Adrian Higgins

Columnist

It’s seed-starting time

Burpee Photos - The Costa Rican Sweet pepper looks fiery, but it’s really a mild-mannered fellow.

By Adrian Higgins, Published: February 15

This is the time of year when gardeners get an itch to do something to mark the lengthening days and the promise of a new growing season. One response is to fuss with seeds: selecting, buying, sowing.
You can wait until early spring and buy commercially grown transplants and have a perfectly fine garden of vegetables, herbs and annuals. But there are valid and noble reasons to get into seed starting, which I do with a homemade four-shelf apparatus that so far hasn’t collapsed. The seed trays go under standard four-foot double shop lights, suspended on chains so I can raise them as the seedlings grow.

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Posted at 09:49 AM ET, 02/27/2012

My Renovation Saga: Living with dust and other things you forget about when remodeling

By Anne Marie Borrego

The old broken window is out, making way for the new one, which is about 60 percent larger. (Anne Marie Borrego)

Everything I learned about remodeling, I forgot in a year. I’m not a rookie remodeler, and yet after this week, you’d have thought I had forgotten everything that I’ve learned about managing construction projects over the past decade.There’s been lots of digging, cutting, sawing and wiring, all in the name of a new guest room since my last post. And while I still think the job is going smoothly, there are a few things I wish I had considered prior to all this progress. So in the name of admitting my mistakes, I’ve compiled a few pieces of advice I should remember to take myself.

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New home sales exceed expectations

By Chris Isidore @CNNMoney February 24, 2012: 11:55 AM ET

New home sales showed improvement in the latest government report.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- New home sales exceeded forecasts in the latest government readings Friday, another sign of a long-awaited recovery in the battered housing market.
The Census Bureau reported that the pace of new home sales hit a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 321,000 in January, up from the previous reading for December and better than economists' forecasts. Census also revised the December figure higher to a rate of 324,000, meaning that the pace of sales was about 6% stronger that month than the original estimate.

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Now might be the right time to downsize

Courtesy of HousePlans.com - A one-floor, Storybook Craftsman styled, 2091-square-foot house is the best selling plan, by far, at HousePlans.com. Similar plan configurations have been best sellers for other home plan services, said HousePlans editor Dan Gregory.

By Katherine Salant, Published: February 16 | Updated: Friday, February 17, 7:46 PM

What is a “small house” in today’s homebuilding arena? How do you know whether small is right for you? How can clever design make a small house feel like a big house?
These questions were raised during a panel discussion called “Designing to Maximize Space in the Smaller House” at last week’s International Builders Show in Orlando, an annual event that showcases the latest and greatest in trends and new products.

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Posted at 05:00 AM ET, 02/24/2012

Martyn Lawrence-Bullard: Q&A on design trends

By Danielle Douglas

Jimmy Choo founder and president Tamara Mello hired Martyn Lawrence-Bullard to design her living room, with rich brass fixtures and pops of color. (Martyn Lawrence-Bullard Design)
Interior designer Martyn Lawrence-Bullard has pulled together luxurious looks for A-list celebrities, such as Eva Mendes, Cher and Sir Elton John. The British-born decorator is known for his adroit use of color and patterns to create rich textured spaces, garnering him multiple awards and recognition in the pages of top design magazines. His reputation landed him a spot on Bravo’s Million Dollar Decorators , a show documenting the lives of five celebrity designers in Los Angeles. In addition to the show, Lawrence-Bullard has been keeping busy with a new fabric line for Schumacher and his first book, “Live, Love and Decorate.” The designer also has a line of candles, handcrafted rugs and furniture.

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Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 02/22/2012

Signs of life in residential construction market

By Lisa A. Sturtevant

Special to The Washington Post

(Source: US Census Bureau, GMU Center for Regional Analysis) Nationally there has been an uptick in residential starts and building permits at the end of 2011 and in early 2012. The increase in building activity has been accompanied by greater confidence among builders, as measured by the National Association of Home Builders housing market index.
The positive signs in the residential construction—though still modest—are important indicators of the improvement in the overall economy. The revival of the housing market is essential to sustain and expand the fragile economy recovery.
In the Washington area, residential construction began to improve earlier than in the rest of the country. The trough of residential building activity occurred in 2009. The number of building permits issued regionwide was up in 2010 over 2009, and building activity expanded even further in 2011.

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Home Depot's earnings raise hopes for housing

By msnbc.com news services
Home improvement retailer Home Depot’s strong quarterly earnings report Tuesday has some wondering: Is this an indicator of an improving trend in the much-beleaguered U.S. housing market?
Brian Nagel, a retail analyst at Oppenheimer, thinks so.
One of the warmest U.S. winters on record has certainly encouraged homeowners to take up home projects earlier than usual, leading to strong demand for everything from paint to concrete and boosting Home Depot’s results. But behind that factor you also have a strengthening hosing environment, Nagel told CNBC.
“I spend a lot of time looking at the index of builders confidence and the commentary that has come from the home improvement retailers lately -- it all points to a strengthening demand trend here over the last few months,” he said. “I think this has legs and will persist for some time.”

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Home sales jump to fastest pace in almost two years

Fred Prouser / Reuters

Sales of previously owned homes rose 4.3 percent in January, the fastest pace in almost two years, a trade group reports.

By Msnbc.com staff and wire

Sales of previously owned homes surged in January to the fastest pace since May 2010 in another sign that the housing market is slowly making some headway against its longest dip since the Great Depression.
The National Association of Realtors, a industry trade group, reported Wednesday that existing-home sales -- the lion's share of the housing market -- rose 4.3 percent in January. The equates to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.57 million homes, which is still well below the 6 million pace that economists say is needed for a healthy housing market. "Overall this is not such a bad number. It's reflective of a better jobs market, but the improvement is going to be in fits and starts," said Yelena Shulyatyeva, U.S. economist at BNP Paribas in New York.

