Modern Homesteading, Rural Living, Off-Grid, Generators
Rural Living
We’d always liked country life…growing things…open space around us. We wanted to stay active in our senior years. Life in a condo or golf course community just didn’t appeal to us.
Rural Living
What tips would you give someone thinking about moving to a rural area? Make sure you really want the life—not just to visit, but to live it day after day. You may have to go cut up a windfall tree when you’d rather be watching a football game. Or you might need to check on a sick animal when you’d really love to stay in bed another couple of hours. You may miss shopping, takeout or restaurant dining, city entertainment, or big league sports events.
How much change can you comfortably make? This goes for yourself, your family and anyone else that will be moving with you.
Investing In Rural Property – Non-metropolitan counties have higher rates of self-employed business owners than their metropolitan counterparts, according to the US Census Bureau.
This shows that, contrary to popular belief, there’s a lot of investing going on even in rural areas.
This makes them a viable option for real estate investors who are looking to spend less, buy multiple properties, or pay fewer taxes.
However, as is the case with any other form of real estate investment, there are challenges involved in rural real estate investing.
Investing In Rural Property Challenges To Expect
You must be willing to do extensive research to know the challenges you will face depending on where you buy your rural property, and how to deal with them.
Rural properties are more at risk from natural disasters
Natural disasters, such as floods, can affect both rural and urban areas.
However, the effects are usually worse in rural areas.
This is because, in urban areas, there are more measures taken to prevent or reduce the damages caused by natural disasters than in rural areas.
For example, if your rural property in California is affected by the ongoing fires, it would take longer for help to arrive than if it was an urban property, which means you may suffer more damage.
When investing in a rural property, you need to find out all the risks you face so that you can take the necessary steps to protect your property.
The best thing you can do to ensure that your investment is always secure is to get sufficient insurance coverage against such elements.
If you’re not sure about the types of natural disasters you need to get coverage for, talk to a public adjuster to guide you on the best coverage based on your property’s location.
Smaller customer pool
Since rural areas have fewer residents than urban areas, you will have a significantly smaller pool of potential customers, whether you’re looking to sell or rent your property.
You can expect a rural property to spend a lot more time on the market or tally up more lost rent when you’re looking for tenants to fill your vacancies.
For example, you will need to cast a wider net when looking for buyers for your property.
Unlike urban properties where a simple “For Sale” sign can get you multiple interested buyers in a day, it may take months for an interested buyer to see your sign on a rural property.
You also need to know where to market your rural property.
For example, advertising on Craigslist may not work for rural properties.
Instead, you can target people who would be interested in rural property, such as retiree groups or those on a low budget.
Challenges to Investing In Rural Property
Rural areas are a great opportunity for real estate investors, but they do come with their fair share of challenges.
You will need to find ways to deal with each of them so that you can be successful and recoup your investment.
Slash the Costs of Homeowners insurance is a grudge purchase that protects you in the event that your home is damaged or destroyed by disasters, inclement weather, wind, fire, or theft.
As a mortgage holder, you are required by law to have homeowners insurance since this protects the lender until you have fully paid off your loan.
Fortunately, there are many available options when it comes to reducing the costs of your homeowners insurance.
It all begins with an understanding of your coverage options.
Slash the Costs of Homeowners Insurance
We pay for homeowners insurance because we want to protect the integrity of our home and its contents.
For most of us, our most valuable assets are our homes and our personal effects.
Luckily, there are plenty of options available to you since policies differ greatly from one to the next.
Costs and coverage will vary dramatically, depending on a host of factors.
For example, it’s best to use aggregator sites to compare prices of homeowners insurance premiums.
Every company is different; some are financially solid and others aren’t.
When it comes to shopping around, don’t limit yourself to one or two options.
Go the whole 9 yards and check with direct writers, captive sellers, and independent agents.
You’ll be surprised how much you can save when you shop around.
Boost Your Credit Score
As peculiar as this seems, it’s a guaranteed way to reduce the costs of the terms you get for mortgage rates and the attendant annual fees you pay for homeowners insurance.
Everyone knows that people with high credit scores get preferred rates on home loans, credit cards, and vehicle financing.
It comes as no surprise that a great credit score will also help you with insurance companies who look towards your risk profile before insuring you.
There are many ways to boost your credit score, including paying down credit card debt, reducing the outstanding principal on your existing loans, making payments on time, limiting the number of new accounts on your profile, and generally being a fiscally responsible citizen.
Home Security Systems with All the Bells and Whistles
Homeowners insurance policies protect your home and its contents from theft, damage, and unforeseen events.
One way to lower your homeowners insurance is to add protections to your property which can help to lower your premiums.
Essential security systems with burglary detection and fire monitoring are great, but you can couple that with additional smart home protections in the form of video cameras, leak detectors, and low-temperature sensors.
You may be surprised to learn that your homeowners insurance policy makes accommodation for deep discounts on these additional protections.
If you upgrade your home security system to include all these features, you may enjoy discounted rates on your homeowners insurance policy.
Choose a Higher Deductible to Lower Your Premium
At first glance this looks like you’d be cutting your nose to spite your face, but there is merit to this method.
Much like health insurance plans, you can get a really affordable homeowners insurance premium if you choose a high deductible.
If you’re the type of person who hardly ever claims, you may want to consider increasing the size of your deductible (your out-of-pocket expense) in exchange for a much lower premium.
Many insurance deductibles fall in the $100 range for premium-grade homeowners plans.
If you increase your out-of-pocket expense to $1000+, you will see a significant decrease in your premium.
If you make several small claims with your insurance company, you will quickly see your homeowners insurance costs arising, or your policy being cancelled outright.
Rather than risk all of that, pay out-of-pocket and keep your low premium.
Bundle Home and Auto Insurance Policies
When you combine policies like automobile insurance and homeowners insurance, this is known as bundling.
These package deals are designed to save you money in the long term.
Many different insurance companies offer discounts when you bundle, anywhere in the region of 5% – 15%.
Once again, go back to point #1 and shop around for the best price at multiple companies before you simply accept a bundled price when you combine policies.
If this is your first time applying for a homeowners insurance policy, you may qualify for a new policy discount.
Be sure to tell the insurance broker that you are a non-smoker and would like that added to your policy since you are less of a fire risk.
Homeowners Insurance Policy Final Thoughts
Remember: your homeowners insurance policy covers your home and your property.
If you’re looking to rent out your home to tenants, then you may want to look into buying renters insurance too.
Our guide and recommendations for the Best Outdoor TV Antenna for Rural Areas.
Many people that live in the city itself take for granted their access to cable providers and satellite companies they have access to, but many do not have access to any of that.
Those that live in rural communities still want to feel connected and even if all they can get are local channels (with the help of a digital converter of course) that is all they need or want.
This is a great way to stay connected while saving money, as well.
But unless you grew up in a rural community, you have no idea what to look for when you are thinking about getting you and your family an outdoor TV antenna.
Best Outdoor TV Antenna for Rural Areas: Reviews
There is so much to consider, and so many options that you may ask yourself is all this worth it just to be able to keep up on the latest season of your favorite television program.
Don’t fret, you will be able to know exactly what is going on once you have checked out our some of the best outdoor TV antenna for rural areas of 2019.
We will also make sure with our carefully created buyer’s guide that you know just what makes for the best antenna.
So, before you miss another week, check out our list of the best options for TV antennas on the market today.
Best Outdoor TV Antenna for Rural Areas
Vansky Outdoor HDTV Antenna
Our first entry comes from Vansky and is a multi-directional HDTV antenna perfect for all your rural television watching needs.
Highlights of the Vansky Outdoor HDTV Antenna
Designed for optimal outdoor signal reception, the Vansky Outdoor HDTV Antenna is an excellent choice for what you’re looking for.
The features included in the design of this outdoor tv antenna make it a high-quality option.
