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About liznarr
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Expertise
I can answer questions relating to the purchase and/or sale of residential homes and land, including what a really good agent should be expected to do and/or not do; where to turn when problems occur; and questions regarding disclosure. I`m a Licensed Realtor in the Southeast since 1984 with designations of Broker, GRI, CRS, and CBR (Certified Buyer Representative). Current active and Life Member of Million Dollar Club, Certified by State Real Estate Commission to teach Pre-Licensing and Continuing Education courses, specializing in Agency. Currently serving on Grievance and Professional Standards Committees, and Education Committee in past.

You are here: Experts > Shopping > Home Buying/Selling > Buying or Selling a Home

Questions Answered By Expert liznarr
In Category Buying or Selling a Home

Subject	Date Asked

Buying A short Sale	9/24/2008
Q: I make about 130,000 a year but I do have a NY state tax lien. My credit is not good but the income ... A: It sounds like you need to find a really good LENDER, in addition to a good Realtor. I’m not a ...
Road Widening Project and Easement	9/24/2008
Q: We live on a corner lot of two busy two-lane streets. The city is planning to widen the main road ... A: Oh, boy, what a dilemma. I think yours is more of a legal question than a real estate question. ...
Septic System	9/22/2008
Q: We're considering purchasing a house that has a septic system. What are the drawbacks? Anything we ... A: One drawback to a septic system, in my opinion, is that you cannot/should not put the likes of ...
can i get the deposit back after i cancel the purchasing agreement of land	9/18/2008
Q: My dad bought a land, actually two lands from a agent last December. We have paid 10% deposit for ... A: Is the land your Dad purchased in New Zealand or the United States? If the land is in New Zealand, ...
Fees for Selling a home	9/17/2008
Q: We are listing our property in TX for sale. We just got the list of fees and are kind of ... A: I apologize for the delay in responding. I just realized this morning that two questions came in at ...
deposit refund	9/11/2008
Q: I signed a contract to buy a condo in February 2006 and gave the builder $25,000 to put in an escrow ... A: Please excuse the delay in responding. There has been both a death and major surgery in my family ...
Flood Zone never disclosed	9/10/2008
Q: I also am in a situation were we purchased a home in October of 2005 and following the close of ... A: Generally, lenders require “flood certifications” at closing; i.e., a certification from a service ...
Capital Gain Deferal	9/9/2008
Q: I plan to sale my house. There will be approx $300K capital gains. Looking at Pub 523 I do not see ... A: Your question was addressed to “Karen.” Perhaps you meant this question for another expert, but I ...
House is falling apart...	9/6/2008
Q: We moved in to over house in February 2006. We went through a realtor and had all of the ... A: Wow, so sorry to hear of your problems with this house. I apologize for the delay in responding, ...
No title diclosure	8/26/2008
Q: Howdy. I'll skip alot of the details to keep this as short as possible. My Father-In-Law moved here ... A: Your understanding is correct in that “as is” generally relates to the physical condition of ...
selling my home in Florida	8/12/2008
Q: My agent faxed me a contract to sell my home while I was away for an extended period. There was a ... A: I haven’t seen your Contract with the exact wording for the Purchaser to “see” your house, so I can ...
Realtor buying their own home	7/29/2008
Q: I am a very new Realtor who got their license to sell new homes for a builder. I was not trained at ... A: If there is no rule in your area against collecting a commission for your own purchase, I encourage ...
home inspection/disclosures	7/27/2008
Q: I bought a house 1 month ago in Rhode Island and had it inspected professionally. The inspection ... A: Wow, what a nightmare! I find it extremely hard to believe that the previous owner did not know ...
Buying home with non permit improvements	7/25/2008
Q: We are looking at a home that is 1600 sq feet on first floor. The second floor was a attic. He the ... A: I would call the local County Inspection Department office for the area where this property is ...
seller	7/9/2008
Q: Jay, I live in TX an my mother in-law has a house in which she bought form a independed mortgage ... A: Your question was addressed to “Jay.” Perhaps you meant this question to go to another expert? I ...
getting out of a buyers agent contract	7/8/2008
Q: In a nut shell we had signed a contract with an agent (in Texas, if this matters) to look for a home ... A: Sorry to hear of your problem. I would suggest first that you read your Buyer Agency Agreement ...
requesting an unconditional withdrawl of contract	7/6/2008
Q: We are wondering if you could tell us where to begin regarding the sale of our home and an agency ... A: Sorry to hear of your problems with your listing agent and his Broker. Sounds like you have been ...
Considering a Corner Lot Property	7/6/2008
Q: I'm considering buying a four-year-old former model home that's located on a corner lot at the ... A: Wow, this is a loaded question. Without having seen the property or the subdivision, I can only ...
disclosure	7/2/2008
Q: I just sold a home in Florida which has a problem with the ceramic tile flooring. The tiles are ... A: I understand that you offered a $6,000.00 allowance for the tile flooring and that this was ...
default contract	7/1/2008
Q: My sister signed a agreement of sale approx. 2 weeks ago and now the seller is saying he isn't going ... A: I apologize for the delay in responding. I am out of town and have had problems receiving wireless ...
RE classes	6/25/2008
Q: I wasn't sure where to ask this question so forgive me if it's posted in the wrong area. I am ... A: Below is a link to a school advertising real estate licensing courses online: ...
did not get a disclosure	6/13/2008
Q: We bought a home privately a year ago. We did not realize we were supposed to get a disclosure ... A: An attorney in your area can tell you if there is an Statute of Limitations in your State for this ...
