Remodeling projects pay off, especially a tax-friendly new door

The best kind of house to own is one that needs love. Even in the current downtrodden market, the price for a fixer-upper is significantly less than you'll pay for a home on which someone has lavished attention.

The good thing about buying a fixer-upper is you're not paying extra for someone else's idea of what looks great. You can put your own stamp on the property – make it just the way you like it – and still not spend as much as you'd probably pay if you bought the nicest house in the neighborhood.