With the chances that another winter storm is on the way to the East, you may be right in thinking your normal winter routine preparations might be reaching their limits before the winter ends. Keeping an eye on your roof, keeping heavy snow and ice clear from exterior walls, and inspecting the entire property for possible damage that could worsen are all activities vigilant homeowners should consider. Keeping your house safe from winter weather this year may take some extra effort. Read more on what you can do here.

As part of National Consumer Protection week, it might be an opportune time to have a look at mortgage fraud and modification scams. Many Americans suffered during the collapse and many are still in full recovery-mode, looking for any port in the storm. Unfortunately, some groups and individuals find that situation to be a perfect opportunity to con desperate individuals out of whatever they have left. To keep yourself safe from fraudulent activities, you should keep yourself informed. Read more about loan modification scams here.

Starting any project on your home is a commitment of time and energy. When you handle everything by yourself, there are less moving parts in the system. But when you need to hire a contractor, you face a unique set of challenges. Hiring the right contractor for the job requires you to do your homework before you hire. First stop can be with your friends and family for referrals. You might want to check National Association of the Remodeling Industry. These 5 tips will help too, read more here.

Google is upping its interest in solar by increasing its investment in Solar City. And when it does, you can benefit directly. All you need is a home, and a desire to save on your power bill. The promotion is designed to work like this: contact Solar City, work with them to design the right solar array for your house, and then sit back and enjoy the savings. Solar City will design a system that you lease, install it for free, and maintain it for the life of your lease. Even with the lease payments, it’s designed to save you money in the end. Read more here.

The recession was a hit to every sector of the economy and took its toll on every household across the country. In some areas, the fall was more drastic than in others, and so too, the recovery has arrived unevenly. Homes in Black and Hispanic neighborhoods have rebounded more slowly than comparable homes in White and Asian neighborhoods. The causes and effects of policy, society, and economics are all on display, and each has an influence. Zillow provides more information on the uneven recovery here.

A fresh coat of paint is a quick way to give any room a new look. But it might not be so easy. Painting interior and exterior surfaces takes a bit of preparation and craft to get it right. If you don’t have the time or the expertise to do it right, you probably want to hire a pro to do it. Knowing what’s important in your search for the right person to handle the job is key. You need to know the right qualities to look for in order to make the right hire. Read more here.

A couple weeks ago, I mentioned an article about a great solution to let natural sunlight into central rooms using solar tubes. This company has taken a literal quantum leap in providing virtual sunlight using LED lighting and nanotechnology. The razor-thin material mimics the color, temperature and intensity of the sun by imitating 6 miles of the earth’s atmosphere in just a few millimeters of a nanoparticle layer. The price is still a bit out of reach, but hey, it’s the leading edge, give it time. Read more here.

Where you live is fundamental to how you live. The old adage about location is as relevant today as it was when it was coined in 1926. People move to their homes; homes don’t move to people so easily. So, when considering a home, location is inevitably the primary concern, even when other concerns seem more important. Everything from a safe neighborhood to good transportation-access ties in to a shopper’s ideal location for his or her home. Learn about five prime points that determine a good location here.

Your new home, just the way you want it. Everything done by you, for you. You are the architect. Are you ready for a new option in home building? Online home design is gaining traction, and there are more opportunities than ever to design your dream home from start to finish, online. With design templates and premium prefab units, homes can be customized to meet every taste. Read more here. 

Are you the sun-and-sand type, or more of a snow-and-mountains kind of a person? Either way, you have probably spent some time looking around the places you have vacationed and thought, “I should buy a place around here”. While buying a property in a great vacation spot is probably a safe investment, it is by no means without risk. Getting swept away in the moment and failing to do due-diligence is just one problem facing these kinds of purchases. Learn more here.