Month: September 2015

FHA Loans Are Difficult to Obtain

Julia
29-what-is-a-fha-loanMost large banks have curtailed FHA-backed loans in the past two years because of concerns about credit and legal risks.

The rollback among big banks follows harsh penalties meted out by the Justice Department , which accused many banks of putting FHA on the hook for shoddy loans in the years leading up to the mortgage meltdown. Market shares at BB&T, Bank of America, Fifth Third Bancorp, Flagstar Bank, M&T Bank, Regions Financial and Wells Fargo have all declined in the past two years, the data shows. Read more →

Faucets for Home Chefs

Julia

faucetsHome chefs with commercial-grade appliances can complete the look with restaurant-style kitchen faucets.

These industrial-style fixtures have spouts nearly twice as high as normal faucets to fit tall pots or a large stack of plates underneath. The faucets typically have a detachable sprayer wrapped in a flexible spring coil.

While many homeowners are drawn to the faucets’ industrial-look, some balk at their large size, says Tim Maicher, director of marketing at Blanco, a high-end faucet maker. The early models were so large that “the faucet would swing around like a loose fire hose,” says Mr. Maicher. To remedy this, Blanco and other manufacturers introduced slightly smaller versions, with the option of a hidden coil.

Here are a few different styles for varying budgets: Read more →