Archive By Section - HOME SCENE
Condo boards eyeing ‘mortgage termination’
DEAR BENNY: I am the president of a large condominium in the Midwest and have just heard about a program called "mortgage termination." It sounds fascinating and very useful for our condo, since we have a number of delinquencies with properties that are underwater. Are you familiar with this and if so, how does it work? --Phyllis
Fast, fabulous fixes to banish a boring bath
The best bathrooms are more than just functional areas - they're sanctuaries where you can escape, reset and recharge. And as one of the smallest and most-used rooms in the home, that's likely why they've become the most popular remodeling project (78 percent), according to the National Association of Home Builders.
Rate on 15-year loan at record-low 2.61 pct.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The average U.S. rate on the 15-year fixed mortgage fell last week to its lowest level on record, making refinancing and home-buying more attractive to those who can qualify.
Easy solutions to backyard problems
For time-stretched gardeners who prefer to enjoy their backyards rather than work in them, several new products make outdoor living easier. Each offers a thoughtful solution to a common outdoor living problem, providing time-saving help to gardeners, gadget geeks and all who love to focus on fun outdoors.-
Sure-grow guidance for 1st-time gardeners
Each year, thousands of first-timers will join the millions of seasoned gardeners who already know the satisfaction of picking a perfect tomato at its peak, serving up salads from greens just grown right outside the back door, or harvesting home-grown peppers and specialty herbs never even seen at the grocery store.
Next generation of Del Webb homes
There is a reason why Del Webb was able to sell almost three out of every 10 new homes in Manteca during the past five years of The Great Recession.
Previously owned home sales highest in more than 3 years
WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. sales of previously occupied homes rose in February to their fastest pace in more than three years, and more people put their homes on the market. The increases suggest a growing number of Americans believe the housing recovery will strengthen.
Rate on 30-year mortgage declines back to 3.54 percent
WASHINGTON (AP) - Average U.S. rates on fixed mortgages fell this week and remained near historic lows, a trend that has supported a recovery in housing.
$500 home improvement tax rebates good for 2013 & retroactively for 2012 energy efficient work
When U.S. lawmakers made a deal to keep the country from going off the "fiscal cliff" at the end of 2012, they reinstated a tax break of up to $500 to help homeowners earn money back for energy efficient home improvements.
Rate on 30-year fixed mortgage rises to 3.63%
WASHINGTON (AP) - The average U.S. rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage rose this week to its highest level in seven months but remains near historic lows. Low mortgage rates have helped support the gradually recovering housing market.
Investors keep SoCal mid- to high-end sales strong
SAN DIEGO (AP) - Southern California home sales continued strong last month as investors snapped up mid- to high-end homes, though it was unclear whether the rebound will continue through the year, real estate research firm DataQuick reported Wednesday.
Sharp drop in foreclosures
LOS ANGELES (AP) - While the nation's foreclosure woes persist, new data show they're easing amid a resurgent housing market, rising home prices and efforts by some states to buy homeowners more time to avoid losing their homes.
San Francisco Bay area February home sales dip but prices on the rise
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Home sales dropped and prices rose in the San Francisco Bay area last month as supplies remained tight, the real estate research firm DataQuick reported Thursday.
2013's hottest improvement trends
The busy home remodeling season is a great time for homeowners to focus on increasing curb appeal. The percentage of homeowners who feel now is a good time to spend money on home improvement has doubled since 2009, according to a recent survey among Better Homes and Gardens readers. Considering two of the top four features consumers have on their wish lists for their next home are low maintenance exteriors and a private backyard, ...
Staging on a shoestring: Tips from pros for quick home sales
The real estate market is starting to show signs of improvement, which is welcome news for people wanting to sell their homes. This positive momentum alone isn't enough to close a deal, though - a homeowner must make their properties appealing to potential buyers so they stand out from the competition. The good news is it's easy to create an appealing atmosphere with a few staging tips and tricks from the experts.
Articles by Section - HOME SCENE
Sales of bank-owned homes hit 5-year low in 1st quarter
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Sales of bank-owned homes have plunged to a five-year low, the latest evidence that the nation's foreclosure woes are easing as the U.S. housing market recovery gains momentum.
Are we in a real estate market recovery?
Real Estate Boys: I keep reading that the real estate market is booming again. Time magazine, the newspaper from our north, TV and radio news are all reporting to get "in now, the market is heating up across the nation." Wasn't it just a short year ago you Boys, and it seemed everyone else, was reporting that maybe we haven't seen the bottom yet? Then in late in 2012, "Well, we've bottomed out, but the ...
Rebounding home prices help regain some household wealth for families
WASHINGTON (AP) - The average U.S. household has a long way to go to recover the wealth it lost to the Great Recession, a report by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis concluded Thursday.
Home prices rise 10.9 percent, largest jump in almost 7 years
WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. home prices jumped 10.9 percent in March compared with a year ago, the most since April 2006. A growing number of buyers are bidding on a tight supply of homes, driving prices higher and helping the housing market recover.
Smart, stylish renovations for any age
Most Americans over 50 want to stay in their home as they age, but few are making the renovations they need to ensure easy and comfortable living for years to come.
Eight easy ways to organize - and maximize - a small bath
The bath serves a variety of uses, from a functional room to a serene sanctuary, a storage facility to a salon. And, whether you enjoy it yourself or share with the family, every bathroom is in need of one major thing - organization. To help keep your bath feeling more serene and less insane, follow these eight ideas to help improve your organization, maximize space and even add a bit of style.
Go-big upgrades that can help a lingering home sell
Everyone knows spring and summer are the best months in which to sell a home. If your house has lingered on the market, you may be eager to find ways to freshen its appeal for potential buyers. Perhaps you're even ready to go big and invest in upgrades that will improve the home's value, curb appeal and interior allure so much that potential buyers just won't be able to walk away from it.
Sales of bank-owned homes fell in 1Q
FORECLOSURE SALES: Foreclosure tracker RealtyTrac Inc. says 190,121 U.S. bank-owned homes or properties in some stage of the foreclosure process were sold in the first quarter. That's down 18 percent from the previous three months and 22 percent from a year earlier.
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