Total Number of News: 6203
- 9/8/2008 - Real Estate News
When shopping for mortgage, know how to bargain
A consumer negotiating the terms of a mortgage with a lender or mortgage broker (henceforth "loan provider") is in what economists term a "bilateral bargaining process." Only two parties are involved, and the terms arrived at depend... - 9/8/2008 - Real Estate News
Builder offering big discounts to select buyers
DEAR BENNY: We recently purchased a new home, only to find out that two weeks later the builder had offered substantially more of a discount to other buyers for the same model we had purchased. This has continued to date, but we were told there were n... - 9/8/2008 - Real Estate News
When it makes sense to overpay for house
No one likes to overpay for a home, particularly in a soft market. Yet, even in the current beleaguered housing market, there are pockets of strength. In these areas, buyers can find themselves in competition. Multiple offers can drive the price up, bu... - 9/5/2008 - Real Estate News
Staging home for sale worth the cost
If you're selling your home, you obviously want to get it sold quickly and for the highest amount possible. One very important strategy to keep in mind is staging, which is simply the process of arranging the inside of your home so that it shows off to... - 9/5/2008 - Real Estate News
Two women, one dead lover, and an estate to split
Q: I am trying to take care of my son's father's estate in a small north Florida town. He had a handwritten will designating me as the personal representative, but with only one witness signature. He was never married but had two illegitimate child... - 9/4/2008 - Real Estate News
Landlord fears lawsuit for reporting child porn
Q: I had quite a shock when I entered my tenant's apartment, at his request, to fix the leaking kitchen sink. Usually I encounter damage or a mess, but this was way worse: On the kitchen table were photos of naked children in suggestive poses and situ... - 9/4/2008 - Real Estate News
Inheritor wants new mortgage, name on deed
Q: I am the co-executor of an estate of a relative and was left the house in the will. We have been unable to sell the house. I've been paying the mortgage and costs for a couple of years. I recently decided to move into the house. Will the mortgage c... - 9/4/2008 - Real Estate News
'Termite' inspection is a misnomer
Q: I'm in the middle of house hunting. Some of the houses I look at have a binder with a termite report inside. When I read them, they sometimes mention termites or beetles, but a lot of times they talk about fungus and even the foundation. It's kind o... - 9/3/2008 - Real Estate News
Earthquake retrofit begins in crawl space
Last week, a reader asked our opinion about insulating his crawl space and doing a little earthquake retrofitting under his home. We recommended that he install batt insulation between the floor joists, retrofit the cripple walls with plywood sheathin... - 9/3/2008 - Real Estate News
Rid septic system of tree roots
DEAR BARRY: We moved into our home about three months ago, and this week we had a professional inspection of the septic system. The septic contractor found a large mass of tree roots in the tank and recommended that we flush about 10 pounds of copper s...