. Not only did I get my windows put in so expertly, but you also installed them even before the time promised. Now that is what I call service. You can be sure that you and your company will be well recommended by me.”

The replacement window experts of Ambler were able to prepare this customer for the cold weather ahead with energy efficient windows. Roman and Sons guarantees that one’s heating and cooling costs will be reduced as much as 45% by replacing the home’s windows. Being that they are a certified dealer for national manufacturers such as Anderson and Thermal Industries, Roman and Sons is able to provide an extensive line of windows for homeowners to choose from. With the increased value to the home and 0% financing, homeowners will be able to reap the benefits of what Roman and Sons has to offer.

About Roman and Sons
Roman and Sons is a family business that strives to continuously improve upon themselves by staying focused on what they do best—windows and doors. Their family&aposs good name and reputation is on the line every time, and they are currently considered as one of the best returns on investment when it comes to any home improvement project.

To hear more visit http://www.romanandsons.com/.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/roman-and-sons-now-is-now-offering-0-financing-for-winter-2012-13-164177.htm

Denver, CO -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/11/2012 -- A recent study by Metrostudy, a nation-wide housing data and consulting firm was released recently, showing home starts up 44% during the first quarter of 2012, over the previous quarter, and up 28% from first quarter 2011 in Denver, Colorado alone. This is good news for realtors and mortgage lending officers, says Jocelyn Predovich, founder and CEO of Limetree Lending Network.

"The recession hasn&apost been good for anyone, but it&aposs finally coming to an end and consumers are once again confident enough to start buying homes. We are seeing consumers applying for and being approved for mortgages all over the city." Says Predovich. Customers are leery about buying, though, often full of questions and afraid of being turned down. Predovich understands their trepidation, saying, "We know you want a mortgage loan that’s easy to understand, comfortable and fast. That’s why we’ve built our process around the customer. We know the public has questions. We&aposve built a website and a loan process that answers questions like, &aposWhere do I start? How much do I qualify for? and What&aposs the best loan program for me?&apos Everything is right there and easy for the consumer to find."

This one-stop shop for a Denver Mortgage is Predovich&aposs brain child and was built to improve relations between the realtor, customer and loan officer. As Predovich explains, "Limetree Lending Group was built to answer one question. &aposHow can mortgage professionals serve their clients and their real estate agent partners better?&apos The answer was to build a team where each member worked as one, to bring tremendous value, education and efficiency to the mortgage process."

Predovich knows there&aposs still a lot of confusing information out there. "The Internet can be overwhelming to the person looking for a mortgage to buy their dream home. But it doesn&apost have to be. We have everything a buyer might need, right here, online. Easy online loan applications and online mortgage education. They can learn more about the mortgage loan process with free webinars, articles, videos, audio files and blogs. Every consumer is not right for every mortgage. We help them figure out if they need a Denver VA mortgage, a Denver FHA mortgage or something else all together."

New mortgages are not the only area where Limetree Lending and http://denvermortgage.pro can help out. Refinancing is very popular these days, as interest rates remain low, however, Predovich cautions everyone to become educated before starting the process. "You wouldn&apost paint your car neon orange just because everyone else did would you? So, don’t refinance just because everyone else is. Make sure it makes financial sense."

About Limetree Lending Network
Limetree Lending Group&aposs goal is to provide the very best of service, education and support to the client as well as the real estate agent partners. They continually aim to be the mortgage resource for the home buyer, home owner and real estate agent.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/limetree-lending-network-makes-mortgage-process-easier-171549.htm

Rose and Rose Realty, P.A. is ready and eager to assist you through the real estate transaction process.

Miami, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/11/2012 -- Rose and Rose Realty, a leading real estate firm at Miami, announced the launch of their new website to the community to provide their clients a full MLS search.

The newly launched website has customized MLS search capabilities to help clients find the best property in the Miami area that will suit on their needs and fit on their budget. The website also has a vast amount of local information to help prospective home buyers learn more about various neighborhoods, their schools and other amenities. According to Jeff Rose, partner in Rose and Rose Realty, "Our new website was built with the South Florida home buyer in mind. We put our decades of local market experience into the design of this site to make it the most effective tool for the Miami area homebuyer."

Rose and Rose Realty are ready to help their clients on the process of buying and selling properties so they can be confident that the company will look after for nothing but the best interests for them. Rose and Rose Realty performs in the most professional manner to assure clients that they will get the best selling price and having sales closed at the best possible price.

