Searching for property to buy or sell can be a time-consuming and sometimes frustrating task. There are plenty of realtors helping out people to sell their home, but what about help for the buyers? Although you can research different listings and compare the best price, consider also using a professional buyer’s agent. This agent represents you as the buyer, looking out for your best interest.

Besides helping you buy your home, you can also create a personalized search that has matching properties sent to your email. You can search by town, property type, minimum to maximum price, square footage, number of bedrooms/bathrooms, and even by street name and subdivision. You can also find community information and helpful buying guides on the buyer’s agent website.

If you are looking for Northwest Arkansas real estate, check out this great resource of over 6,000 property listings.

Over the past few years, I have felt like my body and I have not been working in unison. As many times as my husband and I tried to conceive a child, the more my body rejected the idea. After three miscarriages and four IVF attempts, I was ready to give up the idea of ever raising my own baby. Depression began to take over me.

However, our infertility doctor presented the final option available to us, which was surrogacy. Initially I had rejected this option because I wanted to experience pregnancy. Since pregnancy didn’t seem possible, we decided to try surrogacy.

We found a surrogacy agency that screened surrogates (just like they do with egg donors) to ensure that they were healthy, had been pregnant before, had the same views and values about pregnancy as us, and were emotionally and physically ready to carry a baby for another couple.

We choose a surrogate and began the nerve-racking wait to see if she conceived. After an initial success, I was overjoyed to know that both my husband and I had managed to conceive our own child–even if the baby wasn’t growing inside of me.

Over the next nine months of waiting, we bonded with our surrogate and considered her a close friend. Our darling little girl was born 6 lbs 7 oz one month ago. Parenting is better than I imagined. Best of all, our little girl has her Daddy’s eyes.

Yet another piece of china from my rare, antique set has been broken by the hands of one of my offspring.  I would have been irate had my daughter not been so devastated.  I think she knew how much I loved the china set, so I knew she felt absolutely horrible (evident in the flood of tears that ensued). 

Oh well.  This now being the third piece broken recently – I just hope I find this china replacement piece as easily as the last one.  Geez, I’m sure edish (my replacement service of choice) will welcome me back with open arms; a regular customer they know will be back again…and again…and again.

My dear husband, in an attempt to give me some very much needed deserved time alone, took our kids out this past Saturday night. Unbeknownst to me, he decided to give them a “treat” and took them to a “Denver Halloween attraction,” as he called it – a.k.a. a haunted house. Normally I would not be opposed to such a thing, except that he brought in tow our seven year old daughter.

Normally, I would have given him a piece of my mind for dragging such a young girl into a creepy haunted house (he was definitely doing to be the one to sleep with her when she wouldn’t be able to sleep because of nightmares). But she squealed with delight as she told me all about their Halloween excursion. She was absolutely thrilled and apparently had the time of her life. So much in fact, that she is now asserting that she wants to be Freddy Krueger for Halloween to “scare all the boys!” Excuse me, child? From the girl who can’t stand spiders and squeals in terror at small dogs?

I am not sure if it is truly her desire or a result of encouragement from her older brothers (who find it hilarious), but she seems quite intent on being just that. Always one to choose my battles wisely with my children, I have decided to indulge her. What happened to being a princess or fairy? I miss those days!

With my wedding a mere two weeks away, life is crazier than ever.  Never mind the countless hours spent planning the actual event, what I am most stressed about is trying to entwine two separate lives into one existence; habituating to living so intimately with another individual, seamlessly integrating our finances, and our housing situation.

This past year, my fiancé and I purchased our very first home, something we are super excited about.  It may not be the biggest or fanciest house on the block, but it is all mine, and I have succumbed to a new addiction – home décor!  

But along with our beautiful new home came the unavoidable mortgage.  Not that I am complaining; a mortgage is a necessity of life for most Americans.  But it would be nice to have the home paid off before thirty years, especially considering living debt-free is so important to both of us.

