What is the right way to title a home purchase to reduce future taxes? Should you choose joint tenancy with rights of survivorship or a trust? What impact will the way you hold title have on capital gains or inheritance taxes? Q: My mom sold her property and put all of the proceeds into [...]
Can lenders revoke a mortgage refinance if a relative takes her name off the title? When a co-borrower removes her their name from the title during the refinancing process, it can cause complications for the homeowner trying to get the loan. Q: Both my daughter and I are named on her mortgage loan and title [...]
Are you the victim of wire fraud? There are other financing options available that will still allow you to buy a home. Q: My wife and I recently moved and my son would like to buy our previous home (at a discount from the current market price). The home’s price and our capital gains are [...]
What happens if there’s no will? Homeownership and property taxes are two key issues to sort out if someone dies intestate (with no will) but has real property. Q: Does a family member or friend have to start paying property taxes after the owner of the house (who was over 65) dies in order to [...]
Here's what you need to know before selling a home that was willed to you. There are a few steps you have to take before you can sell the home that was left to you in a will, even if you were the sole heir of the home and other assets. Q: A friend [...]
Is an inspection required when a home is gifted to you by a relative? This reader wants to know if she should get an inspection on the home that was gifted to her by a relative. Here’s what I suggest. Q: If a home is gifted to an adult child, does it need to be [...]
Can you keep the security deposit after a tenant breaks the lease? When a tenant breaks the lease on your rental property, you could be entitled to keep the security deposit based on your state’s laws. Q: Can I keep the security deposit my tenant gave me after he broke the lease? Here's what happened: [...]
After a homeowner dies, the large remaining mortgage balance may entice you to call the lender and negotiate new terms. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. Q: My father died of cancer in January 2017. He is the only one on the mortgage with a big box lender. I was a joint tenant with rights of [...]
Is a Free Timeshare a Gift or a Problem? When someone gifts you a timeshare, there are a lot of problems that come along with it. Q: I found a lady on Facebook from my town who owns three timeshares. She is retiring in 2019. She can’t sell one of her timeshare units and she [...]
Can a Condo Board Require Me to Pay For a Limited Common Element? When a common element of a property becomes a limited common element, can the condo association board force you to pay for it? Q: I just read your article on ThinkGlink.com relating to limited common elements in a condominium association, and I have [...]