To fulfill the mission of Rose and Rose Realty, father and son partners Randy Rose and Jeff Rose, the realtors defend the long standing reputation of their namesake firm with integrity, and credibility, provided a new way to help and provide their clients the best that they can through the state of the art website that has MLS search capability. Clients who are interested to seek for a property that would fit on their needs may refer to the MLS search tab of the website. It has all the information of available properties and all of it are available 24/7.

It is expected that clients of Rose and Rose Realty will have ease when looking for a particular property in Miami. MLS search is categorized from single family up to general search so that clients can find easily the property that best suits them.

Rose and Rose Realty is a father and son partnership that represents the old and new of Miami. They provide Miami real estate services throughout the Miami area particularly Surfside, Aventura, San Souci, Keystone Point, Eastern Shores, Sunny Isles, and Bal Harbour. Rose and Rose Realty has been buying and selling real estate for over 30 years and have gained reputation as a top rate pro in real estate in the whole community. It is also known as the best provider of properties to fit on their clients’ needs and budget.

For more information about the website of Rose and Rose Realty, visit http://www.roseandroserealty.com/ and contact the company at (305) 949-2181.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/rose-and-rose-realty-of-south-florida-announces-the-launch-of-their-new-website-171612.htm

Greenaway Residential Estate Agents would welcome an opportunity to talk to anyone who is thinking of letting or selling their property in the Gatwick Airport area in the towns of Crawley, Horley, East Grinstead, Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath.

Crawley, West Sussex -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/12/2012 -- Leading Crawley letting agents Greenaway Residential have had a triple celebration this week. Not only was is it their twelfth anniversary on the 1st September, but rightmove.com listed them as Crawley’s busiest letting agent for August and the icing on the cake is they have just completed a record month for new lets agreed. Managing Director Darren Greenaway said ‘despite August traditionally being a quiet month we are over the moon with the results produced. It seems that that last few month’s hard work had paid dividends with everything coming together at the same time. I am very happy for the team who are the ones who should always be congratulated. We hope that we can continue to be the leading letting agents in Crawley for many more months to come’.

As house prices remain subdued the residential rents have continued to rise steadily on the back of a lack of supply and continued influx of potential tenants coming into the area. With continuing expansion of Gatwick Airport by the new owners and the relocation of Nestle’s head office from Croydon as well as several other companies relocating into the area there seems to be no sign of this bullish trend easing.

However Greenaway Residential Estate Agent Crawley has continued to see signs of house prices stabilising and on some types of properties a small increase in activity and prices over the summer months. It is widely believed that house prices will remain pretty consistent in the UK for the next two years as the economic downturn works its way through many economies.

Despite the current economic outlook for many businesses, Greenaway Residential Estate Agents Horley office is still on target to open towards the end of 2013. This has always been a focus of Darren Greenaway as he worked and lived in the town for many years. The competition is fairly strong as there are already many established estate agents in Horley, but the company remain optimistic that within the first trading year they will have a firm foot hold.

Greenaway Residential Estate Agents would welcome an opportunity to talk to anyone who is thinking of letting or selling their property in the Gatwick Airport area in the towns of Crawley, Horley, East Grinstead, Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath. All market appraisals are free of charge and obligation.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/greenaway-residential-continues-to-go-from-strength-to-strength-164534.htm

Clifton, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/12/2012 -- A. Pizza, one of Northern New Jersey’s leading contracting firms, finishes up celebrating its lucky “double-four” anniversary in 2012, after 44 years in business, and is gearing up for a 45th anniversary celebration in 2013.

The company was founded in 1968 by Angelo Pizza, upon his arrival in America. Growing from a small firm, the company is now a second-generation business offering not only home improvements and additions, but entirely custom built homes for customers all over the Northern Jersey area including Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Monmouth and Passaic counties.

Our jobs range from home additions, bathroom and kitchen remodels, all the way to building a customer’s dream home and any other design solution our customers may have in mind.

Among the ways we’re “spreading the joy” to celebrate our anniversary is by continuing our “free estimate” offer to customers, available through our website. Whatever you want, whether it’s carpentry work, new windows, electrical work, siding and roofing, custom railings, countertops or more, get your estimate today and you’ll be celebrating the anniversary of your new home -- or your current home’s new look! For more information, visit us at http://www.apizzacontracting.com://

About A. Pizza
A. Pizza contracting was founded by Angelo Pizza in 1968 upon his arrival from Italy, and is now a second-generation company serving Northern New Jersey. The company is currently a member of the Associated General Contractors of America, Better Business Bureau, National Association of Home Builders and other groups. They work with leading vendors including Andersen Windows, Cambridge Pavers, Lanni Appliances and many more. To find out more visit http://www.apizzacontracting.com or phone (973) 767-2240

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/contracting/sbwire-171735.htm

Tempe, AZ -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/12/2012 -- Real estate agencies are more than just groups of salespeople—they are experienced individuals with great advice to offer when it comes to buying or selling a home. Using an agent to help locate the perfect property is advised, especially because the market is constantly changing.

Clients looking to buy or sell homes in the Italian or international real estate markets have always consulted Lionard Exclusive Real Estate. The Italy-based company was created to help clients find their dream properties, place properties on the market, and research properties. Lionard Exclusive Real Estate has established many partnerships with business enterprises and investors, making them the top choice for anyone interested in buying or selling properties.

Recently, Lionard Exclusive Real Estate announced the launch of their new website, accessible at http://www.lionard.com. On the website, interested clients can find slideshows and information about properties listed exclusively with Lionard. Individuals can also search the company listings by location, price, type, size, or reference number. Additionally, through the website, clients can read in-depth about Lionard Exclusive Real Estate’s three major services: buying, selling, and researching.

Lionard Exclusive Real Estate’s services are highly praised within the real estate community. The company is known for their intense attention to detail, “both in terms of relations with clients and partners and the management of real-estate properties, plus the handling of negotiations, up to their conclusion.” Lionard Exclusive Real Estate also has a popular feature, custom properties research, where they perform tailored searches for clients depending on their requests. Research requests are strictly confidential.

The company is always happy to answer any questions that their clients may have. Clients in need of advice or expertise are asked to contact Lionard Exclusive Real Estate via phone or email.

About Lionard Exclusive Real Estate
Within the framework of the Italian and international real estate markets, Lionard Exclusive Real Estate was founded to deal solely with properties of prestige. To this day, the company has reinforced existing partnerships and established new, preferential professional relationships with business enterprises active on the international level, as well as with its own clients and investors, whether they operate within recognised, consolidated economies, or in new and emerging markets. Integrity, transparency, discretion, and efficiency are the key ingredients in their commitment to their work, which the company carries out only through exclusive assignments and direct dealings with the owners. For more information, please visit http://www.lionard.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/luxury-real-estate-italy-properties-now-accessible-through-lionard-website-171773.htm

San Fransisco, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/12/2012 -- Everybody appreciates a good deal. Today, more and more consumers are turning to coupons when they need to save money on the products they love. In response to this trend, nearly all major retailers offer coupons that anyone can use to save money.

OohCoupon.com one of the market leading coupon sites has recently announced that it has expanded its range of coupons to incorporate over 10,000 stores. These coupons include coupons from popular chains, including Target, Sunglass Hut, Kmart, and thousands of other major retailers.

Some coupons discount a specific product, other coupons offer a general discount across all of the products sold by a retailer. Many of these coupons are worth 40% or more, and customers only need to enter a code for these discounts to be applied to the products they’re purchasing.

A spokesperson for OohCoupon.com explained how the website seeks to make the couponing experience as easy as possible for visitors:

“Instead of forcing visitors to travel to dozens of different websites to find coupon codes that may or may not work, we’ve assembled thousands of codes in one spot. Our database includes coupons from over 10,000 different stores, and we also clearly display the expiry date for every one of our coupons. The coupons are updated on a daily basis so consumers know they are getting the most up-to-date discounts available. Our ambition is to become the consumers one stop shop for coupons and we think the extension of the range to include over 10,000 stores takes us one step closer to achieving that aim.”

One of the most visited sections of the site is the ‘Popular Stores’ section at the top of the site. Under this section, visitors will find the stores and coupons that are most popular among visitors. Currently, the site lists recognized retailers like Target, Sears, and Sunglass Hut and other top retailers.

Coupons are also available for popular online retailers. For example, discount diaper website Diapers.com has a number of coupons available through the OohCoupon.com website. There are even coupons available for more unique services – like car rental companies and snowboards.

A Zazzle coupon code is one discount that OohCoupon.com is particularly proud of:

“Zazzle.com is one of the world’s best ways to buy and sell custom t-shirts, business cards, hoodies, and all sorts of other products. In fact, visitors can use the site to find personalized products for just about anything – from party invitations to iPhone 5 cases. We offer a Zazzle coupon code that can help visitors save 15% or more off any order.”

