National house prices have dipped in 19 of the 20 largest metro regions, and declines in house prices are expected to continue given the 1.9 million in backlogged foreclosures. As the American economy shifts from buying to renting, with the number of renting households rising by 700,000 annually -- according to a USA Today analysis of Census data -- the number of homeowners fell by nearly 200,000 per year. Unemployment rates remain high and wages are down, which makes it more difficult for people to buy a house and prompts them to rent.
A number of studies continue to show that renting is better than owning for many Americans, with a house being a poor investment compared to renting and investing in inflation-adjusted Treasury bonds. In the paper "American Dream or American Obsession?," Wenli Li and Fang Yang from the Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank concluded that the "adjusted real rate of return on housing actually falls below zero," and the national rate of return for home ownership between 1975 and 2009 was 1.3 percent, below the 3.375 percent return for stocks.
Home ownership translates into less money available for investment and owning a house limits mobility should a new job opportunity arise elsewhere. Some economists have even suggested that high home ownership rates correlate to high unemployment rates. Declines in house prices could make it difficult to sell if the house is worth less than its mortgage. Not everyone should own a house, and the recession has helped eliminate some of the stigma once associated with renting, now that 70 percent of Americans now agree that renting has its advantages over owning.
Article from National Multi Housing recent release
At The Gardens at Twin Hickory we welcome dogs (no aggressive breeds please). However, for your dog to be happy in apartment life, it is important that they get enough exercise but not only that; they need the right kind of exercise.
If you have a smaller dog, do not assume that because they are small they get enough exercise running around your home. For a dog, your home is like a large cage. The key to keeping any dog in an apartment is providing enough exercise. Dogs are canine animals which retain the instinct to migrate. So, even small dogs need to be taken out for daily walks. High energy dogs can live in an apartment if the owner takes them out for long walks or jogs. Enough daily exercise is the key to keeping any dog stable and happy. But, be sure it is the right type of exercise. The right kind of exercise drains both the dogs physical and mental energy. Only providing excited exercise, such as playing with other dogs or tossing a ball, does not drain the dog’s mental energy. Dog park exercise is excited exercise and it is not recommended as the only source of exercise a dog receives. It keeps the dog in an excited state of mind.
Almost any dog can live in anapartment, if they get enough of the right kind of exercise. You have a wide range of non-aggressive breeds to choose from if you plan on jogging with your dog. However, your dog must learn how to heel on the jog so the dog is not worrying about being your leader and is instead relaxing as he is following you.
If you plan to jog every day you could even get a higher energy dog even though you are in an apartment. But if you plan on only jogging 2 or 3 times a week and walking the dog the remaining days, you should go with a medium energy or lower energy dog.
Excluding aggressive breeds, the thing to remember is it’s not necessarily the breed you are looking for but the energy level of that particular dog. There are pups born within every litter that are higher energy then other pups within the same litter.
Making new friends in a new community can be intimidating. Your neighbors have established their social ties, and you feel like the outsider. With time and patience you'll meet people and fit in. Here's how to begin.
Find groups and meeting places. Head on over to the pool, fitness room or grill area. Ask around to find out where your new community posts local announcements.
Approach someone you think you'd like to make friends with and just say hello. It’s simple enough. Pay attention and repeat back their name and try to remember it for next time.
Acknowledge that you're new and say where you're from. Sometimes, that's all it takes to get people's attention or start a conversation.
Make some simple conversation. Compliment what they're wearing, or comment on the weather or other world event. This sort of small talk is often good for getting people warmed up.
Go out. People in your neighborhood are outdoors at some point during the day. You won't meet new friends if you're just watching TV or at home in front of the computer, so get out there.
Look for common interests. As soon as you start talking to somebody, be on the lookout for similar interests to yours. It doesn't have to be an exact match, just common ground you can use to start a conversation.
Join groups. Ask around about sports teams, book clubs, volunteer organizations, and anything else that interests you. Having a common cause tends to unite people, and many organizations welcome new members.
Invite people over. Meet with one or two people at a time, or have some new acquaintances over to your new apartment home; host a housewarming party or larger get-together.
Take the initiative. If you see someone who seems bored or alone, make some conversation, or see if they'd like to go for walk or swim.
You’ll be surprised at how fast you meet people in your new home and then make friends with newcomers. Take the time to welcome others who join your community. Introduce them to others, show them around, and help them find their own places.
