When a home inspector overlooks an asbestos problem, what can you do? And, how do you find an inspector who will actually have your best interests at heart? Q: We hired a home inspector to help us out when we were buying a home in Chicago. We received the report, reviewed it and later closed. [...]
A little preventative home maintenance this fall makes a huge difference over winter. You can reduce energy costs, prevent expensive disasters and spot future repairs to take care of when warmer weather returns. The days are getting shorter and the leaves are falling as Autumn approaches. Time to tackle your 2018 Fall Home Maintenance Checklist. [...]
How to pick a new neighborhood Most tenants looking for a place to rent will spend much of the time looking at what kind of space they’ll have inside the four walls of an apartment. That makes sense, since it’s what you will see daily, and there’s an important connection that needs to be made. [...]
Is it better to rent or buy in retirement? This retired reader isn't sure whether she should buy or rent. Q: My wife and I are wondering if it is better to rent or buy in our retirement? We are retired and renting an apartment for $1,600 a month. I am 64 and she is [...]
How to share a private road with an unruly neighbor? What do you do if your neighbor takes over a private road? Q: How do I share a private road with my unruly neighbor? We discovered that the county does not own the top part of our road. We learned this two years after we [...]
How to find a great landlord - and a good apartment to rent Finding the right rental property can be very stressful. Renters spend most of their time searching for a rental unit that satisfies basic living needs, such as the size, look and location of the property. But if you don’t find a great [...]
Thinking about flipping homes in retirement? Here’s how to get started to with your first real estate investment and make sure you put your best foot forward. Q: I read your columns regularly. My wife and I currently live in the Northern Virginia area and will be retiring soon. We plan to move to Raleigh, [...]
What Documents Do I Need to Apply for a Mortgage? Here’s a list of the mortgage documents you need to apply for a loan. Make sure to have them handy in order to keep the mortgage loan process on track. Q: I’ve been watching Ilyce’s videos on her YouTube.com/ExpertRealEstateTips channel. I saw one on the [...]
Is the American Dream Out of Reach? Some Americans think financial stability and homeownership are out of reach. But a good strategy can help them get out of debt, buy a home and prepare for retirement to achieve the American Dream. Hard to buy a first home More than 80 percent of Americans agree that [...]
If you’re thinking about prepaying your mortgage loan taxes, you should think again. This move can do more harm than good. Q: If my tax payment is included in my mortgage payment, am I allowed to go to the local tax office and prepay the taxes before the due date in order to reduce my [...]
