State and local governments are cracking down on people for improperly claiming something called the homestead exemption. Take Representative Charles B. Rangel of New York, who was accused of doing just that on a home he owns in Washington, D.C.

But as the tax authorities look for cheats, they are finding that many people who are eligible for homestead exemptions fail to apply, even though the exemptions can provide valuable breaks on property taxes — the issue in Mr. Rangel’s case — as well as protection from creditors. (more…)

The Malone Bay community features 18 lots at W. Kerr Scott Dam & Reservoir. Fourteen (14) are Lakefront and meet private dock requirements. All lots have access to public water, saving owners from $5,000 to $10,000 on drilling a well. These lots have public water and will save you the cost of drilling a well. The entire development also features underground utilities.

This is a gated community with lots ranging from 2.3+- acres to 6.8+- acres on the Hwy 421 side of the lake just off South Minton Road, Wilkesboro, NC 28697

W. Kerr Scott Lake is 1500 acres with 50 miles of shoreline and is controlled by the US Army Corps of Engineers. It is clean water with good fishing and is excellent for boating, kayaking, skiing, and swimming. The property is surrounded by National Parks. Wilkesboro is a beautiful community and town with friendly people. It is located just 40 miles east of Boone and Blowing Rock, NC and one and a half hours northwest of Charlotte.

Lot #10

MLS Number: 54632
List Price: $450,000
Lot Size: 2.8 acres
WATERFRONT, PRIVATE DOCK PERMIT, GATED COMMUNITY, PUBLIC WATER, UNDERGROUND UTILITIES
Wilkes MLS Area 2
Suitable Use: Residential, Single Family
Topography: Rolling, Lake/Pond, Exceptional View
Utilities: Underground Utilities
Water/Sewer: Public Water, None-Sewer
Road Frontage: Private Road, Paved Road, Road Maintenance Agreement
Miscellaneous: 1-5 Acres, Hardwoods
Location: Malone Way

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DID Bertie Wooster mean to harm Barbara Geltosky in September 2008? The evidence against him is damning. For instance, the hole that Bertie, Ms. Geltosky’s 5-year-old Norwegian elkhound, dug in the garden was 12 inches across and 12 inches deep — the perfect size for a human foot.

“It was a hole I didn’t see,” said Ms. Geltosky, 59, a retired art teacher who lives with her husband in Malvern, Pa., some 20 miles west of Philadelphia. “I was getting compost when I went down. I twisted my knee badly enough to have rehab.” (more…)

EXTERIOR FEATURES: Patio/Deck, Wooded Lot, 1-5 Acres, Lakefront
GARAGE/CARPORT: None-Garage
ROAD MAINTENANCE/SURFACE: Public Maintained, Paved
LOCATION DESCRIPTION: Gravel Drive, Lake View, Other-See Remarks

Waterfront-Beautiful like new cedar lakefront home has exceptional quality in all aspects of construction & features. Great room has vaulted ceilings, a massive stacked stone fireplace & accents, loads of windows and is open to the kitchen w/glazed concrete counters, stainless appliances and island with breakfast bar. Large Master, lower level game room, catwalk & upper level bed & bath. Dock.

DIRECTIONS: Hwy 268 N. Left on Grace Drive. Sign on left.

EA Carter Real Estate (#:23)
Main: (336) 818-0482
Fax: (336) 464-2233

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Thinking about remodeling your kitchen? Consider going green, Homeowners embarking on a kitchen remodel typically must select the style, the quality of craftsmanship and the materials that meet their project goals. With the pressing need to increase energy efficiency and conserve resources, more people are opting these days to “go green” in their choices.

“Incorporating green elements into a kitchen remodel is no longer considered just a passing fad, but a way of life,” said Dick Titus, executive vice president of the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA). “Homeowners feel a responsibility to choose products that are safe for the environment and for their families.” (more…)

The Malone Bay community features 18 lots at W. Kerr Scott Dam & Reservoir. Fourteen (14) are Lakefront and meet private dock requirements. All lots have access to public water, saving owners from $5,000 to $10,000 on drilling a well. These lots have public water and will save you the cost of drilling a well. The entire development also features underground utilities.