About OohCoupon.com
OohCoupon.com is an online coupon database that features listings from over 10,000 different stores. Coupons are worth anywhere from 10% to 60% and can be found for both online retailers and traditional stores. For more information, please visit: http://www.oohcoupon.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/oohcouponcom-launches-additional-coupons-and-now-offers-coupons-from-over-10000-stores-171778.htm

Business plans to completely redesign selected area

San Francisco, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/15/2012 -- It has been nearly 20 years since Descanso Gardens expanded. Now officials representing the 160-acre, internationally renowned gardens are planning a four-acre woodland filled with native oaks, shrubs and grasses.

“It&aposs almost what Descanso was before humans started cultivating plants here,” said Brian Sullivan, Descanso&aposs director of horticulture. “What we&aposre creating is the feeling of the landscape before people moved in.”

For decades the proposed woodland area has been off limits to the public. Up until recently, the area was riddled with non-native eucalyptus trees.

According to Sullivan, about five years ago the Los Angeles County Fire Department asked Descanso about removing the trees, which posed a fire hazard.

As the eucalyptus trees were removed and the native oaks began to thrive.

Although the new garden area will include benches and footpaths, its chief purpose is to display the native landscape of the Verdugo Mountains, said Sullivan.

Descanso hopes to begin planting in the fall of 2013 and open the woodland area in the spring of 2014, said Sullivan. The area will be the first new section of the gardens since 1994 when the rose garden was unveiled.

According to Sullivan, staff will plant acorns and young oaks alongside existing oaks. Once those mature, shrubs and meadow grasses will grow naturally, he added.

Descanso Gardens is located next to Cherry Canyon oak woodlands. “We&aposre re-creating a natural habitat next to a natural habitat,” Sullivan said. “So we&aposre hoping for synergy in terms of animal and plant diversity.”

Creating a holistic environment with primary and companion species is a new approach for Descanso, said Sullivan. “It&aposs new in the sense that we&aposre creating back here is a plant community — it&aposs a systems-based approach.”

The project is progressing thanks to $150,000 in funding, said Jillian Rook, Descanso Gardens’ CEO. He added that $75,000 is from L.A. County’s Oak Mitigation Fund.

Although she hopes the new woodlands will attract more visitors, Rook said increasing visits is not the primary point.

“As a nonprofit we are stewards of the land, and as stewards of the land I don&apost think we necessarily just look at return on investment,” she said. “The decision was made on wanting to provide more space for our visitors.”

Descanso will host a public meeting with information about the project and seeking feedback from the community from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 16 in Van de Kamp Hall. A walkthrough of the proposed garden will occur at 1 p.m. Saturday for those who are in the gardens at the time.

For more information on the walk-through or community meeting, visit or call (818) 949-4200.

About HPotter.com
HPotter.com (http://www.hpottergardenblog.com/), of Coeur d‘Alene, Idaho, has offered garden decor for 15 years. It is committed to products of quality and beauty that people just cannot find at big box stores or strip malls. For the latest updates, please visit http://www.hpotter.com/trellises/.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/los-angeles-descanso-gardens-expanding-with-new-4-acre-woodland-reports-hpottercom-172034.htm

Stores report best sales in years

San Francisco, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/15/2012 -- Despite the housing market’s slow path to recovery, home improvement retailers are reporting stellar sales.

According to IBM Smarter Commerce, home improvement sales trumped back-to-school shopping for families this summer.

The surge is affecting retailers ranging from small-town hardware stores to big-box stores like Home Depot, which reported its highest quarterly earnings in five years last month at $1.5 billion.

The increasing popularity of “outdoor rooms” have given outdoor furniture producer Lane Venture its best sales in years, said President Gary McCray.

Home Depot’s Giles Bowerman, senior vice president of merchandising, said sales are up across the board.

Most people, mostly due to the financial crisis, have not chosen to invest in purchasing new homes. Instead, they are working towards remodeling the ones they already own and renovating the look entirely to keep it up-to-date.

Jay Henderson, IBM global strategy program director, said consumers are “hunkering down” in the still flagging housing market. “People are choosing not to move into a new house, and instead reinvest in their homes,” he said.

Selecting the best outdoor furniture is bound to make any environment better than it was previously and making the right choice is always important in order to make sure it suits your needs exactly. Most people make the mistake of going out and grabbing the most generic looking furniture they can find, but through a little hard work and time, creating the perfect setting is not that difficult to do.

