Declining home values coupled with high fuel costs are leading many to reconsider how they spent their money. Many homeowners now owe more than the current value of their house and cannot move until home values rebound. What does a homeowner do until then?

Summer often inspires the desire to remodel. Warm breezes blow through the windows to dry fresh coats of paint, and backyard picnics offer relaxing respite between projects. But beyond the weather, a shifting economy is also causing homeowners to remodel and make repairs.

This winter, Americans will face higher utility bills than ever before. Here are some steps you can take to help bring them down.

Long gone are the days when homeowners were satisfied with a simple deck, a beat-up grill and some basic patio furniture. Now the trend brings living rooms, baths, home spas, full kitchens and even meditation rooms into the great outdoors. Stone fireplaces, built-in grills, water features, multiple levels for patios and decks, hot tubs and even flat-screen TVs - all the luxurious appointments of indoor life are finding their way into outdoor environments.

Even though fire sprinkler technology has been saving lives in commercial property, hotels and hospitals for 100 plus years, most people don't realize the same technology is available to protect their homes. If you're thinking of buying, building or remodeling a home now is the time to learn about this state-of-the-art fire protection.

Adding onto your home adds value, but when economic times are tough, big home improvement projects are often not in the budget. However, there are ways to extend your living space to the outdoors with the added benefit of saving energy for less than the cost of an addition.

Has the charm of having a backyard pool worn off for you? Here are some ways to make it fun again.