Dallas investor Dean Lontos rode the recent real estate boom, one house at a time.

The former lender started buying houses as an investor in January 2006 to cash in on what he saw as a booming market. After renovating them, he resold for a tidy profit.

And business was good. Entrepreneurs like Mr. Lontos carved out niches in the expanding industry, while homeownership opened up to more Americans than ever.

But the subprime mortgage woes that have hit lenders and hedge funds around the world are making their way onto the balance sheets of businesspeople like Mr. Lontos as well.

Shares of Accredited Home Lenders Holding Co. soared 18% on Wednesday after the San Diego-based sub-prime mortgage company reached a $296-million agreement to be acquired by private equity firm Lone Star Funds, replacing a higher-priced deal that collapsed last month.

Dallas-based Lone Star agreed to pay $11.75 a share for Accredited. The price is less than the $15.10 that the buyout firm agreed to pay in June but is higher than Lone Star’s revised offer three weeks ago of $8.50.

Accredited shares jumped $1.78 to $11.56.

Controlling ‘Cling’ Wrap

Plastic wrap or cling wrap often gets wasted as it tears apart or
sticks together. A simple solution that I found is to keep it in the
freezer. It pulls apart easily with no more wasted wrap.
Angie

Spot Free Dishes

Instead of buying expensive spot eliminators for the dishwasher (i.e.
Jet Dry), fill the reservoir with plain white household vinegar. It
works just as well and it is much cheaper. It’s probably better for the
environment as well.
Lorre J. in Phoenix, AZ

Easy Dusting