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Starved credit wrecked housing, not vice versa

By Lou Barnes, Friday, February 29, 2008.

Mortgage rates have begun a decline from the irrational levels of the last month, now approaching 6 percent and says here likely to cross back into the fives.  more...

Stop texting and start Jotting Premium Content

By Bernice Ross, Friday, February 29, 2008.

Have you ever watched someone text message while they're driving? A new service called Jott may soon make simple texting obsolete.

For many boomers, texting has always been a bit of a challenge. Many of us get the concept, but seeing or pushing the keys without our glasses is difficult.  more...

Get rid of 'popcorn' ceilings all at once

By Paul Bianchina, Friday, February 29, 2008.

Q: I own a 40-plus-year-old house that has been remodeled from time to time and looks modern and is well-kept. Presently, I need to remove the "cottage cheese" ceiling from one large room. Is it in my best interest to remove this from all the rooms in the house? --Lorna K.  more...

Today's traffic engineering stuck in neutral

By Arrol Gellner, Friday, February 29, 2008.

Someday, when the history of our Petroleum Age is written and the internal-combustion automobile is considered a quaint and rather silly conveyance on par with the oxcart, scholars will have a field day examining the myriad aspects of our vanished autocentric society.  more...

Tell-tale signs that your rental's a meth lab

By Janet Portman, Thursday, February 28, 2008.

Q: My local newspaper ran a story about a child who was blinded when he opened a duffel bag he discovered in a vacant lot near his home. Apparently, the bag held residue from a methamphetamine operation -- going on right in his building! The landlord claimed he knew nothing about the meth-making tenant, who had mysteriously moved out the night before. I own and live in a small apartment building, and I want to know if there are warning signs I can look out for. --Naomi B.  more...

Tenants upset over mandatory renter's insurance

By Robert Griswold, Thursday, February 28, 2008.

Question: I am a tenant, and the owner of my apartment complex recently sent notification to the residents that we are required to have $100,000 renter's insurance coverage in case of damage to the apartment as a condition of our lease. We are also required to include the apartment complex as an additional insured and a vested party for reimbursement should there be any damages.  more...

Avoid problems with home-improvement contractors

By Benny Kass, Thursday, February 28, 2008.

Do you plan on doing any work in your house? Will you be using a contractor? If so, whether this is a small job or a major renovation, there are a number of steps you must take to protect yourself.

First, the contractor must be licensed in the jurisdiction where your property is located. When you have selected the contractor, insist on getting a copy of his or her license.  more...

Second-home buyers learn shocker on moving day

By Tom Kelly, Wednesday, February 27, 2008.

What you see is what you get, right? Not necessarily in real estate, unless you go out of your way to document your expectations and assumptions and make them known to the seller. This is especially true in recreational properties that are in remote locations.  more...

Fireplace remodel: swapping bricks for tiles

By Bill and Kevin Burnett, Wednesday, February 27, 2008.

Q: I have a question regarding my old fireplace, built in the 1920s with a brick facade that was added in the 1950s.

The brick facade has been painted white and is as ugly as can be. The fireplace also has a threshold that is 2 inches high, 5 feet, 2 inches wide, and 1 foot, 9 inches deep.  more...

Flashy extras: silly or saleable?

By Alison Rogers, Monday, February 25, 2008.

I just had a client go to contract on a new, and very nice, apartment. The location is great, the finishes are great, and the reputation of the builder is great, making it likely that the home that gets delivered is the same as the home that was promised -- a bit of a rarity these days.

Also, there's a television embedded in the bathroom mirror.

My client thinks that's a little silly -- it is a little silly -- but it was a signature touch by the developers to show off how "fresh" the building is.  more...

Mortgage Grader: a new way to shop lenders

By Jack Guttentag, Monday, February 25, 2008.

I have been spending time recently kicking the tires of a new Web site, MortgageGrader.com, which has excellent credentials. It has been developed by Jeff Lazerson, an experienced mortgage broker who didn't much like the way most brokers did business.  more...

Tips for buying at foreclosure auction

By Benny Kass, Monday, February 25, 2008.

DEAR BENNY: I would appreciate it if you would comment on the procedures for bidding on houses that are up for foreclosure. I suspect that one could get a decent deal, but I can't seem to crack the code on how to go about purchasing a house at a foreclosure auction. I realize that I have to show up with a cashier's check for the specified amount and make up the balance within 30 days, so I presume that I have to have all my anticipated financing in order. --R.B.

DEAR R.B.: I will answer each of your questions separately.  more...

Selling home 'as is' in today's market?

By Dian Hymer, Monday, February 25, 2008.

A listing that is advertised as an "as is" sale can be a put-off to buyers. They might assume that something is wrong with the property that will cost a lot to repair. If they have little free time or money, they might decide before even taking a look that this isn't the house for them.  more...

Credit crunch fixes? Policymakers need to get on with it

By Lou Barnes, Friday, February 22, 2008.

Long-term mortgage rates are beginning to trickle back down from the peculiar spike of the last two weeks. The lowest-fee mortgages went from 6.375 percent to 6.25 percent; the 10-year T-note went from 3.9 percent to 3.8 percent -- the immense spread is a measure of deepening crunch.  more...

Single-property Web sites catch sellers' attention Premium Content

By Bernice Ross, Friday, February 22, 2008.

If you're not using what is known as a "single-property Web site," you're missing one of the best tools to increase your Web traffic and convert more listing leads into signed business.  more...

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