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 [...]
Should a family member be your Realtor and charge commission for selling your home? Before you ask your family member for a commission discount, think of what it really takes to get a home sold. Q: Should my brother-in-law charge commission for selling my mother's house? Should a Family Member Acting As Your Realtor Charge [...]
When it comes to common plumbing problems, here’s one you won’t see that often: a reader’s condo doesn’t have cold running water in the kitchen. How do you resolve this (un) common plumbing problem? It may not be that easy, and there’s a question about whether the seller knew there was a plumbing issue before [...]
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 [...]
Is refinancing your 30-year, or 15-year, mortgage really a good decision? Depending on the market and refinancing fees, this change may save you a bundle! Q: If you have a fixed rate mortgage why would you ever want to refinance if you plan to stay in the home for the duration of the mortgage? [...]
What resolutions should home sellers make this year? If they want to get the most out of their investment, starting with these four resolutions can help. As 2019 gets going, it’s worth looking back at another year in which home sellers did well, but often at the expense of home buyers. First, in much of [...]
What you need to know about using an installment contract for deed. From closing on the sale to monthly interest payments, here’s what you can expect. Q: I am selling a commercial building and giving the buyer financing through a contract for deed. In the purchase agreement, the buyer asked about a prepayment penalty, but [...]
How to save money on your property taxes when moving within the same state. A tax assessment under your municipality's laws may help you save big bucks. Q: I thought you’d find the following information relevant concerning one of your recent correspondents. In that question, a homeowner was relocating within California and the reader wanted [...]
In this week’s edition of Monday Morning Marketing, John and Ilyce discuss how President-elect Trump's tweets may change once he takes office. Then they look at a 2016 report by Domo and CEO.com indicating that Fortune 500 chief executives might not be using social media as much as people think. Overall, chief executives and others in the [...]