Seller Disclosure Form	6/12/2008
Q: I sold my home two months ago, and now my buyer wants me to pay for repairs to the home that she ... A: The fact that the purchaser had a home inspection performed and for which the inspector said a water ...
did not get a disclosure	6/11/2008
Q: We bought a home privately a year ago. We did not realize we were supposed to get a disclosure ... A: Disclosure problems are becoming one of the worst type purchasing problems, and I am truly sorry to ...
Seller Disclosure Form	6/10/2008
Q: I sold my home two months ago, and now my buyer wants me to pay for repairs to the home that she ... A: When filling out disclosure forms, recent repairs or work such as your fill dirt, should have been ...
selling	6/9/2008
Q: I have a contract on my NC house (it was a 30 day close from signing) and I meet all the inspection ... A: Sounds like you are being held hostage, which is NOT the way this business is supposed to work. ...
new home contract	5/23/2008
Q: We bought a new home last june, and in the contract we added new sod to be installed by Sept 30 ... A: First, let me apologize for the delay in responding. I have a family member on chemo therapy that I ...
More info on Tax Sales	5/9/2008
Q: I read your information about purchasing a home at a tax sale, and I have looked everywhere on my ... A: I think I’ve found the sites you are looking for. For Broward County: Use the link below ...
getting a mortgage with a child support lien	4/27/2008
Q: I'm all set to purchase my first home; closing date, inspected, appraised. However, a title search ... A: I apologize for the delay in responding. I have been out of town for a few days, and I failed to ...
mls listings	4/8/2008
Q: "Our house was put on the market on March 5, 2008. We signed a contract on March 14, 2008. Our ... A: My MLS system has a classification as “ACI,” which means: Active, but contingent on a home ...
Disclosure Problem - Flooding	4/7/2008
Q: My wife and I bought our first house not long ago (August of last year). Its been a great house so ... A: Sorry to learn of your flooding problem. I agree with you that your flooding issues probably did ...
Buying a house with my boyfriend??!!	4/5/2008
Q: I'm a 26 yrs old female with 2 kids currently in a relationship with a very nice guy. We have been ... A: You are a very wise and astute young lady. So, your discussions of buying a house together ended up ...
Selling a home in disrepair	4/2/2008
Q: I have a home in the FL Keys. It needs about 150K in repairs. We do not have the money to fix it. We ... A: Yes, it is always possible to sell a home needing extensive repairs. There are any number of ...
home sale	3/15/2008
Q: We have lived in the same house for 34 years on 24 acres. 20 acres are in orchard where the trees ... A: My general understanding of capital gains is that a married couple, having lived in and claiming a ...
Change of Realtor	3/14/2008
Q: I have had my home listed with Realtor A for almost 2 years. The listing ended and I re-listed with ... A: Not having read your two different listing Contracts and knowing all the facts in your situation, ...
agent wants commison after a signed offer	3/9/2008
Q: Several months ago I placed my home on the internet. I was contacted by a couple who came to see ... A: Sorry for the delay in responding. Real estate had been incredibly busy in the last few days for ...
Deposit Refund	2/29/2008
Q: My fiance and I fell in love with a home in Pennsylvania through the builder Ryan Homes in Fox Run ... A: Wow, I am so sorry to hear of your dilemma. My comments below are not intended to be legal ...
Joint Mortgage Sell	2/28/2008
Q: My father has owned a house with his partner for 10 years. He has made every payment on the house ... A: Your question is a legal one, and I am not qualified to give legal advice, but I will offer my ...
Landlord Selling Home I was leasing	2/22/2008
Q: I rented a home in Mount Pleasant Sc back in Dec. under the knowledge that landlord was still trying ... A: I don’t specialize in property management, but I sure do sympathize with you. I have had a few ...
sellers disclosure	2/22/2008
Q: My husband and I were buying a house back in December. We made an offer stating that we were going ... A: When problems arise in a real estate transaction, the Contract of Sale is the document that you need ...
rent to own	2/18/2008
Q: Do you know where i can down load a rental agreement and contract of sale with instructions on how ... A: I have listed below some sites that have forms at what I consider a reasonable cost (and one even ...
seller pays closing cost	2/16/2008
Q: I know that by law in Georgia a seller can be asked to pay up to 3% towards closing costs. In ... A: Assuming that lenders and closing agents in western Georgia charge closing costs similar to those in ...
First Time Buyer	2/13/2008
Q: My Husband & I are planning to buy a home in the very near future, however...we feel completely lost ... A: If every first-time or inexperienced buyer would just ask the questions you did, they could avoid ...
First time investing	2/6/2008
Q: My name is Chris and I recently posted on here a few weeks ago looking for some help with some ... A: Normally I do not get into the fine details of answering this type question, for various reasons, ...
Matching Appliances	2/1/2008
Q: I am in the process of getting my house ready to list in the spring. Currently my range is almond ... A: Julie, I generally do not recommend to my Sellers that they spend money unnecessarily to sell a ...
Partial Owner Carried Contract	2/1/2008
Q: We are looking at purchasing an equestrian property in Oregon. It is FSBO and they are currently ... A: I think this FSBO might be thinking you would come up with a $300,000 down payment to him. And, if ...
Matching Appliances	1/31/2008
Q: I am in the process of getting my house ready to list in the spring. Currently my range is almond ... A: I would not necessarily count on getting your money back for the package of purchases you mentioned, ...
contract	1/24/2008
Q: We have a contract on a new construction home. The contract is contingent (with a kick out clause) ... A: Your Contact of Sale will dictate the terms of the return (or forfeiture) of any earnest money you ...
