Edith Lank
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Open houses rarely produce sales, but can help you set right priceMar 07, 2009 10:00 pm - Q. A friend is selling a two-family home. It's been on the market a few weeks. She just held an open house and received no offers. How long should she wait in today's ma...
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A son appears stuck in a mortgage with ex-girlfriendFeb 28, 2009 10:00 pm - Q. My son and his girlfriend bought a home together two years ago. It cost $240,000 with no money down and an adjustable-rate mortgage. They have since split up. The gir...
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Tax credit for first-time homebuyers is new and improved for 2009Feb 21, 2009 10:00 pm - Q. I was a first-time homebuyer in May 2008 and I was wondering if I qualified for the $7,500 tax credit that I read about in your column. This individual said he pu...
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An option to buy can help couple secure retirement homeFeb 14, 2009 10:00 pm - Q. We are planning on retiring in three to five years to a waterfront location. Elderly friends who are sisters offered to sell us their house and they will be our tenan...
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Changes to closing date are common, but can be problematicJan 31, 2009 10:00 pm - Q. My husband and I have finally found our perfect house. We've even found a buyer for our condo. All is going well except - let me give you the background first before ...
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Paying artificially low mortgage payment could backfireJan 24, 2009 10:00 pm - Q. I am 61, and in early 2007 I refinanced my home with a company that offered me a plan on which I could pay as low as $57 a month during the next seven years. Of c...
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Initiative is typically a positive trait in real estate agentsJan 17, 2009 10:00 pm - Q. My husband and I have had our home "for sale by owner" for a few months, and we listed it on sites like Craig's List, owners.com and fsboa.com. We have now decided to...
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New homeowner can avoid debt and still spruce up her kitchenJan 10, 2009 10:00 pm - Q. I am a first-time homebuyer. I bought my house earlier this year. I have a few big projects that I would like to tackle, mainly a kitchen remodel. I had hoped to pull...
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Some owners will help pay closing costsDec 27, 2008 10:00 pm - Q. We just lost out on a house we really loved to another offer. We offered $2,000 above the asking price and asked for 4 percent concessions. The other people did not a...
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Tax professionals can help with complex inheritance issuesDec 19, 2008 10:00 pm - Q. I sold a house this year after the passing of my mother. She had been in assisted living and long-term care. For four years the housing bills were paid from her check...