Are pocket listings unethical? The National Association of Realtors (NAR) has a new rule regulating how and when properties are listed. Our recent article on pocket listings and “coming soon” listings elicited quite a number of comments. Here is one take: Comment: I think you did your readers a disservice by not informing them that [...]
Should I get an appraisal before listing my house? Pros and cons to getting your home appraised before putting the property up for sale. Q: I think you’re doing a disservice to your readers concerning listing your home with real estate agents. The best thing a homeowner/seller can do is spend the $350 or $450 [...]
What happens when you sell a property in a trust? This reader wants to know about the $250,000 gain exclusion and other tax implications. Q: My wife passed away this past year and our home is titled in her trust with me as trustee and my children as beneficiaries upon my passing. Is my cost [...]
How to avoid paying capital gains tax on inherited property. Minimize the potential tax consequences of transferring property from parent to child. Q: I have a question about a recent answer you gave to a reader. The question relates to a daughter that acquired her share of the home from her mom while her mom [...]
What you should know about pocket listings. Who does this real estate market trend benefit most and why is this reader annoyed by it? Q: I’m annoyed with some of the things I see going on in the real estate market, including pocket listings. Sellers should avoid brokerages that list properties internally before they are [...]
Who is responsible for recording a deed? This reader wants to know how a home can be titled in the previous homeowners' names 20 years after the sale. Q: I’m writing to you regarding your column relating to when you get a tax bill for a home you no longer own. There is actually a [...]
How capital gains tax on the sale of a property held in a trust works. This reader wants to know if they can claim a capital loss on the sale. Q: I enjoyed your column in the Washington Post. I am trustee of my father's trust. Upon his death, his 50 percent interest in the [...]
How do I get rid of PMI on my mortgage? What can you do if you don’t want to pay private mortgage insurance on your mortgage loan? Q: I appreciate your articles and landed on your site after reading your article on prepaying your mortgage. I have a question for you about mortgage loans, private [...]
How do I avoid paying taxes when I sell my rental property? This reader wants to know if they can avoid capital gains taxes without doing a 1031 exchange. Q: My wife and I are about to sell a Chicago rental property we purchased together. The house was our first home and when we moved [...]
What happens when a seller lies on a disclosure? This home buyer discovered damage they believe the sellers’ purposely failed to disclose. Q: When Do You Have Enough Evidence to Pursue a Seller Disclosure Case? We purchased a "remodeled" home early last year. We have recently discovered after doing some deep property cleaning that the [...]
