6 Cures for the Small-Kitchen Blues

By Josh GarskofMoney Magazine — Sure, you order takeout three nights a week, and preparing a burger tests the limits of your culinary know-how. But that doesn’t mean you don’t need and deserve a spacious kitchen. After all, the kitchen has evolved from a room where food is prepared to the hub of a house, … Continued

Thinking of Remodeling? 10 Ways to Increase the Value of Your Home

10 Ways to Increase the Value of Your Home By Katie Adams | Investopedia.comIn a dour housing market, wouldn’t it be nice to know that your remodeling project would pay off when you went to sell the property? Remodeling Magazine evaluated the top remodeling projects, how the cost-to-value has changed since the housing market implosion, and … Continued

Housing Market Better Than It Looks

By Alison RogersHome prices rose 0.1% on a seasonally adjusted basis in March, according to new numbers from the S&P/Case-Shiller index. But four cities showed worse results in March than they had in February, with Atlanta notably down 0.4% over the previous month and Detroit down 2.1%. Still, there are reasons to be optimistic.Year-over-year, prices in … Continued

10 Unconventional Money-Saving Tips

By J.D. RothFor me, the hardest part about learning to save was changing my relationship with money. I understood intellectually that I needed to spend less than I earned, and I could see the debt accumulating as I spent, but money management isn’t just about knowing the math. It’s mostly about knowing yourself. It’s about … Continued

11 Tips On How To Buy A Foreclosure Home

11 Tips On How To Buy A Foreclosure Homeby Davion WongIt is the dream of every young family to own a beautiful and spacious home. As most houses are not within the reach of these young families, buying a foreclosed home is an alternative that should be seriously considered. While it can prove to be … Continued

Will the Presidential Election Affect Real Estate?

Will the Presidential Election Affect Real Estate? By Katherine Reynolds LewisThe next president of the United States — whether Democratic incumbent Barack Obama or Republican challenger Mitt Romney — could have a big influence over the recovery taking shape in the real estate market, according to political pundits.“The next president, whoever it turns out to … Continued

10 Ways To Help Your Child Successfully Return to School

By Sandra “Sam” Trapani Here are 10 ways you can help your child have a smooth return to school and start the new school year on a positive note.1. Chat with your child. Keeping an open line of communication is important. Encourage your child to talk about any feelings he is experiencing. Remember that change … Continued

Five Quick 1-Hour Improvements

By Alex Bandon, This Old House MagazineI always like to see a front door with a fresh coat of paint. It makes a home really welcoming. Just sand down any old lumps or peeling paint patches, then brush on some exterior paint (semigloss) in a color that stands out.Time: 50 minutesTom Silva, General ContractorYou can’t … Continued

What Are The 10 Best Suburbs?

Coldwell Banker Real Estate teamed up with Onboard Infomatics to rank the top places for suburbanites, ranking more than 11,000 suburbs on amenities, proximity to good schools, commutes, and safety.The top suburb on its list? Cherry Hills Village, Colo., about 10 miles outside of downtown Denver. The city boasts a nearly 100 percent home-ownership rate … Continued

Saving Money is a Lot Like Eating Healthy

We all know we should do it, but there always seem to be little temptations that get in the way. The importance just never seems to top that “at the moment” feeling, especially when we are out with friends, eating out and going to movies.  It’s always in the back of our minds, but we … Continued

Create Your Garden

This post is inspired by one of our properties at 11402 Cindy Lane — it has beautiful landscaping! We’re waving goodbye to wintry weather and slowly returning to the outside from our hibernation. Folks are out jogging, walking and bike riding in beautiful weather while trees are blossoming and the grass is turning green.What’s another … Continued

3 Facts About Being a Homeowner and Why it Matters

Did you know there are more benefits to being a homeowner than just calling your place home? You also have an impact on your children’s lives, the economy and the community.This study, provided by Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit organization whose main mission is to provide decent, safe and affordable housing to families, details such … Continued