WASHINGTON POST REALTY NEWS For Modern Whimsy, A Reach Back to Towers and Turrets In the collection of magazine clips and photographs that Faye Guercio gave her architect for her home renovation, she began to notice an inadvertent recurrence of turrets and towers. It wasn't long before she realized she wanted one, too. Pouring Cash Into the Bath Every home seller who's serious about the job knows that scrubbing, de-cluttering, and all manner of primping are mandatory. But how far should you go in making expensive repairs to a bathroom? Lessons of Arlington's Urban Development Needn't Be Just History The phenomenal metamorphosis of Arlington County's Rosslyn-Ballston corridor, among the region's most dramatic real estate transformations, teaches a timely lesson: Successful urban revitalization requires long-range planning and long-range public investment that sparks private investment. Never Pay In Advance To Fix Your Credit Picture this: You're eager to take advantage of today's troubled real estate market and buy a foreclosed house at a fire-sale price. But you don't have much money for a down payment. And your credit files are scuffed up with late payments. Out-of-Whack Appraisals Lead to a Dispute Over the Deposit Q. I recently entered into a contract to buy a house, but the deal went bad because the house did not appraise for the negotiated price. Equity Losses Aren't Felt Evenly As a homeowner, seller or buyer, what should you make of the Federal Reserve's latest report on Americans' declining home-equity positions? Where Short Sales Stumble Here's what's really happening with short sales: All too often, they fall short of the finish line. Room to Roam, and Float, in Anne Arundel It did not take Dan Hurston long to get involved in his new neighborhood. Hurston moved about two years ago to Annapolis Landing in Riva and is already vice president of the homeowners association. Chat Plus Real estate editor Maryann Haggerty and columnist Elizabeth Razzi respond to a question adapted from a recent online chat. Kyle Davis Mobile 703.801.8460 Select Properties

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