You are here:

Buying or Selling a Home/Questions Answered by Expert Russel Ray

Subject	Date Asked
part of property without permit	1/7/2012
Q: Mr. Ray, On Aug. 25 2011, I bought a "as is" foreclosd property in Jacksonville Fl. Later on, I ... A: Hey, Lisa. Answers to your questions: 1 - Yes, but you might have an issues trying to prove that ...
unsatisfied with new mobile home	12/19/2011
Q: I just purchased a new mobile home in February. When the trailer arrived it had a huge crack in the ... A: Hey, Stacey. You should have a warranty of at least a year so I would think they are responsible ...
mobile home title issue	12/17/2011
Q: I recently paid of a mobile home i had purchased here in MO , and I'm having a hard time getting the ... A: Hey, Mark. You're in a situation where you need a Texas attorney so that your attorney can talk to ...
mobile home title issue	12/12/2011
Q: I recently paid of a mobile home i had purchased here in MO , and I'm having a hard time getting the ... A: Hey, Mark. She should be able to get a duplicate title. I'm not familiar with the laws regarding ...
Purchased residential land in TX	12/11/2011
Q: Almost three years ago I entered an agreement to purchase land which had not been subdivided and had ... A: Hey, Karla. In simple terms in a Warranty Deed in Texas, the seller (Grantor) merely guarantees to ...
Racoon Infestation	12/8/2011
Q: I recently purchased a condo with a VA home loan so I had to have an inspection and any other ... A: Just based on what you have said, I would think you have recourse, so it's important that you ...
old home salvage	12/5/2011
Q: i see where there are alot of old mansions etc being torn down,how can i get ahold of some of these ... A: You need to find out who the owner is. You can do that by going to the courthouse or county records ...
Do you think a homeowner can do his own inspection of home he is buying?	11/15/2011
Q: Do you think a homeowner can do his own inspection of home he is buying? Is a home that I am ... A: Hey, Cody. No, I don't. The reason is because a home inspector is combining many professions into ...
Paying in cash	10/5/2011
Q: I'm thinking about buying a home all in cash. I was told that by paying in cash, I can get the ... A: Hey, Jackie. It's not necessarily more beneficial for the seller because it doesn't matter whether ...
home inspection	8/14/2011
Q: my son and daughter in law recently purchased a house and were not made aware that their central air ... A: Hey, Maryellen. Determining the manufacture date of appliances and equipment is not part of a ...
Home Inspection	8/4/2011
Q: I'm planning to buy a new townhouse from one of home builders, namely, Ryan Homes or Centex. But ... A: Hey, Alex. Since homes are made by people, and people are human, so to speak, they make mistakes. ...
Apprasial and Lack of Acceptable Comps	6/9/2011
Q: We have a rather unique home that (age/location/renovations/lot size, etc) the appraiser is having ... A: Hey, Gloria. You and your agent can request a different appraiser, one more knowledgable and with ...
Apprasial and Lack of Acceptable Comps	6/8/2011
Q: We have a rather unique home that (age/location/renovations/lot size, etc) the appraiser is having ... A: Hey, Gloria. I think you need a better appraiser. Although the appraisal industry is in just as ...
Pool	6/1/2011
Q: I have a pool in a home I purchased last month. The pool was closed for the season so I requested a ... A: Hey, Jennifer. What you're experiencing is a common problem and a common misconception about ...
Lease Buyout Program	5/27/2011
Q: My wife and I are purchasing a new home that is being built. During the initial contract before ... A: Hey, Phillip. My initial response is a no, you're stuck with that agent, but I have no idea what is ...
house	3/27/2011
Q: 1. Should you own or rent? 2. How do we avoid renting bill before buying house. I mean I pay ... A: Hey, Henry. The government makes it worthwhile to own real estate because many of your costs, such ...
Title company	2/26/2011
Q: we r buying a bank owned home. Closing is set for Monday. About 10 days ago, i asked a question to ... A: Hey, Hakan. At this point it's probably too late to change title companies, but the title company ...
Valve Leak	2/22/2011
Q: I just bought a house in Oakland, CA after waiving my inspection rights. I've moved in and ... A: Hey, Chris. Unfortunately, you are yet one more example of why one should never waive a home ...
remodel without permits	2/11/2011
Q: I have a question, I recently inherited my parents home thru trust. I now own the home free and ... A: Hey, Rick. People buy homes all the time with unpermitted additions. I've done it myself. If you ...
buying a house	1/14/2011
Q: I want to own a Multi-Family house in the San Diego area. How does Mortgage work? ANSWER: Hey, ... A: Hey, Henry. If you have the income and the credit rating, probably so. With all the problems in ...
buying a house	1/13/2011
Q: I want to own a Multi-Family house in the San Diego area. How does Mortgage work? A: Hey, Henry. The mortgage is simply the amount you owe on the house, so since someone else, ...
buy or keep renting?	12/20/2010
Q: So here is my dilemma. My husband stays home with our two young children while he works on his ... A: Hey, Lisa. Most financial planners say that if you buy a house, you should plan on staying in that ...
appraisal	12/15/2010
Q: We signed a contract to sell our home. The appraisal came less than contract price. The buyer wants ... A: Hey, David. As I understand it, you have a purchase agreement that both you and the buyers have ...
appraisal	12/14/2010
Q: We signed a contract to sell our home. The appraisal came less than contract price. The buyer wants ... A: Hey, David. What your agent is trying to do is short-circuit the negotiating process by doing it ...
Housing	11/16/2010
Q: This question is more about places to live in general. It seems like a very American thing to want ... A: Hey, James. That equity can be particularly valuable if you have a catastrophic health problem that ...
Inspections	11/15/2010
Q: I live in California Central Valley. I would like to know if a buyer home inspection includes ... A: Hey, Andres. Under optimum conditions, a home inspector would be expected to crawl under the house ...
Housing	11/12/2010
Q: This question is more about places to live in general. It seems like a very American thing to want ... A: Hey, James. Somehow your question just got posted to my question board even though it is dated ...
House with One-less bedroom	11/7/2010
Q: I am making an offer on a house that the MLS ad lists for 3 bedrooms but in reality has only 2 ... A: Hey, Mark. Absolutely you should be concerned. A house with more bedrooms typically costs more than ...
roots in sewer	9/27/2010
Q: I just bough a hame in california thru FHA we did the home inspection all went well, my problem ... A: Hey, Mario. Your situation is all too common because most home inspectors don't advise their ...
To buy or not to buy?	8/9/2010
Q: I have been renting the same house for ten years in Dallas, Texas. The rent is very cheap ... A: Hey, Renee. My own personal philosophy is that I should plan on living in a house at least five ...
Building permit.	7/28/2010
Q: I'm writing to you to ask about a patio cover that was already in place when i bought my home 2 ... A: Hey, Adam. Sorry to hear about your problem, but, unfortunately, this happens a lot, especially ...
Any recourse at all???	7/26/2010
Q: Russel, My husband and I purchased a home in Sept 08 and now it is July 10. As first time ... A: Hey, Dawn. Since you're in Illinois, which has some interesting real estate laws, the best thing ...
appliances	7/7/2010
Q: just put in new granite countertops, stainless sinks and faucets.. stove is stainless top and black ... A: Hey, Beverly. It seems that the most aesthetically pleasing kitchens are those where the ...
hand money	6/22/2010
Q: I put 5% down $13900 on a house I was building. It was to close in Aug 2010. 2 weeks ago I took a ... A: Hey, Susan. That is going to be totally dependent on the contract you signed with the builder. If ...
home real estate listing	6/2/2010
Q: I've had my home for sale on the market for over a year and I'm taking it off the market for about ... A: Hey, Roger. I don't know what city of state you are in, but whether or not you are able to create a ...
Market overview	4/8/2010
Q: How long do you think the residential real estate prices will stay low? Thank you in advance, ... A: Hey, Richard. Miami seems to be improving for the last few months. However, in all areas, the ...
Market overview	4/8/2010
Q: How long do you think the residential real estate prices will stay low? Thank you in advance, ... A: Hey, Richard. That's a loaded question if there ever was one. LOL Depending on where you are, ...
Plumbing issue after moving in	3/5/2010
Q: We moved in to our newly flipped house about 4 months ago. When we did a final walk through before ... A: Hey, Robert. I answered this about an hour after your submitted it but it just showed up in my ...
Plumbing issue after moving in	3/5/2010
Q: We moved in to our newly flipped house about 4 months ago. When we did a final walk through before ... A: Hey, Robert. New Jersey is one of those litigious states like California, and since it's only been ...
Plumbing issue after moving in	3/5/2010
Q: We moved in to our newly flipped house about 4 months ago. When we did a final walk through before ... A: Hey, Robert. That's going to be a tough one to call. My initial gut reaction is probably not, but I ...
Collapsed Sewer	3/1/2010
Q: My husband and I purchased our first home about 3 months ago. We did a little remodeling and moved ... A: Hey, Heidi. The answer to your question depends on a lot of variables, one of which is proving that ...
home inspection errors/things missed	2/22/2010
Q: my wife and i purchased a home in November 2008 and the sellers hired an inspector and we went with ... A: Hey, Lee. I'm not quite sure what you mean when you say "the sellers hired an inspector." If you ...
Termite damage - sellers responsibility	2/16/2010
Q: I am in the process of selling my parents condo. We had a termite inspector look at the property. ... A: Hey, Carol. If you're in California, listen to your Realtor. To do as your brother wants to do is ...
TAXES	1/29/2010
Q: As an investor, my question is regarding unpaid taxes. I'm a holder of the note and Lien on a ... A: Hey, Tina. In most cases, you will be, especially if you simply have the deed of the house signed ...
Earnest Deposit	1/24/2010
Q: I am a 1st time home buyer and put down a deposit out of my own pocket and signed some papers. ... A: Hey, Jack. I can't answer your question because I don't know what state you're in and I don't know ...
closing paperwork	1/18/2010
Q: at the closing, the rep from the title company that handled everything gave us a copy of everything ... A: Hey, Sara. Title and escrow companies love to make copies in advance and give them to their Clients ...
