Real Estate
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Here are a few options to get fresh air in airtight homesFeb 26, 2009 10:00 pm - Q. I have an energy efficient house that is fairly airtight. I installed new windows and doors. Now the indoor air does not seem as fresh as it used to and odors lin...
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Obama's plan eases way for many to refinance into lower rateFeb 26, 2009 10:00 pm - WASHINGTON - Though the final operational guidelines of the Obama administration's foreclosure-avoidance programs won't be released until Wednesday, March 4, key details...
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Cost-plus deals often benefit contractor over homeownersFeb 26, 2009 10:00 pm - It's usually better for a homeowner who wants to remodel to sign a fixed-price contract with the contractor who will do the work, rather than a cost-plus deal, which giv...
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Spruce up your bathroom with a new vanityFeb 26, 2009 10:00 pm - One way to make a big change in your bathroom is to replace the vanity and sink. If you find a good deal on one and have some basic skills, you can install it yourself a...
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Builders are stocking kitchens with convenience, beautyFeb 26, 2009 10:00 pm - In today's homes, kitchens reign. Homeowners spend more time in the kitchen than in any other room in their home. It's the gathering hub of the house - a center of cooki...
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Low rates jump-start refinance activityFeb 26, 2009 10:00 pm - The mortgage industry is still suffering the effects of the financial meltdown of last fall. "The industry is still trying to find its way," explained Larry Bettag, regi...
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Suburban home prices fall in '08Feb 25, 2009 10:00 pm - Any question about a housing bubble bursting in the suburbs was answered in 2008. Home prices dropped in most suburbs last year after they peaked in 2007, and the number...
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Home inspector are more often unskilled than unscrupulousFeb 21, 2009 10:00 pm - Q. Before we bought our home, we hired a home inspector, but he didn't report any of the major problems in the house. Now we have to repair the plumbing, the electrical ...
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Plan to stem foreclosures must address negative equityFeb 21, 2009 10:00 pm - The government's efforts to combat the worst financial crisis since the 1930s can be divided into three phases. Phase one, executed in good part in catch-as-catch-can f...
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Tax credit for first-time homebuyers is new and improved for 2009Feb 21, 2009 10:00 pm - Q. I was a first-time homebuyer in May 2008 and I was wondering if I qualified for the $7,500 tax credit that I read about in your column. This individual said he pu...