Homeowners Articles and Videos - Page 2

If you give your home as a gift to relatives without checking to see if the mortgage loan is assumable, as the former homeowner, you are still responsible for the mortgage. The situation is worse if mortgage is still in your name but the deed is in the name of your relatives. As the former home…

A homeowner wants to know where to find services for "freshening up" his home. Home improvement services may be offered through a membership warehouse.

When building a new home, hire a private, professional home inspector to make sure your new construction is up to building codes. City inspectors don't have the time that a professional home inspector has to make sure your new home meets all the building codes. If you don't use a reputable…

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released this Q&A about the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan, which was announced by President Obama on Wednesday, February 18, 2009.

Here are some answers to most-asked questions about the plan:

Questions and Answers for Borrowers about…

There has been a lot of grumbling (particularly on CNBC this morning when Rick Santelli took a poll in the pit as to who would want to pay for someone's housing mistakes) about people getting helped who don't deserve it.

Yesterday, the White House released these three examples of who might be able to…

Here's what we received in media briefing papers from the White House:

Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan Executive Summary

The deep contraction in the economy and in the housing market has created devastating consequences for homeowners and communities throughout the country.

• Millions of…

Selling homes is no longer a seasonal activity. Real estate agents now work around the clock nearly every day of the year to sell homes. Ilyce provides home selling tips including staging and home selling price suggestions in this story which discusses selling your home in fall, spring, summer or…

Homeowners should keep the deed to their home in a safe place. Homeowners who want to display their deeds in a creative way, should scan the document and use the copy. Homeowners should put the original copy of the deed to their home in a bank box or another safe place.

When you live in a community with a homeowners association you have to pay dues. If you don't pay your homeowners association dues, the HOA may start charging you fines in addition to the dues. If you fail to pay the dues and fines in a timely manner, the homeowners association can sue you in a…

It's not that simple to just add a name to a mortgage. To add your name to a mortgage, you would have to be one of the owners of the home. Depending on the reasons, it might not be necessary or beneficial to add a name to a mortgage loan.

How can you find a trustworthy attorney to help with a homeowners association lawsuit? Ilyce suggests contacting a local bar association or asking friends and family for recommendations. You can also contact an attorney who specializes in a different area of law and ask who he or she suggests…

Satellite dishes are prohibited by this homeowners association's documents, but many neighbors continue to use them. The homeowners association president told one homeowner that the association has quit enforcing this provision. Is there anything this homeowner can do to get this rule enforced?

Tax law states that a seller is entitled to a capital gains tax exemption on the sale of a primary residence. Homeowners must live in a primary residence for at least 2 years in order to get the exemption on the capital gains tax. A single person may keep $250,000 dollars free of a capital gains tax…

What can you do when you have to pay a special assessment to your homeowners association (HOA) for water damage? Are the condo sellers liable for telling you about the water damage prior to sale? How can you find out if you're at risk for special assessments prior to buying a home with an HOA?

A homeowner can only get a reverse mortgage if the house is the owner's primary residence, but a home equity loan can be obtained even if the home is not the primary residence. Also, a home equity loan is available to a home owner of any age, where the homeowner must be at least 62 to qualify for a…

Residents who pay fees to homeowners associations may be questioning the HOA fees in this economy. Are the HOA fees being used for the right purpose? Is your HOA financially sound? To find out about the health of your HOA or condo association you should research the latest budget and attend some…

What do you think about the government's new Home Affordability and Stability Plan? Do you think it will affect the housing market. Or do you wonder what will happen to all the homes in foreclosure? Mold could be an issue. First time home buyers will get a tax credit - but what does the plan offer…

The U.S. Internal Revenue Service just announced that it will allow homeowners to apply to make their mortgage loan the primary lien against their homes and if they have a tax lien on the home as well, it can become the secondary lien.

A lien is a claim that another party has on your property. Your…