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| 2006 |
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> Heating Costs Won't Be as Steep This Winter
Barring unforeseen price increases, home owners could save as much as $250 over last year, energy analysts estimate. |
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> Financing Options for Buyers Who Are Also Sellers
Some say a short-term bridge loan is an expensive way to go. Other possibilities: a home equity loan or borrowing from a 401(k). |
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> Home Repairs That Really Dent Your Wallet
Some home repairs are known for being far more costly than originally thought, says home inspection expert Mike Kuhn. |
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> Sellers Slow to Realize It's a Buyer's Market
As the real estate market cools, some real estate professionals are finding themselves in the unfamiliar role of explaining to sellers that they can't hope to get what they want. |
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> Observers Voice Views on Fed's Rate Decision
Economic observers had various views about the effect on the housing market of the Fed's decision to hold benchmark short-term interest rates at 5.25 percent. |
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> Link Between Real Estate Market, Stock Prices
When homebuilding activity picks up, Standard & Poor's 500 stock index posts gains about a year later, a study shows. |
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> Aromatic, Freshly Painted Homes Sell Faster
With home sales slowing, the experts from HGTV's "Designed to Sell" offer tips on how to get things moving. |
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> Pulte, Centex Lead Satisfaction Rankings
Pulte Homes and Centex Homes led the rankings in J.D. Power and Associates' annual New-Home Builder Customer Satisfaction Study. |
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> Housing Experts Reassure U.S. Senate Panel
The U.S. housing market is drifting down, but is unlikely to crash, economists and business leaders told the Senate Banking Committee on Wednesday. |
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> Global Housing Trends Point the Way for U.S.
Worldwide, the housing market is rising faster than it did a year ago. That bodes well for what U.S. housing faces. |
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> Report: Home Prices Rise at Sluggish Pace
U.S. home prices rose more slowly in the second quarter than in three decades, says the office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight.
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> 5 Hotspots for Vacation-Home Deals
Looking for a bargain on a second home? These locales offer the best lifestyle at the most reasonable price, a real estate Web site says. |
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> Goodbye Kid's Room, Hello Home Office
As millions of kids pack up for college this fall, parents are eyeing the valuable space formerly known as the kids' bedrooms. |
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> Mortgage Rates Hold Steady
After five weeks of declines, fixed mortgage rates were basically unchanged this past week in anticipation of several economic indicators. |
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> Report: States in Better Financial Shape
When the books closed on fiscal year 2006, state revenues were up 8 percent over 2005. In many cases, that means less reliance on property taxes. |
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> Lenders Seek New Ways to Lure First-Time Buyers
"There's money to be made by targeting this segment because it is underserved and growing," says a Freddie Mac official. |
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> Affordable Ways to Make a Home Sparkle
A home seller doesn't have to spend a fortune on redecorating the house in order to impress buyers. Check out these tips. |
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> Hot Tubs Make Second Homes More Rentable
One expert estimates that vacation rentals with a hot tub bring in $14,000 more annually than rentals without a hot tub. |
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> New Creative Living Arrangements: Yours, Mine and Ours
Creative living arrangements are being forged by young professionals in cities across the country, as soaring home prices and rising rents make it difficult for them to afford shelter. |
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> Home Buying Tips for Blended Families
Merging two families is never easy. Here's some advice for blended families who are looking for a home that makes everyone happy. |
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> Best of Both Worlds: The New Old House
Home buyers prefer the architecture of older homes, yet don't want to deal with creaky floors, small rooms, and old wiring. |
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> Home Sales to Hold Stable for Balance of Year
The housing market is in a process of stabilizing with little change in overall sales volume expected over the balance of the year, according to NAR. |
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> Census: More Home Owners Are In Their 20s
People in their 20s are more inclined to buy homes today, according to annual statistics from the U.S. Census bureau. |
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> Garages Get Cramped, Owners Seek Solutions
Americans are stuffing more stuff than ever into their garages, fueling demand for organizational equipment. |
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> Pending Home Sales Index Rises Slightly
"We have various housing indicators moving in different directions, which itself is an indicator of a market in transition," says NAR Chief Economist David Lereah. |
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> Remodeling: Home Owners' Seven Deadly Sins
Remodeling isn't always a good idea, says an industry executive. Here are some tips to consider before jumping into a project. |
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> Tips for Selling Your Home in Today's Tough Market
It's time to get realistic rather than panicky about the housing market. Experts don't foresee major declines in property value. |
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> Decorating Tips that Pay Off
Laurie Smith, star of The Learning Channel's popular "Trading Spaces" TV show, has written a book offering home design tips. |
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> Mold Not Always Linked to Humidity
A study of mold-related insurance claims reveals that some of the states with the highest mold loss rates are located in hot, arid regions. |
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> Buying a Duplex Has Clear Advantages
Besides receiving rent payments from a tenant to help pay the mortgage, there are tax benefits for duplex owner-occupants. |
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> Picking Upgrades Can Overwhelm New-Home Buyers
New homebuyers can be faced with a daunting number of choices, everything from color and type of carpet to molding designs and doorknobs. How do you decide? |
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> No More Powder Rooms Underneath the Stairs
As floor plans have changed, the powder room has moved to a central location that puts it in full view of guests as they walk from the foyer to the kitchen or family room. |
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> Good Student Test Scores Boost Home Values
Strong school districts make a community desirable. Now there's a connection between good scores on state proficiency tests and higher housing prices. |
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> Builders Predict Slowdown
The housing market will continue to cool with slower price increases and fewer housing starts, according to the National Association of Home Builders. |
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> Boston: Magic Johnson Builds Affordable Units
Basketball great Earvin "Magic" Johnson is teaming up with a former nemesis, Larry Bird, to build 146 Boston condos in an old factory in Charleston priced from under $200,000 to the low-$300,000s. |
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> Mortgage Applications Climb for 2nd Week
The number of U.S. mortgage applications rose again this week even though rates are at a four-year high. |
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> Halfway Point: Sales Remain on Strong Track
Halfway Point: Sales Remain on Strong Track An increase in the 30-year fixed mortgage rate over the course of the year will be one of the primary reasons for a decline in home sales in 2006. |
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> Home Sales Expected to Stabilize
Existing-home sales are projected to ease modestly but should stay within a relatively narrow range over the balance of the year. |
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> Adding Upstairs Laundry Takes Thoughtful Planning
Those considering adding a second-floor laundry room should plan carefully, as water damage or structural problems can result. |
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> Pending Home Sales Index Levels Out
The index of pending home sales, a leading gauge for the housing sector, rose slightly in May, an indication that the market is stabilizing. |
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> 10 Questions Buyers Should Ask Home Inspectors
Buyers can enjoy a high level of service from the service providers involved in their transaction. With inspectors, they should ask these questions. |
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> College Town Properties Are a Smart Buy
Want to find a solid real estate investment? With a growing population of college students, professors, and retirees, college towns are good bet. |
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> 6 Simple Ideas for Beautifying a House
When buyers look at a half-dozen similar homes, they'll buy the one they think is "prettiest." Here's how to make yours that home. |
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> Cooling May Curb Global Housing Bust
The largest global housing boom in 30 years may end slowly and in such a way that will keep global economies growing, some economists say. |
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> Cigarette Smokers Have Tough Time Selling
Selling a cigarette-fogged house often take longer, as buyers are turned off by the stale smell. Air fresheners usually don't help. |
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> New Home Sales Show Gains
New-Home Sales Show Gains Wall Street was expecting a 4 percent drop, but instead sales of new homes increased by 4.6 percent in May. |
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| Source: REALTOR® MAGAZINE ONLINE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® |
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