Go to Blockbuster and rent The Money Pit.
Good luck! My first house was a shack I bought for $4,000 (yes you are reading that correctly). Two rooms and an out house. I added 4 more rooms (removed the out house) and sold it seven years later for $14,000. I broke even.
The next house I bought in the city (Rochacha) and sold four years later for a gain of $16K - not shabby.
The third house I stayed in for about 15 years. To honest, I lost money on all that I put into it, but enjoyed living there.
My current house I have easily sunk $20K into over the last 5 years, but it was very well spent. When I go to sell it one day, I am sure I will have a small gain over investment, but the quality of life that accompanies the house cannot be priced.
Now stop reading and go pack or I am telling your wife!