| Inhabit: A remodel that makes room for two |
Fri, 18 Mar 2011 20:18:12 EDT
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Gina Farina faced a remodeling challenge with her small two-level Arlington condo when she sought to open to up the space to accommodate a new roommate. Answering the call was Georgetown architect Ernesto Santalla.
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| Attorneys general try to rein in lenders' shabby behavior on modifications |
Fri, 18 Mar 2011 19:22:01 EDT
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When you take out a home mortgage, do you expect to be treated fairly and competently by your bank or loan servicer?
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| Where We Live: Cross Creek |
Fri, 18 Mar 2011 19:43:02 EDT
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Andrew Leighton is not a golfer, but the prospect of living on a golf course was intriguing when he and his family discovered the Cross Creek neighborhood. Now, Leighton, his wife, Jackie and their two children enjoy the view from their home adjacent to the course, located along the border betwee...
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| The family focus endures in Montgomery's Sherwood Forest |
Fri, 11 Mar 2011 16:10:01 EST
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The Victorian house in the center of Montgomery County's Sherwood Forest neighborhood has overlooked the surrounding land for more than 200 years. Back in those early days, it lay just off the Glenmont-Colesville Road in the midst of Westover Farm, where crops such as corn and oats grew on nearly...
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| Military buyers: Home-shoppers on a mission |
Fri, 11 Mar 2011 12:19:00 EST
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To those who haven't worn the uniform, their ways can be a mystery. But anyone trying to sell a home in the Washington metro area would be wise to learn more about the needs and habits of military officers, enlisted people and their families. It's the season for them to begin some serious house-h...
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| Major changes ahead for mortgage system as U.S. seeks to scale back role in housing |
Fri, 11 Mar 2011 12:13:01 EST
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Fundamental changes are probably ahead for the American mortgage system as the federal government pushes to unwind its unprecedented involvement in the housing market.
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| Do-it-yourself: How to remove soap scum |
Fri, 18 Mar 2011 19:50:17 EDT
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Q. I have a fiberglass shower wall and tub that have accumulated a lot of hard-water stains, soap scum and dirt. I have tried all kinds of products, and they just don't clean it. Can you help? ¿ C. Davis
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| A few chores to get a jump-start on gardening season |
Fri, 18 Mar 2011 19:46:01 EDT
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If late winter was an indicator, we are headed for a bumper crop of flowers this spring. I saw the first color in Chevy Chase on the forsythia March 8 with buds opening enough to tease with a hint of yellow.
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| More details about the Cross Creek neighborhood |
Fri, 18 Mar 2011 19:45:01 EDT
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| Housing paperwork can pile up at tax time - here's what to keep, and for how long |
Fri, 18 Mar 2011 19:40:01 EDT
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Many taxpayers are preparing for their annual battle with IRS form 1040 by gathering up all their documents, statements, checks and other assorted papers. At the end of this process, taxpayers are often left with piles of neatly sorted, tabulated and cross-indexed piles. From a homeowner's perspe...
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| Mortgage rates down as investors react to Japan crisis |
Fri, 18 Mar 2011 19:27:02 EDT
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Mortgage rates fell to the lowest level in almost two months, tracking a drop in Treasury yields as Japan's deepening nuclear crisis spurred demand for relatively safe investments.
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| With short-sale offer refused, foreclosure may end up the best option |
Fri, 18 Mar 2011 19:23:01 EDT
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Q. We built a spec house in 2007 as the market declined. We've tried to do everything to get it sold and recently received a short-sale offer on the home.
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| Make room for Daddy - or Granny, or Junior, or . . . |
Fri, 18 Mar 2011 19:08:01 EDT
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Over the last 39 years, Michael Litchfield has built one new house, acting as both designer and contractor, and extensively remodeled five others. He has written nine books on the design, construction and renovation of houses, including one on remodeling that runs to more than 600 pages, and he w...
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| Ruined drywall? |
Fri, 18 Mar 2011 19:06:01 EDT
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Leaking water can sometimes create a massive water blister in latex paint on a ceiling. You may mistake this for ruined drywall when, in fact, the drywall may not have to be replaced.
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| Ask the builder: Fixing water-damaged drywall |
Fri, 18 Mar 2011 19:02:01 EDT
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Q. A water line burst in our home and created a significant leak. We were home and able to contain most of the water, but quite a bit got through the floor, ruining the drywall ceiling in the basement. Is there an easy way to deal with water-damaged drywall? Can we just wait for it to dry and the...
