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Articles By Ilyce

Ilyce Glink is an award-winning, nationally syndicated columnist, television reporter and radio talk show host who is widely known for her expertise on trends and issues in real estate and finance. Her syndicated column REAL ESTATE MATTERS offers common sense information and practical insights for anyone thinking about buying, selling, rehabbing or refinancing a home.

  • Kitchen Design How To Maximize Space - The kitchen is one of the most important rooms of a home, and kitchen design helps make your kitchen appealing and affective. Kitchen design revolves around functionality. Learn about kitchen design from architect Sarah Susanka. 

  • Corporate Relocation and Land Acreage - A reader asks about gifting land to enable a corporate relocation. Some corporate relocations may be limited to land acreage of a certain amount. Ilyce and Sam suggest the reader ask to waive the land acreage requirement so that the corporate relocation can proceed.  

  • Owner Financing Deadline What Happens If It’s Not Met - A reader asks the consequence of not meeting a deadline to repay owner financing for a home. In a well-executed owner financing scenario, the buyer and seller sign a promissory note that details the terms of the owner financing. Can the owner who financed the home take it back if the deadline is not met? 

  • Capital Gains Tax On Home Sale - A home seller asks about paying capital gains tax on a home sale. The home seller thinks she and her husband may be exempt from paying capital gains tax. Ilyce Glink advises that the home seller will have to pay capital gains tax, although less if she’s lived there two of the last five years.  

  • Quit Claim Deed Tax Basis - A Think Glink reader wants to know what taxes the beneficiaries of a quit claim deed will owe. The reader says his mother signed a quit claim deed to give her home to her adult children and now she’s in an assisted living facility. The adult children want to sell the home that’s been quit claimed to them but they are unsure about the tax basis of the property. Ilyce advises that the tax basis for a home transferred using a quit claim deed is the same as that of the original owner.  

  • Find Real Estate Online - Many people try to find real estate online. Buyers search real estate Web sites online. But what’s the best way to find real estate online and what do the Web sites offer? Ilyce Glink discusses her experience finding real estate online, including some of the more effective Web sites.  

  • Real Estate Commission Reduced By Advertising Costs - A real estate agent writes that real estate commissions are reduced by real estate advertising costs. The real estate agent describes other costs that lower real estate commissions more. In addition to real estate advertising costs, real estate agents may have to split commissions with other agents and pay for gas and extra help.  

  • Architect How Do You Find A Good One - Finding a good architect doesn’t have to be hard. You can find a good architect on the Internet or by asking around your own neighborhood. Once you find some architects you like there are a couple things to consider before you hire. Architect Sarah Susanka offers advice.  

  • Mitsubishi Home Theater Projector Entertains Family - Many families build their own home theaters so they can watch movies at home. Mitsubishi offers a variety of home theater projectors that can be used at home and at work. Learn about the features and costs of Mitsubishi home theater projectors.  

  • Video Switcher Connects Electronics - Video switchers help you connect multiple electronic devices together. Video switchers allow you to switch between a DVD player, video game console, stereo and home theater system. Learn how video switchers work and whether you can use a video switcher in your home.  

  • Home Inspection In Winter - Weather can affect a home inspection in winter. Home inspector Jamie Dunsing talks about winter home inspection limitations, including air conditioning testing, due to winter weather and snow. 

  • Inheritance Real Estate Tax And Title - A reader received a home as part of an inheritance and wants to know how to put the home’s title in his name. He also wants to declare the home his principal residence and wonders how to do this when he owns another home in another state. Declaring a home a principal residence affects real estate taxes. What should the home owner do about the inheritance, real estate tax and title?  

  • Mortgage Lender Should You Become One - A Georgia home owner inherited a house in California from an elderly relative. The home owner wants to reward the relative’s caregiver by selling her the home despite her bad credit. The home owner says he’s willing to be the mortgage lender to her. He wants to find out who can do the mortgage loan paperwork if he decides to hold the mortgage. Ilyce gives the home owner some options so that he can reward the caregiver and protect his interests. 

  • Real Estate Agent for Home Buyers - What qualities do the best real estate agents have when working with home buyers? While home buyers often perceive the real estate purchase process as unpleasant, a great real estate agent can change that. The best real estate agents work with home buyers to help them figure out what they want and where to find the home that will meet their criteria. Top real estate agents also know the neighborhoods and resources intimately and share them with home buyers.  

  • Estate Settlement Changing the Personal Representative - A woman writes saying she was the personal representative for her son’s father’s estate. She does not live in the area of the estate and the judge removed her as personal representative. She feels the judge was not impartial in changing the personal representative for this estate settlement. She wants to know her legal rights concerning who is the personal representative for this estate settlement.  

