Fire up your patio
Summer is the season for barbecues and outdoor entertaining. Fire pits add ambiance and warmth to any gathering. Watch this HGTV video for tips on choosing the fire pit that’s just right for your patio...
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Summer real estate trends
The real estate market can heat up in the summer months. According to Bloomberg.com, the following four trends are very likely to characterize this season of buying and selling properties: Low mortgage...
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National MLS coming soon
Roughly 800 multiple listing services currently operate throughout the nation. But that’s going to change in a matter of months, reports Inman News. The National Association of Realtors plans to unveil...
View ArticleWhy home staging matters
Curb appeal and home staging are two critical elements for sellers to consider when listing their properties for sale. Buyers make judgments based on the first impression, so when they walk through the...
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Explore Seattle this summer
Searching for adventure this summer? Look no farther than Seattle, a gateway to some of the richest experiences the Pacific Northwest has to offer in food, the arts, and nature. Some tourist-bound...
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How to woo the seller
Many experts say that residential real estate is currently a seller’s market with narrow inventory bringing in scenarios of multiple bids. Buyers who have to compete are often encouraged to write...
View ArticleCheck out HGTV’s Smart Home 2013
The HGTV Smart Home 2013 boasts a beautiful and functional outdoor living space. This Jacksonville Beach, Fla., property combines smart design with comfortable luxury. See the home’s special features...
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King County homeowners can now view their property taxes online
Now homeowners in King County can view and appeal their county taxes online, reports The Seattle Times. A newly unveiled county website, www.kingcounty.gov/eappeals, serves as the portal for residents...
View ArticleTop 5 U.S. sellers’ markets
Real estate experts have concluded that in some regions of the U.S. housing market, sellers are at an advantage, meaning that homeowners are able to swiftly unload their homes close to asking prices....
View ArticleThe multi-functional mud room
Second perhaps only to the kitchen, the mud room is the most multi-functional space of the home. It is well-traveled by household members and guests, a natural place to put accessories, and the laundry...
View ArticleLocation is supreme for some home buyers
Access to good public schools are often on home buyers’ must-have lists. It’s no wonder then that the City of Bellevue, which boasts several nationally recognized high schools, draws so many interested...
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Home prices posted biggest annual gain in May 2013
Home prices have been rising since early 2006. According to CoreLogic, prices increased by 12.2 percent in May 2013 from May 2012, the most significant annual incline since February 2006, reports...
View ArticleMicro-apartments: Less stuff, more experience
Micro-apartments may be the urban trend of the future. In San Francisco, the average city studio rents for $2100. But the micro-apartment featured in this CNNMoney video is located in the SOMA...
View ArticleEco-conscious homebuilding
Environmentally-friendly homebuilding materials are becoming increasingly popular with consumers. Ecohaus, founded in 1992 as a home superstore, has branched out to three locations in Seattle,...
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Mortgage delinquencies are stabilizing
Mortgage delinquencies are showing improvement throughout the U.S. Home finance balances written off in the first quarter of 2013 decreased by 23 percent year-over-year, totaling $69.7 billion...
View ArticleHost a tapas party this summer
Tapas is an “unconstricted way of entertaining,” says Celia Tejada, design expert with Pottery Barn. Planning a tapas event for family and friends gives the host the freedom to offer an eclectic...
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Chinese buyers and the U.S. housing market
Foreigners spent approximately $68.2 billion on U.S. homes in the 12 months ending March 31, according to the National Association of Realtors, reports CNN Money. Chinese buyers accounted for almost...
View ArticleTips on getting a rental property market-ready
Amy and Josh, a couple residing in Venice, Cal., needed guidance on selling their outdated income property. HGTV Remodels’ House Counselor, Laurie March, advised the couple to remove, replace, or...
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The front porch is a gateway to memories
The front porch is a vestige of an older, simpler way of life when families sat outside and neighbors visited with one another. Once a place for relaxation, the front porch faded in popularity due to...
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Housing forecast for second half of 2013
The housing market has taken big strides toward recovery, but some wonder if rising prices could reinflate the recent bubble. According to Forbes reporter Morgan Brennan, that fear is not likely to...
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