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| U.S. Housing Starts Drop to Lowest Level Since April 2009 |
Wed, 16 Mar 2011 10:01:00 EDT
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Housing starts in the U.S. declined more than forecast in February to the slowest pace since April 2009 and building permits slumped to a record low, signs the housing market recovery is limping along as the rest of the economy improves.
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| 'Net zero' house to be built in Maryland should produce as much energy as it uses |
Mon, 14 Mar 2011 07:09:00 EDT
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It sounds like an idea out of a sci-fi novel: a house that can produce as much energy each year as it uses. But most buyers aren't interested in houses from a sci-fi novel, and they aren't much interested in paying extra for them, either.
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| Do-it-yourselfer Q&A |
Fri, 11 Mar 2011 17:49:01 EST
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Q. We have large ceramic tiles at our entry. They look fine, but when it rains they get very slippery. Is there a remedy for this? -L. Schnell
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| Details on the Sherwood Forest neighborhood |
Fri, 11 Mar 2011 16:12:01 EST
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| Mortgage applications rise as loan costs hold steady |
Fri, 11 Mar 2011 16:06:01 EST
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Mortgage interest rates were little changed from last week, keeping borrowing costs steady as demand for home loans increases.
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| Borrower has second thoughts about that second chance |
Fri, 11 Mar 2011 16:04:01 EST
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Q. I was going into foreclosure, but the bank gave me a loan modification. I agreed to the modification at the beginning, but now I see it was a mistake and think foreclosure would be better. What do I have to do - just stop paying?
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| Tips for painting kitchen cabinets |
Fri, 11 Mar 2011 15:58:01 EST
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Painting kitchen cabinets is much easier if you remove the hardware. This takes time up front, but you'll get fantastic results at the end of the day. Be sure to put the hardware for each cabinet in a separate, marked plastic sandwich bag so that you can reassemble the cabinets and everything wor...
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| Six steps to upgrading a kitchen without boosting the cost |
Fri, 11 Mar 2011 15:55:01 EST
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Q. I'd love to move to a new home, but the economy is preventing that. So I've decided to do some kitchen remodeling, as it seems to be the center of activity of our current home. Based on the bids I'm getting, remodeling costs seem high. What can be done to keep the total cost as low as possible...
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| Smart growth bill capitalizes on Maryland transit |
Fri, 11 Mar 2011 15:40:01 EST
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The Maryland General Assembly may soon make a really smart move toward achieving really smart growth: It could adopt proposed land-use legislation enabling "State Rail Station Overlay Districts."
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| Take precautions before signing a remodeling contract |
Fri, 11 Mar 2011 14:53:01 EST
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When planning major home renovation, there are many steps you have to take to find the right professionals, including the contractor and perhaps an architect. It's equally important to take steps to protect your legal interests - and to do so early in the process.
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| March's gardening and nature programs around D.C. |
Fri, 11 Mar 2011 14:52:00 EST
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Spring offers many opportunities for lectures, workshops, tours and other educational programs. Before you get busy in the garden, take advantage of one of the many sessions offered this month. Call to ascertain if pre-registration is required. If a fee is not shown, the event is free.
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| Many still owe taxes on forgiven home-equity debt |
Fri, 11 Mar 2011 14:51:02 EST
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With hundreds of thousands of homeowners having negotiated loan modifications or short sales or been foreclosed upon during the past year, the Internal Revenue Service has issued fresh guidance on how to handle canceled mortgage debt in the coming tax season.
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| Tips for military families moving to D.C. |
Fri, 11 Mar 2011 12:24:00 EST
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l Be prepared for sticker shock. The D.C. area is much more expensive than most military towns. You'll receive a larger housing allowance, but it may still be tough to afford what you want.
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| Federal Housing Administration leader David Stevens will leave post |
Thu, 10 Mar 2011 22:56:01 EST
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David H. Stevens plans to leave his post as head of the Federal Housing Administration by the end of April after guiding the agency through its toughest financial challenges in one of the housing market's darkest periods.
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| Color of Money Live |
Thu, 10 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST
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Need advice about how to handle your personal finances? Post columnist Michelle Singletary offers her advice and answers your questions.
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| Behind the foreclosure crisis, big banks' reign of error |
Sun, 06 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST
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The problem in the nation's housing market now isn't subprime lending. It's subpar lenders.
