What does a listing agent do? This reader wants to know how listing agents generate interest in a property and if it benefits the home buyer or home seller. Q: In the Washington, D.C. real estate market, it’s common for real estate agents to price a listing low in order to generate the maximum number [...]
Should you put your rental property in an LLC? These parents want to transfer a rental property to their son's LLC and want to know about tax implications. Q: We are subscribers to your YouTube channel, Expert Real Estate Tips. Thanks so much for sharing such good advice. I’d appreciate if you could advise us [...]
Retirement planning: best states to retire in 2019. Bankrate ranked U.S. states by factors like weather and affordability to find the best state to retire. Whether you dream of retiring at a beachside oasis, on a hilltop with a mountain view, or near your kids in a home with a big yard for grandkids to [...]
How to transfer ownership of a house with unpaid taxes. This reader's wife wants to transfer her joint tenancy ownership in a property with back taxes due. Q: My father-in-law transferred ownership in his house in Michigan to his four daughters as joint tenants before his death a couple of years ago. Now, my wife, [...]
How to find old mortgage loan records? This homeowner wants to find proof of old mortgage payments made before they refinanced and modified their loan. Q: I purchased my home back in 2004 and got a mortgage with a lender that has since been purchased by one of the huge banks. I made all of [...]
Should I buy a house now or wait until 2020? New research from JCHS shows a strong housing market, but not without its challenges for homebuyers. Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS) delivered an in-depth analysis of America’s housing market in its State of the Nation’s Housing 2019 report. And for those of [...]
What happens when past homeowners have unpaid back taxes? The home may become at risk for foreclosure if the new owner skipped title insurance. Q: I bought a home back in 2013. I received free and clear title to it. However this week I was served with papers for foreclosure due to the previous owner's [...]
Understanding HOA rules on home exchanges and rentals can be difficult. How can homeowners use sites like Airbnb without breaking their community agreement? Q: My HOA community has a "four-month minimum" rental restriction. I don't have a major problem with that. However, as a retiree, I belong to a home exchange group in order to [...]
Five easy grilling ideas to save money on your next cookout. You can host a great barbecue this summer even if you're on a budget. Grilling for a cookout full of loved ones is one of my favorite summer traditions. It’s a great time to catch up, watch the kids play and bask in the [...]
What do home sellers have to disclose to potential buyers? Being as honest as possible about persistent problems in the home is the best way to go. Q: A large bank of windows in our home leak from time to time. We can have very heavy rain or storm systems move through our area and [...]
