What’s the best way to hold title on your home? A real estate attorney and an avid reader offer their take on how to title your home. Whether you’re single, coupled up or married, deciding how to hold title is one of the most important decisions home buyers make. The ramifications of that decision might [...]
What is the purpose of a home inventory? A home inventory list can make filing an insurance claim in the event of a major loss much easier. Seventy percent of Americans have gone through a natural disaster at some point in their lives, according to research by Farmers Insurance. With that in mind, it’s surprising [...]
What type of homeowners insurance policy should I get? The answer depends on how much coverage you think you may need and the premium you’re willing to pay. Q: I read your recent column on insurance coverage. In the past, I had three house fires that I had to deal with. None of these fires [...]
Will the home warranty company cover defective smoke detectors? You should call the home warranty company and ask but here are some other options to replace defective smoke detectors. Q: I bought a house last year and had it remodeled. I have a home warranty plan. The smoke detectors in my home were very old [...]
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? [...]
How is my homeowner's insurance premium determined? Homeowners Insurance pricing is complicated making it difficult to choose the best policy. Q: We put in a bid on a 1920s home in the Chicago area for $275,000. I called my insurance company to get a quote and they told me it would cost around $1,800 a [...]
These homeowners want to know how their homeowner association fees are determined for a large neighborhood that restricts access to some areas the association maintains. Q: Hi, I enjoy reading your column in our local newspaper. I live in a homeowner’s association that is aggressive. We have around 250 homes and some of the homes [...]
How do you decide if a home equity loan is right for you? An honest look at your current debts and a talk with your mortgage lender may be able to help. Q: We’re thinking that we don’t want to move forward with a home equity loan we applied for. We’re pretty far along in [...]
Will title insurance save this homeowner from having to repay a mortgage? A homeowner is trying to rely on her title insurance to help her repay an $80,000 mortgage so that she may transfer ownership to his children in the future. Q: My neighbor can’t transfer the title of her house to her children due [...]
What are the limits on a SALT deduction? After massive tax reform last year, this is the question on many homeowners’ minds. Q: When it comes to the SALT deduction, can you give me a little more information on the limits. A: In the last big tax bill that Congress passed, the law limits the [...]
