Washington County is currently working on implementing a curbside recycling program. The county is working with Dixie Waste Services and local recycling centers to bring residents the new program. Through this program, Washington County residents will receive a recycling bin for their home that will be picked up on the curb like regularly trash bins.

The program could cost residents an additional $3-$4 a month. Many city governments are allowing an “opt-out” option if you do not want to participate in the program.

Washington County is still in the development stages and officials hope the program will be rolled out by the end of the year. Curbside recycling will take place of the “Binnie” program, where residents can bring their recycling to…

1774 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Utah planners and leaders are asking residents to give their input on the future of the state. EnvisionUtah.org presents visitors with five different scenarios discussing 11 different areas of focus. Utah residents are asked to vote on which scenario they would like state and local leaders to carry out. The goal is to reach 50,000 participants by the time the survey closes in a month.

Unfortunately, not enough people have taken the survey to reach any conclusive results, especially in rural areas.

“As of last week, only 420 Washington County residents had logged in to participate.” reports The Spectrum.

Utah’s population is expected to double by 2050, and Southern Utah is one of the fastest growing areas in the state. In St. George, new homes…

1535 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Is your house feeling a bit tired? After a few years, or even a few months, with a new design, you might start to feel the need for change. An update doesn’t need to be overly complicated or complex. Rather than remodel your entire home, you can add and update a few small accessories to give you the change you’ve been craving. Here are a few hacks to help you think about sprucing up your home.

Window Treatments

The way light enters your room can really change the way it looks. If you have heavy window treatments, replace them with lighter ones to let in more light. Are your plastic blinds old and outdated? Replace them with more modern shutters or wood blinds. Changing your window treatments can make the room feel new.

Get Creative With…

1564 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

The National Parks surrounding Utah are providing a boost to the economy, according to a report by the National Parks Service. Specifically, Southern Utah received $433 million in economic benefits due to national park visitors in 2014.

Visitors come to the area and they need transportation, fuel, food and places to stay. The prime real estate in St. George means residents reap a lot of the rewards of visitor spending.

The study reports that most of the spending went towards lodging, followed by food and then gas and oil. Since Washington County is usually the last stop for many people traveling to these national parks, most of that money is going into the St. George economy. For every $1 spent on National Parks, there is a $10 return on…

1495 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Happy Earth Day! Since we live in a desert, one of our most precious natural resources is water. Take some time today to make some adjustments in your home to save some water. Here are some ideas to get you started.

1 Fix Leaks

A small leak in a faucet, bathtub or toilet can waste up to 20 gallons of water a day. That’s over 7,000 gallons of water a year! Check all your bathroom and kitchen appliances to fix any possible leaks. Also, pay attention to your water meter and bill. If you see a sudden spike in water use one month, it may be a good indication that there is a hidden leak somewhere in your home or yard.

2 Only Run Full Appliances

Only turn on your dishwasher or washing machine when they’re full. To save even more water, not to…

1705 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

One of the biggest deterrents to buying a home is being able to afford the down payment. The more you can pay for the home upfront, the better your loan options and payment plan will be. It is recommended that you pay about 20% for a down payment, but other financing options are available. If you are looking to buy a home in St. George, use these tips to save for your down payment.

Create a Budget

The first step to saving for a down payment is controlling how much you spend and save. The only effective way to do this is through budgeting. Budgeting software like Mint.com can help you track money more effectively and reach your ultimate goal of downpayment.

Look for Ways to Save

As you start to create your budget, you may realize you are…

1457 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

According to a recent report by CNN, 21% of all real estate purchases last year were vacation homes. This is up 57%  from 2013, and the highest rate since 2003. While this is a great sign for the American economy overall, it is an especially good thing for St. George. Washington County is a popular vacation home destination, giving visitors from up north a break from the snow in the winter and plenty to do during summer. If you are one of those interested in buying a vacation home in St. George, use these tips to make the best purchasing decision.

Manage Expenses

Are the expenses worth the investment? While you probably won’t use your vacation home as much, expenses can still  stack up, especially if you hope to rent it out and need to pay for…

1641 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Have you been thinking of starting your own vegetable garden? There are many benefits to gardening, both mental, emotional and physical, plus your family will save money on grocery bills! Spring is the time to plant your garden, so here are some tips to get you started.

Decide How Much You Want to Grow

Do you have a large family of vegetable eaters? Or are you just trying to feed yourself? Determine what you want to grow and how much. Some plants are easier to grow than others, so start with simple plants such as tomatoes, lettuce or potatoes.

Soils, Seeds, Sun and Space

Once you know what you are going to grow, you need to make sure you have the seeds, soil, sun and space to get started! Most vegetables need a minimum of 6-8 hours of sun…

1794 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Spring is the perfect time to tackle some annual cleaning projects. You can clean the winter gloom out of the house, and the weather is nice enough to work outside. In St. George, cleaning projects become more difficult during the summer when it’s too hot. Now that the beautiful April weather is here, let’s go over six great spring cleaning projects!

Clear Out Clutter

Springtime is all about shedding the heaviness of winter. Take this literally and get rid of as much clutter as you can. Go through paperwork and receipts (which will also help with your taxes) and recycle whatever you don’t need.Clear out your kids’ toys and clothes they don’t use anymore and donate it all to a local charity. Each year, turn the hangers in your closet around to…

1557 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

April is here which means it’s tax season! As a homeowner, there are more factors to consider and more tax breaks to take advantage of. You don’t want to miss out on any of these deductions or end up paying more taxes than you have to. Follow these homeowner tax tips when you file your taxes this year.

Deduct Property Taxes

You can deduct any property taxes that you pay on your federal tax return. Keep all this paperwork handy, and make sure you deduct the right amount of taxes for your tax year. Some property tax authorities work a year behind, (ie: you paid 2013 taxes in 2014) but that doesn’t matter. File a return for whatever you paid this tax year. .

Deduct Private Mortgage Insurance

If you paid less than 20% on your down payment,…

1887 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post