Can you rent out a condo you own? Q: I want to know if you can rent out a condo you own. I live in a four-unit condominium in Chicago. My understanding is that in a condominium building of this size, only one unit can hold a license for short term rentals. One owner already [...]
Realtor wants to end lease early. But not pay penalties. Q: I am an 80-year old semi-retired Realtor for 28 years. I recently rented an apartment in a rental apartment building managed by a professional management company. After a month in the apartment, I had medical issues come up requiring me to leave and move [...]
I don't have a lease and I can't afford the rent. The current landlord is selling. What can I do? Q: I am in somewhat the same situation as the article you wrote about a new owner raising the rent on their existing tenant. In my case, the owner of my apartment died and their [...]
Are you thinking about renting a home without seeing it? Covid has changed the way people buy and rent their homes. But when you buy or rent a home sight unseen, it can turn out to be far different than you expect. We don't advise renting or buying a home without seeing it in person. [...]
Buying vs renting a home in 2021. Home prices are rising across the country but it might still be more affordable to buy a home than rent one in 2021. Buying vs Renting a Home in 2021 Home prices are rising faster than rents in 83 percent of the 915 U.S. counties ATTOM Data Solutions [...]
Can you break a lease during COVID-19? This reader’s grandson rented an apartment near campus but fall classes are being held online. Q: In January, my grandson and three of his friends agreed to rent a 4-bedroom apartment near the campus starting in August, when school was supposed to resume. They signed the lease in [...]
Can my landlord terminate my lease during COVID-19? This reader wants to know if it’s possible and how much notice they’ll be given. Q: If you rent on a month-to-month basis, can the owner terminate the lease during the COVID-19 pandemic? And, if the landlord does notify a tenant that the landlord elects to terminate [...]
Cannabis legalization and real estate: what happens to property values? How has recreational cannabis legalization impacted the real estate market? This year, Illinois joined 10 other states and Washington, D.C., in legalizing recreational cannabis use. Nearly $3.2 million of marijuana and cannabis products were sold on January 1st in Illinois, and there are still dispensaries [...]
What can I do if my landlord doesn’t return my security deposit? My landlord sold the unit after condo deconversion but never gave the deposit back to me. Q: I am a tenant in a building that was recently deconverted from condos to apartments. Prior to the deconversion, I had rented the condo from the [...]
Top 10 most expensive cities to live in 2019. Setup costs and living expenses rank the most in-demand cities around the world from most to least costly. What are the top 10 most expensive cities to live in 2019? Research by Movinga ranks each of the most in-demand cities from around the world from most [...]
