Q: We bought our current home six months ago but the pre-sale marketing photos and information are still available on many real estate sites, along with the final sale price. Is there any way to have those photos and information pulled down either by us or by the seller’s real estate agent? What Information About [...]
Is the condo board responsible for enforcing association rules? You’d expect your HOA to maintain the rules, but what happens when they make special arrangements for a new owner? Q: What is the condominium board's responsibility for enforcing our condo homeowner’s association's rules/regulations? For example, our association limits the number of dogs to no more [...]
Are Millennials Buying Homes? Millennials now have the largest share of new mortgages by dollar volume, but most of them have regrets about buying a home. Are Millennials buying homes? It looks like the answer is yes: Millennials are finally becoming homeowners. Millennials now account for the largest share of new mortgages by dollar volume [...]
Why are property taxes calculated differently by each town? This is a complicated question but boils down to what type of taxation approach your town decides to employ. Q: I live in a state where property taxes are calculated differently by each town. My question is why is the calculation a three-step approach rather than [...]
What is a deed of trust? This document often confuses homeowners, especially after they pay off their mortgage. Here’s what you need to know. Q: Thank you for your recent article about transferring ownership of a home among family owners. My question is simpler. I recently paid off my mortgage and received a Certificate of [...]
Are you ever too old to buy your first home? Of course not! Just make sure you understand what’s required of you as a homeowner and a real estate investor before you buy. Q: I am almost 61 years old and single. I moved to Baltimore and would like to buy a small two-flat to [...]
Can you sell your home if it’s held in a living trust? It all depends on how you set up the trust and what happened with the quitclaim deed. Q: In 2012, I set up a living trust, and at that time signed a quitclaim deed to my house and property over to my daughter. [...]
Which states have the highest property taxes? A new analysis ranks states by property tax rates to determine which states have the highest property taxes. Property taxes are a hot button for homeowners. That’s because no matter where you live, discussion around who pays the highest property taxes is bound to come up in conversation. [...]
Who qualifies for subsidized housing? A new study looks at the backgrounds of the 9.4 million people living in HUD federally subsidized housing programs. Ponder this: There are 9.4 million people living in subsidized housing that is funded at least partly by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The median household income of [...]
What type of homeowners insurance policy should I get? The answer depends on how much coverage you think you may need and the premium you’re willing to pay. Q: I read your recent column on insurance coverage. In the past, I had three house fires that I had to deal with. None of these fires [...]
