From babies who adore you to teens who ignore you, kids change -- and so do their storage needs. Here’s how to organize kids’ rooms from cradle to college. Cradle CrawlersTransformer cribs. An ordinary crib accommodates baby for two to three years -- until he learns how to escape over the rail. Boost storage with a convertible crib with storage drawers ($145 to $350) that’ll convert and adapt to your toddler’s needs and beyond.Some convertible cribs change into toddler beds, daybeds, or full-size headboards, giving you options as your youngster gets older. If you can’t find a crib with storage below, use the space between the legs for stowing bins or baskets for diapers, toys, and more.Pimping the closet. Remove the door on the nursery closet for easy access, and install a variety of co... 02/22/2015

Leftovers gobbling up space in your refrigerator? Here are some tips for keeping things organized, efficient, and tasty. A well-organized refrigerator keeps food fresh longer and lets you grab and go faster. Before you unpack groceries, spend a second thinking about the right place for everything. Here are common sense ways to declutter and organize your fridge: The front of the middle rack, near eye-level, is prime refrigerator real estate. Put priority items there, like leftovers you want eaten soon and healthy snacks. The back of the fridge is the coldest part. Store milk there, and it will stay fresh longer. Don’t waste fridge space on food that doesn’t need to be chilled. Examples: fresh eggs from backyard chickens (though store-bought eggs do need refrigerating), ketchup, vinegar,... 02/19/2015

A home purchase isn’t complete until you make it to the closing. Until then, the transaction can fall apart for many reasons. Here are five tips for avoiding mistakes that cause a home sale to crater.1.  Be truthful on your mortgage application.You may think fudging your income a little or omitting debts when applying for a mortgage will go unnoticed. Not true. Lenders have become more diligent in verifying information on mortgage applications. If you fib, expect to be found out and denied the loan you need to fund your home purchase. Plus, intentionally lying on a mortgage application is a crime.2.  Hold off on big purchases.Lenders double-check buyers’ credit right before the closing to be sure their financial condition hasn’t weakened. If you’ve opened new credit cards, significantly... 02/18/2015

If you’ve been thinking of adding more daylight to a kitchen or dark hallway, a solar tube may be the way to go. At a fraction of the cost of a skylight, a solar tube provides plenty of warm, indirect light.How It WorksKnown variously as a sun tube, sun tunnel, light tube, or tubular skylight, a solar tube is a 10- or 14-inch-diameter sheet-metal tube with a polished interior. The interior acts like a continuous mirror, channeling light along its entire length while preserving the light’s intensity. It captures daylight at the roof and delivers it inside your home.On your roof, a solar tube is capped by a weather-proof plastic globe. The tube ends in a porthole-like diffuser in the ceiling of a room below. The globe gathers light from outside; the diffuser spreads the light in a pure wh... 02/17/2015

Pinecrest Single Family Residential Sales – January 201513 homes sold between $540,000 and $2,275,000       $850,000                                ♦ 118 Average Median Sales Price                  Days on Market   To receive a text message on your smartphone from the Pinecrest Police Department whenever they issue an alert; visit www.Nixle.com and sign up.  If you need help with this or have any questions – just give me a call.   This program is active all over the United States – just check your zip code and pass it along to your family member, friends and clients.  02/17/2015

Unless you’re living in the 123-room Spelling Manor, you probably don’t have space to store massive amounts of tax and insurance paperwork, warranties, and repair receipts related to your home. But you’ll definitely want your paperwork at hand if you have to prove you deserved a tax deduction, file an insurance claim, or figure out if your busted oven is still under warranty.Except for tax paperwork, there’s no official guideline governing exactly how long you have to keep most home-related documents. Lucky for you, we considered the situations in which you might need documents and came up with a handy “How Long to Keep It” home records checklist.First, a little background on IRS rules, which informed some of our charts: The IRS says you should keep tax returns and the paperwork support... 02/16/2015

Here’s how to get the bathroom of your dreams without making your budget a nightmare.You dream about a bathroom that’s high on comfort and personal style, but you also want materials, fixtures, and amenities with lasting value. Wake up! You can have both.A midrange bathroom remodel is a solid investment, according to "Remodeling" magazine’s annual "Cost vs. Value Report." An average bath remodel of $16,724 will recoup 70% of those costs when it’s time to sell your home, and a more extensive $54,115 job returns 59.8%. In addition, you can maximize the value of your investment by using these smart strategies, which will create a stylish yet budget-friendly bathroom. 1. Stick to a PlanA bathroom remodel is no place for improvisation. Before ripping out the first tile, think hard about how ... 02/15/2015

