REAL ESTATE HUMOR -If you think no one cares you're alive, miss a couple of house payments. -If you want to know exactly where the property line is, just watch the neighbor cut the grass. -A housewarming is the final call for those who haven't sent a wedding present -A man's home is his castle. That's how it seems when he pays taxes on it. -The dream of the older generation was to pay off a mortgage. The dream of today's young families is to get one .

eptember is a month for Remembrance.

DROUGHT HURTING FOUNDATIONS Your foundation supports your home and keeps it from shifting. You should inspect your foundation twice a year to ensure it lasts for the life of your home. The type of foundation you have depends on your home's design and your particular soil conditions. In areas where flooding or weak soil is a problem, houses are often built on piers or pilings. In some areas, pressure-treated wood foundations have become popular. The most common foundation, how-ever, is a concrete or masonry perimeter enclosing a crawl space, full cellar or basement. Foundation Inspection Cracks: 1. Begin your inspection by looking for cracks along the foundation’s outside wall. a. Normal curing of concrete and mortar joints can cause cracks. Most cracks are normal and are structurally insignificant b. Cracks wider than 1/16 inch should be investigated, possibly with the assistance of an engi-neer or qualified inspector, to determine whether the cracks are a cause for concern. 2. Check the slope of the ground around your foundation a. The ground should slope away from your home so rain water will flow away from, not toward the foundation. b. Back filled soil along the house can settle over time. This can create a depression that will collect water near the foundation. Correct any depressions by raising the grade with topsoil (not sand or gravel) so that the ground slopes 2 inches per horizontal foot for 8 to 10 feet from the foundation 3. Settling along the foundation can also cause concrete patios and walkways to break and direct water towards your home. A contractor can add a new layer of concrete to reverse the slope. Ensure that you are watering around the foundation or are removing trees that will sap moisture from underneath the home because they are too close. To get an idea of how often to water, look at the soil around the house. Like a sponge left out to dry, the edges will pull away from the foundation as the soil dries out. In general, water no more than twice a week. Don’t place a soker hose against the house. Home owners worried about their foundation, should call an expert. Most good companies will do a free estimate.

See you next month. Remember to watch for school zones.

Tracy and Greg Bielamowicz

(Can’t say our last name? Just remember B2Z!)

B2Z BROADCAST

TRIVIA

THE FIRST PERSON TO EMAIL US THE CORRECT RESPONSE WILL WIN A STARBUCKS GIFT CARD.

QUESTION:

What well know contest was created to extend the tourist season beyond labor day and what city did this? B2ZTEAM@KW.COM

REMEMBER 9/11, 2001. ``If we learn nothing else from this tragedy, we learn that life is short and there is no time for hate,'' said Sandy Dahl, the wife of Flight 93 pilot Jason Dahl.

AUGUST’S WINNER:

SHERRI CRONIN

OF LEWISVILLE

TO SEE AUGUST’S QUESTION, VISIT US AT B2ZTEAM.COM

SEPTEMBER 2006

ISSUE 3

4 c. chopped green tomatoes 1 T. salt 1/2 c. butter 2 c. white sugar 2 eggs 2 c. all-purpose white flour 1 t. ground cinnamon 1 t. ground nutmeg 1/8 t. ground cloves 1 t. baking soda 1/4 t. salt 1/2 c. raisins 1/2 c. chopped walnuts

Place chopped tomatoes in a colander and sprinkle with 1 T. salt. Let stand 10 minutes. Rinse with cold water and drain. Preheat oven to 350o. Grease and flour a 9x13- inch baking pan. Cream the butter and sugar. Add eggs and beat until creamy. Sift together flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, soda, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Add raisins and nuts to dry mixture; add dry ingredients to creamed mixture. Dough will be very stiff. Mix well. Add drained tomatoes and mix well. Pour into prepared pan. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes in the preheated oven, or until toothpick inserted into cake comes out clean. Top this moist spice cake with powdered sugar or your favorite cream cheese frosting. Great in lunchboxes!

SAVOR THE FLAVOR Green Tomato Cake

Avoid the Princess and the Pea Syndrome In The Princess and the Pea fairytale, the measurement of a true prin-cess was one who was sensitive enough to feel a pea under a tall stack of mattresses. In reality, while you may have an uncomfortable bed, it is more likely due to a bad mattress than a pea. With a little mattress maintenance you, too, will sleep like royalty. Rotating your mattress will promote even wear, smooth out body impressions, and increase the mattress life. One-sided mattresses (supportive foam and fiber on one side only) are engineered for convenience and should not be flipped. Turn two-sided mattresses four times a year, alternating with the rota-tions. To track the schedule, label one end of the mattress with January (written right side up) and April (written upside down), and the other with October (right side up) and July (upside down). Use a scrap piece of lightweight cloth (cut from an old white t-shirt) held in place by safety pins.

JOKE: Where do ants go for their holidays?

ANSWER: FRANTS.

WE’RE ON THE

WEB!!

B2ZTEAM.COM

KIDS C

ORNER

B2ZTEAM 5000 JOSHUA DRIVE FLOWER MOUND, TX

75028

NOT INTENDED TO SOLICIT PROPERTIES ALREADY LISTED FOR SALE

ON EVERY REAL ESTATE CLOS-ING, WE DONATE A PERCENTAGE OF OUR COMMISSION TO THE CHARITY OF YOUR CHOICE. CALL US FOR MORE DETAILS.

THE B2Z TEAM Email: B2ZTEAM@kw.com

Phone: 214-725-2322 KNOW SOMEONE BUYING OR SELLING ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY? CALL US, WE CAN HELP THEM!

Each office is Independently

owned and operated

LOOK INSIDE FOR GREAT HOME TIPS, RECEIPES, AND A CHANCE

TO WIN A STARBUCKS GIFT

STATE FAIR OF TEXAS September 29–October 22

Fair Park, Dallas

Visit www.bigtex.com for more info.

COMING SOON!

PLANO BALLOONFEST SEPTEMBER 22, 23, & 24. As September air brings cooler weather to North Texas, there's still plenty of hot air in Plano. The three-day event can have you floating in a cloud if you take ad-vantage of the $250-per-person balloon rides. Balloons feature imaginative shapes and creative designs, including famous cartoon characters from American popular culture.

Visit /www.planoballoonfest.org for more information