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| Details on the Greenbriar neighborhood |
Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:56:01 EST
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20153 BOUNDARIES: Stringfellow Road to the west, Route 50 to the north, the Fairfax County Parkway to the east, and Melville Lane (including Morning Spring Lane and Marshall Hall Lane) to the south. SCHOOLS: Greenbriar East and Greenbriar West elementary schools, Rocky Run Middle School and Chan...
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| Greenbriar: Chantilly's Levitt town |
Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:40:01 EST
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The minute Shelly and Trey Lackey drove into Chantilly's Greenbriar neighborhood 11 years ago, she thought, "Oh my goodness, I've been here before!" But "here" actually had been another Levitt and Sons community, in Willingboro, N.J.
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| For the best refinancing deal, do your homework |
Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:36:01 EST
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Q. My wife and I are thinking about refinancing our house. We are considering using a particular mortgage broker, but they have had a number of complaints with the Better Business Bureau and have a B rating. So how do we decide whether we should refinance with them?
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| Concern grows over use of flame retardant HBCD |
Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:35:01 EST
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Hexabromocyclododecane, commonly known as HBCD, is a flame retardant that is starting to give a lot of green builders headaches.
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| How to install piping for a central vac system |
Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:34:00 EST
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Installing the piping for a central vac system in an average-size new house usually takes part of a day. The pipe glues together with regular PVC cement. You can cut the thin piping with a simple hacksaw, making sure you remove any burrs from the cut ends of the pipe. Burrs can grab onto hair and...
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| Central vacuum system installation tips |
Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:33:01 EST
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I was touring a new home, and one of the features that really interested me was the central vacuum system. It seems like one of these would be really handy. What's involved when you install a central vacuum? Can you share some tips, especially what not to do? - Ray H., Newtown, Pa.
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| Mortgage rates continue to fall |
Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:32:01 EST
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The average rate on 30-year fixed mortgages slipped to 4.87 percent from 4.95 percent this week, according to Freddie Mac.
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| Green Scene: Good books for the gardener |
Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:31:00 EST
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Since spring is right around the corner, I felt it appropriate to share some titles that will fit well into your gardening library. Books are still one of the best ways to keep up with the latest in landscape design and the needs of plants. These new favorites of mine cover a wide range of garden...
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| A common-sense way to mend the draconian appraisal process |
Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:30:01 EST
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If federal regulators are truly concerned about the quality and independence of home appraisals - a cornerstone of sound mortgage lending - why don't they simply prohibit appraisers from learning the contract price before they perform their assessment of a home's value?
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| Picky first-time buyers losing out on great housing deals |
Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:25:01 EST
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Picky, picky, picky! Are today's first-time home buyers passing up great deals because they insist on flawless "move-in ready" houses requiring little or no changes - even at the starter-home price levels at which shoppers traditionally have been willing to factor fix-ups and renovations into the...
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| D.C. newcomers searching for their dream home might get a few wake-up calls |
Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:04:01 EST
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Anyone who has searched for a home in the District, for convenient parking - or even for a bar stool during happy hour - may have sensed what census statistics confirm: There are a lot of newcomers around town. And these newcomers - and their housing wish lists - are helping reshape the city's ne...
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| Thorny foreclosure questions |
Thu, 03 Mar 2011 21:46:01 EST
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I never bought a foreclosure. I pay my mortgage faithfully. Now, is someone going to tell me a back-office clerk mishandled my title and their actions threaten my legitimate ownership? Will this mess hurt me when I try to sell my home?
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| House may kill Obama's foreclosure-prevention programs |
Wed, 02 Mar 2011 21:52:00 EST
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The Obama administration's main initiative to help struggling borrowers avoid foreclosure could soon be killed in the House, where many Republican lawmakers have complained about the program's lackluster results.
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| Federal support for home loans essential, Geithner warns |
Tue, 01 Mar 2011 22:39:00 EST
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The Treasury secretary said that government should continue to back low-down-payment loans for first-time home buyers.
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| In the housing crisis, we all live under one roof |
Sat, 26 Feb 2011 17:14:01 EST
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For the past few years, I've been working with a single mother who has had to move four times, renting rooms in other people's homes so she wouldn't have to spend more than 50 percent of her monthly income on housing.
