http://www.thinkglink.com/ ThinkGlink.com offers useful news, tips, advice and information from Ilyce Glink regarding personal finance, real estate, and consumer issues. Ilyce Glink is an award-winning, nationally-syndicated columnist, television reporter, radio talk show host and best-selling book author. en-us http://www.thinkglink.com/Real_Estate_Agent_805.html A seller asks about breaking a listing agreement with her real estate agent. The seller signed a 12-month listing agreement with her real estate agent and says she cannot afford to keep the listing until it expires. Ilyce and Sam ask about the real estate agent’s performance and say it was a mistake to sign an agreement lasting longer than 60 or 90 days.  http://www.thinkglink.com/Deed_In_Lieu_of_Foreclosure_805.html A reader worries that the lender may foreclose on her home before a deed in lieu of foreclosure can be finalized. The deed in lieu of foreclosure is delayed because the title search is ongoing. She wonders if the title search will come back clear because her name is on the title but not the mortgage. Another reason for the deed in lieu of foreclosure’s delay is that lenders are swamped with similar situations.   http://www.thinkglink.com/Second_Mortgage_805.html Homeowners ask about getting a second mortgage or a HELOC since they will own two homes if they cannot sell their current home right away. A HELOC is a home equity line of credit. The homeowners say they can repay the HELOC as soon as the first home sells. Ilyce agrees that getting a HELOC instead of a second mortgage is a good idea.   http://www.thinkglink.com/First_Time_Home_Buyer_805.html Lenders have tightened credit requirements for first time home buyers. To qualify for a loan, first time home buyers need a credit score of at least 660 unless they try for an FHA loan. Ilyce discusses which first time home buyers are good candidates for an FHA loan and what it takes to qualify.  http://www.thinkglink.com/Property_Tax_805.html A graduating high school senior writes to ask about buying a home at a tax auction. Localities sell homes at tax auctions when the homeowners failed to pay property taxes. If you pay off the property tax, you buy the home but you do not get to move in right away. The original homeowners may have up to two years to pay the property tax lien and void the sale at the tax auction.   http://www.thinkglink.com/Quit_Claim_Deed_805.html A reader says his name was added to a house deed using a quit claim deed. The co-owner of the home now wants to take his name off the deed. Can the co-owner undo the quit claim deed transfer? Ilyce says no, what’s done is done, and suggests contacting a real estate attorney.   http://www.thinkglink.com/Estate_805.html Parents inherit a house from their son. He did not have a will and so the family is unsure how to settle his estate. What will it take to keep the house, especially with house values declining? To keep the house part of the estate, the parents will need to keep paying the mortgage, taxes and insurance. To make the right decision, the family needs to fully understand the assets in the estate.