The Anxiety and Mystery Of Architect Fees. Most people have no clue how much it costs to hire an architect, and with good reason. The way most architects charge for their services is confusing.

Thornburg net jumps five-fold. Troubled mortgage lender Thornburg Mortgage Inc. said late Monday that its profit increased by more than five times in the second quarter, due to big one-time gains from the sale of assets and decreases in the..

New green townhomes in North Little Rock. A new development known as the CityGrove Townhomes unveils its first three-story unit in downtown North Little Rock in the Argenta area.

Charlie Sheen says wife is pregnant. A BOY, PLEASE: Charlie Sheen and his new wife Brooke Mueller are expecting their first child together.

Wall Street in nosedive. WALL Street tumbled today as fears about the economy intensified after data showing a modest rise in home sales also reflected falling prices and record housing inventories.

Paying in Full Upfront Leaves You With Nothing but Hope. Q: DEAR TIM: My kitchen cabinet remodel has turned into a disaster. I contracted the job through a national home-center chain, which demanded that I pay in advance for the entire job.

Relaxation, in Rotation. Many people can't imagine traveling to a summer house every weekend. But every third weekend? That seemed about right for Maureen and Larry Miller.

Stocked Up and Safe at Home. Whenever winds knock out the electricity in rural St. Mary's County, the lights stay on and the fridge keeps humming at Jackie St. Clair's waterfront home, thanks to an emergency generator out back.

A Solution to the Particleboard Problem? Particleboard has made veneered wood furniture, cabinetry and hardwood wall paneling affordable, although it's probably almost invisible in your home. Nonetheless, it's still a subject of controversy because of its health and environmental effects.

Home Sales in U.S. Rebounded From 17-Year Low in July; Inventory Fell. New-home sales in the U.S. improved in July from a 17-year low and construction cutbacks by builders reduced the glut of properties on the market by the most in almost five decades.

Real Estate Agent Accused Of Food, Change Thefts. Monroe, Conn. police have arrested a real estate agent accused of stealing change from a home she's trying to sell.

Getting Easier to Get Big Loans. The gears of the mortgage market are starting to unlock for borrowers needing big loans. In expensive markets such as Washington, that covers most people looking to refinance or move up from an entry-level home.

Home Front: Spring Cleaning, Curb Appeal, and Bathroom Vanities. Post Home staff editors Annie Groer and Jura Koncius are here to answer your decorating-related questions.

Real Estate Sales. Another down month in the real estate market in Maine. According to the Maine Real Estate Information System sales of single family existing home in the state slowed by 17.24 percent last month.

Recommended Reading, and Viewing, for Garden Lovers. Here are my picks for landscape-related reading this spring, as well as a couple of DVDs.

Showpiece House Harnesses Wisdom of the Ancients. Does the classical architectural style of ancient Greece and Rome have any relevance for today's homeowners? Did the builders of preindustrial-era houses develop climate-control techniques that could be adapted to today's houses?.

Do-It-Yourself. Q Our older house has beautiful wood floors that we want to sand and refinish, but we are looking for a solution to the gaps between many of the floor boards. Any suggestions? -- D. Penn.

Duke Realty continues to expand GE collaboration. Indianapolis-based developer Duke Realty has begun site work for office buildings on a 43-acre campus in suburban Cincinnati that will house 1,400 employees of the aerospace unit of General Electric Co.

Giving Ceramic Tile Color That Will Last. Q: DEAR TIM: Can you instruct me on how to paint ceramic tile? Money is tight now, and painting the tile is the only thing I can afford. Can you paint old ceramic tile so it won't peel? Is there a special ceramic tile paint?.

In the Lawn Debate, Plenty of Common Ground. Healthy turf offers more than a pretty green carpet and playing field. Lawn can protect against erosion, provide oxygen, trap pollution and even slow fire.