Estate planning includes all the planning that’s involved for setting up a will, a trust and making sure that your assets go to the people or organizations that you want to have them. Estate planning is complex — you should consider taxes when making plans for your assets to go to your heirs. If you don’t do estate planning you risk having your belongings managed by the state where you live, and your state’s laws may not match exactly what you want. Estate planning is especially important in blended families.
Signing Home Over To Family Member
If a homeowner signs a home over to a family member, the original owner does not have ownership in the property and could not sell it. The new owner, upon selling the home, would be responsible for taxes and costs of selling the home. The new homeowner would also keep any profits from the sale.
Inheritance Taxes Paid Before Money Distribution
When you inherit money and get the actual money, the estate has already paid the inheritance taxes so you don't have to worry about that. It is a good idea to think of what you'll do with inheritance money or a real estate property inheritance ahead of time. What to do with the money has to do in part with how old you'll be when you get it.
Buying Property With Partner
A homeowner purchased a duplex with a partner and is now trying to figure out an equitable way to split expenses after the partner's fiance moved in. A partnership agreement should spell out the financial arrangement between the two homeowners. The partners should also change the ownership of the property to reflect the partnership agreement.
Housing Costs Go Up, Putting Credit At Risk
More homeowners are putting a higher percentage of their annual income toward their housing costs. The danger of higher housing costs, is that families who don't have enough cash to pay their bills at the end of the month will start playing games with the money in order to make ends meet. Don't risk your credit rating by making uninformed decisions.
Mortgage Lender Fraud
What is the best way to deal with your mortgage lender if you believe they have committed fraud against you? Mortgage lenders suspected of fraud should be reported to your state's attorney general's office and to your state's agency that commissions mortgage lenders. If you want to take the issue to a more public arena, report the fraudulent mortgage lender to the Better Business Bureau.
Helping Parents Plan Retirement Housing
A daughter has suggested her near-retirement parents gift her the money from selling their home so she can buy them a new one and live in rent free. It would be much less complicated if the parents bought themselves a new home or saved the money for their retirement. Or, if the daughter can afford it, buy the parents a home for their retirement and have them pay rent to the daughter.
Buyer Cancels Deal Due To Flight Pattern
A home seller had a deal fall through because the buyer said they were in a flight pattern. After proving that flights are to the south of his home, the seller is wondering if he is entitled to the earnest money.
How To Shop For A Mortgage
A home owner is tempted by all the no cost mortgage advertising. He is looking to refinance his mortgage and home equity line of credit (HELOC). Ilyce explains how to shop for a mortgage and advises everyone to beware of deals that seem too good to be true.
Builder Won’t Recognize Buyer’s Agent
A reader visited a new development in her neighborhood. The builder's sales representative will now not work with the buyer's agent. Ilyce explains why new developments try to avoid working with buyer's agents and advises the reader how to continue with an offer.
Shopping For A New Mortgage Company
A home buyer is unhappy that the good faith estimate from his lender did not disclose prepayment penalties. Ilyce explains that he should shop around for a different mortgage company. Having a lender pull his credit report will not lower his credit score.