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Alan J. Heavens has been writing about real estate and home improvement for the last 14 years. A veteran of 35 years as a reporter, he holds B.A. and M.A. degrees in history.
Heavens cannot make recommendations about contractors, Realtors, mortgage services or neighborhoods.
YouthBuild USA gives young people ages 18 to 21 the opportunity back into school to get their high school diplomas while also receiving on-the-job training in the construction trades.
- Video: A visit to the Paint Quality Institute
- Gallery: Dow Chemical's Paint Quality Institute
The Montco facility works to make better, less-expensive and longer-lasting paint. It also is a test bed for other companies' products.
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One man's view of who's to blame for the housing mess
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John White retired as a vice president of Orleans Homebuilders in 2002, as housing was starting to boom and long before it went bust.
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Home Buy Now helps employees' purchases
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Home Economics: The program provides matching funds to help employees of certain Philadelphia companies and institutions, which offer grants and forgivable loans, buy a home.
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Home sales down a bit nationally, but rising locally
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Signed contracts in the Philadelphia region were up 23.5% in February, bucking the national trend.
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Sellers who are overly involved
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On the House: Real estate agents and home inspectors have plenty of stories about home owners who are too active in the home sale process.
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No film on glasses, but saucepans were spoiled
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Alan J. Heavens: The scoop of the best and worst of dishwasher detergents.
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HARP 2.0 is up and running
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Alan J. Heavens: The recast refinancing program is available to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac borrowers who owe more on their mortgages than their houses now are worth.
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Existing-home sales up 8.8% from '11
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The data indicate that much of the activity is coming from investors, rather than people looking for a home. Industry experts are calling the most recent numbers "slightly encouraging."
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Not your parents' choices for student housing
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When I was in college, back in the 12th century, the phrase in loco parentis still meant exactly what English common law had intended: The institution was legally responsible for the student, as a parent would be.
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