Edith Lank
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On homes and real estate: Not too old for mortgage approvalMar 25, 2011 2:00 am - Q. My husband and I are 78 and 75, and we would like to buy a second home in Florida. We would like to know if mortgage companies will refuse us for a 15- or 30-year...
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On homes and real estate: Financing mortgage as a seller a risky investmentMar 20, 2011 1:00 pm - Q. What are the pros and cons of holding a mortgage on a house I’m selling? A. Pros: Ÿ Your property may sell more easily because buyers are attracted to #147;se...
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Negotiations can solve problem of low appraisalMar 12, 2011 1:00 am - Q. Four brothers inherited a 54-year-old home, a “fixer-upper.” A state-certified appraiser says it’s worth $170,000 or a bit more. The gang is upset and wants to li...
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On homes and real estate: What life estate meansMar 04, 2011 1:00 am - Q. My mother died in 1998 and left me her house (no mortgage). Her husband, my stepfather, has a life estate. He is 91 and recently developed dementia. He has been in a ...
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On homes and real estate: Paying off a private loanFeb 26, 2011 1:00 am - Q. My husband and I are close to paying off a vacation property we purchased 15 years ago with a private mortgage. Our names are already on the deed, and we have bee...
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Homebuyer tax credit changed between 2008 and 2009Feb 18, 2011 12:00 am - Q. Back in 2008, we received a first-time homebuyer credit of $7,500 on our income taxes. My husband says we need to repay that amount. I say it was a gift from the ...
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Consulting a lawyer is sound, and frequent, adviceFeb 11, 2011 10:00 pm - Q. My dad just passed away in October, so my mom is trying to get everything in order for when she passes or has to move into a nursing home. Without involving a l...
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In most cases, estate executors need not become landlordsFeb 05, 2011 12:00 am - Q.As executor of an estate, I am trying to sell a duplex. The upper unit is now occupied, but the lower one is not. Would having a tenant in the lower unit make the ...
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A potential buyer is no problem when listing a homeJan 23, 2011 12:00 am - Q. We are working with a broker to find a new home. Then we plan to list our current home with her. At a recent social event, we mentioned that we plan to sell. On...
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Fully finished basement seldom raises market valueJan 14, 2011 10:00 pm - Q. We moved into our house some years ago. It is a 1,056-square-foot ranch house, with a partially finished half of the basement. The other half is just a washer, dr...