My rented home is up for sale	1/13/2010
Q: We live in Washington, DC. I have been married to my husband for ten years and have known and lived ... A: Hey, Marvaline. You do have certain rights as a tenant there in D.C., including the right of first ...
Earnest Deposit	1/7/2010
Q: I am a first time home buyer. To my knowledge I shouldn't have to pay anything out of pocket. I ... A: Hey, Sid. Probably not. It's been that way for hundreds, maybe even thousands, of years. There's ...
selling a home	12/22/2009
Q: Please can you advise. After signing a contract to sell our home do we have a cooling off period if ... A: Hey, Ashleigh. I'm not real sure about Australia, but I suspect it's just like the United States in ...
new home inspection	12/7/2009
Q: A home has come on the market I am interested in. However upon our initial walk through, the family ... A: Hey, Gene. Out in Simi Valley, sloping floors could be the result of something simple, like poor ...
buying after renting	12/3/2009
Q: If I buy the home I am currently renting, do I get my security deposit back? A: Hey, Shannon. You certainly should. In fact, I would think that if you buy it, then you won't lose ...
Appraisal Value	10/8/2009
Q: We live in an old home, built in 1890, in South Alabama. It's got several rooms and I've spent the ... A: Hey, Laurie. Appraisers do have values to certain types of rooms, but usually it is bedrooms and ...
Appraisal Value	10/8/2009
Q: We live in an old home, built in 1890, in South Alabama. It's got several rooms and I've spent the ... A: Very generally, bathrooms and bedrooms add more value to a house, so if you have a three bedroom/one ...
Cleanout Business	9/29/2009
Q: I would like to start a Foreclosure home cleanout business. Any special licenses and what type of ... A: Hey, Tiffany. I'm not familiar with the specific business requirements in Pennsylvania, but almost ...
seller financing	8/27/2009
Q: Im interested in using the seller financing. Im not real expirienced in structuring notes for ... A: Hey, Ishmell. Speaking from experience, seller financing is not something to do lightly. If you've ...
concealment	8/26/2009
Q: My wife and I purchased a home in June 2009 in Fort Worth. The seller disclosed basically no ... A: Hey, Scott. It's possible, especially in Texas since the TREC licenses home inspectors there. ...
Not satisfied with real estate services	8/22/2009
Q: I have recently put my home on the market with a pretty large real estate agency and it has been a ... A: Hey, Korry. Yes, there is a way out. First, though, let me know what state you're in. Russel Hey, ...
Did i get ripped off on this home purchase?	8/16/2009
Q: Heres some information on what my home was acessed at and what it was purchased for, If i got ripped ... A: Hey, Richie. My first response is no, for two reasons. First, a 4,000-SF home for $480,000 sounds ...
Just quick question	8/14/2009
Q: I live in a small desert town in California. A member of my family wants to sell her property to me ... A: Hey, Shawn. There are too many variables for me to answer such a broad question. It will be ...
First-Home Worries	8/11/2009
Q: my husband and I just bought our first home in Florida. It was a foreclosure and got a great deal on ... A: Hey, Vanessa. Part of buying a house, especially one advertised for sale "as is," is doing your due ...
Offer, Buying from a FSBO	8/4/2009
Q: We will be closing on our home in Wisconsin soon. I would like to place an offer on a FSBO in south ... A: Hey, Tim. The mere fact that you are asking these questions means that you need a Realtor. Real ...
Residential 1 Commercial 2 Zoned	7/11/2009
Q: I purchased this property about 8 years ago. It is located on a major highway. It was an investment ... A: Hey, Melany. Your problem is quite common, and there are two things you can do: (1) Have it ...
Offeror/inspection	7/7/2009
Q: We gave the sellers ernest money with our offer. We pointed out things that needed fixing and ... A: Hey, Tammy. Without knowing what state you're in, without reading the contract you signed with your ...
selling a home	6/22/2009
Q: Me and my ex husband have jointly owned property. Is it legal for him only to sign a listing ... A: Hey, Debbie. It depends on what state you're in because some states treat it differently. ...
pros and cons of baving your home be unincorporated	5/22/2009
Q: what are the pros and cons of buying a house in pinellas county florida "unincorporated"??? A: Hey, Adriana. The pros are usually that certain taxes are lower, such as the various city taxes for ...
Septic System	5/14/2009
Q: we are under contract to buy a house, there has been an issue trying to get an inspection of the ... A: Hey, Karen. Different states have different requirements. Some require a septic system clearance ...
Quick Question	5/12/2009
Q: I have lived in a home for 20 years, we refinanced a couple times. My brother and myself were ... A: Hey, Skyler. Contact the following person. She has said she is willing to try to help you. Let her ...
Quick Question	5/10/2009
Q: I have lived in a home for 20 years, we refinanced a couple times. My brother and myself were ... A: Hey, Skyler. Go to http://activerain.com. Scroll down to the right side where you'll see states and ...
