news

news

Trophy Home for the Holidays

  Visionary Santa Fe artist and architect, Bill Lumpkins, known for such Santa Fe landmarks as Rancho Encantado, La Fonda and the Inn at Loretto, designed this double adobe masterpiece in the late 1970s. This gorgeous home can easily claim its place in the firmament of Santa Fe-style
Read More

Recovery Plagued by ‘Missing Households’

High unemployment among young adults is prompting a large loss in household formation that is critical for long-term housing demand, according to housing experts. Of 25 to 34 year olds, about 75 percent were employed in September; that’s about the same as year-ago levels and near the levels
Read More

Signs of Easing Lending Standards from Banks

More borrowers may have an easier time qualifying for a mortgage as banks begin to accept lower credit scores and smaller down payments, according to the latest data from mortgage tracker Ellie Mae. The average FICO score for a borrower who closed on a home loan last month was 732, a drop from
Read More

Home Sales are Facing 3 Hurdles Right Now

Existing-home sales are hitting a snag because of several constraints that the housing market is grappling with, according to the National Association of REALTORS®' latest housing report. NAR officials note several challenges for the housing recovery: Less Affordability: “Affordability
Read More

Fall to Four-Month Lows for Mortgage Rates

Fixed mortgage rates dropped to their lowest levels since this summer, giving a lift this week to the housing recovery. "Mortgage rates slid this week as the partial government shutdown led to market speculation that the Federal Reserve will not alter its bond purchases this year,” says Frank
Read More

Basement Flooring Options – part 8

Concrete One of the simplest and least expensive options for finishing a basement concrete slab is to paint or stain the slab. A one-gallon can of either coating option is about $30 and covers about 80-100 sq. ft. If you elect to use paint, consider an acrylic formula with slip-resistant surface
Read More

Basement Flooring Options – part 7

Laminate flooring Laminate flooring has similar construction to engineered wood flooring, but the top veneer is a layer of tough film covered with plastic resins. Laminate flooring mimics the look of wood, stone, and ceramic tile. The core layers of laminate flooring are dimensionally stable; some
Read More

Basement Flooring Options – part 6

Engineered wood Until the advent of engineered hardwood flooring, few builders or remodelers would recommend or risk installing a hardwood floor over a below-grade concrete surface. Because solid wood changes dimensions with fluctuations in temperature and humidity, the chances of warping and
Read More

Basement Flooring Options – part 5

Ceramic tile Ceramic tile installs readily over a concrete slab and the many styles and colors available make it a good designer’s choice. Properly installed and maintained ceramic tiles should last as long as your house. In some below-grade applications, condensation may occur on the
Read More

Basement Flooring Options – part 4

Vinyl Resilient vinyl flooring is durable, moisture-proof, and maintenance-free. Sheet vinyl comes in 12-foot-wide rolls that virtually eliminate seams. Self-sticking vinyl tiles are ideal for do-it-yourself installations. There are an enormous variety of colors and styles from which to
Read More
« Older Entries
Newer Entries »