RISMEDIA, June 10, 2009-(MCT)-I have boxes of different kinds of nails in the workshop, because all nails are not alike. For instance, there are general-purpose nails used primarily in woodworking, and specialty nails for jobs involving concrete and masonry. I would never use a roofing nail to install trim on a …

RISMEDIA, May 27, 2009-(MCT)-President Obama recently put forth law designed to rein in a credit card industry widely condemned for snaring consumers in financially crippling traps. When the new law takes full effect next February, card issuers will no longer be able to impose sky-high penalty interest rates on customers whose …

RISMEDIA, May 25, 2009-(MCT)-Fewer homeowners may be starting complete kitchen remodels, but they’re still replacing countertops and re-facing cabinets. They’re also investing in improvements to make their homes more energy-efficient, according to a recent home remodeling and repair report by ServiceMagic.com.

RISMEDIA, June 9, 2009-(MCT)-A big energy hog in the house is the refrigerator, but so is the central air conditioner. Although central air conditioning is on only a few months of the year, the annual cost can be much greater than the annual cost of running your refrigerator.

RISMEDIA, June 8, 2009-One definition of “insanity” centers on engaging in repetitious behavior, but expecting different outcomes to result over time. However, that process happens all the time across many sales professionals and sales mangers in many different industries, including real estate. In 2009 real estate professionals need to ..

RISMEDIA, June 8, 2009-(MCT)-Home prices have moderated, interest rates are reasonable, supply is abundant-and then there’s that $8,000 tax credit. Yes, it’s a great time to buy your first house. If you do, you’ll have to furnish it, and that can be a challenge, especially if you have put much of your …

RISMEDIA, June 6, 2009-(MCT)-Question: My daughter is going to college next fall, and I worry about how we are going to pay for it. We didn’t get any financial aid because we have good jobs.

RISMEDIA, June 5, 2009-(MCT)-Question: I have been looking for a house. I was driving in an area that I like and noticed a house I had long admired had just gone up for sale. I called the listing Realtor, viewed the house and made an offer which was accepted.

RISMEDIA, June 5, 2009-(MCT)-Markets will be focused on quarterly results from a pair of the nation’s largest home builders this week to check the pulse of the key selling season that traditionally plays out during the warm months. However, a fresh sales promotion from Beazer Homes USA Inc.

RISMEDIA, June 5, 2009-(MCT)-This time last year, futurists were writing obituaries for an American institution: the summer road trip. It seemed like there was no end to daily increases in fuel prices, which were then hovering at $4 per gallon. The days of cheap gas were over forever, we were warned.