Rent to own or lease option	5/3/2009
Q: Russel, I'm purchasing a beautiful foreclosure house(s) for $30,000, $3,000 down, 12% for 10 years ... A: Hey, Mary. Although I don't know what state you're in, you can do a lease option in any state ...
Bought a Lemon	4/13/2009
Q: My sister bought a house. After they signed the papers, they were moving in and noticed a new ... A: Hey, Wendi. You didn't say whether or not a home inspections was conducted on your sister's house. ...
2nd Lien	4/11/2009
Q: My wife and I sold a house to a gentleman for approx. $100k in Aug of 2006. In order to get the ... A: Hey, Alan. The answer varies widely in all states. You might not necessarily be out, but you might ...
Sale of manufactured home to my daughter for $1	4/7/2009
Q: I recently paid off a loan on a manufactured home that I purchased for my daughter and grandchildren ... A: Hey, Chuck. I can't state specifically for either Texas or Virginia, but generally you don't even ...
buying a house	3/24/2009
Q: we are in the process of buying a house. After many months of searching, we finally found the right ... A: Hey, Elsa. I don't understand what you mean by "the main supply needs to be replaced." Was the ...
buying a house	3/23/2009
Q: we are in the process of buying a house. After many months of searching, we finally found the right ... A: Hey, Elsa. I'm hoping that you had a professional home inspection done, especially in Chula Vista ...
breech or no breech	3/22/2009
Q: A man has a house on a large property. He subdivided the land in 2 parts and built a smaller house ... A: Hey, Wilma. That varies state by state, but even if I knew what state you are in, there are so many ...
rental/investment property	3/6/2009
Q: My husband and I want to buy a house as an investment/rental property because we are tired of the ... A: Hey, Rita. Rental properties are great ways to get consistent returns on one's money. Generally, ...
Buying a home with some water damage	2/27/2009
Q: I am looking into a house that is a foreclosure. It's utilities have been turned off and the house ... A: Hey, Chris. It's difficult to answer all of your questions without seeing the damage either by ...
buying a home	2/24/2009
Q: when buying a home who is responsible for a bad or leaky roof the buyer or saller A: Hey, Tony. Unfortunately, the person who is responsible for it is whomever chooses to be ...
Buying an owner finance home	2/12/2009
Q: My husband and I are wanting to buy an owner financed a home in Orange Texas. We are new to the ... A: Hey, Christina. Seller financing is not something to take lightly. I would highly recommend an ...
cleanouts	2/12/2009
Q: I am 40 years old and have worked for my local county weatherization program for 23 years. I am not ... A: Hey, Michele. When it comes to starting a business, and paying yourself, you have a lot of ...
Rent to own	2/11/2009
Q: I have a property that is occupied by a couple who are renting to own but the only document they've ... A: Hey, Linda. Renting to own is a very complicated process, so if the only document they've signed is ...
Foreclosure clean ups	1/30/2009
Q: I own several rental properties in Florida and I'm interested doing foreclosure clean ups. My ... A: Hey, Mike. I'm not familiar with the specific business requirements in Florida, but almost every ...
Pricing for cleanout business	1/12/2009
Q: My husband and I live in CO and researching whether to start a property cleanup business and market ... A: Hey, Marilyn. If you find out what the competition is charging and then determine that you can have ...
Home under a LLC	12/30/2008
Q: Can I buy a home under my LLC/EIN # even though I have no credit under the LLC? I ask because my ... A: Hey, CeCe. A company establishes credit just like a person does, by putting everything in the ...
Home under a LLC	12/30/2008
Q: Can I buy a home under my LLC/EIN # even though I have no credit under the LLC? I ask because my ... A: Hey, CeCe. Generally, yes, corporations and businesses of any type can buy property. However, ...
Starting a Home Foreclosure Moving Business	12/26/2008
Q: Mr. Ray, I saw your reply in regards to the Foreclosure Moving Business and found it very ... A: Hey, Brian. Generally, there won't be anything significant to move out of a foreclosed home because ...
Starting Foreclosure Home Cleanout Business	12/11/2008
Q: I would like to start a Foreclosure home cleanout business. Any special licenses and what type of ... A: Hey, Michelle. Congratulations on your entrepreneurial desire! I think small businesses are the ...
Selling House to a Relative	12/9/2008
Q: I would like to sell my house to my daughter. The average prices in my area gone very much down so ... A: Hey, Lubov. If you still owe money on the house, and the you sell it for less than what you owe, ...
can we still do something?	12/3/2008
Q: In August 2006 we purchased our first home. The inspector (recommended by our real estate agent) ... A: Hey, Gertie. Here's the New Hampshire legal statutes for home inspectors: ...
can we still do something?	12/2/2008
Q: In August 2006 we purchased our first home. The inspector (recommended by our real estate agent) ... A: Hey, Gertie. Before I answer your inquiry, please let me know what state you are in, what date the ...
