Publication Date: Wednesday, July 20, 2005

It's a mad, mad, mad, mad market
Frantic buyers try to cope with escalating bidding wars

Dealing with disappointment
In a hot real-estate market, not everyone wins

Remodel for resale?
Think twice before making expensive changes

Buy or rent?
In the long term, buying can pay off

Building booming again
If homeowners can't buy, they'll remodel

Affordable local housing
Below market rate units offer new hope for ownership

Need a building permit?
That depends on where you live and what you're doing

Remote control
Vacation homes are more than an investment

Hidden dangers
Cracks and slopes can indicate a need for a stronger foundation

Buying/selling in a bubble?

The Greenhouse
Close to shopping, surrounded by open space

Rent Watch

On the cover: Hundreds of people attended open houses in the last couple of months, and buyers had to act fast to successfully acquire a new house. Photo by Norbert von der Groeben

Editor: Carol Blitzer
Contributing Editor: Sue Dremann
Designer: Bill Murray