How much should I spend on a Valentine’s Day gift? Here are the best DIY Valentine’s Day gift ideas that show you care but won’t break the bank. Love is in the air and so are the sweet scents of chocolates and roses! And, who wouldn’t like either as a Valentine’s Day gift? Valentine’s Day [...]
Selling your home after your spouse dies doesn't mean you have to change the title. What really matters is if you own it under joint tenancy or tenants in common. Many homeowners whose spouses have died think they need to change title into their own name as sole owner if they are going to sell, [...]
How to decide if you should fix up a home or sell “as is” depends on these 8 issues that sellers should consider before putting the home on the market. We recently received a letter from a woman who was selling her late sister’s home. She said the home was in bad shape, in a [...]
What to do when you have home buyers remorse. Should you go ahead and sell the home or consider being a landlord? Q: Four years ago, as a first-time homeowner, I bought a single family home in the D.C. metro area. I hate to admit this, but I failed at the due diligence portion of [...]
How to buy out a family member’s share of investment property. A quit claim deed or warranty will do the trick, but each have their own benefits. Q: My wife and I, along with my brother and his wife, bought a vacation home in 2010. Each couple took half. The home is in California and [...]
Is tech to blame for the West Coast housing crisis? The cost of living near tech hubs is so high some workers live in a Winnebago right on the company lot. What happens when people can’t afford to live near where they work? Americans in 19 out of 20 cities consider their cost of living [...]
Home improvement: what’s most valuable for resale? Exterior renovations, like siding replacements, recoup a higher percentage of homeowner costs. Did our last post on kitchen trends get you thinking about renovation projects for your home? Homeowners who are planning to make home improvements this year will want to want to consider how much their investment [...]
What to do when your home is overvalued by your homeowner’s insurance company. Hint: You may want to consider changing companies. Q: Every year, I get a renewal notice from my homeowner's insurance company and it indicates the value of my home. The insurance company lists my residence value at over $700,000. I understand that [...]
What you need to know about paying taxes on a home sold after a spouse’s death. Q: Just finished your awesome article on computing tax due on the sale of the primary home when a spouse passes. I just had a quick question. Let’s say a spouse passes on March 01, 2017. The first thought [...]
Kitchen renovation trends: what you need to know about high-tech upgrades, style and building materials when planning your kitchen renovations. Thinking about renovating your kitchen? You might want to pay attention to the latest kitchen renovation trends so that it’s easier to sell your home when the time comes. Homeowners today want high-tech upgrades, open-concept [...]