Homes and Termites	11/27/2008
Q: I just recently got to Hinesville, Ga and am looking to buy a house, the house I liked had been ... A: Hey, Nelson. Get the documentation from the company that did the treatment. That should tell you ...
Home issue after buying	11/22/2008
Q: We just recently bought a home (in upstate NY) 4 months ago. The disclosure statement said there ... A: Hey, Sean. Most states require a septic tank clearance when a house is sold. I can't believe New ...
Termites not disclosed	11/15/2008
Q: I needed to know how long as a buyer that we can do anything of items not disclosed in the buy. I am ... A: Hey, Jayson. Termites can do significant damage in a very short time. Unfortunately, I don't know ...
selling my home when I want!!!	11/5/2008
Q: I am a homeowner do I have the right to sell my home when I want? A: Hey, James. I'd have to give you a qualified yes. If you owe no money on the home, then I can ...
butying a flooded home	11/3/2008
Q: We are interested in buying a bank owned home that has some water damage. We were told that the ... A: Hey, Rowena. No one can answer that question for you. You have to analyze your finances, time, ...
Realestate fraud	10/31/2008
Q: We sold a home six years ago. The new owner now want to sue us because we did not have a disclosure ... A: Hey, Robert. I don't know what state you're in, so I can't be too specific, as well as not being ...
Non disclosed problem	10/15/2008
Q: We bought and moved into our new/used home about 3 weeks ago. It has a underground water tank. We ... A: Hey, Michael. The amount of water you use will be affected by the number of toilet flushes, ...
Faulty wiring issue	10/11/2008
Q: I purchased a home 3 months ago in Seattle, Washington. Prior to the purchase, we had an inspector ... A: Hey, Christian. I can't give you a real good answer without reading the complete home inspection ...
buying a home in Grapevine/Colleyville area	10/7/2008
Q: I am currently interested in buying a new home which is listed for $400k. The house is being sold by ... A: Hey, Gabriel. You're still going to run up against the appraisal value if you're going to finance ...
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: Hey, Hector. Since you apparently are in New York, you really need to consult with a good Realtor ...
Buying a house	9/21/2008
Q: My father is dying with cancer. He wants to sell me his house. I believe there is a small lien on ... A: Hey, Lucy. I'm sorry to hear about your dad. If you know you don't want the house, then it's ...
Terminating a contract with a realtor	8/19/2008
Q: We just listed our home with a realtor that I've done business with in the past and have had great ... A: Hey, Gina. Sorry to hear about your troubles. Generally, you can fire a Realtor if they have not ...
selling house	8/17/2008
Q: Sir: I would like to ask if when house is in both names - can the wife put house for sale. This is ... A: Hey, Dwana. That's going to depend on the marriage laws for your specific state. Generally, though, ...
Incompetent inspector?	8/9/2008
Q: If an inspector were to miss a few obvious problems and many less obvious ones that only became ... A: Hey, Emma. That's a 5-gallon can of worms that you're wanting to open! Hopefully, I can help you ...
Selling a home with treated termite problem	8/8/2008
Q: Before we put our house on the market, we hired an inspector to inspect the house. He found minor ... A: Hey, Heidy. The answers to your questions are going to be different for different states. Here in ...
home foreclosure inspector and cleaning	7/29/2008
Q: I live in Fl, pinellas county. I am interested in starting a cleaning business for the bank home ... A: Hey, Dena. It's probably going to be a fight to get started in both those businesses (cleaning and ...
Bad inspector	7/16/2008
Q: We had a home inspection done on May 21, the inspector found everything to be in working order, we ... A: Hey, Debbie. Don't give up yet! Since you're in Michigan, do this for me: Go to ...
Bad inspector	7/16/2008
Q: We had a home inspection done on May 21, the inspector found everything to be in working order, we ... A: Hey, Debbie. I'm sorry to hear about your problems. Hopefully I can help you work through some ...
age	7/13/2008
Q: is there a certain age that you have to be in order to buy a house though back taxes? and im still a ... A: Hey, Rayneal. I'm not sure I understand your question. Are you talking about an owner getting ...
Historical home	7/7/2008
Q: I am interested in buying an 1892 "old historical house". It is listed as an "old historical house". ... A: Hey, Wendy. There should be a historical house committee in your town. Call the tax ...
waiting for acceptance of an offer	6/28/2008
Q: We made an offer on a home that is up for quick sale through a bank. How long can they take in ... A: Hey, Donna. This market caught a lot of Realtors off guard, especially those with less than 10 ...
waiting for acceptance of an offer	6/28/2008
Q: We made an offer on a home that is up for quick sale through a bank. How long can they take in ... A: Hey, Donna. Native Texan here. Born in Kingsville and graduated from Texas A&M. "Quick sale" might ...
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: Hey, Landon. The one I've heard the most good things about is Real Estate School Online: ...
Beginning Investor	6/9/2008
Q: I am looking to get into commercial real estate as a private investor in the chicago area. I lack ... A: Hey, Earl. First, for commercial real estate, it's far easier, with fewer headaches, to start in ...