This antenna is a great design that allows for a lot of versatility.
With its double output, you won’t need a splitter to allow for multiple TV use in the home.
Plus, you get a wireless remote that helps control the rotor as well as other features of this antenna.
Vansky Outdoor HDTV Antenna features include:
Designed with two TV outputs
Reception up to 150 miles
HD quality up to 1080p
Working frequency VHF 40300MHz/UHF 470890MHz
Comes with a wireless remote
Low noise amplifier
Coax cable (32.8 ft.)
Crafted with weather resistance
Vansky Outdoor HDTV Antenna Good
No matter what type of weather, you must deal with your will be set as it is whether proof including lightning.
All of this is available for you with a reasonable price tag plus an easy installation that doesn’t take much of your time.
Vansky Outdoor HDTV Antenna The Bad
The biggest issue that this outdoor TV antenna has is not with the antenna itself, but rather with the coaxial cable that comes in the box.
Many feel that the durability of this cable is less than stellar.
So, for a great antenna, all you really must do is replace that coaxial cable, and you will be set for your television viewing.
This antenna from Amplified offers a multi-directional HD quality picture with little to no work.
Amplified HD Digital TV Antenna Product Highlights
Not only do you get an HD quality picture, but you also can move the Amplified HD Digital TV Antenna in the direction you need for the reception of whatever channel you are looking to pick up.
The multipath protection and excellent reception will only enhance the picture and makes for fewer interruptions.
With extra accessories like the wireless remote, the team at Amplified has assured that this is going to be an excellent decision for any rural TV lover no matter which direction the channel is broadcast from.
Amplified HD Digital TV Antenna also has the following features too:
Enhanced range of 150 miles
Ability to receive multiple frequencies
Designed with two TV outputs
High reception sensitivity
Created with a low noise amplifier
Wireless remote included
Built-in motor for better mobility
Amplified HD Digital TV Antenna The Good
If you do not go with an HD antenna, you will have to invest in a digital converter as all television channels are now broadcast in digital format.
So, this antenna from Amplified is a great way to save a little money.
This system is super easy to set up well built high performing option when you are looking for an option for your rural television viewing.
Amplified HD Digital TV Antenna The Bad
The only drawback when you are looking at this as an option is the overall design.
Unlike some of the other models that have trimmed down their build over the years, this model has kept the bulkier build of the classic antennas.
Though it may be hard to hide when mounted and installed, it does offer a high level of performance.
This means that you trade style for function and in a piece of hardware that is all you can ask for.
Pros of the Amplified HD Digital TV Antenna
Easy to install and setup
High gain for UHF/VHF reception
Multipath protection
Accessories included
Built-in rotor for easy mobility
Cons of the Amplified HD Digital TV Antenna
Design is a bit clunky
Pinbingding Outdoor Antenna
The Pinbingding Outdoor Antenna unit is a multi-directional remote-controlled antenna that is built for optimal amplified digital reception.
Pinbingding Outdoor Antenna Product Highlights
This easy to set up an antenna with two outputs for TV connections are built to make your life a little easier.
Pinbingding Outdoor Antenna features include:
Built-in double TV outputs
Long-distance range of 150 miles
HD 720p
Easy to set up snap-on installation
Includes wireless remote control
Mobility of 360 degrees with built-in motor
Superior high gain and low noise amp
40’ coaxial cable included
Resistant to weather
Pinbingding Outdoor Antenna The Good
The Pingbingding Outdoor Antenna is a tool that comes with everything you need including an easy to setup and install multi-directional coverage.
Its long-range reception is one of the best on the market.
The best thing about this whole setup is that there are no tools needed due to its snap-on mounting system.
The fact that you don’t need tools, or a more splitter and an adapter will have you saving plenty of money.
Pinbingding Outdoor Antenna The Bad
If there is one thing that most recent buyers find flaws with it is the motor’s flexibility.
Though it has a 360-degree motor, its option is not as smooth nor as fast as it should.
If you can overlook the motor issue or do not have much use for moving your antenna, then this first entry from Pingbingding could be the perfect option for you.
Pros of the Pinbingding Outdoor Antenna
Easy to install and setup
Greta multi-directional coverage
Long-range of reception
Cons of the Pinbingding Outdoor Antenna
Motor rotor is not very flexible
ViewTV Outdoor Amplified Antenna
Another multi-directional long-range antenna this model from ViewTV is chock full of great built-in features that make this easily one of the best options on the market today.
The ViewTV antenna is a well-built high-quality option that has a lot of great features to aid you in your television needs.
Being able to handle multiple HD resolutions makes this a versatile choice.
And the ease of setting up numerous televisions attached to this unit gives it a wide range of use if you have many TVs in your home.
Some of the features that are built into ViewTV Outdoor Amplified Antenna:
Long-range reception (150 miles)
Multiple HD capabilities
Wireless remote included
Built with dual TV outputs
Protected from weather including lightning
Coaxial cable (40’) included
ViewTV Outdoor Amplified Antenna The Good
The box comes with a lot of great things like a wireless remote and a coaxial cable.
With its excellent range of 150 miles, you will be able to enjoy your shows with ease.
The antenna is easy to set up and install and will last even in the most torrential weather due to the attention to detail in creating a weather-resistant unit.
ViewTV Outdoor Amplified Antenna The Bad
Some people may want an antenna that can be used both indoors and outdoors, but that is not what this antenna is all about.
So, if that is something you are looking for, then you need to keep reading.
The only other drawback of this unit is that you will have to purchase a mounting rod separately, which makes this not as budget-friendly as other options.
Even with the few issues that have arisen this antenna is still an excellent choice for anyone looking for rural television capabilities that offer high-quality HD options.
ViewTV Outdoor Amplified Antenna Pros
Good range (150 miles)
Comes with wireless remote
Weather-resistant
Multiple HDTV capability
ViewTV Outdoor Amplified Antenna Cons
Not suitable for anything but outdoor use
Mounting rod not included
Safstar 360 Rotor
The Safstar 360 Rotor is a lesser ranged option for those that are not far from the tower.
Safstar 360 Rotor Product Highlights
The Safstar 360 Rotor is crafted with a lightweight, durable design that is stocked with tons of features.
Safstar 360 Rotor features include the following:
High-grade performance reception
Range up to 62 miles
Ability to pick up VHF/UHF with a channel booster
Designed to be waterproof
Safstar 360 Rotor The Good
The Safstar 360 Rotor is a budget-friendly option that is easy to set up and installs.
With a shorter range of others on the list, this unit is still a viable and high performing antenna that will give you a lot of channels to choose from.
Safstar 360 Rotor The Bad
Though it is durable, many user reports having a problem with excessive sunlight damage after extended use as well as some of the parts being easily broken.
The rotation is another issue that some people have a problem with.
None of the issues that trouble users are universal, and in the end, when looking at the overall quality of this antenna, you can easily see why we chose it as one of the best.
Pros of the Safstar 360 Rotor
Easy to set up and install
Good frequency reception
Price is affordable
Pics up a lot of channels
Cons of the Safstar 360 Rotor
Issues with sunlight wear
Durability of product
Problems with rotation capability
Pingbingding Outdoor TV Antenna
Amplified digital reception and an optimal multi-directional capability are all controlled by wireless remote control.
Pingbingding Outdoor TV Antenna Product Highlights
Our next entry from Pingbingding is just as high quality as the last one and has similar features as well.
They stick true to what makes them a great brand.
Pingbingding Outdoor TV Antenna features are:
Built-in double TV outputs
The long-distance range of 150 miles
HD 720p
Easy to set up snap-on installation
Includes wireless remote control
Mobility of 360 degrees with built-in motor
Superior high gain and low noise amp
40’ coaxial cable included
Resistant to weather
Pingbingding Outdoor TV Antenna The Good
When you are getting your television antenna up and running, the last thing you want is an antenna that is difficult to set up and use.
