Realty Insights for Home Buying, Home Selling, and Indy Info

It's almost 2 months into the new year...have you kept your New Year's resolutions? For many of us, we resolved to eat better and live healthier. To keep up the momentum, here a few quick tips for eating well: * Be conscious of how much you are eating rather than what you are eating. If we stick to moderation a majority of the time, we can allow ourselves to indulge every once in awhile. * Watch your portion size when eating out in restaurants. Try to leave with a doggie bag! * When grocery shopping, stick to the fresh produce and meats sections and avoid the aisles of processed and canned foods. * Educate yourself on healthy choices. Learn different ways to spice up food that keeps them healthy but keeps them tasting good.

Think only the big and big-money homes get all the attention? Not anymore! Check out the online Tour of Affordable Homes. Assembled by the Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of Realtors and The Indy Star, the Tour features homes on the market throughout Indianapolis that are listed at $150,000 and below. The online tour will feature multiple photos of the properties as well as virtual open houses, panoramic shots of the home and voiceovers about the home and the neighborhood. The listings are available online at www.indystar.com/Homescape beginning Feb. 10 and running for 90 days.

Did you know that housecleaning could make you healthier and help you lose weight? Believe it or not, the activities associated with daily chores can burn calories and raise your heart rate. Here are some common chores and the amount of calories you could burn (the number of calories burned will vary based on fitness level, weight and gender): Washing windows: 4 calories/minute Scrubbing floors on your hands and knees: 5 calories/minute Vacuuming: 4 calories/minute Light dusting: 3 calories/minute Mopping: 4 calories/minute Making the bed: 2 calories/minute Washing dishes: 3 calories/minute So get out your cleaning supplies and start workin' it!

What's hot in design for 2008? According to Angela Hogan, Senior Design Manager for Beazer Interior Design: "Green" Design Products made from sustainable or recycled materials and completely eco-friendly homes. Designing for Technology Incorporating technology into our homes and furniture. For example, motorized devices that lower flat screen TVs into a console when not in use and iPod connections in your recliner and docking stations in nightstands. Gold Brass fixtures, golden-colored walls, brushed and shiny finishes. Gray The new neutral for 2008. Reprinted from Beazer.com magazine by permission.