Homes

Published March 16, 2016

Slow winter expected to lead to busy spring for local housing market

METRO DETROIT — After years of the housing market favoring either the buyer or the seller, real estate agents in metro Detroit saw the winter season bring a more level playing field, a trend that should continue into the spring.

While May through August may be the most popular months for buying and selling homes, real estate agent Alex Nugent with Real Estate One said the colder months usually bring a slower market, something that shows the market is closer to being back to normal.

Published March 9, 2016

Warren Weekly

Heirloom tomatoes burst in rainbow of colors, flavors

METRO DETROIT — For some, it’s all about heritage and what their family has grown for generations. For others, it’s about taste and an abundant natural variety.

Published March 2, 2016

C&G Newspapers

Detroit Mayor Duggan introduces new mortgage program

A new program introduced by Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan looks to help qualified homebuyers receive loans to purchase renovated homes in the city.

Duggan introduced the Detroit Home Mortgage program at a press conference on Thursday, Feb. 18, and detailed how banks will give a second mortgage needed to purchase renovated homes or make repairs to homes in Detroit.

Published February 17, 2016

C&G Newspapers

Could lead be lurking in your walls and soil?

METRO DETROIT — As the water crisis unfolds in Flint, homeowners living in older houses may want to consider that they risk lead contamination as well.

Lead is a toxic metal that can be found throughout the environment — in the air, soil or water — or even inside the home. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that at least 4 million U.S. households have children living in them who are exposed to elevated lead levels.

Published February 10, 2016

Woodward Talk

Rebates help lessen upfront costs in trying to lower electric, gas bills

METRO DETROIT — With the cold weather has come higher electric and gas bills, but both Consumers Energy and DTE Energy have a variety of tips and rebate programs to entice homeowners to purchase energy-saving appliances and upgrades.

At DTE Energy, Manager of Residential Energy Efficiency Programs Luis Salas said that in total, the company offers 11 programs for rebates and energy savings.

Published February 3, 2016

Farmington Press

Experts provide tips to save time, space when redoing your home

METRO DETROIT — Whether you want to get an early start on spring cleaning or completely change your home décor, local experts have your back on making things more organized in your abode.

Rochester Hills residents Matthew and Megan Eash, both 28, are renovating their kitchen themselves, a project that they hope to finish in the next several months.

Published January 27, 2016

Roseville - Eastpointe Eastsider

Experts explain how to pick LED bulbs

METRO DETROIT — At one time, getting a lightbulb involved little more than seeing what wattage was needed, going to the store and purchasing an incandescent a few times a year.

Published January 20, 2016

Shelby - Utica News

Pantone names Rose Quartz, Serenity 2016 Color of the Year

METRO DETROIT — You read that headline right.

For the first time since the inception of its Color of the Year 16 years ago, Pantone chose the blending of two shades as the 2016 Color of the Year.

Pantone chose the combination of a warm rose tone and a cool, tranquil blue to promote balance, connection, order and peace.

With modern-day stress and an incessant stream of upsetting news, both global and domestic, Pantone sought to offer consumers reassurance and security through color.

Published January 13, 2016

Rochester Post

County officials urge homeowners to test for radon

METRO DETROIT — A simple test, available at a discount from local county health divisions this month, can assure residents that their homes are free of a potentially harmful gas.

Radon, a naturally occurring, invisible, odorless gas that is usually harmless outdoors, can be a health hazard when trapped in a building or home, according to health officials.

Published December 22, 2015

Rochester Post

Don’t take pricey countertops for granite

METRO DETROIT — More granite suppliers worldwide and increased local competition have lowered the price of the popular kitchen countertop material.

“A lot of suppliers from India came up in the market,” said Charmain Fazzalari, general manager of Preferred Marble and Granite in Fraser. “I’ve been doing this for 23 years. Over the years, the prices have come down.”

Published December 16, 2015

Woodward Talk

Know your filters and ductwork to get the most from your furnace

METRO DETROIT — As the temperatures outside continue to drop in Michigan, homeowners across metro Detroit are looking to keep the temperatures inside at comfortable and warm levels.

Much of that work falls on a home’s furnace, but if the furnace isn’t maintained properly, it can result in high energy bills, low heating efficiency and, ultimately, replacing a furnace before the end of its intended life span.

Published December 9, 2015

West Bloomfield Beacon

Realtors say 2015 was a seller's market

METRO DETROIT — As 2015 is winding down its final month, local Realtors are reflecting on the previous year in real estate, which was strong for people selling their homes.

Jan Hays, of Max Broock Realtors, said it was a very active market for all concerned in the housing market, but there was a shortage of inventory for buyers.

Published December 2, 2015

Fraser - Clinton Township Chronicle

Keep your home and body safe when clearing the snow

METRO DETROIT — The winter blast has already arrived in metro Detroit, one month before the actual season commences, and where there’s snow, there’s an individual trying to do away with the mess.

Many experts seem to agree on one thing: As long as you rid your property of snow, it doesn’t really matter how you do it.

Published November 24, 2015

Shelby - Utica News

Trends in holiday décor: simple, natural and easy

METRO DETROIT — Experts say it’s “back to basics” when it comes to decorating for the holidays, both inside and out of the home.

Minimalistic décor featuring natural elements like pine cones and live greenery, and rustic fabrics like burlap and plaid, are popular. Many people also are opting to purchase pre-decorated, grab-and-go items to add instant flair without the hassle.

“Less is more,” said Corie Conroy, president of First Impression Home Staging and Interior Design.

Published November 18, 2015

St. Clair Shores Sentinel

Protect your packages this holiday season

METRO DETROIT — With Americans doing more shopping online, as evidenced by the advent of Cyber Monday, the holidays are an especially busy time for package deliveries.

But one of the difficulties for online shoppers is knowing that their packages may arrive on their porches when no one is home, leaving those packages vulnerable to thieves.

Published November 11, 2015

Rochester Post

Feature walls add style to remodel projects

METRO DETROIT — In almost any room of the house, a feature wall delivers major impact as a contemporary addition to a remodeling project.

Design manager Dean McQuade, of Transitions Remodeling, received a gold award from the Home Builders Association of Southeastern Michigan for a recent whole-house remodel in Canton.

“We did lots of feature walls,” McQuade said. “In the bathroom, we did one whole wall in slate tile with an embedded mirror and glass shelves. The other walls were just painted. It was very cool.”

Published November 4, 2015

Warren Weekly

The pest that really stinks

METRO DETROIT — The brown marmorated stink bug really does stink, but the feared impact of its continued invasion goes much further than olfactory repugnance.

“There is a major concern over the damage that the brown marmorated stink bug could do to our agricultural production, as well as concern for the damage to backyard gardens,” said Mary Gerstenberger, a consumer horticulture educator with the Michigan State University Extension in Macomb County.

Published October 28, 2015

Roseville - Eastpointe Eastsider

Being mindful of appliances can save substantial energy

METRO DETROIT — Saving on energy usage at home does not necessarily require a whole lot of new gadgets and appliances.

October is National Energy Awareness Month, and there are a lot of appliances around the average household that people do not think about powering down as a way to save energy, DTE Energy Insight App Program Manager Joel Miller said.