So, this unit is the perfect option for you.
Not only will you have it up and running in no time but the high-quality functionality of this antenna.
The versatility of direction also ensures that you will be able to capture the most channels possible with the best reception of many of its competitors.
Pingbingding Outdoor TV Antenna The Bad
Much like many of their units, the flexibility of the rotation system is less than desirable.
This may make the rotation slower, which may play a part in less clear images being obtained.
Though it suffers just like the previous model with the flexibility of the rotation, it performs at the same level.
This makes it an excellent option for anyone looking for the best outdoor TV antenna for rural areas.
Pros of the Pingbingding Outdoor TV Antenna
Easy to install and setup
The long-range capability of reception
Uses multi-directional coverage
Cons of the Pingbingding Outdoor TV Antenna
The rotation system is not as flexible as customers would like
Antennas Direct 8 Element Bowtie
Of all our options, this is by far the most uniquely designed with its bowtie design and multi-directional capabilities.
Antennas Direct 8 Element Bowtie Product Highlights
His small antenna is excellent for your outdoor needs and is fitted with a few of the best features needed to give it a strong ability in a small package.
Many of these features may seem like small assets, but they combine to offer high-level functionality.
Antennas Direct 8 Element Bowtie features include the following:
Bowtie antenna with2-element design
Range up to 45 miles
Wide range of channels received
Designed with a multi-directional element
Lightweight, compact design
Comes with amount
Antennas Direct 8 Element Bowtie The Good
This small but mighty entry on our list is excellent for a home that is rural but not so far away from the towers as it does have a limited range.
Even with that limited range, you still get by far one of the best compact antennas for your outdoor installment on the market today.
It offers a 2-element design that increases functionality and overall reception.
This bowtie unit is a great choice and will have you watching your favorite shows in no time.
Antennas Direct 8 Element Bowtie The Bad
The only issue with this antenna is the range.
Having only 45-miles as the range means that those that live rurally will not get much use out of this unit.
The lack of range will not affect everyone, and those that are about to take advantage of the benefits of this piece will find themselves with a high-quality receiving piece of equipment that looks kind of cool too.
Pingbingding HDTV Antenna Amplified Digital Outdoor Antenna The Good
With more and more TV’s being made with higher levels of HD capability, finding an antenna that meets these requirements is a great option.
The capabilities on top of the HD ability make this unit stand out even more.
It is easy to install and use for anyone, and this antenna will find the channels you need quickly with the motorized rotation.
Plus, there is no need to worry about inclement weather because the team at Pingbingding has covered that as well by making the unit weatherproof.
All these things come together to create the perfect antenna for any rural living families.
Pingbingding HDTV Antenna Amplified Digital Outdoor Antenna The Bad
This unit does have a few issues that may cause some to reconsider it as an option.
The first is the overall design, which is clunky and is not too pleasing to the eye.
So, if you are a person who is concerned with how your home looks from the outside, you may want to look at another model.
The other aspect of that aesthetic point is the size of the model. It is quite large, and as we already said, it is a little clunky.
If you want a highly functional, well-built antenna to be used as your outdoor TV antenna, then this option from this fantastic company is a great choice.
With it, you will find yourself lounging on the couch watching the latest episode of whatever your chosen addiction is.
Pros of the Pingbingding HDTV Antenna Amplified Digital Outdoor Antenna
Easy to install and use
Dual output for TV’s
Motorized rotation
Equipped with weather-resistant capabilities
HD capabilities
Cons of the Pingbingding HDTV Antenna Amplified Digital Outdoor Antenna
Size may be large for some
Not the best looking antenna
Now that you have a good list of options available, you may be wondering just what makes a good TV antenna.
There are a lot of factors, but the ones in our buyer’s guide below are the most important to consider.
Rural Outdoor TV Antenna Buyer’s Guide
The basics of an antenna are relatively easy to figure out, but there are a few factors that may skip your mind when you are looking to get yourself a TV antenna.
There are a few of the factors that we feel are the most important to consider during your decision-making process.
By paying close attention to these details, you will be able to find the right TV antenna for you and your television needs.
Outdoor TV Antenna Direction
There are two varieties when it comes to direction.
You either have a directional or multi-directional antenna.
The one that is right for you depends on the channels you want to pick up.
If all the channels you wish to watch come from one tower, then you will be okay with a directional.
On the other hand, which is more often the case, if the channels you want are broadcast from multiple towers, you will want to go with the multi-directional option.
Outdoor TV Antenna Frequency
You will want to make sure that the frequencies that the antenna picks up are within the frequencies used to broadcast the channels you are looking to watch.
You can do this by going to the television station’s website and making sure that whatever antenna you are looking at meets the frequency of the station.
Outdoor TV Antenna Reach
You will also want to keep in mind just how far away the towers used to broadcast the channels are from your home and find an antenna that will be able to reach those distances.
By making sure you get the antenna that has the furthest range, you will be ensuring that you will be able to tune into whatever show you want with ease and without the worry of missing out.
Outdoor TV Antenna Signal Strength
You will want to make sure that you pay attention to the signal strength or reception of the antenna you choose.
If you get a weak reception, you may have a problem getting a good picture or must deal with constant cutting out of the channel.
This will be affected by weather conditions as well.
Outdoor TV Antenna Aesthetics
Though you may not see this as the first factor to consider, you may want to think about it.
After all, you are dealing with your home, and you may want something that fits your style and doesn’t detract from your home’s look.
Some small models are easy to hide if this is a concern.
If not, going with a larger, more visible option may give you the power and functionality you are needing.
Channels I get on my Outdoor TV Antenna for Rural Living
Knowing which and how many channels you are looking at be able to watch is a minor consideration, but still, it is one that you may want to think about.
Once you have a great list of choices as well as an idea of what you need to be looking at while making this decision, you may find that you have some questions.
If so, you should check out the FAQs below.
Outdoor TV Antenna FAQs
For many, there may be a lot of questions about this topic, and we thought we would gather together a few of the most commonly asked questions to help you out.
By answering these for you, we hope that you feel better armed with the knowledge you need for further installation and issues that may arise.
Can You Hide an Outdoor TV Antenna for Rural Living?
The right answer is a split one.
For the main part of the antenna, the one with the teeth, you may find it quite challenging to hide.
However, you can hide the cord and cable that you will need to run into your home.
With some creative use of skirting or edging, you will be able to make those cables invisible.
Which End is the Front of a TV Antenna?
Making sure you are setting your antenna to the front-facing position is crucial as it is the most receptive to the broadcasts.
If you have a multi-directional outdoor antenna, this may not matter.
But if you opted for a directional antenna, knowing that the end with the shortest elements is the front will help save you a lot of headaches.
What is the best TV Antenna for Rural Areas?
Model-wise, choosing from the ones laid out above will have you going in the right direction.
If you are talking about type, it all depends on how many channels you want and where the towers are.
To play it safe, we highly suggest getting a multi-directional antenna. That way, you will be covered no matter what.
Why Does Weather Affect My Signal?
There are many reasons why your channels may get worse when there is inclement weather like rain or wind.
Most often it is because the antenna itself is not firmly attached to the pole.
This will make it sway, and while it sways, it may lose connection with the tower as it will not be specifically focused in that area.
The other reason that it may happen is poor coaxial cables or splitters.
So, if this keeps happening, make sure to check and replace those as needed.
Can I Hook My Antenna to More Than One TV?
Yes, having two TV’s attached to the same antenna is very doable.
You will just need a few extra pieces of equipment like a splitter, and extra coaxial cable and a pre-amp so you don’t lose digital quality.
Is an Outdoor Antenna Better Than an Indoor antenna?
This depends on how close you are to the broadcasting tower that is sending out your channel’s frequency.
