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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.

  • Clearing Title Of Abandoned Property - A ThinkGlink reader owns property with his brother and wife. After his brother died, he never heard from his sister-in-law again. Now he has questions about home ownership. Ilyce explains that inheritance law will explain who owns the home and that he should check the abandoned property law in his state.

  • Missing A Mortgage Payment Will Kill Credit Rating - A ThinkGlink reader has just closed on a new home. Unfortunately, at the same time his income was cut in half. Ilyce explains that it never hurts to ask the loan mitigation department for help but the most important thing is to make the payment on time.

  • Real Estate Trends - How does the future real estate market look? Every 11 seconds, we add another person to our ranks – to the tune of nearly 4,000 people per day. This is cause for an optimistic real estate market.

  • Where to Build A New Garage - A reader is preparing to build a new garage/workshop on his land. He is considering where on his multiple lots to place the building. Ilyce suggests talking to the local zoning official in his local building department and a knowledgeable real estate agent.

  • How To Find A Management Company For A Condo - A reader is a member of a new condo association board. They would like to hire a new management company. Ilyce provides them with the steps to find the best management company for their new condominium building.

  • How to Protect Yourself Against a Bad Lender - A reader has a new mortgage that has already been sold to a company with a terrible reputation. Ilyce explains what steps she should take to protect her money and credit rating.

  • Unable to Sell Your Home?  - A ThinkGlink reader put earnest money down on a new home without a contingency to sell his current home. Now he is in a bind because he can not sell his house. Ilyce and Sam explain that not only will he lose his earnest money, he may be sued for additional expenses.

  • Problems with New Home Builder - A ThinkGlink reader has made a large down payment for a new construction home. One year later, the builder still doesn't have any permits. Ilyce and Sam help the reader to unwind this deal with the builder and the construction loan.

  • Mold Problems Kill Real Estate Deal - Mold problems can and should kill a real estate deal. A ThinkGlink reader is in the process of buying a home that has problems - mold, termites and radon. After the seller fixed the problems, there are still extensive mold problems in the home.

  • How To Find A Real Estate Advisor - A ThinkGlink reader is purchasing investment property and looking for a professional to help. Ilyce gives him a step-by-step guide to hiring a real estate advisor.

  • The Difference Between Mortgage Brokers and Bankers - There’s a wide world of difference between different types of lenders. Knowing how mortgage brokers, mortgage bankers, and other types of lenders operate can help you make a smart move with your money.

  • Signing Home Over To Family Member - A mother signed over her home to her son making him the grantee and owner. Now she would like to sell the home. Ilyce explains that the son must sell the home, pay all costs, and that he will receive all the proceeds from the sale.

  • Leasing With Option To Purchase - A reader is leasing with the option to purchase in a three unit building. Ilyce explains that the current owner keeps the rent from the other two units until the reader decides to pick up the option to buy.

  • Property Tax Skyrockets - A reader has worked very hard to buy and build a home on her own land. Now the increase in property tax is threatening to push her out of her home. Ilyce helps her research options for reducing her property taxes and reevaluating her life.

  • Setback Requirement Discovered After Closing - After purchasing a home, a ThinkGlink reader discovers there is a covenant requiring a setback. Sam and Ilyce explain that many older homes may be legal but non-conforming, therefore, they will not be in violation of the setback requirement.

  • Planning For Future Inheritance - A reader is planning for his retirement and realizes that both he and his wife will inherit money from their parents. Ilyce explains to him inheritance tax law and helps him plan for using the money or land.

  • Parents Can Give Gift of Land With Quit Claim Deed - A reader's parents are giving her their extra vacant lot as a gift. Ilyce explains the tax laws regarding gifts and suggests using a quit claim deed.

  • Refinancing Home With Friend Leads To Problems - A reader purchased a home with a friend. After some financial difficulties, the home was refinanced in one name only. Now the reader has the debt in her name, but the title is in both names. Ilyce explains where this reader went wrong.

  • Foreclosed Property Leads To Maintenance Problems - A reader purchased a home from an investor who was flipping a foreclosed property. Now there are many unexpected expenses. Ilyce warns that buying foreclosed property is risky and explains the basics of seller disclosure law.

  • Buying Property With Partner - A reader purchased a duplex with a partner. He is now trying to figure out an equitable way to split expenses after the partner's fiance moved in. Ilyce explains how to write up a partnership agreement.

  • Housing Costs Go Up, Putting Credit at Risk - More homeowners are putting a higher percentage of their annual income toward their housing costs. The danger of higher housing costs is that families who don’t have enough cash to pay their bills at the end of the month will start playing games with the money in order to make ends meet. Don't risk your credit rating by making uninformed decisions.

  • Real Estate Broker Changes Fee - A reader hired her neighbor as a real estate agent only to have the agent misrepresent the amount of her fee. Ilyce suggests that the home seller call the agent's managing broker and the association of agents in her state.

  • Understanding Real Estate Prices In South Florida - A reader is curious about the high real estate prices in South Florida. Ilyce explains the economic and emotional reasons for this market's instability.

  • Determining Retirement Needs - A reader is recently divorced and trying to figure out her retirement needs. Ilyce explains how to determine her financial needs and, most importantly, health insurance needs.

  • French Drains Don't Cause Odor - A reader was wondering if her french drain was causing an odor in her home. Ilyce explains how a french drain works and suggests visiting the home improvement store.

  • File Complaint Against Mortgage Lender - A reader recently closed on an investment property and has experienced several problems with the lender. It appears that the lender altered a number of things on the mortgage application. Ilyce explains to this reader how to go about filing a complaint against the lender.

  • Adding Partner To Home Title - A reader would like to add her partner to the title of her home. Ilyce provides tips for gay/lesbian couples who would like to own homes together.

  • Selling Valuable Doll Collection - A reader would like to help a friend sell her valuable doll collection. Ilyce suggests working with one of the reputable auction houses.

  • Should Senior Citizen Cancel Credit Cards? - A senior citizen writes Ilyce to ask if he should cancel some of his credit cards. Ilyce explains how this will affect his credit rating but also wonders if a high credit score is needed.

  • Helping Parents Plan Retirement Housing - A reader is hoping that her aging parents will move closer to her. She is planning on receiving money from her parents to pay off her mortgage and then buying a new home for them. Ilyce explains several better options and warns them that the price of retirement is rising.

  • Dealing With Title and Mortgage After Divorce - A reader writes that after her divorce, she is unable to refinance her house due to her husband's bankruptcy. Ilyce explains that she must first get the financing in her name before her ex-husband will quit claim the title.









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