Kaine Homes | Homebuying Tips

Southern Maryland Real Estate | New Construction

“Unlike other house builders, who build houses on a cookie counter mentality, Kaine allowed us to do massive changes to the internal architectural design at no additional cost.”

—Roger and Nancy Poole

HOMEBUYING TIPS

Homebuilding is not only a major financial commitment, but it is also emotional, and often times a bit overwhelming. In her lively, accessible style, Katherine Salant—our Harvard-trained new home expert—is here to help you make better home-buying decisions, step-by-step, on every aspect of home design and construction.

Katherine is Harvard-trained in architecture, beginning her career as a Fulbright scholar, studying village houses in Nepal. She's been a National Endowment for the Arts Professional Fellow and winner of the prestigious University of Missouri Lifestyle Journalism Award.

Select from the articles below to read Katherine’s helpful home-buying tips.

06/01/2007	Hidden costs of owning a new home
05/18/2007	Don't overlook durability when house shopping
05/04/2007	A television in every room
04/20/2007	Imagine a world where every house is 'visitable'
04/06/2007	Cost per square foot: a flawed way to measure value
03/23/2007	InSync Home not your typical McMansion
03/09/2007	Florida home puts new spin on efficiency
02/23/2007	Family intimacy erodes in big homes
02/09/2007	Will a bigger house make me happy?
01/26/2007	Green building's surprising energy savings
01/12/2007	Super-sized homes fuel global warming
12/29/2006	Allure of the postwar ranch house
12/15/2006	Children's fantasies become home design reality
12/01/2006	Relocating home tough on children
11/17/2006	By-the-book approach to house design
11/03/2006	Golf course living: a retiree's dream
10/20/2006	Home builder reinvents communal California living
10/06/2006	Why designing a home is a high-stress job
08/11/2006	Designing home wreaks havoc on marriage
07/28/2006	Handcrafted accents gain popularity among home buyers
07/14/2006	Urban timber's value overlooked by homeowners, builders
06/30/2006	Indonesian influence takes kitchen cabinetry to new level
06/16/2006	Kitchen and bath show unveils unique inventions
06/02/2006	Green building benefits start to grow on builders
05/19/2006	Suburban real estate wreaks havoc on resources
05/05/2006	Best kitchens are all in the layout
04/21/2006	Dogs make their mark on home design
04/07/2006	New DVDs showcase green building at its simplest
03/24/2006	A garage door 'to die for'
03/10/2006	'Reality House' takes room layout to a new level
01/27/2006	Comfortable home is in the details
01/13/2006	Building a house that eats less energy
12/30/2005	Jazz up your yard with famous flora
12/16/2005	Planning your home for wheelchair accessibility
12/02/2005	Solar Decathlon provides lessons for home builders
11/18/2005	Students prove solar-powered utopia does exist
10/21/2005	Professional movers take the sting out of senior downsizing
10/07/2005	Interior designers reshape real estate buying
09/23/2005	Childproof family room doesn't have to be 'Plain Jane'
09/09/2005	Senior co-ops: The new housing rage
08/26/2005	Historic French villa plagued by design problems
08/12/2005	Multigenerational families search for sanity under one roof
07/29/2005	Countertop manufacturers use chemistry to their advantage
07/15/2005	New ranges, cabinetry improve kitchen design
07/01/2005	Technology reinvents new-home construction
06/17/2005	Toilet technology takes a turn for the better
06/03/2005	More faux materials pop up in new-home construction
05/20/2005	How to find the perfect chair
05/06/2005	Designing a small house to 'live large'
04/22/2005	Home makeover craze hits the garage
04/08/2005	The right chair for your home office
03/25/2005	Sink some time and money into your home office
03/11/2005	'Not So Big House' not so cheap
02/25/2005	Portrait of a modern home
02/11/2005	Building a 'green' house
01/28/2005	Designing the perfect home office
01/14/2005	Home storage takes spotlight at design forum
12/31/2004	Design features make home life easier
12/17/2004	Raising your home design IQ
12/03/2004	Architect-designed homes provide more bang for the buck
11/19/2004	Kitchen cabinetry gets overhauled
11/19/2004	A refresher course in new-home design
11/05/2004	New laundry appliances worth paying extra for
10/22/2004	Consumers put kitchen appliances to the test
10/08/2004	Divvying up family possessions: A lesson in diplomacy
07/02/2004	Water filters inspire homeowner health
06/18/2004	Is my drinking water really safe?
06/04/2004	New books pay homage to green real estate
05/21/2004	Designing party space fit for a king
05/07/2004	Range hood brings Mother's Day smile
04/23/2004	House design for a friendly family
04/09/2004	Home builders attempt to clean up the air
03/26/2004	Zero Energy House reinvents resource efficiency
03/12/2004	How do I cope with a noisy second-floor exercise room?
02/27/2004	'Ultimate Family Home' solves space, interaction problems
02/13/2004	Townhouse community may be 'wave of the future'
01/30/2004	Carpet industry embraces recycled materials
01/16/2004	Real estate appraiser 'central' to mortgage process
01/02/2004	Newlyweds face roadblock in keeping tidy home
12/19/2003	Water conservation reduces homeowner burden
12/05/2003	Wiring a home for the 21st century
11/21/2003	Privacy a crucial issue in stepfamily's home
11/07/2003	New-home planning brings stepfamily closer
10/24/2003	Drawing the line on kitchen design
10/10/2003	Nuclear family living inspires second-unit design
09/26/2003	Browse model homes without kids in tow
09/12/2003	Design options for the new-home buyer
08/29/2003	Planning a home for the future
08/15/2003	How to avoid home-building heartaches
08/01/2003	Cohousing community basks in unity
07/18/2003	Cohousing residents put on developer's pants
07/08/2003	More than just a pretty kitchen