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How
to save for that down payment -- There are many ways. Some strategies are
for people who have some money saved up somewhere, others are for people who
are practically broke.
Retrofitting
your house for the next disaster -- Whether
your area is prone to floods, hurricanes, tornados or earthquakes, you can spend
big bucks to protect your home. But will it be cost effective?
20
secrets to a flourishing frugal garden --
You do need a green thumb, but you don't have to splurge to create your own
little Eden.
8
hazards common in older homes -- If you fall for the charms of an older
home, be prepared for potential problems, and keep that checkbook handy!
Avoid
home remodeling snafus -- Some 20 million American homeowners will contract
home-improvement jobs this year. Not all will end happily.
How
to hire a contractor -- Remodeling your home is not something you do every
day. Here's how to be selective when choosing a contractor.
Making
your home bird-friendly -- Want to encourage feathered friends to visit
your property? There's more to it than just putting up a bird feeder.
Big
savings for short-term housing -- Need a place to live for three or four
months? To find an alternative to pricey hotels, think outside the box. How
about staying in a monastery or an RV?
So
you want to rent out your old home? -- To the unsuspecting rookie landlord,
especially an absentee one, the renting pitfalls can be deep.
PLUS: 7 questions
for would-be landlords
Moving
timeline -- If you're buying or selling a home, you've got a lot to do.
Here's a handy timeline for setting up your move.
Selling
your house? Bury a saint --
An old tradition says burying a statue of
St. Joseph in your yard can help to speed a sale.
A
model way to get new furnishings --
Looking to pay 10 cents on the dollar for designer
furniture? Check out model homes in your area. Sometimes the quality furniture
on display is for sale.
Make
a serial killing in real estate --
Buying and selling a primary residence every few years could
result in tidy tax-free profits.
Is
your home a potential gold mine? -- Savvy homeowners can cash in by using
their own homes to make extra money.
Are you
ready to be a real estate mogul? -- If you think you have an eye for spotting
a bargain and really know what makes a good investment, take our test. You'll
see if you're a chump or a Trump.
Buying
house plans online -- The Internet has elevated house-plan ogling to a science,
but moving beyond the daydreaming phase takes work and knowledge.
Hollywood homes: Where
the stars shine -- Today's younger stars are moving out of secluded mansions
into smaller, more functional homes -- but bigger names still carry bigger price
tags.
Buffy
the real estate player -- Sarah Michelle Gellar scratched her TV series,
but just started her real estate career. Moving in with Freddie Prinze Jr.,
Gellar's sold her home for $1.7 million.
Dealing
with disasters when you're a renter -- You have insurance for
your personal property, but what are your rights when it comes to getting the
structure itself fixed?
Turn
your basement into a rental -- If you don't mind having a stranger below,
you'll need to consider everything from appliances to zoning.
Landlord's
horror stories -- It's not a job for the faint of heart. Eight ways to protect
yourself and your rental property from the "Tenants from Hell. "
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Tax
Talk: Avoiding capital gains on home-sale profits
