Dear Barry,

I'm preparing to start a new-home inspection business. My background is in aviation maintenance and home remodeling. In researching the topic, I see many more negative comments than positive ones concerning the effectiveness and competence of home inspectors. I believe the national average is 30 percent of new inspectors go out of business in the first year due to litigation. It also appears that many home buyers are unaware of the number of unqualified inspectors. Is there any good news out there for us potential inspectors? --Bill

Dear Bill,  more...

The best thing about "The Fearless Home Seller" by Elizabeth Razzi is the title. Although the book touches on all the important topics for home sellers, it is far from being aggressive and authoritative. A more accurate title would be "The Kind, Timid, Shy, Pussycat Home Seller" because the book skirts the tough but vital home sales topics such as how to price the home right, key questions to ask prospective listing agents, and selling in a difficult "buyer's market."  more...

DEAR BOB: I am fascinated with the topic of "stepped-up basis" to market value for inherited properties, which often comes up in your articles. Now I see why you constantly advise parents not to add their adult children to their home titles because doing so would deprive them of the new stepped-up basis. Two questions: (1) does stepped-up basis apply to properties held in a revocable living trust, and (2) is there a limit to the number of properties that can be inherited with a new stepped-up basis? --Marvin G.  more...