Empty Trusts: Estate Planning Mistake #1 Q: I created a revocable trust so that my three kids won’t have to deal with probate when I die as I did with my parents’ home. How do I get my mortgaged home into the trust, or does it need to be? A: We think you’ve made a [...]
Revocable Trust: Get It Right the First Time Q: We had created a revocable trust to hold title to a family home back in 2007. The attorney that created the trust for us has since retired. We need to make some minute, simple changes to the trust. Our son has since married and has two [...]
Timeshares 2025: Buying, Selling, Trading Up During the winter, our readers are more interested in buying, selling, or trading timeshares. It’s been a cold winter in much of the country. Snow in Jacksonville, Florida, anyone? If you’re considering one, you’ll want to read this before you go to the so-called “free” lunch. How Difficult Are [...]
HOA Complaints: Who Pays for Patching and Repainting? Q: I love your column and read it weekly. I live in a mid-sized condo building in Chicago. Last year the common roof above my unit leaked and caused ceiling damage to my unit in several large areas, which required drywall repair, patching and repainting. When I [...]
Paying Taxes on a Home Owned with Kids Q: Our daughter and son-in-law lived in and paid all related expenses for three years in a home we purchased together. They recently sold the home. Could you tell us how we can report this on our federal tax return? If not, can you tell us where [...]
Unpaid Home Loan Reader wants her fair share after siblings failed to repay loans to mother's estate Q: My mother told me directly that the home loans my sisters and brother received from her would be taken out of their inheritance. My mother passed away 10 years ago. I just found out that my siblings [...]
Foreclosure Sale Cuts Off Homeownership Prospects Q: I’m ignorant of real estate law so this may be off base. Maybe you can tell us if we’re correct to be angry. My son moved back to Virginia last year. He was pre-approved for a loan, got a real estate agent, and began looking at homes. Over [...]
Neighbor Problems: Renovation Noise Q: I enjoy reading your column. I’d like your input. A new owner bought an upstairs condo. Their unit is right above my condo. They’ve been renovating their unit every day, Monday through Friday from 8:00am until 5:00pm. It’s been like this for four months. There is no end in sight. [...]
Radon Test Before Listing Home For Sale Before Listing Your Home for Sale, Take Care of the Small Stuff. And, Have a Radon Test Q: This isn’t a question, but a comment/suggestion. I read one of your columns on your website talking about taking care of the small stuff when it comes time to list [...]
Due-On-Sale Clauses Can due-on-sale clauses prohibit the transfer of property with loans to spouses or children? Q: The Garn-St. Germain Act prohibits enforcement of a due-on-sale clause in a transfer where the spouse or children of the borrower become an owner of the property. Does the "transfer" mean inherit, or does it also include "sale" [...]
