Buying a house in another state: How to view the property without visiting. This homebuyer doesn’t want to make the trip if it’s not for an active listing. Q: Can you give me any advice on how to make it easier to look for a house when you live in a different state? I live [...]
Buying a house that had work done without a permit: What you need to know. This owner wants to know how they should proceed when sellers had work done on the home without a permit. Q: I've always been told that when buying a house I should ask to see any building permits to make [...]
How much did Americans spend on groceries during COVID-19? The average weekly grocery bill increased by nearly 20 percent in 2020. In the early days of COVID-19, grocery store aisles were emptied of pasta, canned vegetables and toilet paper as Americans hunkered down for quarantine. In fact, our publisher, Ilyce Glink, just dug into a [...]
Top 5 bathroom trends for 2021. These are the most popular styles, features and finishes homeowners are using in bathroom renovations and remodels. Millions of homeowners have spared no expense modernizing bathrooms to be more accessible, spa-like and high-tech in recent years. Between 2017 and 2019, an estimated 5.6 million homeowners spent about $37.3 billion [...]
Why pocket listings are a disservice to home sellers. This reader had an agent who used a pocket listing to market exclusively to a religious community. Q: I’ve been following your discussion of pocket listings with interest. I had an unfortunate experience with a broker who used a pocket listing to try to sell my [...]
How to resolve title issues. This reader sold one property but the closing attorney used the legal description for two and they need to get it fixed. Q: Earlier this year, I sold my house through a real estate company. I then moved next door to a rental home I own. A few months later, [...]
What to know about transferring property to beneficiaries. This reader wants to know if it’s better to transfer the title or go through probate. Q: I’ve enjoyed reading your recent article in our local newspaper on the differences between using a will and a quitclaim deed in order to pass property to heirs or family [...]
Is mortgage interest deductible in 2020? These homeowners have always deducted mortgage interest but their tax software is rejecting the entry this year. Q: Is mortgage interest still deductible on our federal income taxes? Is there something new that I am not aware of? Is there some reason to not have a mortgage that is [...]
What’s scarier than buying a haunted house? Approximately 70 percent of Americans believe in the supernatural, but most of them are more afraid of this. Halloween is just around the corner and the spooky season is in full swing. While you and your family are watching some classic horror movies (Poltergeist, The Amityville Horror or [...]
How to find the best lender for your mortgage refinance. This is what lenders are looking for and how to get the best deal on your mortgage refinance. Q: Is it possible for you to refer me to a mortgage lender? I'm a single woman who would like to refinance the condominium I’ve lived in [...]
