Humboldt Park residents face challenges together

If you want a dinner of rice and beans, and a glance inside the cupboard reveals only rice, you may have to ask a neighbor to supply the meal's other key ingredient.

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Home is where the hearth is

From rustic to contemporary, fireplaces add a cozy touch to new homes The residential fireplace is a vestige, no longer needed to heat the home or house a kettle of soup. Why, then, do new-home buyers continue to pay extra for it and real estate agent...

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Suburbs dangle cash to lure homebuyers

In 2005, the city of Lockport issued 406 building permits. Through Aug. 13 of this year, it issued 15.

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When selling home, beware the red flags

Law enforcement officials say more deals being used to launder money If anyone approaches you with an offer to buy your house that seems even the least bit out of the ordinary, there's a fair possibility that the money for the deal is coming from ille...

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Do you consider yourself frugal or cheap?

Frugal. We watch for sales and two-for-one deals. We go to different stores if there's a better deal somewhere else.

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Is it legal to charge 'pet rent'?

Yes, but policy must be spelled out clearly Q I'm interested in a rental that describes the rent in an odd way: First, the advertisement lists the rent, then it adds "pet rent." Is this legal?

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Bluestone creates lasting impression

Partners focus on quality construction at affordable price In the world of geology, bluestone is known as a bluish-gray rock that surpasses other types of sandstone with its durability and fine grain. In the world of Chicago real estate, Bluestone Dev...

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Morton Grove: Easy to get to, easier on the wallet

Northwest Cook County suburb is rich with affordable homes, green space, recreational options It might not be Halloween yet, but with an autumn this chilly and wet, it's not too early to start thinking about snow. Multiple inches of dreaded frozen pre...

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Best way for trio to hold title

Q I live in Iowa, while my sister and her husband live in Florida. We want to buy a home together in Florida. They will pay for 50 percent of the home and I will pay 50 percent. We will all be listed on the deed. What is the best way to hold title to t...

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A step beyond

Take your home to a new level with stylish staircase design The funny thing about a staircase, notes Naperville-based builder John Wozniak of J. Lawrence Homes, is people don't necessarily buy a home because of it, "but they will pass on a home with a...

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Condo sales at Astoria Tower in final phase

The final phase of condominium sales is underway at Astoria Tower Residences and Spa, a 30-story Art-Deco-style building at the northwest corner of 9th and State streets in Chicago's South Loop.

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How much information is too much?

Property alerts are windows to foreclosure next door Keeping track of property values has become a sort of sport for homeowners, thanks to various Web sites and online tools.

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This tape really sticks

If your painters' tape doesn't block paint bleeding, it's weak. FrogTape, a crepe masking tape, uses PaintBlock (a sodium-based superabsorbent polymer) on its edges, making it more resistant to bleeding. Contact with latex paint causes a micro-barrier ...

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Getting rid of stains on a hardwood floor

Q My brother tracked in, on his work shoes, grease and oil from an auto repair shop. I have old, worn hardwood floors from when I purchased the house and haven't been able to redo them yet. The grease has made dark black patches on the parlor floor, ri...

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An open-and-shut case

Opt for cabinet upgrades in the room where people linger most Chances are the kitchen of your dreams owes its "wow" factor to the cabinets. Maybe it's the fine, handcrafted detailing or the etched glass cabinet doors.

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Liability in bathtub fall could be slippery issue

Q While on a visit, my tenant's father slipped when getting out of the bathtub. He fell back against the faucet, injuring his back, though fortunately not badly. The tub, however, which is a one-piece fiberglass shower/tub unit, is ruined. Who is respo...

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Mortgage rates higher, survey shows

Fixed-interest rates on home loans crept up a bit last week, according to the latest survey by Freddie Mac.

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Do you believe the recession is over?

I don't think so. I'm retired and I'm OK, but I know many people who are still out of work.

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$28.4 billion in asking prices gone in a poof

Poof!

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Ultrahigh-end homes slow to sell in crowded market

With no hordes of buyers in sight, builders of some of the area's most expensive homes are trapped in a down market If a man's home is his castle, what happens to the new castle still looking for its man?

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