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Cost recovery questioned in bathroom remodel

By Bill and Kevin Burnett, Tuesday, October 4, 2005.

Q: I recently bought an old home that has a "split" bathroom – the toilet is in one small closet-size room, the lavatory and tub in a slightly larger adjacent room.

Because both rooms are very cramped, I'm interested in taking the wall between the two rooms down and having a nice, good-size bathroom.

I spoke to a real estate agent about this, and she told me that if I took the wall down, I'd be lucky to get half of my costs back in a future sale. Do you agree with her opinion?  more...

Why can't mortgage be modified instead of refinanced?

By Robert Bruss, Tuesday, October 4, 2005.

DEAR BOB: I recently called my bank to have a rate modification on my 30-year mortgage to market level. But I was told they do not do rate modifications on fixed-rate mortgages, only on adjustable-rate mortgages. Is there any way I can lower my mortgage interest rate without paying refinance charges? – William M.

DEAR WILLIAM: If your mortgage originator still owned your home loan, a rate modification might have been possible. Lenders don't want to lose good borrowers when interest rates drop. But your mortgage has probably been sold to another lender.  more...

Builder zeroes in on Baby Boomer home-buying

By Tom Kelly, Tuesday, October 4, 2005.

I've known Stan Johnson for more than 25 years. He is 60, divorced and the father of two children, the younger child a girl who will graduate from high school next spring. He's had the same job since he was 21 and will retire soon on a comfortable government pension with the maximum of 40 years of benefits. He has been known to have more than one cocktail between quitting time and supper, and spouts streetwise wisdom most of the day.  more...

Landlord sues major retailer for unpaid rent

By Robert Bruss, Tuesday, October 4, 2005.

In 1990, Sears-Roebuck signed a 10-year lease in a shopping center for use as a HomeLife furniture store. The lease contained two additional five-year renewal options. HomeLife was a wholly owned Sears subsidiary.

In 1998, Sears sold its HomeLife division, retaining a 19 percent ownership interest. Sears sought the consent of the shopping center landlord, JGMCJ, to assign the lease to HomeLife. JGMCJ agreed to the lease assignment with the understanding Sears remained liable for any unpaid rent.  more...