Knowledgeable home shoppers are discovering interactive sites and blogs for neighborhood scoop that’s long been the province only of brokers and neighbors. Says Jonathan Butler, founder of the Brooklyn-based blog Brownstoner, “it’s all about trapsparency”.

Maybe the best known, Zillow.com, has shot to the forefront of sites where would-be buyers now have a new tool for getting the dish on the neighborhood. Almost 80% of home buyers already use the Internet extensively during their search. But a growing number now want to move beyond basic listings and school-district info to tap into the insider “skinny” on quality-of-life issues. Tips like a recent Brownstoner post pointed out that a seemingly charming old church near one listing becomes a headache every Sunday when triple-parking parishioners block the streets. (more…)

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Having trouble selling your home? Have you recently lowered the asking price? Are you at your wit’s end?

When it comes to selling your house, you might consider paying attention to what accouterments prospective purchasers are seeking. Some styles can be put down to the vagaries of fashion and are easily fixed. Maybe simply spending a little on decorating will make the difference in a quick sale, or your home sitting on the market for a few more months.

MSNBC has compiled a list of eight reasons that just might be why your home isn’t selling. They are worth a look. (more…)

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What was simply a workplace feature in years past, the once ordinary kitchen countertop has become a major architectural item in interior design. There are lots of options on the market for kitchen countertops. In fact, the number of options can be daunting for the average consumer.

It really boils down to your personal sense of aesthetics, budget and your tolerance for stains. Whether it be economical Formica, granite, a synthetic surface or even concrete, choosing a countertop material is made easier with a discussion of the pros and cons of each surface. (more…)

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For those of you that have been waiting for some time to sell your home in a less-than-perfect market, a recent report issued by the National Association of Realtors might indicate some encouragement. But before getting too carried away with the idea that now is the right time sell, step back and assess the overall strength of the current home-sale market in your area.

Residential real estate is an intensely localized business. A good place to start your investigation is your own neighborhood. How many houses are there like yours on the market? How long have they been on the market? Have there been price reductions? Were there any listings that didn’t receive offers during the listing period? (more…)

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President Bush is now saying that he will push Congress this year to act quickly on his proposals to help beleaguered mortgage holders. Some of the proposals are designed to have an immediate impact, such as efforts to make the refinancing of subprime loans easier and more affordable. Other proposals would make it easier for all homebuyers to get financing.

As a consideration to those consumers that will seek new financing in 2008, the President is backing proposal that focuses on putting an end to abusive lending. To date, White House efforts implemented include a rate-freeze plan for some subprime borrowers and tax relief on breaks that homeowners get from lenders during the process of foreclosure. (more…)

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A good lighting system goes a long way to enhance your theater room experience. First, the system must provide light so that people can safely move around the room. Then, you should arrange the light sources so that they don’t cast any glare or light on the image, which would wash out the picture.

Ambient light is a soft, general illumination that allows people to feel welcomed into a space and the best ambient light really comes from light bounced off the ceiling. Good choices include fixtures recessed in coves around the perimeter of a ceiling (more…)

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Before planning any remodeling project understand that generally homeowners aren’t recouping as many improvement costs as they could in recent years. Depending on your local housing marketplace, experts may ormay not advise that a major up fit to your property will pay for itself come time to sell.

In fact, the simpler, and less expensive projects may give you the edge over other properties on the market. Concepts like spaciousness and cleanliness go along way to convince a buyer that your home has recognizable benefits of ownership over that home down the street.

Merely cleaning the carpets, painting the walls and removing wallpaper are common fixes that costs very little, compared to most remodeling projects. It’s wise to budget for these tasks before putting money aside for more expensive projects. (more…)

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