Barbara Ballinger
Barbara's Articles
Interior Design and Furnishings
Style a home to be livable and lovely Combining function and aesthetics will turn your house into a home. Each room in your home is like a puzzle that you piece together to create a cohesive attractive whole. The color palette, pattern, and furniture style don't have to be the same, though there should be.....
Getting Your Home Inspected
Don't ignore this step before you buy You've agreed on a price and removed contingencies, but have you had your home inspected? If not, it’s time to call in the home inspector equivalent of Sherlock Holmes, a trained residential sleuth who will check out what’s visible as well as what’s lurking below the floors and.....
Building a Home
Plan smartly from the ground up What better way to satisfy the American dream than to build your own home. And in doing so you can meet the criteria for today’s fast-changing lifestyles, new definitions of family that fuel the desire for different floor plans, technological advancements that require special features, and a wish to.....
Don’t Overextend With a Sales Price
A mortgage is the tip of the house expenses; avoid becoming house poor. You’ve found a wonderful home, but buyers beware. The thrill can wear off faster than a first love. The term "house poor" looms. A mortgage, real estate taxes, and homeowners insurance are just the tip of the house-expense iceberg. There may be.....