A home designed for young professionals

MANILA, Philippines - Robinsons Residences’ Sapphire Bloc was particularly designed for active professionals whose demanding careers require a home that’s in sync with their dynamic lifestyles. Y Diseño Interior principal designer Cecile Narvaez was tapped to execute The Sapphire Bloc’s aspirational home interior that appeals to career-driven individuals in their late 20s to early 30s. The Sapphire Bloc upholds Robinsons Residences’ mantra of city living done right. For inquiries, call  636-0888, SMS 0925-3333333, or visit www.robinsonsresidences.com and www.facebook.com/RobResidences.

source: philstar.com

The future of condo living

MANILA, Philippines - Twin Oaks Place, the first future ready home at Greenfield District, offers unit owners the opportunity to enjoy the seamless and connected lifestyle within the confines of their own automated home.

“Through home automation, appliances, lights, curtains, and even the thermostat can be switched on or off with the press of a button on their smartphone or tablet,” says Duane A. X. Santos, executive vice president of Greenfield Development Corporation (GDC). “Owners can include numerous devices in their home automation system — light fixtures, air conditioning, AV and stereo systems, curtain control, and door locks. At GDC, we aim to provide homebuyers their money’s worth in terms of good quality, functionality, and innovation as we strive to be constantly at the cutting edge of real estate development.”

source: philstar.com

Bruce Lee’s Hong Kong home to go on sale – report

HONG KONG – Kung fu legend Bruce Lee’s former residence in Hong Kong will be put up for sale after a plan to turn the property into a museum dedicated to the icon failed, a report said Wednesday.

Philanthropist Yu Panglin, who owns the mansion, which became a rundown ‘love hotel’, said he was planning to sell the property for HK$180 million ($23 million) after talks with the government for the museum collapsed last year.

“I’m no longer considering (the museum plan) since the government is not supportive,” the 90-year-old billionaire told Hong Kong’s Chinese-language Singtao Daily in an interview.

“I’m running out of patience, I don’t want to wait anymore,” he said, adding that the hotel owner had failed to pay rent for two years due to poor business, with the property in urgent need of refurbishment.

Lee’s legions of fans have long-demanded a significant hometown tribute to the Chinese-American star, who died in 1973 at the age of 32 after helping to bring martial arts to the mainstream with classic kung fu films such as “Fists of Fury” (1971) and “Enter the Dragon” (1973).

However they were left disappointed after the Hong Kong government shelved the museum plan in June last year, saying it failed to reach a consensus with Yu following two years of negotiations, without giving details.

Yu told Singtao Daily the government rejected his proposal to expand the mansion – Lee’s last residence – by adding three floors to include a cinema, library and martial arts training centre, which were his conditions to donate the property.

The 460 square-meter two-storey house in Hong Kong’s upscale residential district of Kowloon Tong was turned into a short-stay hotel with rooms rented for as little as US$25 an hour, usually to amorous couples.

Yu could not be reached Wednesday for comment.

The star died in Hong Kong after a severe reaction to medication. His fans have criticised the lack of a larger memorial to their hero in his hometown, except for a statue on the waterfront Avenue of Stars.

Authorities said in October last year a gallery would be set up in Lee’s honour at the government-run Hong Kong Heritage Museum.

source: interaksyon.com

Willow Park Homes combines serenity, convenience in a developing city

MANILA, Philippines - Enjoying modern and serene living in the metropolis at the same time is becoming a rarity these days as remaining open spaces gets eaten up by the ever expanding urbanization. But the combination of a convenient and relaxing lifestyle in a city setting cannot be denied in Cabuyao, Laguna. The industrial town recently converted into a city still retains its idyllic atmosphere amidst the development.

The unique balance and blend of modernity and suburban air makes Cabuyao an ideal alternative for a city lifestyle minus the stress from overcrowding, traffic congestion, noise and pollution. Willow Park Homes, a residential project of DMCI Homes in Laguna provides the “best of both worlds” home and community that meets a family’s need for serenity and convenience in a developing city.

Rising at a 12-hectare prime property along RFM Road in Barangay Pulo, Willow Park Homes is a master-planned garden-themed community of traditional single-detached homes, bungalows and townhouses in modern tropical architecture.

