Real Estate
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Deteriorating shingles put reader's patience through the roofJun 27, 2009 11:00 pm - Q. We are having our cedar shingles replaced at the end of this month on the lake side (southeast) of the house where weathering has been the most prominent. The existin...
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Developers build safeguards for buyers of new homesJun 27, 2009 11:00 pm - A trend to ease the minds of people making major purchases through installment payments has moved from the auto dealership to the builder's model. Hyundai started the ba...
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Seller pitting buyers against each other, even after counterofferJun 27, 2009 11:00 pm - Q. We offered on a house, and the seller countered with $10,000 less. It had gone back and forth, and finally the seller had made a counteroffer we accepted within the h...
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The definitive guide to backyard barbecuing, outdoor livingJun 27, 2009 11:00 pm - Staycation. Holi-stay. Sit-about. Home-trip. Call it what you will, but more people are spending more time at home this summer than probably ever before. A Zogby Intern...
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Many taxpayers are angry and wrong about mortgage crisisJun 27, 2009 11:00 pm - I don't ordinarily like to publish long letters, but this one is worth the space because it captures the mood of a sizable segment of the population. "I'm upset by your ...
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Tips for rekindling your backyard love affairJun 27, 2009 11:00 pm - Jamie Durie, host of HGTV Showdown and others offer a variety of ideas for homeowners interested in rekindling their backyard love affair. Start with the grill "Cle...
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Broker angry about home inspection formsJun 27, 2009 11:00 pm - Q. I am the broker of a large real estate company. In my area, most home inspectors use computerized reports, with photos of the defects they disclose. Very few still us...
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Buyers frustrated with short sale taking too longJun 27, 2009 11:00 pm - Q. My husband and I signed a contract to buy our first home about two months ago. We were told this was a short sale and that it may take a little extra time for the dea...
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Bounced checks shouldn't scuttle homeowner's refinancing plansJun 25, 2009 11:00 pm - Just about everyone has accidentally written a bad check over the years. Doing so won't hurt your credit score, provided that the old check is replaced by a new one imme...
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Here's a cheaper way to get new kitchen countertopsJun 25, 2009 11:00 pm - Laminated countertops are tough, and they can last a long time. If you've considered replacing the top because it's dull or scratched, or maybe it's just an ugly color, ...