Google
Think Glink
Web 		 

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.

  • Real Estate Agent - 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. 

  • Deed In Lieu of Foreclosure - 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.  

  • Second Mortgage - 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.  

  • First Time Home Buyer - 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. 

  • Property Tax - 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.  

  • Quit Claim Deed - 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.  

  • Estate - 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. 

  • Debt Collections - A reader wonders if bankruptcy or debt collections are worse. Ilyce explains the credit implications of debt collections and bankruptcy. Bankruptcy will stay on a credit report longer than debt collections will. The type of debt also affects how it is reported and how important it creditors deem it.

  • Buy a Home - A woman says she wants to a buy a home from her parents. To buy a home she would have to show adequate income. She can’t afford to buy a home because she only gets $140 a week. What can she do?

  • Divorce and Splitting the House - A woman asks about splitting the house in a divorce when her daughter’s name is on the deed but not the mortgage. Her daughter and son-in-law were married only two years before divorce. Splitting a house in divorce can be more complicated without an attorney.  

  • Real Estate Capital Gains Tax - A reader says he sold his home after living there for more than seven years. He wonders about real estate capital gains tax and what to report to the IRS. If you’re married you can take up to $500,000 in profit without paying tax, after living in a home at least two of the last five years.

  • Retirement Living - Baby boomers expect more active retirement living that the generation before them. Baby boomers look at amenities available for use during retirement living. The silent generation has different expectations for retirement living.

  • Real Estate Broker - A real estate broker writes that Ilyce has a negative opinion of the interaction between sellers and agents. The real estate broker says that a seller in a recent column was unreasonable. Ilyce says she selects an accurate sample of questions for her columns about real estate brokers.

  • Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure - A homeowner signs a deed in lieu of foreclosure giving up his home. The PMI company wants him to pay back money they are losing due to the deed in lieu of foreclosure. PMI stands for private mortgage insurance, which you have to buy if you don’t have enough down payment.  

  • Real Estate Market Conditions - Real estate market conditions used to be favorable to home owners. Home values were high and interest rates low. Now, home owners may feel glum about the real estate market conditions but they should improve after the presidential election. Real estate market conditions include interest rates and home values.

  • Prenuptial Agreement - A bride asks about buying property with her fiancé before they’re married. She’s concerned about whether to sign a prenuptial agreement. She doesn't want to be stuck with a mortgage she can't afford.  

  • Quit Claim - A home owner asks about a quit claim deed that her ex-husband signed and what it means. She worries about paying a mortgage on a home with a quit claim deed. His signing of the quit claim deed should take the home out of the marital assets.  

  • School Playground Equipment - A reader asks whether school playground equipment stays at the site when the school location changes. School playground equipment is considered a fixture. Fixtures typically stay at the site where they’re installed and have to be excluded from a contract to be removed.

  • Credit History - A couple asks the impact of doing a short sale on their credit history and credit score. Their credit history could also be dinged if they file for bankruptcy, which they may do to dump a house. Either a short sale or a bankruptcy filing will hurt their credit history and credit score.

  • Bad Neighbor - A rural home owner asks about her rights when a bad neighbor keeps burning freshly cut grass. The bad neighbor won’t stop burning grass in spite of the home owner’s health and a county law banning it. What can the home owner do about her bad neighbor? 

  • Quitclaim Deed - Domestic partners own a home together and decide to split. They didn’t have a business partnership agreement outlining each of their interests in their property. What happens if one of them signs a quit claim deed?

  • Mortgage Lender - How can you choose the right mortgage lender? Ask friends and family for mortgage lender references, interview the mortgage lender and make sure the mortgage lender does meticulous underwriting. 

  • Homeowners Association - A condo owner says he’s been late paying homeowners association fees and now owes a late fee. Does the condo owner have any recourse with the homeowners association? 

  • Real Estate Contract - A buyer says he’s received a foreclosure notice on his home after signing a real estate contract and paying the seller on time. The buyer should see a real estate attorney to talk about this contract.  

  • Consolidate Debt - A homeowner asks about how to consolidate debt. He says he’s been rejected to consolidate debt using a home equity line of credit. What can he do? 

