Lori Blank

12

Mar

Uncategorized

Where To Find Inspiration For Your Home Decor

Are you working on decorating your home? Perhaps you want to spruce up your decor, but you aren't sure where to start. Where can you find inspiration for your home decor, besides the obvious home decor magazines and websites? Here are some fun and creative ideas that will inspire you when designing your decor: Luxury Hotels The next time you go on a vacation, you can find decor inspiration at your hotel. Most hotel rooms in mid-range to luxury hotels have beautiful, comforting and understated designs, so take photos if you find something that you like. Perhaps you can invest…

11

Mar

By Lori Blank

Uncategorized

Furry Friend Blues, The Best Ways To Settle Your Pet Into Your New Home

Moving can be a stressful and exciting process, and when moving with pets, your furry friend most certainly feels the stress and excitement as well. Pets don't always respond well to a new environment, so it's important to do whatever you can to ease your pet into your new house. Settling yourself and your pet into your new home may take time, but you can make it a smoother process by doing some research and planning. Here's how you can create a stress-free transition for your beloved pooch or kitty. Where To Put The Pet During The Move During the…

10

Mar

By Lori Blank

Uncategorized

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – March 10, 2014

Last week's economic news included construction spending and the CoreLogic Home Price Index for January. Reports for February included ADP Employment, Non-Farm Payrolls and national unemployment data. The Federal Reserve's Beige Book report and weekly reports on mortgage rates and new unemployment claims rounded out the week's economic news. Highlights for last week include: Consumer spending gained 0.40 percent for January. The expected reading was 0.20 percent and the reading for December was flat. The Commerce Department reported that increased spending was less an indicator of consumer discretionary spending than an indicator of high utility costs caused by severe winter…

07

Mar

By Lori Blank

Uncategorized

How To Add Color To Your Home Decor Without Going Overboard

There is a fine line between adding color to your home decor and using too much color, so that you feel like you are living inside a rainbow. A little bit of color will add a lot of fun and interest to your home design, but too much color can be overwhelming. How can you achieve that perfect balance? Here Are Some Tips To Keep In Mind For Using Color In Your Home In A Subtle And Balanced Way: Use Color Schemes Before choosing the colors for your decor, do a little bit of research into color schemes and how…

06

Mar

By Lori Blank

Uncategorized

Winter Blues, 9 Easy Ways To Brighten Your Home And Your Spirit

These gray, dreary winter days can really sap your energy and dull your enjoyment of life. To survive the winter doldrums, brighten your home. Use These Easy Tips: Open your home's window treatments during the day to let the light brighten and warm your room. Close them again as soon as night falls to retain heat. Brighten dark rooms with few windows by placing spotlights on the floor behind furniture. Add a mirror. Wherever a mirror reflects light in a room, it visually doubles that light. Place a mirror opposite a window to immediately brighten your space. No window? Hang…

05

Mar

By Lori Blank

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Housing Analysis

Highest Year-Over-Year Increase In Home Prices Since 2005

Two major indicators of home price trends showed a slowing momentum for home prices in December. The S&P Case Shiller 10 and 20 city indices reported that of 20 cities tracked, home prices were lower in December than for November. Case-Shiller’s seasonally adjusted month-to month reading showed that home prices rose by 0.8 percent as compared to 0.90 percent in November. David Blitzer, chairman of the index committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices, said that “Gains are slowing from month-to-month and the strongest part of home price recovery may be over.” He also noted that seasonally adjusted data was showing…

04

Mar

By Lori Blank

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Homebuyer Tips

The Unexpected In Buying Real Estate

When buying real estate, you may find some unexpected problems. Generally, these issues revolve around plumbing, wiring or sticking doors and windows. Although they aren't as expensive to fix as other issues, there's always a possibility that they indicate bigger problems. Sticking Doors/Windows Spotting wear and tear on doors and windows is fairly easy. Check the hinges and locks. Squeaking hinges or locks that stick indicate wear on seals and metal. Although sticking doors and windows aren't a big deal in and of themselves, these issues can be indications of moderate to severe foundation problems. If you find these issues…

03

Mar

By Lori Blank

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Mortgage Rates

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – March 3, 2014

Last week's economic news was mixed, with new home sales increasing and weekly jobless claims higher than expected. Case-Shiller and FHFA home price reports reflected slower growth in home prices. Mortgage rates moved higher for the third consecutive week. Weakness in the jobs sector and harsh winter weather were seen as factors contributing to economic events, but sales of new homes jumped unexpectedly to their highest since 2008. Case-Shiller, FHFA Report Slower Growth for Home Prices The Case-Shiller composite home price index for December reported that home prices declined by 0.10 percent in December, which was the second consecutive monthly…

28

Feb

By Lori Blank

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Around The Home

How To Make Your Home Look More Luxurious On A Budget

Have you been looking through home décor magazines and gazing with wonder at the gorgeous homes inside? Do you want to add a touch of elegance and luxury to your home, but you are on a tight budget? No need to worry, there are many ways that you can make your home look like a million bucks, without actually having to spend a fortune. Luxury Home Decor Ideas Here are a few great ideas that don't have to cost a lot, they just require a little bit of planning and some elbow grease and they will take your home…

27

Feb

By Lori Blank

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Around The Home

Where To Squeeze A Home Office In Your Home

If you have started working from home, whether you are a freelancer or running a business, having a home office in your home is very important. It is a place where you can separate your home life and work, so that you can get "in the zone" and concentrate on the important work tasks that you need to complete. But where should you place your home office? If you have a spare bedroom in your home, the answer is easy - but what if you don't have this extra space? Is it possible to squeeze a home office into an…