DEAR BOB: In 2001, my son got married and purchased a home, but the house is titled under his wife's daughter's name. The reason was my daughter-in-law owed the Internal Revenue Service a large amount of money. My son has paid all the expenses such as mortgage payments, property taxes and maintenance. His wife recently died of cancer. What are my son's rights to this property? --Celia C.

DEAR CELIA: Your son should immediately consult a local real estate attorney. I presume the daughter is at least 18. The simple solution is for her to sign a quitclaim deed to your son.  more...

Last year, a Piedmont, Calif., home seller agreed to sell his home to a buyer for what he thought was a reasonable price. In fact, the price he accepted was lower than he felt was fair market value for the home.

The seller agreed to the price because the buyer had carefully reviewed the seller's disclosures and reports on the property.  more...

"Is it really possible to buy a house for nothing down?"

That is the question I was asked by a "twenty-something" young lady at a cocktail party I recently attended.

My reply was, "Absolutely, yes." But then I quickly qualified that statement by adding she needs good income and good credit.  more...

DEAR BOB: My wife and I bought our first home in March 2004. We sold it in January 2005 due to the birth of our wonderful twins. When we sold it, we used our profit to buy a larger home with double the square footage and almost double the price. Can we apply for an exception on the sale of our home pertaining to Internal Revenue Code 121 due to the multiple births although we don't meet the 24-out-of-60-month occupancy test? --Kyle G.

DEAR KYLE: Congratulations to you and your wife on the birth of twins.  more...

DEAR BOB: I am a single mom struggling to make ends meet. Fortunately, I bought my home in 1999 for $315,000. Today, it is worth close to $700,000. I am considering selling and moving to a smaller home in a less-expensive neighborhood, hoping to eliminate the mortgage payments. But I was recently dismayed to learn that because I am single I can only exclude $250,000 profit from capital gains taxes, while my friends who have husbands can exclude $500,000. Is there any way around this limitation? Can I add my son to the title when he turns 18?  more...

John Strebel's purchase offer to buy the home of Jon and Laurie Steel for $420,000 was accepted by the sellers. Unknown to Strebel, the house was encumbered with Internal Revenue Service tax liens and court judgments exceeding its sales price.

Real estate agent Haya Smith, acting as a dual agent for the buyer and sellers, was aware of the liens but failed to disclose them to buyer Strebel.  more...

If you want to earn the maximum sales price for your house or condominium, first read Barb Schwarz's new book, "Home Staging." It reveals with words and pictures how to show prospective buyers the potential your home offers with proper presentation.

The author, a professional home decorating stager, shares her secrets for making a home listed for sale show its best. In other words, her goal is to make your ordinary home into a model home.  more...