Unpermitted work not disclosed by the seller. Now what do we do? Q: My husband and I have appreciated the many articles from you in our local paper. In addition, we had recently bought your book, “100 Questions Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Ask.” We gave it to our two young adult sons. The book [...]
Sell and Rent Back: Is this a good idea for seniors? Q: I have owned a condominium in Sarasota, Florida since 1978 and it's been my permanent residence since 2004. The character of it has changed and my costs have gone up. However, at 90, I don't wish to move. I've been thinking of selling [...]
House title: How do I get title to my house? Q: My mother died two years ago. She owned property but couldn't find a will. We know her wishes were for me to move back home to take over the property, pay the bills and do the upkeep on the property. We don't know where [...]
What is a reverse mortgage? And, why does a reverse mortgage hurt rather than help an elderly homeowner? Q: I was recently evicted from my home, where I lived with my mother before she died. This is due to a reverse mortgage. I am disabled and now have no home. My mother signed this loan [...]
Got homeowner association problems? You're not alone. Here's what you can do. Q: I read the article you wrote about first-time homebuyers and homeowner associations. The State of Florida has a lot of gated communities and along with that typically comes a powerful homeowners association (HOA). Unfortunately, I didn't know that when I moved and [...]
Does Paying Property Taxes Give Ownership of the Home? Q: Someone paid my deceased uncle's property taxes before I could pay them. Does this mean that person now owns the property? The property has a mortgage on it. What should I do next? Does paying property taxes mean you own a home? A: Here’s the [...]
HOA: Can we shut down our HOA? What can a small community do if no one wants to step up and manage the homeowner association? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCg1nR3GzfU Q: We live in a small townhome community of 24 houses in Maryland. We have a homeowner’s association (HOA), and it is generally very mellow, without any [...]
Do we owe tax on the sale of our parents' home? Paying tax on the sale of your parents' home can be costly if you don't plan ahead. Q: My parents gave their house to their children but continued to live in it and pay all expenses related to the home. Life happened, and my [...]
Will my son inherit the house? Q: I purchased a house with my married son several years ago for him to live in. My husband and I gave him the money for the down payment. Only my credit was checked when we purchased it. Both my son's name and my name are on the deed [...]
What are some common homeowner association problems? So many homeowners have problems with their homeowner association. Whether you live in a condo, co-op, a townhome or subdivision, each version of a homeowner association has a set of common problems that everyone will face. Sometimes it's mismanagement of the homeowner association itself or the association hires [...]