About KozyKingdom.com
KozyKingdom.com (http://kozykingdom.com/) is based in Copiague, NY. The business has sold wicker and rattan furniture from that location and from its online store for 30 years and has a wide range of some of the best quality outdoor furniture that is not available in any common retail store. For more information, please visit http://kozykingdom.com/outdoor_wicker_furniture.htm.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/sales-of-home-improvement-products-climb-sky-high-reports-kozykingdomcom-172035.htm

Council says hidden residence must be gutted

San Francisco, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/15/2012 -- A property developer has been given an order to tear down a house that was built under the guise of a garage.

Carol Jones designed a plush two-story home to look just like a garage workshop in her backyard.

Carol and her husband had the 30-foot high building created in 2006 to line in while they built their larger home yards away.

The couple only had permits to build a garage and workshop on their land, but decided a two-bedroom house suited their needs more comfortably. The couple fixed a fake garage door to the front of the house in order to keep authorities none the wiser.

The case is much like a couple who created a house that looked like a barn. That couple lost a half-decade battle to keep that construction intact.

Property developer Alan Beesley and his wife had been given permits to build a barn for agricultural use, but the barn was fitted with a two-story home. Their attempt to outwit council planners was complete with farm equipment that was displayed in the front of the house.

Robert Fidler constructed a castle behind a forty-foot hay bale stack covered with tarpaulin. After authorities found out about the castle, they ordered it to be torn down.

The Jones’ occupied the garage for two years before they moved into their new house next door. They rented out the garage to two tenants until the neighbors tipped authorities of the extra residence.

The couple even had a party celebrating the move into the property before renting the property in 2008 to gain a secondary income.

Mrs. Jones was a director of a defunct property development firm, Richmond and Virgo Ltd. She applied for retrospective planning permission to build a house last year in and attempt to keep the ‘garage’ intact. Malvern Hills District Council rejected the plan and ruled against an appeal from Mrs. Jones.

A Government Planning Inspectorate also ruled that she would have six months to gut or tear down the building. The inspectorate stated that Mrs. Jones had &aposbehaved unreasonably from the out

She said: &aposThe appellant deliberately set out to deceive the council. To my mind, the appellant has behaved unreasonably from the outset, and the retrospective case that she has put forward has evolved to suit her circumstances.

“After the dwelling came to the attention of the council, the appellant has tried, without success, to find a loophole in the planning system that would enable her to retain the dwelling.

“First, she fraudulently tried to argue that the building had initially been built as a garage and then subsequently converted to a dwelling. When that approach was unsuccessful, instead, in the current appeal, she has admitted the building had been erected as a dwelling but she has tried to argue that due to the passage of time, it was too late for the council to take enforcement action.”

About DependableGarageService.com
DependableGarageService.com (http://www.dependablegarageservice.com) provides the lone-star state with the best garage door service available. From Dallas to Flower Mound, Garland, to Richardson, Dependable Garage Door Services can install, service, and repair garage doors for any client. More information on their services can be found at http://www.dependablegarageservice.com/garage-door-repair-plano-tx.htm.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/district-council-demands-owners-garage-house-must-come-down-in-six-months-reports-dependablegarageservicecom-172038.htm

Andy Dawkins, Spencer Blaw and Peter Brown announce much anticipated Tenants Right Workshop at Joule, 1200 Washington Ave S in Minneapolis from 9a-4p.

Minneapolis, MN -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/15/2012 -- Tenants rights is an area that is as challenging to understand, as it is to enforce. What does "quiet enjoyment" really mean? What is the difference between "meeting code" and "fit for intended use"? Why does the law allow landlords to pick and choose which parts of the lease they will enforce, but insist that the tenant be held accountable for it all? What do you do when the landlord tells you at the move out walk through that everything is ok, and then ends up keeping part of your security deposit?

These and other questions will be answered by Andy Dawkins, Spencer Blaw and Peter Brown at a workshop on October 23 at Joule, 1200 Washington Ave S in Minneapolis from 9a-4p. The full-day, interactive workshop is designed to educate tenants on how to deal with landlords who are not interested in doing the right thing. The $35 fee includes lunch, a cd of materials and a copy of the attorney general&aposs handbook on tenants rights.

The inspiration for this workshop came from my experience with two local landlords who counted on me not knowing how to respond to the things they were doing. The material on the CD includes the documentation I accumulated from them that shows a clear pattern of arrogance on their part. For example, the manager at the Sentinel property didn&apost deny coming into my apartment while I was not home and stealing form me, and Sentinel refused to even acknowledge I existed. I was at the Sidal property for less than a month when I started to get intimidating letters from their lawyer after I confronted them on their lack of honesty about the condition of the property. Both places retaliated when I initiated a rent escrow action. With the Sidal property, I had my own list of questions I wanted to ask when I moved out, but they refused to let me ask them. There&aposs much more that is well documented, including the checks Sidal wrote to pay for me to move out to keep what they did to me out of court.