If you are close, then using an indoor antenna might be better and more aesthetically pleasing.
If you live in a super-rural area in the middle of nowhere, the outdoor model may work out better for you and your viewing needs.
This includes fewer people, less pollution, and the freedom to live your own life without your neighbors being all up in your business.
But on the flip side of that coin is the fact you are removed from access to some of the creature comforts like cable and satellite.
This doesn’t mean you have to feel isolated or out of communication with the world.
Hopefully, now that you have some ideas about excellent TV antenna options and what to look for when considering an Outdoor TV antenna, you feel better equipped to make your final decision.
After all, you want to make sure you are up and running when the new seasons start, right!
Our guide and recommendations for the Best Cell Phone Booster for Rural Areas.
Cell phones are a way of life nowadays, and having no signal or weak signal can be frustrating.
This is especially true if you live in a rural or remote location where you already must contend with a limited signal.
A lot of different issues can cause this.
Things like distance from cell towers, landscape interruptions like mountains and the materials your home is built with.
So how do you solve this problem?
One way is a cell phone signal booster.
These electronic devices will help boost your signal and allow you access to your cell phone service easily.
But there are so many to choose from that finding the one that will work right for you may cause you unwanted stress.
So, which one should you buy?
Best Cell Phone Booster for Rural Areas Reviews
In this guide, we will be giving you a few of the best cell phone booster for rural areas broken down into reviews and comparisons so that this decision doesn’t have to be so stressful.
To help you out even further, we will also impart a few factors and features you should use to weigh your options carefully.
Hopefully, by the time all is said and done, you will feel equipped and ready to pick up those dropped calls.
Let’s start with some of the best options on the market.
weBoost Connect 4G Indoor Cell Phone Booster
Our first entry is from a company that will show up on our list quite a few times, weBoost.
This indoor 4G cell phone booster is a great way to enhance your reception and make sure you don’t lose any important calls.
weBoost Cell Phone Boost Highlights
When you want an all-round super compatible booster, this model from weBoost is a great option.
Designed with features and benefits that will help you live a connected life even in the most rural areas, the 4G indoor booster is crafted with attention to the minutest details.
The benefits and features that make this model of weBoost a great choice is:
Ability to be used no matter what carrier you are with
Capability to boost signal up to 32x
Extended area of coverage (5000 sq. Ft.)
All parts for easy installation included in the box
Technology built-in to sense signals and their strength
Tech that maximizes performance up to 75 OHM impedance
Enhanced battery life of devices with minimized consumption of phone battery
weBoost Cell Phone Booster ~ The Good
The team that designed this cell phone booster wanted to make a piece of equipment that would be able to help the most people possible, and with the inclusion of smart technology and high compatibility with multiple devices and carriers this model certainly does that.
This model is easy to use and set up while being a high-performance booster.
Its ability to detect the signal strength and intelligently adjust its settings to get the optimal boost is a feature that simply makes this one of the best options out there today.
weBoost Cell Phone Booster ~ The Bad
Though it is mighty when it comes to boosting strength and all its specialized technology, there is still one flaw that we need to address.
The booster may have a little problem obtaining the required signal to do its magic when it is dealing with a weak signal of poor quality.
Even with this small flaw, which is not a universal issue, you can look at the specs, listen to the reviews and know that you are getting a high-quality piece of equipment that will help you stay connected.
Pros of the weBoost
Compatible with all US cell providers
Works with multiple devices
Able to detect signal quality around the building
Cons of the weBoost
The booster may struggle with weak signals
weBoost Home 4G Cell Phone Signal Booster
The second entry from weBoost has many of the same features and benefits as our last but is in a class all its own.
It is designed to help with multiple room enhancement of your cell phone service; the Home 4G is an excellent option for those families with multiple phones that simply want a little alone time.
weBoost Cell Phone Signal Booster Highlights
The tiny computers we all hold in our hands or keep in our pockets can be the answer to many of our questions, but only if they work.
That means finding a booster that is compatible with your service.
The Home 4G from weBoost amplifies 4G LTE and 3G signals allowing for a smoother browsing and less chance of issues with your service.
weBoost Cell Phone Signal Booster is fitted with the following features and benefits:
Service coverage enhancement (1500 sq. ft.)
Compatible with all US carriers
Works with multiple devices
Everything you need for set-up is included in the box
Improved connection of up to 32x the source signal
Built-in smart tech to sense signal conditions
Optimized signal gains up to 60 dB
weBoost Signal Booster ~ The Good
This weBoost model is fitted with some of the best technology.
They ensure that what you get is a piece of equipment itemized for the most range and best signal enhancement possible.
With the easy-to-setup and use of the system, you get an extended range that will allow boosted service in multiple rooms in your home.
This means that everyone can be in their own corners while having those private calls or as they browse the web trying to find a great gift for the ones they love.
weBoost Signal Booster ~ The Bad
Though this model has everything you want and then some, many feel that it is a bit more expensive compared to similar models from other brands.
This may make it a poor choice for those looking to work on a little tighter of a budget.
If the price is not a concern for you, then making this the booster you choose for your cell phone needs is a great choice.
It is a well-constructed optimized piece of equipment that will help you out if you are living that quiet rural life.
weBoost Home Signal Booster Pros
Enhanced high-grade signal boost
Easy to set up and use
Helps extend your cell phones battery life
Warranty
Automatic reception improvement
Works with all carriers in the US
weBoost Home Signal Booster Cons
Price
SureCall Fusion4Home Cell Phone Booster
Our next entry is a tremendous whole-home solution for anyone living a rural lifestyle.
The SureCall Fusion4Home is fitted with tons of great aspects that make this one of the best cell phone boosters available.
This SureCall model offers the best optimization of your cell phone signal in comparison to many of its competitors.
Fitted with technology that serves to eliminate some issues that other boosters must deal with, the design team focused on efficiency and ease of use.
To construct the SureCall Fusion4Home cell phone booster, the team included the following features and benefits:
Signal amplification that reaches up to 4000 sq. Ft
Compatible with all North American service providers
Works with multiple devices
Comes with a high gain antenna (+9dB)
Comes with all components needed for set-up
Adjustable signal extender for better gain
SureCall Fusion4Home Cell Phone Booster – The Good
Making a complicated process easy to set-up and use, SureCall has some unique features that easily makes this stand out.
The ability to manually manage your gain gives you great control too, to ensure that you are getting the best quality sound while maximizing your signal coverage.
This is a great choice for anyone living in a multiple-levels home that wants to be able to easily access their cell, and any other devices freely as they stroll around their home.
SureCall Fusion4Home Cell Phone Booster – The Bad
There are, however, a few design issues that some take issue with.
The first is that the power cord is connected to the unit through the top, and that may make it more challenging to discreetly tuck away.
The owner’s manual does not make the process of set-up easier as many find it hard to follow and read.
The installation can be done quickly, though, with just a little patience.
Lastly, some do feel that the internal antenna does have some limitations when it comes to the signal strength it outputs.
None of the issues above are ones that are complained about by every customer.
However, knowing about them may deter you from making this your final choice.
If, however you overlook these slight drawbacks, you may find that the SureCall Fusion4Home is just the right high-quality cell phone booster for your home.
Pros of the SureCall Cell Phone Booster
Easy to set-up and use
Ability to manually adjust gain settings
Large coverage area (3000 sq. ft.)
Works with multiple floor home layouts
Cons of the SureCall Cell Phone Booster
Reception strength of the indoor antenna
Power cord connection (top of unit)
Owner’s manual is hard to read
weBoost Connect 4G-X Cell Phone Booster
Our last entry from weBoost comes in the form of their 4G-X model.
This unit brings with it the weBoost focus on crafting high-quality pieces boosters that help enhance your life.
This model once again comes with many of the patented abilities and features that make all the other models such great choices for rural areas.
This model does have a few extra features as well.