  • Property Rental - A homeowner asks about making his home a property rental in a community with a homeowners association. The IRS does not let you treat a property rental as a primary residence for tax purposes. 

  • Real Estate Broker - A seller complains his real estate agent is not doing her job. Ilyce suggests contacting the real estate broker the agent works for. The real estate broker can hold the agent accountable.  

  • Cost of College Tuition - A parent asks about the cost of college tuition and about having a student start at a community college. Because the cost of college tuition is so high it's a good idea to start out at a less well known school and transfer.  

  • Mortgage Broker Loan - A buyer asks about getting a loan through a mortgage broker or a bank. When you get a loan through a mortgage broker he’s compensated with fees often paid by the lender.  

  • How Does a Quitclaim Deed Work - A reader asks how does a quitclaim deed work. A quitclaim deed does not change the mortgage terms, no matter how it was signed or works. The owner has to take care of the mortgage separately. 

  • Types of Mortgage Loans - When you buy a home you will likely need to pick from many types of mortgage loans. Adjustable rate mortgages and fixed rate mortgages are the most common types of mortgage loans. 

  • Dual Agent - A couple buys a home from a dual agent who also represents the sellers. The buyers feel the dual agent did not disclose information about the septic system. What can they do? 

  • Homeowners Association - It’s possible to buy a home in a community with multiple homeowners associations. The neighborhood homeowners association may be a member of another homeowners association.  

  • Mortgage Fraud - If you're worried about being a victim of mortgage fraud it helps to be familiar with closing documents. If you know what to look for on these documents you can avert mortgage fraud. 

  • Housing Market Outlook - If you’re unhappy with your current home consider the housing market outlook. It may be a while before the housing market outlook becomes positive so learn to love your current home. 

  • Real Estate Listing Agreement - A seller asks how to take his house off the market. The real estate listing agreement will tell him whether he can do that. He could also hire an attorney to review the real estate listing agreement. 

  • Property Manager - A couple plans to rent out a home using a property manager. Ilyce advises having contingency plans in case the property manager does not work out. 

  • Eviction - A landlord asks about eviction for a commercial tenant. Eviction laws vary by state and some attorneys specialize in evictions. 

  • Property Owner - How do you change a property owner? An adult child says his father was a property owner and his mother is not but still lives in the home. What are the laws about property ownership? 

  • Plot Plan - Buyers complain that the plot plan for a neighboring lot has changed. They want to know if they have recourse since the new plot plan has the next door house set differently.  

  • Fire Damage Clean Up - A buyer discovers fire damage in the attic of his new home. He wonders about who should pay for the clean up. He may be able to get the seller to pay for the fire damage clean up. 

  • Home Problems - A buyer says his home has problems like a leaky roof. He says the builder will not fix the home problems. Who can he contact to help with these home problems? 

  • Breach of Construction Contract - A buyer says he’s having trouble getting earnest money back from his builder after deciding not to buy a home. The buyer can sue the builder for breaching the construction contract.  

  • Home Loan With Bad Credit - A graduate student says he’s got bad credit but wants to get a home loan upon graduation. If you get a home loan with bad credit it will cost you more. Before getting a home loan you should first fix bad credit. 

  • Going Green At Home - Going green at home includes recycling and reusing materials. Going green at home could also include paying bills electronically. If you’re going green at home you will also saving money. 

  • Synthetic Stucco - A reader asks about using synthetic stucco with concrete blocks. Synthetic stucco may trap moisture between exterior and plywood leading to mold and rot. Ilyce advises researching synthetic stucco before using it. 

  • Short Sale of House - A family wants to sell its home but owes more than the house can fetch on the market. One option is a short sale of their house. A short sale of a house means to sell for less than the mortgage balance. 

  • Green Consumer Demographics - Green consumer demographics fall into three categories. Green consumer demographics include being thoughtful of the environment, dilettante green consumers and green consumers who want a return on their investment.  

  • Green Home Tips - Green home tips vary from saving on heating bills using better insulation to restricting water usage. Employ these green home tips by contacting a water engineering firm or an advanced plumber.  