Unit design is characterized by clean, formal lines, steep roof structures in dark hues, white-colored walls, and the use of exotic dark hardwoods as accent pieces.

The 130-square-meter bungalow and 2-storey single-detached homes as well as the 65-square-meter townhouse can be acquired through flexible payment terms.

Pocket parks and gardens are spread throughout the development. Rest and recreational amenities include a multi-purpose clubhouse, swimming pool, picnic grove, and play areas.

Facilities include concrete-paved roads with gutter, overhead electricity, underground waterlines and street drainage system , deep-well and elevated water tank with cistern.

For security, Willow Park Homes has a perimeter fence, entrance gate with guard house and 24-hour security. A property management office is in charge of maintenance and other services and assistance.

The gated community is very accessible, being just 3.5 kilometers to the south of the city proper, major industrial zones in Laguna, key educational institutions, leading provincial hospitals, and strategic highways such as the Cabuyao national road and South Luzon Expressway. The SLEX is just 2.5 kilometers away via the Pulo-Diezon Road. Calamba is 6 kilometers to its south.

For inquiries on Willow Park Homes and other DMCI Homes projects, call 02-5208916 or 049-8321419 or visit the website: www.dmcihomes.com.

source: philstar.com

Rent or Buy?

BLANCHING at their rent bills, more New Yorkers are being forced to confront that age-old question, should I rent, or does buying make more sense?

In many cases, the hard numbers point toward the latter. The average Manhattan apartment rented for a record $3,459 in July, according to Citi Habitats, which called the price the highest since it began tracking rents in 2002. And with the vacancy rate hovering around 1 percent, landlords aren’t willing to cut deals.

By contrast apartments for sale have held relatively steady in price from the start of the year and are down from the market peak in 2008. Combine that with low interest rates, and the cost of buying an apartment is about the same, if not cheaper on a monthly basis in many neighborhoods, than the cost of renting. But making the leap to homeownership is complicated by tough lending standards, the often hefty down payments and other obstacles that would-be buyers must clear in order to break into the New York market. And even if you clear all the hurdles, there are often trade-offs.

Take Casey Galegher and Van Krishnamoorthy, who recently spent $699,000 on a two-bedroom condo in Harlem, after a year living in a one-bedroom rental on the Upper West Side with their 5-year-old son, Finn. “It may take 10 years for the restaurants to feel like the Upper West Side,” said Dr. Krishnamoorthy, a radiologist. But meanwhile they are getting more space and amenities for their money, paying about $4,900 a month for their brand-new 1,400-square-foot condo. On the Upper West Side, “we couldn’t get an elevator building in our price range,” said Dr. Krishnamoorthy, noting that a two-bedroom in a doorman building across the street from their former rental was listed at $7,000 a month.

Joan Riegel, a 69-year-old educator, started looking to buy earlier this year, when the rent on her 1,000-square-foot Upper West Side rental climbed past $5,000 a month — an increase of 25 percent. This month she moved into a $675,000 co-op in the Gramercy Park area, trimming her monthly housing cost nearly in half, to about $2,600 a month including maintenance. While her new apartment is smaller, she said, “I’m going to have so much more money.”

In general, whether renting is better than buying largely depends on individual circumstances, including what you can afford, what’s on the market and how long you plan to stay in your home. (The Times has an online calculator to help you pinpoint exactly how long you need to stay for your investment to begin paying off.) Here is a look at how four potential buyers came to resolve their own rent-versus-buy conundrums, including the calculations they made, the hurdles they overcame and the lessons they learned along the way.

source: nytimes.com

With Rates Low, Banks Increase Mortgage Profit

Interest rates on mortgages and refinancing are at record lows, giving borrowers plenty to celebrate. But the bigger winners are the banks making the loans.

Banks are making unusually large gains on mortgages because they are taking profits far higher than the historical norm, analysts say. That 3.55 percent rate for a 30-year mortgage could be closer to 3.05 percent if banks were satisfied with the profit margins of just a few years ago. The lower rate would save a borrower about $30,000 in interest payments over the life of a $300,000 mortgage.

