On homes and real estate: What lies ahead for home after spouse passes away

Q. My husband passed away six months ago. While we were married, he bought our house in his name only. I have been paying the mortgage; however, my name is not on the mortgage or deed. What happens now? Can the bank force me to sell, or will they just take the house altogether? What lies ahead?

A. Banks do not usually call in a mortgage when a spouse inherits a property. You should be able to keep the house as long as you can handle the payments. That’s assuming you did inherit it, of course.

When someone dies, no matter how simple the estate, a lawyer should be consulted to answer exactly what you’re asking — what paperwork is needed, what happens now and what lies ahead?

Q. I am in the process of writing a book about real estate. I am interested in learning if you would be interested in reviewing my book when I have completed it. An endorsement from someone with your reputation would be extremely helpful. Also, I wonder if you would share the name of your agent as I will be seeking representation, as well.

A. In my field, publishers seem willing to consider proposals directly from authors. I’ve had 11 books published — some of them textbooks — but they were also on topics like buying, selling, tax shelters and brokerage. Even with a little book on Jane Austen, I never used an agent, so I can’t help you there.

Find out which publishers handle topics like yours. Write to their acquisitions editors. Include a table of contents and one or two chapters with samples of your writing, if you’ve already been published. Your cover letter (short as possible) should discuss the potential audience for your book, competing titles on the market, and your qualifications as an expert.

Reviewers are hired as part of the publishing process. It’s a job that I’ve done for several different companies, and I very much enjoy it. There’s nothing quite so satisfying as getting paid to criticize someone else’s manuscript.

In your first sentence, delete “in the process of.” In your second sentence, get rid of one of those “interested.” In your third sentence, ditch “extremely.” Like “very,” it signals that the next word will be weak. And in your last sentence, eliminate either “also” or “as well.”

Q. I paid my mortgage off about nine years ago. It seems I have some loose ends. I paid off a line of credit, too, but I did not get the abstract back from the attorneys who handled it. They sent me a letter asking me to pick it up, but somehow it slipped by me.

Do I need to do something to tie all of this up? And if so, what? I am worried that if something happens to me, my wife may not be able to handle this situation. She is 71 and I am 69.

A. The abstract is a history of your property, listing sales, mortgages, liens, easements, payoffs, wills and the like. An abstracter puts it together by searching documents available in your local public records. Abstracts often make interesting reading.

When your house is sold, everyone involved — the buyer, the mortgage lender and the title insurance company — all will want proof that the buyer is receiving clear and undisputed ownership, with no old claims from years past. You’ll need a new abstract that lists the history right up to the present.

If you can produce your old abstract, a search could start from the point where that old one left off. That might save some time and money. It’s worth contacting that lawyer’s office to see if they can find it.

In many areas, though, the custom is to search the public records for only a certain number of years back. It might, for example, be for only for the past 40 years. Having your old abstract might not make much difference in the work needed for a new one. I don’t think it’s anything to worry about.

Q. My husband and I own a 2-year-old upscale home in Florida. The unique house is hurricane-proof and has state-of-the-art electronics, elevator, professionally decorated rooms, boat lifts, access to the Gulf, and the list goes on.

We want a broker who can properly market our house internationally without bringing “unapproved” lookers. The brokers that I have talked to so far are at a loss for where to start.

A. My usual advice is to contact agents who are already active in one’s neighborhood. In your case, it would be brokers who are currently handling unusual and upscale properties. Try searching the Internet to see who’s advertising Florida listings in your price range.

Ÿ Edith Lank will respond to questions sent to her at 240 Hemingway Drive, Rochester, N.Y. 14620 (include a stamped return envelope), or readers may email her through askedith.com.

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