This is a gated community with lots ranging from 2.3+- acres to 6.8+- acres on the Hwy 421 side of the lake just off South Minton Road, Wilkesboro, NC 28697

W. Kerr Scott Lake is 1500 acres with 50 miles of shoreline and is controlled by the US Army Corps of Engineers. It is clean water with good fishing and is excellent for boating, kayaking, skiing, and swimming. The property is surrounded by National Parks. Wilkesboro is a beautiful community and town with friendly people. It is located just 40 miles east of Boone and Blowing Rock, NC and one and a half hours northwest of Charlotte.

click here for more informationMalone Bay Lakefront Lot W. Kerr Scott Lake

Giving an old, tired bathroom a makeover is one of the best things you can do to increase your home’s resale value. And while it can take some planning, the project is easily within the capabilitiesy of most homeowners.

While bathrooms often are among the smallest rooms in your home, they’re often the most used and valued spaces. How-ever, since there is a fair amount of water involved (sink, toilet, shower and bathtub), there’s a lot of potential for a bathroom remodel to go horribly wrong.

Here are 10 tips for do-it-yourselfers from The Tile Shop, national tile retailer, on how to create the bathroom of your dreams. (more…)

Close to the Blue Ridge Parkway, this lovely Ashe County mountain home is in the desirable Twin Bridges Subdivision, known for its river and long range mountain views. Close to Boone, NC, Jefferson, NC and West Jefferson, North Carolina, your home will bring all the convenience of the perfect retirement residence. The Twin Bridges Subdivision features easy access to the New River with canoeing, rafting, kayaking, fishing, and hiking.

Besides all the cultural opportunities of Boone, NC, Ashe County is famous for it’s abundance of North Carolina Christmas Tree farms. Ashe County is a vacation and retirement paradise with motorcycle riding, hiking, canoeing, fishing, swimming, mountain biking, horseback riding, skiing, golf and much more.

With both the New River and Mt. Jefferson State Parks nearby, visitors to Ashe County come to experience cool summer breezes, spectacular mountain scenery and outdoor recreation.

Click here for listing.

If you look strictly at the numbers, most remodeling done in a home should be for personal enjoyment, because you’re not likely to make all of your money back when you sell the property. The boost in value from improvements varies; anything electrical you do, like updating the wiring or adding a cost-efficient cooling system, can increase your home’s value substantially, and will be reflected in your appraisal, while cosmetic improvements may not affect the value that much.

One of the simplest, most cost-effective ways to improve your home is by giving it a new coat of paint. The rooms immediately look clean and updated, which improves the overall “feel” of the house. If your home is on the market, this is one of the surest ways to leave potential buyers with a good impression and decrease the amount of time it is on the market. Because it is a relatively inexpensive project, painting nearly always pays off. (more…)

The Malone Bay community features 18 lots at W. Kerr Scott Dam & Reservoir. Fourteen (14) are Lakefront and meet private dock requirements. All lots have access to public water, saving owners from $5,000 to $10,000 on drilling a well. These lots have public water and will save you the cost of drilling a well. The entire development also features underground utilities.

This is a gated community with lots ranging from 2.3+- acres to 6.8+- acres on the Hwy 421 side of the lake just off South Minton Road, Wilkesboro, NC 28697

W. Kerr Scott Lake is 1500 acres with 50 miles of shoreline and is controlled by the US Army Corps of Engineers. It is clean water with good fishing and is excellent for boating, kayaking, skiing, and swimming. The property is surrounded by National Parks. Wilkesboro is a beautiful community and town with friendly people. It is located just 40 miles east of Boone and Blowing Rock, NC and one and a half hours northwest of Charlotte.

