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When can my rental become my dream home?
DEAR BENNY: In a recent column, I read that 1031 property transfers had to be held for a period of one to two years to establish "intent." I thought that a law was passed in October 2004 that stated the "intent" period was five years. I bought a 1031 property in California in 2005 and would appreciate this being clarified.
Nancy M.
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Desperate plan to keep home after falling behind on property taxes
Q: My father-in-law owns property with his sister. He lives on the property, but she doesn't. They each own an equal share of the property, but he now can't afford to pay the expenses.
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Spruce it up to sell
Some sellers wonder if it's worth the effort to fix their homes up for sale, particularly in a hot market where almost every listing that comes on the market sells.
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Get started on the house hunt
Mortgage interest rates dropped recently and home prices have moderated in many areas, making it a good time to buy. If you've never bought a home before or if you currently own a home but have never bought and sold at the same time, the process can seem intimidating.
You can ease your anxiety by formulating a game plan and by assembling the best team of professionals you can find, including a mortgage person; a real estate agent or two if you're buying and selling in different locations; inspectors; an insurance agent; a closing agent or escrow officer; and an attorney, depending on where you're buying.
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Sellers list right to avoid price reductions
In most areas of the country, 2007 marked a change in the residential home-sale market. Buyers gained clout for the first time in over a decade. Inventories of homes for sale grew to record levels in some places. Price reductions, which carried a negative stigma when listings were easy to sell, came to be seen as a necessary part of the home-sale process.
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Lithium-ion battery wins over remodelers
You've no doubt heard about lithium-ion batteries by now, and have probably heard some of the claims about what an improvement they are over past battery technologies. So what exactly is lithium-ion, and is it really any better?
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Cooling real estate market presents challenge for sellers
The housing market has changed. There are fewer multiple offers. Negotiation is back in vogue. Listings, in general, are taking longer to sell. And some listings are not selling at all.
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Pros, cons of buying home in today's market
When the housing market slows down, buyers often wait on the sidelines for a clear sign that the market has recovered. The only problem with this strategy is that you can only know for sure that a market has turned through hindsight. In other words, you can't time the market.
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Install crown molding like a pro
Q: I am remodeling my living room and would like to install a wide cove molding at the ceiling, but I need help in mitering the corners. Do I cut them at a 45-degree angle? Do I cope them? Any information would be greatly appreciated. --Steve H.
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Foreclosure rescue scams on the rise
Are the usual suspects returning to mortgage-related scams as a result of the subprime lending fallout? Does the practice of illegal "foreclosure rescue" operations extend even into the second-home market?
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Where are today's best real estate bargains?
The housing market is soft. Hard times for some can mean opportunity time for others. Could now be a good time to step into the housing market and pick up a bargain?
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Cut mortgage payment in half upon retirement
"I am 58 and just purchased the home in which my wife and I plan to spend the rest of our lives. We paid points to reduce the rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage to 4.75 percent.
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Reducing the stress of buying or selling a home
Buying or selling a home ranks high on the list of stress-provoking situations.
Here's some advice for making things a little easier.
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