Lien with no mortgage	1/11/2008
Q: .. can you please advise in the state of Georgia is it possible for someone to place a lien on your ... A: Gina, To my knowledge, liens do not expire. Judgments and administrative liens, in most ...
Disclosures	1/11/2008
Q: I was hoping you might be able to point me in the right direction. We bought a house about three ... A: You are correct that if the heating/cooling unit in your home was not in proper working condition ...
Lien with no mortgage	1/10/2008
Q: .. can you please advise in the state of Georgia is it possible for someone to place a lien on your ... A: I don’t know Georgia law, but in SC where I live and work, an individual lien cannot just ...
My Rights	1/7/2008
Q: 1/2 years. House has been put up for sale by landlord,what rights do we have concerning when the ... A: I do not specialize in Property Management, but I do know that your landlord does have the right to ...
Back up offers	1/7/2008
Q: I have a house that I have a offer in on. It is a pre-foreclosure. My offer has been submitted to ... A: Sorry to have to tell you that your understanding of multiple offers is not correct. (:-( Maybe ...
Disclosure	12/25/2007
Q: My wife and I bought a 15 yr old scribe fit log home about 5 mths ago. Since that time Ive had ... A: What a nightmare this must be for you. Stories like yours literally make the hair on my neck stand ...
buying half of twindominium	12/19/2007
Q: Can a twindominium, via a split deed, be converted back into a duplex? My husband and I want to buy ... A: Your question is more of a legal one, and I am not qualified to give you legal advice. I am sure, ...
disclosures/problems	11/26/2007
Q: dislosure listed water leakage in basement with heavy rain, seller stated had waterproofed. After ... A: Sorry to hear that you have had a problem with water leakage. Without having seen your Contract of ...
Failure to Disclose Remodeling/Additon of a Bldg without Permit	11/18/2007
Q: We purchased a home July 2004, Tallahassee, FL. August 2007, we planned to do some remodeling on ... A: Wow, what a dilemma. Sorry to hear of your problem I am assuming from your writing that the ...
New renter SC. Landlord selling	10/30/2007
Q: I am a new renter in SC with 3 kids.Moved here from out of state (4 states away) I signed a 1yr. ... A: For starters, when property is sold, any valid Lease Agreement conveys WITH the sale, and any new ...
loan transfer	10/26/2007
Q: the guy who sales house has 30 fixed rate at 5.5an i or is there any way that he can transfer the ... A: IF the person selling a house has a FULLY-ASSUMABLE loan (of which there are few and none around ...
Seller sitting on offers	10/19/2007
Q: I have submitted an offer on a bank owned property on October 10th and still have no answer whether ... A: Lending institutions offering properties for sale are, generally, slower in responding than ...
Selling a house	10/17/2007
Q: My partner and I are trying to sell our house. It as been on the market since June this year. At ... A: Karen, There are three different types of listing agreements: 1. Open - An owner can list with ...
Changing Title	10/8/2007
Q: My husband and I purchased a home in Dec 2006 and the title deed was "joint tenants w/common law ... A: Zarana, Your follow up question is more of a legal question, and you should consult with a good ...
Recent Home Purchase	10/8/2007
Q: We purchased a home in May 2006 that was built in 2004. We paid $373,000 for this home. My ... A: A Realtor may not know what type of windows a builder has installed in a home unless they are ...
D R Horton Contract probelm	9/12/2007
Q: I have a contract with D R Horton that was signed on 29 Dec 2005. I met with their lender on 4 Jan ... A: Sorry to hear of your problem with DR Horton. My blood literally boils when I hear stories like ...
RE: Bankruptcy	9/9/2007
Q: I am a realtor in NC. An owner (of a house) that I know will be filing for bankruptcy on Wednesday. ... A: Justin, Hi I am no expert on bankruptcy. I think your question would be better directed to an ...
Seller Offering Closing Cost Credits for Using a Preferred Lender	8/31/2007
Q: I am selling my house. My friend works at a mortgage brokerage and I would really like him to be ... A: Interesting subject you have brought up. Builders, mainly, use this practice VERY frequently. The ...
We sold our home!	8/30/2007
Q: I think it was you who advised me to do something to the front of our house, as it looked bland? I ... A: I remember very well all our correspondence, and I am absolutely thrilled for you that your home ...
auto lien against home	8/30/2007
Q: If I sell my home and there is not enough money left to pay for the lien what happens? A: Barbara, Unless you can work out some type of payment plan with the lien holder to remove the auto ...
Property Taxes	8/29/2007
Q: I am very confused as to how my property taxes are going to be calculated for this November. I ... A: I can only guess at reasons for the questions you asked, but possibly the reason the escrow company ...
Selling Out	8/28/2007
Q: My boyfriend and I are separating and we have a house with the mortgage in both our names. If he ... A: In addition to receiving your share of the equity in the house, you have another issue to resolve if ...
wanting a particular house	8/27/2007
Q: how might i go about looking up on the internet who owns a particular house which is sitting vacant. A: The best way would be to look it up on your county’s online website (or, in some states, the ...
problems with buyers	8/26/2007
Q: We listed our house in SW Arizona in early February 2007. We finally had an offer in late June that ... A: Deanna, Excuse the misspelling below of "there" which should have been "their." I can't believe ...
selling a home	8/26/2007
Q: We are selling our home with a realtor. My husband has never signed the exclusive contract. We did ... A: My question would be, how did this situation come about? Did the Realtor just never ask the ...
problems with buyers	8/25/2007
Q: We listed our house in SW Arizona in early February 2007. We finally had an offer in late June that ... A: If this Buyer misrepresented his marital status which is delaying your closing, I would suggest the ...
buyer's agent	8/24/2007
Q: I have a question about contracts and ethical behavior for a realtor. I had a contract on my house ... A: I am sorry to hear of your situation. It’s one that happens too often, and I hate to hear these ...
