MORE STORIES

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  Falling for fountains

  Water makes a pretty sight and adds soothing sounds
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  Hot property: L.A.

  Jodie Foster lists home in Hollywood Hills

  Academy Award-winning actress Jodie Foster has listed a home in Hollywood Hills West for $6.399 million.
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  What’s new

  Robot cleans your windows

  There are robots to clean your floors and robots to mow your lawn. Now there’s a robot to wash your windows.
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  Buying a home

  Author of ‘The Just Right Home’ shares tips

  Marianne Cusato’s new book The Just Right Home (Workman, $12.95) deals with a question that’s more complicated than it might seem: Where should I live? The book mixes personal finance advice, self-help and tips for navigating the real estate market. At a time when the economy and housing bust have made it tougher to get out of a place that’s not right for you, it’s more important than ever to pick the right home, Cusato says.
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  Eric Dyer’s furniture collection aims to makes homes liveable, comfortable

  When Eric Dyer was 11 years old, he sat inside his aunt’s house reading her books and magazines on architecture while friends played outside.

• Washington Report

  Someone is watching home buyers

  You can call it Big Brother. You can call it high-tech snooping. But be aware: If you are applying for a mortgage in the coming weeks, you can be sure that your credit will be checked and re-checked — possibly monitored daily — to make certain no hints of new debts pop up before you close on the loan.
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  Fairchild’s tropical garden column

  Choose an ornamental for more than just good looks

  Beauty alone isn’t always enough. If you’re looking to plant an ornamental, find one that offers plenty of benefits besides a striking appearance.
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  Energy savers

  Highly efficient ‘passive homes’ gain ground in U.S.

  After decades of near silence, a passive voice is making itself heard in American architecture.

• Condo Line

  Allowing foreclosure a big mistake

  I normally suggest that you contact an attorney, but it appears that it is too late for the foreclosure. Here is a fact of which you may not be aware: you are still obligated for the mortgage, regardless of foreclosure or sale of the home by the HOA. Foreclosure does not eliminate the first mortgage and you cannot sell the obligation to others. The new group that has made an offer will not eliminate your obligation to the note (mortgage) and other debts. My only suggestion is that you try to pay your obligations, including the HOA fees and legal costs, or move out and hope that the bank will forgive the mortgage debt. Also, you may be obligated to the IRS for any forgiveness of debt. That possibility will require that you talk to a tax attorney or a CPA. Thinking that you can just walk away from your debts is a misconception, as they will still be outstanding for years. The bottom line is that you have made a miserable choice and will live with it for years to come. Q. I believe you were a speaker at the last Communities of Excellence awards ceremony in St. Petersburg (www.communitiesofexcellence.net) and you asked a question that I would like to share with my committee. You asked, “In a disaster what is the responsibility of the manager, the board and the owners?” Can you expand on this?

• Living Smart

  Setting limits with pet fencing

  Ah, the family pet. A source of great joy, deep camaraderie and yes, at least occasional frustration.
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  Self improvement

  Home organizer Peter Walsh says mind is key to clutter control

  Peter Walsh believes America’s clutter problem isn’t in our basements or our garages or our overstuffed closets.
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  What’s new

  What’s new: Tools designed for women; craft books for Trekkies

  A Copley, Ohio, businesswoman has created a line of gardening tools designed for women’s hands.
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  Hot Property: L.A.

  Willis seeks action on Beverly Hills estate

  Actor Bruce Willis has entered the fray in the Westside’s action-packed housing market, listing his Beverly Hills mansion at $22 million.
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  Home decor

  Scandinavian style is perfect fit for spring

  Give your place a Scandinavian vibe with textiles, accessories and furniture pieces
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  Raising the bar

  Creating cocktails in the garden

  Shake things up in the backyard this summer: Cocktail gardening puts a new twist on edible landscaping.

• Washington Report

  Growing appeal for 10-year loans

  A move to shortening of mortgage terms appears to be accelerating.

• Living smart

  Summer air-conditioning care

  If last year’s record temperatures were any indication — 2012 ranks as one of the hottest years on record — you can plan to once again crank up your home’s air conditioner this summer.
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  Green construction

  Salvaged goods from old buildings gaining in popularity

  When Key Biscayne’s Rusty Pelican restaurant underwent a five-month, $7 million remodeling in 2011, Derek Shambora received a call from a general contractor working the site.
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  Small + smart = a great house

  Terence Conran is a British designer, author, developer and entrepreneur who already has plenty of professional titles to fill a business card, but he could probably add “amateur philosopher” to the list. This sideline talent emerges in the introduction of his latest book, How to Live in Small Spaces. As the title suggests, the book deals with home designs and strategies for square footage at the lower end of the scale. No mega-mansions on these pages, which instead feature homes modest in size but rich in livability.

• Condo Line

  HOA board spends without approval

  You are feeling the pain of a board that has little oversight by the members. My guess is that very few members attend the meetings and really understand who the best candidates are. The problem is that the board sees this lack of supervision and submissive attitude by the members and does what it pleases. Unfortunately, there is no outside help such as a state agency. You must start a grassroots campaign to elect better directors. It is good that you fear the unaccounted expenses and want to see if you can stop these actions by the board.Q. Our HOA documents state that each home is to be maintained in a quality condition by each owner. We received a letter that strongly intimated we had to use a specific brand of paint. Three years past, we used a better quality paint than was recommended at that time and many owners who used the recommended paint have had failure of the paint. Now comes the board again forcing all homes to repaint using a recommended contractor and specific brand of paint. We would like a legal opinion as to whether the HOA board has the authority to order us to use the contractor and brand of paint.

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