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Some homeowners struggled to pay PACE improvement loans. The coronavirus made it harder

Charlene M. Brown

It wasn’t until the work was done that Marcelino and Josefina Rodriguez said they learned the truth.

They had been signed up for a roughly $45,000 PACE home improvement loan at nearly 10% interest — even though they said a woman working with the contractor told them their new roof and water heater would be free through a government program.

The Rodriguezes contacted the authorities, but the nearly $4,500 annual bill came due anyway — a financial hit for the household of four who scraped by on less than $30,000 each year as garment workers paid by the piece.

If

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Coronavirus Feeds Home Improvement Trend, Stocks to Count on

Charlene M. Brown

The COVID-19-induced shelter-at-home orders fuelled the need for home improvement by housebound Americans, thereby driving demand for the said industry.

The home improvement space includes Décor and indoor garden, Painting and wallpaper, Tools and hardware, Building materials, Lighting et al.  Apart from essentials, retailers in this industry are witnessing solid demand for gardening and other in-house activity-related products.

Although states are reopening and people are reporting back to work, the emergence of new cases triggers the fear of a second wave, only to remind us that the deadly virus is not going to subside anytime soon. Rather, the pandemic threat

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Grey walls and other home improvement trends that could decrease the value of your home

Charlene M. Brown
Dark grey walls are the top turn-off for potential buyers (Getty Images)
Dark grey walls are the top turn-off for potential buyers (Getty Images)

With the UK currently on coronavirus lockdown, many are looking to fill the time by taking on the home improvement jobs they’ve been putting off all year.

But before you decide to paint your kitchen cupboards on-trend blue or re-tile your bathroom with bold, patterned tiles, you might want to take a look at a new report which reveals some of the most popular interior design trends can be a major turn off for potential buyers.

For while grey walls, black taps and metro tiles might be

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