House hunting: Is this the best time to buy?...

NEW YORK (Money) — My fiancé and I are saving up to buy a house in the not-too-distant future. We want to take advantage of the housing market, but he’s skeptical about whether this is the best time to buy. When do you think prices will go up? — S.R., Los Angeles I can understand your fiancé’s reluctance given that house prices continue to weaken. The S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price...

Home clearance sale coming from ‘desperate&#...

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — Home prices are already a third off their highs, but this summer could bring the real discounts. Buyers are still cautious, and anxious sellers will have to price aggressively to get them off the fence. That could result in a “summer clearance sale,” predicts Pete Flint, CEO of Trulia, the real estate web site. “We don’t imagine a stampede of buyers, like outside of...

Tornado Safety Tips...

There is no such thing as guaranteed safety inside a tornado. Freak accidents happen; and the most violent tornadoes can level and blow away almost any house and its occupants. Extremely violent F5 tornadoes are very rare, though. Most tornadoes are actually much weaker and can be survived using these safety ideas… Prevention and practice before the storm: At home, have a family tornado plan in place, based on the...

Tycoon in the making...

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — Malynda Williams didn’t set out to be a real estate tycoon. But the 40-something has managed to acquire four properties over the past three years, and she’s looking for more. “I started out trying to get something going for after I retire,” Williams said. “I never thought it would be this, but I really love it.” Her first buy came in October 2008, a vacation...

Living Free with Feng Shui...

For a long time I have resisted teaching & sharing Feng Shui for the worry that some people would see it as just plain weird.  Having practiced it fervently for the past two years I can no longer keep quiet. It has been a life changing experience & one worth sharing.  There are depths of the teaching that I too do not fully understand quite yet.  As a matter of fact, there...

House Votes to Kill Obama Mortgage Plan (HAMP)...

WASHINGTON (CNNMoney) — The House passed a bill Tuesday to kill a signature Obama administration program that helps homeowners stay in their homes but has faced criticism as ineffective. The House voted 252 to 170 to stop any new funding for the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP). Eleven Democrats joined Republicans to defund the program. The program taps the federal bailout that saved the big banks,...

RECIPE World’s Best Lasagna...

Ingredients 1 pound sweet Italian sausage 3/4 pound lean ground beef 1/2 cup minced onion 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes 2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste 2 (6.5 ounce) cans canned tomato sauce 1/2 cup water 2 tablespoons white sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil leaves 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning 1 tablespoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 4 tablespoons chopped...

Sneaky Ways to Save on Gas...

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — The recent run-up in gas prices is taking a big bite out of most consumers’ budgets. But there are ways to save at the pump that don’t involve driving less or buying a more fuel-efficient car. Nationwide, drivers on average spent $347 on gasoline in February, or nearly 8.5% of income, according to the Oil Price Information Service. Few people realize, however, that they can ease...

10 Home Maintenance Tips for Spring...

Your home needs attention after the Winter, as you prepare for the beauty of Spring. Here are 10 Home Maintenance Tips for Spring to help you get started. 1.Check for loose or leaky gutters. Improper drainage can lead to water build-up. Make sure downspouts drain away from the foundation and are clear and free of debris. 2. Fill in low spots in the yard. Low areas in the yard or next to the foundation should be filled...

A bright spot in housing’s bad market: Renta...

At a time when virtually all things real estate have been distressed, there’s one corner of the sector that has been fruitful for investors. Many factors working against the residential housing market have actually helped returns on real estate investment trusts. REITs — which invest in commercial properties from office buildings to shopping malls, as well as rental apartments — have outperformed the...