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Living Smart: Don’t Take Kitchen Appliances for Granted

(TNS)—Most people depend on their kitchen appliances for daily use and occasionally for a cooking marathon before a holiday feast. They’re staples of the kitchen, and expected to work. But as soon as the refrigerator stops cooling or the oven won’t warm, panic sets in. Appliance repair pros say regular, routine maintenance and care can […]
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Study Shows Consumers Aren’t Shopping around for Mortgages

A recently released study done by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) found nearly half of Americans looking to purchase a home do not do their due diligence by shopping around for mortgage lenders. Rather, the survey found potential borrowers seriously consider only one lender, and that lender is often someone they’re already working with […]
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HUD Secretary Julián Castro to Answer Housing Questions in Live Fireside Chat Wednesday, Moderated by Zillow Chief Economist

Zillow® will bring together an esteemed group of national real estate experts, influencers and policy makers to debate and discuss housing trends and policies from different communities as we begin to identify housing issues that will have the greatest impact over the next two years. HUD Secretary Julián Castro will be discussing the Obama administration’s […]
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5 Ways a Strong Dollar Helps You

(TNS)—The “strong dollar” is making headlines. What is a strong dollar, and how does it impact us? The dollar is “strong” in value relative to other currencies because global investors have choices about how to hold their wealth. They have been choosing to exchange their currencies for dollars. They’re worried about the future of the […]
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Living Smart: Will Wallpaper Trend Stick This Time?

(TNS)—Denise Jordan has seen wallpaper come and seen it go. She and her husband, owners of Jordan Wallcoverings based in Gastonia, have made a living covering walls in the Charlotte area and beyond for more than 30 years. For decades, the wall-coverings business was dominated by wallpaper, adding accents and personality to rooms, and making […]
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Small, Exterior Home Improvements to Offer Best ROI in 2015

Homeowners often consider various remodeling and replacement projects as a way to add value to their homes. Some projects add more value and better recoup their costs than others, according to REALTORS® who rated small and exterior projects as the most valuable home improvement projects in the 2015 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report. Compiled annually […]
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Smart Home Upgrades for about $300

Baby, it’s cold outside! As temperatures dip, many homeowners are looking at ways to save on energy costs. Luckily, it doesn’t take a fortune to invest in smart technology for your home. In fact, many technology upgrades can be made for under $300. And while the upfront cost may be low, the potential savings are […]
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6 Tips for Choosing a Real Estate Agent

Overestimating the selling price for a property is one of the oldest tricks in the real estate agent’s book. The idea is that the seller will be so impressed by the inflated figure, they will chose this agent over other competitors. But the over-priced property is likely to sit on the market for months, while […]
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‘Weather’ to Work from Home—Something Employers should Think about

(TNS)—There’s one thing my years of meteorological study have taught me, it’s that weather exists. While weather is typically an outdoor phenomenon, it can have a major impact on our indoor workplaces, primarily during the winter months, when snow or frigid temperatures bring about the dreaded school cancellations. Parents are cast into child-care dilemmas that […]