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Well, it’s that time of year again.  After this weekend of fun and relaxation for most, it will be time to think about the cooler fall and winter months ahead.  Preparing your home for the weather now is always a great idea.  Here’s a few tips you might want to consider the Autumn.
By following some [...]

Homebuyers’ interest in green home features increases
More than half of all home shoppers report that green home features, from energy efficient appliances to solar panels, are an important part of their purchasing decision, though only one percent of home listings market these features to buyers, according to a ZipRealty survey.  The survey revealed that 55 [...]

I recently came across a good Q & A with a contractor and appraiser that answered this question about getting a good return on remodeling your home or fixing it up to sell for top dollar.  enjoy.
Q: In your opinion, what home improvements (kitchen remodel, new front door, or wood floors) offer the best payback [...]

2 Great Garden Tours are happening in Sacramento in May.
MAY 1 & 2:The first annual Sierra Oaks Garden Tour is taking place May 1 & May 2 in the Sierra Oaks Neighborhood on Crocker rd.  Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 day of.  Visit the website for additional info: http://www.sierraoaksgardentour.com .  The proceeds go to [...]

I had the pleasure two days ago of touring a SMUD Energy Efficient Remodel Demonstration Project at 3893 32nd Avenue in Sacramento. This house was purchased as a bank-owned heavy fixer and then rehabbed by Housing Group Fund into a pristine and very energy-efficient home.
I made a video to give you a sense of what [...]

When green home building standards and practices were first introduced to the residential development industry, there seemed to be that nagging question of, “Is this just another short-lived trend?” Undoubtedly plagued by bad memories of well-meaning technologies of the early 1990s that didn’t perform as planned and disrupted production schedules, [...]

This article originially appeared on the Irvine Housing Blog
Uncle Sam has embraced cash-for-keys as part of its initiative to streamline the short sale process. Can we expect to see many more successful short sales soon?
Stop your stalling,
And just give me more than you should,
Before we’re all in
The same mess I knew we would;
I will not call [...]

With discounted short sales and foreclosures continuing to dominate most local housing markets, new homes not only have to be competitively priced, but offer updated design cues and interior amenities.

With steeply discounted foreclosures taking a huge bite out of the potential demand for new homes over the past couple of years, the nation’s home builders initially reacted with a combination of incentives and price cuts to stay competitive. Yet as the recession has worn on, the building industry has managed to find another trump [...]

When you have a big gathering at your house, no matter where you try to set up the food and beverages, the crowd inevitably ends up gathering in your kitchen. The problem is you may not be proud of the kitchen you have. So what do you do? There are many different ways for you [...]

Each year about 70 percent of Americans make a New Year’s resolution and most soon forget they ever made one. Time for a change? Why not resolve to give your old house a new look in the New Year? Start the new decade with a new attitude about your home’s makeover.  Here’s one you can [...]

5 Home Remodeling Trends for the New Year

Remodeling and decorating trends in 2010 are likely to reflect the fact that many home owners are settling in for the long haul.
Here are some ideas for updating homes and gardens from decorators and leading real estate practitioners:

Environmentally sensitive furniture. Natural fibers, sustainable woods, and recycled products [...]

Selling Your Home During the Holidays
 

Selling your home is a stressful event, but doing so over the holiday season can kick the tension level up a notch.  If your home is on the market over the holidays, you might be wondering if you should deck the halls or give it a pass for this year.  [...]

Monday, the administration announced a nationwide campaign to push their failing Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) out of the HAMPer. Until now the focus has been on getting loan modifications started with a stated goal of reaching 500,000 trial modifications by November 1, 2009. Unfortunately, despite having successfully hit this goal, it is becoming increasingly [...]