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| Green Scene: Some ideas for an environmentally friendly landscape |
Fri, 25 Feb 2011 18:56:01 EST
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Now is the time to formulate your spring garden plans. Before you choose the plants you will install this year- or design the entire landscape-consider the ways you could make your gardens more productive and environmentally friendly. Here are some suggestions:
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| Do-it-yourselfer Q&A |
Fri, 25 Feb 2011 14:37:02 EST
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Q. I started trying to remove the cracked, discolored tile grout in my shower using a hand tool and think it will take at least 20 years to get it all out. Is there a better way? -E. Bartlett
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| 30-year mortgage rates again below 5 percent |
Fri, 25 Feb 2011 10:36:00 EST
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Freddie Mac reported that the average rate on the 30-year loan slipped to 4.95 percent from 5 percent. It hit a 40-year low of 4.17 percent in November.
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| It could be the time to buy that bigger house |
Fri, 25 Feb 2011 10:34:00 EST
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Q. I own a home and owe $388,000 on the mortgage. I think the home is probably worth $370,000. I bought the home for $417,000 in 2006, so I've taken a big hit on equity like everyone else. I have no issue making the payments but feel as though I am trying to dig myself out of a hole. I make an e...
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| For professional results, use the right tools |
Fri, 25 Feb 2011 10:33:01 EST
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To get professional results, you have to have great drywall taping tools. I love using my stainless-steel mud pan. I use a flexible taping knife that's just under six inches wide. Before I used it the first time, I used a metal file to slightly round the corners of the tool. Straight from the fac...
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| Taping drywall is not as easy as it looks on do-it-yourself shows |
Fri, 25 Feb 2011 10:29:00 EST
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Q. Is taping drywall that hard to do? I watched it done on a television show, and it seems like it's not too tough. What tools should I be looking for? What are some secrets of finishing drywall, and what are the biggest mistakes rookies make when mudding and taping drywall? I want my job to look...
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| Some in military, Foreign Service can still claim homebuyer credit |
Fri, 25 Feb 2011 10:25:01 EST
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If you have been on active military duty outside of the United States for at least 90 days between Jan. 1, 2009, and April 30, 2010, or if you were on qualified official extended duty or a member of the Foreign Service during that time span, you may still be eligible to claim the first time homeb...
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| How to make rentals more attractive as the American dream evolves, adapts |
Fri, 25 Feb 2011 10:25:00 EST
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Years ago at the University of Maryland, I taught "Economic Determinants in Architecture," an elective course introducing architecture students to the real world of capitalism and showing how that world influences design and development. Students learned that market and financial conditions, alon...
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| Details on the Potomac Crest neighborhood |
Fri, 25 Feb 2011 10:21:00 EST
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20854 BOUNDARIES: Cedar Ridge Drive to the north, Foxcrest Court and Potomac Crest Drive to the east, Turncrest Drive and Potomac Crest Drive to the south, and Cobble Creek Circle to the west. SCHOOLS: Beverly Farms Elementary School, Herbert Hoover Middle School, Winston Churchill High School. ...
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| Potomac Crest: Montgomery's garden spot |
Fri, 25 Feb 2011 10:20:02 EST
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One of the first things you notice about Potomac Crest, a community of 131 townhouses and duplexes and 31 detached homes near Seven Locks Road and Tuckerman Lane, is the landscaping. "The overall community is beautifully landscaped and maintained by the owners and a very active homeowners associa...
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| As deficit looms larger, senators' eye cuts in mortgage interest deductions |
Fri, 25 Feb 2011 10:18:00 EST
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Just because President Obama's latest budget proposal calls for rollbacks in mortgage interest deductions solely for high-income taxpayers, should you assume that all of your write-offs as a homeowner are secure from attack?
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| Cash deals raise January sales of existing homes, report says |
Wed, 23 Feb 2011 22:59:01 EST
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Sales of previously owned homes increased nationwide in January, driven by all-cash purchases that suggest investors are chasing after foreclosures and other bargains in an ailing housing market, an industry group reported Wednesday.
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| Economic events for the week beginning Feb. 21 |
Sun, 20 Feb 2011 17:52:01 EST
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A slew of data about the housing market will be the focus of economic news in this holiday-shortened week.
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| 'Architectural editor' brings constructive ideas together in one place |
Fri, 18 Feb 2011 15:50:01 EST
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Behind every really good writer stands a really good editor, the unsung hero who offers advice on ways to carve off excess words, make arguments more succinct and populate novels with more-compelling characters and plotlines.
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| Fewer and fewer plants are truly deer-resistent |
Fri, 18 Feb 2011 15:49:00 EST
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As early spring approaches, gardeners are thinking about their properties, and I've received questions about vehicular circulation, screening, controlling damage from deer and other topics.
