Trusts: How to Handle a Home in a Trust Q: My mom's home is in a trust. She passed away towards the end of last year. She lived in the home for over 20 years. Her trust lists her six grandchildren as the beneficiaries of the trust. We’ve found a buyer for the home who [...]
Should I sell my home in "as is" condition? Q: I recently came across one of your columns on using a company to sell your home on an “as is” basis. You pay no real estate commissions, you get a fast closing and easy terms. Why don’t more people use them? Does the math work [...]
Q: I am a homeowner in my early 70s. We purchased our current home a little over a year ago in a rural area of Wisconsin. We are considering going solar in order to better control our electric bills. There are tax and rebate incentives that make the upgrade to our home lucrative on paper [...]
Sell and Rent Back: Is this a good idea for seniors? Q: I have owned a condominium in Sarasota, Florida since 1978 and it's been my permanent residence since 2004. The character of it has changed and my costs have gone up. However, at 90, I don't wish to move. I've been thinking of selling [...]
Selling a home outside the U.S.? You may owe taxes to the IRS. Q: I sold my house in my home country of Guatemala last year for around $90,000. The buyer paid me half of the sales price by wire transfer to my United States bank account. The other half was paid to me to [...]
What is a release of mortgage letter? How do I get a release of mortgage letter from my lender? Q: I just read the article regarding the lady that has not received her release of mortgage letter from her lender. If it was my lender, she will not get the release of mortgage until she [...]
How do I avoid capital gains tax on the sale of a second home? This reader sold their second home and wants to know how to reduce capital gains tax. Q: I sold my second home last year. I had owned that home for many years. I bought a new one at a higher price. [...]
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 [...]
How much commission do real estate agents make? Research shows a lack of commission rate transparency and negotiability at traditional real estate firms. Please note that this story has been updated to add in additional information that shows how real estate commissions get split between brokers and the real estate agents who work for them. [...]
For many people, selling their home is generally part of a long-term plan, but occasionally a new opportunity might arise or you may want to change lifestyles and selling sooner vs. later looks like a good idea. Maybe your home has more space than you need or you’re thinking about changing jobs or you see [...]