Septic System	5/31/2008
Q: We bought a house in 2006 listed on the MLS as a 4 BDRM home. The 4th BDRM is in the finished ... A: Hey, S. Yo. First, a Realtor should never do something without your permission and approval that ...
new home buyer-earnest money	5/20/2008
Q: 00 to the seller of property that i am in the process of purchasing--this check was submitted to my ... A: Hey, Vicki. Four days to cash a check is probably right there in the middle of things. I've seen ...
Mineral Rights on Property Purchase	5/16/2008
Q: I am about to purchase a home that the previous owners have mineral rights too. I want to ... A: Hey, Peter. It is possible, but it can be difficult depending on what state you're in. You need a ...
We've changed our mind	5/4/2008
Q: We found a house, solicited a mortgage broker who found funding for us. We put a contract on the ... A: Hey, Karen. Your options are going to depend heavily on what state you are in and what the fine ...
Dishonesty in property disclosure?	4/4/2008
Q: Our offer on a house was accepted one week ago and we promptly went ahead with house inspection. It ... A: Hey, Echo. I could easily write both a yes answer and a no answer to your question. But if you have ...
Trash out	4/2/2008
Q: We, my son in law and daughter are wanting to start a business of doing trash out for foreclosed ... A: Hey, Debbie. Considering that you would be removing stuff that has been abandoned--i.e., considered ...
Trash out	3/30/2008
Q: We, my son in law and daughter are wanting to start a business of doing trash out for foreclosed ... A: Hey, Debbie. There are several ways to find out who the competition is, and if the competition ...
The color of the brick is diffrent from what we chose in design center. What should we do?	3/18/2008
Q: It is a new construction and the color of the brick is totally different from the one we chose. We ... A: Hey, Ricardo. Well, I feel your pain because I've been there. The exact same thing happened to me ...
binding contract	3/16/2008
Q: i backed up from a house buying contract due to my health got bad and my self employed business got ... A: Hey, Hakan. If you didn't sign the cancellation form, then there's no contract or agreement to ...
binding contract	3/16/2008
Q: i backed up from a house buying contract due to my health got bad and my self employed business got ... A: Hey, Hakan. I'm sorry to hear about your lawsuit since I consider the American legal system just ...
Home nightmares	3/11/2008
Q: My wife and I recently bought a home, September 1 2007 move in date. Shortly after, the problems ... A: Hey, Bryan. I don't know what state you're in, and disclosure laws are different for each state. ...
crack in basemant	3/5/2008
Q: "We found one house (14 yrs old) in Chesterfield, MO and we like it. We did the inspection. There ... A: Hey, Manisha. No one can predict the future, so there's no way to tell if there will be future ...
foreclosure clean up business	2/23/2008
Q: Maybe you can send us in the right direction. My son and I would like to start a business cleaning ... A: Hey, Jo. You probably won't get any interest from the banks, which I've always found rather odd. ...
Disclosure and asking for Credit	2/22/2008
Q: I am buying a house with a chimney that is in need of some repair. It has some cracks, missing the ... A: Hey, Paul. The answer to your question is going to depend on the wording in your purchase contract ...
1940 historical home	2/9/2008
Q: I want to buy a 1940 historical home but would like to know if a home inspector would be able to ... A: Hey, Esther. Give me about 24 hours and then come back with a follow-up and I should have a list of ...
1940 historical home	2/8/2008
Q: I want to buy a 1940 historical home but would like to know if a home inspector would be able to ... A: Hey, Esther. A good, thorough, nitpicky, experienced home inspector would certainly be able to tell ...
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: Hey, Chris. This is showing as pending in my mailbox, but I sent you three names. I'm sending them ...
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: Hey, Chris. Usually investors like to get 30% or more return on their investment, but for a ...
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: Hey, Chris. It sounds like you have found an ideal property to buy. Now you have to make sure it is ...
Inspection on a Foreclosed Home	1/26/2008
Q: Greetings - before getting an inspector out to look at the property, what are key items to look for ... A: Hey, Jennifer. Your question requires an answer that is far too long and complicated for this ...
selling house with	1/13/2008
Q: I have made a modification that I am not sure meets code. Does the home inspection done as part of ... A: Hey, Tracy. My suggestion to "put all your cards on the table" means disclose, disclose, disclose. ...
selling house with "custom" modifications	1/12/2008
Q: I have made a modification that I am not sure meets code. Does the home inspection done as part of ... A: Hey, Tracy. "I have made a modification that I am not sure meets code." What leads you to make that ...
equity/mortgage/flipping	1/9/2008
Q: I have a question. I have decided to buy forclosure houses and fix them up and then flip them for a ... A: Hey, Kory. Sorry about the delay in answering this. Although I remember answering this shortly ...
disclosure information	12/30/2007
Q: My parents are buying a house.My dad goes to see the house often. After giving the seller the list ... A: Hey, Cheryl. It's going to depend on many things, such as the purchase contract and its inspection ...
