1/5/2008 3:44:00 PM
INSURANCE RATE HIKES FILED
TEXAS ( Houston Chronicle , Associated Press) – Many Texas homeowners could soon be paying more for their insurance coverage thanks to rate increases that are either in the works or in effect with several major insurance companies. State Farm Insurance ...
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1/5/2008 3:36:00 PM
Are Extra Monthly Mortgage Payments OK?
Getting a windfall and using it to pay off the mortgage sounds like it should reduce the monthly amount owed, but often it doesn’t. Fixed-rate mortgage holders who pay off a big chunk of their mortgage are likely to shorten the payoff period, but the ...
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1/5/2008 3:34:00 PM
Architects Add Creative Design to Public Housing
Architects are seeing designing new public housing as a creative opportunity. Today, most affordable housing is built by private developers or local agencies financed with a mix of public and private money as communities adopt “inclusionary zoning” ...
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1/5/2008 3:31:00 PM
What Do Women Want?
Urban planners increasingly are taking gender into consideration when they revise building codes, zoning rules, and growth plans, considering that women account for more than 50 percent of the urban population nationwide. Additionally, women account for 60 ...
Views: 47
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1/5/2008 3:28:00 PM
Falling Prey to Predatory Lending
Much of the current foreclosure market is due to people buying more house than they could afford but some if it is due to snake-oil lenders who beguiled folks into bad choices. The fact that this happens should surprise anyone as it has been happening for ...
Views: 43
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1/5/2008 3:24:00 PM
Hot Deals: The Reality of Buying Foreclosures
It’s a buyer’s market and everyone knows it. There are an even-increasing number of foreclosures on the market and every real estate investor knows that too. There are some smoking-hot deals out there and lots of people are clamoring to get to ...
Views: 59
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1/5/2008 3:21:00 PM
Rents Must Rise to get in Sync With Home Prices
The benchmark ratio of rents to home prices is slowly returning to its long-run average but it could be at the expense of home prices, according to a study by Federal Reserve Board economists and a University of Wisconsin professor suggests. The ratio, which ...
Views: 60
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1/5/2008 3:20:00 PM
How Green Remodeling Pays Off
Green remodeling can pay off — not only in lowered utility bills, but also in buyer appeal when the property is sold. Here are some green things to consider. Site selection . Prefer infill development instead of a new subdivision in a far-flung new suburb ...
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1/5/2008 3:18:00 PM
5 Simple Ways to Increase a Home's Value
Good home maintenance is key to creating and preserving a home’s value. Not to mention, it also impresses potential buyers. Here are five basic steps that every home owner ought to take — before spending money on dream bathrooms or gourmet kitchens. ...
Views: 35
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1/5/2008 3:15:00 PM
Building a “new” new home?
Sure, lots of people build new homes but nowadays there are new ways to build new homes. Don’t believe me? Just watch this short video (21 minutes) courtesy of the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M, and hosted by their Dr. Harold Hurt, that covers ...
Views: 1362
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