Nicole Charles earned her Wisconsin Real Estate license in 2007, and by June of 2009 was in the top 1% of agents in the South Central Wisconsin MLS based on sold volume for that year. She was named the 2008 Keller Williams North-Central Region Rookie of the Year, and attributes her success to the power of networking. She was Wisconsin's number one Keller Williams single agent based on sold volume in 2009, and the majority of her volume came from referrals.

Contact Nicole and let her help you find your new home. (608) 513-0021 ∙ nicolecharles@kw.com

Thursday, July 30, 2009

FREE Home Buyer Seminar!


FREE information about home buying - from pre-approval to closing. Join us and learn how to select the right home for you, how much down payment is really required, how financing works, and the role a title company plays. We'll tell you everything you need to know about buying a home!

Register and save a seat at www.nicolecharles.com!

Hosted by Erin Ennis, Home Mortgage Consultant at Wells Fargo and Nicole Charles, REALTOR and Broker Associate at Nicole Charles & Associates of Keller Williams Realty.


Thursday, August 13, 2009, 6:00pm

Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
1241 John Q. Hammons Dr. #501 (fifth floor)
Madison, WI 53717



For more information, contact Nicole at (608) 513-0021 or nicolecharles@kw.com

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

One Green Year: What You Can Do Today

You could decide to lose weight—again—or this year you could resolve to lighten the load you leave on the planet. To help, we’ve outlined a series of small changes that add up to big results and divvied them up by time frame—tasks you can complete today, in the next week, during the next month and over the course of the next year. Breaking your efforts into smaller, more manageable tasks isn’t a cop-out: By following this plan, each small step adds up to changes that will benefit the health of the planet—and, yes, even your own health—immediately and in years to come.

Food

Instead of having lunch delivered to your office, walk to a nearby restaurant and save take-out containers by dining in. Or bring your own container to the restaurant and have it filled there. At the very least, bring a set of your own silverware and a bottle of your favorite condiment to the office so you can skip the plastic utensils and the little packets of salt, pepper, ketchup and soy sauce.

Transportation

Start making a note of each car trip you take. “Changing your car habits is one of the most dramatic ways to reduce your environmental impact,” says Jodi Helmer, author of The Green Year: 365 Small Things You Can Do to Make a Big Difference ($14.95, Alpha, 2008). Getting a clear picture of exactly how car-dependent you are can help in finding ways to cut back.

Energy

Get a baseline of your current carbon footprint using the reliable online calculators at either safeclimate.net or lowimpactliving.com. Set a goal of how much you’d like to reduce your impact over the coming year—10 percent is a good start. To up the ante, get a likeminded friend or group of friends to make a competition out of it: Send out an email today inviting them to join your year-long challenge.

Everyday Purchases

Buy a calendar and a notebook made out of recycled paper so you can track your consumption throughout the year. In the coming months, you’ll be noting each of the following on your calendar:

• the highest and lowest temperatures at which you set your thermostat each day
• the number of kilowatthours of electricity your household uses each month (it’s listed on your bill)
• the quantity of fuel you buy for home heating each month, whether it’s natural gas or oil
• how many gallons you buy at each trip to the gas station

In the notebook, create tally pages for car trips, trips made by public transportation, and self-powered (walking and biking) trips. Another page can be for waste, especially if you’re going to compare your progress with friends and neighbors. Divide this page into “recycled” and “not recycled” columns, and tally the things you dispose of and the things you recycle—plastic bags, drink containers, etc.— week by week.

(Article by Kate Hanley from http://www.thegreenguide.com/)

Monday, July 27, 2009

New home sales: 'Really good news'

Sales of newly constructed single family homes rose 11% over May, but median price fell 3%.

By Les Christie, CNNMoney.com staff writer
Last Updated: July 27, 2009: 12:14 PM ET


NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Sales of newly constructed single-family homes spiked 11% in June to an annualized rate of 384,000 homes, according to a report released Monday.

The gain over May was much greater than expected. A consensus of housing industry analysts had forecast seasonally adjusted sales of 352,000, according to Breifing.com.

However, sales are still 21% below the levels of a year ago, when new homes sold in June at an annualized rate of 488,000, according to the report released by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Four years ago, during the height of the housing boom, the sales rate for June was 1,374,000, nearly three-and-a-half times higher than last month.