The resources are lacking. Ramsey County says it&aposs not their problem. My state legislators wouldn&apost give me the time of day. The city managers of both properties - St. Anthony and New Brighton - both refused to give me the time of day, even though municipalities have regulatory authority over manipulative and deceptive business practices. Lori Swanson says this is a "personal" issue and refuses to explain why it is not a legal or a business issue, by virtue of the lease. If I went to court, the court holds me to the same standard of conduct as if I were an attorney. I make too much money for legal aid, and not enough to hire an attorney. If I went to court and got a judgement, I would bear the burden of collecting it. (If the landlord got a judgement against me, they could turn me over to a collection agency).

The presenters

Andrew J. Dawkins started his law practice in 1980 working out of a storefront on University Av. in St. Paul’s Frogtown neighborhood representing tenants for the St. Paul Tenants Union. In 1987 he was elected to the Minnesota legislature and chief-authored a number of bills to improve housing conditions and increase the rights of tenants. In 2002 Mayor Randy Kelly appointed him Director of St. Paul’s Neighborhood Improvement Dept. where he used the laws he wrote to hold landlords responsible for providing up-to-code housing.

Spencer R. Blaw is a consultant on landlord tenant law, affordable housing, discrimination free housing as well as health education and training. Spencer has also worked for the Powderhorn Residents Group where he was liaison to 8 multifamily housing coops. At the Minnesota Tenants Union Spencer was Executive Director and sole staff person. Spencer also was a Tenant Advocate for Project 504 in Hennepin County Housing Court and worked as an advocate and organizer for the St. Paul Tenants Union.

Peter W. Brown, past President of the Minnesota Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, is a Board member and legal resource to the Minnesota Tenants Union, working with tenants for over three decades to advance the human right to housing, focusing on real-life challenges of housing code enforcement, equity, discrimination, and displacement via public action and foreclosures. He has chaired three all-day Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programs on the struggle for tenant rights, community/criminal justice system issues, and civil liberties after September 11.

About Connecting Resources Together
It is a consulting practice that helps to build the capacity of individuals and nonprofit organizations in the metro area through workshops, networking and other means to make the community a better place.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/tenants-rights/minneapolis-workshop/sbwire-172086.htm

Grand Rapids, MI -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/15/2012 -- One of the basic needs of every individual who want to live a decent life is to have a good and decent house. But not all individuals are blessed to have their own house because of a lot of reasons. First is that a decent house nowadays costs as much as one can afford. Another is that there is no more area for a house to be built. There may be free spaces in the city for a house to be built, but they are so pricey that only few can afford.

Another reason why building a house can be hard nowadays are the environmental restrictions imposed by the government on some housing construction materials and the design of a house itself, which make a housing unit much expensive to be built. Thanks to companies like Freight Container Housing as the said problems can be addressed properly.

The proliferation of building houses from cargo containers can be traced to Mark McClean. It is a radical way to build a house, but it is proven effective and much more contributory to the environmental undertakings that are being done nowadays. Houses built from cargo containers are much better as compared to modular housing when it comes to environmental contribution and of course, with their price. Cargo container houses also have the things that people normally look for in conventional houses including amenities, durability and style. There are also things that are present in cargo container house that are not present in conventional house such as mobility.

Houses made from cargo containers are really beneficial to anyone who has it. They are also comfortable to live just like the houses made from conventional materials. Another thing why cargo container houses are the “in” thing today is that they are also available in different designs and configurations, thus allowing individuals to have their wanted house especially in terms of the number of bedrooms, amenities and designs. Houses made from cargo containers are also complete with the needed fixtures including piping, drainage and sewage components.

About Freight Container Housing
What is more convenient in having a cargo container housing is that building it will not require a group of people, as it can be done in a matter of one day. Cargo container houses are also easy to build. Finding the right cargo container house is also easy, as there are many companies that are into building the said kind of house.

Contact:
Alan Wake
Freight Container Housing
Grand Rapids, MI 49315
http://www.freightcontainerhousing.com/

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/houses-made-of-container-containers-a-great-way-to-save-and-to-contribute-to-the-environment-172090.htm

Toa Payoh, Singapore -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/15/2012 -- Recently, there has been a huge buzz and excitement over Sky Green, Singapore’s latest condo launch. Located at the heart of Tai Seng estate, this new launch promises to dazzle prospective investors, and here are the reasons why.

