Month: May 2014

  • Get the facts before deeding your house to the bank

    Reader Question: I am 83. We bought a property in Maryland in 2006 for $225,000. My husband died in 2012. The agent felt it would take $99,900 for a short sale to sell it. Got a full-price offer the first day but the bank denied the short sale and appeal. I had a break-in and…

  • Senior housing options offer challenges

    Reader Question: My wife and I plan to move to a retirement community. The plan involves selling our present home, and buying a duplex with monthly costs for services. Can you advise on buying a home in a situation where the agent handles all the details of the transaction? We are on a waiting list (deposit of $1500) that entitles us…

  • 9 tactics not found on a due diligence list

    Reader Question: Four long time friends want to make some real estate investments together. Our investment goals are similar; we are each high-income professionals, share similar risk tolerance and see real estate as a long-term investment opportunity. We have identified a 60-unit apartment building we are interested in pursuing. We wonder if there is some…

  • Full service real estate vs. FSBO

    Reader Question: Full service real estate vs. FSBO. We are a retired couple planning on selling our home this spring. We have no mortgage and believe the house is worth about $350k. How would you approach the sale, with an FSBO agency or a traditional Realtor? Monty’s Answer: There are many different service offerings, pricing…