Natural cleaning products and DIY alternatives don’t always work against certain germs and types of bacteria. Here’s what to know before you start scrubbing. Does Vinegar Kill Germs? Here Are the Expert Recommendations for Homemade Cleaners Does Vinegar Kill Germs? Here Are the Expert Recommendations for Homemade Cleaners If you’ve been to any big-box retailer lately, you know that cleaning...

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Homebuyer Down Payments Spike 15 Percent Annually in June Based on a new report by Redfin, the typical down payment for U.S. homebuyers hit a record high of $67,500 in June 2024, up 14.8% from $58,788 a year earlier. This was the 12th consecutive month the median down payment rose year over year. The nearly-15% jump in the median down payment significantly outpaced the increase in home prices, which were...

The District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA) announced on Wednesday that it has relaunched its Reverse Mortgage Insurance & Tax Payment Program (ReMIT), which originally began in 2019 and expanded in 2020. Qualifying senior homeowners who live in Washington, D.C., can receive financial assistance to cover delinquent property taxes, homeowners insurance or HOA fees that put the...

April Noessel was in dire straits. Raising five children on her husband’s salary, she began flipping houses to make ends meet. Her family fell into debt when one of their flips went sour. The bad deal was particularly galling because of the indignities it took to get the home ready to sell. “I was wearing one of my kids in a backpack, scraping magnets off the floor with a knife,” Noessel said....

Westcor Land Title Insurance Co. is looking to up its game against fraudsters. The title firm has launched val-ID by Westcor, a tool designed to help title agents validate the identities of home buyers and sellers, according to an announcement on Wednesday. The tool is powered by the technology of Intellicheck and is engineered by GridBase. “At Westcor, we are committed to providing our agents with...

Tim Bowler, President of ICE Mortgage Technology, has a clear, specific vision for the future of ICE Mortgage Technology and the mortgage industry. In this Executive Conversation, Tim discusses ICE’s investment in product innovation, a company culture based on continuous improvement, and future career opportunities for those looking to make a difference. We are committed to making the dream of...

Alyssa Weakley — a clinical neuropsychologist, researcher and a caregiver to an older adult — has assisted in the creation of a technology platform that is designed to more easily connect older adults with their family members and caregivers to better support aging-in-place goals. “You never not worry,” Weakley, a researcher at the University of California at Davis, told the university in a news...

Lowcountry author Pat Conroy may have spent most of his life living in South Carolina, but he was always drawn back to his birthplace. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, the author would return to his hometown throughout his life. In fact, he lived here for a time in the ’80s, in a charming two-level home set in the historic Atlanta neighborhood of Ansley Park. Now, the author’s house — where he...

The classic, matte blue is reminiscent of a seafaring tradition where maps with large swaths of blue led the way. Dutch Boy We're well over halfway through the year, which means style forecasters and trend analysts alike have their keen eyes set on 2025—and that includes paint brands declaring the color trends you'll see everywhere within the next year.Dutch Boy Paints has announced Mapped Blue...