Posts by: helenchung

Do women and men secure comparable mortgage rates? According to a 2006 study by  Ping Chen, Professor of Florida Atlantic University, Department of Industry Studies , women on average pay more for mortgages than men because they have a tendency to rely on the recommendations of friends, while men utilize empirical data.

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Less is more

On November 21, 2011 By

With 2012 around the corner, resolutions may be creeping up on you. Rather than think up what you can acquire, why not consider what you can unload? Wisebread recently featured Kentin Wait’s post, “Clutter-Free: The Zero-Accumulation Household,” where the less is more mantra reigns

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Holiday house hunting

On November 14, 2011 By

Halloween is behind us. Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa are before us. If you’re a  homeowner tempted to take your house off the market during the holidays, hold off, and here’s why.  Linda Kemp and her husband were transferred every couple of years before Thanksgiving season

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House hunters typically begin their buying pursuits online. If the photos of your home aren’t up to par, you are likely to lose a potential buyer right out of the gate. In 2007, the National Association of Realtors surveyed homebuyers and the search features they utilized most.

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The recent Census revealed that Americans are less mobile now than they were 10 or even 50 years ago . Household mobility — moving from one place to another — has hit a lull since World War II times. Urban centers with high-tech colleges gained the biggest numbers, pointing to the fact that growing cities attract post-college grads who need work. Places like Raleigh, N.C.; Houston, Texas; and Baltimore, MD, among others, drew a lot of young talent in 2008-2010.

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Although spring marks the start of peak gardening season, now is the time to prep your flowering beds and plants.  Fall gardening is predominantly about pruning plants and protecting the soil from erosion and nutrient depletion. Cut back perennials that are showing signs of yellow foliage.

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The U.S. government’s home-refinancing program is being overhauled , announced officials of the independent Federal Housing Finance Agency. Changes include an easing of the rules for qualifying and reduction of some fees

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The super micro house

On October 21, 2011 By

http://youtu.be/JS5iXdBskX0 For some Japanese homeowners, compact quarters do not necessarily translate into cramped living. It’s not just Tokyo that is overcrowded. Urban centers around the world face housing challenges.

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The season has fully shifted into autumn, and accents of harvest and Thanksgiving are adorning the patios, doors, and windows of homes. Don’t wait for December to dress up your fireplace mantel. Better Homes and Gardens showcases 21 different themes

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Solar energy jobs have grown across the nation over the last year, showing off a positive side to the challenging labor market some Americans face. The LA Times reports that 100,237 solar-related jobs are held in the U.S., according to the National Solar Jobs Census 2011 conducted by the Solar Foundation, a research and education organization.

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