Read any good books lately? Whether you’re doing it the old-fashioned way - actually holding a printed, bound edition - or sporting a new electronic reading device, summer is a great season to set aside time for reading.

You may enjoy relaxing on the beach and getting lost in a great story. Maybe novels aren’t your bag. Perhaps you prefer expanding your business horizons, wrapping your psyche around a self-help book or getting in tune with the infinite to engage in a soul-searching spiritual journey. Whatever your preference, there’s more to reading than being whisked away to lands unknown or creating self-talk that reminds you “today is the first day of the rest of your life.” Reading offers several bonuses that may or may not seem obvious to all.

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President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama may have rekindled a few practices Americans could latch onto. Mrs. Obama and her fashionable sleeveless dresses, and the President with his loose-fitting blue jeans, may start some new trends. Another trend is having the President’s mother-in-law reside with them in their new home, the White House. We’re told by the first family that this is an arrangement everyone agrees is beneficial to all family members.

The Obamas, like many other Baby Boomers in America, are finding themselves faced with the prospect of having their in-laws live near or with them. Rather than relegating grandma and grandpa to the spare bedroom or finished basement, homeowners are turning to adding what’s termed as an “in-law apartment.”

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Last fall while attending a home auction, Marilyn Mock innocently asked Tracy Orr if she was there to buy a house. In the blink of an eye, Tracy began crying and told Marilyn, strangers to one another, that her house was one of many being auctioned that day. Moments after their exchange, bidding began on Tracy’s house.

Tracy had fallen behind on her mortgage payments after losing her job. Purchased in 2004, her four-bedroom, two-bath home in Pottsboro, TX was within minutes of slipping away.

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The Reuters Wire Service reported last week that the Obama administration is considering a plan to allow homeowners that are behind in their mortgage payments the opportunity to stay put by becoming renters. In this plan, homeowners in arrears would forfeit ownership of their home, but would continue living on the property as a renter.

In one proposal, the federal government would pay lenders to sell the homes under foreclosure to a rental or nonprofit agency. Rent amounts would be determined by bankruptcy judges. Even though the property would be sold, the former owner’s rental lease would remain in force. The duration of the rental was not made clear.

It’s also been proposed that if at some point the previous owner should recover financially, they would be able to buy back the home. Such a plan could be especially beneficial to jobless homeowners trying to avoid foreclosure. Just where the funding for this program  would originate was not reported.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Treasury stated, “We are constantly reviewing new ways to help struggling homeowners and stabilize the housing market. This is just one idea among many that has been considered, but no decisions are imminent on this matter.”

TALK BACK: What do you think of this rent-to-own plan? Could it help homeowners who are behind on payments? Post your comments below.

Posted by Sharon Walker

I don’t own a Global Positioning System (GPS), but I’ve traveled with a few people who do. They really are quite helpful when traveling to unfamiliar locations - even when you ignore them and choose to deviate from their advice, they can recalibrate themselves and guide you to your destination.

As wonderful as that all is, some people with more devious desires have found a way to use your GPS to direct them to your home and burglarize it.

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Staycations may be all the rage, but I’m sure that some of you are taking a vacation away from home this summer. Whether you’re just a few miles away at the family cabin or enjoying the lap of luxury at some exotic oceanside resort, while you’re away you’re going to want to protect what’s yours on the home front. Taking just a few steps before your departure could ensure your home will be safe while you enjoy summer fun.

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U.S. Senator Bill Nelson, D-FL, has received a response from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that could produce a glimmer of hope for homeowners whose residences are full of Chinese drywall. Just last month, Senator Nelson sent a letter to the IRS asking for clarification on whether victims of  Chinese drywall might be able to deduct “casualty losses” under section 165(h) of the federal tax code.

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The surprising death of Michael Jackson has catapulted many into the reality that we are all mortal beings. As such, we are bound by the same laws of nature, whether we’re the self-proclaimed, middle-aged King of Pop or an adored middle-aged grandpop. I don’t mean to be a “Debbie Downer,” but as bizarre as it sounds, death is a fact of life. Paraphrasing Ben Franklin, death’s a certainty, right along with taxes. (In an attempt not to hit rock bottom here, I’ll save taxes for another blog.)

I bring this to mind as I have recently discovered in my readings of “all things eco-friendly” that in our earthly departure, we can take one final step toward lightening our carbon footprint.

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Buyers and sellers of homes each have their own objectives. Among them, buyers wish to purchase a house that fits their spacial needs, as well as their psychological needs. Sellers are looking to present their property in its best form and thus fulfill the buyer’s need for adequate space and showcase its potential for being aesthetically pleasing to the buyer’s particular taste.

Square footage is what it is. Short of putting on an addition or knocking out walls, there’s not much else that can be done to the structural living space of a home. Professional home stagers assist sellers with the layout of furniture and decorating accessories, giving the home a warm and homey look. There can, however, be one more step in the process: making your home more appealing using neuroachitecture.

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During this recession, everyone is looking for ways to save money by either lowering their costs or eliminating some expenditures. Home insurance is one of those expenses that doesn’t necessarily attract attention until it’s needed. Many homeowners have their yearly payments put into escrow and pay little mind to the actual premium cost. Others may receive annual billings and simply write a check, never giving the expense a second thought.

Insurance companies want their consumers to be proactive in keeping costs down by lowering risks. Some home improvements can lower premium costs for homeowners and reduce risks for your insurance company. The following suggestions represent a discount of anywhere between 5 to 20 percent off of your premium:

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