Plaintiff Brenda Pickern is a visually impaired and mobility-impaired woman who depends on an electric wheelchair for transportation. Pier 1 Imports Inc. operates its store leased from the Siegmund Weinstock Family Trust.

The store is separated from the street by a long strip of land containing a public sidewalk and a 10-foot-wide grassy berm. There is no access ramp connecting the sidewalk to the store's parking lot. Both the public sidewalk and the grassy strip are owned and maintained by the city.  more...

DEAR BOB: About a year ago, my elderly mother deeded to me her home and two rental properties I manage for her. Her attorney handled the quitclaim deeds and the recordings. Mother died in October 2006. When I talked to my mother's tax accountant he said, "It's too bad your mother deeded the titles to you. If you had inherited those properties, you would have a new stepped-up basis of market value and you would owe practically zero tax when you sell them shortly after her death." Is this true I don't get a new stepped-up basis? --Ellen H.  more...

Dear Barry,

When I bought my home, the home inspector recommended that I have a radon test for an additional $100. My agent, who also attended the inspection, said there had not been any high radon levels in the area and that the additional fee was a waste of money. So I didn't get a radon test. After closing escrow, I bought a radon test kit at the hardware store and discovered that the radon in my home is three times the level recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency. Is my agent liable for his misleading advice? --Mickey

Dear Mickey,  more...

DEAR BOB:I recently bought a house. The seller and/or his real estate agent took all the three sets of washers and dryers in this large house before I got the keys. I think the washers and dryers are fixtures, not to be removed by the seller or the agent. What can I do about this? --Lea W.

DEAR LEA: Any moveable appliance that is not permanently attached to the structure, such as by bolts or built-in like a dishwasher, is not a fixture and remains personal property.  more...

If you own your home (or want to) and/or investment real estate but don't fully under its tax benefits, "Selling Real Estate Without Paying Taxes, Second Edition" by attorney Richard T. Williamson shows how to maximize your tax advantages. Emphasis is primarily on avoiding taxes when selling real estate, but the author also emphasizes the importance of the noncash depreciation deduction for owners of investment buildings.  more...

Buying a fixer-upper home can certainly be profitable. But if you're not careful, it can also lead to a financial misstep. Here are tips to keep you on the right track.

Many first-time buyers are attracted to fixers as a way to buy a home in a choice neighborhood that would otherwise be unaffordable. A successful fixer turnaround requires time, money and expertise. If you're a first-timer who works full time, is short of funds, and has little or no previous contracting experience, you should reconsider this strategy.  more...

DEAR BOB: My husband has a terminal illness. I wonder how long I have after he passes away to take advantage of his $250,000 principal-residence-sale tax exemption. We have owned our home for 30 years and have no mortgage but a lot of equity, thanks to market-value appreciation. I want to stay in the home for a while, but I don't want to miss out on his exemption. --Geri D.

DEAR GERI: Please don't rush to sell your home after your husband passes on. Making quick decisions after the death of a loved one is often a major mistake.  more...

A hundred years ago in the United States, most people shared small living quarters with only a few rooms, and family members were constantly interacting with each other. This was still true at mid-century when millions of families moved out of the cities into single-family houses during the great suburban migration that followed World War II.  more...