1. Plug air leaks with caulking, sealing, or weather stripping. Save 10 percent ($190 per year) or more on energy bills. Focus on windows, doors, outlets or switch plates on exterior walls.
 
2. Properly maintain the heating system. Heating accounts for half the average family’s energy bill (approximately $950 per year). Make sure the furnace or [...]

Although August home sales in the San Francisco Bay Area were only slightly lower than a year ago, the region’s median home price plunged to lows not seen since January 2004, real estate information service DataQuick reported Thursday.
The nine-county region saw a total of 7,232 new and resale houses and condos sold last month, down [...]