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Washington state steps up fight against mortgage fraud

By Tom Kelly, Tuesday, June 27, 2006.

Last year, a mortgage broker in the Tacoma, Wash., area filed a false second lien against a property as it was headed to closing.  more...

Quick fixes for dryer lint problem

By Bill and Kevin Burnett, Tuesday, June 27, 2006.

Q: My dryer vent blows lint out onto my back stairs, which means I am always having to sweep them. Is there any way I can prevent this?

A: We can think of at least three ways to solve this problem. The one you choose depends on the location of the vent, the amount of work you want to do and the look when it's completed.

We assume that the vent cap is at or above the level of your stairway.

You can either move the vent or leave it in place and redirect the flow of air away from the stairs. Both jobs are relatively easy to do and inexpensive.  more...

Multiple sewer backups put city in hot seat

By Robert Bruss, Tuesday, June 27, 2006.

David and Suzanne McKenna own their home on Maybell Way in Palo Alto, Calif. Their residence suffered serious damage as the result of two backups of the city sewer serving their home.

After the first backup, their homeowner's insurance company paid to install a new lateral sewer pipe from the house to the sewer located in the street.

Purchase Bob Bruss reports online.

But about a month later, the sewer again backed up into the McKenna home.  more...

Wording makes big difference on real estate deed

By Robert Bruss, Tuesday, June 27, 2006.

DEAR BOB: Recently you had an item about how husband and wife should hold title to their home and other real estate. It motivated me to go to our safe deposit box to check our home title deed. It says we own our home in the name of "Mark or Victoria Lastname." No method of holding title, such as joint tenancy or tenancy in common, is specified. Do we have a problem? --Victoria W.

DEAR VICTORIA: Yes. As a real estate attorney, I can see many potential problems with the way you hold title to your home.  more...