Nice to know there are still lots of local homeowners out there with lots of money. We went to the Home Show, taking a free local special bus, and had a fun time. However, I was a little bothered by the expectations the booth and seminar presenters seemed to have:

"You want granite countertops, right? Stainless steel appliances?"

"The National Association of Realtors says that you get 3 dollars back for every 1 you put in your kitchen." (This I believe to be false, not just because it's the NAR originating this, but because the payback is more like 88.4%, and that's if you pay in cash, and sell within a year of the remodel.)

Pictures of remodels featured suburban McMansions with two-car or three-car garages.

So much that was outre, and status. All I want is a kitchen with a new ventilator hood that meets code regulations, and space for a dishwasher and a larger refrigerator. I don't need the island or recessed lighting. That should be about $33K-$36K.

We'll see what I can save up by August. Either I'll have finished my contract by then, or I'll be back at my old contract. My credit union had a booth at the show, and I asked about upping the HELOC to $45K. I'd have to reapply for that.

Edit: I saw that a Habitat for Humanity second-hand shop for home remodeling has opened this past week. I might visit and scout.