David Myers
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New scams target homeowners, other borrowersAug 02, 2013 12:00 am - Con artists are calling or emailing homeowners and other borrowers promising to give them money or gifts for completing a fast “consumer survey.” Q. A company that claim...
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Mortgage giants launch streamlined plan to help troubled ownersJul 26, 2013 12:05 am - Hundreds of thousands of owners who are behind on their mortgage can now qualify for an automatic reduction in their payments — without providing tons of financial infor...
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Be wary of homes with unpermitted additionsJul 19, 2013 9:47 am - Purchasing a house that has been expanded without the approval of local building authorities is a risky proposition. Q. We found a nice home that we want to buy, but the...
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About real estate: Renting home to tenants raises key insurance issuesJul 12, 2013 2:43 am - Property owners often decide to rent their home out to tenants rather than putting it up for sale. Failing to check with their insurer first could leave them financially...
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‘Rate locks’ look more appealing after recent surge in loan costsJul 05, 2013 12:16 am - Smart homebuyers are scrambling to lock in their mortgage rates after a sharp increase in late June and new uncertainties looming in the months ahead. Q. We are in the p...
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Corporate ‘relo’ homes can be good bargainsJun 28, 2013 10:46 am - Homes that are offered by sellers who are transferring to a new job can be a great deal, but buyers must be prepared to close the deal quickly. Q. There’s a real estate ...
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IRS streamlines calculations for the home-office deductionJun 21, 2013 2:19 am - A new policy at the Internal Revenue Service will make it much easier for many taxpayers to take write-offs for the business use of their homes. Q. I caught the tail end...
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Some banks can skirt home-disclosure issuesJun 13, 2013 4:08 pm - It’s still “buyer beware” for those interested in purchasing a bank-owned foreclosure. Q. We have been looking at several for-sale homes in a few different neighborhoods...
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Homeowner growls about neighbor after getting a dog biteJun 07, 2013 4:17 am - Dog bites account for more than one-third of the money insurers pay out each year in liability claims. Smart pet owners try to settle claims over a misbehaving pooch qui...
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How to avoid paying for costly surveys, foreclosure listings and appraisalsMay 30, 2013 11:57 am - Savvy homeowners and buyers often can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars in real-estate-related fees, provided they know where to look for the free information t...