Upgrades may be on the rise

The downturn in home sales may signal an uptick in home improvements as owners, content to stay put, plan projects to make their homes more livable, attractive or valuable.

Upgrades -- if done well -- can add monetary and intrinsic value to a home. That’s good for homeowners when buyers eventually knock at the door.

How to pay for everything from materials to contractor services? This may bring the old standby, the home equity loan, into favor for many homeowners.

The silver lining is that even as homeowners sit on the real estate sidelines, most home values continue to build.

And as that value piles up more money is available for improvements.