| Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Key Takeaways As the housing market slows, more homeowners are choosing to improve their current homes. Online sales and purchases of $500 or more continue to increase for Lowe’s. The company is working to improve efficiency and market penetration to help grow its business. Lowe’s has been Home Depot’s little, perhaps understated, brother in the home improvement marketplace for some time. While management has tried to replace its rival as the top retailer in the space, it has consistently come up short. This holiday season, there is renewed hope that Lowe’s can overcome its standing as the second-largest home improvement retailer. Here…