Go variable -- if you can stomach it

There are savings to be had if you're mortgage shopping

Holders of variable rate mortgages can rest easy, for now. The Bank of Canada held its trend-setting policy rate at one per cent last week, and most economists believe there will be no increase until at least December and possibly next . . .

Posted: 2010-10-30

No-mortgage move not always the smartest

If in the enviable position of being able to buy a house for cash or pay off the mortgage in full, many Canadians would do it rather than keep a mortgage and invest the cash elsewhere. In Canada, we have been . . .

Posted: 2010-10-30

Low-cost luxury

Economical materials make KDR creation an affordable winner

It's quite the quandary: trying to figure out how to make a 2, 672-square-foot, two-storey home -- found in one of Bridgwater Forest's more exclusive areas -- relatively affordable. In order to do that, KDR Design Builders' Diego Vassallo and his . . .

Posted: 2010-10-30

Fortress of solitude

To call this family-friendly getaway a cottage would be a grave injustice

It's an atypical Manitoba fall day in mid-October: a gentle breeze blowing, sunlight filtering gently through a thin haze of clouds above. As you lope down a large expanse of well-manicured lawn toward a (thankfully) benign-looking Lake Winnipeg, waves lapping . . .

Posted: 2010-10-30

Are you ready to carry two mortgages?

Doing well in the housing market can be all about timing. Ideally, you want to have a buyer for your existing home, purchase the new place, and move smoothly from the old abode to your new dream home. Of course, it . . .

Posted: 2010-10-30

Best view in North America

Dragons' Den condo offers breathtaking Vancouver scenery

They talk it up on CBC's Dragons' Den, but do they live it up at home? Here's an­other look at the lairs of the five business moguls who bring hope -- and fear -- to entrepreneurs across Canada. Today: Jim . . .

Posted: 2010-10-23

Pop the cork

Eco-friendly flooring is worth celebrating

CORK isn’t just for bulletin boards anymore. Today, the environmentally friendly product is making inroads as the flooring of choice for a growing number of homeowners. And it’s making a stylish statement at the same time in a range of colours, from . . .

Posted: 2010-10-23

From boring to beautiful

Keep pattern in mind when planning your space

Our feature photograph, courtesy of Dulux Australia-Linen House, touts a contemporary bedroom that is understated yet dramatic. There isn't a lot of colour in the room yet it still catches your eye. What gives this room personality is pattern. The various . . .

Posted: 2010-10-23

Attic hatch in garage ceiling an issue

QUESTION: A previous column of yours has me thinking about my own garage. It is not attached, the walls are 10 feet high and I have finished insulating them with R12 fibreglass. The ceiling joists are covered with three-quarter-inch sheeting . . .

Posted: 2010-10-23

Vinegar a powerful antibacterial agent

QUESTION: This is a letter regarding one of your previous household solutions which was to add half a cup of white vinegar to wash loads. Would the vinegar not kill the soap? I tried it, and the wash turned out . . .

Posted: 2010-10-23