Archive for Blog
Builder Concept Home 2012 features a house for boomers
Three homes. Three generations — X, Y, and Boomer. Builder Concept Home 2012 is sponsored by Hanley Wood , a multimedia firm that develops magazines, online publications, exhibitions and conferences, and custom marketing and data services for the construction and building industry
Depending on dependents for a tax break
Over the past several years, many individuals experiencing economic challenges have relied on the financial and housing help of parents, children, and other family members. According to the Pew Research Center that analyzes U.S
This smoke alarm sings
Every house should have a smoke alarm.
Real estate gets into the Superbowl
The National Retail Federation Survey forecasts that consumer spending on Superbowl paraphernalia — food, munchies, booze — will hit a record high of $11 billion dollars. That exceeds the heights of holiday spending this past year, when Americans spent $7 billion on Halloween and another $6 billion on Christmas decorations
Tax time is here
Around this time of year, tax forms for 2011 are trickling home through the mail. If you have a more complicated return or simply want guidance, enlisting the help of a professional tax preparer can mean the difference between paying more or less to Uncle Sam. For households that run a small business, it’s important to find an accountant who stays up to date on tax laws pertaining to your specific industry
Winter is the perfect season to organize
If the cold and wind are keeping you indoors this season, there are a slew of small household projects that can have significant impact on the family’s comfort and ease of living. Martha Stewart Living suggests 21 simple ways to divide and conquer oft-forgotten areas
Keep out the winter chill
Elle Decor Fireplaces add aesthetic appeal to the house as well as warmth throughout the winter season. While traditional fireplaces need ventilation, there are new types on the retail market that do not. Smoke-free fuels derived from eco-friendly, plant-based bio-ethanol can be utilized in rooms where ventilation is not available.
Best places to live car-free
For households that choose not to own a personal vehicle, urban centers that provide public transportation systems and amenities like retail stores, schools, and entertainment within close distance can be ideal places to live and work. 24/7 Wall St . compiled a list of the top 10 best places to reside, sans automobile: Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH (#10) Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, CA Salt Lake City, UT Denver-Aurora, CO San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Honolulu, HI New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-PA Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton, OR-WA San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (#1) These cities, out of the 100 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S, ranked highest for the following criteria — percentage of neighborhoods covered by public transit, frequency of service to those areas, the number of jobs reachable within 90 minutes or less by public transit, and the “walk score” (the number that indicates accessibility to amenities by foot).
Bottoms up
If the real estate market has hit bottom on the East coast, then there’s nowhere to go but up. The Wall Street Journal reports that cost-conscious buyers are not just surfacing in and around New York suburbs. They’re “storming” the market.
A studio for the future
Seattle Times When architect, painter, and photographer David Hall constructed his work studio in the Samish River flood plain, he drew the curiosity and admiration of others in his craft. The 448-square-foot backyard box, built in the spring of 2010 for $106,000, is all things flexible. Hall and his wife first moved to the town of Edison in 1974, when they purchased their first house.
