To Entice Borrowers, Banks Sweeten Home-Equity Offers

To Entice Borrowers, Banks Sweeten Home-Equity Offers
Rising short-term interest rates have slowed the growth in home-equity lending a popular way for homeowners to turn rising property values into extra cash. In response, lenders are cutting rates and adding lock-in options.

Toil in the Soil: Running A Garden-Related Biz
Gardeners turn their love for plants and getting their hands dirty into money-making ventures.

Can Co-Owners Get a Break On Taxes When Uses Differ?
Jane Hodges offers advice to a reader on the tax implications of sharing a home used as a primary residence by one owner and a vacation home by the other.

Discount Real-Estate Brokers Spark a War Over Commissions
A fight between Cleveland's real-estate establishment and a scrappy discount broker shows the tough tactics underway as the industry's traditional model of commissions comes under attack and the Web brings increased competition.