A lot of people who over-improved did a cash-out refinancing when rates were at a low, expecting housing prices to continue going up and up. But in some places, like the Midwest, prices have already stopped climbing.

These days, projects are expensive. You don't have to do a lot of remodeling to spend a lot of money. What usually happens is you'll get a leak in your bathroom and you figure it's a good time to do a remodel. It's magnificent when it's done, but suddenly the rest of the house looks pretty shabby. There's a snowball effect where one remodeling project tends to lead to another.

When something goes wrong -- and it always does -- you'll appreciate working with someone you feel comfortable with.

Whenever you make changes it costs extra money.

Coverage of golf's most prestigious tournament was filled with odes to Augusta, plus numerous shots of the picture-postcard setting, bees pollinating and what the host called "azaleas screaming at you and dogwoods whispering to you."

The first thing a television viewer realizes when watching a golf tournament is how the sport tends to make one inclined to whisper and avoid sudden movements, such as walking to the refrigerator [during] a possible birdie putt.