Topics in Home
and Auto
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Removing Hardwood Floor Stains
How to remove a big white water mark on a hardwood floor?

Rejected for Home Insurance: Now What?
What can you do if you can’t afford to repair your home to the insurance company’s standards?

Holding Building Contractors to Their Promises
The reiterate-and-confirm letter.

Never Buy a New Car
Exploring the pros and cons of buying a new car.

Need a Bigger Home?
Don’t move; maximize your space instead.

Winter Pests
A chill in the air drives pests indoors.

15 Mistakes to Avoid when Selling Your Home
Get top dollar for your house, even in a buyers' market.

The Cost of Clutter
Exploring the numerous benefits of an organized home.

What is Missing in Your Home Decor?
3 basic things every room needs to feel “right”

Eliminating Odors in Your Car
How to get rid of that fake 'new car' smell.

My Story: Low Mileage Car
Finding a car that won't need a lot of repairs.


Ask Bob: Auto Answer Man

A Flashing Brake Light
A brake light serves multiple purposes.

Over-Heating Engine
He's tried everything he knows to fix it. What else could it be?

No Heat
A number of things could be preventing his van from getting warm.

A Flat Battery
Looking to troubleshoot the cause.



Got a car care question?
Visit the Car Care Clinic

The Natural Handyman

Ice Dams
Using Calcium Chloride to save your roof.

Wood Finishes in Tight Places
Grandma's beauty secrets.

Painting Vinyl Siding
Is painting the best way to cover discoloration?

Toilet Refill Problems
Trouble getting a complete flush.




12 tips for renting a car with a debit card
Renting a car with no credit card can be done, but expect extra obstacles and costs. These tips can help you overcome them.

In default on car loan: What to do?
If you are in default on a car loan, but want to make amends, it might help to sit down with the lender and discuss possible payment options.

As time runs out, don't blow first-time home buyer tax credit
Running up credit card bills before closing can jeopardize that $8,000 tax break you were hoping would make you a first-time home buyer.

Don't let delinquent debt keep you from getting a mortgage
Getting serious about buying a house someday? Those delinquent debts have got to go or your dreams of homeownership may remain just that -- a dream.

Best to apply cash to credit card debt or down payment?
Is it wiser to use a lump sum of cash to pay off credit card debt or dump it into savings for a future house down payment?

How foreclosures, short sales, other mortgage defaults affect credit
How big a bite does a home foreclosure, short sale or other mortgage default take out of your credit score?



How to buy foreclosures at an auction
Regional home auctions are different from auctions at the courthouse. Here are tips for each.

Refinance can fund home improvement plans
A refinance or home equity line or loan can be used to fund home improvement plans.

When 'dream house' becomes horror home
Researching the neighborhood can prevent your dream house from becoming a house of horror.

What's ahead for the housing market?
Demographics may mean tomorrow's home will get smaller, cheaper and more energy-efficient.

Mortgage insurance won't last forever
Mortgage insurance premium payments will not hound a homeowner forever.

Foreclosure a stain on your credit report
Foreclosure smears your credit report and can kill your chances of snagging a future mortgage.

Which type of mortgage is best?
Shopping for a mortgage? Ask these questions about type of loan to fees and interest.

What's best mortgage for your lifestyle?
Take a look at the different types of mortgages on the market to decide which would be best for you.

Can't refinance without mortgage
You can't fund renovations with a refinance if there's no outstanding mortgage on the house.

4 questions on $6,500 home tax credit
Existing homeowners now have a shot at the new home tax credit. Is it the right move for you?

Homebuyers going cheaper, smaller, greener
The McMansion is yielding to an old-school spending ethic and a downsized homebuyer demographic.

New home loan modification rules coming
Need a home loan modification? In June, homeowners must provide financial documents upfront.

Auto insurance rates collide with credit
Humor columnist Jay MacDonald wonders why auto insurance companies want to know our credit scores.


Driving for Dollars

Toyota recall curtails available Camrys
Not all Camrys are part of the Toyota recall. Find out what you can and cannot buy.

Big 3 offer discounts after Toyota recall
The Toyota recall prompts Detroit to offer incentives to trade cars with the gas pedal problem.

Detroit Auto Show unveils new car styling
New car models, concepts and styling marked the Detroit Auto Show. Next stop: a showroom near you.

Low-mileage used cars bring best prices
There's no new car smell, but you can find the best prices on used cars with 5,000 to 6,000 miles.



Bankrate: Fighting Foreclosures

With the home equity bubble popping, consumers could find their homes in peril, especially those with adjustable-rate mortgages.

Fight Foreclosure
A number of factors started the housing mess but it ends with homeowners fighting to keep a roof over their heads.

8 Do's and Don'ts for Fighting Foreclosure
What to do and what to avoid in order to avert a financial disaster.

Mortgages: Mortgage Foreclosure Timeline for Day 1 through Day 415
Homeowners have several chances to stop the foreclosure process once it's started. Here are the details to help you keep your house.

Avoiding Foreclosure-Rescue Scams
The convergence of economic and political forces may soon bring about a home-equity version of the stock market crash of 1929.

Double Whammy: Foreclosure and Taxes
Losing your home in a foreclosure is bad enough. Wait until you get the tax bill.

Facing foreclosure? Try a Workout.
If you're in trouble with your mortgage, here are steps to take to work out a solution with your lender.

Foreclosure Counseling for Homeowners
Community organizations offer a less intimidating alternative to banks for homeowners trying to work through foreclosure.

Know-Your-Mortgage Worksheet
Can't keep the terms and conditions on your adjustable-rate mortgage straight? Use this work sheet to pull the key information together on one simple form.

Mortgage Reset Calculator
Do you know what your new mortgage payment will be when your rate adjusts? Use this calculator to find out what your payment would be if your rate was to adjust today.