Mixing classic farmhouse style with sustainable features, this Connecticut home is as charming as it is sensible When the owners of this house met with architect Rafe Churchill for the first time, they brought along the 1953 children’s classic One Morning in Maine by Robert McCloskey for inspiration. In the book McCloskey — best known for penning Make Way for Ducklings andBlueberries for Sal — recounts the adventures of an older Sal as she loses her first tooth.The backdrop for the story is a sensible and … [Read more...]
Archives for January 2014
Popular Echo Canyon trail in Phoenix reopens
January 16, 2014 by Leave a Comment
After a yearlong hiatus, the Echo Canyon trailhead on Camelback Mountain reopened at sunrise Wednesday. The popular trail had been closed since last January for a $4.34 million renovation project. Returning hikers will see a slightly different ascent in the beginning: Gone are the worn wooden railroad ties that used to mark steep steps in the first quarter-mile. The beginning of the trail has been rerouted to follow the mountain’s natural ascent, becoming a slightly longer and more gradual climb. “The … [Read more...]
5 ways the jumbo mortgage market will change in 2014
January 16, 2014 by 1 Comment
Big changes are coming to jumbo mortgages. Wealthy home buyers signed up for these loans in droves last year because of their low rates and flexible repayment options. The total dollar amount of originated private jumbo mortgages—which exceed $417,000 in most parts of the country and $625,500 in pricey housing markets such as New York and San Francisco—was on track to be the highest since 2007. But the jumbo-mortgage landscape is shifting this year. New mortgage rules from the Consumer Financial … [Read more...]
This is the year to sell your home
January 16, 2014 by Leave a Comment
The prospect of higher rates is fueling a seller’s market Prices surged more than 10% in many markets last year, bidding wars are once again common, and homes are routinely going for well over the asking price in some cities. These trends make it seem like a return to the go-go days of the housing boom. Single-family homes were selling at an average price of $244,300 in November, up 7.2% from a year prior and the highest price since August 2008, according to the latest data from the National Association of … [Read more...]
Why Google bought Nest and what it could mean for your home
January 15, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Google’s $3.2 billion acquisition of Nest, creator of the smart thermostat and smoke detector, caught many industry watchers by surprise. But Google’s move to snap up one of the leading companies in the nascent field of devices that are paving the way for the “Internet of Things” is only surprising if you don’t know what Nest is all about. For the uninitiated, Nest is a company devoted to making everyday household objects smarter through advanced design and Internet-enabled features. Nest CEO … [Read more...]
