Guide to New Home Warranties" alt="Guide to New Home Warranties" />

Bob Bostock's home warranty saved him tens of thousands of dollars. Three years after moving in to his Wildwood, N.J. condominium, Bostock noticed problems with the condo's deck, including mold and mushrooms growing from the boards. Before calling the home warranty company, he called the builder, who came over to ... Continue Reading »

Making an Offer" alt="Making an Offer" />

Chris and Stephanie Wendell spent three months looking for a home in Rockville, Md. before they made a house offer. When they saw a three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath townhome in Regent Square, they thought they'd found "the one." "We pulled into the parking lot and saw a really massive oak tree near the house. I said to ... Continue Reading »

Refinancing Do's and Don'ts" alt="Refinancing Do's and Don'ts" />

For Ernie and Laura Anastos of Arlington, Va., 2010's historically low interest rates couldn't have come at a better time. After careful analysis, the couple ditched their 7-year-old balloon mortgage with its 5.375 percent interest rate in favor of a 4.75 percent, 20-year fixed rate. Their monthly payments have risen ... Continue Reading »

Washington, D.C.'s Market to Return to Peak By 2015" alt="Washington, D.C.'s Market to Return to Peak By 2015" />

Market trends in the Washington, D.C., region indicate that housing values will return to 2005's phenomenal highs within five years, says an economist who studies regional growth at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. Dr. Stephen Fuller, speaking to members of the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors on June 17, ... Continue Reading »

Northern Virginia's Crystal City Gets New Life" alt="Northern Virginia's Crystal City Gets New Life" />

In a county known for attracting young professionals to neighborhoods with its vibrant development on Washington D.C.'s Metro corridors, Arlington, Va. planners are hoping a facelift will help a 40-year-old, mixed-use development known as Crystal City compete with the upstarts. The county is floating a plan to redevelop ... Continue Reading »