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Posted at 03:27 PM ET, 02/08/2012

Rosedale Cottage: A historic renovation

By Pat Kennedy

Special to The Washington Post

View Photo Gallery: This historic home near the National Cathedral has been carefully expanded and renovated by its current owners.

In the Washington historic home market, it’s unusual for buyers to find a place that doesn’t need tinkering to make it work. And if the tinkering involves substantial remodeling, it’s hard to pull it off successfully without going crazy in the process.
But Mark Zawadsky and his wife, Sarah Slusser, did pull it off after they purchased Rosedale Cottage in Cleveland Park, with sanity in tact.
About two years ago, they bought my all-time favorite listing, an enchanting Cleveland Park cottage with an unobstructed view of the National Cathedral and Rosedale Park. Although it’s in the middle of a major city, the park setting makes it feel like it could be in the English countryside.

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What the mortgage settlement means to you

By Martin Wolk

If you are underwater on your home or struggling to pay your mortgage, you are probably wondering whether you can expect relief under a $25 billion settlement reached by state and federal officials with the nation's biggest banks. The short answer is, you probably won't know right away.
According to details laid out on a new "National Mortgage Settlement" website, the payments and other relief will be made over a three-year period and "borrowers will not immediately know" whether they are eligible.

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Office and home rent will keep rising and rising

By Eve Tahmincioglu

Paying rent is getting more painful for renters across the country in the face of rising demand and tight supply.
Both the commercial and residential real estate markets are seeing increases, and more are expected in the months and years to come. Office construction starts were at the lowest level since 1960, the oldest data available from McGraw-Hill Construction; and that means there will be less space available for companies looking to rent or expand their operations. It’s also bad timing for people who have been spooked by, or pushed out of, the residential housing market and have decided to rent instead of buy. Home ownership in the United States is at historic lows, but at the same time rental prices are on the rise.

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In Love With Two Houses?

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What to consider when making the final decision

By Michele Dawson

As you find yourself heavily immersed in house-hunting mode, you may encounter a situation in which you're torn between two houses. Perhaps you and your spouse each have a favorite, or perhaps you both like two houses equally - or think you do.

Making a final decision and determining which house to make an offer on shouldn't be taken lightly. The decision should be made rationally and not guided by emotion.

Of course, you may not have the luxury of taking your time on deciding which house you'd like to pursue. You may be in a market in which homes in your price range get snatched up as quickly as they go on the market, perhaps even attracting multiple offers.

But in some situations, you may find yourself torn between two houses. Sometimes the easiest thing to do is take pen to paper and outline your family's needs, your budget, and the pros and cons of each house.

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What The Mortgage Relief Plan Would Do For Homeowners

Deborah L. Jacobs, Forbes Staff

After more than a year of wrangling over various mortgage relief proposals, influential state leaders seem close to adopting a plan that Pres. Obama announced Feb. 1.  Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman of New York and California’s attorney general, Kamala Harris have indicated they are closer to agreement than in the past. There are two important elements of the plan and details of both have been a subject of fierce disagreement. One, which could be worth about $25 billion, relates to how much money would be allocated to benefit homeowners and the specific relief they would receive. The other involves the power states would have to investigate past practices by banks, oversee future ones and monitor compliance with the plan.

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View Photo Gallery — Well-known design blogger and interior stylist Eddie Ross shares easy and affordable ways to redecorate using what you have around the house.

By Terri Sapienza, Published: February 1

My name is Terri, and I’m a serial redecorator.
I admit it, and I’m not ashamed. Because as vices go, I don’t think this is a bad one. Unless, of course, you are my husband.e On many days he can be found schlepping large pieces of furniture around our house, rehanging heavy mirrors and shelves or patiently holding a piece of fabric against a wall or chair so I can stand back for a better perspective.

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Mortgage rates tumble to record low

Average on the 30-year home loan slides to 3.87 percent from 3.98 percent

msnbc.com staff and news service reports

updated 37 minutes ago

The average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage dropped to the lowest since records have been kept, creating a tempting target for people to refinance their homes.

Freddie Mac said Thursday the average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage hit 3.87 percent, down from 3.98 percent the prior week. That's below the previous record of 3.88 hit two weeks ago.
The average on the 15-year fixed mortgage fell to 3.14 percent, also a record low. Records for mortgage rates date back to the 1950s.

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Real Estate Outlook: Existing-Home Sales Rise Again

by Carla Hill

The National Association of Realtors latest existing-home sales survey shows that sales are on the rise again. This is the third straight month of increases as well the rate rising above year ago levels. December saw a 5.0 percent rise and is now 3.6 percent above December 2010. The entire of year of 2011 experienced an overall 1.7 percent rise in existing-home sales over 2010.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said these are early signs of what may be a sustained recovery. "The pattern of home sales in recent months demonstrates a market in recovery," he said. "Record low mortgage interest rates, job growth and again home prices are giving more consumers the confidence they need to enter the market."

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Become your kid's mortgage lender

By Janice Revell, contributor @FortuneMagazine February 1, 2012: 5:35 AM ET

FORTUNE -- Between slumping prices and low mortgage rates, it's a good time to look for real estate bargains. But thanks to tightened lending standards, legions of young would-be homebuyers aren't exactly in a position to take advantage of the opportunity. That's where their parents come in: One in three first-time buyers received either a gift or a loan from their families to help buy a home in 2011, according to the National Association of Realtors.

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