Should I amend my living trust when I buy more property? This reader moved and purchased two new properties since they last amended their trust in 2006. Q: I live in Florida and have a living trust which was amended in 2006. My daughter is my only heir and has now married. I have moved, [...]
Real estate market 2021: where homes are selling fast. Housing market predictions highlight the metros that’ll have the greatest sales growth in 2021. New housing market predictions from Realtor.com anticipate a strong year for buyers and sellers in 2021. This goes hand-in-hand with the strong mortgage market expected in 2021 due to continuing, historically-low interest [...]
Does our condo association have a case against the builder? They found out the roof was built against code and the cost to repair is upwards of $150,000. Q: In 2006, we purchased a condominium in Chicago on the third floor of a 3-story building. Over those years, we’ve experienced water issues with the roof [...]
What happens if my husband dies and the title is only in his name? This reader is on the mortgage but not the title and hasn’t had any luck fixing it. Q: My husband died in 2013. After his death I learned that the title to our home we purchased when we got married was [...]
What should I do if I don’t qualify for the full home sale exclusion? This wants to know if they have any other options to reduce taxes on the home sale. Q: We're a French family moving back to France next year. I read that a married homeowner who has lived in his principal residence [...]
Do I need a real estate attorney to buy a house? This reader can’t find a residential real estate attorney and wants to know how to proceed without one. Q: I have a goal of becoming a first-time homebuyer soon. I picked up Ilyce’s 100 Questions Every First-Time Homebuyer Should Ask book and found it [...]
Do you need a real estate agent to buy or sell a house? These readers bought their home and sold a vacant lot without the help of any real estate agents. Q: My husband and I sold a vacant lot in Texas this past year without any agents being involved. We have followed the market [...]
What happens when no one runs for the HOA board? This reader’s association doesn’t vote on board members, they step up whether they’re qualified or not. Q: I wanted to comment on your recent column in the Sarasota Herald Tribune relating to the use of a homeowners association (HOA) pool during COVID-19. Halfway through your [...]
Top 5 DIY home improvement projects during COVID-19. In 2020, these are the five most popular DIY home improvement projects homeowners took on during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ninety percent of homeowners have tried their hand at DIY home improvement projects since the onset of COVID-19 in the U.S. in 2020, and 64 percent of them [...]
Should I refinance my mortgage before retirement? This reader wants to know if they should take advantage of low interest rates even if they’re close to retiring and selling the home. Q: We borrowed $355,900 in 2007 for a 30-year fixed mortgage at 6.25% and still owe $230,000. My wife is retired, and I plan [...]
