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  Inside 5 Luxury Retirement Communities

  Luxury amenities are making a comeback -- even at recession-era prices.

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  Second Home Seeks Triple Return

  House of the Day: A family hopes to sell the second home they bought in Hong Kong's Mid-Levels for three times what they paid for 11 years ago. The apartment, renovated two years ago, is on the market for 42 million Hong Kong dollars (US$5.4 million).

• Regulators Push 20% Home Deposits

  Banking regulators are pushing for mortgage-lending rules that require homeowners to make minimum 20% down payments on loans classified as lower-risk.

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  Fannie, Freddie in Dividend Bind

  Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are borrowing from the Treasury to pay the Treasury: The two mortgage behemoths still ask the Treasury Department every quarter for billions of dollars in cash, most of it going right back out the door to pay dividends to the same U.S. agency.

  • Loan Mod Programs Struggle
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  Building Safety Probed in Christchurch

  Codes that determine building safety in New Zealand have provoked debate among experts who say many buildings weren't properly reinforced after last year's earthquake.

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  Only 1 in 4 Got Mortgage Relief

  Just one in four of the 2.7 million homeowners who sought to participate in the Obama administration's signature mortgage assistance program have succeeded in getting their monthly payments reduced.

  • Loan Mod Programs Struggle

• The Great Mortgage Race Is On

  If you've been sitting on the fence trying to decide whether to buy a new house or refinance a mortgage, you should act soon. Here's why.

• Five Signs That Say 'Buy'

  The national housing market still seems shaky, but what about your area? The following yardsticks can help you gauge whether your neighborhood is poised for a comeback.

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  Lessons Learned

  Planners of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory facility in Golden, Colo., set out to make it the greenest office building in the nation. They discovered a lot about what works—and what doesn't work.

  • A Deeper Shade of Green

• 10 Steps to More Efficient Buildings

  Experts' top recommendations for simple and often inexpensive ways to cut down on energy consumption in commercial structures.

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  Cities of the Sky

  From Dubai to Chongqing to Honduras, the Silk Road of the future is taking shape in urban developments based on airport hubs. Welcome to the world of the "aerotropolis."

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  Of Angling and Antlers

  This Adirondack lodge in Elizabethtown, NY was built in 1901-02 as part of the summer compound for William Kingsley, a New York banker who became president of the U.S. Trust Company. It's asking $690,000.

  • Photos: A Traditional Adirondack Lodge
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  Buy Now, Pay Later

  The cost of energy-efficiency upgrades can be a big deterrent. But new financing programs help homeowners and businesses make improvements—without shelling out big money upfront.

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  It's Turbine vs. Turbine in Reno

  The city of Reno has installed nine wind turbines around town to let residents—and potential shoppers—compare their performance.

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  Why 2011 May Be the End of the Housing Crash

  There might be some good news about the nation's housing market. Home prices may be approaching their post-crash bottom, say some housing experts. The trick is avoiding getting burned again, and it doesn't necessarily mean owning a home.

  • Why 2011 May Be the End of the Housing Crash

• Not Your Grandma's Patterned Carpet

• Aspen Estate Lists for $48.5 Million

• Home Sellers Need Inspections, Too

• Log Cabins

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  Banks Bristle at Mortgage-Loan Plan

• Subscriber Content Read Preview

  SEC Probe of Freddie Mac Deepens

• U.S. Mortgage Rates Ease

• Subscriber Content Read Preview

  Lowe's New Landscape

House of the Day

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  Second Home Seeks Triple Return

  House of the Day: A family hopes to sell the second home they bought in Hong Kong's Mid-Levels for three times what they paid for 11 years ago. The apartment, renovated two years ago, is on the market for 42 million Hong Kong dollars (US$5.4 million).

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  Arizona 'Bird's Nest'

  The sweeping views offered by this roughly 4,700-square-foot home in Carefree, Ariz., inspired the owners to call it the "Bird's Nest."

  • Visit the House of the Day homepage.

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  Fun House in Westchester

  From the tree house to the expansive basement with a wine cellar and media room, the owners think of this house in Westchester County as the "ultimate playdate destination for kids and adults."

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  Fulham Home

  Lee Wilson bought this six-bedroom residence in West London in 2008 and completely renovated it, adding around 1,800 square feet through extensions.