  • Investment Property Cash Out Refinance - A real estate investor asks about doing a cash out refinance of his investment property. Taking cash out during a refinance has become more difficult, especially for investment properties. What can the real estate investor do to access the equity in his investment property? 

  • Home Improvement Painting To Sell Your Home - Painting is a simple way to give an old room a new look, and it can have a positive effect on buyers interested in your home. Here are some tips on how to save money and how much to budget when painting whether you decide to do it yourself or hire a professional painter.  

  • Home Design Process Tips - Architect and author Sarah Susanka offers tips on home remodeling and the home design process. Susanka’s home design process tips can help you get what you want out of a remodeling project or new home design. The home design process tips involve communication with your architect.  

  • Solar Powered Backpack Charges Cell Phone iPod - Voltaic Systems’ solar powered backpack lets you charge your electronic devices such as a cell phone or iPod without using a wall outlet. The solar powered backpack absorbs energy from the sun using solar panels. The solar powered backpack charges a battery which you can use to charge your cell phone or iPod. Voltaic’s solar powered backpack enables you to go green with technology.  

  • Vectrix Shows Electric Bikes At CES - As gas prices rise, consumers look for alternative transportation such as electric bikes. The Vectrix electric bike, or scooter, runs on a rechargeable battery. Riders can plug the Vectrix electric bike into a wall outlet. The Vectrix electric bike has been approved for highway use.  

  • Lutron Dimmer Switch Saves Energy - Lutron Electronics offers a dimmer switch for your lights. Installing a Lutron dimmer switch will save energy and money. You can control lights in multiple rooms with Lutron dimmer switches. How much do Lutron dimmer switches cost? 

  • Energy Star Appliances Save Energy Money - The U.S. government’s Energy Star program provides standards for energy efficient appliances. Energy Star appliances have passed tests to prove they are more energy efficient. Energy Star appliances help reduce the amount of energy used in homes.  

  • Estate Planning And Trusts Book Review - Learn about estate planning, including trusts from John Ventura’s new book: “Kiplinger’s Estate Planning: The Complete Guide to Wills, Trusts, and Maximizing Your Legacy.” Ilyce reviews this book on estate planning and trusts and shares that less than 50 percent of Americans have a will. Planning your estate and possibly a trust will ensure that your estate goes to the heirs you select. Estate planning and trust requirements will vary depending on where you live and what kind of property you own.  

  • Monthly Payments On Mortgage Exceed Refinancing Terms - A home owner says she tried to refinance her home and arrived to the closing to find her monthly payments on her new mortgage would exceed the original refinancing terms. She cancelled the refinancing because the monthly payments on the new mortgage would be too high. The lender now wants her to pay fees even though she did not go through with the refinancing to change her monthly payments on her mortgage. Does the home owner have to pay the fees? 

  • Condominium Declaration Affects Renting Out Units - A condo owner asks about how a condominium declaration affects her ability to rent out her condo. If the condominium declaration does not discuss renting out condo units, the condominium association usually relies on state law. The condo owner could sue to change the condominium declaration but that could lead to upsetting her neighbors. What should the condo owner do?  

  • Foreclosure And Credit - A former condo owner describes losing his condo to foreclosure and asks how defaulting on a home equity line of credit will affect his credit score. Will defaulting on a HELOC affect his credit score after the condo foreclosure? What are the ramifications of a foreclosure on credit and obtaining credit in the future? 

  • Roth IRA Investing Or Pay Off Mortgage - A reader nearing retirement asks whether to invest in a Roth IRA or pay off his mortgage. He has a 15-year mortgage to pay off and has extra money for that or to invest in his Roth IRA. What’s the better choice? Ilyce discusses Roth IRA investing and the benefits of paying off a mortgage early.  

  • Room Design Using It To Sell Your Home - A home seller asks about changing the design of the rooms in her home. Changing the layout or the design of the rooms of your home may help it to sell. Ilyce advises the home seller to balance the cost of changing room design with the expected home sale results.  

  • Hamilton Beach Features Blenders At Housewares Show - The 2008 Housewares Show featured several new blenders from Hamilton Beach and Proctor Silex. Hamilton Beach’s Dual Wave Blender can hold more liquid and allows you to pour drinks from the side of the blender. The Dual Wave Blender also allows you to blend drinks directly in cups. One of the newest Proctor Silex blenders saves space because it’s smaller. What features do you want in a new blender?  

