Pharrell Buys Modern Digs Overlooking LA

BY MELISSA ALLISON 
ZILLOW
The Jetsons-style living room features a floating fireplace and views of city lights below.

Pharrell Williams and his big hat are headed west.

The “Happy” singer recently dropped $7.14 million on a contemporary estate high in the hills above Los Angeles,Variety reports. Its Jetsons-style living room, complete with a floating fireplace, is surrounded by walls of glass with views of an infinity-edge pool and an expanse of city lights below.

The compound on 1.5 acres includes 5 bedrooms in the main home, a sixth bedroom in a detached guest house, and an outdoor theater. The listing agent was Justin Mandile of The Agency.

Pharrell also owns homes in Miami and Virginia Beach. He’s listed the Miami condo off and on for the past few years.

Tip for a Weed Free Yard - Will Mulch Stop Weeds?

From the FamilyHandyman.com

Mulch won't stop weeds completely. Applied deep enough, it will prevent many weed seeds already in the soil from germinating and growing. But it won't stop weeds that have already rooted. Tough weeds like dandelions will push right through if you don't dig them out first. And more weed seeds will blow in and take root in the mulch (in both organic and stone). All mulch-covered gardens require maintenance, though less than if you don't use mulch.

Nicole Richie, Joel Madden List Home in Bohemian Laurel Canyon

BY MELISSA ALLISON 
ZILLOW

As she films the reality series “Candidly Nicole,” the couple bought a new place in Beverly Hills.

The upheaval in Nicole Richie and Joel Madden’s life — which includes rumors that they’re splitting up, the filming of her new reality show, “Candidly Nicole,” and the purchase of a new home in Beverly Hills,according to Variety — now includes a house on the market.

The couple, who paid $1.912 million for the place in 2009, is asking $3.495 million for the home in the Laurel Canyon enclave of Los Angeles.

Built in 1914, the home looks more like mid-century modern meets California bohemian. Soaring ceilings plus lots of windows and skylights bring light to the 5-bedroom, 5-bath home, which also features courtyard-style open spaces and dark, exposed beams. An attached guesthouse offers access to a backyard with eating and play areas alongside a lagoon-style pool, spa and waterfall.

The listing belongs to Thomas Atamian of Dilbeck Real Estate, who sold the home of Madden’s brother, rocker Benji Madden, last year.

Cleaning Tips to Reduce Household Dust

By the DIY experts of The Family Handyman Magazine

Upgrade your furnace filter

If your home has a forced-air heating or cooling system, it can help control dust by filtering the air. Most visible dust settles on floors and furniture before it can enter the heating/cooling system, so no filter will eliminate dusting chores. Still, a filter upgrade can make a noticeable improvement.

The most effective system is an electrostatic filter connected to your ductwork ($700 to $1,500,professionally installed).An electrostatic filter may be worth the expense if you have allergies. But if you just want to reduce dust buildup, it's smarter to spend $40 to $100 per year on high-quality disposable filters. A standard fiberglass filter traps only the largest dust particles. It's effective enough to protect your furnace but does almost nothing to reduce household dust. Better filters are made from pleated fabric or paper. Most pleated filters also carry an electrostatic charge that attracts and holds dust. A pleated filter can capture virtually all the visible dust that reaches it. Manufacturers usually recommend that you change these filters every three months, but you should check them monthly, especially if you have cats or dogs, and replace them if they're dirty. Dirty pleated filters can restrict airflow and damage your furnace.

Good, better and best filters
A filter upgrade can make a noticeable reduction in dust. Standard fiberglass filters are good, pleated filters are better, and a pleated electrostatic filter system is best.

Mortgages: Sub‐Prime Lenders and the Mortgage Industry

Enlightenme.com

Among those lenders issuing mortgages, sub-prime lenders are considered to be a subset of standard lending institutions. Sub-prime lenders offer loans to borrowers that do not meet the qualifications for loans by mainstream lenders.

Because mainstream lenders typically loan to prime borrowers, the sub-prime lenders provide a loan source to individuals with problems such as poor credit history, lack of consistent income, or any other number of issues that would not define them as prime. Sub-prime loans account for over $200 million of the lending industry in the United States; however, over 4.5% of all sub-prime loans have fallen into delinquency between 2007 and 2009

Identifying Sub-Prime Lenders

Some sub-prime lenders can be independent investors or may also be close affiliates of the mainstream lenders, although they usually operate under a different name for tax and acceptability purposes. In most cases, sub-prime lenders are not easy to identify because no company or individual usually engages in marketing promoting sub-prime loan practices.

However, it is easy to determine a sub-prime lender based on overall higher prices that those offered by mainstream lenders. Even many prime borrowers have borrowed from sub-prime lenders because of the vague identification of the lending institutions or individuals. Despite the higher interest rates, sub-prime loans may be excellent resources for individuals seeking to pay off higher interest debts such as those usually found within credit card debt. However, when it comes to mortgages, sub prime loans are rarely a good idea as interest rates will often be exorbitantly high, making the mortgage extremely expensive over the life of the loan.

Interest Rates

Sub-prime loans tend to have interest rates that are higher than the rate of prime that is offered by the mainstream lending sources. While around six percent is the standard interest rate for mortgages, sub-prime loans offer rates starting between eight to ten percent. This means that the amount of interest charged for sub-prime loans can often be worth tens of thousands of dollars more than the original loan amount over the entire term of the loan.

FHA Mortgages: Sub-Prime Lender Alternatives

FHA-approved loans are often some of the most popular alternatives for sub-prime loans in the United States. The initial interest rate for FHA loans is much lower than that of sub-prime loans, beginning at around five percent. However, the FHA does not issue mortgages themselves and many FHA lending institutions have initiated an annual increase of two percent for the interest rate.

In the end, FHA-approved loans can save you thousands of dollars over the lifetime of the loan. Furthermore, depending on the reason you need the loan, many institutions are able to offer FHA-approved funds for loans that meet the requirements for necessary home or auto repairs. These loans can often increase the amount you qualify for and start off at a very low interest rate.

It is important to research other alternatives before jumping immediately into sub-prime loans that may be difficult to repay despite being appealing. While you may be focused only on qualifying for mortgages, sub prime loans still remain a poor option for most bad credit buyers.

Paul McCartney Wings Into Manhattan Penthouse

BY MELISSA ALLISON 
ZOLLOW
The Beatle reportedly bought a duplex with blockbuster views of Central Park.

Maybe Paul McCartney can’t buy love, but he did just land a Manhattan penthouse with views fit for a knight, the New York Post’s Page Six reports.

The duplex has 5 bedrooms, 5-plus baths and 40 feet of floor-to-ceiling windows with a terrace of glass overlooking Central Park.

White marble floors start in the foyer and continue through a formal dining room into a double-height living area that features a brass-and-floating-glass staircase. A living room and library face the park on the first floor, while a master suite shares the same striking views from the second floor.

The Beatle’s new home is in a boutique, mid-century building and was listed for $15.5 million by Deanna Raida of Douglas Elliman.

Tip for a Weed Free Yard - Which Organic Mulch Lasts the Longest?

From the FamilyHandyman.com

In general, pick a type with larger chunks, because it'll decompose more slowly. And choose bark-type mulches (such as pine bark nuggets) before shredded wood types (such as cedar, cypress and hardwood). Keep in mind that mulch reduces maintenance but doesn't eliminate it. Organic mulches have to be replenished periodically, usually every two to three years.