Capital Gains on Townhouse Sale How should the owners calculate their capital gain on a townhouse they have both lived in and rented? Q: We are selling our townhome this year that we bought almost 30 years ago. We lived there first for 17 years, as a primary residence and then we rented it. How [...]
Paying Taxes on a Home Owned with Kids Q: Our daughter and son-in-law lived in and paid all related expenses for three years in a home we purchased together. They recently sold the home. Could you tell us how we can report this on our federal tax return? If not, can you tell us where [...]
2025 Home Seller Resolutions Every year, Ilyce and Sam offer their readers New Year’s resolutions for home buyers, home sellers and their personal finances. This year, they added their 2025 Housing Trends. These are their 2025 Home Seller Resolutions. Buyers had a little more purchasing power in 2024, but two headwinds remained: Roughly 85 percent [...]
Zoning: Selling Separate Lots Q: We bought our home in 1984. The deed read that the home was built on one of two separate lots. We are now thinking about moving. In considering our options, we realized the property values in our neighborhood have increased dramatically. In fact, they’re so high that we’re thinking of [...]
Getting Rid of a Timeshare A reader has tried some common recommendations for getting rid of a timeshare, but is running into a brick wall. Q: I frequently read your column/advice in my local paper. I’ve read your advice about getting rid of timeshares. I tried one of your recommendations about calling the timeshare and [...]
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 [...]
