New style of homes without formal “living” room

The formal living room is dead, but long live the “new” living room. That room so many of us grew up with — with a stuffy “look-but-don’t-touch” aura and crisp vacuum-cleaner marks on the carpet, among other uninviting details — is finally being put to rest. As more Americans are thinking smaller, they’re realizing that
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U.S. Mortgage Rates Decline With 30-Year at Lowest Since October

Mortgage rates in the U.S. dropped for a second week, sending 30-year borrowing costs to the lowest point for 2014. The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage was 4.1%, down from 4.12%, Freddie Mac said in a statement today. The average 15-year rate slipped to 3.23% from 3.24%, according to the McLean, Va.-based mortgage-finance
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7 Ways To Prepare Your Home For Summer

It’s that time of year, when the sun is shining bright and all we really have on our minds is getting out of town to enjoy a beach vacation. But before you can enjoy some fun in the sun, there are a few things to take care of at home. Here are 7 ways to
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How to win a bidding war on a home

In many hot housing markets, bidding wars have been breaking out on a regular basis — and some house hunters are getting beaten out time and again. But it’s not always about who has the most money. Sellers will accept lower offers if it means less hassle. “What sellers really don’t want to do is
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Free summer concerts across the Bay Area

Looking for an inexpensive family outing this summer? Or a way to pack some pizazz into a picnic without dropping a lot of coin? Well, we’ve got just the right tune for you. Communities across the Bay Area host free outdoor concert series that offer a chance to turn a simple picnic into a more
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