Next Generation of Home Improvement Focuses on Baby Boomers.

--There are currently more than 85 million people over the age of 50 in the U.S. and this number is increasing rapidly. Each day, some 10,000 Americans reach the half-century mark and their ranks will swell to more than 118 million by 2020. As the population ages, their housing needs will change, in some cases significantly. The Home Depot and AARP are teaming up to offer free workshops to teach older homeowners about improvements - from simple enhancements to full-scale overhauls that can help them live independently for years to come.

What are people saying about mortgages today:

Rates on 30-year mortgages edged down last week to a seven-month low. Mortgage-giant Freddie Mac reported Thursday that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to 6.3 percent, down slightly from 6.31 percent two weeks ago. It put rates at the lowest level since they were at 6.24 percent the first week of March.

Bank of Hawaii, Central Pacific Bank, Territorial Savings Bank and Wells Fargo Home Mortgages all cut their 30-year mortgage rates to 5.75 percent this week.

Most people think of a mortgage as a means to an end. After all, you buy a house, not a home loan. But a mortgage is much more than the path to homeownership. It is a financial instrument that must be managed, just like any other financial investment.