Have real estate questions? Here, you’ll find helpful articles and other resources that cover issues related to real estate, buying, selling, financing, refinancing, credit and debt, insurance, second homes, vacation homes, real estate investment, new construction, and renovation.
Survey Dispute May Be Solved With Property Taxes
A new survey revealed a lot line closer to the neighbor's home, giving the homeowner an extra 10 feet. The neighbors claim that the survey is incorrect, and they own the 10 feet. The homeowner should stake the boundaries of their lot, and investigate the tax parcel to determine if it matches the survey. It might come down to who has been paying the taxes for the extra 10 feet.
Details from the Ilyce Glink Show Today
If you're buying or selling a home -- or, if you're an agent representing a buyer or seller -- take some time to figure out Microsoft's VirtualEarth t...
Ilyce Glink on WSB Radio – July 30, 2006
In this show, Ilyce talks about her visit to San Francisco and the real estate/technology conference she attended there. One caller wanted to know if Ilyce thought she should start a company that catered to aging baby boomers. Listen to this week's show to find out the answer to that question and more.
Dangers Of Co-Signing A Mortgage
When you co-sign a mortgage or "lend" a signature to a family member or friend, you are really saying that you will be responsible for the entire mortgage, should your friend or family member default on the mortgage. Many people don't understand the true implications of "lending" a signature -- and how their actions can destroy in a few short months the fine credit history you've built up over decades.
Life Estate On Home Could Lead To Gift Tax
Receiving a life estate in a home means the home belongs to you and you can do as you wish with the property, except for sell or transfer upon death of the holder. Giving someone a life estate could result in a gift tax. Talking with a real estate attorney should help determine a way to use a life estate without incurring a gift tax.
Avoid Contractor Liens With Lien Waivers
Before you get a contractor to work on your property you should get a lien waiver. Lien waivers ensure that if your contractor or a sub-contractor does not get paid for the home improvement or home repair work that they do, your home won't be in danger. When a contractor puts a lien on a home, it makes it more difficult to later sell the home.
Closing Confusion May Cause Problems
A homeowners has transferred the right to buy a property to a second party who in turn transferred it to a third party. There are certain legalities that must take place to insure that the paperwork is just right to make sure that title runs from the bank to the third buyer. The homeowner should try to get the bank to authorize the closing agent to transfer title to the third buyer
Home Seller Needs Real Estate Attorney To Help With Selling Process
A home owner in Chicago has been offered to sell her home through a real estate consultant. Ilyce warns the seller that she should get several appraisals and hire a good real estate attorney. A real estate consultant may be trying to scam the home seller out of a commission, and a real estate attorney will help the home seller figure things out.
Renovate Or Tear Down: When Shouldn’t A House be Saved?
In neighborhoods all across America we are seeing old homes being torn down and replaced with new construction. Lane Epstein, an architect and vice president of Baker Construction Group, shares how to decide if an older home is appropriate for renovation or tear down.