The Bay Area’s housing market has been extremely hot for some time now, but it has taken other parts of the country a while longer to get back on track from the recession. Now it seems that the rest of the nation has finally joined in the “house party.” The National Association of Realtors® reported this week that existing-home sales steadily increased for the third consecutive month in July, reaching the highest pace since before the recession in February 2007. Total existin

For many people, their house may be their biggest asset. But it also can be their biggest expense. That's true whether they're planning for retirement or even if they already are in retirement. So it's no wonder that many homeowners begin to think about selling their home and moving into a smaller one as they approach their golden years. Downsizing your home doesn't have to mean downsizing your lifestyle. Homes have steadily expanded over the years with the average home now m