Articles filed under Real Estate

• When Williams and Gold are in the houseMar 8, 2014 12:00 AM
  Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams, co-founders of Design for Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, joined staff writer Jura Koncius recently on The Post’s Home Front online chat. Here is an edited excerpt:
  

   

• Builder financing may be problematicMar 8, 2014 12:00 AM
  I purchased a home from builder XYZ for $320,000, and have a $10,666 Realtor rebate coming back to me. In addition, if I use XYZ’s lender, the lender will pay $5,000 toward my settlement costs.
  

   

• Timing a home sale to avoid taxes on profitMar 8, 2014 12:00 AM
  Q. I understand that I must live in my house at least two years to avoid the tax on my profit. It will be two years on Aug. 9 that I closed on my home.
  

   

• Ice dams on roof concern unit ownersMar 8, 2014 12:00 AM
  Q. The drywall and paint in my unit, like others in the development, has been damaged from leaking from an ice dam that has formed on the common element roof. The association has passed rules that provide that the owner is responsible for paying to repair ice dams. Is this permitted?
  

   

• On homeownership tax breaks, change is in the airMar 7, 2014 12:00 AM
  You may have seen reports about a major tax reform proposal floated by Rep. Dave Camp of Michigan, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. But you probably didn’t see the grisly list of long-standing home real estate tax benefits that would be eliminated or sharply reduced under Camp’s plan.
  

   

• Get an inexpensive, customized look for your blindsMar 7, 2014 12:00 AM
  Blinds offer a variety of design options for homeowners, plus privacy and energy efficiency. They can be expensive, but if you can purchase standard sizes and cut them to fit your windows, you can get that customized look for a lot less. Here’s how to do it.
  

   

• Builder didn’t install insulation in unusual floor Mar 7, 2014 12:00 AM
  Q. Our custom home was built about 10 years ago, and we recently discovered a major construction defect. The architecture is unusual, with the second story being cantilevered past the outer walls of the first story.
  

   

• Selling ‘as is’ often a poor choice for homeownersMar 7, 2014 12:00 AM
  Making major repairs to a home before selling can be costly and time-consuming, but it’s usually cheaper — and safer — than marketing the property in “as is” condition.
  

   
• 

  Floral designer shares latest trendsMar 5, 2014 12:00 AM
  Want to give your floral arrangements the pizzaz that only seems to come from a professional’s hand? World-renowned floral designer Deborah De La Flor will reveal new trends and share other tips for creating unforgettable florals at the Chicago Flower & Garden Show.
  

   

• A geothermal heat pump make senseMar 2, 2014 12:00 AM
  Q. I should replace my old heating/cooling system with a more efficient one. With gas prices going up, shortages of propane, etc., is installing a geothermal heat pump wise and what types are best?
  

   

• Shower panel systems have track record of reliabilityMar 2, 2014 12:00 AM
  Q. What do you think of the new panel shower systems? If they’re OK, do they work in old tub/shower areas with old tile?
  

   

• Would a HECM reverse mortgage work for you?Mar 1, 2014 12:00 AM
  In a recent article, I described a reliable and easy-to-use calculator that could improve the ability of seniors to determine whether or not their lives would be benefited by a HECM reverse mortgage. However, having a tool is one thing, knowing how to use it effectively is another.
  

   

• Reverse mortgage requires home to be soldMar 1, 2014 12:00 AM
  Q. My parents, who passed away in 2013, had a reverse mortgage on our family home. Evidently, they did not pay their property taxes and insurance premiums, so the costs were added to what they owed on the mortgage. The home is not worth the reverse mortgage balance. Is there any way to work with the mortgage company to refinance and get back our family home for less than the balance?
  

   

• Boards do not all have same budget deadlineMar 1, 2014 12:00 AM
  Q. Is there a deadline by when an annual budget needs to be prepared and approved each year by the board of an association?
  

   

• Kitchen islands don’t have to cost a fortuneFeb 28, 2014 12:00 AM
  You don’t have to be a millionaire to own an island. You could have your own personal island right in your kitchen. If you kitchen is large enough, you can add a central workspace, or island, in just a weekend and without spending a fortune.
  

   

• Valentine’s flowers are gone, but ‘pre-nup’ questions never dieFeb 28, 2014 12:00 AM
  Most betrothed couples don’t need a prenuptial agreement when a home is involved, but there are some exceptions.
  

   

• Americans again cash in on home equityFeb 28, 2014 12:00 AM
  One of the mortgage products that contributed to the housing crash is booming again: New home equity credit line borrowings soared by 42 percent in the final three months of 2013 and were up sharply for the entire year, to $111 billion.
  

   

• Association warns of “hot spots” in aluminum wiring Feb 28, 2014 12:00 AM
  Q. Our condo was built in 1971, and the electrical system is wired with aluminum. Fortunately, all of the wire ends were retrofitted with copper “pigtails” about five years ago.
  

   
• 

  Lisle trustees providing input on plans for downtown siteFeb 27, 2014 12:00 AM
  With a company proposing a mix of apartments and retail space for the old village hall site in downtown Lisle, village trustees are trying to decide what they want to see in the plans and whether they're willing to offer incentives to make the project happen. “I think we are well on our way to moving this project forward,” Mayor Joe Broda said. “Overall, the consensus of the board is we like the new revision of the product they are presenting.”
  

   
• 

  U.S. sales of new homes up in JanuaryFeb 26, 2014 12:00 AM
  U.S. sales of new homes rebounded in January to the fastest pace in more than five years, offering hopes that housing could be regaining momentum after a slowdown last year caused by rising interest rates.