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| Ask the Builder: Hardwood floors best left to the professionals |
Fri, 18 Feb 2011 15:44:00 EST
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I'm going to install hardwood flooring. I'm talking about traditional tongue-and-groove hardwood that's 3/4-inch thick, not engineered hardwood flooring. My plan is to try it myself and only call in installers if I mess up. What do you think of this idea? It can't be that difficult - you just nai...
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| Why solid hardwood is the best choice |
Fri, 18 Feb 2011 15:44:00 EST
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If I've talked you out of installing the floor yourself, you may want to try prefinished-hardwood flooring. Some of it can be easy to work with, but follow all the instructions with respect to acclimating it to the room.
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| Why shouldn't your low-interest loan move with you? |
Fri, 18 Feb 2011 15:35:01 EST
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There used to be a big push by lenders to secure "customers for life." Not only did banks promote attractive mortgage programs, but they also targeted the same customers for checking and savings accounts, individual retirement accounts, credit cards, auto loans, wealth management advice and insur...
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| Getting rid of a timeshare, even paid in full, is no easy task |
Fri, 18 Feb 2011 15:12:01 EST
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Q. My 86-year-old mother cannot get rid of her paid-in-full timeshare. The maintenance fees are hurting her financially. She has tried to sell and/or donate it to a charity without any luck. How can she dispose of it? Do we, her beneficiaries, have to take it over? Can she just stop paying the ma...
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| Can you ride a rising tide of deductions? |
Fri, 18 Feb 2011 14:58:01 EST
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When you think of a second home, do you think of a secluded mountain cabin? Perhaps a pied-a-terre in an urban high-rise? What about a second home with no fixed address? One that floats?
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| Rates for 30-year mortgages drop for first time in five weeks |
Fri, 18 Feb 2011 14:47:00 EST
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Mortgage rates for 30-year loans declined for the first time in five weeks, reducing borrowing costs from a 10-month high.
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| Phasing out Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae could boost what other borrowers must pay |
Fri, 18 Feb 2011 13:56:01 EST
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Fixed 30-year mortgage rates in the 5 percent range? Minimum down payments below 5 percent? Jumbo-size home loans for high-cost markets at regular interest rates? Kiss them good-bye - possibly sooner than you might guess.
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| Details on the Adams Morgan neighborhood |
Fri, 18 Feb 2011 13:54:00 EST
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20009 Boundaries: Florida Avenue to the south; Connecticut Avenue and Rock Creek Park to the west; Calvert Street, Adams Mill Road and Harvard Street to the north; and 16th Street NW to the east. Schools: Marie Reed, H.D. Cooke and Oyster-Adams elementary schools; Lincoln and Alice Deal middle s...
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| Adams Morgan: Looking beyond nightlife |
Fri, 18 Feb 2011 13:53:01 EST
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Back when heading east of 16th Street after dark felt risky, Adams Morgan was ground zero for Washington's nightlife scene. One of the city's most ethnically and racially diverse neighborhoods, the community had a quirky vibe and a reputation for tolerance, and the area's spine, 18th Street NW, w...
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| Part modern, part farmhouse, Alexandria home is testament to architect Goodman |
Fri, 18 Feb 2011 13:29:03 EST
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Back in 1952 there was a 100-year-old farmhouse for sale atop a ridge on North Quaker Lane in Alexandria. It sat near the edge of seven acres and, it is said, could boast a view of the Potomac River.
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| Mortgage delinquency rates drop |
Thu, 17 Feb 2011 20:44:01 EST
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As the labor market improved, the number of homeowners who fell behind on their mortgage payments dropped in the final three months of last year to the lowest level since 2008, according to a national survey released Thursday by the Mortgage Bankers Association.
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| The plan to restructure |
Sat, 12 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST
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The Obama administration outlined its plan to phase out government support of the U.S. housing finance system - and wind down Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.�¶ The plan - a sharp change of course after a decades-long campaign to extend homeownership to more Americans - would shift more of the burden to...
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| Administration proposals to overhaul federal housing role draw fire from left |
Sat, 12 Feb 2011 01:25:00 EST
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Some of the President Obama's traditional allies argued that proposals in the newly released report could make it too costly for many Americans to buy a home.
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| Obama administration proposals to reduce federal role in housing market |
Fri, 11 Feb 2011 23:46:02 EST
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The Obama administration is pressing to scale back the federal government's role in the mortgage market. On Friday, it presented Congress with several proposals that would raise the costs of federally backed loans, a move designed to help the private sector better compete with Fannie Mae, Freddie...
