It may be one of the hardest things to do; making it on your own can be scary and freighting. Taking that first big step of moving out of your parents’ house and living on your own is becoming more difficult and delayed with the economy in the current grim state.

As little girls, many of us use to dream of the metaphorical white knight in shining armor that would come rescue us and scoop us off to a nice house in a nice neighborhood with a fence and two bathrooms. Now that we are all grown up, we are discovering that that fairytale just isn’t happening and we are either expected to move out on our own or are currently stuck living at home and dreaming of our own space. continue reading »

Q: Where can I find a nice three-bedroom home for sale for under $150,000 that doesn’t need any work in the Far Northeast? I have been looking and looking, but all I can find are fixer-uppers or condos. I want to be close to I-95 and very far up in the Northeast, but I can’t find anything, and all I am approved for is $150,000. Should I wait and see if the prices come down?

A: It is tough to find what you are looking for in those zip codes in that price range. There are some three-bedroom homes for sale under 150,000 but they all will need some work, whether it’s heavy duty or just paint and carpets. If you were looking for a nice two-bedroom condo, you’d have much to choose from. continue reading »

Recently redesigned, Alfie’s in the Blue Grass Shopping Center [map], has reopened to offer food and entertainment.  Aside from a full menu, Alfie’s offers Sunday night salsa (and other dances throughout the week) until 1 a.m. — a great way to forget about the upcoming work week.

There is plenty of parking in the spacious lot of the shopping center just outside Alfie’s.  Since the nightclub/restaurant has been renovated recently, the entire place is new and sparkling with freshness.  The floors and tables are kept clean, as are the dishes..  The staff from the hostess to servers is very friendly and always eager to help you.  I was also very pleased to see how well kept the bathrooms seemed to be, given the large crowd that usually appears on Sundays. continue reading »

Q: We had our house in Burholme on the market for several months and we have had only four showings and no offers. Our real estate agent is blaming the market, but other people in the neighborhood have sold their homes. My husband wants to renew our contract with this agent because he knows him, but I want to find another agent. What can I do?

A: Did this agent even try to market your home? Can you find it on the Internet? Has he shared feedback with you from the four showings? It makes me wonder if he put any effort into it if he is blaming it on market conditions. Whatever his excuse, there’s no reason a house should not sell in any market. Every home just needs to be priced correctly in the market of the moment to sell. continue reading »

What is the leading health threat for women in the U.S.?  It isn’t cancer and it isn’t men.

You might be surprised to know that heart disease is the leading killer in women in the U.S. and has been for several years now.  This silent killer hardly ever gets the recognition it deserves.

One of the large reasons that heart disease goes overlooked as the leading cause of death is because most women do not realize the problems — or even the symptoms — of heart disease. continue reading »

Q: My landlord has given me a notice telling me that she is selling my duplex in Academy Gardens. I am worried, and I don’t like the idea of strangers going through my apartment. Do I have to let them in?

Also, I have been here for four years, and paid on time every month, and I want to stay but she told me she can’t guarantee that the new owners will want to keep me. I thought they had to accept a lease with the property.

A: Anyone buying real estate will want to see the entire property.  It can be uncomfortable, but if there’s any hope of you staying, you should make it as easy as possible to see it. Nobody wants a problem renter, even with a great payment history.

If you consistently deny showings because you don’t want to move, your landlord will not get a chance to find a buyer who may actually want a renter already in place when they buy. You might just guarantee that the new buyer won’t want to keep you, or you could even find yourself evicted sooner.

Everything should be spelled out in your lease. Your lease should contain the following information:

1. continue reading »

What’s better than hot chocolate on a snowy day after shoveling?  How about making some hot, creamy potato soup to warm you from the inside out.

Made fresh and fast, this is a wonderful delicacy for any household in the very white winter months this season.  Kids usually love the taste without realizing they are eating something wholesome, and adults can’t get enough of this filling soup.

Push the snow aside and pull up a bowl of delicious hot potato soup that only takes about 30 to 45 minutes to cook and can feed up to eight people.

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The home-buying process can be stressful enough without all the little odds and ends to tie up and, of course, the actual moving day. Here is a handy list of things to do — including a few you may never have thought of — to prepare for the big move: continue reading »

Sometimes it may seem that some of the hardest things in life involve starting over.  Letting go of the past or present and moving on to a new and different beginning can seem overwhelming and almost not worth the effort.

Whether it involves a job, location or relationship, starting over is a difficult task that few would welcome.  Several people remain in the same career for fear of failing in the unknown endeavors they wish were options to pursue.  Especially with today’s economic situation, the struggle to achieve self-set aspirations can seem impossible, but it is a travesty to sell your dreams and goals to your fears and simple daily tasks.  continue reading »

Q: My house is in foreclosure. I have not been able to make the payments in several months. I want to sell it before the sheriff does. What should I do?

A: If you owe more than market value, you have some work ahead of you. continue reading »