  • Time Share Companies - A couple asks about paying for their time share after the time share company went bankrupt. Time share companies are affected in this poor real estate market too. You have to pay time share companies no matter what.  

  • Mortgage Fraud - The mortgage industry divides mortgage fraud into two categories: fraud for housing and fraud for profit. Florida had the most mortgage fraud in the U.S. in 2007.

  • Tax Sale Properties - How can someone buy properties through tax sales? If a homeowner fails to pay taxes, a jurisdiction may conduct a tax sale and sell the home for the amount of unpaid taxes. 

  • Short Sale of House - A homeowner asks about doing a short sale of a house when he has good credit. Doing a short sale of a house means selling the property for less than the mortgage amount.  

  • Taxes On Home Sale - A couple asks about taxes they owe on the sale of a deceased parent’s home. Taxes on a home sale vary depending on the sale’s timing and the home value.

  • Deed In Lieu of Foreclosure - If you know for sure you have to give up your home but you don’t want to go through a lengthy foreclosure process, sign a deed in lieu of foreclosure. A deed in lieu of foreclosure transfers ownership of your house to the bank and allows you to move on without a foreclosure on your credit history.

  • Earnest Money - A condo buyer complains that the master bedroom is too small and wants his earnest money back. The buyer asks whether the bank could keep the earnest money if the deal fell through rather than suing him.  

  • Moving Company - How can you pick the right moving company? Ilyce offers some tips from the Better Business Bureau to help you select a moving company. Moving company scams abound. Here are some of the most common.  

  • Heating Bill - An elderly couple has been paying their heating bill using a credit card. They fear they’ll lose their home because they can’t afford the high heating bill as well as their other bills.  

  • Mortgage Loan Fraud - A homeowner wonders about mortgage loan fraud alleging her husband applied for loans without his name on the home’s deed. How was he able to possibly commit mortgage loan fraud?  

  • Breaking a Realtor Contract - A reader asks about breaking a contract with her Realtor since her agent was doing a poor job. Ilyce says breaking a Realtor contract is really breaking a brokerage contract. Ilyce suggests asking for another agent. 

  • Mortgage Hotline Number - A reader asks Ilyce to provide the federal government’s mortgage hotline number. The mortgage hotline number is 888-995-HOPE. Call the mortgage hotline number if you can’t pay your mortgage. 

  • Real Estate Career - A real estate instructor writes in to say that a real estate career has lots of costs. Most real estate pros earn about $40,000 a year. A real estate career can be lucrative but it’s not an instant path to riches.

  • Moving Household Goods - A mover writes in to say movers say they move household goods, not “stuff.” Moving household goods is mover jargon. Ilyce says she has “stuff” on her counter not household goods for moving.  

  • Housewares Show - The 2008 International Housewares Show featured recycling and color trends. The Housewares Show offered a rainbow of colors and new innovations on familiar tools. Some Housewares Show items debuted there. 

  • Marriage Property Rights - A woman asks about her marriage property rights. Her marriage is ending and her husband sold the property but does he have rights to sell it? To find out her marriage property rights she can talk to a legal aid clinic. 

  • Interest Rate on Savings Accounts - A reader asks about getting a good interest rate on savings accounts. He says he put money in an online bank to get a good interest rate on savings accounts. Interest rates on savings accounts will be low for a while. 

  • Tax Liability - A family wants to sell a rental property and asks about the tax liability. The family can either pay the tax liability right away or do a 1031 exchange to defer the tax liability. 

  • Warranty Deed - A couple wants to remove one person’s name from the deed. Is it better to use a quitclaim deed or a warranty deed? A warranty deed discloses that the person giving up property interest owned part of the property. 

  • Foreclosure - This ThinkGlink reader is considering renting out a property that he may have to foreclose on. Ilyce explains his risks.

  • Selling Property - A ThinkGlink reader is considering selling an empty lot and is wondering if now is the right time to sell property. Ilyce explains how to determine when to put a property on the market.

  • Housing Grant - If you buy a home with a housing grant with a set timeframe you may be penalized if you sell early. Housing grants often have terms and conditions. Read your documents to understand your housing grant.

  • Inherit Property - A reader asks about the best way to inherit a property from his father. He asks about inheriting the property using an irrevocable trust or buying it before his father passes. Ilyce says to buy the property outright.

  • Moving Tips - Moving can be a stressful experience. Following these moving tips can make your move go smoother. Moving tips include researching movers, getting moving cost estimates and getting the best prices for boxes.

  • Real Estate Career - Want to start a career in real estate? You should research real estate career factors like salary and training first. Real estate career salaries can vary widely with top agents earning more than $111,000 a year.

  • Buying a New Home - A reader asks about buying a new home with or without a real estate agent. The reader talks about negotiating directly with the builder when buying a new home. Ilyce encourages the reader to hire a real estate agent.

  • Earnest Money - A condo owner puts earnest money down on a new condo. The owner can’t sell his condo and worries about losing the earnest money. The builder says he’ll keep the earnest money. What should the buyer do?

  • Water Leak - A home buyer finds a water leak at his new home. The seller’s agent agreed to look into the water leak since it was pre-closing. The buyer wonders whose responsibility it is to fix the leak and it depends on the contract.

  • Mortgage Fraud - A reader asks about saving a cottage co-owned with a brother who may have been involved in mortgage fraud. The reader worries the mortgage fraud fallout could lead to loss of the cottage.

  • State Residency Requirements - A reader asks about claiming state residency in a state that’s one mile away. State residency requirements require you to physically live in that state. You can’t claim state residency unless you live there.

  • No More Mortgage - A reader asks when to have no more mortgage. To pay off the mortgage or have no more mortgage makes sense if it will help you sleep better or if you’re losing money on your other investments.

  • Home Remodel - A reader asks about buying a home that needs remodeling. He wonders about the costs of the home and remodeling it. How much less should the buyer offer for the home that will be remodeled, if it’s facing foreclosure?

  • Pay Down Your Mortgage - A teacher writes asking how to pay down her mortgage. To pay down your mortgage you can get another job or get a tenant to live with you. To pay down your mortgage you have to increase your income or lower expenses.

  • How to Buy a Foreclosure - Foreclosure expert Ralph Roberts provides tips on how to buy a foreclosure in Ilyce’s column. Becoming familiar with real estate documents is essential to know how to buy a foreclosure.

  • Bank Commitment Letter - A buyer says his contractor wants a bank commitment letter. A bank commitment letter states that the bank agrees to fund a mortgage. Ilyce suggests he hire a real estate attorney so he’s not doing the deal blindly.

  • IRS Home Sale Exemption - A reader asks whether his mother can still get an IRS home sale exemption after his father died. Ilyce responds that yes, she can still get the IRS home sale exemption so long as she lived there two of the past five years.

  • Pay Off Credit Card Debt - A reader asks how to pay off credit card debt. He wonders about paying $5,000 on one credit card debt or spreading it out. If you pay off some credit card debt on each card you can increase your credit score.

  • Bankruptcy Information - If you can’t pay your bills you may want to get information on filing bankruptcy. Another source for bankruptcy information is John Ventura’s book, “The Bankruptcy Handbook.”

  • Mortgage Lender - A mortgage lender approves a borrower but does not say it in writing. The borrower calls and writes the mortgage lender. The mortgage lender does not respond to the borrower. What can the borrower do?

  • Retirement Home - A couple bought a retirement home and put their current home up for sale. They want to sell their current home before moving to the retirement home but they aren’t sure. Can they still move to their retirement home?

  • Revocable Living Trust - A homeowner wants to transfer his condo into his revocable living trust. He wants to know whether he can make this change to the revocable living trust without a lawyer. Ilyce says it is safer to work with a lawyer.

  • Quit Claim - A grandchild gets a home through a quit claim deed. He or she wonders about a mortgage that the grandfather had. What are the grandchild’s responsibilities to keep the home acquired through a quit claim deed?

  • Sheriff’s Sale - A home buyer purchases a home that’s set to be sold in a sheriff’s sale. The timing of the home purchase and the sheriff’s sale conflict. The home buyer wonders if there’s a way to save the home from the sheriff’s sale.

  • 1031 Tax Exchange - A property owner asks about the tax liabilities from selling a property. One possibility is a 1031 tax exchange or a Starker exchange. A 1031 tax exchange involves buying a new property within 180 days.

  • Foreclosure News - The latest foreclosure news includes Project Lifeline, a program to delay foreclosures. Other foreclosure news includes huge increases in foreclosures in Albany, N.Y., and in the D.C. metro area.

  • Real Estate Short Sale - A home buyer has put an offer on real estate that’s being sold by a bank through a short sale. The buyer has not heard back from the bank whether they accept his offer for the real estate short sale.

  • PMI - A couple wants to buy a foreclosed home but is unsure about how PMI figures in. PMI, or private mortgage insurance, reimburses lenders for the balance above 80 percent of the mortgage, if a home becomes a foreclosure.

  • Landlord Books - A reader asks Ilyce for which landlord books she recommends. The landlord books are by Robert Irwin and Robert Shemin. If you want to become a landlord you may want to read these books.

  • Kitchen Renovation - A couple buys a home with a poor kitchen renovation. They want to know if they can hold the seller accountable for the kitchen renovation. They regret buying their home with the bad kitchen renovation.

  • Blackmail - A home buyer asks whether a home seller asking for money outside the sale at closing is blackmailing him. Ilyce says it is blackmail and illegal. She suggests he contact a real estate attorney.

  • Refinance Mortgage - You may be wondering whether to refinance your mortgage now. Make sure to refinance your mortgage for the right reasons. Lowering taxes may not be a good reason to refinance. Preventing foreclosure may be worthwhile.

  • Home Owner Liability - A home owner asks who has liability for an ancient tree being torn down on a next door lot. The home owner wonders if it’s a neighbor, who is having a house built, has liability or if it’s the builder, who tore down the tree.

  • Refinance Home Loan - A home owner asks how to refinance his home loan. The home loan refinance market has become chaotic so it pays to shop around. A good place to refinance your home loan is a credit union.

  • Tear Down House with Mortgage - A couple asks if they should tear down their ranch house while they still have a mortgage. They say many of their neighbors tear down their houses so their street has many new brick homes.

  • Property Transfer - A reader asks about the impact of his parents transferring their property to him. How will the property transfer affect their Medicare benefits? There may be a better way to achieve the goals aside from a property transfer.

  • House Deed - Reader asks about the legality of someone putting a name on a house deed without the person’s consent. To transfer a house deed the people on the deed must consent.

  • Prevent Foreclosure - To prevent foreclosure you should pay your mortgage on time and in full every month. Preventing foreclosure should be a high priority because losing your home hurts your credit. There are steps you can follow to prevent foreclosure.

  • Refinance Home & Divorce - A woman getting divorced says her ex-husband is buying her share of their home and he refinances the home. She asks if it matters that he refinances the home through a federal bank.

  • Mortgage Documents - A woman says she’s refinanced her house and is confused about her mortgage documents. She says her mortgage documents have her married name but the title agent said it should have her maiden name.

  • Foreclosure Process - Many homeowners who struggle to make payments don’t understand the foreclosure process. Contact HUD or your lender to learn about the foreclosure process. You may be able to avert the foreclosure process.

  • Landowner - A landowner who owns one twelfth of a property wants to sell. The landowner says his co-owners will not buy him out. The landowner wants to know his options.

  • Vacation Home - A woman says her parents sold their vacation home to her sister, thus breaking a promise. Her parents should have sold the vacation home to all three siblings she says. She asks about legal rights.

  • Joint Ownership - An unmarried couple buys a home in joint ownership but never cohabitates. The woman pays off the home and the joint owner wants to be paid. What are her rights under joint ownership?

  • Stop Foreclosure - If you’re having trouble making your mortgage payment you probably want to do whatever you can to stop foreclosure. Stopping foreclosure is possible if you take the right steps.

  • Foreclosure Questions - If you’ve got foreclosure questions you might think that talking to family and friends will help. But that may not be the best choice. They’re not foreclosure experts and may not be able to answer your foreclosure questions.

