How much commission do real estate agents make? Research shows a lack of commission rate transparency and negotiability at traditional real estate firms. Please note that this story has been updated to add in additional information that shows how real estate commissions get split between brokers and the real estate agents who work for them. [...]
I received a property tax bill after selling the house, now what? What happens when real estate taxes are still in the seller’s name years after closing? Q: I owned a house for six years and then sold it. It appears the new owners never put the home in their names. Three years later I [...]
Selling a house in disrepair: tax implications. This reader wants to know how selling a rundown family home will affect their income taxes. Q: I recently received title to a home from my brother by quitclaim deed. He purchased the home in 1982 from my parents who at the time were in financial trouble. My [...]
Retirement housing costs and the effects of inequality. Research from JCHS spotlights the financial challenges seniors face finding affordable housing. America’s aging population is facing considerable financial challenges when it comes to housing inequality. Research from the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS) underscores the severity of these challenges. The number of older adults [...]
How do water leak detectors work? How new technology uses artificial intelligence to detect water leaks and prevent water infiltration. Several months ago, we went to the Housewares show in Chicago. There were a couple of companies showing off their latest technology for detecting water leaks in homes. What Causes Water Infiltration? Water infiltration is [...]
Can a surviving spouse sell the house? This reader wants to know if they can sell the property if they’re on the house deed but not the mortgage. Q: My wife passed away last year and she was on the mortgage to the home and on the title to the house deed. I’m not on [...]
Is a land swap a good way to clear up boundary line issues? This reader wants help figuring out how to resolve boundary line issues from an old land survey. Is a Land Swap a Good Way to Clear Up Boundary Line Issues from a Land Survey? Q: We own a large lot in Massachusetts [...]
What are my rights if my name is on a deed? My father put my name on the deed to his home but when he died his widow sold the house without me, now what? Q: Before my father died he added my name to the deed on his house which was mortgage free. He [...]
If I pay taxes on a property do I own it? This reader paid real estate taxes on a boyfriend’s home and wants to know if they have a claim to the property. Q: I live with my boyfriend and have been with him for about 12 years. We have two children. He bought a [...]
I bought a house with problems not disclosed, now what? This new homeowner found out about a major insurance claim for tornado damage after closing. Q: My husband and I bought a home two years ago and we had a multitude of problems. First, the real estate agent forgot to offer us a walk-thru until [...]