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| Buyer beware of confusion over property taxes for newly built homes |
Fri, 11 Feb 2011 15:34:00 EST
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Q. Do builders get a tax break before they sell their houses?
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| Obama report on Fannie, Freddie plan may boost mortgage rates |
Fri, 11 Feb 2011 14:23:00 EST
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The Obama administration wants to raise fees for borrowers and require larger down payments for home loans as part of a long-term effort to restructure the nation's housing market. But it warned that these measures could boost mortgage rates and make it harder for home buyers to secure the 30-yea...
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| Peak buying time ahead, mortgage rates rise |
Fri, 11 Feb 2011 13:19:00 EST
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The average rate on a 30-year mortgage topped 5 percent this week for the first time since April, and higher rates could further hamper the struggling housing market ahead of the spring's prime home-buying season.
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| Computers are great tools for architects, but don't let CAD go wild |
Fri, 11 Feb 2011 13:18:01 EST
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Architects can now design buildings without lifting a pencil, thanks to computer technology. In fact, digitally conceived architecture can be too complex to draw by hand or to develop using conventional drawings, even those printed by machine. Yet there may be risks in abandoning the pencil and r...
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| Details on the Tenleytown neighborhood |
Fri, 11 Feb 2011 13:15:00 EST
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BOUNDARIES: Roughly, Garrison Street NW to the north, Upton Street to the south, Wisconsin Avenue to the west and Reno Road to the east.
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| Where We Live: Tenleytown, where old meets new |
Fri, 11 Feb 2011 13:14:01 EST
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Anyone visiting the 50-meter pool at the Wilson Aquatic Center, the brand-new Tenley-Friendship Library, or the row of restaurants and big-box stores on Wisconsin Avenue would be forgiven for thinking Tenleytown is definedby the shiny and new.
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| What to do if you have running water coming through the holes |
Fri, 11 Feb 2011 13:13:00 EST
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If you have running water coming through the holes, try to wait for a dry spell to do the repair. Some of these hydraulic repair cements will work if there is moving water, but it's not guaranteed.
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| How to fix holes in your home's concrete foundation |
Fri, 11 Feb 2011 13:12:01 EST
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Q. I have to make an unexpected repair to my poured concrete foundation. A water leak led me to remove drywall in my basement, and to my surprise, I discovered rows of holes 5/8-inch diameter in my concrete walls. Some of the holes have water dripping through them. These perfectly drilled holes a...
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| Do-it-yourself Q&A |
Fri, 11 Feb 2011 13:11:01 EST
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Q. The bathroom grout in our 14-year-old house has become stained, and we haven't been able to clean it with various products, including bleach. How do we restore the color? -D. Lilly
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| Exchange technique allows real estate investors to put off the tax bill |
Fri, 11 Feb 2011 13:09:00 EST
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Q: I bought my house many years ago for $50,000. When my family grew, we bought a larger house where we still live. For years now, we have rented out the original house, which is now worth more than $800,000.
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| Say it with your own arrangement - or cutting garden - of flowers |
Fri, 11 Feb 2011 13:08:00 EST
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It's in our nature to celebrate with flowers since they convey feelings of love on many occasions - not just Valentine's Day. Flora has been used to show love for at least the past couple hundred-thousand years. They even appear to have been part of ceremonies since prehistoric times, when Neande...
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| HOAs can breathe easy as federal agency revises proposed rule on transfer fees |
Fri, 11 Feb 2011 13:07:01 EST
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Thousands of homeowner associations and condominiums across the country just sidestepped a potentially costly problem. Earlier this month, a federal agency backed off a controversial plan to make obtaining mortgages in their communities much more difficult and to dry up a key source of revenue th...
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| Boot car from the garage and reclaim valuable living space |
Fri, 11 Feb 2011 13:04:02 EST
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When was the last time your car saw the inside of your garage, anyway?
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| Mortgage finance overhaul begins to take shape |
Thu, 10 Feb 2011 20:13:01 EST
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The Obama administration is pushing ahead with a vast rewrite of the rules of the nation's mortgage market separately from the delicate task of devising options to abolish mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
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| Bipartisan support for scrapping Fannie, Freddie draws criticism |
Wed, 09 Feb 2011 22:55:01 EST
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To many Republicans and the Obama administration, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government's mortgage giants, are ill. But rather than healing them, both sides agree that the companies should be left to die and that their support for the housing market should wither away.
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