[Times photo: John Pendygraft] Most pool tables are bulky and ugly, but they don’t have to be, say two designers who came up with a sleek contemporary version. Story

Home Front
Cool mesh wagon

Learn all about associations
CLEARWATER -- A free course on Florida condominium association operations will be from 9 a.m. to noon May 20 at the Holiday Inn Select, 3535 Ulmerton Road in Clearwater.

Community Living: Keep mold to minimum with help from friends
Question: We have spent the winters in our condo in Florida for six years. When we arrived this year we found mold all over the walls in our guest bedroom and laundry area, caused by a leak above us. Our condo association says we are responsible for our personal property, including the carpets. The board says we should file a claim with our insurance company to cover the cost of cleanup and repair. We have a $500 deductible. What about the mold in my bathroom?

Spring cleaning tips
Start from top to bottom. Begin cleaning ceiling fans and light fixtures before cleaning furniture, windows and carpets.

House Values
St. Petersburg

Homebuyer U
Those who find buying a home complicated and confusing can attend "Insider Home-buying Strategies," a free seminar presented by Realtors Janice Lockridge-Williams and Nancy Burridge of Keller Williams Landmark Realty of St. Petersburg, 7 p.m. May 23 at Gladden Park Recreation Center, 3901 30th Ave. N., St. Petersburg. Learn how lenders determine what kind of loan will be offered, how to better determine your credit worthiness, how to determine layout and furnishing needs to find a perfectly suited home and make a better home purchase, and other topics. Handouts and notebook provided; to reserve, call (727) 422-7169 or (727) 894-1600, ext. 122, during business hours.

 

St. Petersburg Times real estate classified ads:

Regional real estate links:
Tampa Bay Homes - Search local MLS listings, a service of Tampabay.com.
Florida Home Builders - features Florida developers with Web sites.

Other real estate links:
Cost of Living calculator: compares the cost of living in any two cities. Also includes links to Salary Calculator and Moving Calculator among other tools.
Home Buyer and Renter Consumer Information: From the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Home Buying Tips: from the U.S. Government General Services Administration.
Realtor.com: includes info on buying and selling real estate, allows you to browse property ads in the U.S. and locate realtors.