This Home was Made For Walkin’

Location, location, location? Not for today’s trek-happy home dwellers. For their home’s

CTW Features - Patricia Rivera

Seattle real-estate agent Matt Warmack saw the writing on the wall the day he walked past a popular downtown condo. A sign proudly stated: Walk Score: 100. He knew that this was just the beginning of a trend in the way urban properties are being successfully marketed.. . . .

67

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Percentage of consumers who said they are more likely to use coupons during an economic downturn Source: ICOM Information & Communications, Toronto. . . .

Housing Hot Spots

A great location can help you dodge the market's downturn. Here are some questions to consider befor

CTW Features - David Silva

It doesn't take a Realtor to know today's housing market is in sorry shape. Take one glance at economic indicators across the board - the picture isn't pretty. Foreclosures are off the charts. Home prices are down more than 50 percent in some places. New housing starts ar. . . .

Paper Power

Don't get lost in a sea of black and white. Be sure you read - and understand - your loan documents

CTW Features - Barbara Ballinger

It sounds pretty simple. You apply for a loan, read the fine print, and when the loan's approved you become a happy homeowner. Unfortunately, many new owners forget in their haste to ignore some very big details. They don't know what type of loan they have, what the terms are and if . . . .

Ask Our Broker

CTW Features - Peter G. Miller

Q: I plan on relocating to Oregon. I'm not sure if I need to buy a condo or remodel the house I own where my daughter is staying. This is a three-bedroom house upstairs, with a family room, bedroom and garage downstairs. There is no mortgage. If I remodel I plan on converting the garage into a l. . . .

New-Home Nibblers

In today's real-estate market, selling a home takes a little extra. Here’s how buyers are gett

CTW Features - David Silva

Imagine this: A couple looking to sell their home has just finished giving the grand tour of the property to a potential buyer and his agent. The buyer likes what he sees: The home is in solid shape, the neighborhood is great and the couple’s asking price is far be. . . .

Front-Yard Folly

Don’t settle for boring flowerbeds or leave your style to a lawn gnome. Here are some common l

CTW Features - Kit Davey

I used to hate my front yard – it was boring, scruffy and needed pizzazz. I spent months trying to figure out why my yard was a dud and several more months analyzing what makes a “successful” yard. My husband and I finally redesigned our front and back yards, based . . . .

Getting Rid of the Balloon

CTW Features - Peter G. Miller

Q: My wife and I are now in our early 60s. Our home was unfortunately refinanced with the world’s worst loan, a mortgage that had low monthly payments for the first three years. The initial start rate is scheduled to end in a few months, at which point payments will soar. We are fortunate . . . .

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Percentage of consumers who plan to use their economic stimulus package to pay utility bills Source: Experian Consumer Direct, Irvine, Calif., survey of 1,000 adults. . . .

Keep An Eye on Erosion

Don’t let a faulty foundation destroy a home. Get to the bottom of the problem

CTW Features - Charles Scutt

A well-built home needs more than an architect’s blueprint to maintain integrity and ensure durability. It also requires a solid foundation – literally – to avoid problems that can stem from the bottom up. Despite a builder’s best intentions, howev. . . .

More on Mortgages

CTW Features - Peter G. Miller

Q: I’ve usually heard that if you do not fully repay your mortgage, any amount owed to the lender but not paid can be regarded as taxable income. Is this true? A: The ìMortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 applies to indebtedness on a principal residence that is di. . . .

7.3 million

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Number of American adults who follow a vegetarian-based diet. FYI: 22.8 million people say they largely follow a vegetarian-inclined diet Source: Vegetarian Times , El Segundo, Calif., “Vegetarianism in America” study. . . .

This Home was Made For Walkin’

Location, location, location? Not for today’s trek-happy home dwellers. For their home’s

CTW Features - Patricia Rivera

Seattle real-estate agent Matt Warmack saw the writing on the wall the day he walked past a popular downtown condo. A sign proudly stated: Walk Score: 100. He knew that this was just the beginning of a trend in the way urban properties are being successfully marketed.. . . .

Do seller-paid inspections make sense?

CTW Features - Peter G. Miller

Q: Does it make sense for a seller – not a buyer – to get a professional home inspection, something that can be used as a sales tool to market the home? A: An inspection by a professional, independent home inspector can help establish the condition of the property, which. . . .

A little bit of staging, a lot more money

CTW Features - Kit Davey

“What an incredible view!” I gasped as I walked into my client’s house. This two-story, hill-hugging home overlooked an expanse of rolling hills with views of the sapphire-blue bay beyond. The neighborhood was dotted with unique custom homes, all situated to capture the view &nd. . . .

It’s No Time to Be Water-Resistant

For sea-faring folks, there’s never been a better time to buy some real estate for your boat

CTW Features - Patricia Rivera

Here is one benefit of the mortgage crisis: Boat enthusiasts who have discarded slip ownership as something out of their financial reach may find that, even in the water, it is a buyer’s market. Prices of wet and dry slips have dropped during the last 18 months in part because o. . . .

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Percentage of Americans who say they don’t take enough advantage of the restorative powers of nature Source: Miracle-Gro, Marysville, Ohio, survey of 1,000 adults. . . .