Just like crystal, windows are supposed to sparkle. Keep the windows in your apartment homeclean and streak-free with these easy tips.
You might think hot, sunny days are best for washing. But actually glaring sun keeps you from seeing well enough to do a good job. Also, the heat makes window cleaning solution evaporate faster than you can wipe it off, which leaves streaks. To ensure that the windows are the right temperature, touch the glass, if it’s hot to the touch, wait for a cooler day.
Just like the automatic car wash rinses your car before spraying on the soap. Use the same idea on your windows sills to loosen the dust and debris before washing them. Pull back the curtains and vacuum the interior side of the windows. Now you are ready to clean them.
Paper towels leave behind lint, so they aren’t ideal for drying glass. Instead, use a lint-free options: clean coffee filters, crumpled news print, or a microfiber towel. Some people swear by small squeegees, but like windshield wipers, their rubber blades need to be kept sharp and nick-free to get the best results.
A great way to make and keep healthy habits for your kids is to involve the whole family. Now that spring is here, include exercise into your daily family routine. Come up with fun and creative ideas for the whole family.
While you are out power walking or going for a jog, take the kids along on their bikes, rollerblades or skateboards.
Enroll the whole family in a fitness class, like tennis lessons, karate, or parent/child yoga.
When all your friends and relatives ask what your child wants for a birthday gift, involve fitness. Ask for a scooter, soccer ball, baseball gloves and bases. These are all perfect for promoting a healthy lifestyle with outside activities.
Plan family outings at a park such as a wilderness trail, There are plenty to choose from in the Richmond area. Or have a pick-up football or softball game, ultimate Frisbee match, or game of tag. All these activities will promote cardiovascular health for the whole family.
But it isn’t only the obvious options that help you stay healthy. Keep in mind that cleaning yourhomeburns calories too. Also, don’t look for the closest parking spot to the grocery store door, park a ways away and walk.
Maybe after dinner tonight, your whole family can go for a walk around your neighborhood.
WE ARE KICKING OFF THE SUMMER WITH
NIGHT OUT AT THE DIAMOND AND FIREWORKS!
THURSDAY, MAY 26TH GAME STARTS AT 7:05 P.M.
Pick your tickets up in the rental office (Limited tickets available first come first serve
for The Gardens Residents only)
RICHMOND’S FLYING SQUIRRELS
START OFF YOUR MEMORIAL DAY
WEEKEND FESTIVITIES WITH US!!!!
POOL OPENING AND COOK OUT
FRIDAY, MAY 27TH
4 P.M.- 6 P.M.
Tornadoes are very quick and usually come without much notice, having your plan in place will protect you and the items in your apartment. First and foremost, once you hear that there is a possible tornado near your apartment, or that the conditions are right for a tornado, head to shelter immediately.
If you live in an apartment that is on an upper floor, get to the lowest possible level of the building immediately. This could be an underground parking garage, a community room, or a neighbor’s first floor apartment. If you live in a high-rise apartment building, you may not have enough time to get to a lower level, so picking a place in the hallway in the center of your building is the best idea. If you are in your own apartment during a tornado, a closet, bathroom or interior hall without windows is the safest spot to be.
Also ask your apartment leasing manager if there are any storm shelters in your apartment community.
Tornado Safety: Other Apartment Safety Tips
Once you have relocated to a safe place, lie down on the floor and cover yourself up with pillows, blankets and even mattresses for protection from falling objects and debris. If your apartment’s safe place has a heavy piece of furniture, such as a large table, get under that for extra protection. Wearing a bike helmet or other helmet will help protect your head from injuries caused by flying debris.
It is also a great idea to keep an evacuation kit handy. This kit should include a portable radio, flashlight with extra batteries, credit card and cash, first aid kit, spare set of keys, personal identification and anything else of importance or value to you. Having all of this together near your apartment safe place or near your door will save you time and worry during a tornado threat.
Tornado Safety: After the Tornado
If a tornado does come near your apartment, please use extreme caution when exiting your home. Watch out for fallen utility lines and tree limbs that may not have fallen yet. Make sure that everyone is alright and provide assistance to your neighbors that may need attention. Finally, remember to take pictures of your property damage for an insurance claim, if necessary.
Apartments.com is searching for America's BEST roommate. Right now they are holding the 3rd annual Roommate of the Year Contest. Guess what the lucky winner will receive? The outstanding roommate will be the winner of FREE Rent for a Year plus $10,000 cash.
Could the next Roommate of the Year be living at The Gardens? We think so because the best apartment home communities have the best residents! But, you only have until June 13, 2011 to submit your video entry to www.RoommateOfTheYear.com for a shot at living rent free! For the third year, Apartments.com is searching for acts of roommate excellence. Submit a video of 2 minutes or less, illustrating what makes you America's most desirable roommate and you could walk away with FREE Rent for a Year, $10,000 in cold, hard cash, a year membership to FreeCreditScore.com and the coveted title of Roommate of the Year.
Arbor Day is celebrated nationally on April 29. The word arbor means tree in Latin. Arbor Day exists to provide us with an opportunity to remember how vital and important trees are. Living in an apartment home community, it is not too easy to plant a tree; however, there are other ways that you can help celebrate Arbor Day.
Take a hike. Arbor Day is a time to show your appreciation for nature. There are plenty of hiking trails around Richmond which are steeped in history and beauty. As locals, we sometimes forget that these trails are right here in our neighborhood. Hit a forest, state park or a nature trail near The Gardens. Take a walk and enjoy the outdoors. Some of our favorite spots are the James River Park, Byrd Park or Three Lakes Park, but there are plenty to choose from. You can enhance your hike for Arbor Day by taking note of some of the trees you see along the way.
Saturday, April 23 from 12-7pm is the Richmond Earth Day Festival. A free, all day celebration that provides resources, education, and information in a fun filled outdoor setting. This year’s festival will be bigger and better than ever. 1st, through 4th Streets at Hull Street in the New Manchester District will be blocked off and filled with over 90 vendors, artists, farmers, and fun activities for all ages. Join us, riverside, at the James River Fish Fest or kick back and enjoy live music performances from local bands: Rattlemouth, Amazing Ghost, Black Girls, Horsehead, and more. The Earth Day Festival has always been proud to highlight some of Richmond’s top Local bands. This year’s main music stage will showcase Exebelle & the Rusted Cavalcade.
The 2011 Earth Day Festival will showcase the best of Richmond with green artists, businesses and enthusiasts. We welcome families and people of all ages to share in this day! There will be no shortage of delicious local eats and drinks for you to try as well; so come celebrate, learn about our environment, and spend the day outside.
Join us as we strive to make Richmond a “greener” city. Some of the attractions will include:
Fish Festival, organized by James River Park System. Next to the James River and Manchester Flood Wall, kids and families can enjoy fishing along the River, fish releases, fly-casting workshops, oriental fish printing & hat making, water test demonstrations, face painting & caricatures.
Local Food Vendors to include: Alamo bbq, Nate’s taco truck, The Nile Ethiopian, Goatocado, Grapevine Restaurant, Thai Top Ten, and more.
Outdoor Gear Swap, organized by James River Outdoor Coalition. Anyone is welcome to bring their gently used equipment or come by to purchase equipment.
3rd Street Sustainable Workshops, Earth Day attendees will experience natural and biological systems and the human relationship of using those systems to create art, tools, equipment and processes essential to managing a sustainable lifestyle.
4th Street Artists Showcase and Demonstrations, Meet local artists and learn to make art out of recycled metals, learn tile and hot glass bead making; watercolor, collage and oil painting demos.
Green Hero Awards, organized by Style Weekly and honoring ordinary people and businesses with extraordinary commitments to bettering the environment and making lasting changes to our community.
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National house prices have dipped in 19 of the 20 largest metro regions, and declines in house prices are expected to continue given the 1.9 million in backlogged foreclosures. As the American economy shifts from buying to renting, with the number of renting households rising by 700,000 annually -- according to a USA Today analysis of Census data -- the number of homeowners fell by nearly 200,000 per year. Unemployment rates remain high and wages are down, which makes it more difficult for people to buy a house and prompts them to rent. 
A great way to make and keep healthy habits for your kids is to involve the whole family. Now that spring is here, include exercise into your daily family routine. Come up with fun and creative ideas for the whole family. 
At 
Just like crystal, windows are supposed to sparkle. Keep the windows in your 
Arbor Day is celebrated nationally on April 29. The word arbor means tree in Latin. Arbor Day exists to provide us with an opportunity to remember how vital and important trees are. Living in an 
Saturday, April 23 from 12-7pm is the 