Still, the report was very positive, according to Peter Morici, an economics professor at the University of Maryland who had forecast June sales to be at the 350,000 level. "That is really good news. Considering what's going on in existing home sales, with all the foreclosure activity sending down home prices, for new homes to jump like that is a good indicator that the economy is bottoming out."

Builders have been more optimistic about market conditions and this report should further buoy their spirits. An index of builder confidence from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) rose to 17 this month after languishing in single-digit territory.

In June, they began building single-family housing units at an annualized rate of 470,000, a 14.4% jump over May.

Pat Newport, a housing industry analyst for IHS Global Insight, also deemed the report very good news -- but is uncertain how Obama's $8,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers will affect the longer view.

"I only wonder how much of the increase is coming from rising demand from new homebuyers," he said. "The tax credit is boosting demand, but what will happen when it goes away in December?"

Prices and inventory
The median price paid for a house sold in June 2009 was down about 3% to $206,200; the mean price was $276,900.

By the end of the month, the inventory of new homes had dropped to 281,000, an 8.8 month supply at current rates of sale. Last month, there were enough homes on the market to last 10.2 months at that rate.

"They have to clean out that stock to get building again," said Morici.

"Normal" new home inventory is about 300,000, according to Newport, which we're already below. But ,he added, that the median time to sell a home is at an all-time high of 11.8 months.

"That tells you it's still very hard to sell a new home," he said.

Much of that struggle is because the housing stock is concentrated in exurbs -- otherwise known as McMansions far away from work. "Inventories are misaligned," said Morici, who likened the situation to the auto industry being overstocked with large trucks and SUVs instead of fuel efficient cars.

"There'll be a shift from far-out to closer-in and from bigger to smaller," he said. But builders will have a hard time selling those "white elephants" and they'll languish on the market, he predicted.

The excess inventory also tend to be concentrated in just a few markets, such as California, southern Florida, Las Vegas and Arizona, according to Bernard Markstein, a senior vice president and economist with the National Association of Home Builders.

"[In most other parts of the country] inventory has been worked down to the point where if you want to buy a new home, it will probably have to be built," he said.

Perhaps the best news is that home construction may be ready to once again boost the economy again. "The construction-put-in-place numbers that come out next month will show that housing is starting to add to the GDP," said Newport. "It's been nothing but a drag on growth lately."

With new home inventory more in balance, consumers may no longer be able to wring extras, such as high-end appliances and even swimming pools, out of builders. "People are going to find builders are not going to be quick to make concessions," Markstein said. "The time for getting deals is going away."


Madison: The Bikeable City

Wisconsin State Finals Barrel Horse Races 2009 at Alliant Energy Center


Come watch this exciting rodeo event where talented horse riders maneuver their horses around a maze of barrels in the fastest time! Twelve winners at the WI State Finals will receive invitations to compete in the NBHA World Championships in Augusta, Georgia on October 26-31.

When:
July 30th, 2009 through August 2, 2009

Where:
Arena at the Alliant Energy Center
1919 Alliant Energy Center Way
Madison, WI 53713

Contact:
Voice: 608-267-3976
Email: aec@alliantenergycenter.com

Thursday, July 23, 2009

2009 Red Power Round Up

Now THIS is Wisconsin. Come see farm equipment collections belonging to the International Harvester Collectors Club of Wisconsin at the 2009 "Red Power Round Up," July 23rd through 25th at Willow Island, Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin.



Schedule highlights:
Friday
• 10:00 am - "Historic Barns of Wisconsin" in the Expo Center
• 10:30 am - "Sunbonnet Sue Talks Quilting History" in the Expo Center
• 1:00 pm - "Care and Preservation of Family Photos" in the Expo Center
• 2:00 pm - "Hoops and Bustles Fashion Show" in the Expo Center
• 3:15 pm - "Michael Perry: Reading and Book Signing" in the Arena

Saturday
• 10:00 am - "Researching Your Family History" in the Expo Center
• 10:30 am - "Plows and Plowing" in the Expo Center
11:00 am - "Tractor Parade" on Willow Island (don't miss this!!!)
1:30 pm - "Auction" in the Expo Center

(for a complete list of events click here)

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

What to Bring to Concerts on the Square

There are a few essential items to bring to Concerts on the Square to ensure you have a fantasic time, and you can make one stop at Target to get all of them:

1. A table that is short enough to not block the view of anyone behind you. Look for it at Target: "Coleman Dynasty 30in. x 60in. Folding Table"


2. A blanket to sit on that is easy to fold up after the concert. Look for it at Target: Highline Luxury Picnic Blanket (Remember: You aren't allowed to put down blankets on the square until after 3pm, but by 4 the grounds are almost full!)


