Getting approval on a mortgage is a process with no shortage of moving parts. That’s why residential mortgage consumers need to leave no stone unturned in figuring out where tripwires lie on the mortgage-approval landscape. No question, the stakes are high, particularly given the lackluster U.S. economy. Before the Great Recession, mortgage approvals were like ice cream flavors at Baskin-Robbins—numerous and easy to get. But in the last five years mortgage lenders have signif

Here are some of the things you should never do when painting your home. 1. Skip the tape or leave it on too long I realize that lining all your trim, windows, knobs and the like with painter's tape will feel like it is literally eating years off your life. But while it may take a decent chunk of time to do, it's worth it. No matter how steady you think your hand is, you will never get the kind of clean lines and edges that come from using painter's tape. I also didn't realiz

Do you really have to worry about your air ducts? In a typical six-room home, up to 40 pounds of dust are created annually. When not properly maintained, the air ducts in your home can harbor all kinds of allergens including cobwebs, dust, mold, fungus, and chemical pollutants. Air ducts are the lungs of your home. Their purpose is to circulate fresh, clean air for you to breathe. There are all kinds of circumstances and contributors adding to or creating dirty air ducts. The