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Daniel Kim/The Seattle Times/TNS

Seattle considers banning controversial rent-setting software, RealPage

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

Seattle is on track to ban landlords' use of controversial rent-setting software that has been under legal fire for years.

A Seattle City Council committee on Wednesday advanced a bill to bar landlords from subscribing to software platforms that compile rental information to recommend rent prices. The proposal targets the platform RealPage, ...Read more

Real estate Q&A: Do I get more equity credit for covering house expenses after our divorce?

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

Q: When I got divorced a decade ago, I was allowed to continue living in the house until our son grew up, but I had to cover all the expenses for the house, including the mortgage. Now that he has gone off to college, I want to sell the house, take my share of the equity, and move to a smaller apartment. My former spouse wants to split the ...Read more

Everyday Cheapskate: 7 Ways to Get Rid of Flies in the House

Consumer / Everyday Cheapskate /

Flies are a nearly unavoidable nuisance in most homes, especially during the warmer months of the year. Annoying for sure, but more than just pesky, houseflies (Musca domestica) can carry and transmit disease and cause illness. Consider these seven simple ways to banish these pests from the house and keep them out for good.

BLOCK THE ENTRANCES ...Read more

Everyday Cheapskate: How to Upsize a Cake Mix That's Too Small for the Recipe

Consumer / Everyday Cheapskate /

In my kitchen, I have a small collection of cookbooks, which I consider prized possessions. One of them, the classic Betty Crocker Cookbook, was a wedding gift, and trust me, it's seen more than its share of splatters and dog-eared/ripped pages. And I wouldn't part with it for anything.

Another features 100 things to do with an ordinary cake ...Read more

Everyday Cheapskate: 6 Generics That Are Truly a Great Buy

Consumer / Everyday Cheapskate /

What do you associate with the word "generic?" Do the words "inferior" or "tastes like cardboard" come to mind? Or do you, like many people, associate name brands with people who are well-to-do, while people in poverty opt for generics? That's complete nonsense but a commonly held attitude. The truth is that generics are often a great buy ...Read more

Sasiseviowork/Dreamstime/TNS

Why high mortgage rates mean it's time to save, not buy

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

If you’ve been watching mortgage rates hover near 7% this year, you’re probably feeling frustrated.

The dream of homeownership feels more expensive than ever. And for many prospective buyers, purchasing when rates are high means stretching their budget, settling for less house than they want or risking financial strain.

But here’s what ...Read more

Christian Gooden/The St. Louis Post-Dispatch/TNS

St. Louis was a brick 'epicenter.' Can it keep its bricks after the tornado?

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

ST. LOUIS — Beyond immediate needs tied to shelter and safety, preservation experts and local officials say they’ve heard a common refrain in the aftermath of last month’s deadly tornado that ravaged parts of St. Louis, bringing down multiple brick structures:

What’s going to become of all that brick from damaged buildings — and how ...Read more

DREAMSTIME/TNS

This one mindset shift helped me make it easier to save money

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

“Focus on facts, not emotions.”

I wrote that once, but I’ve come to realize that sometimes saving money is as much about contending with your emotions as it is about budgeting. Here’s what I mean.

I usually have this gnawing guilt anytime I spend a few hours at home doing “nothing.” To be clear, I don’t mean staring at the wall...Read more

Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group/TNS

To keep the middle class in California, should developers build homes to rent? Or own?

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

When you imagine a renter of affordable housing, Christopher McCormick is probably not who comes to mind.

The 38-year-old software developer was on his way to work in early 2020 when he passed an affordable apartment building under construction in Emeryville, California. He was surprised to find that his annual income — $79,400 — qualified ...Read more

Everyday Cheapskate: Staying Cool for Less in a Home Without Air Conditioning

Consumer / Everyday Cheapskate /

Living without air conditioning in the middle of summer is like camping ... inside your house ... with all the bugs and none of the marshmallows. But before you decide to store your pillow in the freezer or start googling "affordable igloos," take heart: You don't need a high electric bill or a window unit that rattles like a shopping cart to ...Read more

Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/TNS

'Unfortunately, Altadena is for sale': Developers are buying up burned lots

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

In the wake of the devastating Eaton fire that tore through Altadena, California, in January, hundreds of signs sprouted up in the ash-laden yards of burned-down homes: "Altadena Not for Sale."