  • Green Home Products At 2008 Housewares Show - Learn about some green home products that companies displayed at the 2008 International Housewares Show. Green home products consume less energy and are made with environmentally friendly materials. Green home products may also come with less packaging. Handpresso and Aladdin both released new green home products.  

  • Dirt Devil Introduces Designer Vacuum Cleaners - At the 2008 International Housewares Show, Dirt Devil showed off its latest vacuum cleaners. Dirt Devil partnered with designer Karim Rashid to develop several new designer vacuum cleaners. The Kone, Kurv and Kruz are so stylish you may feel comfortable openly displaying these vacuum cleaners in your home.  

  • Transfer On Death Deeds Help Avoid Probate - A Florida homeowner asks whether she can avoid probate for her estate by using transfer on death (TOD) deeds. She wants to leave her condo to her son but does not want him to pay probate costs. Can she set up a transfer on death (TOD) deed so that her son avoids probate? Florida does not support TOD deeds for real estate but she can consult an estate attorney for help with probate laws and possibly setting up a trust. 

  • Grilling Tools From Kingsford - If you’re often grilling it helps to have the right grilling tools. Kingsford released new grilling tools at the International Housewares Show in Chicago. New grilling tools include ones made from silicone, which may be easier to clean. Kingsford also created a lamp you can attach to your spatula for nighttime grilling.  

  • First Time Home Buyer With No Down Payment - A self-employed first time home buyer asks for advice. The first time home buyer has a great credit score but no money for a down payment. Many non-profit programs that used to help with a down payment have gone away. What options does the first time home buyer have without money for a down payment?  

  • California 1031 Exchange Company Closes Doors - A real estate investor asks what to do now that his 1031 exchange company in California has closed its doors. The real estate investor may not be able to get his funds back now that the 1031 exchange company has closed its doors. Who can the real estate investor contact regarding the 1031 exchange company that went out of business? 

  • Capital Gains Tax On Home Sale After Death - A reader asks about how to pay less tax on the proceeds of the sale of his father’s home after his father’s death. The reader wonders about putting the proceeds into an IRA to avoid tax. Ilyce discusses his options to reduce the capital gains tax on the home sale.  

  • Real Estate Commission Negotiate A Lower One - Learn how to negotiate a lower real estate commission when using a real estate agent. A recent survey from Consumer Reports indicates that real estate agents are open to negotiating lower real estate commissions. In some cases, the buyer's agent and the seller's agent split the real estate commission.  

  • Cancel Easement - A home owner asks about cancelling an easement that he has on his neighbor’s property. The easement may be for utilities and will be affected when the neighbor builds a pool. Both parties must agree to cancel an easement.  

  • Quit Claim Deed To Save Home - A property owner writes that his neighbor wants to quit claim deed a home to him. The neighbor is on the verge of having trouble making mortgage payments and may face foreclosure without saving the home with a quit claim deed. What’s the impact of signing a quit claim deed to save a home? 

  • Unpaid Real Estate Taxes - If you don’t pay the real estate taxes on your home, you could lose it to a tax purchaser. While the nightmare situation can be avoided, it still happens to lots of people. Here is what you need to know about losing your property because of unpaid real estate taxes. 

  • Handyman - When you’re getting ready to sell your house you should make a list of the home improvement projects that will make your home more appealing to buyers. You can do home repairs yourself or hire a handyman to help make home improvements. What kind of home improvement services does a handyman offer?  

  • Save Money With A Home Inspection - Do you need a home inspection? The quick answer is YES! Find out why you should invest in a home inspection, if you are a rare exception that doesn’t need a home inspection and ways to save money with a home inspection. 

  • Housewares - Each year at the International Housewares Show in Chicago, housewares companies display their latest housewares designs. In 2008, housewares design trends include going green, de-cluttering and adding high-end design. What do consumers want in housewares?  

  • Home Trends - What are the latest home trends? Each year hundreds of manufacturers display the newest home trends at the International Housewares Show. Which home trends were new for 2008? Learn about 2008 home trends including multi-function tools, custom colors and green home trends.  

  • Fireplace Inspection - A home inspector will inspect a fireplace as part of a home inspection. Fireplace inspections can make you aware of fire hazards. Home inspectors look at the bricks and the damper in a fireplace inspection. The home inspector will tell you what repairs to make to your fireplace during a fireplace inspection. A fireplace inspection can help you achieve fire safety and get your home ready for sale. 

  • Title Search - Title insurance protects you and your property. A title insurance company runs a title search before issuing a policy. A title search means looking at public records relating to your property and tracing the chain of ownership. What documents are included in a title search? 
















































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