Encroachment	8/23/2007
Q: I own a parcel of vacant land in NC. The owner of the parcel next to mine has encroached upon my ... A: Bonnie, There is a provision in the law called Adverse Possession which basically states that if a ...
getting out of a contract with real estate agent	8/22/2007
Q: Can I legally get out of the contract with the real agent who is selling my place and go to another ... A: You did not say whether your “contract” is a listing contract or a Contract of Sale. I am going to ...
disclosure	8/17/2007
Q: we recently bought a home in dec. 06 and we just went through some bad weather where our home ... A: Sorry to learn of your dilemma, but it sounds like you need legal help. Texas does have a mandatory ...
taxes on condo selling	8/17/2007
Q: We sold our condo that we were renting for the past 15 years. I beleive we have to pay taxes on the ... A: It is my understanding that depreciation claimed on investment and/or rental property DOES have to ...
Refund of Deposit	8/14/2007
Q: I put a deposit down for a condo, and the contract stated I had 15 days to void the sales contract. ... A: Sorry for the delay in responding. Most reputable real estate agents, builders and developers will ...
How should a newly married couple plan to sell and buy a home	8/9/2007
Q: my fiance' and I are getting married in April. currently we both own a home. Me a 3 bedroom house, ... A: First of all, congratulations on your upcoming wedding. If you want or need to have the equity from ...
false disclosure	8/8/2007
Q: My hubby and I purchased our house 11 months ago. We had the inspection and there was evidence of ... A: Wow, sorry to hear of your dilemma. Sounds like you need to contact a good trial lawyer ASAP. I ...
Facilitator instead of seller or buyer agent. Dual agency?	8/7/2007
Q: We have found a property that we want to purchase. We have a sales agreement that was dependent on ... A: I am quoting below language from the Tennessee Real Estate Commission site ...
disclosure question	8/1/2007
Q: My name id Edward and I live in Texas but I hope you can help me. I understand you have experience ... A: Not knowing all the facts of your situation, I will make some comments below. Keep in mind that I ...
Legal description on deed	7/30/2007
Q: I have a will with a legal description. I cannot find anywhere that will give me a clue how to read ... A: Possibly the reason you were not finding any help on the internet is that you might not have typed ...
imcompetent or bad realtor	7/29/2007
Q: We actually have two questions regarding our realtor. We just got to Texas and trusted our realtor ... A: Sorry to hear that you are having problems with your Realtor. For starters, I would call the ...
New Home owners	7/27/2007
Q: My husband and I bought our first home and closed Escrow 12/15/06. Since then, things have been ... A: Sorry to hear of your dilemma, but disclosure issues are fast-becoming an ever-increasing problem in ...
Fences	7/24/2007
Q: I am considering adding a privacy fence to my property. I believe it will address several areas of ... A: While privacy fencing might add “some” value to a home, it will certainly add security and privacy ...
My agent neglecting my property	7/23/2007
Q: Is it wright for a realitor to sign on as my agent to a six month contract and to only have one open ... A: Open Houses generally do not sell homes. They are more an avenue for Realtors to pick up new ...
selling issues	7/22/2007
Q: I hope you will be able to help give some insight. I listed with an agent in November 2006 with a ... A: Sarah, This information puts a whole new twist on your issue. If your Realtor did not advise you ...
Beachfront Condos in Dorado. Puerto Rico	7/20/2007
Q: I have a trio of dear lifelong friends (brothers) who retired early and sought out to fulfill their ... A: Beautiful units, and I can only imagine the hard work and funds that went into this venture. My ...
Problems after a home purchase	6/28/2007
Q: From the first day that I moved into my condo, I have been experiencing problems, primarily with the ... A: It sounds like you definitely did not receive a full and accurate disclosure prior to your closing ...
disclosure/responsible party	6/27/2007
Q: I just read one of your previous questions, Public: sewer vs. septic, I completely relate..we just ... A: Regina, The Seller, Seller’s agent (along with the company she works for), and also the closing ...
disclosure/responsible party	6/25/2007
Q: I just read one of your previous questions, Public: sewer vs. septic, I completely relate..we just ... A: I am sorry to learn of your dilemma. Yours is one similar to others I have heard before, and my ...
reply from question from before about back taxes	6/14/2007
Q: when a property is bought with back taxes and their is money is in involved in the transaction, does ... A: Terry, I am not going to be much help to you now, because I am not sure exactly “what” you are ...
bought a house with no sewer connection	6/14/2007
Q: It was not disclosed to me that the sewer line was not connected. The seller's agent said that the ... A: Not knowing all the facts in your situation, I will make some general comments for you below. If ...
Disclosure	5/30/2007
Q: We bought our home in Wichita,Ks 4 years ago this Nov.Somehow the previous owners inspection report ... A: Wow, sounds like you have been more than victimized. I am so sorry to hear of your plight. While ...
Landscaping Value	5/22/2007
Q: How much value does landscaping add to the value of a home? Thanks in advance. A: Landscaping will certainly beautify property and add curb appeal to a home and be an invitation to ...
Getting out of a contract	5/21/2007
Q: I found a house that I liked. The sellers were offering 5,000 towards repair. I got the house ... A: Your written Contract of Sale is the document that controls what happens throughout the buying ...