SPDS in Arizona	12/14/2007
Q: Within the past year we bought a house in Arizona (AZ does have a mandatory disclosure law). In the ... A: Hey, Paul. I always hate hearsay from neighbors because you don't know what kind of a relationship ...
Flood Damage	12/10/2007
Q: I live in Washington State and we bought a home in July 2007 it has a full finished basement. A week ... A: Hey, Candis. A basement by its very definition of being below ground is subject to flooding through ...
buying a home	12/1/2007
Q: I saw a house that was built in 1959 with a fireplace. Is that good or bad? I would like to know ... A: Hey, Esther. A 1959 home with a fireplace is good if you want a fireplace, bad if you don't want a ...
buying a wooden home	11/27/2007
Q: How durable are wooden homes? I want to buy a 1950 home that has been very-well kept, but my ... A: Ah, a native Texan. I was born and raised in Kingsville and graduated from Texas A&M. I'll get a ...
buying a wooden home	11/26/2007
Q: How durable are wooden homes? I want to buy a 1950 home that has been very-well kept, but my ... A: Hey, Esther. I've been in real estate for 34 years in seven states, and if there is any time period ...
new owner no new lease	11/10/2007
Q: i have a new owner for my apt building he went up on rent i have no new lease this was verbal do i ... A: Hey, Mary. Generally, if you're on a month-to-month lease, as long as the owner gives you 30 days ...
Bad Inspection	11/8/2007
Q: Mr. Ray- My husband and I are trying to buy a house in Florida. We had an inspection done, and they ... A: Hey, Jennifer. The cost sounds reasonable for a house of about 1,500 square feet, but I've never ...
Bad Inspection	11/7/2007
Q: Mr. Ray- My husband and I are trying to buy a house in Florida. We had an inspection done, and they ... A: Hey, Jennifer. A few things here: First, I'm puzzled about why the roof leak was not in the home ...
Deed Transfer and Taxes	11/2/2007
Q: Follow up from previousWhat can I do to make sure my brother pays the property taxes before I return ... A: Hey, George. Your best option is probably not to transfer the Deed back to him until property taxes ...
Deed Transfer and Taxes	11/1/2007
Q: I loaned my brother the funds to keep his property from going into foreclosure. To secure the loan, ... A: Hey, George. The short answers is, "Yes, you could be held responsible for any unpaid property ...
selling my house	10/30/2007
Q: In December 2007 it's going to be 1 year since we moved in to our house, but because of security ... A: Hey, Wendy. When I read your question, my first response was a very loud "HUH?" You can sell your ...
housing	10/21/2007
Q: if there is a house that has been paid for several years and goes for sale for back taxes,the ... A: Hey, Richard. Theoretically, yes. But if the owner left no will, then the real property is probably ...
full price offer	10/14/2007
Q: We have made a full price offer on a home listed with a real estate company. The home is in short ... A: Hey, Tammy. It sounds like the real estate company didn't get approval from the mortgage company ...
inspections	10/9/2007
Q: We are selling a modular home with 12 acres. Their banker wanted a copy of the original building ... A: What has happened is a common problem in today's world. In most states, the permitting process has ...
buying a home	10/7/2007
Q: I am 24 and want to buy my first home by myself. My annual income after taxes is 35,000 and only ... A: Hey, Linda. Buying a house with no down payment is not like it was a few years ago. It will be more ...
Equity whoas......	10/7/2007
Q: I have a couple questions about our equity. We have a first loan for 314K and a second (equity) for ... A: Hey, Jen. If you sell the house, then both loans will be paid off with the proceeds from the sale. ...
faulty plumbing repair in home sale	10/3/2007
Q: We bought a home this spring. We looked at the house in February during a cold snap--the agent ... A: Hey, Jan. Sounds like you have a pretty good mess on your hands, but it's possible that you didn't ...
faulty plumbing repair in home sale	10/2/2007
Q: We bought a home this spring. We looked at the house in February during a cold snap--the agent ... A: Hey, Jan. There are simply too many variables for me to give you a helpful answer, especially since ...
special assessments	9/21/2007
Q: Is there any way to fight a special assessment , 2yrs ago I bought a condo in mississauga ontario, ... A: Hey, James. I don't know about Canada, but here in the United States, and specifically California, ...
breach of real estate contract	9/20/2007
Q: If we have a binding contract with a buyer and they want to back out of the contract with no ... A: Hey, Melissa. I was talking to a Realtor at Century 21 today about your situation. If you're using ...
breach of real estate contract	9/20/2007
Q: If we have a binding contract with a buyer and they want to back out of the contract with no ... A: Hey, Melissa. I don't think shouting by using ALL CAPS is the way to go. Nonetheless, there is no ...
breach of real estate contract	9/19/2007
Q: If we have a binding contract with a buyer and they want to back out of the contract with no ... A: Hey, Melissa. In most states once cannot back out of a contract without a legitimate reason. ...
buying a house that is in foreclosure	9/13/2007
Q: Is it easier to buy a house in foreclosure that was owned by a family member? If so, how do I go ... A: Hey, Cheryl. You would be able to buy the house at a tax sale, but, contrary to the late night ...
buying a house that is in foreclosure	9/8/2007
Q: Is it easier to buy a house in foreclosure that was owned by a family member? If so, how do I go ... A: Hey, Cheryl. I presume that the house has been abandoned, then. If you head on down to your local ...
buying a house that is in foreclosure	9/7/2007
Q: Is it easier to buy a house in foreclosure that was owned by a family member? If so, how do I go ... A: Hey, Cheryl. It depends on where in the foreclosure process the property is. If they are simply ...
swaps.	9/2/2007
Q: I'm thinking of trading property in northern california (160 acres) for partial payment of a ... A: Hey, Nerol. Trades and exchanges happen all the time in real estate, but it's easier when both ...
