“Is my 18-year-old, unrecorded deed any good?” That was the question asked in a letter I received recently. The reader said she was given the deed to some farm land years ago by a relative on the condition the deed ...

Written exclusively for single women who think they want to buy a house or condominium, “The Single Woman’s Guide to Real Estate” by Donna Raskin and Susan Hawthorne explains virtually everything prospective home buyers need to know before deciding to ...

DEAR BOB: My wife and I are thinking about listing our $425,000 home for sale with a real estate agency, which charges a $1,995 commission. They will list our home for 30 days. During the 30 days, we can sell ...

In June 2005, Elmer and Alexa Buente bought their home and purchased a homeowner’s insurance policy from Allstate Insurance Co. The policy was purchased from Allstate agent Brenda Pace who assured them the policy included hurricane damage coverage.

Leonard and Jennie Preciado are tenants in common with a niece, Elizabeth R. Wilde, in two adjoining properties. A house originally stood on one property, but it was torn down after Wilde’s father, who lived in it until 1984, passed ...

DEAR BOB: Before my father died this year, he deeded his house into his living trust, of which my sister and I are successor trustees. His will stipulates that all his property and assets be divided equally amongst his four ...

Don’t buy or sell a condominium, co-op or townhouse without first reading Ken Roth’s revealing new book, “Everything You Need to Know Before Buying a Co-op, Condo, or Townhouse.” Written by an experienced Florida real estate attorney and condo investor, ...

Just about everybody understands the need to purchase automobile and homeowner’s insurance to protect against unexpected losses that are often more costly than most of us can afford to pay. We hope we never have to file an auto or ...

For more than 30 years, Gary Kent Jones owned the house at 717 North Bryan St. in Little Rock, Ark. He lived there with his wife until they separated in 1993. Jones then moved to a nearby apartment. His wife ...

DEAR BOB: As a Realtor, I want to thank you for your recent item about the drawbacks of cutting home sales commissions below the customary rate in the community. My specialty is listings. I find working with buyers is much ...

If you are thinking about building a new house, or renovating your current home, first read “Be Your Own House Contractor, Fifth Edition” by longtime home builder Carl Heldmann. This very valuable new book explains, according to the author, how ...

“I can’t believe the mortgage company approved me to buy a condo in such bad shape.” That’s what I overheard a young lady tell her breakfast date at the coffee shop I like to visit on Saturday mornings. The place ...

In 1992, Rosalina and Coriolano Verduchi owed $82,000 to the Internal Revenue Service for unpaid income taxes as determined by the U.S. Tax Court. While this tax debt was unpaid, they transferred title to their home to their son, Dennis.

DEAR BOB: We have learned so much about real estate over many years from your concise articles. But now we need your advice. I am 72. My wife is 65. We have $160,000 in three-month T-bills. Should we use that ...

If you think being a mortgage broker is an easy, high-income job, read “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Success as a Mortgage Broker” by Daniel S. Kahn and Marian Edelman Borden. This new book reveals the benefits and drawbacks of ...

Are you a real estate agent looking for listings with little or no competition? Are you a home buyer searching for a below-market-price residence few other buyers know about? Can you keep a secret? If you answered “yes” to two ...

In 2000, Richard and Lilia Aaron bought their residential property. The only access to a public road over their land is a one-half-mile-long steep driveway, which is difficult to use, especially in inclement weather.

“How would you like to take title to your new home, Mr. and Mrs. Buyer?” the attorney or title closing settlement officer asks. Thinking fast, you wisely ask, “Well, how do most married couples take title?” The reply is usually ...

Just in time for the peak summer season for buying and selling vacation cottages, Douglas Hunter wrote the ultra-complete “The Cottage Ownership Guide.” When I first spotted this well-designed book in a major bookstore, I thought perhaps it was about ...

DEAR BOB: About two years ago, I set up a revocable living trust and placed my checking, savings and stock brokerage accounts in it. But I recently realized the title to my condominium is not in my living trust. What ...

David and Suzanne McKenna own their home on Maybell Way in Palo Alto, Calif. Their residence suffered serious damage as the result to two backups of the city sewer serving their home. After the first backup, their homeowner’s insurance company ...

Not too long ago, a neighbor asked if I knew where our sewer and storm drains are located. He apparently wants to adjust the drainage on his property to drain into the public storm sewer drain, which I knew adjoins ...

DEAR BOB: How can I find out the details of a quit claim deed I signed in an attorney’s office in 1990? I found out recently it was never recorded. The attorney at whose office I signed the quit claim ...

The latest book from longtime real estate author Tyler G. Hicks, “How to Acquire $1 Million in Income Real Estate in One Year Using Borrowed Money in Your Free Time,” is really about how and where to obtain mortgage money ...

Magda Benavides purchased her ground floor condominium in 1994. Seven years later, mold was found in the exterior walls adjacent to her unit. Benavides’ physician advised her to move out. She submitted a claim to her condominium owner’s insurance company, ...