“The banks may say, ‘We are offering you record low interest rates, so you should be as happy as a clam,’ ” said Guy D. Cecala, publisher of Inside Mortgage Finance, a home loan publication. “But borrowers could be getting them cheaper.”

Mortgage bankers acknowledge that they are realizing big gains right now from home loans. But they say they cannot afford to cut rates even more because of the higher expenses resulting from stiffer regulations.

“There is a much higher cost to originating mortgages relative to a few years ago,” said Jay Brinkmann, chief economist at the Mortgage Bankers Association, a group that represents the interests of mortgage lenders.

The jump in revenue for the banks is not coming from charging consumers higher fees. Instead, it comes from the their role as middlemen. Banks make their money from taking the mortgages and bundling them into bonds that they then sell to investors, like pensions and mutual funds. The higher the mortgage rate paid by homeowners and the lower the interest paid on the bonds, the bigger the profit for the bank.

Mortgage lenders may also be benefiting from less competition. The upheaval of the financial crisis of 2008 has led to the concentration of mortgage lending in the hands of a few big banks, primarily Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and U.S. Bancorp.

“Fewer players in the mortgage origination business means higher profit margins for the remaining ones,” said Stijn Van Nieuwerburgh, director of the Center for Real Estate Finance Research at New York University.

Mary Eshet, a spokeswoman for Wells Fargo, said the mortgage business remains competitive. “The only way we can effectively grow our business and deliver great service to customers is by offering market competitive rates,” she said.

The other three banks declined to comment. But the banks are benefiting from the higher mortgage gains. Wells Fargo reported $4.8 billion in revenue from its mortgage origination business in the first six months of the year, an increase of 155 percent from $1.9 billion in the first six months of 2011. JPMorgan Chase and U.S. Bancorp, the other big lenders, are also reporting very high levels of mortgage origination revenue. Wells Fargo made 31 percent of all mortgages in the 12 months through June, according to data from Inside Mortgage Finance.

“One of the reasons that the banks charge more is that they can,” said Thomas Lawler, a former chief economist of Fannie Mae and founder of Lawler Economic and Housing Consulting, a housing analysis firm.

The banks are well positioned to profit because of their role in the mortgage market. After they bundle the mortgages into bonds, the banks transfer nearly all of the loans to government-controlled entities like Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. The entities, in turn, guarantee the bond investors a steady stream of payments.

The banks that originated the loans take the guaranteed bonds, called mortgage-backed securities, and sell them to investors. The banks nearly always book a profit when the bonds are sold.

The mortgage industry has a yardstick for measuring the size of those profits. It compares the mortgage rates paid by borrowers and the interest rate on the mortgage bond — a difference known in the industry as the spread.

For example, a bank may lend money to homeowners at a 3.6 percent interest rate. After bundling those mortgages, the bank may then sell them in bonds that have an interest rate of 2.8 percent. The lower interest rate on the bond shows that the banks are effectively able to sell the mortgages to investors for a gain.

The banks pocket that markup when they sell the bonds. The bigger the spread between the mortgage rate and the bond rate, the bigger the markup for the banks.

Mortgage analysts who track this difference say it has been historically high in recent months. They contend that if the market were functioning properly, the recent drop in the bond rates should have led to a larger decline in mortgage rates for consumers than has actually occurred. .

Instead, the difference between the two rates is increasing: mortgage rates are falling much more slowly than the bond interest rates.

In the six months through June, the average difference between the two rates was 1.1 percent, and at the start of this month it was 1.26 percent. From 2000 to 2010, it was about 0.5 percent.

If banks offered mortgages with an interest rate that was half a percentage point lower — a move that would leave their mortgage gains closer to the historical levels of 0.5 percent — borrowers would see real savings.

Bankers say they need the extra mortgage revenue to cover new costs. As a result of more stringent conditions since the housing bust, bankers are required to be more diligent in approving loan applications. The banks say this requires better-trained employees and other added expenses. If Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac find flaws in the loan applications, they ask the banks to buy back the faulty loans, which can be expensive for the lenders.

“Fannie and Freddie are requiring zero-error loans,” said Tom Deutsch, executive director of the American Securitization Forum, a group that represents financial firms active in the mortgage market.