Square footage, appraisal, selling price?	5/20/2007
Q: How does the square footage of a home affect the selling price? My wife and I are buying a home ... A: First of all, county appraisal reports (at least in the area where I work) are generally not ...
foreclosure	5/8/2007
Q: My friend is about to lose his home,he is two months behind on his mortgage and i want to give him ... A: Your friend should first contact his lender to see if he can work out a payment arrangement to catch ...
selling home	4/29/2007
Q: I would like to sell my home which I still have a mortgage on. Do I need a real estate agency like ... A: You can sell your home yourself if you choose to do so. The fact that you have a mortgage on it has ...
selling a lot with a trailer on it owned by someone else.	4/15/2007
Q: I am a real estate agent in phenix city, al. i have listed a half acre lot, owned by one person. ... A: I would first see if you can get the trailer owner to AGREE to move the trailer. If he/she does ...
Buying foreclosure property	4/12/2007
Q: We are trying to buy a property that went through foreclosure from the lender. It is a house ... A: Tara, If the second lot was not included in the original foreclosure, you should ask some pointed ...
selling while occupied by tenant	4/4/2007
Q: We have been renting our single family home in FL to 1 family for the past 3 years. Their contract ... A: If you have already extended your tenants’ contract until July, 2007, short of evicting them before ...
selling my first house	4/4/2007
Q: I brought my first house with my husband 18 years ago i lived there for 17 and half year. we brought ... A: You need to verify what I’m telling you with an accountant or your tax preparer, but this is my ...
Buying home in fl without realtor	3/18/2007
Q: We're in Pensacola, FL. We are in the beginning process of buying a home from a neighbor without a ... A: Some of the basics you need to make sure are definitely included in your Contract for the purchase ...
Seller did not repair linolium	2/25/2007
Q: I am a new home owner in Dayton, OH. The prevoiuse owner "got to busy moving out" and did not ... A: Whether or not the previous owner is legally obligated to pay or repair the linoleum depends on ...
finding an agent	1/30/2007
Q: My questions concern how soon should I begin the agent hunting process? I plan on selling our home ... A: If you plan to list around June of this year, it is not too early to begin interviewing agents. You ...
Contract question	1/29/2007
Q: I want to know...how do I get out from under my current (new)contract with the realtor? I have ... A: A listing agreement is a legally-binding contract. Short of a breach by the listing company ...
Back on Market	1/23/2007
Q: I have one more question to ask. If I am in the process of closing and the seller puts the house ... A: Ken, The mere fact that the Seller’s agent may be showing the house as available for sale again ...
advice	1/22/2007
Q: I am 30 years old single male from Detroit, MI. I live with my 2 siblings and our mother. I make ... A: Wow, you have some important decisions to make. I wish there were a simple answer for you. I am ...
Pulling out of contract	1/18/2007
Q: If I decide to ask the seller for a graceful exit from the contract, would I need to do this through ... A: Ken, Yes, by all means do this through your real estate agent. Have him/her draw up an Addendum ...
Pulling out of contract	1/16/2007
Q: I am in the process of closing for a home that I am purchasing. If I decide not to buy the home, ... A: If you decide not to buy and close on a home you agreed to purchase, the language in your Contract ...
capital gains	1/15/2007
Q: My husband and I bought our 1st house in 2003. In late 2005, we took out a home equity loan and did ... A: I apologize for the delay in responding. With my real estate work load, I was simply unable to ...
sell or do a rent to own................	1/8/2007
Q: We have a home in wisconsin, built in Oct 05, wife does not like the ranch, wants to sell, we have a ... A: Have you considered working with a Realtor to try and sell your property? They have access to many, ...
Sale of real Estate - income tax	1/8/2007
Q: We just sold my dad's condo in Florida. When he passed it automatically was transferred to my ... A: Rob, I am going to give you what I believe to be correct information, generally, but you should ...
which location i should pick?	12/26/2006
Q: i ahve plan to buy house and fix it and sale it,is that still a good market?and i plan to do it in ... A: Yes, there is always a good market for buying homes in need of repair, making necessary repairs (and ...
Real Estate/landlord /tenants rights	12/13/2006
Q: what rights do we have concerning when the real estate can access the apartment and show it? Can ... A: & Mrs. Martinez, I am assuming (and hoping) that you have a written rental/lease agreement. ...
liens on my house	11/27/2006
Q: !!! Elizabeth I own this house outright with no mortgage on it...I'm broke with only $25.00 in bank ... A: Mike, At closing, the closing attorney or closing title company will write AND MAIL checks to pay ...
liens on my house	11/27/2006
Q: I MAY HAVE A CHILD SUPPORT LIEN FOR $18,000.00 AND A CITY TAX LIEN ON MY HOME...SOMEONE OFFERED ME ... A: To make this sale happen, the child support lien and also the City tax lien can be paid off AT ...
Breaking a listing contract with a contingency	11/13/2006
Q: We have a listing contract w/ our Agent through December. He is awful! Has not advertised but 1 ... A: If you have an executed contingency CONTRACT (as opposed to an offer in progress) on another house ...
Earnest Money	10/30/2006
Q: I was not provided a copy of the covenants and have not reviewed them. I have signed a purchase ... A: Mike, Thanks for the additional information. Since you never received a copy of the covenants, I ...
Texas Transaction	10/30/2006
Q: I own a home in Texas with an appraised value of at least $550k (possibly $600k). This is an ... A: I am not familiar with laws in Texas, so I do not know if on investment property you could get a 95% ...
Earnest Money	10/29/2006
Q: I read where you gave advice to someone who had plans to purchase a DR Horton home in Lexington, SC. ... A: Probably the reason for the only types of fencing allowed in your back yard is due to language in ...
