How long will it last?
It's a corollary of Murphy's Law: When you are least able to afford a major expense, something big is bound to break down. The solution: Take preventive action before a...
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Spending: Get your home in shape to sell
To hook buyers and reap the highest possible price, you must clean, declutter and stage your home, inside and out. Cotty Lowry, an agent with Keller Williams in Minneapolis, tells...
Selling your home in a buyer’s market
With average home prices back where they were 10 years ago and sales still sluggish, it seems as if sellers can't catch a break. But if you want to sell...
Family finances: New fixes for the housing mess
Foreclosed homes continue to plague communities, the housing market and the economy. Between 2008 and 2011, banks completed 3.2 million foreclosures, and half again as many may still lurk in...
A better way to buy a foreclosure
You can bid on a foreclosure at auction. But for most homebuyers, real estate-owned properties, or REOs, are a far less risky route to a bargain. If bidders at auction...
A better bathroom on a budget
Looking to upgrade a dated or dingy bathroom on a budget? Replacing a tub requires small-scale demolition and can cost several thousand dollars. A cheaper alternative is to have it...
Flooring options with $1,000 ceiling
In a busy household, the flooring has to hold up under heavy use and look good. Options abound for replacing worn or outdated floors for $1,000 or less. You can...