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Home Owner News Archive
RISMEDIA, August 2, 2010—(MCT)—As we exit the era of the McMansion and begin to embrace the concept of the "big-enough" home, we need to rethink some of our interior-design ideas. ...
RISMEDIA, July 31, 2010—(MCT)—Local contractors say a controversial new federal safety rule will increase home-remodeling costs in Manatee County, Florida, but by how much is a matter of debate. Beginning October 1, 2010, contractors will be required to take additional precautions when renovating structures where children could be exposed to lead dust from old paint. The new "lead-safe" practices apply to work on homes, day-care centers and schools built before 1978, when lead paint was banned for residential use because of health risks.
RISMEDIA, July 31, 2010—New homeowners oftentimes stretch themselves financially when having to pay the initial costs that come with purchasing a home. While it is important to focus on these preliminary expenses, homeowners must be aware of the financial
RISMEDIA, July 30, 2010—(MCT)—Government cash didn't help John Foley and Cindy Case sell their Minneapolis house before the federal home buyer's tax credit expired at the end of April, so the couple decided to take matters into their own hands.
RISMEDIA, July 30, 2010—A wide array of organizations including the American Land Title Association, the National Association of Realtors, AFSCME, Vote Vets, the Center for Responsible Lending, the Property Rights Alliance and the Institute for Liberty recently launched The Coalition to Stop Wall Street Home Resale Fees with an appeal ...
RISMEDIA, July 29, 2010—Reflective of the real estate buyers’ market conditions in many regions in the U.S., satisfaction with real estate companies among home buyers has improved from 2009, while satisfaction among home sellers has declined,
RISMEDIA, July 29, 2010—After getting the keys to their new homes, many first-time home buyers are excited about finally having the opportunity to personalize and furnish their new house. From coffee tables to lamps to lawnmowers, many previous renters leap
RISMEDIA, July 29, 2010—Property owners prepared with research and information can save thousands of dollars on their property taxes. Following the simple steps outlined by Barry Sharpe, President of South Florida-based Property Tax Appeal Group (P-Tag), one can help property owners keep money in their pockets and assess property values on target.
RISMEDIA, July 28, 2010—The van line community lost a lot of drivers during the economic downturn, and that is creating a backlog this summer as van lines are unable to keep up with demand. In some cases, families are being put on wait lists for up to two months. That can be a pretty stressful situation...especially if a deal can fall through because the homeowners weren't able to vacate by close date.
RISMEDIA, July 27, 2010—The Home Buyer Tax Credit proved to be a valuable stimulus to the troubled U.S. housing industry. The only catch: those who qualified had to be under contract by April 30, 2010, and close by June 30 (editor’s note: at press time, the federal government had extended this closing deadline to September).
In the months leading up to the contract deadline, existing home sales increased steadily and, according to NAR data released in May, they jumped 7.6% from March to April, showing a 22.8% increase from April 2009 figures.
RISMEDIA, July 30, 2010—The restoration of the single-family rural housing program that would guarantee home loans for rural buyers was passed by the Senate and is on its way to President Obama. ...
RISMEDIA, August 2, 2010-(MCT)-For some people, now is precisely the right time to build the house they want. ...
RISMEDIA, July 24, 2010—(MCT)—The outdoor kitchen is rapidly becoming the social hub of the home, much as the indoor kitchen is the favorite gathering place for family and friends. The trend is especially strong in areas where the climate favors outdoor living almost year-round.
"It's a hot item," said Scott Redmon, owner of Alfresco Living in Maitland, Fla. "And the outdoor kitchen is becoming a lot more than a grill and a sink in the corner of the porch. It's a whole entertainment system.
RISMEDIA, July 23, 2010—Sales of existing homes in Florida rose 17% in June 2010, marking 22 consecutive months that sales activity has increased in the year-to-year comparison, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors.