Would a Credit Card Balance Transfer Help? A reader wonders if California resident who is overspending could be helped with a credit card balance transfer. Q: I read your interesting article recently about the homeowner being in a rough spot after moving to Sonoma County, California and taking on debt. I assume the $30,000 debt [...]
Best Cyber Resource Center In today's increasingly connected world, cyber crime has become a growing concern for individuals and businesses alike. According to the FBI's Internet Crime Report 2023, there were over 880,000 reported cyber crime incidents in the United States alone. That's up a staggering 22% increase in cyber crime compared to 2022. Cyber [...]
Vacant Homes and Empty Storefronts: Why so many? Q: I’m curious. There are several vacant homes in my area. They look abandoned. They are or were beautiful, but year after year, they sit empty. Similarly, there are a number of empty storefronts in my area, all with substantially high, competitive rates. Why leave these storefronts [...]
Inherit Property by Will or Receive by Deed? Is it better to inherit real estate or receive by a quit claim deed? Q: My mom has a condo in Delaware, but she and I both live in Maryland in our own separate homes. The home my mom lives in is in my sister’s name. Mom’s [...]
Where Do I Find a Transfer on Death (TOD) Instrument? Q: After my husband's death, my daughter went to pick up the deed to our house. There was a quitclaim deed that our old mortgage lender put in place with my signature on it. Also, I can't find the transfer on death instrument (TODI) either. [...]
The Pitfalls of Joint Tenants with Right of Survivorship Stepmother leaves her father, but stays on title as joint tenants with rights of survivorship Q: My father passed away and my stepmom said that I could have the house. My father and my stepmom were married when he died but she left him over seven [...]
HOA Rules Contain Alarming Language Q: The homeowners association (HOA) of our complex added language to the association’s rules and regulations that I believe is alarming and invalid. I read your column every week and wanted to get your take. Our HOA has around 70 units. A section of the new rules was adopted without [...]
How To Find An EV Charger Station Installer Condo building has owners with electric vehicles and wants to install an EV charger station Q: I am on the board of directors of a homeowners association (HOA) in Evanston, Illinois. The board is gathering information about installing electrical vehicle (EV) chargers on our HOA property. The [...]
Trusts: How to Handle a Home in a Trust Q: My mom's home is in a trust. She passed away towards the end of last year. She lived in the home for over 20 years. Her trust lists her six grandchildren as the beneficiaries of the trust. We’ve found a buyer for the home who [...]
National Association of Realtors Settlement: Our Take Is massive change coming to the real estate industry? It’s unlikely. Will sellers drop their listing price because they’re no longer responsible for paying the buyer’s side of the commission? Almost certainly not. Will it be cheaper for buyers to purchase a home? We doubt that, and it [...]
