Can an HOA restrict smoking? This condo owner was told the association doesn’t have the authority to keep owners from smoking in their units. Q: Can a condo prohibit smoking in the building except for owners? At the time the rule was changed on the grounds that those owners cannot have the right to smoke [...]
What happens if you inherit a house with a mortgage? These readers want to know what to do if the mortgage exceeds the value of the property. Q: My husband's stepmother added him to the title to her home prior to death. She added him as a joint tenant with rights of survivorship. We understand [...]
Real estate insights on commission splits and exclusive buyer agents. Real estate market insiders give their take on trending topics. Over the past few weeks, we’ve had several responses to columns that have run, especially the one that explained in greater detail how real estate agent and broker commissions work. Real Estate Insights on Residential [...]
First-time home buying tips for 2020. A look at the real estate market heading into 2020 and four tips for homebuyers in the new year. In a few days, we’ll start a new decade. Rarely has a decade produced the kind of wild swings in residential real estate prices as we’ve seen over the past [...]
How to leave property to a child. This reader wants her daughter to inherit her home, but doesn’t want her to have to go through probate. Q: I am a 77-year old widowed woman. I have a house with a mortgage that I purchased a little over a year ago. At the closing, I asked [...]
Can a board of directors change the bylaws? This townhome owner is worried about the board redoing the declaration and bylaws without owner approval. Q: I live in a townhouse community. Our association’s board of directors is redoing our declaration and by-laws without approval of the owners. They say they are just bringing the language [...]
How are capital losses deducted? This reader wants to know how to go about claiming long-term capital losses on income taxes. Q: My wife and I sold two adjacent properties via quit claim deeds this year. We originally bought the properties in 1994 for $20,000, ($10,000 each) as an investment. We thought we’d build rentals [...]
Who is responsible for condo repairs? This reader wants to know why they have to pay for painting their unit after damage from association work. Q: Last year my condo association had a company replace the roof in many of our buildings. I live on the top floor of my building. When the new roof [...]
Top 10 home design trends for 2020. Home design trends like wood details, colorful laundry rooms and double floating vanities are going to be big in 2020. Exciting home design trends, like splashes of bold colors and high tech features, were big in 2019. Now, it’s time to look ahead to 2020. It’s going to [...]
Gen Z home buying preferences in 2020. They want to become homeowners by 30 and they’re realistic about the housing market challenges they’ll face. Gen Z (ages 14-23) has high hopes for homeownership. According to research by Freddie Mac, Gen Z has a more positive perception of what it means to own a home than [...]
