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Sat, 31 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EDT
Sibling rivalry over family home: No one wins :
Q: Mom died a year ago, leaving the family home to my brother and me. I live in the house and would like to stay there, but my brother, who lives in California, wants to sell it and take his half of the proceeds.
Sat, 17 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EDT
Fact or fiction? The health-care law and real estate tax :
Rumors are flying that the health-care legislation Congress passed this year will impose a sales tax on all real estate sales. But the rumors are based only partly on fact. Although there is a new tax, it will not apply to everyone, and existing tax breaks for home sales will remain in place.
Sat, 19 Jun 2010 00:00:00 EDT
Unsettled questions surround tax breaks for conservation easements :
Q: My neighbor just gave an easement in her property to some company and claims that she will get a huge tax benefit when she files her next income tax return. What is that, and are there really any tax benefits available?
Sat, 05 Jun 2010 00:00:00 EDT
Life estates are a complex area of law :
Q: My wife and I have owned our house for many years. I am several years older, so she is likely to outlive me. I want to make sure she will be able to stay in the house for the rest of her life and have heard that a "life estate" could take care of that. Can you explain how it works?<br clear="all"/><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=31305936706" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=31305936706" border="0" vspace="5"></a>
Sat, 22 May 2010 00:00:00 EDT
Housing Counsel: Investing condo association money wisely (and legally) :
Q. The treasurer on our condominium's board of directors is a stockbroker. He has persuaded our board to allow him to invest our condo association's funds with his company. Is this legal?
Sat, 08 May 2010 00:00:00 EDT
Drafting pet rules that won't turn around and bite condo boards :
Q: I am on the board of directors of our 125-unit condominium. There are a large number of pets in the complex, and I am unable to locate any rules that previous boards might have adopted regarding pets. Can our board create rules? If so, can they be enforced against current pet owners or only against owners who get pets after the rules are adopted?
Sat, 24 Apr 2010 00:00:00 EDT
Housing Counsel: Addressing concerns about fraudulent property deed transfers :
Q: My father is in his 90s and in frail health. He owns a house in the District, free and clear of any debt, and my cousin just told me that she now owns it. I am concerned that my cousin forged my dad's name on the deed. My father has always assured me that I would inherit the house, and he does not remember signing any documents. What should I do?
Sat, 10 Apr 2010 00:00:00 EDT
If manager can't help with noisy neighbor, talk with condo board president :
Q: I recently purchased a condominium unit and live on the third floor. I have a noise problem with the unit above me. I can hear the people walking back and forth, getting out of bed, and going about their everyday activities. New owners purchased that condominium last week. I believe the previous owner installed a low-grade laminate directly onto the plywood floor with no padding or sound-dampening material. I talked to the condominium association manager, and he says there is nothing that can be done. Is there any legal action I can take?<br clear="all"/><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=31305938248" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=31305938248" border="0" vspace="5"></a>
Sat, 27 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EDT
Resolving housing problems outside court can save time and money :
Q: I was about to go to closing last week and learned at the last minute that the seller decided not to complete the transaction. I am trying to determine the reason for this, but I am concerned about the legal fees that I will have to pay a lawyer. If I decide to file suit against the seller, does she have to reimburse me for legal fees?
Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EST
Lender blames escrow shortage for $400 increase in monthly mortgage payment :
Q: We have owned our house for many years, and the lender has always escrowed money to pay our real estate taxes and insurance. This year, we received a notice from the lender that our monthly mortgage payment will increase by over $400 because there is an escrow shortage. Can we cancel the escrow requirement? If not, how do we determine whether the lender is correct?
Sat, 27 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Condo board has two options on delinquent fees :
Q: I am president of a six-unit condominium association in the District. Five of the owners reliably pay their monthly condo fee, but one does not. She owes more than $3,500. What options do we have? We understand that the unit owner is also delinquent on her mortgage payments. Can we foreclose on the unit, and if so, what do we have to do about the mortgage?
Sat, 13 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
When a lender is restricted from calling a mortgage due :
Q: My wife and I are getting divorced. I am prepared to give her the family home so our children will not be disrupted. Our mortgage lender will not relieve me of our joint obligation to make the monthly payments, but I hope that will not be a problem. We have been told that a lender can use the "due on sale" clause in the mortgage documents to block this transaction. Can this happen?<br clear="all"/><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=31305939903" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=31305939903" border="0" vspace="5"></a>
Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
The right way to trade property with a Starker exchange :
Say you own property in Rehoboth Beach, Del., which calls itself "our nation's summer capital." It has appreciated greatly over the years, but now you want to sell it. You have heard that you can defer any capital-gains taxes by doing a Starker exchange under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code.
Sat, 23 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST
Homeowners have more than interest to consider at tax time :
"We contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle."
Sat, 16 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST
To the taxman, your house may not count as your home :
"Income tax returns are the most imaginative fiction being written today."
Sat, 09 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST
This tax season, know the available deductions for homeowners :
<br clear="all"/><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=31305941595" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=31305941595" border="0" vspace="5"></a>
Sat, 02 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST
What the new year and new decade will hold for housing market :
Every year at this time, I peer into my crystal ball and attempt to determine the future of housing for the new year, if not the new decade.
Sat, 12 Dec 2009 00:00:00 EST
D.C., Maryland, Virginia homeowners need to know the laws covering ice and snow :
The first snow of the season has already come and gone, with the promise of several return visits. This prompted me to examine the laws in the Washington area on homeowners' obligations. What liability do you have should someone slip on the ice in front of your house?
Sat, 05 Dec 2009 00:00:00 EST
Legal defenses for the borrower who's fallen behind :
Q: I am a couple of months behind on my mortgage and am concerned that I will soon receive a notice of foreclosure. Are there any steps I can take now? And are there any legal defenses should the lender begin the foreclosure process?
Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST
Tenants have rights even after foreclosure :
Q: I read the other day that a condominium building in Washington was recently foreclosed on. I rent a condo unit in a new building from the developer and am concerned about my rights should I face the same plight. Do I have any rights in the District?<br clear="all"/><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=31305943450" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/opinion/columns;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=31305943450" border="0" vspace="5"></a>
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