 | Moving Up?
What You Need to Consider to Accommodate Your Growing Family
 One of the most common reasons to buy a home is to accommodate your growing family. Perhaps you want to live in a neighborhood with better schools and more services, or maybe you need a bigger house as the two of you turns into three and then four.
In fact, in a recent study by the National Association of Home Builders, some 64 percent of respondents agreed with the statement: "I wish my home were larger." The other two top concerns are price and finding the right neighbor-
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hood.
If you have a young family and are ready to make the jump from your entry level home, or if you've been renting and are embarking on the purchase of your
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How To Get the Goods
On 'Regreening'
 It makes good sense to go green when you make home improvements and renovate your home.
Green remodeling, dubbed "regreening," includes design and construction that reduces the environmental impact of the work itself. That includes the impact on energy, water, and materials consumption; waste generation; and harmful emissions -- indoors and out -- according to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
The council also says a green home is one that uses less energy, water and natural resources; creates less waste, and is healthier for the people who live there.
If being politically correct isn't enough to make you see green, with today's attention to global warming, consider this: regreening can also increase the amount of green backs you get when you sell your home.
But how can you be sure the green approach you use is the best green you can find for your home improvement?
To assist homeowners who want to
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ID Theft Hits Home
 A growing number of crooks who steal your identity don't swipe your personal information to pilfer from your financial accounts.
They want to get their hands on your home and snatch it right out from under you.
Modern day malefactors are mindful of the fact that while you may have quite a stash to swipe from your savings, credit and investment accounts, chances are your home is your most valuable asset.
You can, however, protect your home from a heist by taking measured preventative steps.
The Federal Bureau of Investigations recently reported the new scourge of "house stealing", a marriage between mortgage fraud and identity theft (ID theft), both of which are now staples of organized criminal activity.
Here's the basic house stealing scam:
 A grifter chooses a house and assumes the identity of the homeowner, often using the Internet to obtain personal information. The information is used to create fake identification papers.
The culprit then transfers the deed into his or her name using forged documents, signatures and fake identification, but by filing the paperwork with the proper authorities. Now they "own" the home.
In one variation, the house thief steals
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Floored By Old Decor?
 Flooring can be one of the easiest ways to give your home a new and improved look. But it can be expensive, which is why it's important to choose wisely so that you don't get stuck with something you'll soon rip out.
Pulling out old flooring and putting in a stylish, comfortable floor can spice up an old home instantly. Before you get to the fun part -- choosing colors, textures, and types of flooring -- take into consideration what you expect from the flooring.
For instance, if you're re-flooring your kitchen, make sure you opt for something that is water resistant and can handle spills. In the hallways and playrooms, you're likely to be more concerned with a
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