Buying a Condo vs. a Co-op Is it a good idea to buy a co-op rather than a condo? What does it mean when the co-op has been listed for nearly a year without selling? Q: We are wondering if you could provide us with some enlightenment about the ins and outs of buying a [...]
HOA Ignores Condo Owner What can you do when the homeowner association (HOA) ignores mentally unstable and violent owner? Q: I hear Ilyce on the radio often and figured maybe the guru of all things having to do with money and real estate might help me. I am a condo owner in Illinois and have [...]
HOA Board Member Causing Trouble Q: We have a new HOA board member who is very troublesome and off the wall with regard to rules and regulations. I am a board member along with one other person. The actions and language of the new board member with vendors and the other owners are offensive. We [...]
Do Solar Panels Help Sell a Home? Q: We're thinking of moving to a senior living development in a few years, so we'll be selling our house. We've gotten quotes for solar and think it's the thing to do regardless of whether we'd use it long enough to pay off the initial investment. I thought [...]
Condo Reserves A Growing Issue: Part I of II It’s expensive to own any type of home. You’ve got the mortgage, homeowners insurance, property taxes, maintenance and upkeep. You may also, if you buy in a subdivision, have some sort of homeowner’s association fee to pay. In an era where affordability is an issue, with [...]
HOA Problems After suing his HOA, a reader wants to know if he's really been banned from contacting HOA management or the Board. Q: I know you’ve answered a lot of questions about HOAs in the past. But I haven’t seen you address my particular situation: Would a lawsuit against our condo association, whether I [...]
Signing Legal Documents Whether you're signing a mortgage or a trust, you might need an original signature. Q: Just read your story where the writer said that his/her mother wants to put her house into a living trust. Excellent article! I’d like to add one thing that I’m sure that you know, but many people [...]
Open Floor Plan: Not Everyone's a Fan What if you want to find a traditional house that isn't one big room? Q: I know this isn't your usual type of question, but when on earth are people going to stop tearing down supporting walls in their houses in the quest for an open floor plan? [...]
HOA Didn't Repair Air Conditioner: Now What? Homeowner contacted HOA to repair a leaking air conditioner drainage line but it still hasn't happened. Q: My homeowners association (HOA) agreed to fix a leaky air conditioning drainage line that ran between floors. It causes flooding in my unit every summer. They set up a repair date [...]
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. [...]
