I’m struggling to pay my mortgage. What are my options? Is it worth going back to a high paying job but missing out on time with the kids? Here’s what I suggest: Q: I need $8,000 to bring my mortgage to date. It costs me $1,000 per month. I have $100,000 in equity. It seems [...]
My ex has a home equity line of credit on my home. Now what? First step is to talk to your divorce lawyer before making any more real estate deals. Q: I have a house that is paid off that I own in my name only. My soon to be ex-husband has an equity line [...]
How to get started with long distance home buying to make sure your big move goes as smoothly as possible. Q: After living in the same house for over 40 years, my wife and I are planning to move across country a year from this summer. How does one go about finding a house from [...]
Is now the right time to sell your rental property? We may be in a seller’s market, but that doesn’t mean you’ll get the most bang for your rental property buck. Q: As always, you give us a lot of good real estate information in your columns. Here's a question regarding my rental home in [...]
Is a reverse mortgage right for you? Or should you get a HELOC? Consider these factors before you commit to a reverse mortgage or HELOC. Q: My wife and her sister were given their mother’s home when she passed away. The property was mortgage-free. For the past six years, her sister has been living in [...]
Trying to profit from pre-foreclosure homes? Read this first before you dive into the complicated world of real estate. Q: I read an article you wrote about buying real estate through tax sales, and it was very good. I met a contractor who told me that he was about to lose some land he owned [...]
How to know if you’re getting a correct land survey. From credentials to the title of surveying documents, there’s a lot to look out for to see if the surveyor is up to snuff. Q: When we purchased land we had a new survey done. Three months later, during our construction process, our lender required [...]
How to manage a life estate: This older form of transferring an estate can cause a lot of confusion. Here’s what you need to know about your obligations. Q: My dad quit claimed his house to me but if he wants, he can live there his entire natural life. Does that mean I own the [...]
Estate planning and capital gains taxes: What you need to know before selling high value property that could be inherited. Q: My parents are elderly and live in Virginia. They own a rental house in California. Since they bought it, the home has increased greatly in value to about $1 million. They are trying to [...]
How to sell your 1031 exchange inheritance in order to avoid complications with taxes after the sale. Q: I have inherited a 1/3 interest in a property that is part of a 1031 exchange. The total value of the property is being split between 3 heirs and is worth about $150,000. Is there any way [...]
