Facing foreclosure? Don’t delay; get help
The idea of foreclosure — losing your home because of a delinquent payment (even just one day late) — can be scary and daunting for anyone. It can be particularly intimidating for those who do not have the means to hire an attorney to guide them through the legal process.Maryland has the third-highest foreclosure rate in the country, according to RealtyTrac, Inc., with 1 in... READ MORE
Options for affordable local housing
After her husband passed away, Brenda Smith (not her real name) was “financially caught off guard” by her suddenly reduced income, and could no longer afford to live on her own. She moved in with her daughter, and immediately began looking for affordable rental housing. Many people like Smith find themselves in similar situations, and have trouble finding affordable housing in the... READ MORE
Home money pits that sap your savings
There are so many expenses associated with paying the bills for a home that it is easy to miss money leaks that are costing you big dollars. Putting a plug into these leaks can make a big difference in your budget.From old-school thermostats to faulty plumbing, here are some of the top money-pits to watch for:1. Old School ThermostatsI recently replaced my 1980s-era thermostat with a new... READ MORE
Innovative housing options are on the rise
Volunteer resident members from CSI Support & Development Maryland Region Co-Op apartments enjoy "A Day of Art" presented by Abrakadoodle at Highlandtown Plaza Co-Op on Feb. 6.Photo courtesy of CSITraditionally, housing options offered older adults were a choice between living alone, which often meant growing increasingly isolated; moving in with their kids; or moving to a... READ MORE
Opposing views on immigration
Should Howard County become a “sanctuary” for immigrants, where county employees, including police and other law enforcers, would be barred from volunteering to work with federal officials on immigration matters or inquiring about the immigration status of those they encounter in their official duties? That’s the hot topic question that county officials and residents alike are... READ MORE
Many upsides to downsizing
Roberta and Ira Greenstein had never lived in a city. So when they started to consider downsizing four years ago, they thought downtown Baltimore might be just the spot for them. In short order they sold their four-bedroom Columbia home, purchased a two-bedroom condominium in Fells Point, and have wholeheartedly embraced this new stage in their lives. While many people have intense... READ MORE
Use a gentle touch in helping hoarders
The moment the elevator doors opened, the stench was overpowering. Eyes watered, nostrils burned, fight or flight impulses activated.We hadn’t even gotten into the apartment yet — the trash was crammed so tightly floor to ceiling it was nearly impossible to open the door. Inside: Narrow paths from room to room. Boxes filled with junk mail, old newspapers, invitations to... READ MORE
Residents who look beyond themselves
Today, so many retirement communities take such good care of their residents, you might think they were waited on hand and foot, as my mother liked to say.Restaurant-style dining, a plethora of clubs and activities, pools, golf courses and state-of-the-art exercise facilities, movie theaters, beauty salons — you name it, and there are places that offer it.But a seldom-heralded benefit ... READ MORE
Convert a spare room into a dream closet
Longing for a bigger closet? online pharmacy revia buy with best prices today in the USA Rooms in your home don’t have to be used the way they were originally intended. Get creative and convert a small room into the ultimate walk-in closet, says Egypt Sherrod, host of HGTV’s “Flipping Virgins” and “Property Virgins.”Giving up a room can be a big decision. ... READ MORE
A variety of affordable housing options
Dorothy Tolliver has been living at Weinberg House for almost 11 years and couldn’t be happier. The former government employee, who is now 80, had been living in another senior residence in downtown Baltimore but wanted to be closer to her family. She now enjoys her one-bedroom apartment and the convenience of the Pikesville neighborhood. “I’m right across the street from the Giant ... READ MORE
