Residents of Wisteria Lane, USA might have found their property values rising during the long run of the Desperate Housewives TV series, but they've got nothing on the people who live on Country Club Drive. According to a University of Georgia study, the value of homes with "country" in their addresses is 4.2 percent greater than similar properties located on streets that aren't "countrified". As for those lucky people on Country Club Drive, this posh address increases the value of their homes by 9.3 percent.

As reported in the Wall Street Journal's blog, Developments, the study found that Country Club Drive sounded prestigious to those looking to impress: Unlike the intersection of Lonesome and Hardup Roads, as WSJ writer Robbie Whelan points out.

But it's not necessarily all in a name.

As listing site Point2Homes suggests, it's also the ad listings that draw buyers to your Open House. A fancy address obviously helps, but so do the descriptors "exquisite," and "private" when applied to luxury properties - those listed for $5 million or more.

For the rest of us, there's always the "dream home," which comes sixth in a list of top 100 home descriptors developed by Point2Homes in its scan of 300,000 US homes. And, of course, features such as hardwood floors and stainless steel appliances.

So, for those looking for the perfect home, scan the ads for stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and spa bathrooms. But if it happens to be located on Country Club Drive, so much the better.

Yet Clayton's journey to success in baseball has included many personal moments way out of his control. Family issues, finances, sports teams, and more. All beyond his control. Still, this young man has already learned valuable lessons on how to manage a high stress environment. Here he shares wisdom beyond his years and a passion for the needs of others that only God can impart.

Unmanned aerial vehicles - nicknamed drones - have seamlessly made the leap from military to peaceful uses, attracting an entirely new (and wide) audience who just love them for their role in creating amazing aerial photography. For under $1,000, enthusiasts can acquire remote-controlled cameras that take photos and video footage that would otherwise be impossible. These aerial cameras are producing videos that are attracting major attention online - like the one of a pack of wild coyotes running on a California hillside that accompanied a recent article in the online magazine, The Week. Trend watchers are calling for an "explosion" in drone-facilitated aerial photography.

In the past, bird's-eye shots were only possible with expensive, inaccessible technology like that used in movies. But now, a host of inexpensive and easy-to-get products are available from $300 to $700. So anyone can take awe-inspiring photos and videos.

Of course, this technology isn't without its cons; remote-control cameras make it easy to infringe upon someone's privacy and that is an issue. But it will be difficult, if not impossible to impose strictures. Especially when the product is so amazing.

Here are some tips to keep you on track.

Know your financial situation: Prepare a budget before you start house hunting. In general, spend no more than 32% of your gross monthly income on housing. Remember, this includes utilities and property taxes. And your entire debt load shouldn't exceed 40% of your monthly gross income. Debt load includes car loans as well as credit card and line-of-credit payments.

The lowest interest rate isn't always the best solution. Consider your individual situation, talk to two or three lenders, and be sure to read the fine print. Make sure you plan for closing costs.

If you're looking at an adjustable-rate mortgage, consider that interest rates will fluctuate. Put down as much of a downpayment as you can and make sure you can meet the payments if rates change.

Singletons - as those who live alone have been described - are now choosing this lifestyle, and "going solo" has become statistically significant in North America, according to Eric Klinenberg.

Klinenberg, sociologist and author of Going Solo: The Extraordinary Rise and Surprising Appeal of Living Alone, says that almost half the current population in the US is unmarried, representing 28 percent of American households. And many of the singletons he interviewed for his book highly value this lifestyle: "It allows us to do what we want, when we want on our own terms," Klinenberg commented in a recent Globe and Mail interview.

For the most part, his singletons are alone, not lonely: "Many people ... said there was nothing more lonely than living with the wrong person," he noted. And they're not bored. Single people populate gyms, clubs and coffee shops, where they can mingle with a purpose.

However, there are downsides: Living alone may be fulfilling, but it can also be frustrating. There's only one income to pay the bills, and statistics show that solos are at higher risk of accidents or crime. As well, the majority of Klinenberg's singletons are young.

What will happen as they age?

Ah, says Klinenberg, living alone is a "cyclical condition, not a permanent one." So chances are his young singletons will follow the traditional path - eventually.

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But for homeowners, the process is not so easy.

Whether you buy a new home before selling your current one - or the other way around - the choice of what to do first comes down to which option makes you the most comfortable.

Both have pros and cons, and here are some to consider:

Sell first

• When you know what your current home has sold for you can zero in on exactly what you can afford in your next one.
• Because you already know the conditions of your own home's sale, such as the closing date, you can make informed offers.
• The downside: If you can't get possession of your new house before leaving your current one, or even worse, can't find what you're looking for, you'll need temporary housing. Can you afford a short-term rental, and what will you do with your furniture while you're waiting?

Buy first

• If you've found a home with unbelievable features in a great neighborhood at an awesome price, the pressure is on. You really want this dream home, so in this case, you may have to buy before selling.
• If the local real estate market is hot, you might feel safer buying first.
• It's probably a safe bet your home will sell fast, unless it's out of step with its neighbors; if it's a fixer, or if it's the best home in the neighborhood, it may languish or sell below asking
• The downside: If you buy first and your home does languish, the worst case scenario is you're stuck with double mortgage payments.

And double stress.

Some families handle risk better than others. What kind and how much depends on your circumstances.

Pending and existing home sales declined slightly in April, while inventory continues to increase.

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