Total Number of News: 5393
- 10/3/2008 - Real Estate News
Deck railings become fun and exciting
Deck railings can do a lot for the appearance and especially the safety of any outdoor deck. So when designing and building your new deck, there are a number of things to take into consideration. MEETING THE BUILDING CODES The first thing you want t... - 10/3/2008 - Real Estate News
Don't forfeit home because of back taxes
Q: Several years ago my father deeded his home to me and two of my siblings. Our understanding was that he would pay the real estate taxes and the insurance premiums. The mortgage on the home has been paid off for some time, and my father still lives ... - 10/2/2008 - Real Estate News
Can whistleblowing rental manager be fired?
Q: I am a tenant and also the manager for our apartment building. I've just been fired from the manager's job, and given a termination notice, too. Here's what happened: The owner has been refurbishing rental units as they come vacant, having our maint... - 10/2/2008 - Real Estate News
Readers describe short-sale troubles
My mailbox is full of questions from homeowners trying to complete short sales. Here are two fairly common situations I'm hearing about: Q: I signed a contract for an alleged "short sale." The price of the house is listed online at $280,000.... - 10/2/2008 - Real Estate News
Lesser of two evils: short sale or tenant?
Q: I bought a house about four years ago, and relocated for work last year. My old house has been on the market for almost a year. I thought about renting it, but I really don't want to deal with tenants from a long distance. The place is almost fully ... - 10/1/2008 - Real Estate News
Termite damage a nightmare to fix
Q: I had a termite inspection done on my home. Now I must find a reputable contractor to do the work. The work to be done is extensive, and I feel it will be costly. The termites have damaged the rim joist, mudsill and subfloor in the subarea. Termite ... - 10/1/2008 - Real Estate News
Purchase offers are for buyers to decide
In a recent column, a seller wrote in that his agent had a buyer for his house at the full asking price. The only quirk in the deal? The seller -- not the buyer -- wrote up the full-price offer. The seller wanted to know if I had heard of this practice... - 10/1/2008 - Real Estate News
Can lender challenge loan data after closing?
The mortgage meltdown has brought a return to the process of proper verification of a borrower's assets. But just how long is the information stated on your home-loan application considered valid? If you retire or lose your job after your loan closes,... - 9/30/2008 - Real Estate News
Sellers: Don't blame us for wall rot
DEAR BARRY: We sold our house a few months ago and signed a disclosure statement that said no water problems existed. But the new owners found carpenter ants in a closet, which led them to rip off the drywall and remove the hardwood flooring. What they... - 9/30/2008 - Real Estate News
Smoking, partying missing from disclosures
Q: We purchased our house from an old lady who told us she was selling because she wants to live in a retirement community. However, she lied to us. She apparently got tired of having extremely noisy neighbors from both sides of her house, and wanted t...