How those contractor days have changed!

Can you remember just how difficult it was to find a good contractor 2 years ago? And even the contractors I had worked with for 5 years, were rarely returning my first phone call. Talk about the best of times. Now that the market has turned, you can find great remodeling talent as great prices. And here is the kicker they are even willing to negotiate. Amazing.

Jennifer Openshaw of MarketWatch.com gives some great tips on securing a contractor in a buyers market! Now, if you want to take advantage of the current housing misfortunes to buy real estate, such as perhaps a foreclosure, all kinds of help can be found. Real-estate professionals are lined up waiting for your phone call, and Web-based services such as Zillow, RealtyTrac, and the National Association of Realtors are waiting for your mouse clicks.

All well and good if you're buying real estate, but what about finding a contractor? Here's a 15-minute tour of the basics. Full Story.