Rose Knows The Poconos

One of the biggest responsibilities a child—or a family—can take on is adopting a dog as a pet.

Feeding, walking, grooming and cleaning up after a dog are daily responsibilities that everyone can do, and will also help teach children how to take care of something they love. For parents, however, there’s the extra task of paying for all the costs associated with the dog.

Here are some of the primary expenses of owning a dog that a family should consider before bringing one home:

A recent report from the Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS)—a collaboration between the Harvard Graduate School of Design and the Harvard Kennedy School—states that today's homeowners want to take greater action to address healthy-home issues; however, they face obstacles such as lack of trustworthy, clear, and actionable information. In a related blog, report co-author Mariel Wolfson says the housing industry must do better demonstrating and responding to consumer demand.

One of the biggest obstacles for first-time homebuyers is saving for a down payment - it’s a nut that seems insurmountable to many. The first mistake new homebuyers make is believing that they must have 20 percent to put down on a home, when (depending on your credit and the loan terms) you can usually put down much less.

While older homes are full of charm, characteristics and nuances that won’t be found in a newly constructed home, the odds are good that unless there have been some major upgrades over the years, its energy efficiency rating will be nowhere near that of a new home.

Next to Thanksgiving and Christmas, Labor Day is one of the busiest driving days of the year. As families pack their cars and head to the beach for some last-minute summer sun, the roads can become quite busy.

Here’s how to make the most of your trip, and get to your destination safely and efficiently!

If you’re searching for a home to buy, you probably know by now that a lot goes into that all-important offer you make on the house you’ve finally decided is the one for you. Hopefully, you’ve connected with a professional, informed real estate agent who has great knowledge of the local market and has been able to advise you on the best offer to make, based on a comparative market analysis and other factors.

Want to switch up your interior space for the fall? Consider adding a touch of color with these autumnal schemes.

Earth-toned living 

Varying shades of earth-toned pieces can elevate your interior without requiring you to make drastic changes. An easy way to do this is by incorporating outdoor elements like decorative leaves and branches.

Cobalt blue and red