Current Show

Prices Rising
A national housing index reported rising prices for the third month in a row, as price rose 1 percent from May to June. The index was also up 4.4 percent in the second quarter compared to the beginning of the year.

Overall, prices were up in 17 of the cities surveyed, and were down in just one – Las Vegas, where prices are now close to where they were 10 years ago. Prices in Phoenix and Seattle remained flat, according to the index.

The New York Times notes those second quarter figures do cover the period that included the bulk of the impact from the federal tax credit, so it’s unclear what direction prices will take in the coming months.

Nobody is denying that there’s a long recovery process ahead, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® chief economist Lawrence Yun points out that the improved affordability conditions that we’re seeing right now should help quite a bit with that recovery.

And as we’re talking affordability, Mr. Yun has some more good news for us. He says that affordability could reach a generational high in the second half of this year because of these rock-bottom mortgage interest rates we’ve been seeing, helped partly by the Fed’s very accommodative monetary policy.

So now let’s break down those pending home sales figures across the country, starting in the Northeast.

The Pending Home Sales index in the Northeast rose over 6 percent to 62.5 in July but that’s still about 20 percent below a year ago.

In the Midwest the index increased over 4 percent to nearly 67 but remains around 25 percent below July 2009.

Pending home sales in the South were up too. They rose 1.2 percent to an index of over 86, but they are nearly 15 percent lower than a year ago.

And in the West the index jumped nearly 12 percent to 95, so that’s jumps all across the country, but it’s still 17.6 percent below July 2009.

So what does that mean to us? Well, it means things could already be looking better. After seeing a pretty big fall in May, then another much smaller fall in June, pending home sales it seems, have already started to rebound a bit with a 5 percent jump this month. So sales for next month could be on the up and up. We’ll have all those figures for you as they happen.

1. Before you do anything, just take a sunny day, and look at your yard. That’s important. Because you need to know where the sun shines and for how long. Some plants need full sun and some don’t. So take a ‘sunshine audit.’
2. Do a soil test to figure out what type of garden soil you have. Some soil is acidic and some is alkaline. And the type of soil you have can either be perfect, or awful, for different plants
3. Do some window shopping in your new neighborhood. Take a walk and check out your neighbor’s yards. You’ll probably see some gardening and landscaping ideas you like. And if so, ask your new neighbor…’hey, what’s that?’ It’s a great way to start a conversation, make some friends, and get some good advice on what grows, and what doesn’t. Don’t forget to ask your neighbors what they’ve already tried and what didn’t work out so well, too.
4. Continue that research in stores and online. Stroll around the garden aisle, and see what you like. Be sure to talk to the nursery specialist because they will know what works in your specific climate, and what plants work well together.
5. Gear up! Get some good tools. You don’t need one of everything to begin with, probably a lawnmower to start with, but also, a spade, a rake, maybe a small trowel and some pruning shears. A small tool kit has started many exceptional gardens.
6. It’s time to plant. It’s a big step, but remember to follow the instructions on the plant tag. It’ll tell you how to plant it, how much sunlight, water and fertilizer it needs, how to prune it, and more. Plus, the plant tag will also tell you how big it’s going to get. Make sure you pay attention to that one.
7. Learn to recognize symptoms before they become problems. Pests, diseases and environmental stressors of lawns and houseplants usually start small which gives you time to react and correct them. Knowing the problem allows you to select the right treatment.
8. Ask questions. From the nursery specialist… to that talk with your neighbor over the fence… you shouldn’t have any trouble finding experienced gardeners who are more than willing to share advice and opinions.
9. Be safe. Now this is an important one. Follow the instructions carefully on your tools, from pruning shears to lawnmowers. And also, read the safety labels on pesticides, weed killers and fertilizers before you start using them.
10. Invest in your sanity and keep a record, journal or even a calendar of what works and what doesn’t. Use this information when planning for next season.
11. You might not know it, but gardening can be a great workout! And like all great workouts gardening can bring about sore muscles and blisters. Doing a few basic stretching exercises and investing in a good pair of gloves are worth the time and effort. And just like any exercise, don’t over-do it.
12. Be patient. Realize that gardening is more of a process than a project. Plants take time to grow and along with the plants, you will grow patience. Accept the fact that not everything you attempt is going to look like a magazine cover right away. Remember the saying, April showers bring May flowers.

So there we have it, a dozen ways to get to know and enjoy your new garden. And a dozen great reasons to just get outside and have some fun.

Now, to start your own garden, you’ll have to identify a small piece of land in your yard or if you’re in a condo, you’ll be taking the same survey, of your balcony.

Make sure you do a ’sunshine audit.’ Have a working knowledge of how much sun your place gets, and where that sun shines. That will help you figure out where to put the garden because not all, but most vegetables require full sun to really produce any quantity.

Next, you’ll need to make some small investments. You’ll need seeds or plants, or course, and the tools necessary to dig up a patch of land. If you like power tools you might want to check out a power tiller. It’ll make the job go much faster, and it’ll be easier on your back. Plus, the neighbor with the tiller, is always a popular neighbor indeed.

Depending on where you live, you may need some soil additives to make your land fertile. And you’ll probably need some fencing or netting to throw over your plants to keep them from becoming a bunny buffet once the produce starts growing.

It’s actually a lot easier for condo owners because they’ll be growing the vegetables in containers on their balcony, rather than planting them in terra firma. No rabbits, no deer, and no tilling the soil. But like all gardeners, they still have to make sure the plants get plenty of sun, the right amount of water, and plant food to make it a truly bountiful harvest.

Balcony gardeners also have fewer choices, forget watermelon, for instance, since they need a lot of open ground to grow, and cucumbers do best growing on little mountains of dirt. Not too feasible for a balcony. But tomatoes, peppers, string beans and more will thrive, in a big 14″ pot, in a sunny corner of the balcony.

Wherever you grow your vegetable garden, the most important investment you’ll need is your time. Vegetable gardening can be a great hobby, but it can also be a demanding one. Plants need weeding and water, and that’s a much easier commitment to make when it’s 75 degrees in May than it is when it’s 95 in July.

Having said all of that, if you do go with the program, growing your own peppers and tomatoes and lettuce really can save you a lot of money. The National Gardening Association says a typical family garden costs 70 dollars a year to maintain, and yields more than 600 dollars worth of vegetables.

If you still don’t see yourself as the “farmer type”, why not start small and see how it goes? You can grow tomatoes from a flower pot on your back stoop if you want, or fill a window box with dirt and start your own herb garden. You may very well find your inner “Jolly Green Giant” just waiting to break out.