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Home improvement is a $300 billion business in America. Yet many sellers do a lot of head scratching when they need to hire a plumber, electrician, painter, carpenter or roofer to get their property p... more

Sometimes people need to make a sudden change in their housing plans.... more

A colossal nine-bedroom contemporary house is under construction in a popular semi-urban neighborhood adjoining a regional park. The 14,000-square-foot residence dwarfs the 1950s-era split-level next ... more

Before Eric Tyson and his wife had kids, they spent five carefree years living in a townhouse on a busy thoroughfare in a noisy, vibrant part of San Francisco. But after their twin sons were born, the... more

A couple in their mid-30s are struggling to find an affordable house before their first baby is due in five months. That's an arduous chore because they live in an extremely high-cost area.... more

The U.S. economy is still expanding, and more people have jobs. But relatively fewer young adults who aspire to homeownership are now reaching that goal, according to a newly released survey from the ... more

A woman in her late 50s was extremely distraught after her husband left her on their 25th anniversary. In the wake of the breakup, she become sole owner of their handsome Tudor house in a posh Minneap... more

A retired couple in their late 60s owns a spacious red brick house in a coveted Washington, D.C., suburb where home values are still ascending. They love the walkable community -- close to shops, rest... more

It's not only the U.S. population that's aging, it's also their houses. More than 40 percent of American homes are more than four decades old.... more

John Rygiol, a real estate broker who's worked with homebuyers since 1971, has a few words of advice for home sellers and their agents: Remember that first impressions count.... more

Tom Early, a real estate broker since 1981, has seen a distinct trend across the decades. These days a woman is more likely to insist on keeping a home she bought before marriage -- even after partner... more

Choosing a 30-year-old Georgian-style house proved a costly error for a school administrator and her husband, a financial adviser. Indeed, it may have cost them their marriage.... more

Tom Early, a real estate broker since 1981, has seen a distinct trend across the decades. These days a woman is more likely to insist on keeping a home she bought before marriage -- even after partner... more

This summer, two houses on the same suburban street went up for sale on the same day. One -- a farmhouse style property with few updates -- sold within a week for the full list price. The other -- a s... more

With the oldest baby boomers now approaching their 70s, demographers say the number of homeowners who are downsizing is expected to climb in coming years.... more

If you've lived in a cramped apartment for years, your sense of excitement is likely palpable as you start the search for your first home.... more

For more than 20 years, a federal government manager and his wife lived happily in a sprawling lakeside house in an upscale suburban community. There they raised six kids through their college years. ... more

One day, a couple walked resolutely into their real estate broker’s office, declaring they knew exactly what they wanted in a home. The semi-retired pair described their dream house in detail.... more

In nearly every metro area, home prices are continuing to rise -- a cause for cheer among would-be sellers, but distress among potential buyers.... more

Are you a homebuyer who's targeted a popular neighborhood where available properties are in short supply? If so, you could face intense competition from bidders willing to pay more than asking prices ... more

Are you preparing to put your property on the market and know you must remove an abundance of extra items before that can happen? If so, professional organizers urge you to allow extra time to declutt... more

A widow in her late 70s recently fulfilled a long-held fantasy. She bought a 5,500-square-foot mega-house on two acres, complete with a basketball court and swimming pool.... more

In the aftermath of the recession, many more young adults have found employment. But even for those working, the economy remains challenging. That's because wage gains have lagged, student loan debts ... more

A home-buying couple in their 50s had a heated dispute about whether to buy a one- or two-level house.... more

Selling a house can be tough. It can be even tougher if you're forced to sell your house for financial reasons, and don't have much money to make pre-sale fixes or upgrades.... more

For years, Marty Gruer has worked in a job promoting homeownership across America. But her daughter and son-in-law -- both 26 -- are still struggling to save for a first property of their own.... more

After a routine medical scan, a divorced woman in her 50s discovered she had cancer. She needed intensive treatment that would cost a small fortune beyond what her health insurance would cover.... more

Given the real estate recovery that's strengthened the hand of sellers in many U.S. markets, homebuyers no longer have access to as many terrific bargains as they did even five years ago, in the wake ... more