Monday, December 18, 2006

Betting Everything on the House: 3 Risky Loans to Avoid

Falling prices, sluggish sales and risky loans that let borrowers pile up debt faster than they can pay it off could put more homeowners out of their houses this year than at any other time this decade. Yet many homeowners — particularly in California, Florida and Colorado — are still purchasing or refinancing their mortgages with “exotic” loans that may keep their monthly payments low now, but when these gimmicky loans “reset” upward borrowers could lose their homes if they haven’t planned for...(read more)


Zillow is for sales, not just snooping

Real estate website Zillow.com became an instant hit by telling homeowners - and their nosy neighbors - how much their houses might be worth.
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Saturday, December 16, 2006

Windows prove a challenge

Big windows; little ones. Tall, rectangular windows; small, round windows. High windows; low ones. No matter what shape or size, windows often are a welcome sight as they bring in sunlight.


Tuesday, December 05, 2006

Significant Others Need To Think About Their Legal Status When Buying A Home

Significant Others Need To Think About Their Legal Status When Buying A Home

A young relative called over the long weekend. He had just made an offer on a house and wanted advice about inspections and other details. We had been in e-mail touch for several weeks as he worked through his mortgage pre-approval, structured the offer and generally obsessed over a very important decision. But I had never thought to ask a critical question of my own: "Are you and your girlfriend - buying this house together?"

They would, he responded, both be on the deed, but only he would sign the note...

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Valley Lawmakers Pitch Plan to Improve Air Quality

Valley Lawmakers Pitch Plan to Improve Air Quality

Officials from the San Joaquin Valley have a clever plan for solving the region's tenacious air problems. Whether it succeeds in securing more money is another question. Federal lawmakers are not on board, and environmentalists are raising questions. But no one argues about the valley's air problem. The region's air and economy are among the nation's worst. Health costs related to air quality are ...


Pending Home Sales Indicate Market Stabilization

Pending Home Sales Indicate Market Stabilization

‘Steady pace' can be expected for next two months, says Lereah