Lot #10

MLS Number: 54632
List Price: $450,000
Lot Size: 2.8 acres
WATERFRONT, PRIVATE DOCK PERMIT, GATED COMMUNITY, PUBLIC WATER, UNDERGROUND UTILITIES
Wilkes MLS Area 2
Suitable Use: Residential, Single Family
Topography: Rolling, Lake/Pond, Exceptional View
Utilities: Underground Utilities
Water/Sewer: Public Water, None-Sewer
Road Frontage: Private Road, Paved Road, Road Maintenance Agreement
Miscellaneous: 1-5 Acres, Hardwoods
Location: Malone Way

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Redesigning a kitchen has an impact that extends well beyond one room — it can breathe new life into an entire home. But it also can be a daunting project with a sizeable price tag.

Here are 10 key steps when designing or redesigning a kitchen to save money and maximize potential:

1. Think ahead. Put function first. There is no ideal kitchen shape. Whether it’s a galley or U- or L-shaped, plan for the sink, fridge and cooktop to form a triangle, with no more than 6 feet between them.

2. Make room for storage. Put overhead cabinets right up to the ceiling, rather than leaving a gap that collects dust. Consider deep drawers for easier access to pots and pans, and include enough storage for appliances that otherwise would clutter countertops. (more…)

EXTERIOR FEATURES: Patio/Deck, Wooded Lot, 1-5 Acres, Lakefront
GARAGE/CARPORT: None-Garage
ROAD MAINTENANCE/SURFACE: Public Maintained, Paved
LOCATION DESCRIPTION: Gravel Drive, Lake View, Other-See Remarks

Waterfront-Beautiful like new cedar lakefront home has exceptional quality in all aspects of construction & features. Great room has vaulted ceilings, a massive stacked stone fireplace & accents, loads of windows and is open to the kitchen w/glazed concrete counters, stainless appliances and island with breakfast bar. Large Master, lower level game room, catwalk & upper level bed & bath. Dock.

DIRECTIONS: Hwy 268 N. Left on Grace Drive. Sign on left.

EA Carter Real Estate (#:23)
Main: (336) 818-0482
Fax: (336) 464-2233

click here for article

Although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has decided to delay enforcing a new lead paint regulation until October, it still is important for home owners to find a contractor who is trained in lead-safe work practices for any remodeling work. As of July, 48 companies, who are members of the Home Builders Association of Raleigh–Wake County (HBA), have been certified as lead renovators.

“We are happy that several of our members have taken measures to ensure homeowner safety as well as their own,” said Executive Vice President Tim Minton of the HBA. “These renovators will understand how to protect families from potential lead hazards because they have been trained and certified under the EPA regulation.”

The EPA enacted a law that was originally set to take effect in April 2010 to help reduce the possibility of lead poisoning among children when their homes are being remodeled. The Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting regulation requires that remodelers and other contractors who disturb painted surfaces as part of their renovations in pre-1978 homes become trained and certify their firms. The EPA estimates approximately 38 million homes in the United States may contain lead paint. (more…)

The Malone Bay community features 18 lots at W. Kerr Scott Dam & Reservoir. Fourteen (14) are Lakefront and meet private dock requirements. All lots have access to public water, saving owners from $5,000 to $10,000 on drilling a well. These lots have public water and will save you the cost of drilling a well. The entire development also features underground utilities.

This is a gated community with lots ranging from 2.3+- acres to 6.8+- acres on the Hwy 421 side of the lake just off South Minton Road, Wilkesboro, NC 28697

W. Kerr Scott Lake is 1500 acres with 50 miles of shoreline and is controlled by the US Army Corps of Engineers. It is clean water with good fishing and is excellent for boating, kayaking, skiing, and swimming. The property is surrounded by National Parks. Wilkesboro is a beautiful community and town with friendly people. It is located just 40 miles east of Boone and Blowing Rock, NC and one and a half hours northwest of Charlotte.

click here for more informationMalone Bay Lakefront Lot W. Kerr Scott Lake