But Mr. Lawler, the housing analyst, is somewhat skeptical about the banks’ fears about the costs of buybacks. “If banks do their job properly, there should be little buyback risk,” he said.

The failure of mortgage rates to fall further poses a quandary for the government entities like the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department, which have spent hundreds of billions of dollars to help make home loans cheaper.

“Policy makers get a little frustrated that they are not getting all the bang for their buck that they could,” said Mr. Lawler.

If the Federal Reserve bought more mortgage bonds in the market, it could actually increase banks’ mortgage profits, since such buying could drive down bond rates and increase the size of the markup banks take when they sell their mortgages.

It is hard to see how this situation can change in favor of lower rates for consumers. The banks are finding plenty of consumers wanting mortgage loans at current rates, and bond investors are happy to pay whatever low rate is offered.

And regulators, who are loath to dictate business practices, are unlikely to force banks to lower mortgage rates.

Still, the housing market would benefit if rates to consumers fell in tandem with the bond rates, said Mr. Van Nieuwerburgh of New York University.

“The relatively high mortgage rates do not help the housing recovery because they make it harder for new homeowners to get on the housing ladder and because they make refinancing relatively less attractive,” he said.

source: http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2012/08/08/with-rate-twist-banks-increase-mortgage-profit/?hp

Measure Success With A Crown Asia Home

MANILA, Philippines — A wise man once said, “The secret to success is to keep your eye on the reward.” This is the impetus that keeps Crown Asia going, and searching for better ways of building, designing and living.

This company, a subsidiary of Vista Land and Lifescapes, Inc., the Philippines’ largest homebuilder, feels that its residents, and residents-to-be, truly deserve inspired living. They have worked hard, possibly harder than most. This is why every Crown Asia home is impressive, exquisite and built with excellent workmanship and of first-rate materials. Every community is embellished with stylized landscapes and offers areas for play and getting-together. Security is key in every Crown Asia development, as well as sustainability and a keen respect for the planet.

Crown Asia prides itself as the creator of the country’s finest residential properties for the Filipinos who work hardest—the nation’s upper middle-income families and individuals. This group places a premium on hard work, and with a Crown Asia home—a “trophy home” if you will—are able to reap the rewards of their struggles.

Uncompromised Quality

Since 1995, when Crown Asia launched its first development, La Marea in San Pedro, Laguna, the company has been guided by the philosophy that every home and community it builds must be worthy of the success and hard work of its owner.

To the Filipino, a home is the finest gift one can give to one’s self, and family. For those who work harder than most, as seen in their greater success, the rewards must be greater as well. This is why, to this day, and over 30 developments later—including the regional and vertical developments carrying the Crown Asia brand—every community is created with uncompromised quality.

Each Crown Asia home is designed and built with exceptionally high standards and workmanship. Beyond quality, the beauty of the homes and the luxury of the communities are the “trophies” residents deserve for their triumphs.

Resort Lifestyle

Beyond being known for excellent quality and craftsmanship, Crown Asia brings to the country the concept of “themed homes”—transporting the loveliest places on the planet onto the streets and avenues of the Philippines. By creating not just houses, but entire communities that look authentically Italian, Southern and Northern American, Crown Asia has actually also enhanced the Philippine landscape. To Crown Asia’s master planners, it is simply another way to reward future homeowners for their perseverance.

La Marea in Laguna easily evokes the American countryside; Marina Heights in Sucat completely takes one to San Francisco’s Marina Bay; Augustine Grove in Dasmarinas Cavites evokes the American countryside ambience with its sprawling trees and meandering roads. Carmel in Bacoor Cavite has a distinct Northern American feel. The Italian countryside, where one can almost breathe in the heady scent of olive and lemon trees, are recreated in many of Crown Asia’s properties: Valenza in Sta. Rosa Laguna, Ponticelli in Daang Hari, Citta Italia and Vita Toscana in Bacoor Cavite, Amalfi in Dasmarinas Cavite and Fortezza in Cabuyao Laguna, among others. For many of the residents, this is beyond a dream come true. It’s exactly where they wanted to live the rest of their lives.

