Have you ever driven through a new neighborhood only to turn the corner, and there it is...your dream home? But, darn your luck, this dream home isn't for sale. While the majority of us drive away, saddened, some people leave determined to make this home theirs - whether it's for sale now or not.

And often, with the help of a great agent, they'll do just that.

For real estate agents, it's a form of cold calling: The clients point out an unlisted home they love, and the agent plays matchmaker, contacting the homeowners to see if they're prepared to sell.

Some homeowners won't budge, but for others, there may be incentive to sell. They may have considered selling but haven't started the process. The house may have been on the market previously. Or, maybe the owner decides to jump at the opportunity.

If you're interested in a property that isn't for sale, here are some strategies:

• Research both the property and its owner; public records or old real estate listings can give you an idea of value.
• If you decide you're serious about approaching the owner, your best bet is to ask your agent to do so on your behalf. It will show the owner you're seriously interested. Consider sending or having your agent give the owner a handwritten letter, expressing why you're interested. It will help personalize the process.
• Be aware that you'll likely end up paying a premium for a house that isn't officially for sale.

But inside, she was all doubt, unease, and trouble. She struggled with her self-image, comparing her body with everyone else’s in the entertainment industry. Then came an eating disorder and the destructive cycle of self-hate that followed. “Why am I not okay?” she wondered. “I have everything.” Her dreams on stage, television, and film all continued to come true, but satisfaction and peace eluded her. Then she met a woman who offered something she didn’t think was even possible.

Ah summer. Is there anything better than sitting on the deck with family and friends, cold drink in hand and burgers sizzling on the BBQ? Yes, your patio is calling. Unfortunately, it's calling for help. If your deck isn't up to the demands of another busy summer season, why not give it the TLC it deserves? And while you're at it, make it special with some of the latest fixes guaranteed to turn a has-been deck into a happening spot.

Add some variety

Try mixing and matching to revitalize your deck. Your railing doesn't have to be made from the same material as the flooring; a metal or iron railing provides instant contrast to your existing deck. Or add post caps. These are versatile and available in any color or size to top off your perfect railing.

Nature calls

If you don't need to overhaul the structure, accessorize; why not add some multi-functional furniture, lights, or nature to your deck? Instead of building a railing around a low-lying deck, surround it with a hedge for a private, colorful solution that is relatively maintenance-free.

Light up the night

If you already have a gazebo on your deck, try lining the inside with net lights. These tiny lights aren't just for Christmas anymore; for a small investment, you can add an intimate glow that will extend the use of your deck through summer well into fall.

Outdoor life is what summer is all about; this year, why not make your deck outdoor central?

Empty nester? Starting a family? Anxious to move closer to downtown?

They're all good reasons to want to move. But be sure you've thought it through. These tips may help:

Ask an experienced real estate agent how much you should expect to get for your home and if fix-ups are required.

• Put together a budget that includes all costs - not just those involved in purchasing a new home, but also costs you'll incur in preparing your home for sale.
• Decide whether you can afford the home you want. Signs point to a possible increase in interest rates within the next year. Try several rate scenarios to ensure you can handle the payments when rates do increase.

Selling and house hunting can be stressful, but your team - real estate agent, lawyer, home inspector and lender - can help make it easier.

With the rise of on-demand everything, there is going to be a massive shift in how people find and share dining experiences and a return to simply building relationships over a good meal.

"Social cooking" has become the new way to entertain, as everything from cooking parties and gourmet groups to those blasts from the past, potluck suppers and fondue experiences, are bringing foodies together at home.

We're seeing the rise of cooking "events," attended by groups of friends.

Celebrating a birthday or promotion? You can hire a local chef to demonstrate techniques and help attendees craft their special meal at home.

Or a group of like-minded foodies can get together to prepare a meal, then sit down to enjoy the fruits of their labors.

Even easier - and just as much fun - are potluck suppers.

Once the purview of young couples who couldn't afford to wine and dine friends on their own, a potluck supper now becomes a showcase for guests' signature dishes and an opportunity to try something new.

Many guests bring copies of their recipes to share.

The fondue party is another retro alternative. But with a twenty-first-century twist. Today's foodies have switched up the 60s throwback, beef fondue, to make it healthier; strips of raw beef and veggies are cooked in beef stock - not boiling oil as before - then dipped in healthy sauces such as guacamole.

With social cooking, the focus is on the food and the company, not so much the environment. This mindset marks a shift in how we think about entertaining.

Perhaps with "foodtainment" gaining popularity through TV shows such as The Chew, we now see cooking as a way to connect in an old/new way.

Hosting a fondue party may make food the center of activity, but the conversation is wide ranging, there's lots of laughter, and maybe even a trivia game to play during dinner.

And not a smartphone in sight.

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"Increasingly, online technologies are driving offline behaviors," noted Patrick Grandinetti, head of real estate for Google, "and homebuying is no exception."

Buyers screen homes on the Internet

The study indicated that nine out of ten home buyers turned to the Internet during their home search. Although half launched their search online, they quickly moved offline; 76 percent viewed or drove by a home they’d first seen on the Internet.

The real estate industry is very much on side. For players, it’s all about providing buyers with new tools to access property and neighborhood information, and rather than discouraging personal interface between buyer and real estate agent, most purchasers still seek out agents for their experience and expertise; interestingly, almost one-third found their agent online.

"See" your planned renovation online

It doesn’t stop there. Recently, there’s been a boom in remodeling projects, and, of course, there’s an app for that. Homeowners contemplating a renovation have turned to the Internet for advice for several years. But new approaches by sites such as Zillow Digs and Houzz are changing the dynamics. Both offer platforms for consumers, design professionals, product manufacturers, and architects to interact as part of a visually-focused online community. You can share photos of products or designs with your architect or contractor or "meet" with the designer online and book your re-build right then and there. As one consumer, whose remodeled kitchen was designed by an architect she met on Houzz, notes: "It’s positively addictive."

Google’s Grandinetti would likely agree. For him and other experts, it’s just another example of online technology driving offline behavior.

Pending and existing home sales declined slightly in April, while inventory continues to increase.

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