Plumbing Problem after purchase	10/24/2006
Q: I have a situation whereby I purchased a home that I had not used much until I rented it recently ... A: Not having seen your Contract and having the benefit of additional facts, I believe you are in ...
selling a home	10/18/2006
Q: What happens if after I put my home on the market and then decide i dont want to sell it? Can the ... A: Your Realtor should only be able to COLLECT a commission at closing, unless you agreed in writing to ...
buying a garage parking spot	10/15/2006
Q: ..I found someone to sell me a garage parking spot in the condo building that I currently reside in. ... A: Regarding the purchase of a garage parking spot in your condo building, so long as … 1. The garage ...
new home contract release	9/30/2006
Q: My husband & I moved to Lexington, SC from Pooler, GA earlier this year. We put a contract on a new ... A: Yes, that language sounds a bit ambiguous, but I think what the builder is saying is that the ...
new home contract release	9/29/2006
Q: My husband & I moved to Lexington, SC from Pooler, GA earlier this year. We put a contract on a new ... A: Sorry to hear you are having difficulties with not only the builder, but also both agents as well. ...
Can I?	9/25/2006
Q: My parents died and left their house to me and my three siblings. The house is free of debt of any ... A: If you and your three siblings inherited your parents’ house, the first thing that needs to happen ...
Selling my house =nightmare	9/19/2006
Q: Yes, we did indeed fill out a disclosure form. And none of their complaints were listed or ... A: Sounds like you did “all the right things” and that these people are basically just whiners that no ...
Realtor commission	9/6/2006
Q: ! That clears up alot of things and I will call his BIC. This all took place here in DC and the ... A: With a possible cross-over of DC and Virginia laws (which is what I suspected), I’m am not familiar ...
Realtor commission	9/5/2006
Q: I see rave reviews on your advice and knowledge and I hope you can help me. I used a "friend of a ... A: It is illegal a broker to pay anyone who is not licensed as a real estate agent to conduct any of ...
buyer's agent release	8/9/2006
Q: i talked to the brocker in charge and he did not want to help us at all with the release of buyers ... A: Did you make a formal complaint yet to the Real Estate Commission? This will not cost you anything ...
buyer's agent release	8/7/2006
Q: please help us. we have a buyers agent agreement and the Realtor dose not want to sine a release ... A: This will be a somewhat lengthy reply, but you have an important decision to make; and you should ...
buyer's agent release	8/7/2006
Q: please help us. we have a buyers agent agreement and the Realtor dose not want to sine a release ... A: Sorry to hear you are having this problem. It’s very obvious that you are dealing not only with an ...
easement and CO	8/6/2006
Q: We just purchased our first home, It's been two months and we've just found out that the house does ... A: I am assuming you just purchased a NEW home. A title search will not necessarily disclose easements ...
Falsifying disclosure statements	8/1/2006
Q: My husband and are selling a home we purchased 2 years ago in Rochelle Park, NJ. The house has ... A: So sorry to hear what you have just discovered. The long and short of what you are describing is ...
Wrong Square Footage	7/26/2006
Q: We just signed an offer to purchase last night for a home that we thought was 2,052 SF, fully ... A: Most MLS listings have language in the printouts somewhere that all information is “deemed reliable ...
Disclosure prior to purchasing a home	7/19/2006
Q: If a home is in foreclosure shouldn't this be disclosed to the buyer? I recently purchased a home, ... A: If a home has not yet actually been foreclosed on and is listed by an agent, the rule is ….. If the ...
is it possible?	7/17/2006
Q: Me and my husband are currently in a chapter 13 bankruptcy. we owe approximately 9,000 remaining. we ... A: I am sorry to learn that your circumstances are such that you had to file for Chapter 13 Bankruptcy. ...
property contract	7/13/2006
Q: About 1 year ago I entered into contract to have a home built in southern Florida. I put a down ... A: Sorry for the delay in responding. Your Contract of Sale will prevail with whatever language was ...
Disclosure: Sewer vs Septic	6/28/2006
Q: My husband and I recently bought a home in Central Florida after relocating from Southern ... A: Jennifer, Sorry to hear you’re having this problem. You have all the documentation you need to ...
Reporting Agent to PA Real Estate Commission	6/15/2006
Q: Reporting Agent to PA Real Estate Commission I am going to report the agent we discussed to our ... A: My email address is liznarr@sc.rr.com I'm glad to know that you are reporting this unethical agent. ...
Unethical, Dishonest Broker Coerces Us into a No Win Situation	6/13/2006
Q: Unethical, Dishonest Broker Coerces Us into a No Win Situation The real estate problem that I’ve ... A: Steven, What an unfortunate event when you hooked up with this pitiful excuse of a real estate ...
Buyer's Agent Broke Agreement	6/9/2006
Q: Actually there is no BIC. The agent is an independent broker and in business for himself, there is ... A: Steven, If your broker is in business for himself, “he” is the BIC. The way to protect yourself is ...
foreclosure	6/8/2006
Q: I read you Q&A with Tina about foreclosures, and my situation is similar and wanted to know if you ... A: Yours is really more a legal question, and I am not qualified to give legal advice. I would suggest ...
Buyer's Agent Broke Agreement	6/8/2006
Q: Buyer's Agent Broke Agreement I recently signed an agreement with a real estate broker to act as my ... A: Sorry you had this problem. It should never have happened. I would suggest that you call this ...
real estate agent	6/2/2006
Q: I signed a 6 month contract with my realtor. I have not been hapy with the service they have ... A: Yours is a question that is asked often. A listing agreement is a legally-binding Contract and is ...
listing problem	5/21/2006
Q: Can a buyer terminate a contract and receive his earnest money back on the grounds of an ... A: The square footage issue could be a gray area, and several factors can come into play. I am ...
