Country Minute - Spring 2013

Spring 2013 News and notes on living the good life...

CountryMinute

country living market trends– On the rebound‌that’s what statistics are showing for the real estate market these days. Sure, it depends on the location as the national economy continues to show mixed signs of improvement; but all-in-all, moderate progress has been seen toward strengthening home and land sales.

According to the National Association of Realtors, total existing home sales in 2012 were the highest in five years at more than 9 percent over 2011.

Buyer traffic has also risen, which has helped contribute to the highest annual price increase since 2005.

United States housing starts are also showing signs of a gradual rebound.

Construction starts in 2012 were up an average of 28 percent over 2011. Though this shows the most improvement since the economic downturn, many analysts indicate a full recovery in the housing industry will not be seen until numbers more closely resemble those from 2007.

With these facts in mind, here are a few trends you could expect in 2013 and beyond.

Home prices continue to rise As consumers regain economic confidence, it is predicted that buyer demand for homes in good condition will continue to drive prices up. Among other things, the slow regrowth in construction means more demand for existing homes.

Lower home inventories Buyers eager to take advantage of low interest rates will help to keep fewer homes on the market.

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Summer Fun for All Spring is here, and before we know it, the school year will end. You can keep your kids active this summer by researching activities, events, or classes they can participate in. Taking advantage of local recreation options is a convenient and affordable way to keep kids active and away from endless days of video games! Many local municipalities offer trails for hiking or biking, ponds Continued on page 2...

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Five Helpful Smartphone Apps Lowe’s® Home Improvement The app offered by Lowe’s provides information about local stores based on a user’s location and also has an in-app shopping feature. For those with a myLowe’s account, you can keep track of all of your past purchases and even input information about your home for easy recall when you are shopping in the store.

The Weather Channel

It seems everyone has a little more pep in their step knowing warmer weather and the return of green pastures and wildflowers is not far away.

This time of year also brings a sense of motivation for many who have spent the last several months on the inside of warm homes looking out over snow covered fields. That motivation is different for each person; it could mean finally cleaning out your home or garage, finishing up that project that has been on your to-do list all winter, or maybe even getting into shape.

Whatever your motivation may be, utilizing an app for your smartphone can help keep you on-track and motivated long after spring is over.

This robust app allows users to view current conditions and forecasts based on current location or from a list of previously saved locations. The app also allows you to setup severe weather alerts so you will know in advance if a storm could cause a change in your outdoor plans.

MyFitnessPal Motivated to start trimming your waistline? MyFitnessPal manages a diary of what you eat and your physical activity, and tracks your progress. The app can be managed from a smartphone, tablet, and desktop and also features easy syncing so it is always up-to-date.

Houzz Looking for a project to put your motivation to good use on? Check out the Houzz app. Similar to Pinterest,

...Summer fun continued

or lakes for fishing, playgrounds, picnic areas, and sports fields. There may also be special events at local parks including: wildlife education, boating/water safety, arts and crafts, swimming, archery, and more.

If you are looking for an activity to tackle as a family, consider starting a vegetable garden. Your kids will learn the responsibility of planning and preparing the garden, caring for the plants, and will reap the benefits of harvesting the vegetables all summer.

There are many websites available with instructions to help get you started.

Summer is also a great time to get involved with 4-H! As a national youth development program, 4-H fosters an innovative “learn by doing” approach.

The programs are focused on science, citizenship, and healthy living. Head, Heart, Hands, and Health are the four Hs in 4-H, and they are the four values members work on through fun and engaging programs.

Houzz allows you to browse images of home improvement projects posted by other users. You can also save images into an online idea book to help guide you on your way for your next project.

After your project is complete, share pictures with others on Houzz and help inspire someone else! eBay We have all heard the saying: “One person’s trash is another person’s treasure.” Rather than hauling your used items to the garbage dump after your spring cleaning project, why not post lightly used items on eBay? The eBay mobile app allows you to sell items right from your smartphone by posting a few photos and brief description. What’s better? It helps reduce the amount of garbage in your local landfill and puts a little extra money in your pocket.

...Market trends continued

Home constructions costs on up-tick As the cost of building materials continue to increase, the cost of building a home is predicted to also rise. Likewise, with the rebound of consumer interest in construction projects, a depleted supply of skilled workers and contractors will lend to increased labor costs.

Growth in recreational land demand Our statistics showed 2012 ending with a higher number of financed recreational land purchases. With revived economic confidence, consumers are investing in personal interests and securing the property to enjoy them. Looking forward, this is forecasted to be a trend in the years ahead.

Bidding wars in long-term forecast

Some brainstorming and research can produce a summer full of fun, enjoyable, and educational experiences for you and your children.