Qualifying for the $200 to $500 federal tax credit on new windows and doors depends on two measurements, U-factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient.Just because windows or doors are Energy Star-labeled doesn't mean they're eligible for a federal tax credit. And with costs running about $500 to $1,000 per window including labor, it's wise to know something about the scientific lingo and numbers on the product labels you're likely to encounter. Here's your pro-level label-decoding guide so you can be sure you're buying qualified products. Which Labels Matter?  The two labels you should look for: The U.S. Department of Energy's blue-and-yellowEnergy Star label, which specifies the climate zones the product is certified for, and the white National Fenestration Rating Council label. Nonprofit ... 02/12/2015

When weather stripping on doors and windows gets worn out, cold air comes sneaking in. Here’s how to replace weather stripping and stop air leaks.Weather stripping on windows and doors protects the home from air leaks while increasing comfort and saving energy. But as weather stripping ages, it loses its effectiveness. Stay ahead of the game by checking for worn-out weather stripping and replacing it. Identifying Worn Weather StrippingWeather stripping deteriorates due to age, friction, and exposure to the elements. It also can be damaged by people, pets, and pests. At least once each year, inspect your windows and doors to check for air leaks that indicate your weather stripping isn’t doing its job. Self-adhesive foam tape loses its grip over time, causing it to pull away from the door... 02/11/2015

Understand which mortgage loan is best for you so your budget isn't stretched too thin.It’s easier to settle happily into your new home if you’re confident you can afford it. Here’s what you need to know about your mortgage financing options, including how to choose the loan that matches your income and tolerance for risk. Mortgage Financing BasicsThe most important features of your mortgage loan are: Term (how long the loan lasts)Mortgages typically come in 15-, 20-, 30- or 40-year lengths. The longer the term, the lower your monthly payment. The interest rate on a 15-year mortgage might be 1% lower than the rate on a 30-year mortgage.The trade-off for a lower payment on the 30-year mortgage is that you make more payments. Since you borrow the money for longer, you pay more interest to... 02/10/2015

Yes, it repels water from all sorts of surfaces at home, maybe even better than the hype suggests, but what’s the catch?Rust-Oleum is rolling out its new NeverWet, water-repelling spray with such fanfare, we’re expecting a parade any minute.NeverWet is a “superhydrophobic” (not just a regular hydrophobic), two-part spray that makes water bead up and run off just about any surface – plastic, wood, stucco, cement, tennis sneakers you want to keep white.NeverWet, a nanotechnology innovator, has teamed up with Rust-Oleum to bring this miracle coating to the masses. The company “loves” its new product for low traffic-low abrasion items like: Exposed brick and masonry Porous wood, like decks Stucco – claims of warding off mold and mildew have been made Toilet brushes Cat boxes and dog beds Ou... 02/09/2015

When you took out a mortgage to buy your home, did you pay points? You may be able to deduct that prepaid interest on your federal tax return — but only if you meet a long list of rules.The points you paid when you signed a mortgage to buy your home may help cut your federal tax bill. With points, sometimes called loan origination points or discount points, you make an upfront payment to get a particular rate from the lender.Since mortgage interest is deductible, your points may be, too.If you itemize your deductions on Schedule A of IRS Form 1040, you may be able to deduct all your points in the year you pay them.Some high-income taxpayers have their total itemized deductions limited, including points. You can read more about that in the instructions for Schedule A.Lucky for you, the I... 02/05/2015

If you’re getting divorced, your home may be the biggest asset you’ll have to divide with your soon-to-be ex. As you decide whether to sell it and split the proceeds or let one spouse live there until the last kid launches, remember there’s often a third party involved in your home sale transaction: Uncle Sam. Keeping, selling, or continuing to share your home can each create different federal tax tabs for you and your ex-spouse. Here’s a look at the tax consequences for six of the most common situations divorcing couples face.   1.  One of you stays in the house until the kids grow up; then you sell it. If you’re the one who moves out and agrees to hold off on selling the house until the kids are grown, you can end up with a whopping tax bill years later. That’s because the tax law pr... 02/04/2015