Undisclosed septic tank	8/8/2007
Q: We recently purchased our first home (2months ago). The MlS sheet and all sellers disclosure both ... A: Hey, Kareston. Tennessee apparently has a pretty well-defined disclosure form, and while the ...
Undisclosed septic tank	8/8/2007
Q: We recently purchased our first home (2months ago). The MlS sheet and all sellers disclosure both ... A: Hey, Kareston. Different states have different rules for what you are experiencing. In most states, ...
mold accusation	8/7/2007
Q: I'm writing this in hopes of helping my 81 yr old dad with the mess he has going with his tenant. ... A: Hey, e. Mold can cause health problems, but a contractor or a management company probably are not ...
Looking to relocate to Texas	7/13/2007
Q: I am planning to relocate to the state of Texas in the Houston vicinity. I have several questions ... A: Hey, Erik. A manufactured home typically is a mobile home that has been attached to land, thereby ...
Property Condition & Disclosure	6/30/2007
Q: I have lived in my current house for 7 years (built in 1968, 2nd owner). Several years ago I had a ... A: Hey, Rob. Since I don't know what state you're in, it's difficult to answer. However, after seven ...
co-owners don't agree	6/23/2007
Q: I own a house in PA with my ex-partner. We're trying to sell the house, I just want it over with. We ... A: Hey, Amy. I'm seeing your name connected with "ex-partner" and "could she be held accountable" to ...
4 sale buy owner question	6/12/2007
Q: is it ok to have a home inspection on a 4 sale buy owner before a contract. i don't have an agent ... A: Hey, Adam. Absolutely! The problem you might run into is that many sellers, regardless of whether ...
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: Hey, Mike. I don't know what state you are in, but most states are in buyers' markets right now. ...
what is a window covering?	4/23/2007
Q: I recently purchased a home. In the contract my agent hand-wrote that "all window coverings" were ... A: 042707.0401 Hey, Gina. Here's a column from a very well-known real estate expert. It might also ...
Buying a 2nd home	4/9/2007
Q: I would like to purchase a 2nd home and Lease the first one out to my mother. What do I need to do ... A: Hey, Marie. With the current mortgage problems resulting from subprime loans during the past few ...
FIRING A AGENT	3/15/2007
Q: I HAD A AGENT FOR ABOUT A YEAR, AND IN THE LISTING THEY HAD INACCURATE FACTS ABOUT MY HOME AND DIDNT ... A: That can depend on several factors. Sometimes the situation is addressed by legal statutes, but ...

All Questions in This Category

Russel Ray

Top Expert on this page

Expertise

Through home inspections, I provide an education about real estate. I'm one of those rare home inspectors who has been involved in real estate in many different capacities: as a Realtor (in Texas), as a property investor/flipper, as a teacher, and as a marketing expert (for Realtors and home inspectors). I believe that my experience as a Realtor and property investor provides me with a different viewpoint about home inspections in that I work for my Clients, but when there are other people involved in helping my Clients, then I firmly believe in helping them, too. That includes Realtors (both the seller's and the buyer's), repair professionals (e.g., plumbers, electricians, etc.). If I can get all the players (seller, seller's Realtor, buyer, buyer's Realtor, and repair professionals) playing in the same sandbox together to accomplish goals as a TEAM (Together Everyone Accomplishes More), then I believe I have succeeded in my job as a home inspector. My profession is, in my opinion, much more than simply documenting the condition of a property and then take the money and run. I am also a rare breed in that I don't believe that one inspection fits the needs of all Clients, and I have led the industry in understanding that fact. For example, the goals of a property investor are far different than the goals of someone buying a property to live in. The goals of a seller (a pre-listing inspection) are far different than the goals of a buyer (a pre-purchase inspection). To that end, I offer 14 different types of inspections, e.g., STANDARD, LIST, RENTER, BASIC, MAINTENANCE, SPOT, and more. I believe in giving the benefit of the doubt to all professionals in whatever industry they represent until they prove me wrong.

Experience

Over 42 years in all aspects of real estate--building homes, renovating homes, inspecting homes, Realtor.

Organizations
National Association of Certified Home Inspector, Better Business Bureau of San Diego

Education/Credentials
Graduate of Texas A&M University; College Station, Texas

Encyclopedia

Browse Answers: