What is the purpose of a home inventory? A home inventory list can make filing an insurance claim in the event of a major loss much easier. Seventy percent of Americans have gone through a natural disaster at some point in their lives, according to research by Farmers Insurance. With that in mind, it’s surprising [...]
These are the Hottest Houseware Trends of 2019 directly from the International Home and Housewares Show in Chicago. Which ones will you take home? As we walked the halls of the 2019 International Home and Housewares Show at McCormick Place earlier this month, we were surprised by how much hasn’t changed. Yes, we know this [...]
Neighbor's tree fell on my house - whose homeowner's insurance pays for damages? If it was due to natural causes, you may be footing the bill. Q: When I was reading your recent article on homeowner's insurance, I thought I’d share what I was surprised to learn something last year. My son's neighbor's tree fell [...]
How do I pay my first mortgage payment? After closing the sale on buying a home it’s time to start sending payments to your mortgage servicer. Buying a home is the most stressful event of modern life. Now that it’s done, you can breathe a sigh of relief, settle into homeownership and pay your first [...]
Q: We bought our current home six months ago but the pre-sale marketing photos and information are still available on many real estate sites, along with the final sale price. Is there any way to have those photos and information pulled down either by us or by the seller’s real estate agent? What Information About [...]
Is the condo board responsible for enforcing association rules? You’d expect your HOA to maintain the rules, but what happens when they make special arrangements for a new owner? Q: What is the condominium board's responsibility for enforcing our condo homeowner’s association's rules/regulations? For example, our association limits the number of dogs to no more [...]
Are Millennials Buying Homes? Millennials now have the largest share of new mortgages by dollar volume, but most of them have regrets about buying a home. Are Millennials buying homes? It looks like the answer is yes: Millennials are finally becoming homeowners. Millennials now account for the largest share of new mortgages by dollar volume [...]
Why are property taxes calculated differently by each town? This is a complicated question but boils down to what type of taxation approach your town decides to employ. Q: I live in a state where property taxes are calculated differently by each town. My question is why is the calculation a three-step approach rather than [...]
What is a deed of trust? This document often confuses homeowners, especially after they pay off their mortgage. Here’s what you need to know. Q: Thank you for your recent article about transferring ownership of a home among family owners. My question is simpler. I recently paid off my mortgage and received a Certificate of [...]
Are you ever too old to buy your first home? Of course not! Just make sure you understand what’s required of you as a homeowner and a real estate investor before you buy. Q: I am almost 61 years old and single. I moved to Baltimore and would like to buy a small two-flat to [...]