Here is everything you will be able to take advantage of when using the weBoost Connect 4G-X model:
Works with North American Carriers
Technology designed to optimize 3G and 4G LTE signals (32x)
High-grade gain capability (up to 70dB)
Large range of coverage (7500 sq. ft.)
Comes with everything you need for set-up
Built-in auto-gain capability
Extends the battery life of devices
What’s Good about weBoost Connect 4G-X
You want a booster that is going to be able to handle a large area that is especially needed when dealing with a home unit, and this is perfect.
That, combined with the high quality of the gain and the ability to be compatible with multiple carriers, make this a versatile and high-quality choice for any rural home.
What’s Bad weBoost Connect 4G-X
It takes a lot to work as hard as this unit does and unfortunately that leads to a little bit of a heat dissipation issue.
That means that when in heavy use, you may find that this model tends to heat up easily, and that could affect the life span of the unit in the end.
By making sure you situate the unit in a well-ventilated area, you can combat the heat issue.
This will make it avoid the problem and leave you with a great quality option that will boost your signal easily.
Pros of the weBoost Connect 4G-X Booster
Built-in auto-gain technology
Decreased battery use
Works with carriers in both the US and Canada
Extended coverage range
Cons of the weBoost Connect 4G-X Booster
Issues with booster heating up
HiBoost 15K Smart Link Cell Phone Booster
Our next entry is elevated through its use of a downloadable app to help with set-up.
HiBoost 15K Smart Link Cell Phone Booster Highlights
When you want to boost your bars, this system from HiBoost is an excellent option.
Constructed with tons of features and benefits solely designed to create the optimal signal-boosting no matter where you live.
Features and benefits of the HiBoost 15K Smart Link Cell Phone Booster include:
Multiple signals boosted (2G, 3G, & 4G LTE)
Works with all North American carriers
Downloadable app for easy install
Extended signal coverage (15,000 sq. ft.)
Fitted with an easy to read LCD
Built with a heat dissipation system
HiBoost 15K Smart Link Good
The installation using a downloadable app may be nothing new to some industries, but it is when it comes to signal boosters.
The fact that this system includes that capability as well as an easy to read LCD screen makes the HiBoost 15K Smart Link stand out above the rest.
Then when you think of the square footage of coverage, you soon realize that this is the perfect option for large homes or even offices and businesses that are rural but still want ultimate connectivity.
HiBoost 15K Smart Link Bad
Though it does cover a large area, it does have one minor flaw in its design.
This is that the more people that use this system at the same time, the slower the system will work.
If you are a small company or family, then this unit will be a fantastic option for you.
HiBoost 15K Smart Link Booster Pros
Installation is easy
Enhanced and optimized cell phone signal
Ability to be used by multiple devices
Works with all North American carriers
HiBoost 15K Smart Link Booster Cons
Speed may vary depending on how many are using it
Cel-Fi GO X Cell Phone Booster
Our last entry is from Cel-Fi and is an extensive coverage booster that is designed with the highest efficiency in mind.
Cel-Fi GO X Highlights
Built to be a single carrier booster with the capability to work with whatever carrier you use, this cell phone booster is created with the highest level of features and benefits that you can get.
Cel-Fi GO X features and benefits include:
Multiple carriers compatible with one carrier use
No wired internet connection required
The kit comes with everything you need for installation
Extended coverage up to 15,000 sq. Ft.
The Good Cel-Fi GO X
Another great choice for rural businesses or large floor plan homes the Cel-Fi GO X offers an elevated performance of multiple devices.
The enhanced signal allows for faster browsing and less cell phone interruptions when trying to get your work done.
The Bad Cel-Fi GO X
Though the benefits of this unit are great, there are still some things that some recent buyers took issue with.
The first and biggest is the actual set-up.
Many feel that it is too complicated and may end in some serious manual adjustments needed to get the most out of the unit.
The last issue is that where it is compatible with multiple carriers, you will only be able to set it up for use with one.
Even with the complicated set-up, choosing this cell phone signal booster will leave you, and your cell phone needs more than covered.
Cel-Fi GO X Booster Pros
Optimized enhancement of signal
Faster browsing speeds
Great customer service
Cel-Fi GO X Booster Cons
Set up can be complicated
May need to adjust the setting for optimal use
Not able to use more than one carrier
Cell Phone Signal Booster Buyer’s Guide
Technology can be a great tool to help you with your daily lives and any hurdles you develop along the way.
But choosing how to do this and which piece will give you the best results can be quite tricky.
There are so many new concepts and features that, for most, seem confusing and foreign.
Even with the permeation of technology in our society, there can still be a little stage fright when you start reading all the complicated terminology and trying to dive in deep to make your decision.
That’s why we have carefully curated a list of some of the most essential features and factors that you, as the consumer, should keep in mind when considering which cell phone booster is right for you and your location needs.
Finding one that meets the requirements of your situation can be easily determined by paying close attention to the following:
Wireless vs. Cradle Cell Phone Signal Boosters
This feature comes into importance when you are looking at the ability to boost one or many cell phones.
The wireless models are, of course, wireless and use this signal to be able to provide a beefed-up signal to multiple devices all at the same time.
These models will tend to be more expensive, but if you are living in a house with more than one cell phone user, then that expense may be worth it in the long run.
The other option is a cradle model.
These, as the name infers, use a cradle as the boosting source and are only useful if you are intent on boosting only one cell phone.
They work well to amp the signal, but if you are a family or a small business in a rural area may not be the right choice for you.
Signal Booster Band Coverage
Cell phone bands need to be another consideration when looking at which cell phone booster will work for you.
This can be affected by your phone make as well (but we will talk about that in just a moment).
Typically, newer models go up to 4G, and some are even starting to do 5G.
Depending on your cell phone carrier you will have access to multiple bands all with different frequencies, and that means making sure that your booster works with the carrier’s band coverage is vitally important to get the most out of it.
Signal Booster Cell Phone Compatibility
Making sure that your cell phone model will be compatible with the booster is the first piece of this compatibility process.
Not all phones are created equal, and if you have a phone that isn’t supported by the above band coverage, then your cell phone booster won’t be able to interact and boost that cell signal.
The second part of the compatibility quandary is making sure that it works with your carrier.
Once again, every carrier has different frequencies and bands and choosing a cell phone booster that doesn’t coincide with their specs will render our choice useless and a waste of money.
Cell Phone Signal Strength
There are two main signal strengths when you are looking for your cell phone booster.
You can choose between high-gain and low-gain antennas.
Neither is worse than the other, rather better equipped for specific situations.
You will want to go with the high-gain option if you are in a rural area, not near any towers.
Try looking for one that has at the very minimum a 5dBi signal strength; this will increase your chance of uninterrupted service and make for a better all-around performing cell phone booster.
Now if you are rural, but not that rural, and live where there is a tower close, but there are a lot of buildings and obstructions like mountains, then trying a low-gain option would probably work best for you.
Home vs. Vehicle Cell Phone Signal Boosters
The last thing you need to consider is just where you will want to put this booster.
The most obvious is in your home.
If you are just doing it for downtime cell phone time or even if you work out of your home, this may be the perfect fit for you.
However, if you are on the move all the time in that rural community, for instance, you run a small farm and are continually needing to check the fields you may want to consider a cell phone booster for your vehicle.
If you are really in need of better service, then maybe one of each is a good idea.
Cell Phone Booster FAQs
The terminology you are unfamiliar with.
Concepts that you learned about in school but have never used since.
These are all things that you may run into when you are looking to purchase any new piece of technology.
That is why, as you begin your research, you may find yourself full of questions that you just know need to be answered before you make that final decision.
So, we have gathered together some of the most commonly asked questions and answered them below so that we can make this process as quick and painless as possible.
Without further ado, here are some FAQs that we think will help you out:
What is a Cell Phone Booster?