Disclosure	2/26/2006
Q: I bought a house in Prescott Valley Az. in Aug. 2004. The house did not have an existing garage. ... A: She's anxiously awaiting a surgical procedure this coming Tuesday that we all hope will alleviate ...
Best flooring choice for re-sell	2/25/2006
Q: We are preparing to sell our home located in the northwest Atlanta, GA suburbs. We are in an 18 ... A: Hardwood flooring is back big time as far as a flooring selection. The newer hardwoods are easy to ...
Son on deed to home..want to sell,He did not hel purchase home	2/23/2006
Q: I will try and make this short...My mom moved to fl. 17 yrs ago and bought a home and for security ... A: Sorry to hear about your difficult situation. You did not say whether the abuse by your brother is ...
Disclosure	2/22/2006
Q: I bought a house in Prescott Valley Az. in Aug. 2004. The house did not have an existing garage. ... A: Sorry for the delay in responding. My elderly Mom is having severe health issues that have ...
Back Taxes purchase	1/27/2006
Q: I know one can purchase a house for the amount of back taxes owed. But exactly how does this work? ... A: A Tax Sale is a sale by the County to which back taxes are owed. There might or might not be a ...
property purchase attempt	1/25/2006
Q: We submitted an offer on a piece of property in Colorado last Wednesday evening by email, after ... A: My first question to you would be, “IF” the offer your agent sent you by email Friday evening had ...
House rent to own.	1/10/2006
Q: What are the rules and regulation in relation to rent to own. I have a house somebody wants to rent ... A: I'm going to list below by category of sell vs rent to own the pros and cons of each. My items ...
Real Estate Marketing	1/3/2006
Q: My wife and I are thinking about starting a small business. Our idea came about when we remembered ... A: My guess why many Realtors do not use flyers is that, although you appreciated the handy reference ...
Question	12/18/2005
Q: I'm wondering were would I find information on homes that are behind in taxes? Or that are ... A: Sammi, To check which properties are delinquent in tax payments, go to the taxing agency (aka ...
Disclosure statement and home inspection	10/15/2005
Q: My fiance purchased a home with the assistance of a large Real Estate company here in Iowa. He had ... A: Sorry to hear about your experience. What a shock to find that you have 15 windows rotted. Without ...
We'd like to sell our first home	10/10/2005
Q: My husband and I have decided to sell our first house that we bought together 11 years ago. I have ... A: Sorry for the delay in responding. I started this answer right after I received your question and ...
How to make money?	10/4/2005
Q: My first property that I bought was a two family property in the city of Fall River Massachusetts. ... A: Sorry to hear that your investment did not yield as much as you expected. From what you have ...
Developers	9/11/2005
Q: Im currently selling timeshare for Westgate Resorts in Orlando and expect to be liscenced in a month ... A: If you are good in the sales area, I think you would always be better off to be paid on a commission ...
Training in Real Estate	7/25/2005
Q: I am a licensed acupuncturist residing in Nashville, TN., interested in learning how to buy/sell ... A: In order to become a licensed agent, you will need to take the required hours of education for ...
home	6/26/2005
Q: I think buy tract home is better choice for me, even though I prefer not to live in community. my ... A: Try Andy Haskenhoff at 1 (888) 870-8417 extension 2338. He is a lender who works with American Home ...
home	6/25/2005
Q: think about buying land between S. Riverside county to N. San Diego county, and put manufactured ... A: You can check with some lenders in your area for benefits for first-time home buyers. Some states ...
Land in FLA.	5/24/2005
Q: I have 3 lots of land in Florida. I paid roughly 13 thousand dollors all together for these plots. ... A: Based only on the information you have given me, it certainly does appear that the value of your ...
dispersment of funds in closing	4/22/2005
Q: My siblings and I are heirs to our parents estate.They all live out of state and I am the one local ... A: Wow! What a dilemma. Events like this should never happen. When was the termite report issued, ...
Looking for lot to build starter home - need advice	4/11/2005
Q: My wife and I are looking for a lot to build a starter home in the Boise, Idaho area. We are ... A: There are two things you need to address initially: Your lot and your house plan. If you already ...
disclosure	3/30/2005
Q: I bought a condo last June in TUcson, AZ. There were no realtors or lawyers involved. The seller ... A: You did not mention whether or not you received any kind of disclosure at all from the previous ...
Preparing to Sell	3/29/2005
Q: My wife and I are preparing to sell our 1576 sqft home. We have some work that we believe needs to ... A: This is an area of expertise plus personal opinion, but I believe to paint the interior of your ...
Florida	3/19/2005
Q: Liznarr, I am in Michigan and co-own a home in Florida that I want to sell. Can you answer questions ... A: Joint tenancy has several elements for ownership, and ALL elements for joint tenancy must be met at ...
Florida	3/19/2005
Q: Liznarr, I am in Michigan and co-own a home in Florida that I want to sell. Can you answer questions ... A: I can answer questions about real estate generally, and most of the questions I receive on the All ...
Question on buying a house	3/18/2005
Q: That's strange, I haven't received it. You can also send to diana.nguyen@cox.com thanks!Hi Liz, ... A: Diana, I don't understand what happened, but I did not receive any message that your email had not ...
