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Lead poisoning lawsuit dismissed on technicality

By Robert Bruss, Wednesday, August 3, 2005.

Jason and Natasha Mason are minor children who lived with their mother in a rental apartment belonging to James P. Morrisette and Joseph M. Griffiths. Natasha was examined and found to have high levels of lead in her blood.

As a result, the state health department inspected the apartment for lead paint and found significant lead contamination. The state ordered the landlord to abate the lead hazards, but he did not comply.

Purchase Bob Bruss reports online.  more...

Home inspector alarms buyer with 'porous stucco' advice

By Bill and Kevin Burnett, Wednesday, August 3, 2005.

Q: I am buying a home that has pigment in the stucco, supposedly to eliminate having to paint the house. I had a home inspection done and the inspector recommended the house be painted because "stucco is porous and thus will let water in, and the paint acts as a sealer."

Do you think this kind of stucco should be painted?

The color is just fine and the house is only 7 years old. Can I safely avoid the cost of a house painting?  more...

Apartment building owners face roadblock with equity loan

By Robert Bruss, Wednesday, August 3, 2005.

DEAR BOB: My husband and I have a little realty problem. Can we obtain an equity loan on our four-unit apartment property and will the interest be tax-deductible? We want to use the money to improve the property. But our community bank, where we've banked at least 10 years, refused our request although we have great credit and keep substantial deposits – Kim W.

DEAR KIM: Dump that bad bank. If you have great credit and have kept substantial deposits for more than 10 years, your bank should roll out the red carpet for you.  more...