This piece of phone equipment is designed to take the already existing cell phone signal and amplify it.
It does this by using its three main elements: an outside antenna, an amplifier, and an inside antenna.
These three pieces combine to increase the gain and power of reception.
Do Cell Phone Boosters Work?
The answer is yes if you have a few things present.
The first is you must have some sort of signal already there for the unit to amplify.
The second is to make sure that you have purchased a cell phone booster that is compatible not only with your device but your carrier as well.
Then make sure to use the rest of our buyer’s guide to making sure you get the right one for your needs.
Are Cell Phone Boosters Worth it?
If you are anything like the rest of us, then yes there is a lot of great reasons to purchase a cell phone booster when you are living in a rural area.
The biggest and probably the most obvious is the uninterrupted service.
That means no more dropped calls or hard to understand calls that keep cutting in and out.
Plus, you will be able to live on that charge longer.
The enhancement of your signal will help your phone not have to eat so much battery up while roaming for service.
Plus, a cell phone booster is not only good for calls; it can help you be able to browse faster as well.
Then there is the important stuff like a boosted signal that will allow you to have access to emergency services if needed.
So, these simple to install and use tools are worth it if you want to stay connected as much as possible.
Are Cell Phone Signal Boosters Safe?
You may wonder if these little lifesavers are safe?
Do they emit some sort of radiation we should worry about?
Many people ask these questions, and the answer is there is a small amount, but no more than your cell phone emits on its own.
In fact, by using a cell phone booster, you may be decreasing that radiation as well.
You see a weak signal will cause your cell phone to use more power looking for that signal, and that means more radiation is present.
As a note the radiation emitted by your cell phone is less than 1 watt, and so it is not something that you should worry about.
So yes, a cell phone signal booster is perfectly safe.
How Does a Signal Booster Work?
Understanding how a signal booster works could help you determine where to house it and which one you should buy.
So, here is a stripped-down idea of how cell phone signal boosters works:
The outside antenna searches the airwaves for the band coverage from the carrier’s tower and brings it to the amplifier.
The amplifier then takes that signal and boosts it. This takes the signal from the tower and enhances your reception to your cell phone.
Through this boosted connection, your device can more smoothly interact with the signals being delivered via that cell phone tower that is so far away.
Why Do Signal Strength Weaken?
Three big culprits may be causing you to lose, or experience interrupted service.
The first is that you may be too far from a tower.
Though as the reliance on cell phones become more and more important, this becomes less likely as most carriers have built several and are continually building cell phone towers.
Still, some rural areas just aren’t serviced by every carrier (or any) yet.
The next reason for the weakened signal is the materials used to construct some buildings.
Depending on what materials are used, you may find certain buildings are better for your service than others.
Buildings made of thick concrete or heavy metals sometimes interfere with service.
The last of the three significant contributors to cell phone signal degradation is good old mother nature.
Certain natural structures can interfere with signals.
Most commonly mountains.
These have the same issue as the man-made structure, as radio signals cannot always penetrate them or follow those curving paths, we have crafted through them.
Final Thoughts on Best Cell Phone Booster for Rural Areas
In the end, having access to a strong signal is a crucial part of everyday life nowadays.
That is why even when you are living the quiet life out in those rural areas that you may want to invest in a cell phone booster.
Hopefully, with the six different for best cell phone booster for rural areas options and information that we have taken the liberty of pulling together for you in this guide, you now feel better armed and ready to make a choice that will bring better reception and no more dropped calls into you, your family or your business’ life.
Rural Property Investment – There are about 60 million people, or one in five Americans, who live in rural areas in 2017, according to the US Census.
These people opted to enjoy rural living by residing on farmhouses, ranches, lake houses, or in cottages within the forests or on top of the mountains for a variety of reasons.
But is it really better to invest in rural properties instead of choosing to stay in the city?
Rural Property Investment: The Pros & Cons
Here are the advantages and disadvantages that you must consider when thinking about owning or investing in a rural property.
Rural Property Investment: The Pros & Cons Of Investing In Rural Locations
Advantages Of Investing In Rural Properties
Those who are thinking of owning a rural property can have a lot of options since there are a lot of properties available in the country.
This is because the US is composed of 97 percent of rural mass land while only 19.3 percent of the country’s population chose to live there.
Because of the lack of competition in rural areas, property prices are lower compared to those sold in the urban areas.
Most of the time, investing in a rural property only requires you to pay less than half of the price of a home in big metropolitan cities.
Most importantly, you can consider buying a rural property for your long-term goals.
This is caused by the continuous growth in urban and suburban populations every year.
You may invest in a very cheap rural property then sell it in a much higher value in the future.
If you are thinking of a property in Austin, Texas, you can take advantage of offers from Paradisa Homes and other real estate development teams to help you plan and construct the rural property of your dreams.
Disadvantages Of Investing In Rural Properties
Since the population is scarce in rural areas, you might not enjoy the same quality of public services that one might get in the metropolitan cities.
This means that there will be fewer hospitals, shopping centers, or federal offices near your location.
Also, investing in rural properties can be a risky move due to the small property market in the area.
The economic opportunities could also be very limited because of the fewer demand in these parts of the country.
In fact, you might have to think twice if you are planning to loan a huge amount to buy a property in the rural area.
This is because it is not advisable to have the property rented and depend on its revenue to pay for the loan.
In addition, rural areas have limited tourist attractions compared to bigger urban cities.
This could be a disadvantage for those who are planning to invest in a property in these areas.
These advantages and disadvantages will allow you to have an idea about what it is like to own a rural property.
It will also let you decide if you want to push through with the plan to own a property in the rural areas or not.
One of the benefits to rural living is seeing wildlife. When we set up our homestead in Tucson, Arizona, we didn’t expect to see desert wildlife on our property daily.
Mammals, reptiles, birds and amphibians are right outside our window. Once there was a lizard in our kitchen sink.
We’ve seen a mountain lion snatch a rabbit. Another time, we watched a Gila monster amble by.
In addition, we’ve seen a variety of snakes, javelinas, bobcats, coyotes, roadrunners, packrats, kangaroo rats, ground squirrels, raccoons, a variety of toads and lizards, quail families, hawks, roadrunners, rabbits, bats, and owls.
While Tucson is a thriving city, we live in an area of town very close to the base Mt. Lemmon. It’s northeast of downtown Tucson in an area called Tanque Verde.
There is abundant wildlife in this area of native desert habitat. We see fauna on our property, traveling through dry washes in search of prey, and when we are out driving or walking along the dirt roads and paved streets.
We will continue to update this is pictures and videos of wildlife.
Desert wildlife Tucson
Many types of wildlife thrive in the desert. Here is some of what we’ve seen.
Just another snake in the road
Snakes in Tucson
We’ve had our fair share of snakes on our property, including several western diamondback rattlesnakes. There was even a rattlesnake in our pool which we relocated to outside our pool wall with a snake grabber.
No matter what, we keep a safe distance from all snakes. About half the time they’ve been western diamondback rattlesnakes. The other times they were the very similar-looking, non-venomous snakes.
A few times we’ve seen (non-venomous) Sonoran Mountain Kingsnakes on the road. They resemble the Sonoran Coralsnake which is venomous. There are many varieties of snakes in the Sonoran Desert.
Desert dwellers love having non-venomous snakes on their property. (More reptiles below.)
Mammals in the Sonoran Desert
Before moving to Tucson, we didn’t expect to see so many desert mammals. We see coyotes and bobcats regularly.
Bobcats
We see bobcats often, but there is one we see regularly taking the same path.
The bobcat comes out and walks under along the front of our shaded house to where we can no longer see it to hunt. We see it on his/her way back with something in its mouth.
We’re not sure if they are packrats, ground squirrels, kangaroo rats or other small mammals.
