Look up! Does that roof of yours need replacing? Eco-friendly options are out there, including the now popular metal roof. What makes metal green? According to the Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA), 100 percent—that’s right, all—metal roofs are comprised of at least 25 percent recycled aluminum or steel, and can be recycled again. Metal roofs also outlast…

Read the rest of this entry

Moving to a new city, whether it’s 30 or 3,000 miles away from your last one, can be stressful to say the least – perhaps even more so after you’ve dealt with the last of the packing boxes, because now it’s time to get to know your new community and begin to feel comfortable within…

Read the rest of this entry

Is your desktop a hodgepodge of disorganized files? Need more room on your hard drive? Having too many files not only makes documents harder to find, but can slow down your computer’s processing speed and sap precious battery power from laptops. Control the clutter with these four tips. 1. UPDATE – Windows and OSX users…

Read the rest of this entry

As you are preparing to sell your home, you are filled with anticipation about the possibilities. You could be making a tidy profit or excited about finding your dream home. Yet along the way, it is crucial you take a few steps before you actually list your home for sale. If you want to emerge…

Read the rest of this entry

Moving to a new city, whether it’s 30 or 3,000 miles away from your last one, can be stressful to say the least – perhaps even more so after you’ve dealt with the last of the packing boxes, because now it’s time to get to know your new community and begin to feel comfortable within…

Read the rest of this entry

Private mortgage insurance, or PMI, is imposed on conventional mortgage borrowers who place less than 20 percent down on a home purchase. Mortgage insurance is also a requirement for borrowers who obtain a mortgage through a government agency, such as the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) or the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), though it is…

Read the rest of this entry

Television shows like Buying & Selling and House Hunters have received flak for their unrealistic portrayal of real estate. What they do get right are the wish lists of the homebuyers they feature—many of those must-haves, in fact, fall in line with trends in the marketplace. One of the most commonly requested amenities today, as any HGTV…

Read the rest of this entry

Did you ever dream of making it into the Guinness Book of World Records? Each year, the Guinness Book of World Records Day offers anyone and everyone 24 hours to break a record and become part of the Guinness annals of history. Here are the details. Whether it’s breaking the record for the “Largest Number…

Read the rest of this entry

Cleaning your window screens is a chore few homeowners look forward to. No matter how shiny you can get your window panes, if your screens are scuzzy, your windows will look less than well washed. Below are several tips for properly cleaning your pesky window screens. Start by removing your screens. To really deep clean your…

Read the rest of this entry

Buying a major appliance can take a big bite out of your savings, making it tempting to choose the lowest-priced item possible. However, the true cost of owning a home appliance is actually based on three components: the initial purchase price, the cost of repairs and maintenance, and the cost to operate it. So don’t…

Read the rest of this entry