3. A comfy back support, because everyone else will wish they had one. Look for it at Target: "Picnic Time Metro Portable Reclining Seat"

4. A wine chiller to keep your Chardonnay at the perfect temperature. Look for it at Target: "Caddy-O Wine Chiller Insert"


5. A portable picnic basket to make it easy to bring treats along. Look for it at Target: "Banana Leaf Picnic Basket"


6. A great book to read while you listen to the orchestra and enjoy the breeze. Look for it at Target: "Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain"


(All images from http://www.target.com/)

Concerts on the Square in Madison


Come see the 26th Annual Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra performance led by Maestro Andrew Sewell at Concerts on The Square! Only two shows left!

Wednesday, July 22nd, 7 pm
"Spanish Nights"
Guest Artist, Javier Calderon, guitar

Wednesday, July 29th, 7 pm
"Maverick Marimba"
Guest Artist, Kevin Bobo, marimba

Have You Ever Toured the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison?
















(Images from James T. Potter's photo collection of the Wisconsin State Capitol, courtesy of the Wisconsin Historical Society at http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/. Check out the rest of James T. Potter's images here.)

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Ten Thrift Stores on Madison's West Side

Maybe you're on a budget, maybe you want to take a stab at being "green," or maybe you're looking for a shabby-chic retro accent for the mantle in the family room. Shopping second-hand can be an economical, environmental, and cool way to furnish your surroundings, so here are ten thirft stores to check out on Madison's west side.

  • Hospice Care Thrift Store‎
    122 Junction Rd, Madison, WI‎ - (608) 833-4556‎
  • Savers {my personal favorite!}‎
    7333 W Towne Way, Madison, WI‎ - (608) 827-9011‎
  • Saint Vincent De Paul
    4293 W Beltline Hwy, Madison, WI‎ - (608) 278-2924‎
  • Goodwill‎
    4530 Verona Rd, Madison, WI‎ - (608) 271-4687‎
  • Once Upon A Child
    706 S Gammon Rd, Madison, WI‎ - (608) 276-8076‎
  • Plato's Closet
    6733 Odana Rd, Madison, WI‎ - (608) 662-7410‎
  • Saint Vincent De Paul
    1900 S Park St, Madison, WI‎ - (608) 250-6370‎
  • The Pink Poodle‎
    6017 Odana Road, Madison, WI‎ - (608) 276-7467‎
  • St Vincent De Paul
    1109 Jonathon Dr, Madison, WI‎ - (608) 278-2920‎
  • Puttin' On the Ritz
    2532 Allen Blvd, Middleton, WI‎ - (608) 831-7480‎

Ten Kitchen Remodeling Features to Add Value to Your Home

Kitchen updates rank among the most popular home improvements. The reason? An excellent return on the investment. A renovated kitchen can deliver better storage, enhanced ergonomics, and higher resale value. Here are 10 trends to track when planning your remodeling project.

1. Built-in Coffee CenterThe latest models deliver customized cups of coffee, espresso, and cappuccino with the press of a button. Sleek, built-in designs save valuable counter space. Miele's CVA coffee system is shown here.

2. Sculptural Stove HoodOnce boxy and bland, stove hoods are taking center stage with curvy, sculptural shapes. The latest designs, like this wall-mount hood from Miele, combine stainless steel with new materials, such as treated glass. Some also incorporate features such as an overhead spice rack.

3. 21st Century Cabinetry Cabinets have gone minimal and modern with floating units, systems concealed behind sliding doors, touch-latch cabinet fronts that eliminate hardware, and innovative new surfaces, such as aluminum, bamboo, high-gloss lacquer, or semitranslucent glass. Bosch created the model kitchen shown here.

