Home & Garden | The Rock River Times

Understanding your credit opens the door to home-buying success

Courtesy of ARA Content With many signs pointing to the beginnings of a recovery in the housing market, potential home buyers
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March 3, 2010 | Also published in Home & Garden | Comments (0)

Growing roses is easy with these simple tips

Courtesy of ARA Content No other flower can evoke romance in the garden like a rose. As America’s favorite flower, roses
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March 3, 2010 | Also published in Home & Garden | Comments (0)

New garden superstars blend charm and practicality

Courtesy of ARA Content From hardy hybrids to stylish, smart gardens, spring 2010 promises exciting new plants and products for garden
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February 17, 2010 | Also published in Home & Garden | Comments (0)

2010 color decor and design trends

Courtesy of ARA Content Indicators are implying that the U.S. economy is finally showing some signs of improvement. The markets are
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February 17, 2010 | Also published in Home & Garden | Comments (0)

Landscaping with retaining walls adds curb appeal, usability to your home

Courtesy of ARA Content The best investment you can make in your home—both for your pocketbook and your personal enjoyment—is in
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February 3, 2010 | Also published in Home & Garden | Comments (0)

Selling your home? Easy improvements to attract buyers

Courtesy of ARA Content Real estate pros often coach their clients on the value of making “curb appeal” improvements to help
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February 3, 2010 | Also published in Home & Garden | Comments (0)

Designing the perfect playroom on a shoestring budget

Courtesy of ARA Content Playrooms are ideal spaces for encouraging children’s creativity, providing them with the stimulation they crave and helping
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February 3, 2010 | Also published in Home & Garden | Comments (0)

Expert tips for creating a beautiful landscape

Courtesy of ARA Content It may be cold outside, but homeowners are already dreaming of creating beautiful garden settings around their
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January 20, 2010 | Also published in Home & Garden | Comments (0)

Machesney Park company offers glass mosaic tiles made from recycled glass

From press release MACHESNEY PARK, Ill.—Beauty and environmental responsibility are the hallmark of Granite Transformations’ newest glass mosaic tiles—Cosmic, White Shadow
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January 20, 2010 | Also published in Home & Garden | Comments (0)

Home exterior colors reflect style, personality and environment

Courtesy of ARA Content Building or renovating a home is a decision-filled process. Some decisions, such as location, size and layout,
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January 6, 2010 | Also published in Home & Garden | Comments (0)

Break out of your color comfort zone this winter

Courtesy of ARA Content At first thought, winter might not conjure up words like spicy, bold or sunny. It should, though,
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January 6, 2010 | Also published in Home & Garden | Comments (0)

On Real Estate: 2010: The real estate odyssey

By Jim Hagerty Staff Writer It’s all but impossible to exactly predict the future. Even psychics are a bit cloudy as
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January 6, 2010 | Also published in On Real Estate | Comments (0)

Resolve tough holiday stains with expert tips

Courtesy of ARA Content According to a recent survey of 50 top parenting, style and entertaining bloggers, 94 percent plan to
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December 23, 2009 | Also published in Home & Garden | Comments (0)

Tips to protect your home from severe weather

Courtesy of ARA Content When people think of winterizing their homes, most often their heating bills spring to mind—along with insulation
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December 23, 2009 | Also published in Home & Garden | 1 Comment

On Real Estate: Unemployment pounds commercial market

By Jim Hagerty Staff Writer As unemployment rates inch higher, the need for commercial real estate continues to shrink. Property values
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December 23, 2009 | Also published in On Real Estate | Comments (0)

First-time homebuyer tax credit extended

From press release WASHINGTON, D.C.—A new law that went into effect Nov. 6 extends the first-time homebuyer credit five months and
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December 9, 2009 | Also published in Home & Garden | Comments (0)

On Real Estate: Downsizing not just for your parents anymore

By Jim Hagerty Staff Writer Gone for now are the days when retirees and empty-nesters were the largest groups of homeowners with
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December 9, 2009 | Also published in On Real Estate | Comments (0)

