David Myers
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As spring arrives, so do home-repair scamsMar 25, 2010 11:00 pm - Home-improvement rip-offs always spike upward in the spring, largely because shoddy repairs won't be discovered by homeowners until the weather turns bad again. Q. A man...
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With rates poised to rise, paying extra for 'rate-lock' is wise decisionMar 18, 2010 11:00 pm - Interest rates are expected to rise in the weeks ahead, so homebuyers who don't have a solid "commitment letter" from their bank should consider paying a modest fee for ...
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Buyer seeks to cancel pending home purchase as job loss loomsMar 11, 2010 10:00 pm - Getting a "pink slip" from an employer is bad enough, but it's even worse if the person is in the process of purchasing a home. Taking a few steps immediately often can ...
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Bad septic system raises all-too-common problem for buyerMar 04, 2010 10:00 pm - Buyers who have never lived before in a home with a septic system don't realize how costly they can be to repair. Q. We purchased a home in a rural area and had the prop...
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Buyers don't have legal right to know why a property is for saleFeb 25, 2010 10:00 pm - Many home sellers and their agents won't divulge the reason why a home is put on the market, in part because it might hurt their negotiating power. Q. I recently toured ...
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Most soon-to-be newlyweds don't need a prenuptial agreementFeb 18, 2010 10:00 pm - Ivana Trump once quipped that the only time a bride doesn't need a prenuptial agreement is if she's marrying a man who "uses a walker and has a very bad cough." However,...
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How you use a spare bedroom will not add value to the homeFeb 11, 2010 10:00 pm - Converting an unused bedroom into a den or weight room rarely adds to or reduces the value of a property. Q. Our son recently moved out of our home, so now we have a...
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Some homebuyers are confused by new federal rules for 'closing'Feb 04, 2010 10:00 pm - A new law limits the amount homebuyers can be charged for the expenses involved in getting a loan, but some prospective borrowers don't know how the complicated guidelin...
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Nothing 'fishy' about paying prorated property taxes at closingJan 28, 2010 10:00 pm - Sellers who have paid their annual property taxes in full usually are given a partial credit by the buyer when the transaction closes. Q. I signed an agreement to pu...
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Buyers should do 'homework' before choosing an inspectorJan 21, 2010 10:00 pm - There are several steps that home buyers should take to help ensure the inspector they hire is a good one. Q. We are buying our first home. You recently wrote that all b...