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Mortgage options abound — make sure you get a good one
With all the changes taking place in the mortgage industry, it’s important to not only know what options are available, but also how to secure the best mortgage, at the best rates possible — that’s why it’s important to get competent, professional help. |
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Homes make
room for green
interior designing
To Shari Stein, green interior design has nothing to do with painting rooms in a shade of sea foam.
As a principal of Partners in Design Inc. and an interior designer for more than 20 years, the West Bloomfield woman tries to decorate homes in ways that hurt the environment as little as possible. And she says that she refined her approach long before the “green” catchphrase took off. |
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Get the inside scoop on homeownership
Homeownership is the first step toward achieving the “American Dream,” but for many, taking that step can be a scary prospect, especially in light of the recent rash of foreclosures, not to mention the poor economy and the multitude of changes in the mortgage industry. |
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Summer pests are not on vacation
Whether it’s gardening or barbecuing, yards are the perfect place to spend time in the summer. Unfortunately, a host of insects and other pests agree, and some could even invite themselves into your home. |
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Upland Hills to hold ‘zero energy’
home seminar Aug. 9
Want to find out how to greatly reduce your home energy bills, if not eliminate them completely?
Attend Upland Hills Ecological Awareness Center’s “Lessons from the Zero Energy Home” seminar, presented by nationally recognized architect Christina Snyder, from 1 to 3 p.m. this Saturday, Aug. 9 in Oxford. |
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‘House swapping’ is growing real estate trend
Difficulties in selling a home in today’s shaky economic climate have caused some homeowners to think outside of the box and into the past. |
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Shed some light
Without lighting, even the most elaborate residential landscaping meets the same fate when the sun slides below the horizon: It virtually disappears.
But add a little illumination, and homeowners and passersby can enjoy beautiful yards even after darkness falls. |
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Upcoming real estate seminars aim to educate
North Star Home Lending will host the free, semi-monthly, 10-part “Everything you Always Wanted to Know About Today’s Mortgage Market, but Were Afraid to Ask” real estate series, featuring prominent industry experts. |
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Wet weather, foreclosures
make for more mosquitoes
When it comes to mosquitoes, pesky is an understatement — the buzzing biters not only wreak havoc on backyard barbecues and parties, but certain breeds of mosquitoes can also cause serious illness, such as West Nile virus. |
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Maintain, weatherproof
a roof to keep dry
It’s the main part of the home that provides shelter and keeps heads dry. But experts agree that regular roof maintenance can reduce the chances of storm damage and annoying leaks. |
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Homeowners going ‘green’ in their gardens
Gardeners are turning to organic fertilizers, composting and other natural gardening methods in an effort to keep themselves and the earth healthy. “I think people are starting to jump on that bandwagon,” said Chris McDonald, manager at Ray Wiegand’s Nursery and Garden Center. |
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Turning negatives into positives
Foreclosures hurt the economy: Not only has a family lost their home, but cities lose tax revenue and neighborhoods lose value due to vacant homes and the ensuing blight, not to mention the safety of a community. |
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Positive real estate changes in the air
There’s no question that news in the real estate industry has taken on a negative tone in recent years, with the collapse of the sub-prime market and the resulting foreclosures, not to mention the continuing decline in home values — especially in Michigan, where the foreclosure crisis is coupled with job loss and the economy continues to flail. |
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Businesses offer solutions to homes with too much clutter
Kathy Keiper has seen the effect that messy homes can have on people’s quality of life — even when she’s driving through the neighborhood. |
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Water and fire features make for backyard bliss
Much has been said about the oft-touted concept of curb appeal — creating an aesthetically pleasing landscape design that leads directly to the front door. But what about backyard appeal? |
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Green thumb gardening advice
for greenhorns
Now that warmer weather has finally set in, it’s time to start getting dirty — in the garden, that is — and checking out the plant stock at local garden centers, nurseries and greenhouses, where perennials, annuals, trees, shrubs and evergreens sit in pots awaiting new homes in yards across metro Detroit. |
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