Real Estate
-
Several steps can vastly improve security of your homeMay 16, 2009 11:00 pm - Q. I have a fairly typical two-story house which I think is reasonably secure. There have been several burglaries nearby. What are some simple, inexpensive methods to ma...
-
Don't pay an upfront fee to sell your interest in a time shareMay 16, 2009 11:00 pm - Q. I am sure this question is one that many people have and an answer certainly would be appreciated. I need to get rid of a time share but have paid dollars after dolla...
-
Builders see tight window on $8,000 tax incentiveMay 16, 2009 11:00 pm - Listen up, first-time homebuyers and those who have not owned a home for the past three years; the federal government is offering you the chance of a lifetime, but you h...
-
Rising water costs take toll on rentalsMay 16, 2009 11:00 pm - Q. I have been renting a duplex unit for more than three years. A week ago, my landlord told me the water bills have been getting very high and that she was thinking abo...
-
Here's an alternative to the toxic asset purchase programMay 16, 2009 11:00 pm - The government is betting that by lending large amounts to private investors to purchase securities, markets will revive and security values will rise. It is a costly an...
-
Handy tool for stubborn packagesMay 16, 2009 11:00 pm - Q. Sometime late last year, you mentioned an interesting tool that made it easy to open all types of packages, etc. I believe it was designed by women, and you thought i...
-
Home addition foiled by line restrictionsMay 16, 2009 11:00 pm - Q. My husband and I wish to put an addition onto our home. We had someone draw up some plans and we submitted them to the village so we could get our building permit. We...
-
New appraisal rules create added costs, sea change in industryMay 14, 2009 11:00 pm - WASHINGTON - How about this scenario the next time you refinance or apply for a new mortgage: The real estate appraisal that used to cost you $325 now costs $450, even t...
-
Only option is to buckle down, buy new laminate floorMay 09, 2009 11:00 pm - Q. My daughter has a Pergo-type laminate floor in the kitchen. Unfortunately, the dishwasher sprung a leak, and water seeped in the immediate area, causing some buck...
-
Solar tubes brighten indoors with natural lightMay 08, 2009 11:00 pm - Q. I try to use fewer electric lights to save electricity. I would like to get more natural light, but the cost of a skylight is over my budget. Are tubular skylight...