Clark County Public Health Department gets $100,000 Grant

A $100,000 grant to Clark County Public Health Department, for the study of the ‘connection between healthy populations, and policy decisions of how communities are built’ has been announced by Active Living Research, a national program. Under the terms of the one year grant, a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) of the Clark County Pedestrian Master Plan, will be conducted by Public Health staff.

The staff will use geographic information systems and other tools and methods to gather data about local environmental characteristics involving pedestrian activity such as population density and connectivity of pedestrian transportation routes.  Staff will use HIA findings to provide input into the plan and identify highest-value implementation strategies to policymakers and planners.

The HIA will also examine health equity issues, such as a 6.6-year disparity in life expectancy between certain low-income and affluent Clark County neighborhoods. With high obesity rates, and generally low youth physical activity rates for Clark County, one of the initial goals of the pedestrian plan is to increase opportunities for more physical activity by improving the availability of having more safe routes to schools. The formal HIA report is due to be issued later this year.

Remodel Or Move

At some point your present home may begin to feel a bit cramped, or too small and you would like to have more room. You must weigh the price of a larger home over against the prospect of living with contractors and plaster dust for a long time. Is it better to remodel or to look for a new home?

Before you decide on a major home improvement project, talk with me, I know your neighborhood. You need to know if the improvements that you have in mind will ‘over-improve’ your home, making it difficult to re-sell? Will you be able to recover the cost of your investment? Find out how much your present home is currently worth, and how much home equity you have. You may be able to make a substantial down payment that lowers your mortgage payments on a larger home by selling your home, instead of going through re-modeling, which could last for several months.

Support SW Medical Center

Join me in supporting the SW Medical Center.
Last year Pink Power along with other donators raised enough money to ad another Breast Cancer wing to SW Medical Center. This year the support is going to the Neo Natal Cause. I am the presenting Sponsor.

The Infamous Curb Appeal

I often have to remind my clients that good curb appeal is a major plus when it comes to marketing a home. A little bit of work on the front of your home can pay big dividends.

When a potential buyer pulls up in front of your house, their first impression is absolutely crucial. Sometimes buyers won’t even look at a home with shattered shutters, rusted out gutters, peeling paint and a bumper crop of dandelions in the front yard. Or they might go in expecting to find a “fixer-upper” that could be purchased at a bargain price. If a house looks neat and cared for from the street, the initial good impression will carry over as the buyers step inside. Your yard entrance makes the First Impression !

First-Time Homebuyers ‘Mistakes and Tips’

Many Realtors, and real estate professionals agree on the following  ‘Common Mistakes of First Time Buyers’ such as

• not asking enough questions
• don’t act quickly enough to make decisions
• don’t find the right agent willing to help
• don’t do enough to make their offers look good
• they don’t think about resale and resale values before they buy

Those same Realtors, and real estate professionals agree on the following ‘Tips for First-Time Homebuyers’

• like being more picky
• stop being unrealistic
• doing your homework before you start looking
• getting your finances in order
• not asking too many people for their opinions
• deciding when you can move
• start thinking more long-term
• don’t let yourself be house poor, don’t be naïve
• Most Important: Get help from a REALTOR, or real estate agent, when you are ready to purchase your first home.

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