When window replacement is condo owner’s responsibility
Q: I own a large condominium. Our building is very old (it was erected in the 1920s). Our windows need to be replaced. We have leaks and cold air coming...
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Annual exemption eases tax implications of adding family members to title
Q: Our son and daughter-in-law live in a house we own. If we add their names to the title with rights of survivorship, will that incur a gift tax for...
Guide explains how to turn a house into a lifelong home
Q: We have lived in our house for several years and it's time to start remodeling. Are there any books or other publications that would help us understand how to...
Recorded easement will help settle land dispute
Q: I own a house and question whether an earlier easement is applicable. Many years ago, "A" owned the house next door and gave an easement to "B," allowing B...
Settling an estate without a will
Q: My father recently passed away, and he did not have a will. In the process of trying to make arrangements, a son from a previous marriage surfaced and instantly...
Mortgage company has the right to hold insurance check
Q: We had a serious fire recently, and our home was partially destroyed. The insurance company was great, and quickly evaluated the loss and issued a check in an amount...
Receiving a house as a gift may lead to hefty tax bill
Q: My 80-year-old grandmother gave me a gift: her house. She often told friends and family she wanted me to have the house when she died. A couple of years...
Understanding the different types of real estate deeds
Q: I am buying a house and the real estate agent asked me what kind of a deed I want. I have absolutely no idea. I did not even know...
Seller has options when buyer defaults
Q: Several real estate agents have told me that possession at time of closing is becoming the norm in the real estate business. If so, short of demanding $10,000 or...
How to deal with neighbor who keeps trespassing on property
Q: I have a neighbor who insists on putting his personal property (carts, trash barrels, tools) on my private property. We had separate surveys done of the common property line....