  • Divorce Property Settlement - A woman asks about accepting a house and foregoing her husband’s retirement in a divorce property settlement. She says she wants the house in the divorce property settlement.

  • Joint Ownership - A wife asks about the taxes owed on a home under joint ownership. Her husband has joint ownership with his sister. The joint ownership details will determine tax liability.

  • Tax Debt Help - You may seek help if you owe a tax debt. Although the IRS cannot touch your retirement savings they may suggest getting tax debt help by borrowing against them. Another way to help with tax debt is to deduct PMI.

  • Annual Free Credit Report - A reader says he tried to get an annual free credit report but paid for it. The only site where to get an annual free credit report is annualcreditreport.com. She says watch out for ads for an annual free credit report.

  • Neighborhood - A couple plans to move to a neighborhood on a lake. The neighborhood may not be completed however. Ilyce advises to pass on a house in this neighborhood.

  • Landlord - A landlord asks what to do when his renter plans to skip out early. The landlord asks about putting a lien on the renter’s new home. Ilyce suggests the landlord sue in small claims court.

  • 1031 Exchange - Siblings inherit apartment buildings and ask about a 1031 exchange. They want to do a 1031 exchange to keep the same property tax bill. To do a 1031 exchange, you have to replace property with the same value or more.

  • Mortgage Lender - A homeowner wants to avert a short sale and asks his friends to buy his home. He asks them to lie to the mortgage lender about the price. Lying to the mortgage lender will put his friends in a bad position.

  • Financial Counselor - A wife writes that she and her husband disagree about money and asks how to find a financial counselor. Ilyce describes various financial counselors. A psychologist can also be a financial counselor.

  • Divorce Property Settlement - A woman asks about her former home in a divorce property settlement. Her ex-husband wants her to sign the home to him in the divorce property settlement. She’s not sure about rights in the divorce property settlement.

  • Investment Property - An investment property owner wants to know if there’s a way to sell and pay less tax. He asks about gifting the investment property. Ilyce mentions a 1031 exchange for the investment property.

  • Tax Help - Homeowners taking a loss when selling can now get tax help. The tax help is part of the Mortgage Debt Forgiveness Relief Act. They get help on their taxes by not owing tax on a loss of $2 million or less.

  • Retirement Community - A couple wants to move to a retirement community. They want to sell their current home to move to the retirement community. Ilyce offers ways speed up the sale so they can move to the retirement community sooner.

  • Real Estate Appraiser - A reader asks why a real estate appraiser was omitted from a team of experts. Ilyce responds that often a real estate appraiser’s conclusion is the same as reached by agents creating comparative market analyses.

  • Divorce Property Settlement - A woman says she received a check for money from a divorce property settlement. She should look at a 1099 S form to see the details of the home sold as part of the divorce property settlement.

  • Mortgage Lender - A couple’s mortgage lender does not report their on-time payments to credit reporting bureaus. They wonder how the mortgage lender’s behavior will impact their credit. The mortgage lender is anti-consumer.

  • Home Inspection - A home buyer notices problems with his new home and suggests the seller covered them up. It’s not clear whether he had a home inspection. A home inspection should have given him a heads up about the problems.

  • Title - A divorced man writes that his name remains on the title of a home he owns with his ex-wife but she can’t afford the mortgage. Ilyce asks why his ex-wife did not buy him out and remove him from the title.

  • Credit Repair - The best person to repair your credit is you. Ilyce shares 10 tips for you to repair your credit. Credit can be repaired when you don’t co-sign for loans, make on-time payments and don’t over-extend yourself. 

  • Stop Foreclosure - A home owner who has already lost one property to foreclosure asks about the impact of foreclosure on getting another home loan. Ilyce discusses his options to stop foreclosure proceedings on his current home.

  • Do Not Call List - Identity Theft can happen any number of ways. Some crooks get information by calling unsuspecting consumers at home. To cut down on your risk of telephone identity theft, sign up for the government's Do Not Call list at donotcall.gov.

  • Home Inspector - A home inspector may have missed problems in this ThinkGlink reader's new home. Ilyce and Sam suggest getting a second opinion and checking back with the original inspector.

