[SmilingTeapot]

Dear helpers,

Here is a synopsis of the answers for this question:

Original sentence which is in the past tense:

The light and sun and stars BELONGED to me in that place where anyone, looking in the window, WOULD find a stranger, an un-known.

Meaning of the word would in the sentence:

they would (definitely, probably) find a stranger.
The modal auxiliary would means is likely to.

Suggestion of the sentence put into the present tense:

The light and sun and stars BELONG to me in that place where anyone, looking in the window, WOULD find a stranger, an un-known.

I don't know when I need to modify the modal "would" to change a past tense sentence into the present tense. In the previous sentence, the modal "would" stayed. In the following example, "would" becomes "will."

I knew that he would be in time. << past tense
I know that he will be in time. << present tense

What do I need to look to know whether or not I need to change the modal?

Thanks in advance,

SmilingTeapot