Highly Desired Location

Like the heartbeat and excitement of the city, but at the same time seek tranquility and an avenue for relaxation? Sky Green offers you just that. Nestled in the popular Tai Seng estate, it is just a short drive away from the shopping paradise of Orchard Road and the Central Business District. When you come home from a hard day at work, you get to enjoy the panoramic city skyline away from all the hustle and bustle. In urban Singapore, where high-rise buildings are everywhere, an unblocked view of the impressive city skyline is a rare find.

Excellent Connectivity

Located just 3 minutes walk away from Tai Seng MRT, and minutes away from major expressways like the KPE, CTE and PIE, It is extremely well connected and offers you unparalleled travel convenience to the rest of Singapore.

Luxurious Freehold Development

Sky Green is the only Freehold condominium in the area, comprising 176 exclusive suites of elegance. In land scarce Singapore, a Freehold condominium is a rare find. Owning a unit at Sky Green will give you a sense of prestige and uniqueness. Relish and delight in the myriad of exquisite facilities from ground to sky, which includes a Rezo Pavilion, Aqua Gym and Sky Terrace, all wrapped up elegantly in the beautiful architecture inspired by gentle waves and light breezes. Soak your troubles away in the lap pool, else rest and relax at the Spa pool that overlooks the breathtaking city landscape of Singapore. It is indeed the epitome of exciting city-fringe living.

Potential for High Capital Appreciation and Rental Yield

Sky Green has a great potential for capital appreciation and high rental yield due to its strategic location. The prospect of city-fringe living, the nearby Paya Lebar commercial hub and the upcoming Oxley Business hub makes Sky Green a choice location for investors. There is also a wide array of entertainment and dining options at the nearby NEX shopping mall and the Serangoon Gardens food enclave. In addition, it is located close to many reputable schools like Maris Stella High School, St Andrew Junior College and Maha Bodhi Primary School.

A luxurious freehold development, situated in a highly desired and well-connected location with an excellent potential for capital appreciation; that is what makes Sky Green such a popular choice with investors.

About CondoLaunchGuru
Janice is the author of CondoLaunchGuru, a website which provides investors with information about new condo launches in Singapore. If you would like to find out more about Sky Green, be sure to visit the website.

Contact Details
Name: Janice Kong
Email: jann_14@hotmail.com
Company: ERA Realty Pte Ltd
Company Location: 450 Lor 6 Toa Payoh, #03-00
ERA Centre, Singapore 319394
Website: http://www.condolaunchguru.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/what-makes-sky-green-singapores-latest-condo-launch-a-popular-investment-choice-172100.htm

If you have a property for sale in Horley or looking for a house to buy in Crawley Greenaway Residential Estate Agents in Crawley and Horley would welcome an opportunity to talk to you.

Crawley, West Sussex -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/16/2012 -- Across the UK rents continue to rise as potential house buyers struggle to raise the larger deposits currently required by lenders for mortgages. This coupled with rents rising to record levels and pay increases below the rate of inflation means that saving a deposit is even harder.

In the towns around Gatwick Airport rents have risen even faster as Ivy Bidco Limited push forward with their development plans for increasing passenger numbers through the airport. This has created many new jobs for the local area as many airlines have returned and new airlines have also started using the airport. The creation of new jobs has meant an influx of potential tenants moving to the area looking for property to rent in Horley and Crawley as well as surrounding towns that are a little further away like Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill.

The rising rents have not gone unnoticed by the canny buy to let investor who is looking to benefit from high rents and low property prices. With numerous properties for sale in Horley and Crawley investors are able to review the market to see which properties are achieving the highest rents and invest accordingly. Often the investment buyers are not looking at just the rental yields as they are looking at the bigger picture of the future developments of the towns. This has meant that many have opted for freehold houses for sale in Horley as they look to try and hold larger future developments to ransom by strategically buying a property that may prevent access to established roads. Depending on the need of the developer properties can often exchange at 25-50% above current market valuations for the right properties. In some extreme circumstances prices can be even much higher.

If you have a property for sale in Horley or looking for a house to buy in Crawley Greenaway Residential Estate Agents in Crawley and Horley would welcome an opportunity to talk to you. All valuations are free of obligation and fees so call 01293 561188 and talk to one of our team members.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/rents-continue-to-rise-as-gatwick-airport-expands-164539.htm

Refinance Underwater Mortgage Help offers the best options to help homeowners who have underwater mortgages.