Masterplanned Communities

Even the choice of location must be seen as a “reward” to the residents. Every Crown Asia neighborhood must be accessible and conveniently close to centers for business and leisure, as well as the necessary schools and hospitals. Transportation and main thoroughfares are always within easy reach and some even have a shuttle service to ferry residents around the villages and to transport hubs.

More than locating its properties close to city hubs, Crown Asia are masterplanned communities. Here, virtual cities are designed into the developments. Supermarkets, malls, churches, schools, hospitals, and even business centers are part and parcel of these modern-day residential complexes, making them practically independent and turning them into destinations in themselves.

For more information, visit www.crownasia.com.ph or call (2) 837-1400 and 584-1182.

source: mb.com.ph

Here’s An Easier Way To Furnish Your Bare Condo Unit

During the house-hunting process, the first step for many condo buyers is to take a tour of the model units. When they like what they see, the paperwork is processed, and when the unit is ready for occupancy, the new homeowners are left wondering how to best recreate the full use of space and charming ambience that had made them fall in love with the model unit. Their own finished unit happens to be stripped of all the frills that had showcased the work of a professional interior designer. What they have is a bare unit with a kitchen sink, shower and the electrical sockets.

This is actually a welcome challenge for many new homeowners who like to decorate. Others, however, may opt to seek expert help from designers and decorators. But those who cannot wait to move in can now have the exact same look of the model unit they had fallen in love with.

A new service by Megaworld Corporation offers just that opportunity. Its new Prime Properties Investment Group (PPG) is a marketing division that exclusively handles the completed projects and properties that are ready-for-occupancy (RFO). This specifically targets that segment of the market that prefers to buy finished homes rather than waiting to move into pre-selling projects. Megaworld PPG vice president for sales and marketing Donna Racho says the division will be providing its own brand of unparalleled after-sales services to Megaworld unit owners.

With this innovative move, Megaworld homeowners of choice cut properties can avail of the services of a design team, which is headed by interior designer Fernando Buenavista. This team will work with the homeowner in personalizing his new home. The resident has three themes to choose from – Zen, Contemporary and Modern Victorian.

“The Zen style has an Asian feel, with simple colors,” says Buenavista. “Contemporary has its metallic touches and minimalist appeal; it is something that never goes out of style. The Modern Victorian is preferred by the higher age bracket for its very classic design and is perfect for units that have bigger cuts. We talk to the owners about their taste and preferred style, and work within the budget they give us.”

After the client chooses a theme, the design team works on the schematics and rendition. The team can even help the buyer shop for furniture and fixtures. “It also works to their advantage, because we can get good deals from our suppliers,” he says, pointing in particular to a gorgeous metallic-theme tile found in one of the finished RFO unit kitchens in Eastwood, Libis. “Many people who looked at this unit thought it was an expensive imported brand, when actually, it is from one of our suppliers. They offer these tiles to us at more than half the price.”

A homeowner also has another option: He can buy the entire model unit he liked: lock, stock, and barrel. “They get the rugs, the lighting fixtures, the framed artwork, everything! All they need to bring is their clothes,” Buenavista says. In fact, he adds that the Contemporary unit that comes with the metallic-tiled kitchen was already snapped up by a buyer who is set to move in sometime soon.

Some of the available RFO units are located at Eastwood Parkview and One Central Park in Eastwood City, Libis; Stamford Residences, 115 Upper McKinley in McKinley Hill, The Bellagio III, and Forbeswood Parklane at the Bonifacio Global City; The Residential Resorts in Newport City; Greenhills Heights in San Juan; and El Jardiniere del Presidente II in Quezon City.

For more information about the Megaworld preselected prime cuts developments and the free interior design services, call 867-8913 or email primeproperties@megaworld.com.

source: mb.com.ph

Splendido Taal Home With Best Lake View

More people now think of Tagaytay as the site for a second home, if not a dream home. The climate is much cooler all year round. And it has the added advantage of being relatively close to Metro Manila; about 70 kilometers or less than two hours away.

Residents of Tagaytay enjoy a relaxed rural, countryside setting, plus fresh food because farms and fishing grounds are nearby. At the same time, Tagaytay has all the modern conveniences that we expect from urban living: shopping malls, hospitals, schools, business establishments and modern telecommunications.