DEAR BOB: Which home mortgage fees are proper for a lender to charge borrowers? I recall you said some fees are unnecessary junk or garbage fees to avoid. DEAR STEPHEN: Mortgage lenders are constantly working 24 hours a day, seven ...

If you are a home seller, real estate agent or a homeowner who cares about how a home looks from the street, “Curb Appeal Idea Book” by Mary Ellen Polson will anticipate your questions and help you show a home ...

“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s property” is part of the Ten Commandments. But real estate law in every state says it is all right to steal your neighbor’s land without going to jail if you comply with state law. ...

Homeowners Derrick and Carol Scott have a homeowner’s insurance policy with Allstate Insurance Co. On April 16, 2004, a fire severely damaged their home and its contents. Derrick Scott stated that on the day of the fire he noticed a ...

DEAR BOB: What is the protocol procedure for choosing a real estate agent to sell my house? Is it OK to interview maybe three agents and let them know I will choose among them? If I am dissatisfied with the ...

If you can move any place in the United States to raise your family, first read “Best Places to Raise Your Family,” by Bert Sperling and Peter Sander. This unique book reveals the top 100 best towns for families, based ...

Spring is the traditional peak sales season for houses and condos. Summer is also usually very good until the traditional August slump, especially for families who want to relocate before school starts. More prospective home buyers are in the market ...

If you are a home buyer, homeowner, or residential real estate sales agent, there should be a law requiring you to read David Reed’s new mortgage insider secrets book, “Who Says You Can’t Buy a Home?” Written by an experienced ...

DEAR BOB: My stubborn mother, 78, owns her home free and clear, is alert and in quite good health. The house is worth about $450,000. When I recently visited her (I live about 1,500 miles away so don’t get to ...

A few days ago I received an e-mail from a very smart reader. I know he is smart because his e-mail address says “post.harvard.edu,” which presumably means he graduated from Harvard. He asked if real estate listing agents would reduce ...

The Petra Presbyterian Church bought a building to relocate their church. But the property is in the middle of an industrial zone that does not permit churches. Petra is a predominantly Korean congregation. It currently conducts its worship services, and ...

When I began reading “Buyers are Liars and Sellers are too!” by long-time real estate broker Richard Courtney, I thought that at last home sellers, buyers, and realty agents would discover the full story about the home sales business. Lest ...

During this peak season when more houses and condos sell than during any other time of this year, prospective home buyers (especially first-timers) often wonder how to go about purchasing their first homes.

The Church of the Palms discovered extensive mold damage in one of its buildings, which is insured under an all-risk policy with the Cincinnati Insurance Co.

DEAR BOB: My husband and I have a home mortgage with our names on it, but the house title is in my husband’s name. We have no wills. What would I have to go through if he passed away? — ...

A few weeks ago I enjoyed lunch with one of my favorite Realtors. During our conversation, she told me about a home sale she recently closed in an upscale neighborhood for thousands of dollars above any previous sale price in ...

DEAR BOB: Due to a job promotion and transfer we must sell our house of 21 years. Our nice problem is the net profit will be about $625,000. My wife and I are aware $500,000 of that amount for a ...

If you think Kendra Todd is just a pretty winner’s face you saw on Donald Trump’s “The Apprentice” television show, her new book “Risk and Grow Rich” will change your thinking. This 27-year-old tycooness is a very savvy real estate ...

John S. Keck went to the home of his ex-girlfriend Karen Adams to demand she choose between him and her new boyfriend Andrew Slentz. Adams chose Slentz. Keck left and returned 30 minutes later with a rifle. He shot at ...

Sprint PCS offers wireless cellular phones to customers. To provide service, the company must install wireless facilities in its coverage areas. Representatives of Sprint submitted five applications to local building officials. Two were approved by the city. One was withdrawn, ...

DEAR BOB: My “companion,” age 67, and I (age 66) have been living together in his house for the last four years. Although we dearly love each other, if we get married we have been told our Social Security and ...

If you or your parents own a house or condo and don’t consider it to be a “money machine,” you probably haven’t read “Retire on the House” by Gillette Edmunds and Jim Keene. As the authors emphasize, most homeowners look ...

Have you ever bought a bad “lemon car“? I have. Several in fact. Fortunately, I was able to either get my money refunded or trade for a better car. But getting out of the purchase of a “bad house” isn’t ...

If you think you might like to become a real estate appraiser, first read “How to Get Started in the Real Estate Appraisal Business” by Daniel J. Nahorney. After you learn how difficult it is to get started and the ...

Charles and Sandra Anderson bought the Eureka Street Bed and Breakfast Inn in Sutter Creek, Calif. They, and Sandra’s parents, use part of the 5,664-square-foot house as their personal residence. Their bed-and-breakfast guests use the rest of the house.