PEOPLE
Coldwell Banker leader receives award
Patricia Dahne, Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate's Miami-Dade County regional president, received the Valor Award from the American Diabetes Association for her community service.
( 08/03/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

RICHARD WHITE, Condo Line
Homeowners' capital improvement requires vote
Q. I am a director of our homeowners association who is having some difficulty defining the purpose and permissible uses of reserve funds. We are adhering to a reserve study and have created a large fund. Our finances are in very good condition and our budget looks good.
( 08/03/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

Need paint? Try it on
Portland, Ore.-based artist and color consultant Gretchen Schauffler sees no reason why shopping for paint shouldn't be as fun as shopping for lipstick.
( BY JURA KONCIUS, Washington Post Service, 08/03/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

DENNIS RADICE, Home Building
Buyer finds no new homes available at advertised price
Q. I have been looking for a new home.A nationally known builder, whom I thought to be one of the most reputable, has been advertising homes within my price range.
( 08/03/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

Graceful horseradish tree blooms year-round
Name: Horseradish tree. Botanical name: Moringa oleifera. Description: A delicate and small tree with an open canopy, drooping branches and compound leaves, the horseradish tree blooms off and on year-round with hundreds of small white flowers. The trunk and main stems are corky. It originated in northwest India. It is drought tolerant (the tree photographed is a street tree) and yet does well in the rainy season.
( 08/03/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

Many types of mangoes resistant to disease
Q. What mango varieties would you recommend if you could only plant two or three? Also, when can we plant citrus again? A. When deciding on a variety of mango to plant, choose ones that are resistant to anthracnose, a fungal disease that affects the appearance of the fruit and reduces fruit yield. Varieties that are fairly anthracnose resistant and have good flavor are Cambodiana, Cogshall, Cushman, Dot, Edward, Fairchild, Florigon, Glenn, Graham, Keitt, Nam Doc Mai, Saigon, Valencia Pride and Van...
( 08/03/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

Learn about the palms of Central America
The South Florida Palm Society will meet at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Fairchild Tropical Garden, 10901 Old Cutler Rd., Coral Gables. Speaker will be Mike Harris of the Palm Beach Palm and Cycad Society, who will give a slide presentation on the palms of Central America. A palm auction and seed distribution will follow. For additional information, call Ken Johnson at 305-248-6006.
( 08/03/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

Pitch a palm -- in seconds flat
We adore palm trees, but even in South Florida, they're still costly and grow slowly. Here's a fabulous fake with no such drawbacks: a seven-footer made of weather-proof green and yellow lights mounted on an aluminum frame. ''Sets up in minutes and folds flat for storage,'' promises Frontgate, catalog purveyor of upscale home accessories.
( BY ANNIE GROER, Washington Post Service, 08/03/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

ELLEN JAMES MARTIN, Smart Moves
Building a McMansion losing appeal; dream house designs stress character
Is bigger always better when you're building a dream house? Not according to an increasing number of those seeking custom-built homes, says Sarah Susanka, an architect and the leader of a movement that advocates more personalized design in residential construction.
( 08/03/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

JULIE GARTON-GOOD, Frugal Homeowner
Disadvantages of 'open listing' outweigh any gains
Q. I don't agree with your answer to the man who had several friends in the real estate business. When he chose one to list with, others got upset. The solution is really quite simple and is common practice in the marine/yacht field in which I work. The seller should give all agents an ''open listing'' so that each would have equal opportunity to sell the property and market it as she sees fit. I trust you will not be offended by this sensible solution.
( 08/03/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

HOT PROPERTY
Robert Blake's former home is up for sale
Alexandra Kingston, who plays Elizabeth Corday, a British doctor, on the NBC series ER, and her husband, German journalist Florian Haertel, have listed actor Robert Blake's former Studio City home at about $1.6 million now that they are nearing completion on its restoration.
( By RUTH RYON, Los Angeles Times Service, 08/03/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

Five key tactics to use, anticipate when negotiating
On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the best, how would you rate your negotiation skills? Unless you are an automobile salesperson, your negotiation ability probably ranks very low, maybe a one or two.
( BY ROBERT J. BRUSS, Special to The Herald, 08/03/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

REALTY MAILBAG
Money from sale need not be reinvested in another home
Q. What is the two out of five year home sale rule? I have owned and lived in my townhouse for two years. If I sell, do I have to roll all my equity into another house or will I be taxed on it? I bought the townhouse for about $190,000 and it recently appraised for $250,000. Or, would it be wise to refinance and take cash out? Will I be taxed on that cash?
( By ROBERT J. BRUSS, Special to The Herald, 08/03/2003 03:01 AM EDT)