One residential development that stands out because of its ideal location in Tagaytay is the Splendido Taal Residential, Golf and Country Club. Tower 2 of the 250-hectare gated community located along the Tagaytay Ridge is now open for selling, and like Tower 1 which is already sold out, it offers the best view of the breathtaking Taal Lake.

According to Splendido’s developers JAKA and Sta. Lucia Land, location was key in choosing a site for the development.

“We were fortunate enough to find the perfect spot in the Tagaytay Ridge that offers the best view of Taal Lake and its island. Other developments in the area also offer a view of the lake but they simply aren’t at as good a location,” said James Aguila, Project Director of Fil-Estate, the exclusive marketing arm of Splendido.

Besides the Taal Lake, residents of Spledido Taal would be able to view the scenic Balayan Bay. Splendido Taal is also close to the beaches of Nasugbu and Calatagan.

The project is a mixed-use development which offers several types of units for sale. The fourth to the 11th floor units are for condotel operations and those in the 12th to the 18th floor are residential units. Unit types include studio apartments, one-bedroom apartments and two-bedroom apartments.

Unit owners of Splendido Taal Tower 2 are awarded lifetime membership at the Splendido Taal Country Club, giving them access to its fine dining restaurants, coffee shop, and bar. They also have access to wellness services like saunas, Jacuzzi, day spa and massage services, and the swimming pools for adults and for kids.

The country club has a covered basketball court, badminton courts, a bowling alley and a gym. There’s also free Wi-Fi access. Unit owners who are avid golfers also have access to the Splendido Taal Golf Club. They will also enjoy free golf club associate membership for two years.

source: mb.com.ph

Five Biggest Mistakes When Buying Property Abroad

Buying real estate is never a simple task, but it becomes even more complex when the property you are buying is in a foreign land whose laws and practices you are not familiar with.

Still, the lure of low prices and high returns invites many of us to buy property abroad, and often, they are good investments indeed. It's just a matter of knowing how to be safe and do the transaction right and avoiding these five huge property-buying mistakes:

1. Judging with your eyes closed. Many of us fall in love with a property, simply because it's located in what looks like a good neighbourhood, or because it reminds us of our childhood home. In real estate, as in real life, when we fall in love, we tend to decide with our eyes closed - and that's never a good idea when you're making a high-value purchase.

No matter how much you like a place, examine all the details of the structure itself: Are the walls sound? Do the floors feel solid or creaky? Are there signs of water damage? Are the drains and pipes working? How is the insulation?

You don't expect to find a perfect house, but make sure you see the imperfections clearly before you decide to buy.

2. Overestimating one's capacity to pay. There is a rule of thumb that says, "Never buy a house that will eat up more than 25% of your take-home pay." There is a sound reason this rule was made; ignore it at your own peril.

Remember the price of the property is not the only thing you'll need to shell out for. There are property taxes, maybe even association dues. Make sure you get all these costs out before you sign anything.

3. Ignoring the background of the property. Why is this property for sale? Has it been in escrow but fell out? How long has it been in the market? If it's been for sale for half a year, you may be able to get more concessions. And why are people not buying?

To get the answers to these questions, you need to meet your neighbours. They can (and often will) tell you the background of a house, why the owners left, why it's taking time to get sold, how quiet it is at night, how difficult it is to get a cab, how bad the traffic can get, how far the nearest schools, churches, and stores are - important things that your agent might not tell you.

4. Making the listing agent your buyer's agent. Self-defeating! Listing agents are required to protect the seller's interest, not the buyer's. Why, then, would you want to rely on somebody like that?

It costs nothing but time to get a trained buyer's agent on your side. Just make sure you get good referrals or carefully check previous clients' reviews. A good agent can help you get a good inspector and check a whole bunch of important stuff such as titles, zoning and easements, right of way, official permissions, status of tax payments, property registrations, and any legal impediments on the property or its supply of utilities.

5. Not getting a local lawyer. If you were buying property at home, you would never dream of doing so without the help of a lawyer you can trust. And yet, so many people do exactly that when buying property in a foreign land! You don't need to look for a lawyer yourself; a good agent can refer you to one. But make sure you have an English-speaking lawyer who is a native of the country where you are buying property from, to help you make sure everything related to your purchase is going as it should, correctly, legally, and fairly.

