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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.

  • Down Payment Assistance Options - Down payment assistance is available. To get down payment assistance you can borrow from a 401k, use IRA money, or get help from friends and family. Down payment assistance may also be available from your community.

  • Buyer’s Real Estate Agent - A home buyer wonders whether to hire a buyer’s real estate agent. Some buyers think they can pay less without a buyer’s real estate agent. Sellers pay buyer’s real estate agents so there’s little downside for a buyer.

  • Homeowners Association - Buyers sought a home without a homeowners association. Neither listing agent nor title search found homeowners association and buyers are upset. Agent should ask around if there’s a homeowners association.

  • Repairs Unfinished At Closing - Repairs that are unfinished at the closing time can create a world of problems for the buyer. Ilyce and Sam suggest this ThinkGlink reader try to use a holdback of funds to cover the cost of repairs.

  • Financing Options - Financing options for this investment property owner are limited due to his high debt ratio. Ilyce explains how this investor can find alternative lending options.

  • House Lottery - House lotteries are illegal in most states. This ThinkGlink reader is contemplating a lottery ad for a hard-to-sell Florida home.

  • Inspection Contingencies - An inspection contingency is an addendum to a contract that gives buyers the right to have a professional house inspector or other third party examine the property within a certain period of time after the agreement to purchase has been signed.

  • Transfer of Property Title - Transfer of property title will have many tax implications for this ThinkGlink reader. Ilyce shares the best options for handing down an investment property to children without paying huge capital gains taxes.

  • Selling A House By Owner - Selling a house by owner is a complex process. Ilyce gives this ThinkGlink reader tips on how to handle a deal that has fallen through.  

  • Right of Way - The issue of vacated rights-of-way, streets and alleys can be rather complicated. In some cases, roads, streets, alleys and other types of rights-of-way were created from private land and in others they were created from public land.

  • 1031 Tax Deferred Exchange - 1031 tax deferred exchange helps investment property owners sell property and purchase another without paying capital gains tax. Ilyce helps this ThinkGlink reader decide what to do with her summer cottage.

  • Cost Basis - Cost basis is the cost of the property adjusted for improvements. Ilyce helps this ThinkGlink reader determine the coast basis for a property deeded through several generations.

  • Seller Financing Mortgages - Seller financing mortgages are becoming increasingly popular. Ilyce explains how those desperate and anxious about selling should try seller financing.

  • Primary Residence - A home seller asks how to define primary residence. A taxpayer must live in a home full time for two of the past five years to pay less tax. Ilyce explains that three days a week does not make a home a primary residence.

  • Real Estate Fraud - Real estate fraud often results in problems with credit reports. Ilyce helps this ThinkGlink reader understand her options.

  • Lien on Inherited Property - A ThinkGlink reader inherited property from his father who had a judgment against him. Ilyce and Sam explain how a judgment may mean there is a lien on the property that the estate must pay.

  • Lease Terms - Lease terms dictate what a tenant can and cannot do to a rental property. Sam and Ilyce explain to this ThinkGlink reader that as a landlord that has damage done by a tenant, his best recourse is to keep the security deposit.

  • IRA Withdrawal - IRA withdrawal rules can be complicated. Ilyce helps this reader figure out how to use her IRA money to help her daughter buy a home.

  • Title Transfer - Title transfer can be done through a quitclaim deed. Ilyce gives this divorced person advice on how to handle her property transfer from the divorce decree.

  • HELOC - Mortgage Merge Accounts (MMAs) – Readers Respond II

  • Mortgage Merge Accounts - Mortgage Merge Accounts (MMAs) – Readers Respond I

  • Breach of Contract - Breach of contract during a real estate deal often results in the loss of earnest money. Ilyce suggests this ThinkGlink reader read his contract carefully.

  • Closing Costs - Closing costs vary for numerous reasons. Ilyce helps this reader calculate reasonable closing costs.

  • New York Real Estate - New York real estate is one of the few markets in the country that is still moving at a good rate. Ilyce Glink gives advice to this reader who is wondering if now is a good time to buy a new home.

  • Breach of Contract Due to Death - A ThinkGlink reader and her husband had a real estate contract at the time of his death. Ilyce explains the breach of contract due to death clause and how it applies to this unfortunate situation.

  • Medicaid Lookback Period - The Medicaid lookback period is 5 years. A ThinkGlink reader has a sick parent and is thinking of transferring her parents home to a sibling. Ilyce explains how the lookback period works for Medicaid qualifications.

  • Credit Card Debt and Real Estate - Credit card debt can hurt your chances of closing on a home even if you have already been approved for a mortgage. Ilyce advices to keep your debt-to-income level the same as it was at the time the loan was approved.

  • Calculating Capital Gains - Calculating capital gains on a home received by a quit-claim deed can be tricky. Ilyce helps figure out the capital gains tax this ThinkGlink reader will pay on a home he bought from his parents.

  • Low Water Pressure - Low water pressure was a problem in this ThinkGlink reader's new construction home. After getting a water pressure booster pump installed, he is trying to get the builder to reseed his lawn which is dead due to the lack of watering.

  • Tax Sale Properties - Tax sale properties are sold by local governments so they can receive property tax due to them. Ilyce Glink and Sam Tamkin explain how a quitclaim deed works when purchasing tax sale properties.










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