Real Estate
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Mortgage ‘robo-signing’ still goes onJul 24, 2011 6:00 am - Mortgage industry employees are still signing documents they haven’t read and using fake signatures more than eight months after big banks and mortgage companies promise...
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Ask the plumber: Checking water pressure an easy DIY projectJul 24, 2011 12:00 am - Q. My plumber has done our work for years and recently installed a new faucet for us. We love the faucet and he did a great job on the install. Then he checked our water...
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Giving vintage homes a colorful paint job worth the cost, effortJul 24, 2011 12:00 am - Transforming an old house into a “Painted Lady” isn't a job for the meek. It takes planning, patience and yes, a potentially large amount of cash. But the results, say l...
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Home repair: Smoke-stench furnace needs to be replacedJul 24, 2011 12:00 am - Q. I get a smoke odor in my house when my oil-fired, forced-air furnace runs. Five of my neighbors either heat with wood or burn wood in their fireplaces, and the ne...
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How to ensure security deposit is returned upon move-outJul 24, 2011 12:00 am - Q. I am subleasing a room from a renter of an apartment unit. She has a lease with the owner of the property and I just rent one room. But the renter did require me ...
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Is it safe to invest in real estate again?Jul 23, 2011 12:00 am - Just a few years back during the real estate boom, flipping homes and investing in residential real estate was all the rage — until the bubble burst and buyers nearly be...
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On homes and real estate: Making ownership clearJul 23, 2011 12:00 am - Q. My husband and I live in a house that I purchased 13 years ago. When he moved in, he made an extra lump sum mortgage payment to the principal of $30,000, which wa...
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Mortgage Professor: When to opt for an adjustable home loanJul 23, 2011 12:00 am - Editor’s note: This is the second column on the topic of choosing a mortgage. This series will appear in HomesSunday. Adjustable-rate mortgages are only about 10 percent...
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Industry insider: Fran Dugo, Your Choice Real Estate ServicesJul 23, 2011 12:00 am - Today’s real estate market in the Chicago area resembles a candy shop for people with money, says real estate broker Fran Dugo, owner of Your Choice Real Estate Services...
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Ask the broker: Rental income and mortgagesJul 23, 2011 12:00 am - Q. My daughter and son-in-law want to buy a bigger house. They have owned their current house since 2003 and have never missed a payment or been late. They have exce...