Copyright 2009 Daily Herald, Paddock Publications, Inc. http://www.dailyherald.com/lifestyle/realestate/ en-us Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:03:42 CST http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=336937&src=118 http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=336937&src=118 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:03:42 CDT Running Brook Farm, a new-home community in Johnsburg, presents two series of luxury single-family homes with two decorated models from the Classic series for visitors to tour. http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=337775&src=118 http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=337775&src=118 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:03:36 CDT I am concerned about the security and efficiency of some of my old single-pane first-floor windows. I think glass block windows would be more secure. Are they efficient and can I install them myself? http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=337777&src=118 http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=337777&src=118 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:03:36 CDT Buyers who purchase a home without first obtaining a satisfactory inspection report run the risk of "inheriting" all of the seller's problems. http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=337782&src=118 http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=337782&src=118 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:03:42 CDT If you need a little more romance in your life, why not install a fireplace? You don't have to remodel your home to do so with the new "ventless" fireplaces on the market. http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=337599&src=118 http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=337599&src=118 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:03:42 CDT For the past several years, the Federal Housing Administration has been the go-to financing resource for cash-strapped homebuyers who can't come up with a big down payment. It has zoomed from barely a 3 percent market share to nearly 30 percent of home purchase loans. But now, wildly popular FHA-insured mortgages could be on the verge of becoming more expensive and tougher to obtain. http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=335240&src=118 http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=335240&src=118 Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:18:18 CDT Our home, built in 2000, has two eaves that are accessed through our master-bedroom walk-in closets. These eaves are above the garage, one on each side of our master bath. We would like to finish the eaves to expand our living space, but wonder if there are reasons why we should not or cannot. There are soffits in each eave, which we are aware are used for ventilation. We would appreciate your advice. http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=336123&src=118 http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=336123&src=118 Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:18:18 CDT I live in a 500-unit apartment community comprised of nearly 20 buildings. My problem is that mailboxes to the individual units are not secure. The mailboxes are centrally located in each building with four rows of six mailboxes in a single "bank" per building. http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=336120&src=118 http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=336120&src=118 Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:18:18 CDT I don't want an education in mortgages; I just want to know enough to save as much money as possible on my new mortgage. Also, as an African-American, I want to avoid being taken advantage of. Any chance you can distill what I need to know into one article? http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=336135&src=118 http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=336135&src=118 Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:18:17 CDT My home was built about 10 years ago. I've had trouble with it ever since, and the builder avoids all responsibility. From leaky windows to settlement cracks, it's been one thing after another. When the home was 3 years old, I called the builder's home and was told that I had the wrong number. Finally, this year, I was able to reach him. He told me that he is retired and gave me the number of another contractor to fix the problems. But that means I'll have to pay for his mistakes. Isn't he responsible to fix the defects in my house?