4. Dual-Fuel Ranges Culinarians used to debate the relative merits of electric vs. gas. Major manufacturers offer professional-quality ranges that combine the power of a gas cooktop with the even performance of an electric one. Styles can range from stainless steel to old-fashioned cast iron, like this Six-Four range in claret enamel finish by AGA.

5. Appliances that PopRetro kitchen accoutrements in colors such as red, yellow, and cobalt blue inject today's kitchens with a shot of color therapy. This is an OrangeX juicer in tangerine from Williams-Sonoma.

6. Italian Cooking GadgetsMany of today's most coveted kitchen accessories carry an Italian theme, such as state-of-the-art cappuccino makers, stainless steel truffle shavers, and industrial-quality gelato makers. The latest must-have: a panini grill, such as this Krups model, for cooking Italian-style hot pressed sandwiches.

7. Computerized Appliances Appliances of the next generation will be computer-regulated, interactive, cyber-smart, and multifunctional. One of the first prototypes out of the gate is Samsung's HomePAD refrigerator, which features Internet capabilities, e-mail, messaging, and TV/DVD features.

8. Designer Dishwashers High-end dishwasher manufacturers like Fisher & Paykel now offer attractive versions, concealed by cabinet fronts, that both wash and store dishes without the need for transfer. Another brand holds up to 20 place settings within a compact unit, making the cleanup of large dinner parties virtually effortless.

9. Custom Countertops Counters are going from common to couture with custom touches such as wooden butcher blocks and marble pastry slab inserts. Homeowners are mixing materials, such as concrete embedded with bits of glass and metal. Stone, such as soapstone and marble, remains a popular countertop material. Likewise, stainless steel, sealed concrete, engineered quartz (which has many of the advantages of granite without the maintenance requirements), and woods, such as mahogany, are gaining ground. The model at left is by Boffi.

10. Sleek Wine Refrigeration The latest offerings in wine refrigerators include freestanding models that hold up to 147 bottles, as well as smaller attached units complete with built-in refrigerator drawers. Models equipped with microprocessors provide benefits such as touchpad control and a digital cooling system that maintains ideal temperature and humidity levels in two separate zones, allowing for the proper storage of both red and white wines. A Jenn-Air built-in wine chiller is shown here.

(Article and Pictures from http://www.myhomeideas.com/)

Monday, July 20, 2009

How to Save on Energy Bills


I found this helpful and realistic article on www.thisoldhouse.com. Some of these tips on how to cut down your energy bill are free, but I like that they give real cost estimates and payback times on the changes that you should make that aren't free.

1. Choke Your Chimney

Cost: Free.
Benefits: A tightly closed damper prevents up to 8% of furnace-heated air from going up the chimney.
Payback time: Immediate.

Sure, it's nostalgia-inducing and all, but when it comes down to it, your fireplace is terribly—make that laughably—inefficient. According to the Department of Energy, a lit fireplace sucks about 24,000 cubic feet of furnace-heated air up your chimney each hour. Bonus: It's replaced by cold air that comes in the opposite direction through the same opening, causing your furnace to work extra hard to keep your house toasty. Still, we love gathering round the hearth as much as the next guy. Just remember to turn the thermostat down a little when you use it. Also, crack a window in the room where the fireplace is located and then close the door, so it doesn't suck too much warm air from the rest of the house. And remember to close your damper when it’s not in use.

2. Seal Air Leaks

Cost:
$30 to $50 for materials.
Benefits: Save 10% or more - $50 to $170 a year - on heating bills.
Payback time: Six months to one year.

Add up all those overlooked cracks, gaps, and openings around your windows, doors, plumbing, and wiring, and you may find your house has a hole the size of a Mack truck. Seal it up, and you'll save more than 10 percent on your heating bills. Start by caulking or weatherstripping around windows. For added comfort, pick up a product such as the 3M Indoor Window Kit at the hardware store. Resembling Saran wrap, the plastic sheet costs about $20 and can be discreetly stretched over windows using double-sided tape, blow-dried for a tight fit, and peeled off come springtime. It can increase a single-paned window's R-value by up to 90 percent. Fill in cracks around door frames with caulk, and while you're at it, install a screw-on or adhesive-backed door sweep. Use expanding-foam sealants to fill in larger gaps around plumbing and electrical work, especially where pipes enter your house through exterior walls. Tackle energy suckers in overlooked places, too—like exterior wall sockets and switches. You can block them up using fitted insulation pads. Just unscrew the switch plates and pop the pads into place.

