Don’t Make These Costly Remodeling Mistakes

While many Americans are ready to take on remodeling/renovation projects this spring, doing it the wrong way can be costly.

 SOME ERRORS TO AVOID: Read more

The SC Unemployment Rate Drops Again

South Carolina’s unemployment rate dropped again last month, and is now at its lowest rate since October of 2008.

Friday, the Department of Employment and Workforce released their numbers for the month of April, Read more

Home Sales Boost Employment Opportunities

Despite an economic picture that looks considerably rosier than it has in the past few years, one nagging problem continues to hinder economic growth: Unemployment. Read more

Determining the Cost and Benefit of a Home Renovation Project

By Erin Devine, DIY Home & Floor Blog

Often, home owners want to update the kitchen with granite countertops, install new flooring or renovate the basement to make their homes more appealing to buyers. Read more

Noisy Neighbors? Solutions for Creating Sound Barriers

It’s a common complaint among city-dwellers that the walls and floors separating one apartment from another allow sounds from one side to pass too easily through to the other.

Loss of acoustical privacy hasn’t been a grievance in the suburbs until recently; as land prices increase, lots are getting smaller and houses are getting closer together. Houses are also getting closer to the street and its associated noise pollution. Read more

9 Unconventional Ways to Improve Your Home

Conventional wisdom, as it relates to houses, is often too much convention and not enough wisdom.

Every year, somebody publishes a list of which conventional home improvements will give you the best (or the worst) return on your remodeling investment.

Remodel a bathroom. Replace your siding. Don’t build a swimming pool. Paint everything neutral colors.

Sit up straight. Get a haircut. Call your mother. Read more

From Unused Space to a Home Office Full of Smart Storage

Before and After: Bring On the Built-Ins

Sometimes one little request leads to a major transformation. Married neuroscientists Vivek Unni and Tamily Weissman-Unni, owners of an 1870s house in Cambridge, Massachusetts, started out with a new baby and a simple goal. Read more

Kitchens Sell a House

It’s a tool used by house flippers all across the nation. Stagers know its power. Real estate agents push its importance. What is this not-so-well-kept secret of real estate? A kitchen can sell a house. Read more

Real Estate Outlook: Home Prices Fall

Home prices were on the downswing in the third quarter, according to the latest report from both the Case-Shiller Index and the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

The indices found that while levels were below third quarter 2010 numbers and the annual rate of decline for the last quarter range from 3.6 to 3.9 percent.

“Home prices drifted lower in September and the third quarter,” says David M. Blitzer, Chairman of the Index Committee at S&P Indices. “The National Index was down 3.9% versus the third quarter of 2010 and up only 0.1% from the previous quarter. Three cities posted new index lows in September 2011 – Atlanta, Las Vegas and Phoenix. Seventeen of the 20 cities and both Composites were down for the month. Over the last year home prices in most cities drifted lower. The plunging collapse of prices seen in 2007-2009 seems to be behind us. Any chance for a sustained recovery will probably need a stronger economy.” Read more