Lifestyle Columns
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About Real Estate: Condos with poor common areas make for poor investments, tooMar 25, 2011 4:00 am - It’s usually best to avoid buying a condominium or co-op in a development where the common areas aren’t properly maintained. Q. I have found a condominium that I wou...
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On homes and real estate: Not too old for mortgage approvalMar 25, 2011 2:00 am - Q. My husband and I are 78 and 75, and we would like to buy a second home in Florida. We would like to know if mortgage companies will refuse us for a 15- or 30-year...
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Condo talk: Taking the ‘secret’ out of a closed sessionMar 25, 2011 12:00 am - One of the most common cries of homeowners who are unhappy with their board of directors is that they are conducting “secret meetings.” What are the proper procedures fo...
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The nation’s housing: Unemployment protection plan may ease borrowers’ worryMar 25, 2011 12:00 am - WASHINGTON — Homebuilders are offering it to new buyers, and some of the country’s largest banks and mortgage lenders think it’s a win-win idea for shaky economic times:...
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Super Handyman: Prolong your refrigerator’s life with these maintenance tipsMar 24, 2011 2:00 am - The refrigerator (formerly known as the “ice box”) has come a long way since its original creation. Today’s units work very efficiently and do a great job of keeping foo...
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Home inspector: Home sale deadlocked over repair demandsMar 24, 2011 2:00 am - Q. Our home is in escrow. We disclosed every defect we could think of, but the buyers relied on their home inspector. The inspector didn’t find any serious problems,...
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Sawyer Mansion becomes Elgin landmarkMar 23, 2011 11:00 pm - Some people call it the Sawyer Mansion, but Nancy Farquhar and her family just call it home. Farquhar and her husband Dann bought the house at 806 W. Highland Ave. in E...
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Fresh and dried figs making a comebackMar 22, 2011 12:00 am - I bought Fig Newtons the other week because it had been eons since I included these cookies in my lunch. When I offered some to my sons they looked at me as if I were ma...
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Tea not the only beverage for afternoon teaMar 22, 2011 12:00 am - When you have more time than is filled with a quick cup of Joe but don’t want the hustle-bustle of a full meal, try afternoon tea. With “the comfort of solitude and the ...
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Desperation Dinners: Mac and Cheese a grown-up mealMar 22, 2011 12:00 am - I crave macaroni and cheese on a monthly basis. When the hungries set in recently, I decided to spice up our regular Mac and Cheese recipe. I grabbed a spicy block of Pe...