Fargo, ND -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/16/2012 -- Shelter is part of man’s basic needs and so people work hard to have homes. Needs are costly especially homes and so many people have major challenges keeping up with house and mortgage payments. With the economy not doing too well, many people have a hard time getting jobs or are getting jobs that are only covering so much and many times mortgage payments are sacrificed. And this challenge does not end especially for those living from paycheck to paycheck, since payments are done monthly. This causes many homeowners to have underwater mortgages or upside down mortgages. These homeowners no longer have to worry about living this way the rest of their lives since they can now find the solution to their mortgage problems with Refinance Underwater Mortgage Help.

Refinance Underwater Mortgage Help is an expert in refinancing and turning around underwater mortgages. They also help homeowners build equity into their property. They are the only program that does both. They know how hard it is for one to lose his home or even the process of going through underwater mortgage and negative equity mortgage. They know and understand that the even more difficult part of a family undergoing underwater mortgage may not even be their own fault. The housing market may have crashed in their area and leaving them owing more than their house is worth and now they are wondering what they are going to do.

Refinance Underwater Mortgage Help states that there are seven underwater mortgage options that they can choose from should they undergo this unfortunate process. They can choose to walk away, leave their property to foreclosure, and try to sell their property among other options. But these processes are difficult and will affect different factors and parties such as their credit, equity, dealing with government, real estate brokers, the bank etc. These processes are such a headache plus they still lose their house and have to look for another place to live, so homeowners undergoing underwater mortgage don’t really have much of a win. Now homeowners can fight underwater mortgage and win with Refinance Underwater Mortgage Help. Homeowners needing their help can find more information about their Underwater Mortgage Option program on their website http://refinanceunderwatermortgagehelp.com.

About Refinance Underwater Mortgage Help
Refinance Underwater Mortgage Help is the only program that gives refinance underwater mortgage help for people and helps build equity into their property. For more information, contact Thomas Banks at admin@refinanceunderwatermortgagehelp.com or 701-540-5055.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/underwater-mortgage-help-for-homeowners-172289.htm

Introducing Les Etoiles, world-class designed luxury rental apartments in Montreal.

Montreal, Quebec -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/16/2012 -- Old Montreal Canada is a beautiful historic place where many people have made it their home. Choosing a place to live and make your home is a big decision with many factors to consider and can be tricky. Many factors to consider are crucial such as lifestyle and mobility, location, renting or owning, comfort, price, design and needs among other things. For people living or planning to live in Old Montreal Canada need not to worry much about all these factors since there already is a residential establishment that has already taken all these into consideration and more. Les Etoiles, world-class luxury rental apartments are good Montreal accommodations.

Les Etoiles are luxury rental apartments that are world-class designed by Michelange Panzini Architects. Its beautiful design is inspired by Montreal’s rich architectural heritage. It’s located at the Quartier International, which is the lively business district of Montreal where the major and essential business establishments are located. It is located on the top then stories of the Embassy Suites Hotel by Hilton so it has the grandest and most majestic views of the Montreal skyline and the city. Les Etoiles are definitely great new condos Montreal.

Residents can also choose from a selection of carefully designed unit floor plans. There are a variety of studio, 1-bed room and 2-bed room floor plans to choose from. All units are also fully furnished with designer fixtures and finishes, top of the line appliances, electric fireplaces and interior pocket doors. Renters don’t need to worry about bringing in their own essential furnishings because Les Etoiles already has been furnished top of the line furniture. The residents can enjoy comfort and luxury in their apartments. They can relax in their well-designed living space with light pouring in from oversized windows. They even have large closet space!

These apartments downtown Montreal come with even bigger amenities privilege. It has a 24-hr interior access to the Embassy Suites Hotel by Hilton below the apartments, where residents and their guests can enjoy the hotel’s bar, restaurant and work-out gym. Talking about lifestyle, Les Etoiles offers great services and make it easy to rent an apartment in Montreal. Les Etoiles offers luxurious rental apartments that many are happy with in Old Montreal.

About Les Etoiles
Les Etoiles are world-class designed luxury rental apartments located on top of the Embassy Suites Hotel by Hilton in Old Montreal. For more information, contact Anna Cristiano at info@lesetoiles.com or 514.861.8228.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/world-class-designed-luxury-rental-apartments-in-montreal-172293.htm