Housing Chatter delivers the news you need to know about current events in the housing market in simple terms. We have no political or institutional affiliations so you can be confident that our content and commentary is unbiased. Housing Chatter is brought to you by your professional Realtor®.

Seamless Hardwood Floor Repairs

Old hardwood floors are enchanting. They're made with tough old growth wood, featuring a tight, even grain that modern wood just can't match, and you can tell they were installed with craft and dedication by flooring experts who knew precisely what they were doing. While they're easy to admire, they can be tricky to restore and repair for the very reasons th ... Read More »

Spring Roof Maintenance Tips

SPRING HAS SPRUNG! My friends, I am so excited, because, honestly, I was kind of over winter. While of course snow and other delightful weather will be lingering across the country, the crocuses are out, the daffodils are going, and the birds are tweeting. While we're all rejoicing in the warmer weather and longer days, though, there's a problem: we can't ke ... Read More »

Banish Fruit Flies, Naturally!

Ugh, fruit flies. No one wants to see a little cloud of insects hovering around the kitchen, darting in and out of the garbage, or making merry in the compost. Yet, even in a clean house, fruit flies can start to multiply in the warmer months, coming out just around the time you're thinking about bringing out the sundresses and taking off the extra layer of ... Read More »

Congress Restores Subsidy for High-Risk Flood Insurance

Catastrophic damage to your home is probably one of your worst nightmares as a homeowner, whether you live in a blizzard-prone area, a region wracked by earthquakes, or a floodplain. The National Flood Insurance Program addresses at least one of those issues by providing subsidized insurance to homeowners who need coverage for homes at severe risk of floodin ... Read More »

Make the Most of Small Yards

Got a yard the size of a postage stamp? I used to live in a house where the deck space was bigger than the garden, which was barely big enough for a cat to turn around in (granted, I have a big cat). That didn't stop me from creating an amazing garden that got tons of compliments -- and looked way better than the neighbor's spacious garden. The trick to maki ... Read More »

Gardeners, Start Your Seedlings

Spring is springing, y'all, and it's FINALLY time to start your seedlings for your Cleveland garden if you haven't already. You want to get things going as soon as possible so you can transplant and start enjoying your own home-grown produce; why waste any more money at the store, right? Whether you're gardening for the first time or entering your fiftieth y ... Read More »

Store Food Right!

Growing and storing your own food is an excellent way to cut food costs and enjoy the bounty of spring and summer in the fall and winter, when your options might feel grim. Stocking up on meats, grains, and other supplies from the store can also be a great idea, ensuring that food is available when you need it, whether you're preparing for heavy weather that ... Read More »

Bust the Rust!

An old, rusty object can look picturesque, but you don't actually want rust taking over the objects you use and rely on every day, including tools, locks, fixtures, and so forth. The war between oxidation and exposed metal can run hot and heavy, but you don't have to stand on the sidelines: become a member of the ground forces and stop rust in its tracks. If ... Read More »

Sassy and Eco-Friendly Window Treatments

The first thing I tend to do when I move into a new home is hang up some window treatments. I like my privacy, thank you very much, and I also like to filter and control light levels for maximum comfort! In my office, that means a nice rollerblind so I can cut the glare when the sun is peeping in as I try to work, while in the living room, I go for sheers to ... Read More »

BPA-Free Plastics May Not Be Safe

In 2008, the news burst on the media everywhere: common plastics contained potentially dangerous levels of bisphenol a (BPA) an additive that could be hazardous to consumer health. It leached into food and drinks, especially when plastics were warmed, posing a risk in baby bottles, water bottles, plastic storage containers, and more. The plastics industry wa ... Read More »