On March 2nd, 2010, President Obama unveiled a new plan, known as the HOMESTAR retrofit program. In the face of 25% unemployment rates in the construction sector, the "Cash for Caulkers" program will provide a boost to American manufacturing.

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Dealing with home contractors is easy as long as you know what to expect. Is it okay to set up a payment plan? What details should be included in the work proposal? Find this out and more to make this an easy process for yourself.

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If you are thinking about purchasing a fixer-upper or if you are currently living in a home that needs work, you may be considering your options for financing the costs of the repairs. With the current state of the real estate market, many lenders have considerably tightened their underwriting requirements, making it more difficult to qualify for a conventional home improvement loan than before. Even if you find a lender who is willing to loan you the money needed to fix up your home, these loans are typically more expensive than most mortgage loans, and you will have two monthly payments to keep up with. You may be surprised to learn that the FHA has programs available to help homeowners and prospective homeowners make the necessary repairs to their homes.

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Building a new home requires learning a new lexicon. The builder definitely has the advantage when presenting the construction contract to the homeowner. Learning some key terminology will help level the playing field.

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When dealing with remodeling contractors, homeowners can encounter the entire spectrum of humanity: from honest, hardworking tradespeople to scam artists looking to make a quick buck. But without being a licensed electrician, plumber, or carpenter, how can consumers tell good work from bad? Luckily, unethical contractors aren't the most creative lot, and their misbehavior tends to fall into certain predictable patterns.

If you are a homeowner or otherwise hire someone to perform work, here are five common rip-offs to watch out for.

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