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10 Best States for First-Time Home Buyers

Buying a home is a financial goal that has been delayed for many Americans thanks to the recent recession. With the economy continuing to strengthen in 2015, however, many wannabe homeowners have decided it’s time to buy their first homes. One-third (32 percent) of home purchases made in May 2015 were by first-time home buyers, according to […]
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Hot Property: Tennis Champ Sells Home Court

(TNS)–Former top-ranked women’s tennis player Venus Williams has sold her Bel-Air home in an off-market transaction for $6.85 million. The buyers were real estate investor Jerome Eisenberg and wife Jackie Arthur. Built in 1979, the gated estate has a Tudor-inspired house, a swimming pool with a raised spa, an entertainer’s patio and a lighted tennis […]
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Great Spaces: Mountain View Colorado Retreat

This stunning 2.7-acre retreat in Centennial, Co., completely renovated in 2012, stretches over 10,500 feet with five bedrooms, five bathrooms, and 180-degree mountain views. Top-of-the-line amenities include custom alder doors, hickory hardwood floors, custom exposed beams, floor-to-ceiling stone tile in the baths, two laundry areas, geothermal heat with back-up furnaces and a theater with a […]
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7 Easy Ways to Dress up an Entryway

The entryway or foyer of your home conveys an important first impression to your guests. For homeowners bent on making it a great first impression, designers at ElleDecor.com suggest seven easy ways to make an entryway look larger, brighter, and more welcoming: Use the power of mirrors – A well placed mirror can instantly open up […]
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Great Spaces: A Harborside Penthouse in Baltimore

Located on Harborview Drive in Baltimore, Md., this harborside penthouse is luxury living at its finest, featuring the best city skyline and water views the city has to offer. With two exterior balconies and walls of windows showcasing the bountiful panoramic views, the outside is brought right into its custom-designed interior, which also includes amenities […]
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Your House May Harbor More Dangers than You Think

(TNS)–Soap may seem to be keeping germs at bay, but in many homes, it’s doing harm. Surprisingly, there are items lurking in most homes that are unhealthy because they’re old or contain harmful ingredients. The good news? For the most part, these things simply can be tossed to make the home healthier. Problem: Antibacterial soap […]
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This California Home Changes Color with the Position of the Sun

Picking the perfect paint color can be frustrating. Who really has the time to pore over paint chips? Or experiment with a slew of samples? Not these two California homeowners, who refreshed the outside of their home with a coat of prismatic paint that changes colors. As Dwell recently reported, empty-nesters Ilhan and Kamer Eser chose […]
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10 Steps to Prepare for a Remodel

Although National Home Improvement Month is behind us, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) advises homeowners of the 10 most important steps to take before the remodeling project starts. “The planning and researching phases of a project are the most critical steps in the remodeling process,” says Judy Moze, CR, GCP, NARI National […]

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Mortgage Rates Remain Mellow amidst Strengthening Market

Freddie Mac recently released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey(R) (PMMS®), showing average fixed mortgage rates little changed from the previous week amid reports of the U.S. housing market strengthening. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.02 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending June 25, 2015, up from the last week […]

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Should I Install a Driveway Alarm?

(TNS)—Just like a security light attached to a motion sensor, a driveway alarm uses a wired or wireless sensor to inform you when someone’s walked or driven onto your driveway. A few of our experts weigh in on different driveway alert systems and the pros and cons of wired and wireless alarm options. What is […]