Archive By Section - HOME SCENE
Beware of hidden foreclosure fees
DEAR BENNY: I recently was the successful bidder on a condo. The closing was within 15 days of the sale, and a special warranty deed was conveyed for the amount of my bid. The closing agent told me after the closing that I had signed a memorandum of foreclosure agreeing to reimburse the seller for prepaid taxes and all amounts claimed owing by the condominium association.
Mediterranean garden charm
RIPON – Visitors to the Wever family's gardens can easily find themselves transported to a Mediterranean villa.
Maximizing extra mortgage payments
DEAR BENNY: In response to your question about whether it is better to make additional mortgage payments monthly or annually, I believe you are correct that monthly payments are better than if the annual payment is made at year's end.
K. Hovnanian Homes hosts ‘$20k any way’ sales event
This weekend only, K. Hovnanian Homes is hosting a "$20K Any Way" sales celebration at Medallion in Manteca. Customers who enter purchase agreements now through Sunday will receive a $20,000 credit they can apply to designer upgrades, structural options, appliances, closing costs or a buydown of their interest rate.
Home decorating: Taking items from being discarded to divine
Warmer weather is often considered perfect for cleaning up and cleaning out. As the saying goes, "Out with the old, in with the new." However, according to Molly J. Deas, academic director for Interior Design at The Art Institute of Portland, summer is an ideal time to inject trends of the season and redecorate by reusing items in new ways.
Beware when canceling real estate contract
DEAR BENNY: My husband and I signed a contract in November and put $1,000 down. The real estate agent put financing as "n/a" (not applicable) because we were preapproved by our bank. He sent us to a bank and the loan was approved, with a great interest rate and no points. Then problems started.
Keep modern convenience under traditional wraps
Do you tend to lean toward traditional designs, but like the convenience of modern technology? If you do, you're not alone. Keep your kitchen pretty and polished with these items that pack a modern punch ... but only on the inside.
3 last-ditch efforts to halt foreclosure
DEAR BENNY: I am having problems with my mortgage. I fell on some hard times lately and fell behind on my mortgage payments. My mortgage lender has been dragging this out for over a year. I have been set up on two separate trial payments and made them both with no problem. Now my loan has gone into foreclosure. The lender keeps telling me that I am under review. Can you tell me what options I have to try to keep my home? --Hodges
Savings event continues at K. Hovnanian Homes
With 70 days gone by and just 30 days remaining in the K. Hovnanian Homes 100 Days of Summer sales event, customers continue to keep traffic and sales rates high at neighborhood sales centers as they receive special summer savings with their home purchases. More than 80 homes have been sold since the promotion began Memorial Day weekend.
Green is beautiful: Tips for an eco-friendlier lifestyle
As the negative effects of human impact on the environment become more evident, a strong push toward global conservation continues to grow and gather steam. Scores of corporations have committed to becoming more "green" in recent years and countless environment-focused initiatives and organizations have popped up around the world. But even on an individual level, some small changes to your lifestyle can make a big difference in preserving the Earth for future generations.
Incorporating timeless style into your home
Think traditional styling is only for opulent mansions and stuffy country clubs? Well, think again. Traditional design is not only extremely accessible to incorporate into any home, but according to research by the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), it's the most popular, too. Learn how to take back traditional and customize your own space.
The smart way to go from renting to owning
If you've paid attention to any news media over the past few years, you know that the housing market has dropped off. From a seller's perspective, that makes life a lot harder. But for a buyer, it can mean a wider world of options and opportunities. For those want to become owners rather than renters, it's vitally important to make smart decisions - as the markets have shown.
Renters reaping real estate tax benefits?
DEAR BENNY: My husband and I recently filed for bankruptcy after our home was foreclosed. My mother is willing to purchase a home in her name (as an investment property) and rent it back to us, as long as we can come up with the down payment for her purchase. My in-laws have agreed to provide the down payment. The terms of the investment loan do not allow the down payment to come from a third party, so the money needs to be "gifted" to my mother.
Ceramic tile for unexpected outdoor spaces
If you're thinking about creating or upgrading an outdoor living space, you're probably considering what materials to use for your project. You'll likely weigh concerns of cost and quality, durability and beauty before arriving at a final decision. If an outdoor shower is part of your plan, you'll probably consider ceramic tile.
Pool safety measures for a safer summer
Enjoy the pleasures of home pool ownership and ensure a safer summer for your family by employing a few safety measures around your pool.
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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