Overview of window replacementMany homeowners put off replacing the windows in their residence for years at a time, because they don't want to waste the money on new windows or seize the time for installation to be completed. As new windows can be fairly costly, they can also save you a lot of money spent on heating and cooling bills and will also make the exterior of your house more beautiful than it was before. Old windows actually take away from the whole look of the house, make new window installation an investment that will beautify the house and add value to it, as well.Replacing the windows in your house doesn't have to place you in the poor house; you can do it in such a way that it will be reasonable, and you would get the windows that you want. With a little maintenance and correct installation, you can sure extend the life of your new windows, so that you need not have to replace them for many years, if ever. Windows are varying and becoming more resourceful all the time, and today, there are great products on the market that are fairly affordable and will give protection from the elements for as long as you like.Who Should Consider Replacement Windows House owners can consider replacement windows, if they have already tried many times to repair their outdated windows to no avail. The problem with most of the drafty windows is that they are simply outdated or the installation was less perfect. This is usually something that cannot be repaired. The aged single pane windows are not all that effective, efall. No one wants to buy a house worth $250,000 today only to find out that it's worth $200,000 six months from now.Unemployment UncertaintyThen there's the uncertainty in the labor market. The national unemployment rate has shown little indication that it will fall below the 9.5-percent mark any time soon. This has made potential homebuyers justifiably nervous. It's understandable that you might not want to take on the commitment of a monthly mortgage loan payment when you're not sure if you'll still have your steady job next week, next month, or next year. Those thousand-dollar-plus payments aren't easy to make when you're out of work.The nation's high unemployment rate is one of the biggest factors in its equally high foreclosure rate. RealtyTrac, a foreclosure-information Web site, reported that 2.8 million properties in the United States received foreclosure filings in 2009, an all-time record.Home Affordable Modification ProgramThese very bleak reasons are why the federal government created its Home Affordable Modification Program. Under this program, mortgage lenders and banks receive financial incentives to lower the monthly mortgage payments of homeowners struggling to pay their home loans. The government designed the program to stem the tide of foreclosures. Unfortunately, it hasn't worked; the government's goal was to help 3 to 4 million homeowners avoid losing their homes. The program, though, hasn't come even close to this figure.You don't want to become a future housing-foreclosure statistic. Yet, you do want the benefits of a home, including elbow room, privacy, and your own outdoor space. Thanks to rent to own houses, you can get this.Rent to Own a Trial RunConsider signing a rent to own agreement as a trial run for homeownership. When you work out such an arrangement, you lear