Have real estate questions? Here, you’ll find helpful articles and other resources that cover issues related to real estate, buying, selling, financing, refinancing, credit and debt, insurance, second homes, vacation homes, real estate investment, new construction, and renovation.
Coronavirus 2020: Will Pools Open This Summer?
Coronavirus 2020: Will pools open this summer? Social distancing regulations could make it difficult for pools to operate safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Q: Our 100-unit condominium has a small private locked outdoor pool that usually opens from Memorial Day to Labor Day. With COVID-19, what do we do this year? Should we open the [...]
How Will the Coronavirus Impact the Housing Market in 2020?
How will the coronavirus impact the housing market in 2020? How renters, homeowners, mortgage lenders and iBuyers are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. How Will the Coronavirus Impact the Housing Market in 2020? Last week’s news included the reports that as many as one-third of apartment and home renters failed to make their rental payment [...]
Interpreting No Smoking Rules in Condos
Interpreting no smoking rules in condos. It’s up to the condo board to interpret and enforce rules and regulations about smoking for the association. Q: I live in a condo with four smokers living below me. They continually blow smoke out the windows and it rises and enters my unit. Our revised Rules and Regs [...]
Is It Smart to Prepay Your Mortgage?
Is it smart to prepay your mortgage? These are the three different approaches to paying your mortgage that work for homeowners and investors. Q: I'm 83, have no mortgage, pay my credit cards in full each month and have no car payment. When I first started out in 1961, I bought a 52 chevy for [...]
Real Estate Closings and COVID-19
Real estate closings and COVID-19. Electronic signatures and remote online notaries could assist with closings during the coronavirus pandemic if the system adapts. Q: I’m in the process of closing on the sale of a home. I was able to do all the document review electronically, but as the settlement approaches (in a few days), [...]
Buying a House in Cash: Closing Costs and Fees
Buying a house in cash: closing costs and fees. The expenses are slightly different when you buy a house in cash instead of taking out a mortgage. Q: Thanks for your recent article in my local paper titled "Is it better to buy for cash or take out a mortgage." You imply, if not suggest [...]
Coronavirus 2020: Home Buying, Selling and the Real Estate Market
Coronavirus 2020: home buying, selling and the real estate market. Answering reader questions about how COVID-19 will impact the housing market. In the past few weeks, we have begun to receive questions about COVID-19 and how the coronavirus pandemic has affected local real estate markets. Many buyers and sellers are worried about making a [...]
1031 Exchange Rules and Limitations
1031 exchange rules and limitations. This reader wants to know if they can use a 1031 exchange to buy a new investment property with other investors. Q: Are there options for a 1031 Exchange where you would be a property owner with other people? For example, if you bought an office building, retail center or [...]
Coronavirus Homeowner Relief Resources 2020
Coronavirus homeowner relief resources 2020. How lenders are helping homeowners who can’t make their mortgage payments because of the coronavirus. Coronavirus Homeowner Relief Resources 2020 This week, the government took steps to try to ensure millions of Americans wouldn’t lose their homes, cars, and credit due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, [...]
How Will the Coronavirus Impact the Real Estate Market?
How will the coronavirus impact the real estate market? How will COVID-19 impact home buying, selling, real estate closings and the housing market? We’re only getting one question this week although it comes in many forms: How will the coronavirus, COVID-19, impact the real estate market? At this point, buyers are still buying homes and [...]