The real value of your house is that it is your home

The days of inflated real-estate prices are over and it's time to dial back our expectations to reality. Sure, real estate will always have intrinsic monetary value. But forget about borrowing against that value to sustain your lifestyle. "The problem with relying on home equity is that you are borrowing from Peter to pay Paul," Plechner says. "And like any type of credit, it is hardest to get when you need it most." You also need to take a hard look at the costs of running your home to try to find ways to save. On Plug your home's money leaks we offer advice on cutting your energy costs and ways to save on homeowners insurance without putting your home at risk.