Stella McCartney’s Notting Hill Home: ‘Blah and Bland’?
Stella McCartney, the daughter of Beatles great Paul McCartney, is famous for her sense of style. In fact, the fashion bigwig’s company designed the gear of Team Great Britain for the Olympics, according to Time magazine.That makes the attention her London townhouse has recently received somewhat ironic: The apartment has taken heat for being rather dull. One commenter claimed it was “blah and bland,” according to The Daily Mail.
What to do and what to avoid when hanging curtains
Curtains have a double function. Besides their ability to offer protection and shade during the sunny summer days and mornings, they also have a decorative function. The curtains can really change the aspect of a room. They are often used to add color and texture to a certain space. This means you have to be extra careful when choosing the fabric, texture and color. Here are a few do’s and don’ts.
Disclosing Crime That Occurs on Your Rental Property
Crime happens—even in the nicest apartment complexes and neighborhoods. Despite landlords’ and property managers’ efforts to deter criminal activity, tenants can still become victims of random or targeted crimes. So, what should you do if a crime does occur on or near your property? Is it your obligation to disclose the information to tenants?
Vacation Rentals Looking Up
If you own rental property in vacation areas, or a second home that you rent out, things may be looking up. According to a report from HomeAway, an online vacation rental site, 72% of vacation rental owners in markets where summer is considered peak season reported summer occupancy rates of 76% or higher. That’s an increase of 8% over the summer of 2011.
Mortgages Slow Despite Rate Drop
A drop in mortgage rates did little to slow another decline in mortgage applications for the second straight week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association Home loan applications fell as interest borrowing rates on the 30-year fixed rate mortgage decreased to an average of 3.80% on fully executed mortgages.
Mortgages Drop as Loan Interest Ebbs
Mortgage activity dropped for the second week in a row as mortgage rates rose driven by a strong hike in U.S. Treasury yields. Bond rates have been rising for one straight week,pushing mortgage rates higher. The Mortgage Bankers Association market composite index on loan applications fell 4.5% on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. A slowdown in refinances of 5% pushed by a hike in mortgage rates led the drop-off.
Mortgage Rates Claim Another Record
Driven by record low mortgage rates, the U.S. housing market is beginning to show signs of improvement as consumers search for discount priced homes. The 30-year fixed rate loan, 15-year fixed mortgage and the 5-year ARM all hit new all-time record lows this week to push hesitant buyers off the fence. The benchmark rate, the 30-year fixed fell three basis points to reach an average of 3.53%, according to the Freddie Mac survey. The mortgage has been below 4.00% all but one week for all of 2012.