So we have decided to try the Money Merge Account program, an early mortgage payoff program gaining popularity throughout the United States.

The Money Merge Account permits homeowners to diminish the principal balance of their mortgage, thus reducing the interest that accumulates on the loan.    An advanced home equity line of credit is used to drive the program.  Since, we purchased the home during the first phase of a housing development project and have been able to accrue equity during the subsequent phases, we were approved for the loan.

Apparently, with use of the Money Merge Account program, you can pay off a mortgage in as little as 8-12 years.  That’s definitely what we are hoping for!  For more information about the Money Merge Account program, visit the official United First Financial website.

Infertility is a problem that thousands of Americans suffer.  Dealing with it can be emotionally exhausting, taxing, and difficult as individuals come to terms with their inability to have a child. 

However, new technological advancements are making it easier and more likely for couples with infertility issues to become pregnant.  Couples now have a myriad of infertility treatments to choose from including in vitro fertilization, egg donation, and surrogacy. 

For more information about methods and treatments that are right for you, consult an infertility services clinic. 

My husband and I recently purchased a new home and it feels like we now have a 30 year monkey hanging on us.  Not that we are financially struggling to make our mortgage payments, but as the biggest debt we have ever incurred (like most Americans), it would be nice to pay of the house in less the thirty years.

A good friend introduced us to the Money Merge Account, a mortgage payoff solution created by United First Financial.  A web-based software program, the Money Merge Account enables homeowners to pay down the mortgage principal balance, reducing the interest that accrues on the loan, and thus allowing people to pay off their mortgage quicker. 

With dedication and discipline in using the Money Merge Account, a mortgage can be paid off in as little as eight to twelve years.  Now, I don’t know any homeowner that wouldn’t like the sound of that! 

Americans sure love their toy pups!  In 2006, the Yorkshire Terrier became the second most popular dog in the United States, beating out a number of long-standing big breed favorites, such as the lab and golden retriever.   

And it seems as though we aren’t afraid to spoil them either.  Whether it is the influence of the celebrity culture (think Paris Hilton toting her chihuahua “Princess” around) or just that we adore our furry companions, people are spending more and more money on man’s best friend.  From a luxury dog carriers to designer puppy clothes to gourmet treats, I think some dogs get treated better than I do!

But I suppose if I had more money than I knew what to do with, my little shorkie puppy (a shih tzu and yorkie) mix would probably be just as spoiled.  Without a steady man or kids (yet), she remains my loyal companion and best friend, so why not treat her to the best?  For now though, she will have to make do with the premium Purina puppy chow and soft fleece bed, although I am saving up for my next purchase: a beautiful dog carrier purse, fall’s hottest accessory! 

Colonial wrote a post about her broken china awhile back.  I decided to try the site she recommended to help me find a missing saucer from a gorgeous tea set I picked up at a flea market (what a fabulous find, by the way!).  Much to my astonishment, they actually found the matching china piece needed to complete the set.  And I didn’t have to pay out the ear for the piece; it was very affordable!   If you need to find a china replacement piece to complete your set, check out eDish.com!

I have a friend who recently started on online store using drop shipping services. Apparently, so far so good. She has started making substantial profits with minimal time and effort required to bring in those profits. Another good friend, being arguably the best baker I have ever come across, started a wedding cake business right out of her home. Already, she is booked for the next three months, all by word of mouth referrals. For something as beautiful and traditional as a wedding cake, she is able to charge a considerable amount more than what it costs to make it. And yet, another friend is making bank by simply babysitting a good friend’s son while she is at work. Not only does that (also) provide a respectable income, it provides a built-in playmate for her only son. My sister, an English major and student paper president, has started free lancing writing press releases for companies looking for contract writers.

So what’s to be said for at home or on the side businesses such as these? Who knew one could make so much money with a side business that utilizes the skills one already has? I need to find my “forte” and start making money! Need some ideas?