3. Show Your Heating System Some Love

Cost: $75 to $100 for the tune-up. A gallon of mastic duct sealant costs $25; foil-backed tape costs about $7 a roll.
Benefits: Furnace tune-ups save up to 10% or more on heating bills; sealing ductwork reduces air leakage by 15% and heating bills from 3% to 10%.
Payback time: One heating session.

Soot buildup, dusty or poorly lubricated fans, flickering pilot lights, and loose fan belts can add hundreds to your heating costs each year. Getting your furnace tuned up regularly by a heating contractor can do wonders for both your wallet and your overall comfort. Natural gas–powered systems should be serviced every two to three years, while oil-fired units need a tune-up every year, since they burn dirtier. To make your system even more efficient, prevent heated air from leaking into your attic or crawl spaces by sealing ductwork with mastic duct sealant—a nontoxic, paint-on material—or foil-backed tape. Doing so will reduce your home's air leakage and could save you a bundle in heating and cooling bills.

4. Give In to Energy Star

Cost: Energy Star fridges start at around $399 for a top-mount and $899 for a side-by-side. Clothes washers cost $600 and up and dishwashers start at around $230.
Benefits: Save $80 per year in energy costs for the fridge, $110 annually on utility costs for the clothes washer, and $30 a year on utilities for the dishwasher.
Payback time: About five years for the fridge, seven to eight years for the clothes washer, and eight years for the dishwasher.

We spend 20 percent of our electricity bills running our appliances. But we can shrink that number dramatically by replacing them with fridges, clothes washers, and dishwashers that qualify for the Energy Star. Energy Star fridges, available from major manufacturers such as GE and Frigidaire, use half as much energy as those manufactured 15 years ago and 15 percent less than new non–Energy Star models. Rated dishwashers exceed current federal energy standards by 41 percent, while Energy Star clothes washers are 40 percent more efficient than conventional models.

5. Make Your Attic More Cush

Cost: About $300 for added insulation.
Benefits: Save 30% on energy bills.
Payback time: Three to five years.

The Department of Energy tells us you can reduce your heating and cooling needs by 30 percent just by adding a few hundred bucks' worth of new insulation. This is especially true if your house is more than 25 years old, from the time before building codes became more mindful of energy efficiency, and you haven't added any new batts yet. We tend to focus on the attic, but it's also wise to see how much insulation you have in crawl spaces, ceilings, basement walls, and around recessed lighting fixtures (just make sure those fixtures are designed for direct insulation contact). Check that your R-value is right for the climate where you live. In general, R-values should run between R-22 and R-49 in the attic, less in other spots.

6. Embrace the Pellet Stove

Cost: A Kozi Model 100 pellet stove costs about $2,000. Pellets cost $6 for a 40 lbs. bag.
Benefits: 50% or more off heating bills.
Payback time: Three to five years.

It's not getting any cheaper to heat your house with gas or oil. But pellets—well, that's another story. Clean-burning pellet stoves can drastically cut your home heating costs. They look like wood-burning stoves but are fueled by small pellets made from superconcentrated sawdust. Pour them into the stove's hopper, and they're fed automatically into a burn chamber; a fan blows the hot air into your house. There are freestanding models as well as fireplace inserts, which vent through a stainless-steel lining that runs up your chimney.

7. Take Cheaper Showers

Cost: An energy-efficient electric water heater runs around $750 installed.
Benefits: Save up to 20% on water heating bills.
Payback time: Three to four years.

Next time you take a shower, remember this: Heating water accounts for up to 11 percent of our utility bills. If your water heater is more than a decade old, that number could be even greater. Switching it out for a new, more efficient electric storage model could save you 10 to 20 percent on heating bills. You might also think about gas and tankless units, which save 30 and 40 percent on water heating, respectively. And let's not forget solar water heaters. At $3,500 to $4,800 installed, they're more expensive than conventional heaters, but they have longer lives (about 20 years) and pay for themselves in energy savings in about half that time. If you're not ready to buy a new water heater just yet, ratchet up your existing unit's efficiency with a water-heater blanket. It costs just 15 bucks and will save you between 4 and 9 percent on your heating bills.

