How much do I have to pay in real estate taxes? The answer can be found in the purchase contract that was signed at closing. Q: I am trying to find out about the real estate taxes on the home I bought just about two years ago. What I need to know is how much [...]
Where will your kids live after college graduation? Graduates are likely to move in with their parents or into a co-living space due to high housing costs. This spring, families all over the country are attending graduation ceremonies to celebrate the achievements of their college graduates. Graduates pushed through challenging coursework as they strived to [...]
Can I buy the other home my real estate agent is selling? Asking them to act as a dual agent may cause more confusion than you’d expect. Q: Should I buy a house that my real estate agent is also selling? Is there a conflict of interest? Thank you, and I’m loving Ilyce’s book for [...]
Moving tips to make your big move easier. These tips will help you plan a less stressful move, whether you're doing it DIY or hiring professional movers. An estimated 20 million Americans will pack up their lives and move into a new home this summer, according to InsuranceQuotes.com. No matter how organized you are (or [...]
What happens to unclaimed good faith deposits? As this loyal reader points out, there are many options which vary depending on your location. Q: Every Sunday morning, your article is one of the first two or three that I read in my local paper. Thank you for enlightening me and the public on real estate [...]
Gen Z: homeowners by age 30? Gen Z wants to buy a home in 5 years, but most early adults still receive financial support from parents. Nearly 60 percent of Gen Z wants to buy a home within the next five years, meaning they would become homeowners by the age of 30, according to research [...]
Does seller disclosure cover plumbing problems? If there was misrepresentation on the disclosure sheet, you may have a case. Q: Three months ago, I bought a house. I didn’t have a septic inspection. A few days ago, the septic pump failed. I had it pumped, then had a plumber come to inspect. He found that [...]
What to consider before purchasing property for friends. No matter how long you’ve known them, a detailed title and promissory note are always necessary. Q: My father purchased a fixer-upper for a friend and hand-wrote a mortgage payment plan they both agreed upon. Well, after a few payments, the buyers stopped making the mortgage payments. [...]
Is it a good time to buy a home in 2019? It just might be. It might also be a good time to sell. This morning, Fannie Mae released its March 2019 Home Purchase Sentiment Index, which is a composite index designed to track consumers’ housing-related attitudes, intentions and perceptions, using six questions from the [...]
How much personal information do you have to give to the HOA? Basic household information is understandable, but what if they go too far? Q: Recently my homeowner's association distributed a request for additional information. They asked me to provide information about who I am and the people who live with me, including their names, [...]
