Articles filed under Myers, David

• About real estate: Homeowners, others soon may qualify for free credit scores May 24, 2013 12:00 AM
  A proposal in Congress would let consumers get a free copy of their credit score, just as they can order a "freebie" of their credit report today.
  

   

• Good fences don’t always make good neighbors May 17, 2013 12:00 AM
  Thousands of lawsuits are filed every year by homeowners who feel that a neighbor's fence, or one that is jointly owned, encroaches on their property.
  

   

• How to make a home relocation easier on pets May 10, 2013 12:00 AM
  Many buyers and sellers who struck deals at the start of the prime spring home-buying season are now ready to move. The two-thirds of those who have pets have special concerns.
  

   

• Finishing a basement or attic may require building permit May 3, 2013 12:00 AM
  Simply painting or paneling a basement or attic usually doesn't require the building department's permission, but upgrading the electrical system or adding plumbing is an entirely different matter.
  

   

• Preapproval of mortgage important as home inventory drops Apr 26, 2013 12:00 AM
  Visiting a banker or mortgage broker to find out exactly how much can be borrowed can give buyers a big advantage in today's tightening housing market.
  

   

• Smart sellers fix little things to speed sale, get best price Apr 19, 2013 12:00 AM
  Savvy home sellers make even the smallest of repairs if they want to get an offer quickly.
  

   

• Homeowner growls over neighbor’s barking pets Apr 12, 2013 12:00 AM
  Homeowners who live next to loud dogs or other noisy animals have several options to seek some peace and quiet.
  

   

• Debunking some common real estate ‘urban legends’ Apr 5, 2013 12:00 AM
  Dog-eating spiders, federal subsidies for utility bills and a fat payout for a dorm-room "mooner" make for good stories. None of them are true. Yet theses types of "urban Legends" abound on April Fools' Day.
  

   

• About real estate: Seller must refund excess sales proceeds Mar 29, 2013 12:00 AM
  "Finders, keepers" works in the schoolyard, but not in the real estate world.
  

   

• Ireland beckons, especially to retirees Mar 22, 2013 12:00 AM
  Real estate prices on the Emerald Isle are about half what they are in the U.S., making it a great spot for retired people with plenty of equity in their U.S. homes. A tough economy, though, makes it a bad choice for younger people who need jobs.
  

   

• How long should home components last? Mar 15, 2013 12:00 AM
  Just about everything in a home eventually will need to be repaired or replaced. Savvy owners budget accordingly. Homewyse.com is a relatively new website that provides free estimates of the average cost of hundreds of typical housing-related projects, based largely on a homeowner's ZIP code.
  

   

• Many housing-related costs aren’t tax deductible Mar 8, 2013 12:00 AM
  Most homeowners know that they can deduct their annual interest charges and property-tax payments, but there's a host of other housing-related costs that don't qualify for a quick write-off.
  

   

• Realty pros name ‘Top 10’ reasons why homes don’t sell Feb 22, 2013 12:00 AM
  Homeowners who want to sell quickly should first clean up their house, a survey says. Other big turnoffs include uncontrolled animals and odors from last night's dinner.
  

   

• The pros, cons of renting home instead of selling Feb 15, 2013 12:00 AM
  There are advantages and disadvantages for owners who consider renting their home to tenants instead of choosing to sell it.
  

   

• Steps to take when an ‘ex’ meddles with a home refinancing Feb 8, 2013 12:00 AM
  Federal law prohibits a former spouse from gaining access to the other's current credit report, even if it involves the refinancing of a home that they once owned together.
  

   

• About real estate: Congress, Obama extend two key tax breaks for homeowners Jan 31, 2013 12:00 AM
  The "fiscal cliff" legislation that was approved earlier this month restored deductions for private mortgage insurance payments and an important tax rule for owners who sell at a loss.
  

   

• Fiscal cliff deal gives new life to old scam Jan 25, 2013 12:00 AM
  Q. I received an email last week stating that the deal to keep the U.S. from falling off the "fiscal cliff" includes a provision that makes all homeowners and renters eligible to receive up to $1,000 from the federal government to pay their utility bills. Is it a scam?
  

   

• Home equity can reduce college student’s financial aid Jan 18, 2013 12:00 AM
  Some colleges and universities consider a parent's home equity when doling out loans or grants for incoming students, but others don't even ask.
  

   

• A deadline nears for former owners seeking foreclosure refunds Jan 11, 2013 12:00 AM
  A Jan. 18 deadline looms for about 2 million homeowners who lost their homes to foreclosure between the start of 2008 and the end of 2011. Five lenders could give each of those borrowers as much as $2,000.
  

   

• Nation’s housing market to continue strenghtening in 2013 Jan 4, 2013 12:00 AM
  Home sales and prices are expected to keep rising in most areas in the year ahead, but mortgage rates are likely to climb, too. Housing markets in some parts of the country began showing new signs of life last spring, and all indications are many more markets will begin a full-fledged recovery in 2013 from the housing bust that began about six years ago.