DISCLOSURE	2/21/2005
Q: I'm thinking of listing my home for sale in the near future. I live in Maryland. I renovated my ... A: Yes, I would definitely disclose exactly what you have written to me. If there is any question as ...
commissions	1/20/2005
Q: A real estate agent found a summer tenant for my vacation home, and I paid the 10% commission. He ... A: Yours is a very interesting question. There are numerous ways a Trust can be set up. The language ...
Buying new homes	1/12/2005
Q: ------------------------- Hi again. Actually, it is the homes not yet built, with the same ... A: Yes, what you are describing -- the SAME home with the SAME amenities, not yet built, and priced ...
Buying new homes	1/4/2005
Q: Why does there seem to be such a huge difference in price between a new home that is ready to move ... A: Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I was out of town for several days and did not note on ...
selling real estate	12/4/2004
Q: I am settling my father's estate (Georgia) and have property to sell. I have been approached by an ... A: Most states have laws called "Statutes of Frauds," the purpose of which is to prevent fraudulent ...
disclosure issue	11/7/2004
Q: I'm also an expert on this site in boxing, so feel free to ask me a question anytime! My problem is ... A: Wow, you do have a predicament. My first question for you is, did you have an agent who was ...
purchase nightmare	11/1/2004
Q: I have a few questions regarding a home I signed a purchase agreement on. I live in Michigan. First ... A: Hopefully, you will be able to get out of this deal by using the lender “out” if all repairs are not ...
purchase nightmare	10/30/2004
Q: I have a few questions regarding a home I signed a purchase agreement on. I live in Michigan. First ... A: While I don't think and certainly hope your sister would not have intentionally misled you, her ...
Ok I think I understand but...	10/20/2004
Q: Ok I think I understand but just to clarify let me give you a question and answers and tell me which ... A: I am not familiar at all with Arizona law and so, therefore, cannot comment specifically as to your ...
I have a couple of questions...	10/19/2004
Q: I have a couple of questions that maybe you can help me with please? I was wondering if you know ... A: If ABC Realty were to buy XYZ Realty, and assuming that the Company name would be ABC Realty, then I ...
Title of a home	10/13/2004
Q: I live in california, But thought maybe you would have some info for me on this subject anyway. My ... A: Wow, what a situation you have. While I must admit there is most definitely humor in your story, if ...
Failure to disclose/negligence	8/31/2004
Q: Viewed a home at an open house. Description of property stated "country home, water supplied by ... A: Wow! I am so sorry to hear of your dilemma. First of all, I would turn into a combination pit ...
open house	8/18/2004
Q: My friends have recently gotten back into home construcion after a lull of a few years. They have ... A: The simplest way to call attention to various features in a spec home is to print a color flyer and ...
Renting property	8/11/2004
Q: My mother-in-law has a home in Hampton, Va and she wants to create a new lease for the residents. ... A: Regarding your folks/tenants residing in the Hampton, Virginia, property, I am responding according ...
Deed rewriting	7/10/2004
Q: I recently sold a house and property in WV, and the new owners have contacted me with concerns over ... A: Wow! What a predicament. You cannot simply “change” wording on a deed. There is a process to make ...
Inherited Lease with New House	7/1/2004
Q: My parents just recently bought a house and closed on it the end of May '04. Before closing we knew ... A: Sorry to hear of the dilemma you have. The last paragraph of your question indicates that you were ...
Lease Purchase Plans	5/31/2004
Q: Are there any drawbacks concerning Lease/Purchase options? They just seem like the way to go as ... A: For a Lessee/Tenant/Buyer, a Lease-Purchase could be advantageous when there is a definite NEED to ...
trying to get to the closing table	5/7/2004
Q: In the process of selling a duplex. Accepted offer on 4/12/04. Potential buyer was pre-qualified ... A: You said that “…potential SELLER requested no remedies.” I am assuming that you meant to write that ...
condo offer problem	4/22/2004
Q: One year ago we executed an accepted offer on a 9th floor condo with a view of the state capitol ... A: Several factors can come into play here. First, when you entered into a Contract of Sale, was a ...
property lines	4/10/2004
Q: I recemtly bought a home in North Carolina. When I had the lot surveyed, I discovered the next door ... A: Absolutely you should address this matter. And my suggestion would be to NOT delay this matter for ...
land for log home	4/4/2004
Q: What should we look for when buying land in NH, VT, or ME (The White Mountain belt), to build a log ... A: I'm not sure exactly what you're asking, but if you plan to build a permanent residence IN the ...
question on real estate	3/25/2004
Q: I have several home improvement website I market heavily on the internet, generating 4600-5000 ... A: I'd be interested in talking with you about writing articles for your websites in exchange for ...
How to force to vacate property	3/17/2004
Q: I sold a mobile home lot in 1999 with a no interest contract. The lot was never transfered to the ... A: If you “sold” your mobile home lot, and ownership for the lot was never transferred to the buyer, I ...
Real estate licenses	3/12/2004
Q: From the comments of others, and your note of being in the "Southeast," I'm assuming you are a ... A: I'm sorry, but I am not familiar with North Carolina's reciprocity law (I work in SC). I looked up ...
enviromental	3/8/2004
Q: I am in the process of purchasing a parcel of land and was wondering if you can shed a little light ... A: I will address them individually. On yourMy main question is how can I prove that the tank(s) ...
Buy a 3/4 Plex and Renting Section 8	2/16/2004
Q: My wife and I are looking for a not too expensive, with a low down payment 3/4 Plex. We have a ... A: Sorry, but I don't know of any web sites specifically targeting a triplex or quadraplex. I do, ...
real estate	2/15/2004
Q: How can I find real estate property that's late on back taxes? Jim (Ohio) A: I would start with the tax collector's office for the county in which a property is located. Many ...

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