If you are looking to buy property somewhere in Europe for example Spain, Germany or Portugal property you will come up with different regulations local knowledge is valuable when purchasing overseas.

Portugal Property Sales agent helping you find your dream home.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Louise_Goldstein

AT&T expands into wireless home security, automation

(CNN) -- AT&T is joining the expanding field of home security and automation, introducing a wireless service that will let homeowners use their mobile devices to remotely set alarms, turn on lights or even shut off water.

Called AT&T Digital Life, the service will connect users with a vast array of domestic devices and appliances, including cameras, door locks, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and thermostats.

It will run on AT&T's IP-based wireless platform and can be accessed via smartphones, tablets or PCs. And despite being from AT&T, it will work regardless of the user's wireless carrier.

The company plans to begin trials of the service in Atlanta and Dallas this summer.

"AT&T Digital Life will change the way people live, work and play -- and meets a clear need in the market," said Kevin Petersen, senior vice president of Digital Life for AT&T Mobility. "The service is smart, simple and customer-centric -- freeing homeowners to do the things they want to do without compromising on the things they need to do to care for family and home."

Digital Life joins other existing products and wireless companies that are taking advantage of people's increasing reliance on mobile devices.

Comcast offers a home-security feature through an iPhone app. Verizon offers a similar service, while home security market leader ADT features ADT Pulse on approved devices.

In a news release from AT&T, Larry Hettick, a research director for market-research company Current Analysis, says that Digital Life "promises to be as robust as anything in the marketplace today." He said he was impressed with the system's wireless platform and ability, unlike some existing services, to work with a wide range of different devices.

source: CNN

Organizing The Kitchen Counter for Everyday Use

Many people consider a well-organized kitchen to be one of the secrets to household happiness. However, if you have a busy family that's constantly on the go, you might find that keeping your kitchen organized can be a difficult and even daunting task. If you'd like to transform your disorganized kitchen into a more efficient and pleasant living space, why not start with the kitchen counter? Here are some easy tips you can use to organize your kitchen counter for everyday use.

Eliminate Clutter

A cluttered and disorganized kitchen can be a very difficult place in which to work. If your countertops are filled with clutter, you naturally don't have as much useful space in which to work. Clutter also tends to make a room look too small and "busy." In fact, countertop clutter can make even a large kitchen seem too small.

Eliminating unnecessary clutter should be the first step towards organizing your kitchen counter space. Start by removing any paper clutter, such as notes, unopened mail, school papers, or the daily newspaper. You should also remove any items that simply do not belong in the kitchen. Once these unnecessary items have been removed, it will be easier to decide upon an organizational strategy for the items you do use every day.

Countertops versus Cabinets

When organizing your kitchen, it's important to make a determination as to which items are best stored on the counter and which ones are best stored in the cabinets. In the case of small kitchen appliances or items that are used quite frequently, the countertop is often the best choice. However, if you only use your bread machine or yogurt maker on an occasional basis, storing it in the cabinet can free up a lot of countertop space. Take the time to carefully assess each item that you're currently storing on your kitchen counters. By finding alternate storage areas for infrequently used items, you'll have more countertop space available for everyday use.

Once you've stored your infrequently used items in the cabinets or pantry, you might decide to add a few new items to your countertop area. For example, if you're currently storing your spices in a cabinet, you might find that you'd use them more frequently if they were stored in a convenient spice rack on the countertop.

Baskets, Bins and Boxes

Baskets, bins and boxes can be the perfect solution when it comes to organizing your kitchen counter. For example, although you probably wouldn't want pencils, pens and note pads cluttering your countertop, it's hard to argue with the fact that they are all useful items. Instead of dealing with the clutter, tuck a pad of paper and a couple of pens into a small bin or basket. You'll be able to keep the items close at hand while still keeping your countertops organized and neat. Baskets and other containers that don't have lids can be convenient for items you need to grab quickly. However, lidded boxes and bins can go a long way towards reducing visual clutter, making your entire kitchen look more organized.

Home design expert, Alyssa Davis of Metal-Wall-Art.com, is particularly skilled in designing with metal fish art and metal wall decor for bathroom.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alyssa_Davis