  • Buying a Home - When you're in the market to buy a home you should ask yourself if you want a new or existing home. If you want to buy a new home make sure to research the developer. If you're buying an existing home you may face renovation costs.

  • Townhouses - Town houses are another option when you want to buy a home. They tend to be larger than a condo or co-op but likely still have a homeowners association. Make sure you understand the terms of the sale as a home buyer.

  • Co-Ops - Another home buying option is purchasing a co-op. Buying a co-op is actually buying shares into a corporation that owns the building. Co-op boards control who can buy a home in their buildings.

  • Condos - As a new home buyer you have lots of choices as to what type of home to purchase. A condominium, or an apartment that you own, is usually located in an urban center or densely populated suburb. A condo is one choice to consider when you are buying a new home.

  • Designing a Home - Ilyce discusses design and architecture with renowned designer and author Marianne Cusato. Learn what you can do to make your home well designed and authentic.

  • Scam Speak - Crooks and scam artists who commit identity theft use some common phrases, also known as "Scam Speak." If you know what to listen for you can avoid getting ripped off, even if the scam speak is top notch.

  • Selling Real Estate - Top-selling real estate agent Gloria Matlin talks about how she works with buyers and sellers and why she loves to sell real estate.

  • Building New Houses - Brett Marlowe talks about his philosophy of building new houses and what buyers look for.

  • Phishing Scams - Identity theft is difficult and time-consuming to fix. If you don't protect your identity, it's easy to get scammed. "Phishing" is a type of identity theft that comes in your email.

  • Medical Identity Theft - Medical identity theft happens when someone starts filing medical bills in your name and collecting the payments. It's identity theft on steriods, but there are ways to fight it.

  • Magazine Scams - Magazine scams are not what you'd consider traditional identity theft. In a magazine scam you pay for a subscription, but the publisher keeps sending you renewal notices. To avert a magazine scam, pay careful attention to who is selling you the subscription.

  • Foreign Lottery Scams - Foreign lottery scams are becoming more popular with the growth of the internet. They are another way that thieves try to steal your identity. If you are notified that you have won a foreign lottery, beware that this could lead to identity theft.

  • YouTube Real Estate Videos - Welcome to the ExpertRealEstateTips.net! Don't forget to subscribe to receive notification of new videos and articles.

  • Work-at-Home Schemes - Work-at-home schemes are costly - to the victim. These schemes often promise fast, easy money for little work. Instead of working from home and earning money, your identity is stolen after you provide personal details to the scam artist.

  • Find Homes on the Web - More than 70 percent of Americans start their house hunt using the Internet. When you want to buy a home, the Internet can be good for researching neighborhoods and schools. The Internet lacks the personal touch of dealing with an agent, the feel of walking around a neighborhood and some of the information is outdated or inaccurate.

  • Scam Alerts - Secrecy is another warning sign of possible identity theft. When someone asks you to keep a deal a secret it may be a sign that it's a scam. To prevent identity theft steer clear of secretive schemes.

  • Door-to-Door Scams - You may think wacky scams are urban legends or the stuff of fiction. Be aware that some crazy-sounding scams are real, are working, and result in people becoming victims of identity theft.

  • Identity Theft Protection - One way to reduce your risk of identity theft is to pay close attention to privacy policies. Some "opt out" policies offer consumers ways to remove or withhold personal information from databases. Opting out improves the chances that your identity will not be stolen.

  • Buying Investment Homes - When you're buying a home as an investment you can follow some of the same steps as you would when you're buying a home to live in. You should consider the home's location and whether you can afford the purchase. It's especially important to have enough money saved for a rainy day.

  • Identity Theft - Identity Theft is becoming a bigger problem, in part because people are using more and more technology. Consumers must become more vigilant about where and how they store personal information to avert identity theft.

  • Using a Real Estate Agent - Once you have decided to buy a home, you may decide you want to work with a broker or an agent. Brokers and agents provide a variety of services to home buyers. These include education, legwork and guidance.

  • Identity Theft Warning Signs - If you're worried about identity theft, there are ways you can protect yourself. And if you know the signs, you can stop identity theft sooner. One of the best ways to protect your identity is to order your credit report annually from annualcreditreport.com.

