Real Estate
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New appraisal rules backfire in down marketAug 15, 2009 11:00 pm - Enacting rules to curb abuses arising during a housing bubble, which don't take effect until the succeeding financial crisis, can easily do more harm than good. This is ...
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Drip systems that water roots are most efficientAug 13, 2009 11:00 pm - Q. I have a lot of landscaping and gardens. My water bills are high and I hate to waste time watering. I probably don't water right anyway. Are automatic watering kits e...
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Two new models finished at Wauconda communityAug 13, 2009 11:00 pm - Liberty Lakes, a new home community set in Wauconda's natural landscape, offers spacious single-family homes that easily adapt to the needs of growing families. The com...
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Don't let your windows drive up your energy costsAug 13, 2009 11:00 pm - If your windows are not properly weatherstripped or insulated, you might as well leave them wide open, as far as energy usage. Here are some tips for saving energy in an...
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Take steps to prevent a low-value appraisalAug 13, 2009 11:00 pm - Several home sales and refinancing deals are being scuttled by banks because appraisers have become more conservative in estimating values. Savvy borrowers can take seve...
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Legislators hope lease-back programs help distressed homeownersAug 13, 2009 11:00 pm - WASHINGTON - Here are two questions getting a lot of attention on Capitol Hill and from the Obama administration: When homeowners lose their houses to foreclosure, shoul...
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New Web site could jump-start loan modificationsAug 08, 2009 11:00 pm - With no end to the housing crisis in sight, the need to modify loan contracts to make payments more affordable is greater than ever. While the number of modifications is...
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Large, wooded properties preserve Prospect Heights' rural feelAug 06, 2009 11:00 pm - Prospect Heights offers the best of two worlds. A rustic atmosphere pervades on the city's West side, where large single-family homes sit on sprawling lots with mature l...
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IRS says it will closely monitor tax credit to look for cheatsAug 06, 2009 11:00 pm - WASHINGTON - The IRS has an urgent message for would-be home purchasers: Make the most of the $8,000 first-time buyer tax credit before it disappears Dec. 1 - if you qua...
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Ask mortgage lender to guarantee fixed-dollar feesAug 01, 2009 11:00 pm - Q. Do you agree with the advice contained in the recent USA Today article, in which you were quoted, on how to save on settlement costs? A. That article made me real...