The slogan signified a resistance toward outside investors looking to buy up the droves of suddenly buildable lots. But as the summer real estate market...Read more

Orthodox Jewish family claims video led to unfair suspension by Boca property association

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

A family is accusing their property association in Boca Raton of unfairly punishing them because they are members of the development’s growing Orthodox Jewish community.

The civil-rights lawsuit, filed last week in U.S. District Court in West Palm Beach, says that the Boca Grove Property Owners Association suspended the family’s rights to ...Read more

K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal/TNS

After newspaper investigation, Nevada legislature passes change to probate law

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

Nevada legislators approved a bill to change probate laws and sent it to the governor’s desk this past weekend, after the Las Vegas Review-Journal found a cottage industry reaped paydays selling dead people’s homes through court but often didn’t make a dime for heirs.

The state Senate and Assembly both unanimously approved a measure that ...Read more

Laurie Skrivan/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/TNS

St. Louis has lost residents for decades. The tornado could nudge more to leave

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

ST. LOUIS — The sounds of nail guns and roofing hammers echoed through the neighborhood as Lisa Mannery surveyed the impassible pile of branches stacked in her backyard. An HVAC unit hung precariously from the roof of the still-closed Save A Lot on Natural Bridge Avenue behind her house.

Her roof, like many others nearby, was covered by a ...Read more

Real estate Q&A: Should neighbor pay for damage caused by washing machine leak?

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

Q: My neighbor, two floors above me, had an original washing machine from almost 40 years ago that leaked into my first-floor unit while they were away. It caused roughly $10,000 in damage, but their insurance won’t cover it, and mine would only cover $4,000. Now the neighbors are refusing to cover the difference. What is my recourse? — Jack...Read more

Everyday Cheapskate: Practical Tips to Help With Home Maintenance and Repair

Consumer / Everyday Cheapskate /

Maintenance costs can put a serious dent in your budget and savings -- a dent that's tough to repair. While there are certain things you definitely need an expert to handle, there are plenty of other situations in which you can make minor but meaningful repairs without calling for professional support -- while saving serious cash.

From closet ...Read more

Everyday Cheapskate: Surprising Other Uses for Automatic Dishwasher Detergent

Consumer / Everyday Cheapskate /

It's no secret that dishwasher detergent is specifically formulated to be used in automatic dishwashers whether it comes as powder, pods, pacs, liquid or gel. What may come as a big surprise is that these products' grease and dirt-busting abilities can be used outside the dishwasher in many useful ways.

Case in point: my microfiber cloths. I ...Read more

Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/TNS

Chicago Fire plan to build $650M soccer stadium in South Loop

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

CHICAGO — After nearly a decade of big swings and misses, including a recent failed bid to build a new White Sox ballpark, The 78 and developer Related Midwest may have finally found an anchor tenant to kick-start the proposed mixed-use megadevelopment in the South Loop.

The Chicago Fire announced plans Tuesday for a privately financed $650 ...Read more

Everyday Cheapskate: How to Make Proper Iced Tea, According to My Mother-In-Law

Consumer / Everyday Cheapskate /

The only thing more comforting than a tall glass of iced tea on a hot day is knowing how to make that perfect iced tea yourself with confidence -- for just pennies per serving.

My mother-in-law, a proud Canadian, taught me the difference between proper iced tea and the "swill" most restaurants pour, which in her opinion was, at best, a very ...Read more

Andreistanescu/Dreamstime/TNS

Bank mergers are booming. Here's why savers should watch their wallets

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

Big bank mergers are starting to pick up steam in 2025, and history shows that’s not typically good news for savers. The recent wave of consolidation in the banking industry could spell trouble for your interest rates, account terms and overall financial choices.

As a reporter who has gained some keen insights on banking, covering finance for...Read more

 

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