Coupe Du Jour

The nimble new Scion FR-S sports coupe combines style and grace in a budget-minded package.

Are You Protected?

“The house is gone.” I’ll never forget those words – my father’s initial reaction after Hurricane Wilma tore across the Sunshine State in 2005. Our South Florida home was technically still standing, but we lost eight house windows, two glass doors, eight car windows and an arbor that collaps…

Cars that Can Go the Distance

Just as human life expectancy has risen dramatically in recent decades, our cars are lasting for many tens of thousands of miles more than they used to. Where the typical car lasted for only 6.75 years in 1930, today the average auto is still running strong after a record-high 10.8 years, ac…

Steering You Right With Sharon Peters

Q. Our 29-year-old salesman son says that this fall he’s going to buy a new Mercedes. When we expressed concern that he wasn’t quite in a financial position yet to be strapping himself to payments for a $40,000 car, he assured us that he’s aware of that and that this car is $29,000. We’re no…

“Ageless Attraction”

Rising interest rates or steeply escalating prices could dampen this housing market – and so could a wide generation gap.

Fatal Distractions

Don’t blame the phone or fast food, it seems we’re our own worst enemies when it comes to inattentive driving.

Jaguar Sighting?

Q. We were passed on the highway by a Jaguar that was a very un-Jaguar-like garish shade of blue. We immediately assumed it must be a custom paint job, and a quick search of the website showed no such color. Can you confirm?

Finding the Best Deals on Used Cars

Used vehicle prices remain high, so it pays to shop around for the best deal. But how far are you willing to drive to find a bargain?

Jack of All Trades

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Get the Low Down

No need to feel discouraged if you lack the recommended minimum down payment of 20 percent, experts say. Qualifying for a low down-payment loan can be challenging, but there are more available options than people think.

Qualify me

Bankers, builders and other stakeholders want to see customers qualify for loans – some are taking a proactive approach

Ask Our Broker

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The Next Generation: Personalized features and upgraded technology are must-haves for a new group of homebuyers

A generation that has grown used to the conveniences of touch-screen devices expects the same from their homes, a new survey shows. The survey, conducted on behalf of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, reveals that the next generation of homebuyers prefers customized smart homes to the tr…

Steering You Right With Sharon Peters Thinking Small and Scanning New Cars

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Casualties Rising Among Teen Drivers

Tougher licensing standards and better education are being encouraged to help reverse a troubling trend

Beware the lemon house

So-called “lemons” are consumer goods that fail quality and performance standards soon after purchased. Lemon laws (or warranties) protect consumers who buy defective products by offering a replacement or refund – but real estate is a different matter. In a market with many foreclosed, short…

What homebuyers want

Energy efficiency and open plans are at the top of the list

Today’s Coolest Cars, Tomorrow’s Hottest Collectibles

Some of the sportiest rides on the road may warrant a ‘buy and hold’ investment strategy

Sparking Your Interest, Mirror Images

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Now or Later?

Buy now or wait on the sideline? That’s the question many prospective home purchasers are asking nowadays, especially considering how mixed the messages have been in the media about whether or not this is a buyer’s market.

Ram-bunctious!

The redesigned Ram 1500 pickup comes in a wide variety of models, including a leather-clad version that’s especially ‘home on the range’

Avoiding Tragedy, 5-Star Safety Ratings

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The Real Estate of Marriage

Marriage and home buying seem to go hand in hand, as the National Association of Realtors recently reported the highest share of married couples and lowest share of single buyers in almost twelve years. Of all 2012 homebuyers, the NAR found that 65 percent were married and 16 percent were single.

Steering You Right With Sharon Peters: Brand Loyalty, Bright Ideas

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Refund Rewards

It’s finally spring! Here are 10 ways to roll your federal income tax refund into a cool used coupe or convertible for warm weather weekend excursions.

Remodeling Rebounds

The remodeling market may be waking up from the doldrums, according to a biennial report by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University (JCHSHU).

Save The FHA

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Should I Sell It Myself?

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Getting Short

Over the past year, no two words have been heating up the real estate world more than “short sales.” As RealtyTrac reports, short sales accounted for almost a third of all sales in 2012.

Stingray!

The Chevrolet Corvette turns 60 years old and celebrates with an all-new version of ‘America’s sports car’ this fall.

Steering You Right With Sharon Peters: Color & Shape

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Those who work from home may be eligible for an easier-to-claim tax deduction next year

For millions of Americans, “housework” has acquired a new meaning. Instead of picking up a mop, they grab a laptop and headphones and settle in at a desk.

The idea of “buying American” has spanned multiple industries in the past few years – and now, homebuilders are getting in on the act

For Gerald Rowlett, inspiration came from an email – specifically, an email detailing Montana-based builder Anders Lewendal’s project, “The All-American Home,” a house constructed entirely from materials and products made in the U.S.

Steering You Right With Sharon Peters: The Height of Efficiency

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Safety First?

No accidents equal lower rates, right? Not always. Find out why insurance rates aren’t solely determined by driving record.

Real estate is typically a person’s biggest investment. So why not invest some time in repair and maintenance?

According to a recent survey conducted by HomeAdvisor, online home repair and improvement resource, more than half of U.S. homeowners (53 percent) do not perform annual maintenance on their homes.

When it comes to environmental home hazards, you’re better off safe than sorry. Home inspections and detection systems are your first line of defense

Sometimes the biggest threats are what you can’t see – and that’s especially true inside the home.

A Dog’s Ride: What dog owners look for in a new vehicle.

If you think America is going to the dogs you’re probably right as an estimated 46.3 million U.S. households count at least one canine as a member of the family, according to the American Pet Products Association in Greenwich, Conn. What’s more, a recent survey conducted by Kelley Blue Book …

Steering You Right With Sharon Peters: Go, Go Gadget Legs

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Tomorrow’s Truck Today

Ford’s Atlas concept shows how future half-ton pickups can be both economical and purposeful.

Trying to Re- Refinance

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Inventory is low in many areas, so the perfect home is tough to find. But buyers who know exactly what they want are at an advantage

Homebuyers: Are you serious?

Remodeled attics and basements are most cost-effective projects

Look closely beneath the dust collected in your attic or basement and you may discover the perfect place for your next remodeling project.

The Greenest Cars on Earth

Save gas and help protect the environment by choosing any of the models deemed as being the most eco-friendly for 2013.

Coming Up Short

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Planning to give money to help someone buy a home? Make sure that gift comes wrapped in the proper paperwork

Gifts help the real estate world go ’round. Figures from the National Association of Realtors show that 24 percent of all first-time purchasers and 8 percent of all repeat buyers get a little help from family and friends. Without gift money, a large percentage of the real estate market would…

New survey shows many renters spend more than they make

Rent payments, utility bills, groceries and transportation – the numerous costs of living can make it difficult to stay on track financially.

Safest Family Cars for 2013

Several midsize models with the highest scores in recent crash tests, including one that some luxury cars failed

Not Foreclosed Yet

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Location still the most important feature for luxury homebuyers, and affluent women are now one of the most influential groups in real estate

“Location, location, location,” may be the three most important words of real estate – and that’s true for the average buyer as well as the luxury crowd. According to a recent report, 79 percent of luxury real estate agents say that location is the most important aspect for buyers looking at…