Homeowners Articles and Videos - Page 5

To convey part of your property interest to another person, your deed must specifically state that you are conveying to a person a certain percentage ownership in the property. In some cases, the clearest way to convey title would be to convey title to yourself and to your partner and indicate that…

Maintenance-free is a concept that sounds good, but doesn't quite pan out when it comes to most single family homes. All homes age and need ongoing maintenance and attention in order to stay in good shape. But, in the late 1980s, developers began to introduce the concept of a maintenance-free…

Homeowners should shop around for the best insurance deals. Often homeowners can get a great deal if you purchase all your insurance from the same company. Another way homeowners can get a better deal on insurance is by keeping a good credit score.

What can you do when the property that borders yours is to undergo extensive landscaping changes? Do you have a say in the matter? Even if your local government has approved the landscaping changes you may be able to provide an alternative by suggesting a qualified contractor.

This morning, Zillow (www.zillow.com) announced it would allow homeowners and agents to upload photos and information about homes that are for sale.

"To date Zillow has created a Web page for almost every home in the country - close to 70 million - on which we've placed public records data and our…

Ilyce reviews J.K. Lasser's Your Income Tax 2007. Although nothing much changed for homeowners and home sellers this year, it's worth going over the tax basics for those who made a move in 2006. If you're not sure what applies to you, talk to your accountant or tax preparer.

What do you do if you purchased a home with a friend who ran into some financial difficulties, and the home was refinanced in the your name only? Should you have mortgage refinanced in your name only, even if the title is in both names? If you do, you will be stuck with all the financial…

It seems as though everybody is thinking about the next house they're going to buy. Ellen is thinking about trading her condo for a brick single family house. Matt is thinking about moving from a townhouse to a condo.

Even having just gone through the pain and hassle of moving into a new house…

Can a french drain cause an odor to be trapped in your home? Ilyce explains how a french drain works and that it shouldn't cause an odor in the home. Ilyce suggests visiting the home improvement store to find out more about trapped odors and where they might be coming from in the home.

I guess it's official: The Census Bureau has weighed in and found that Americans are, by and large, spending a lot more money for their homes than before.

Homeowners in every state except Alaska are spending a larger percentage of their income on housing costs than they were at the start of the…

Who is better at managing credit, homeowners or renters? Results of a survey reveal the homeowners think they are better at managing their credit than renters, but both homeowners and renters could use some help. Both homeowners and renters appear interested in improving their credit histories and…

When you live in a community with a homeowners association you're responsible for assessments, as is anyone who lives in the community. Sometimes homeowners association by-laws exclude developers from paying assessments on land they own. But once the developer finishes his work with the community…

June 1st marks the official beginning of the hurricane season. Coming on the back of last year's record-breaking devastation, coastal residents are already preparing for the worst. Here's advice about different types of homeowner's insurance to protect you in this dangerous season.

Clare Cooper Marcus's eye-opening study of people's emotional ties to their houses, apartments, cottages, trailers and other dwellings offers useful, often startling perspectives on what makes a house a home. Maintaining, as did Carl Jung, that one's home is a symbolic mirror of one's inner self, of…

If a house is owned by an LLC (limited liability company), the owner is that company. In owning a house, an LLC would be no different than a corporation owning the home. Just like a person, an LLC or a corporation can hold title to a house and other sorts of real estate.

A first-time home buyer already has a home that was quit claimed to them by a parent, making him ineligible for first time homeowner benefits. Ilyce talks about programs available to first-time home buyers and why this home buyer is ineligible for them because of the quit claim. Ilyce recommends the…

I know that global warming is a concern, and that the wacky weather patterns we've seen over the past few years portend increasing wackiness in the years to come. But as one Chicago-based homeowner who has just watched the roofing company pull into her driveway for the fifth time this season, I'm…

How do you calculate the profit from the sale of a home, if the owner has a home equity loan? The amount of a home equity loan does not change homeowner's profit on the sale, but it does affect how much actual money the homeowner would receive from the sale. The way to figure out the profit on the…

When you put a property in a revocable trust, you also need to be sure the title insurance policy coverage is changed. Title insurance assures the lender that you own the home free and clear, with no liens on it. When a home buyer sells the property, the subsequent buyer should buy his or her own…

If you have more than one claim in 7 years, or if you live in a flood or disaster-prone area, your insurance premiums may have increased dramatically over the past five years. Here are some tips for lowering your insurance costs including shopping around, raising your deductible, getting a security…

A reverse mortgage can allow you to tap the equity in your home without having to sell it or take on another loan. Reverse mortgages or HECMs are commonly used by older Americans in retirement. A reverse mortgage can supplement other retirement income from investments and Social Security.

Ilyce kicks off the show with a discussion of renting a home versus buying a home, along with the other side of the coin being selling a home now versus later. Ilyce then takes calls on a variety of personal finance and real estate topic, everything from refinancing a 15 year mortgage as rates go up…

You want to have adequate homeowners insurance coverage, so that in case of your home being destroyed, you will be covered for the full replacement of your home. In times of natural disasters the cost of insurance and home repairs can skyrocket. If your current insurance company won't sell you…

When you're buying a home you may be considering a condominium. A condominium is a housing unit where you own the air space within the walls and possibly the plumbing and a parking space, but not the actual physical structure itself. Condominium units usually have a homeowners association and a…

Looking for insurance for your home-based office or business? This article tells you everything you need to know about home office insurance.