Archive By Section - HOME SCENE
Holiday hazards to avoid to help keep pets safe
The holiday season is filled with a frenzy of activities from decorating the house to baking sweets to gift buying and wrapping. Adding decorations to your mantel or front yard adds a festive look to your house, but pet owners should also take a moment during the busy decorating season to examine how they make the season bright - and safe - for their pets and families.
Making your first home purchase dream a reality
Buying a home is more than numbers, dollars and cents. The pride of owning your own home is an incredible feeling, providing a place for you and your family to come together and build memories.
How to ‘green up’ your home, office or dorm with houseplants
Looking for a fresh new look for your home or office or want to add some color and cool for your college digs? Houseplants are always in style.
Woodside buyers can get 3.75% fixed rate mortgage on new home
The successful Green Tag Bonus sales event at Woodside Homes, in which homebuyers select instant upgrades with their move-in ready home, ends Sunday.
Estate heirs to get tax write-off
DEAR BENNY: My ex-husband died two years ago without a will. He left our two daughters as the beneficiaries to his life insurance, but he owned a townhouse also, and my daughters have since renovated it because (of) years of neglect.
Reclaim your garage in a weekend
Is your garage dingy, cluttered and in need of a facelift? Transforming it into a "showroom" for your car, reclaiming it for a workshop, playroom or man cave isn't difficult. All it takes is a weekend and a little elbow grease.
Impress guests with holiday etiquette 101
You've spent the entire day in the kitchen cooking the perfect holiday meal. But it's an hour before your guests arrive and you find yourself standing in front of the table listening to that little nagging voice inside your head.
Secure your home against the chilly season
With winter approaching, the leaves drop to the ground and the temperature begins to plummet, but your heating bills move in the opposite direction - 'tis the season of high heating costs. According to early reports, heat and oil prices will continue to rise, which can cut a large chunk out of your home heating budget this winter, if you're not careful.
Holidays with easy tips for around the house
'Tis the season for gathering and celebrating. If you're hosting a party or get together with family or friends, get your home party-ready in no time with these simple tips that will be a breeze to tackle.
Entertaining at home
When the weekend arrives, going out to a local establishment to meet up with your friends to relax and enjoy your time off is a time-honored tradition. But going out involves a lot of planning and coordination - not to mention the money you'll inevitably drop on food, bar tabs and transportation. The good news is with the right modifications to your home, you can make a night in seem just like a night on the town.
File lien against condo owner?
DEAR BENNY: My wife and I currently own a vacation condo in a small development on a lake in Wisconsin. There are approximately 32 units in the condo complex, of which 20 are occupied and the rest are still owned by the developer. The developer still controls the homeowners association.
Simple ways to personalize your holiday decor
What do the holidays mean to you? It's a special time of year for many people, and many of us share similar tastes and traditions when it comes to how we decorate and celebrate. But if you're craving something different this year, personalizing your holiday decor can be a great way to put a fresh face on the season.
Composting, crafts & cuisine
The cooler temperatures and changing colors of fall draw many people outdoors to explore what nature has to offer. The summer harvest has made room for many cold weather crops for those in the north, and tomatoes are just beginning to blossom for those in the southwest. Regardless of where you live, the fall garden still offers a lot to be used and discovered.
How to make the most of your remodel
With home prices and interest rates still low across the country, and inventories high, it's a great time to be in the market for a fixer-upper. By buying a house that needs some work, you can achieve your dream home for less than you would probably pay for a move-in-ready abode.
Sellers lower their expectations to match the reality
If you look at Manteca's housing resale housing market, it is about as close to flat-line as you can get.
Articles by Section - HOME SCENE
Average 30-year mortgage rate up to 4.20 percent
WASHINGTON (AP) - Average U.S. rates on fixed mortgages rose this week for a second straight week but remained near historic lows.
Four real estate tips for buyers, sellers
The real estate market heats up when the weather does, and spring and summer are traditionally the most active seasons for home sales. This year, industry experts predict that home prices will continue to rise and, with mortgage rates remaining low, the spring and summer real estate season will be competitive for both buyers and sellers.
Got extra pounds? Blame next door foreclosure
Gain a couple of pounds since 2006?
$100K+ HELOC LOANS
Despite record-low interest rates, monthly mortgage payments may double for more than 1 million American homeowners. That's because a decade ago they opted for "interest-only" loans or home equity lines of credit. But most of those loans were structured to reset after 10 years - at which time the loan would require payment of both principal and interest.
A sure-footed way to choose new flooring
When spring-cleaning uncovers a worn floor it may be time to consider purchasing a new one, especially if you're selling your home in the near future. A new floor, like refreshed paint and updated fixtures, makes a home more enjoyable to live in as well as more marketable.
Perk up your home with bright & bold patterns
Give your home an energy shot this spring with bright colors and bold patterns.
Create inviting outdoor spaces for entertaining
From barbecues and games of bocce to parties and candlelit dinners, your outdoor space can be a hub for entertaining friends and family.
Opening the door to space & privacy is easy
Homeowners, builders and remodelers are always looking for innovative and new ways to enhance existing spaces during home makeovers and room renovations.
A GEM ON EMERALD
Homes priced under $304,000 that are ready-to-move-in and don't require major work such as new roofs, kitchen upgrades or bathroom repairs are moving relatively briskly in Manteca.
5 new ways to update your home with wood
Wood may be known for its timeless visual appeal, but there's nothing static about the way people showcase it in American homes. Designers, homeowners and DIYers are re-discovering the warmth and beauty of wood. From inventive new uses to re-interpretations of existing styles, they're finding creative ways to use wood throughout the home.
Finding balance: creating functional family spaces
Let's face it - life is busy. And one of the byproducts of a busy life is a cluttered house. With piles of paper coming home from school and toys creating obstacle courses in the family room, parents may wonder how they'll ever take back control of the house. A few experts share their ideas for doing just that.
Coast to coast: 2014’s top outdoor home living trends
From genteel porches in the East to sleek, seaside balconies in the West, the popularity of outdoor living spaces is poised for significant growth from coast to coast with industry analysts predicting it will be a $5.7 billion market by 2016. Reinforcing these projections, 63 percent of architects cite an outdoor living space as the most popular "special function room" in housing construction, according to the American Institute of Architects. What's more, the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association reports that homebuilders list decks among the top three features most requested with new home buys.
Home prices rise at slower rate
WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. home prices rose in March, but the gains are decelerating as fewer Americans can afford to buy.
New home sales rose 6.4 percent
WASHINGTON (AP) - Sales of U.S. new homes recovered in April after slumping in the previous two months. But Americans are still buying new homes at a slower pace than they did a year ago.
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