  • Home Buying Tips - Buying a home is not just about bricks and mortar. Home buyers should think about where they are in the cycle of life: single, married, divorced, with kids, without. The shape of your family affects your needs as a home buyer.

  • Home Location - When you buy a home you must always consider location. Location, location, location may be a trite saying but there's something to it. Location affects which home you buy and who buys it from you in the future.

  • Home Design - Ilyce discusses design and architecture with renowned designer and author Marianne Cusato.

  • How to Buy a Home - Before you buy a home you should figure out what you want. If you have been renting for a while you have some idea of what has worked for you and what hasn't. Make a wish list for what you want in a home so you can be a successful home buyer.

  • Women and Real Estate - If you're a single woman and debating whether to become a home buyer you're not alone. It's no longer unusual for women to buy homes by themselves. Still, it's good to be prepared for the possibility of discrimination when you are buying a home.

  • Buying a Home Versus Renting - When you are thinking about becoming a home buyer, it's always good to run the numbers. A long-term renter can easily justify buying a home when he considers the total amount that he spends in rent over many years. Buying a home is a wise financial decision when you can afford it.

  • Why Buy a Home - If you're not sure whether to buy a home, consider some of the reasons that most home buyers give. People buy homes as investments, to save for their futures, to accomplish the American dream. Once you have saved for down payment and made the emotional commitment you're ready to buy your first home.

  • Before Buying a Home - Before you call a real estate agent, before you make buying your first home a goal, it's important to get educated. Home buying is both exciting and daunting. To help you evaluate whether you are ready to become a home buyer ask yourself some key questions.

  • Children Identity Theft - Has your child's identity been stolen? While identity theft is often committed by strangers, sometimes parents and other relatives steal the financial identities of children to get access to more credit.

  • Home Buying Process - It's important to consider your lifestyle when putting together a home buying wish list. You can ask yourself a variety of questions to narrow down what's most important to you during the home buying process. Consider not only yourself but your family too.

  • Quit Claim Deed - A quit claim deed was used to transfer a home to a friend. The friend is now selling the home. Sam and Ilyce help this reader understand the legal and tax implications.

  • Inheritance - A man inherits a home from his father with his stepmother as the life estate beneficiary. The man buys out his stepmother’s life estate. The man’s wife wonders what amount base taxes on upon sale.

  • Mortgage - A home buyer with a 10-year mortgage loan asks if making extra payments will shorten the mortgage loan. Prepaying a mortgage loan helps more if you have a time frame longer than 10 years.

  • Credit Repair - As the economy worsens, credit repair scams abound. Repairing bad credit takes more than paying a $1,000 fee. Beware of those promising to repair your credit by getting you a new Social Security number.

  • Rotten Neighbor - A homeowner says his rotten neighbor has not controlled his children or pets. The homeowner puts up a fence between his yard and the rotten neighbor. A third neighbor now claims land due to adverse possession.

  • Proof Of Funds Letter - Wealthy home sellers describe buyers who cannot provide a letter showing proof of funds. Buyers tour homes, promise to purchase them and then disappear. Requiring a proof of funds letter can help stop this.

  • Predatory Lending - A borrower asks for certain terms as he refinances his mortgage. His mortgage refinance lender does not share there’s a prepayment penalty. The borrower wonders what his recourse is after this mortgage refinance.

  • Short Sale - A short sale is when a home owner is selling a home for less than the mortgaged amount. This ThinkGlink reader asks Sam and Ilyce how to save his offer to buy a home that was subject to a short sale.

  • IRS - The IRS put a lien on a property owned by a woman whose husband owes back taxes. Ilyce and Sam explain what this reader can expect from the IRS.

  • Power Of Attorney - A father dies without a will. His wife asks his daughter to sign a power of attorney to enable selling a home. The daughter is unsure whether to sign the power of attorney.

More Articles on Personal Finance Advice and Real Estate

2007 Articles

2006 Articles

2005 Articles

2004 Articles

2003 Articles

2002 Articles

2001 Articles

2000 Articles

1999 Articles

1998 Articles

1997 Articles

1996 Articles

1995 Articles