Nationally, bidding wars have returned to some of the more popular areas.

This could be seen locally for some of the more highly desired properties.

Sources: www.bhg.com, www.4-h.org

Sources: www.realtor.org, www.nahb.org

Cleaning Tips & Tricks– It is time for the yearly ritual of spring cleaning! To help you get your home organized and clean for the season of renewal, checkout the following list of spring cleaning tips and tricks.

Get Organized

Deep-Clean Carpets and Rugs

Before you begin cleaning your home, it is important to eliminate clutter. To be efficient, equip yourself with a few designated containers when you are picking up in each room: a box for garage sale items, another for items to donate and a garbage bag for items to toss.

For synthetic carpeting, rent or buy a shampooer/extractor — a machine that cleans the fibers and removes traces of soap using hot water. Open windows and let air flow to help carpets dry. If you have wool carpets or rugs, or any that are valuable or delicate, contact a professional for cleaning.

Clean Windows Dirty panes are no problem when you use rubber-edged squeegees, which are quicker and more effective than cloth or newspaper. They come in a variety of sizes — and a screw-on extension will let you reach high spots.

Recipe Corner

Wash Your Blinds Wipe wooden blinds with a few drops of gentle wood cleaner on a nearly dry sponge. Aluminum blinds can be washed outdoors: Place them on an old sheet on a slanted surface, and scrub with water and a noncorrosive cleaner. Use a hose to rinse well, and then dry the blinds thoroughly with a towel to prevent rust.

Sources: http://www.bhg.com http://www.marthastewart.com

Buttery Soft Pretzels

Ingredients 4 teaspoons active dry yeast 1 teaspoon white sugar

Dust Light Fixtures

1 ¼ cups warm water

Use a microfiber or lint-free cloth to dust fixtures and bulbs you can reach.

For ceiling fans, skip the ladder and use an extendable duster. To clean grimy bulbs, lightly dampen your cloth with vinegar. Caution: Be sure bulbs are cool to the touch and your hands are dry.

5 cups all-purpose flour

Freshen Furniture

¼ cup kosher salt, for topping

Restore smooth leather with an upholstery cleaner and conditioner.

Use a suede brush to perk up nubuck leather. For wood furniture, mix 1/2 teaspoon of olive oil and 1/2 cup of vinegar or lemon juice in a plastic spray bottle; shake well and spray onto a microfiber cloth.

Makes one dozen

½ cup white sugar 1 ½ teaspoons salt 1 tablespoon vegetable oil ½ cup baking soda 4 cups hot water

In a small bowl, dissolve yeast and one teaspoon sugar in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes. In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, and salt.

Make a well in the center; add

the oil and yeast mixture. Mix and form into dough. If the mixture is dry, add one or two tablespoons of water. Knead the dough until smooth, about seven to eight minutes. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about one hour.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. In a large bowl, dissolve baking soda in hot water.

When risen, turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a rope and twist into a pretzel shape. Once all of the dough is all shaped, dip each pretzel into the baking soda solution and place on a greased baking sheet. Sprinkle with kosher salt.

Bake in preheated oven for eight minutes, until browned.

Source: www.allrecipes.com

CountryMinute Inside this issue: - Market trends - Summer activities - Smartphone apps

- Spring cleaning - Buttery soft pretzels - Member notes

Greenstone member notes Customers who receive The Country Minute do not receive GreenStone’s agricultural member publication, Partners.

Therefore, the following is a snippet of news and feature stories found in the most recent issue of Partners. More information and complete articles can be viewed at www.

GreenStoneFCS.com by selecting “Publications” found under the news and media drop down.

GreenStone’s Story: Our People Friendly. Dependable.

Knowledgeable. Flexible.

Those are just a few of the words we often hear when members like you describe the staff at GreenStone. Find out what gives our team an edge on the competition.

Stockholder Advisory Meetings Review Board chair, Scott Roggenbuck, reviews the recent Stockholder Advisory Meetings and shares why it is important for the directors to be a part of these meetings.

The thoughts, opinions

and ideas offered from our members drive us forward, and help the directors to provide the guidance to the association that our members are looking for.

GreenStone Scholarships Available Visit GreenStone’s website to find out more: www.greenstonefcs.com/ scholarships.

Phelps-Martin Award for Community Service “I am truly honored and humbled to accept this award.

I have learned a tremendous amount about just how amazing the human spirit is when you give it a chance from these children…” Read more on this award and the personal work of Pete Lemmer, GreenStone’s chief legal counsel.

Top Sales Staff of 2012 GreenStone recently recognized its “best of the best” in sales performance for 2012 with the Circle of Excellence awards. Find out who took home honors.

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