with Dave Rusch and Steve Leventhal
On the October 2026 edition of Home Improvement USA we start with a question a lot of listeners ask as retirement gets closer. Should you buy a second home? Kiplinger’s rundown of what to know is a good starting point. It points out that a second-home mortgage typically carries a rate about half a point above a primary residence, and that maintenance on a newer place can run 1 to 4 percent of its value every year. Property taxes can also jump after a sale, and it’s worth staying in an area for an extended stretch before you commit.
Next we move to the roof over your head. A roofing company in Ontario put together a handy list of signs that a shingle roof is near the end. Shingles generally last 15 to 30 years. Curled or missing shingles, granules collecting in the gutters, daylight showing through in the attic, and higher energy bills all point toward a replacement. Their advice is to inspect twice a year, in spring and fall, and fix the small stuff early.
We wrap up with paint sprayers. Ron and Rich Cowgill join us to talk about what a sprayer can do for your next paint job, and whether it belongs in your garage.
Simply put, it’s a good month to look up, look around, and then pick up a brush (or a sprayer).
