The housing market today is made up of two types of sellers: those who must sell and those who would like to sell. In many cases, those who must sell are having difficulty dealing with the devaluation of their home. Taking on costly improvement projects may not gain any additional value to their property.

If, however, you’re not in a hurry to make a move, perhaps investing in a few home improvements may not only provide added value down the road, but also lift your aesthetic spirits while you wait out the housing “storm.”

There are several issues to keep in mind when planning home improvements. Certainly high on many homeowners’ lists is cost. Big-ticket improvements may be desired, but not fiscally prudent at this time. With the uncertainty of the economy, you may wish to implement a few upgrades that are more in line with “sprucing up” your home.

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Next to the American economy, one of the most talked-about topics these days is the environment. Every form of media has issued countless pieces on steps we are taking and those we need to take to “save our planet.” The eagle is off the endangered species list, but Earth seems to have taken its place.

With all the clatter from adults on the subject, what do you suppose children are hearing? Certainly our schools are doing their part to talk to our children about such matters, but is this another one of those topics handed over to educators like sex and drugs? Are parents really ready to abdicate their responsibility to lead by example and teach their own children about the important concepts related to the very survival of this planet? We’ve seen how successful educators have been with the two aforementioned topics, so I’m thinking the answer is obvious: Absolutely not!

“But,” you say, “how do I go about that?” So glad you asked.

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At the back entrance to my house I have a small plaque that reads:

“There is always, always, always something to be thankful for.”

Aside from ending with a preposition, which Winston Churchill said is a practice “up with which I will not put,” and I don’t much care for either, it’s a wonderful reminder to me that I need to peel back all the veneer of my life and get back to basics.

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So glad you’re back! Let’s get right to those tips that can save you money on your energy bills. If you missed Part I (tips 1 through 7), you can read it here.

8. Eliminate door and window leaks. Check around doors, windows and fireplaces that may be drafty. There’s a number of ways to reduce the leakage: caulking, weather stripping, plastic insulation film and door draft blockers. Any home improvement store should carry most of the above. Draft blockers can even be homemade. A step up from towels and rags under doors, you can make a number of these draft blockers for very little cost using fabric from the remnant bin at any fabric store. They are reusable, and if you’re into seasonal decorating, you can whip up blockers with snowmen for the winter months, autumn-colored leaves for the fall and bright floral material for the spring and summer. (These blockers are useful during the summer if you have air conditioning.)

9. Keep your water heater “comfy cozy.” 

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Just two short months ago, our local and national news media were reporting that like our gas prices, our home heating bills were going to be skyrocketing this winter. In light of that dismal bit of news, my husband and I have been planning ways to cut the cost of this year’s home heating bills. We haven’t been as proactive as we could have been, especially because we live in an older home.

Built in 1929, and having had only one previous owner before us, the inside of the house is in remarkably good shape. In fact, many of the windows were replaced even before we moved in 17 years ago. Nonetheless, there are a number of steps we can take to take the “fro$tbite” out of winter - at least when it comes to our energy bills. I offer them for your consideration.

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I really loathe this quote. It’s such a downer and so cynical - never mind that it’s so true. It doesn’t begin to lift my spirits or offer any hope. And hope is what we in the real estate world need, especially these days.

Whether or not you agree with the government’s October bailout program, it is, in fact, a reality. Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac are going to be working with delinquent homeowners to get them back on track so they can keep their homes. JPMorgan Chase & Co, Bank of America Corp and Citicorp are also falling in line to offer mortgage loan modifications to those who qualify.

Qualify - therein lies the rub.

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Aside from price, home buyers customarily have a laundry list of “needs” they would like to see fulfilled when purchasing a new home. Certainly there are those common factors, such as number of bedrooms and bathrooms, square footage, garage size, etc. There are often community desires as well, like high-ranking schools, reasonable taxes and accessible shopping, to name a few. During the years, these amenities have remained fairly constant.

The new millennium has brought to light an additional necessity: broadband availability.

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It’s just a few weeks before Thanksgiving, the beginning of what I call “Family Season.” Thoughts turn to gathering together with relatives and friends around a full and festive meal. It’s a time for preparation, not only inside but outside of your house as well.

This time of year, the outdoors hosts a number of wonderful aromas and experiences. There’s nothing like stepping out on an autumn Saturday morning to be met by the cool, fresh air that has the crispness of a Granny Smith apple. It can be invigorating and motivating. Here’s where you can spend some free time with your family and tackle some of those yard chores you’ve been putting off.

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I’m a Baby Boomer, born to parents who lived during the Great Depression. My mother was a very young girl during the Depression’s early years; my dad was in his late teens. Each walked away with different perspectives.

My mom always considered her family poor, living in rural Fargo, ND. My dad grew up in somewhat better circumstances on the island of Saint Croix, in the Virgin Islands. He was a Danish citizen until the U.S. purchased the islands in 1927 and he came to the States.

Marrying after World War II, they lived simply in Chicago in a one-bedroom apartment until I came along. My sister followed a couple of years later.

We were a family of modest means that thought nothing of eating leftovers. We were taught to throw garbage (litter) in trash cans and to pick up after ourselves in public places. Our week off of school in April was not referred to as “Spring Break,” but Clean-Up Week. Kids from our block got together to sweep sidewalks and curbs and eliminate trash. We were even given a certificate from the City of Chicago for our contributions.

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It’s been 25 years since my first experience as a home buyer. We were thrilled to find a house that was in our price range, met our family needs and was in a desirable neighborhood. My recollection of that purchase may be somewhat rose-colored, but the biggest concern I remember having was whether the owner was going to accept our offer, and if we had any competition. As it turned out, both of those were non-issues.

Jettison to today’s home buying situation. My newlywed daughter and her husband are living in the home he has owned for several years prior to their marriage. Recently they began looking at larger homes outside the city limits with a few acres of land. I got a call from her after they made an offer on a house, in which she expressed her anxiety over the whole process.

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