8. Find Some Perfect Storm Windows

Cost: $1,200 for a dozen.
Benefits: Reduce heat loss by 25% or more. Easy to install, and cheaper than replacement windows.
Payback time: Two to five years.

Did you know that 10 to 25 percent of your heating and cooling costs might be flying right out your windows? If you're not quite ready to fork out the $12,000 or more you'll need to put in new, high-efficiency units, then installing storm windows is your best option. Triple-track windows—they hold two glass sash and one screen that slide up and down on separate tracks—from Larson Manufacturing cost about $100 each and can reduce heat loss through your existing windows by 25 percent (even more if fitted over inefficient single-pane windows). They may not be as pretty as replacement windows, but sometimes it's better to feel good than look good.

9. Address the Beast in the Basement

Cost: $2,000 to $3,000
Benefits: Increased energy savings and a quieter, more comfortable home.
Payback time: Two to five years.

If you've tried all of the energy-saving recommendations above but still find your house too cold and inefficient, then maybe—just maybe—it's time to consider replacing your furnace. The average life span for a gas—or oil-fired unit is between 15 and 20 years. Along with fridges and dishwashers, Energy Star also certifies furnaces from companies such as Bryant, Carrier, and York, among many others. Most are at least 15 percent more efficient than standard models and can save you up to 20 percent on heating costs. Not sure if it's worth the money? Add up your fuel bills for last winter, then multiply that sum by 20 percent. Divide the result into the cost of buying and installing the new system, about $3,000 or so, and you'll see how many years it will take to recoup your investment.

10. Sell Your House

Cost: 1% to 3% more on construction costs.
Benefits: The most energy-efficient home on your block.
Payback time: Immediate.

That is, as long as any new pad you buy is certified by Energy Star. These newly constructed homes meet the performance standards established by the EPA and Department of Energy, consuming 30 percent less energy than standard homes, thanks to features such as enhanced insulation levels, high-performance windows, air sealing and ventilation, and high-efficiency heating and cooling equipment. If you already have a building plan worked out for your new home, then making the upgrades for Energy Star certification costs just 1 to 3 percent more but pays for itself immediately. According to Energy Star, their upgrades add just $10 to $15 per month to your mortgage payment but save you around $25 to $45 per month on your utility bills.

(Information from http://www.thisoldhouse.com/
Illustration from http://www.liberty-news.com/ by Dan Wasserman)

Monday, July 13, 2009

Live Like Lindsay Lohan - FOR LESS!


"You're looking inside Lindsay Lohan's former Manhattan pied a terre. The asking price for this 40th floor apartment in the Atelier building is $1.25 million. The Atelier's amenities include a marble lobby, basketball and volleyball courts, a rooftop lounge, sun deck, fitness and yoga center and indoor swimming pool, Luxist.com reports. The two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment features floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the Empire State Building, according to NBC New York. Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo reportedly own a place in this building as well."

You can bring many of these Lindsay Lohan'esque features into your own home by making one quick stop at IKEA!

IKEA 365+ RISP - Duvet cover and pillowcase(s)
Get this duvet cover!

FARUM - Rug
Get this rug!

KAFFE - Coffee/ tea maker
Get this coffee maker!

MALM - Bedroom Storage Series
Get this bedroom storage!

ERIKSLUND - Picture
Get this frame!

HUSVIK - Work lamp
Get this lamp!

BĂ…GVIK - Single lever kitchen faucet
Get this faucet!

TIRUP - Swivel chair
Get this chair!

(Photos and article from www.nydailynews.com. Below photos from www.ikea.com)

Friday, July 10, 2009

Home Art for Sale on Etsy.com!

"Houses 1" by carambatack - Buy it here

"Little Strawberry House" by Elegant Snobbery - Buy it here

"Little Petite Cottage in the Forest" by jellybeans - Buy it here

"The Neighborhood" by ashleyg - Buy it here

"White House Lighthouse" by AliceinParis - Buy it here

"Not Quite a Beginning Place" by melissammarch - Buy it here

"Row Houses" by jenskelley - Buy it here

"The Golden House" by study - Buy it here