This cheat sheet helps you do your homework, so you know what you’re signing when you close the sale of your home. You’ve already cleared several hurdles by finding the right home, negotiating the best price, and getting approved for a mortgage. The last obstacle on your homebuying track is the closing, which can be both tedious and tense. By knowing what to expect and doing some legwork, you can smoothly put your closing behind you. These seven steps will guide you.   1.  Set a Closing Date Ask your title company to set a closing date and time that meshes with the end of your lease or the sale of your existing home. Don’t want to skip work? Ask for an evening or weekend closing. Tight on cash? Schedule your closing for the end of the month. That’s when you’ll pay the least amount of in... 02/03/2015

How to Budget for a Remodel So You Don’t Overspend 5 Secrets Your Contractor Doesn’t Want You to Know Know What Your Remodeling Contract Should Say Get the Biggest Bang for Your Buck with These Projects Remodeling Causes Chaos; Here’s What You Need to Know to Manage It The Costs of Popular Projects and What Your ROI Could Be 02/02/2015

In November 2013, the city of Vancouver, B.C., modified the city building code and outlawed the doorknob.That's right: the good old doorknob.Why? Because lever-type door handles are so much easier to use than knobs, especially for people with limited mobility. Ever tried twisting a doorknob with arms full of groceries? A lever handle can be opened with an elbow.Twenty years ago, mobility and accessibility weren't hot topics. Today, accommodating an aging population and those with limited physical abilities has altered the way our homes are designed. And the Vancouver code is just one example of how changes in society turn into laws that affect our homes.Bottom-line: You don't want to be asleep at the wheel if you're remodeling, or worse, if you decide to sell and the inspector points ou... 02/01/2015

Renovations can take weeks -- and sometimes months. That means endless days of subcontractors traipsing through your home, noisy tools, and major dust. Even some minor projects can disrupt your daily routine. Before you begin to remodel, know what’s in store for you and your family.We’ve highlighted nine common remodeling projects that homeowners are likely to undertake -- projects that require professional contractors and that take at least one week to complete.We also talked with veteran remodeler Paul Sullivan, who has renovated homes for 34 years and is president of The Sullivan Company in Newton, Mass. Sullivan helped us rate each project on a “disruption scale” of 1 to 10, with 1 being the least disruptive to your everyday home life and 10 the most. If your project reaches a 10, c... 01/30/2015

Despite interest rates being at their lowest level of 2014, pending home sales cooled across the country in December. The number of homes under contract fell 3.7% in December from November. However, year-over-year pending home sales were up 11.7%, data from the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® show.NAR’s Chief Economist Lawrence Yun attributed the slowdown in contract signings to a lack of homes for sale in many markets and a slight acceleration in prices. “Total [home sale] inventory fell in December for the first time in 16 months, resulting in fewer choices for buyers and a modest uptick in price growth in markets throughout the country,” he said. “With interest rates at lows not seen since early 2013, the strength in existing sales in upcoming months will largely depend on the will... 01/29/2015

We’re big proponents of trees as energy savers — they create shade and wind breaks for your home. So how would you like a tree that actually illuminates your landscaping at night for free? Glow-in-the-dark trees are more than a glimmer now that a California biologist, Antony Evans, and his colleagues have inserted genes from bioluminescent bacteria into plants. They’ve found that the bioengineered flora grows and glows. It’s the first step to growing glowing trees that can light streets and your front yard, and save energy.Backers loved the idea of glow-in-the-dark plants. Evans had hoped to raise $65,000 through a Kickstarter campaign. But the Kickstarters pledged over $484,000.What does this mean to homeowners who want to substitute a glowing tree or rosebush for their porch light? No... 01/28/2015

Two new surveys about what homebuyers want have me feeling pretty smug about my own home choices. Maybe you’ll feel the same.Privacy from neighbors remains at the top of the most-wanted list (important to 86% of buyers), according to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS’® “2013 Community Preference Survey.” Privacy is no doubt the best feature of my mid-century ranch home, since I can only see one neighbor’s house and it’s a couple hundred feet down my driveway.It may not be practical to move your neighbors farther away (although I’m sure many people wish they had that superpower), but you can increase your home’s privacy (and therefore its resale value) by planting a living privacy screen of trees and shrubs or by physically screening off your patio. 3 More Takeaways for the Next Time ... 01/27/2015