Self-insurance for homeowners Feb 2, 2024 Mary sent me an email asking about an alternative to high insurance premiums.Â
What’s cooking in kitchens? Open floor plans & bigger islands Updated Feb 5, 2024 I know we’re not supposed to care, but don’t we all kind of want to know what’s going on in other people’s houses? At least décor-wise? Last w…
Retain confidential client files Jan 26, 2024 According to California’s Business and Professional Code, real estate brokers shall retain, for three years, copies of all listings, deposit r…
Want the next generation to embrace old furniture? Try paint Jan 26, 2024 At every talk I give on downsizing, the subject of handing furniture off to grown kids comes up. And every time I deliver the bad news: The ki…
New Year’s resolutions for those who can help Jan 19, 2024 I gave up making New Year’s resolutions for myself years ago. Not because I don’t need self-improvement but after a certain age you accept you…
Best-selling novelist’s homes are the stuff of fiction Jan 19, 2024 Walking into Breeze Inn or Ebbtide, two vacation rental cottages on Georgia’s Tybee Island, is like stepping into one of Mary Kay Andrews’ pop…
Politicians created and support homelessness Jan 12, 2024 Years ago, as president of a local chamber of commerce, I had my first experience with the homelessness problem. A downtown merchant called me…
Faucet fixation: How to choose one Jan 12, 2024 Every home has one. Many have several. You touch it every day. (Some people should touch it more.) It promotes hygiene and hydration. Yet how …
Real estate market expectations in the new year Jan 5, 2024 Happy New Year! Mortgage rates have dropped to their lowest level in a year. Rates peaked in October at around 8% and dropped into the 7% rang…
Is this the year for a change? Jan 5, 2024 A New Year brings a clean slate, a fresh start and a sobering perspective: The gluttony has ended. The blooms are off the poinsettias. The hol…
A look back: more lessons learned from 2023 Dec 29, 2023 Over the past 12 months we’ve covered a lot of home topics, from the philosophical (the meaning of home) to the practical (preventing househol…
A look back: lessons learned from 2023, part 2 Dec 29, 2023 Over the past 12 months we’ve covered a lot of home topics, from the philosophical (the meaning of home) to the practical (preventing househol…
Looking back at real estate in 2023 Dec 29, 2023 Before giving serious thought as to what my readers should expect from the 2024 real estate market, I wanted to first review what I considered…
A look back: lessons learned from 2023 Dec 22, 2023 One of my favorite year-end rituals is to look back at the 50 columns I’ve managed to eke out, and survey how much we’ve gone through together…
Realtors lose antitrust lawsuit; appeal pending Dec 22, 2023 Last October a Missouri federal court issued a $1.8 billion class action verdict against the National Association of Realtors for “colluding t…
Holiday home shopping Dec 15, 2023 December will be the slowest month for real estate activity this year. New listings will be fewer than October and November and some sellers w…
Don’t decorate your vacation rental like your home Dec 15, 2023 The place came fully furnished. That’s the good news and the bad news. While I don’t strongly dislike any furnishings in the beach rental prop…
O'Hearn named Realtor of the year Dec 15, 2023 Maury O'Hearn, the Broker/Owner of Premier Property Group and Car Guy Real Estate, has been honored with the prestigious title of Realtor / Ci…
The versatile family home Dec 8, 2023 Generally, single-use owner-occupied homes are not the best investment vehicle. Yes, they appreciate in value, there may be some tax benefits …
What to consider before taking the second-home plunge Dec 8, 2023 The no-going-back moment is forever etched in my memory. My husband, DC, and I were standing in the kitchen when our Realtor, Saint Bob, calle…
Wanna get away? Memories, friends, timing drive wish for second home Dec 1, 2023 The beach-condo pipe dream traces back to June, but really to my childhood — a big idea with a minuscule chance. Though I tried to snuff the d…
Homeownership fading from the American Dream Dec 1, 2023 Returning to my normal routine of writing a weekly column after my failed attempt as a roofer isn’t as easy as getting back on my bike and rid…
HVAC key terms every homeowner should know Updated Nov 29, 2023 As highly fluctuating temperatures become the new seasonal norm, homeowners begin to seek optimal HVAC (heating, ventilation and air condition…
A better look in less time; 7 holiday decorating tips Nov 24, 2023 I have this vision of how holiday decorating is supposed to be, probably because I’ve watched too many Hallmark movies. It features a happy fa…
Scaffolding and ladders are a dangerous mix Nov 24, 2023 This year there will be more than 3 million people older than 65 who check into a hospital with injuries from falls. According to the National…
Is your home telling you it needs a repair? Nov 17, 2023 Our homes give us a place to relax and escape the elements of nature, but they are not immune to the elements themselves. As homeowners, it is…
6 reasons people are moving to mid-size cities in 2023 Nov 17, 2023 Maybe you're tired of the hustle and bustle of big city life. The sky-high rent, cramped living spaces, constant traffic and crowds are gettin…