Designs for a new decade: Top home décor trends for 2010

Courtesy of ARA Content During unsettling economic times, people tend to get “back to basics” by cocooning more with their families,
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December 9, 2009 | Also published in Home & Garden | Comments (0)

Winter’s hottest new ‘in’ activity: birdfeeding

Courtesy of ARA Content Bird feeding is in. More than 65 million Americans are doing it, according to the U.S. Fish
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December 9, 2009 | Also published in Home & Garden | Comments (0)

Habitat for Humanity ReStore expands, volunteers needed

From press release Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity (RAHFH) ReStore is now open an additional day. Effective immediately, the ReStore has
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November 25, 2009 | Also published in Home & Garden | Comments (0)

Show your holiday hospitality with a sleep-friendly guest room

Courtesy of ARA Content The holidays bring a lot of happiness—and a lot of company. With so much going on this season,
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November 25, 2009 | Also published in Home & Garden | Comments (0)

Don’t let your house take a beating this winter

Courtesy of ARA Content No matter what part of the country you live in, the fall and winter months can be
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November 25, 2009 | Also published in Home & Garden | Comments (0)

On Real Estate: Foreclosures still driving housing market

By Jim Hagerty Staff Writer While the initial wave of subprime foreclosures is largely behind us, another is proving to be a
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November 25, 2009 | Also published in On Real Estate | Comments (0)

ELPC Webinar on Solar Power: A Potential Boom in the Midwest

ELPC Webinar on Solar Power: A Potential Boom in the Midwest Please join us on November 18th at 10:00 a.m. for
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November 16, 2009 | Also published in Home & Garden | Comments (0)

Keep your house fresh on game day

Courtesy of ARA Content Having friends over for a football party can create some interesting chaos in your house. Keeping everything
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November 11, 2009 | Also published in Home & Garden | Comments (0)

Leaf mulching and fertilizer: A back-saving, soil-enriching way to deal with fallen leaves

Courtesy of ARA Content As Mother Nature adorns the trees in your yard with riotous reds, vibrant yellows and exotic oranges,
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November 11, 2009 | Also published in Home & Garden | Comments (0)

On Real Estate: Tax credit extended, expanded

By Jim Hagerty Staff Writer It looks as though first-time home buyers won’t be the only sector to take advantage of a
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November 11, 2009 | Also published in On Real Estate | Comments (0)

Homework essential to buying your first home

Courtesy of ARA Content Are you considering taking the plunge and buying your first home? If so, you’re not alone. Across
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October 29, 2009 | Also published in Home & Garden | Comments (0)

Builders fear expiration of home buyer tax credit will erode sales

From press release WASHINGTON, D.C.—Home builders in Illinois and Minnesota participating in a teleconference conducted by the National Association of Home
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October 28, 2009 | Also published in Home & Garden | Comments (0)

On Real Estate: First-time buyers spark rebound

By Jim Hagerty Staff Writer For the first time in three years, the Illinois real estate market has shown a year-over-year increase.
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October 28, 2009 | Also published in On Real Estate | Comments (0)

Developer purchases downtown Rockford commercial building

From press release A Rockford-based real estate development firm has purchased a historic downtown Rockford building that it plans to renovate
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October 28, 2009 | Also published in Home & Garden | Comments (0)

Can’t sell? Wary of being a landlord? Try corporate housing instead

Courtesy of ARA Content The housing market is making it hard for many homeowners to sell. Yet, the alternative—becoming a landlord
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October 28, 2009 | Also published in Home & Garden | Comments (0)

Answers to frequently-asked questions about foreclosure

From press release URBANA, Ill.—If your house is in foreclosure, you probably have a lot of questions. The Illinois Housing Development
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October 14, 2009 | Also published in Home & Garden | Comments (0)

