Washington Post Real Estate

Timely News from the Washington Post Real Estate Section:

• Inhabit: A remodel that makes room for two March 19, 2011
  Gina Farina faced a remodeling challenge with her small two-level Arlington condo when she sought to open to up the space to accommodate a new roommate. Answering the call was Georgetown architect Ernesto Santalla.
  Nancy McKeon
• Attorneys general try to rein in lenders' shabby behavior on modifications March 18, 2011
  When you take out a home mortgage, do you expect to be treated fairly and competently by your bank or loan servicer?
  Post
• Where We Live: Cross Creek March 18, 2011
  Andrew Leighton is not a golfer, but the prospect of living on a golf course was intriguing when he and his family discovered the Cross Creek neighborhood. Now, Leighton, his wife, Jackie and their two children enjoy the view from their home adjacent to the course, located along the border betwee...
  Jim Brocker
• The family focus endures in Montgomery's Sherwood Forest March 11, 2011
  The Victorian house in the center of Montgomery County's Sherwood Forest neighborhood has overlooked the surrounding land for more than 200 years. Back in those early days, it lay just off the Glenmont-Colesville Road in the midst of Westover Farm, where crops such as corn and oats grew on nearly...
  Jim Brocker
• Military buyers: Home-shoppers on a mission March 11, 2011
  To those who haven't worn the uniform, their ways can be a mystery. But anyone trying to sell a home in the Washington metro area would be wise to learn more about the needs and habits of military officers, enlisted people and their families. It's the season for them to begin some serious house-h...
  Kimberly Lankford
• Major changes ahead for mortgage system as U.S. seeks to scale back role in housing March 11, 2011
  Fundamental changes are probably ahead for the American mortgage system as the federal government pushes to unwind its unprecedented involvement in the housing market.
  Dina ElBoghdady
• Do-it-yourself: How to remove soap scum March 18, 2011
  Q. I have a fiberglass shower wall and tub that have accumulated a lot of hard-water stains, soap scum and dirt. I have tried all kinds of products, and they just don't clean it. Can you help? ¿ C. Davis
  Gene Austin
• A few chores to get a jump-start on gardening season March 18, 2011
  If late winter was an indicator, we are headed for a bumper crop of flowers this spring. I saw the first color in Chevy Chase on the forsythia March 8 with buds opening enough to tease with a hint of yellow.
  Joel M. Lerner
• More details about the Cross Creek neighborhood March 18, 2011
  CROSS CREEK
• Featured Advertiser March 18, 2011
• Housing paperwork can pile up at tax time - here's what to keep, and for how long March 18, 2011
  Many taxpayers are preparing for their annual battle with IRS form 1040 by gathering up all their documents, statements, checks and other assorted papers. At the end of this process, taxpayers are often left with piles of neatly sorted, tabulated and cross-indexed piles. From a homeowner's perspe...
  Harvey S. Jacobs
• Mortgage rates down as investors react to Japan crisis March 18, 2011
  Mortgage rates fell to the lowest level in almost two months, tracking a drop in Treasury yields as Japan's deepening nuclear crisis spurred demand for relatively safe investments.
  Post
• With short-sale offer refused, foreclosure may end up the best option March 18, 2011
  Q. We built a spec house in 2007 as the market declined. We've tried to do everything to get it sold and recently received a short-sale offer on the home.
  Ilyce Glink and Samuel J. Tamkin
• Make room for Daddy - or Granny, or Junior, or . . . March 18, 2011
  Over the last 39 years, Michael Litchfield has built one new house, acting as both designer and contractor, and extensively remodeled five others. He has written nine books on the design, construction and renovation of houses, including one on remodeling that runs to more than 600 pages, and he w...
  Katherine Salant
• Ruined drywall? March 18, 2011
  Leaking water can sometimes create a massive water blister in latex paint on a ceiling. You may mistake this for ruined drywall when, in fact, the drywall may not have to be replaced.
  Post
• Ask the builder: Fixing water-damaged drywall March 18, 2011
  Q. A water line burst in our home and created a significant leak. We were home and able to contain most of the water, but quite a bit got through the floor, ruining the drywall ceiling in the basement. Is there an easy way to deal with water-damaged drywall? Can we just wait for it to dry and the...
  Tim Carter
• U.S. Housing Starts Drop to Lowest Level Since April 2009 March 16, 2011
  Housing starts in the U.S. declined more than forecast in February to the slowest pace since April 2009 and building permits slumped to a record low, signs the housing market recovery is limping along as the rest of the economy improves.
  Alex Kowalski
• 'Net zero' house to be built in Maryland should produce as much energy as it uses March 14, 2011
  It sounds like an idea out of a sci-fi novel: a house that can produce as much energy each year as it uses. But most buyers aren't interested in houses from a sci-fi novel, and they aren't much interested in paying extra for them, either.
  Sandra Fleishman
• Do-it-yourselfer Q&A March 11, 2011
  Q. We have large ceramic tiles at our entry. They look fine, but when it rains they get very slippery. Is there a remedy for this? -L. Schnell
  Gene Austin
• Details on the Sherwood Forest neighborhood March 11, 2011
  sherwood forest