The technology that makes your home's walls more durable
(ARA) - With an $8,000 federal tax credit available for first-time homebuyers and tax incentives on the table for home improvement projects, you may be thinking this is the right time to build or renovate a home. While you're diving into the fun aspects of choosing paint colors and light fixtures, don't overlook the importance of what's behind the walls.

Solutions to help homeowners outsmart Mother Nature
(ARA) - Protecting your home means you're pitted in a constant struggle against the forces of nature. Products and improvements that help you beat the weather are a smart investment.

Smart strategies to increase home sale profits
(ARA) - The proposition of selling a home is getting better with each passing day according to a recently released report from the National Association of Realtors. If you need to sell your home, a few smart strategies can help you increase your profits.

Weekend home upgrades: fast, affordable fix-ups
(ARA) - With today's falling home prices, one family's well-worn dwelling can quickly become another's dream "starter" home. Interest rates are at historic lows, meaning buyers can get more house than they could a year ago for the same monthly mortgage payment, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

The lighter side of nature-inspired home decor
(ARA) - If the words "nature-inspired decor" make you think of muted wall hues or overwrought floral fabrics, it's time to rethink your take on this hot design trend.

First-time homebuyer tax credit: 5 essential tips for new buyers
(ARA) - With the revised first-time homebuyer federal income tax credit currently in effect, now is the perfect time to consider making that big purchase, your first home.

Packaging is key to selling your home on the Internet
(ARA) - The housing market is a tough sell, especially if you are desperate to move and want to sell your house for a good price. But the Internet can be a great tool to help you up the ante of selling or renting your property.

Planning Spring Home Improvements? Know the Score First
(ARA) - Spring is a popular time to begin home improvement projects, especially if they'll upgrade outdoor living spaces. With the economy keeping more homeowners in place, rather than moving up to bigger, grander digs, improving your home can elevate both your enjoyment and its eventual resale value.

The home cleaning task that can save you money
(ARA) - Home cleaning season meets a recession -- what better time to take care of some often-overlooked household cleaning tasks that can save you big bucks in the long run? Some of the costliest repairs are ones that could easily be prevented with simple maintenance steps.

Pool Safety Measures Ensure Safe Summer Fun
(ARA) - People drive cars even though there are accidents every day. You simple take precautions and wear your seatbelt. The same goes for home pools. With proper safety measures in place, you and your family can enjoy endless hours of safe pool fun.

Adding, upgrading a deck is great alternative to vacation spending
(ARA) - Instead of spending on pricey vacations, more Americans are turning to money-saving alternatives in their own backyards. Upgrading or adding a deck is a great way to take advantage of outdoor living spaces.

A home improvement project that pays you back 4 ways
(ARA) - Do you think that the bailout is only for the big guys? Think again.

A bright idea for green remodeling: venting skylights
(ARA) - As green building and remodeling practices become standard procedure, the use of more natural light and passive ventilation is here to stay.

Asphalt Shingles -- Are They The Best Investment For Your Home?
(ARA) - During this time of economic uncertainty, you may be hesitant to invest money in your home. It is important to remember, though, that your home is a valuable asset. In order to maintain your investment, home maintenance or repair projects are essential. An important area of your home to maintain is the roof, which may provide up to 50 percent of your home's exterior protection.

New Deck Trends Help Define Your Outdoor Living Area
(ARA) - Just as your home's decor is a statement of your taste and personality, so is your backyard. As the trend for enjoying customized decks and outdoor living space grows, personalized outdoor living areas are the latest in home improvement upgrades.

A Great Garage Door: the Lipstick on Your Home's Facade
(ARA) - Smaller is apparently better in the minds of many homebuyers looking for the right deal in the prolonged decline of the housing market.

Adding deck lights a simple way to enhance outdoor living
(ARA) - As summer rolls in and guests show up, the benefit of having outdoor living space for relaxing and entertaining becomes readily apparent. Homeowners love having extra space where they can hang out, and outdoor environments are a huge plus for those trying to sell or rent out a home.

What You Should Know When Shopping for a Water Heater
(ARA) - How's your relationship with your household appliances? You open your refrigerator every day and run the dishwasher, clothes washer and dryer several times each week.

Spring Home Deals are Healthy for Those Who Know the Score
(ARA) - Motivated sellers, builders offering deep discounts and incentives, historically low mortgage rates, plenty of inventory and fierce competition for qualified borrowers -it's actually a great time to be buying a house. If your credit score is good, you're in an even better position to negotiate the loan on the home of your dreams this spring.

Selling your home? Online tools level the playing field
(ARA) - Modern home selling has gone way beyond the "for sale" sign on the front lawn. Nearly 90 percent of home buyers look online when shopping for a home, according to the National Association of Realtors. So your home-selling efforts need to cruise the Information Superhighway at top speed.

Tips for first-time homebuyers
(ARA) - As temperatures heat up, so does the housing market. "For Sale" signs adorn lawns across the country.

Take the guesswork out of finding flooring
(ARA) - If you haven't shopped for flooring in the past few years, prepare yourself. The vast array of hard-surface options is extensive, to say the least.

Five Kitchen Fix-ups for $500 or Less
(ARA) - After years of telling yourself you can live with the outdated hardware, the ugly orange laminate countertops and the daffodil-yellow wall paint, you've finally admitted to yourself that your love affair with your kitchen decor is over.

Eliminate your garage grime: simple summer clean-up solutions
(ARA) - Summer is here and it's time to clean the garage. The garage door will inevitably be open and you don't want to be embarrassed when the neighbors stop by, do you? Take the time to give the space a thorough cleaning and update. There are a number of simple steps you can take to clean and organize your garage so that when your neighbors do walk by, they'll be amazed at the transformation.

Cutting Costs? How to Get the Best Deal on Furniture
(ARA) - You may be able to get a few more years out of your car, and you've definitely decided to put off purchasing a big-screen, high-def plasma TV. But sometimes buying furniture is not a luxury, it's a necessity.

Driveway improvements speed home offers, lower costs
(ARA) - With a "For Sale" sign in your front yard, you want potential buyers to take a good, long look at your property. And even if you're not planning a move, you want to be sure you protect and maintain your home to keep future repairs at a minimum.

Home Inspection Helps Ensure Dream Deals Don't Turn into Nightmares
(ARA) - You found your dream deal on a foreclosed home, but will that great price tag come with a different kind of higher cost? Buying a repossessed property, short sale or a home offered at a bargain price -- because of its condition -- can mean you're assuming much higher risks.

The Good News: Bath Remodels Remain Tops for ROI and Enjoyment
(ARA) - National foreclosure statistics can be downright frightening - until you realize that despite record increases in foreclosure rates, the majority of American homeowners are still making their mortgage payments.

Dressing your home with designed exteriors
(ARA) - Whether you're building a new home or remodeling for a different look, one of the first things you need to consider is your home's curb appeal. Common curb appeal updates include landscaping, walkway and patio renovations. Another remodeling practice that can lead to major curb appeal is updating the surfaces of a home's exterior walls.