How long do you need to keep a property purchased with a 1031 exchange? Timing is everything when navigating this type of sale. Q: Several years ago you gave me valuable information on a 1031 exchange. Now I need information on how long I have to keep the properties I purchased with my 1031 exchange [...]
You may wonder why you need to get a land survey when buying property. The answer is simple: You should always get what you pay for. A few weeks ago, a reader asked if he was entitled to extra compensation from the seller because he found out that the seller had sold a piece of [...]
How can you save money on holiday travel? Strategic planning can spare you from financial stress over the holiday season. A vast number of Americans will travel this upcoming holiday season, if last year’s number of holiday travelers are any indication. In 2017, a record 107 million Americans left their homes to travel over the [...]
This reader wants to know how condo assessments are determined because they don’t think their building developer got the ownership percentage split right. Q: Our building has six units, all the same size and layout. It is located in Illinois. The assessment percentage was designated by the builder and laid out in the declaration of [...]
Are transfer on death (TOD) deeds smart? This reader wants to know if it’s a safe way to avoid costly probate for children after their death. Q: I am thinking of doing a transfer upon death (TOD) deed to avoid costly probate for my children. Is this wise and safe to do? Would my heirs [...]
Watch out for these real estate trends in 2019 from the Urban Land Institute, including increasing insurance payouts and heightened cybersecurity risks. The most startling trend they’ve documented (and we’re all experiencing) is the tremendous cost of natural disasters. Major natural disasters like hurricanes and wildfires cost the U.S. a shocking $50 billion in 2016 [...]
If the mortgage wasn’t closed properly when you sold your home, what can you do? Some legwork is required to get the answers you need from the mortgage company. Q: I sold my home three years ago but the mortgage company says that I still owe money on the mortgage. I told them the loan [...]
Is renting or home buying right for you in retirement? The answer depends on both your financial situation and your health. We recently received a couple of questions dealing with couples who are in their sixties, seventies and eighties that are planning to move and wonder whether they should buy or rent their next home. [...]
If you don’t have a mortgage today, it’s unlikely you’ll get one in the future. More than 70 percent of those without mortgages aren’t likely to get one in the future, and the 2008 housing crisis greatly influenced their aversion to homeownership. So, what’s causing the reticence? Retirement is the most common reason Americans say [...]
Who pays for title insurance when selling a home: the buyer or the seller? The answer depends on the customs and practices of each individual state. Q: Is it mandatory for a seller to pay for title insurance in Oregon especially if they were sole owner of home from the day it was constructed? A: [...]