One time, we scrambled to video the baby bobcats when we saw a bobcat with her babies. They were so cute!
Coyotes
We see coyotes galore outside our front window and in our neighborhood.
Coyotes cross Catalina Highway, Tanque Verde Loop Road, and Soldier Trail at dusk. We see them in the washes and often trotting down the street.
Once, when I was walking behind a residential neighborhood approximately two miles from my home, eight coyotes crossed the road. They were half a block ahead of me — they just kept coming, one after the other! They didn’t pay me any attention, however, I turned and walked back from where I came from!
We see lots of deer in the spring.
White tailed deer and mule deer
While we’ve seen deer within a mile radius of our home, this past spring and into early summer is the first time we saw them on our property. We saw them five different times.
Sometimes they were just passing through and other times, they stayed awhile to eat from the tops of the barrel cactus and from some bushes.
Mountain lions
Twice we’ve seen mountain lions. Each time, there was just one of them.
While it was in different years, the mountain lion was in our property in June, before the monsoons.
Both times, at first we thought it was a very large bobcat. However, mountain lions stand taller and are larger. When we learned there were mountain lion sightings in the Tanque Verde area, we realized that’s what it was. There were several posts about mountain lions on the neighborhood NextDoor site.
Javelinas
We see javelinas often around dusk. Homeowners know to keep their garbage cans secure so the javelinas don’t tip them over.
Like with all wildlife, residents here know not to approach javelinas.
Other desert mammals we’ve seen around are black-tailed jackrabbits, a badger, Harris’ antelope squirrels (we thought they were chipmunks), pack rats, kangaroo rats, ground squirrels, a coati, bats, and raccoons.
We saw raccoons with a toad. My husband shined a light on them to see them better. A few minutes later, the raccoons came back, stood on their hind legs, and peered into our window. They wanted to see what the light was! It was incredible to see how smart they were.
So far we haven’t smelled or seen any skunks near our property though I did see one while camping at Molino Basin on Mt. Lemmon.
Arachnids in Tucson
Spiders in the Sonoran desert
Most of the spiders we’ve seen have been “good spiders.” These include wolf spiders and tarantulas. We leave these spiders alone — transport them outside — because they help with pest control.
We’ve had wolf spiders in our home — including our stove-top!
There are tarantulas as well. You will especially see them active at night.
So far we haven’t seen brown recluse spiders or black widows.
Scorpions
We learned the more residential the area, the greater chance scorpions will be inside your home.
The more rural your property, the less likely you will find them inside. This has been the case with us and our Tucson scorpion experience.
Our first home in Tucson was in a gated community — not very rural — and we had scorpions in our pool, out on our patio, and inside our home frequently. Now that we live in a rural setting, we’ve only had them a few times inside our home.
We’ve seen bark scorpions and whip-tailed scorpions since living here.
Tarantula in Tucson desert
Reptiles in Tucson
We’ve already written about desert-dwelling snakes. In addition, we see various types of lizards daily.
greater short-horned lizard in a nearby wash
Lizards
We see them so regularly we don’t think to take a picture. Soon we will add some pics.
Gila monster outside our window
Gila monsters
We’ve seen Gila monsters along the side of the road several times, in different locations in our local area.
In addition, we’ve had three sightings on our property in different places in two years.
Turtles and tortoises
When we visit Agua Caliente Park, we are sure to see turtles in the ponds.
In addition, many people are custodians of Sonoran Desert Tortoises outside their homes. The Sonoran-Desert Museum has a Tortoise Adoption Program and offers a lot of information.
Birds in the Sonoran Desert
Roadrunners, quail, hummingbirds, and hawks are a few of the birds we often see. We see cardinals, wrens, doves, and woodpeckers. There are other desert-loving birds as well.
We see woodpeckers on the high reaches of saguaro cactus. Hawks soar through the sky. At dusk, there are different bird species that swoop down by our pool.
Depending on the time of year, we see quail families — the adults quail shepherding their little baby quail. It’s common to see them crossing the road.
We see great horned owls also. Twice we’ve had mallard ducks in our pool.
We had quail eggs in one of our planters.
Nearby Agua Caliente Park has many bird-watching opportunities. They have a board outside which lists all the bird species common to the Tucson area. It lists which birds are present year round, which are present in the winter and summer, and which are migratory. It also lists if the birds are common, uncommon, or rare.
Visitors and staff can mark off the birds they see in the park that month.
There are many bird species in Tucson.
Amphibians in the desert
Frogs and toads
We see tadpoles in the washes in the spring. In the summer, we see frogs and toads galore — some big, some small.
Some are outside our patio doors at night and some we find swimming in our pool during the day.
Common Sonoran desert toads include the Colorado river toad. We see them often. They are harmful to dogs. We don’t touch any toads (or any other living thing).
Africanized killer bees on our property
Insects in the desert
There are many types of insects in Tucson. What we see depends on the temperature, season and weather.
A lot also depends on how much rain we did or didn’t get. We’ve seen so many different insects living here.
After a rain, our pool will be filled with flying ants. When we turn on an outside light, we attract many different species, including many beetles.
There is always something interesting coming or going!
bee on desert bloom
Desert wildlife in Tucson
There are many places to visit in Tucson to see wildlife.
If you enjoy seeing them in their desert habitats, you may get to see them when you visit Saguaro National Park, Sabino Canyon, or driving out to Redington Pass.
In addition, the Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum is 21 acres of desert in which you can see animals in a desert setting. You can also see the pollinator gardens, walk through the aviary, and see other animals such as the Mexican gray wolf, Black bear, Bighorn sheep, javelinas, and more.
Taking a drive up Mount Lemmon will take you to additional eco-systems, depending how far up you go. Starting off, there are opportunities to see wildlife in a desert setting. The higher up you go — it reaches 9,157 feet — you will see different wildlife.
There is also the Reid Park Zoo.
Tucson desert wildlife
Our property feels very rural. Over time, we’ve set up solar, a water harvesting system, gardens, a woodworking area, hydroponics, and more.
Our two-acre homestead affords us privacy. However, everything we are doing to have a more rural experience we could do with much less land. We love seeing the wildlife and try to keep as much of the property native desert so we can encourage wildlife habitats.
It’s important to note, we don’t feed any wildlife. We don’t have bird feeders. Also, our garbage cans are in a secured area so javelinas can’t get to them.
In addition, we don’t have pets. So there isn’t a barking dog to scare away wildlife. Animals come and go — able to pass by undisturbed.
We had no idea there were so many species of mammals, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and insects native to Tucson. On any given day, we can see 10+ different types of animals and other wildlife. It’s really an incredible experience.
Desert fauna abounds here near the base of Mt. Lemmon. It’s truly the Sonoran desert wildlife experience.
What No One Tells You About Selling a Home – If you are about to sell your first home, you’re likely to be in for a surprise with the many unexpected preparations that need to be made.
Something no one seems to tell you it, if you don’t do it right, is that it could linger on the market for quite a while.
What No One Tells You About Selling a Home
For example, houses for sale in Ottawa spend an average of 43 days, but in other places it could be much longer – the ones that seem to sell the fastest usually do so because they’ve followed these important tips.
Hire a Professional Photographer
Curb appeal is no longer a potential buyer’s first impression, the Internet is.
How your home looks online can make a significant difference in how fast it sells.
In fact, analysis has shown that a home with professional real estate photography sells 32% faster.
If it doesn’t appeal online, those buyers will quickly move on.
Professional photos can show your home in the very best light to get those buyers through your door.
You Will Need Storage Space
Once those buyers start coming to take a look at your home, you don’t want to have any clutter or junk hanging around.
In fact, the fewer personal things in it the better which means you may need to pack quite a bit and find a place to store those items.
Closets will need to be mostly empty and bulky furniture, which may make your home feel smaller than it is, will need to be stored.
