Afew years ago, Joel Bickley and his partner started thinking about trading up from their two-story 1930s Dutch Colonial Revival in east Montrose.

By the time they found a house both loved, Bickley, a real estate agent, had seen his income shrink along with the housing market. So instead of buying, the couple decided to stay put and renovate.

Over the next year, he and his partner, Roland Maldonado, expect to spend up to $80,000 remodeling their kitchen and bathrooms, in addition to putting in new windows, insulation and a roof — some of which they’ve already had done.

click here for article