On Real Estate: Tax credit deadline approaches, talks of extending credit swirl

By Jim Hagerty Staff Writer As expected, millions of first-time home buyers jumped at the chance to purchase when the federal government
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October 14, 2009 | Also published in Home & Garden> On Real Estate | Comments (0)

Stay warm and healthy, keep heating bills down

Courtesy of ARA Content With the return of colder weather, you may be hesitant to turn on the furnace again—especially if
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October 14, 2009 | Also published in Home & Garden | Comments (0)

Lower your energy costs with an insulated garage door

Courtesy of ARA Content A leaky, un-insulated garage door may not be an obvious culprit in rising monthly utility bills, but
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September 30, 2009 | Also published in Home & Garden | Comments (0)

On Real Estate: Credit guidelines tighten, sales fall

By Jim Hagerty Staff Writer Seeing a glimmer of light in a long and dark tunnel was evident in August as Realtors
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September 30, 2009 | Also published in Home & Garden> On Real Estate | Comments (0)

Decor can help you wow your mate

Courtesy of ARA Content When it comes to impressing your mate, forget about diamonds and designer gifts. You’re more likely to
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September 30, 2009 | Also published in Home & Garden | 1 Comment

Tips for avoiding foreclosure scams

From press release URBANA, Ill.—Get involved with one of the many foreclosure con artists operating right now, and you’ll lose your
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September 30, 2009 | Also published in Home & Garden | 2 Comments

On Real Estate: Assessed value vs. fair market value: what’s the difference?

By Jim Hagerty Staff Writer It’s not a secret that the average homeowner may be a bit confused about the difference between
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September 16, 2009 | Also published in Home & Garden> On Real Estate | Comments (0)

Parade of Homes runs through Sept. 20

From press release The annual Parade of Homes, the premier event coordinated each year by the Home Builders Association of the
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September 16, 2009 | Also published in Home & Garden | Comments (0)

Tips for planting and protecting your fall landscape

Courtesy of ARA Content As the crisp fall air ushers in a new season, many gardeners may be left wondering: what
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September 16, 2009 | Also published in Home & Garden | 1 Comment

BBB: Avoid getting scammed when looking to rent

From press release With fewer people buying homes in the current market and more people renting these days, it is no
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September 2, 2009 | Also published in Home & Garden | Comments (0)

Smart strategies to increase home sale profits

Courtesy of ARA Content The proposition of selling a home is getting better with each passing day, according to a recently-released
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September 2, 2009 | Also published in Home & Garden | Comments (0)

Been foreclosed on? Don’t forget your taxes

From press release URBANA, Ill.—As if losing your house weren’t bad enough, you may owe capital gains taxes after a foreclosure,
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September 2, 2009 | Also published in Home & Garden | Comments (0)

Bland walls? Fast fix-ups that are perfect for fall

Courtesy of ARA Content When the weather cools and the bright sun of summer fades into autumn’s grayer skies, bare, bland
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September 2, 2009 | Also published in Home & Garden | 1 Comment

Programs available for first-time buyers and homeowners

By Malcolm Payne Payne Realty A mortgage is a lien on a house that is secured by a loan paid over a
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September 2, 2009 | Also published in Home & Garden | Comments (0)

More than $100 million in recovery funding to boost state energy efforts

From press release CHICAGO—Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn (D) announced Aug. 14 that Illinois has received approval of its proposed State Energy
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August 26, 2009 | Also published in Home & Garden | Comments (0)

Important information for homeowners in foreclosure

From press release URBANA, Ill.—Lenders must attach a homeowner notice containing the following pertinent information to the summons in all foreclosure
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August 19, 2009 | Also published in Home & Garden | Comments (0)

Nature’s bounty inspires fall interiors

Courtesy of ARA Content The warm tones of the autumn harvest provide an inspiring palette for home decor by bringing seasonal
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August 19, 2009 | Also published in Home & Garden | Comments (0)

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