Pay attention to the reserve fund. All associations have a reserve fund set aside that they can draw from on a rainy day. Its value should be proportionate to the size of building and cost of repairs they may be facing. A reserve fund totalling $100,000 for a large condominium is about one tenth what it should be. When expensive repairs have to be done and the reserve fund is not adequate, unit owners are subject to an increase in dues.

It can be difficult to establish a design flow in a room that has multi-functional use. For example, take a family room that is used by various family members to watch television, play video games, access the family computer and do crafts.

In today's real estate market, buyers have a definite advantage. Attractive interest rates, plenty of inventory to choose from, and best of all, sellers eager to do business make this your time to shine. Here are some tips to help you take advantage of this rare opportunity known as a "buyers' market".

Like a scene from the "Lords of Dogtown" a popular movie describing the history of skateboarding in California, local boarders are taking advantage of empty swimming pools in foreclosed houses. Armed with gas powered pumps, buckets, shovels and brooms, these avid skaters locate empty pools, clean out any water or debris, creating their own personal skatepark.

In the Hamptons, New York's playground for such financiers and celebrities as Edgar Bronfman, Steven Spielberg, and Blackstone Group CEO Steven Schwarzman, home sales fell 41 percent in December. The median home price slid from $800,000 to $690,000 in a matter of one year. Real estate inventory increased by 19 percent and is not moving.

Leaks do silent damage to a home. Something as small as a loose trap or clogged drain can go undetected for months; leaking water into your cabinets, between your walls, or under your floors and causing extensive, costly damage. An external leak in an irrigation system can quietly waste more than 100 gallons of water each day.