You’ll want to take down family photos and other personal mementos down and store those too.
And you shouldn’t just stick it all in the garage so you may need to rent a storage unit.
Show Ready at All Times
One of the hardest things about having your home up for sale is that your realtor will call you on a moment’s notice to tell you that a potential buyer would like to view your home.
That can mean that you have just an hour to clean up and leave the premises for the viewing so it will need to be in show-ready condition at all times, and ideally, you’ll need to be ready to leave so the buyer can feel comfortable thoroughly checking it out.
The bottom line is, plan on being flexible with your daily schedule and be extra diligent about keeping it clean.
Be Prepared to Negotiate Everything
Negotiations are usually part of the process – you’ll have to be ready to negotiate everything down to which appliances the buyer keeps to the closing costs.
Just because you’ve listed your home for a specific price, doesn’t mean that potential buyer won’t want to try to get it reduced.
They may want the refrigerator and other kitchen appliances, washer and dryer, and perhaps negotiate things like the inspection and other closing costs.
They might even ask you to throw a piece of furniture into the deal.
Anything and everything has a price but if you’re aware beforehand it will allow you to roll with the punches, be less stressed and more open for what might lie ahead.
Refinancing or Financing of Rural Properties – Despite 97% of America’s land area being rural, only 19.3% of the population lives there according to Census Bureau.
This can be attributed to several factors including desirable amenities in urban areas.
One major factor that, however, facilitates this phenomenon is the fact that financing or refinancing a rural property is way harder than an urban or suburban one.
Financing of Rural Properties
Even with federal programs such as the USDA loans that are aimed at encouraging home ownership in rural areas, getting money to buy a rural home is still hard.
Most rural properties lack utilities that are considered basic such as electricity and safe drinking water.
A factor that might deter mortgage lenders.
One may encounter problems with financial institutions in cases where the rural home’s water supply is from a well, which occurs more often than not.
They may decide to completely refuse to finance the purchase or hold off a certain percentage of the agreed amount until the water is tested.
Luckily, taking a water potability test early on before approaching these rural property finance lenders should be able to help eliminate this challenge.
Purchasing a rural home is harder because the rural property market is not as predictable as the urban property market.
A factor that makes mortgage lenders more hesitant. Lenders dislike uncertainties.
Normally, an individual seeking a mortgage loan has to present the lender with an appraisal report.
Now, appraisal, which is a fancy term for determining the value of something, is usually based on using the values of at least 3 houses sold in the last 6 months within a mile of the subject property.
Rural areas are sparsely populated and there way fewer houses that can be used to draw the value of the property.
The uncertain estimates which may be far from the property’s true value make lenders more unlikely to grant loans since they like working with known quantities.
The first features small parcels of land say 1-3 acres.
Most property lenders prefer loaning cash for residential homes.
If the size of a property features a large land, a farm, livestock, a barn, etc., one is advised to seek the loan to finance the purchase from a local bank that finances farms or an agricultural lender.
Alternatively, the extra areas which are not inclusive of the garage, home, and 5-10 acres are not made part of the mortgage loan to value calculations. What No One Tells You About Selling a Home
Strict Loan Requirements When Refinancing or Financing of Rural Properties
Federal government programs that offer loans to support rural development have very strict requirements.
Instead, it acts as a guarantor so one still has to find and convince the lending firm alone.
In cases where it does offer direct loans, not many can meet the set standards.
They only offer these direct loans to very low and low-income individuals whose income must be below 80% of the locality’s median salary.
If a property is far from a major city and therefore harder to get to or if the property is inaccessible due to bad roads, property lenders will most likely turn down a loan request.
Location, utilities, size, zoning, and challenges in establishing value are all factors that make it harder to get a lender to finance or refinance a rural home purchase.
This is however not to mean the venture is impossible.
All one has to do is find fair lenders available in the specific type of property they wish to buy and to take necessary precautions to ensure the loan is approved.
Air Conditioning Maintenance – By keeping your air conditioner well-maintained, not only will you avoid costly repair bills in the long term, but it can help reduce your energy costs right away.
When an air conditioner is in disrepair or even when there’s just dirt built upon the components, it has to work a lot harder to keep working.
Each year, air conditioners will cost homeowners $29 billion a year– and that’s in energy costs alone.
When you figure in maintenance and replacements, that number can quickly end up being more than half a trillion dollars a year.
Whether you’re looking for air conditioning installation in Aurora, CO, or want to ensure that your current system lasts another decade, these are maintenance steps you should keep in mind.
Air Conditioning Maintenance
The savings you get will probably be worth a small investment, too.
Below are the steps you may want to take to keep your air conditioner well-maintained all year.
Check to make sure vents are solid, airflow is steady, and all fins are in their original positions.
The condensation drain should also be maintained once in a while.
Doing so can help prevent the formation of clogs that may lead to necessary, costly repairs.
If a clog does occur, and you don’t catch it quickly, water damage may lead to more than a cosmetic imperfection.
You could end up with a weak or collapsed floor, mold, or worse.
Professional HVAC Maintenance
Every few years it’s a good idea to bring in a professional to take care of tasks like these as well as some maintenance tasks you may not be able, trained, or comfortable enough to do yourself.
For example, a professional can check refrigerant levels and replace it, if needed.
They can also perform several tests with specialized equipment that can quickly check the efficiency of your unit.
Rural Home – Size of America’s homes are shrinking, according to Business Insider, with higher construction costs and higher wages charged by builders affecting both city and rural homeowners alike.
Even if you have a sizeable rural home, new additions to the family, a change on your home business, or even a new hobby can require an extension of space.
Clever Ways to Extend the Space of Your Rural Home
From glass extensions to a dedicated cabin for guests or your home business, there are many ways to create contrasting yet complementary spaces that fit into the natural surrounds.
Let in the Light
Glass has been touted a ‘modern’ material since the 1970s, yet if this material has one appealing quality, it is its ability to complement any style – from art deco to traditional brick, and of course, simple minimalistic constructions.
If you have enough space on either side of your home, adding a sunroom with glazed glass and an insulated roof and wall will enable you to enjoy floods of natural light while staying warm.
For inspiration on how glass can be used to increase space, check out work by Koichi Takada Architects, who recently topped traditional brick archways in Sydney with a stunning round glass tower.
Extending Outdoor Space
Building an al fresco terrace with the help of a remote control pergola or constructing a permanent flat roof to cover your terraced space will enable you to create various additional spaces in your home.
One terrace can house three or more spaces, including a resting area, dining room, and TV area.
Ideally, this space should have glass sliding doors or moveable crystal walls, to keep you safe from the elements in cold or hot weather.
Terraces can be pushed further forward through the use of decking.
Cedar, pine, and wood are some of the most popular choices for wooden decks.
Investing in an Independent Log Cabin
Ample plots of lands can definitely benefit from a log cabin construction.
Depending on how you wish to use the space, your cabin can contain specific pictures that will enhance your working or living experience.
Important considerations to consider include the number of stories you need, how much light your cabin will need, and whether or not you will need a basement.
If your cabin will be used for anything other than storage, make natural light a priority.
Large windows, sliding doors, and atrium rooftop are just a few ways to up the appeal factor of your cabin.
Adding Height
High ceilings add major style to living areas, increasing volume considerably and relaxing the mind by opening up available space.
If you have an attic, you can probably raise the ceiling in the space beneath it.
If you have a stick roof, you may have to remove the existing roof and build a completely new one.
You should also inquire about any building regulations, since a permit may be necessary before you create more vertical space.
Most people who own rural homes have one luxury that urban dwellers crave: space.
By either extending your home or building an entirely new space on your land, you can create your own home office or guests house without breaking the bank.
To whiz your home into the future, vertical height is definitely the way to go, since it will significantly increase volume and create the airy, elegant look that is gracing luxury homes featured in home style magazines across the globe.
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