They may short cut the fix, leave things wet, and create an environment for mold. letting an unqualified person work on electrical can be a huge liability if they get hurt or burn the place down.

I'm definitely interested in this topic and other forms of using our built environment to foster more connection and community rather than isolation.

Berkeley is a very different environment and I'd be way more careful there.  

All of them bid on the same contract, which is all-inclusive, and the average bid on our site is 28%.Is there a link to your home?

Rates were on a steady march up from 2002 to 2007, so we were actually in a rising rate environment, not a falling or exceptionally low rate environment.

That being said, in the current interest rate environment, I would lock in as much fixed debt as you can and avoid ARM's completely.  

I know its a different environment now, but I know there's something here for those of us who are willing to put in the time and be realistic with goals.

As it happens, very little interest would have gone out the door, given the low interest environment!

The option to buy a equipment that can yield a return, the option to buy rental property, the option for either myself or my wife to stay home with the kids, or even just the option to leave an abusive, negative work environment and not fear bill collectors.

You'll learn a lot just by being in the environment.