You're buying a new house. You're thrilled and relieved. But if you're like most new-home buyers, you're also confused. What, exactly, do you really need to know -- and how hard is it to find out?

Stage front and center on your "need-to-know list" is the price. That is easy to find out.

But the sale price represents only the first-time cost. How about the lifetime cost?
That's harder to calculate, especially since you may not be familiar with this term.  more...

Editor's note: Robert Bruss is temporarily away. The following column from Bruss' "Best of" collection first appeared Sunday, June 18, 2006.

"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's property" is part of the Ten Commandments. But real estate law in every state says it is all right to steal your neighbor's land without going to jail if you comply with state law.

That news may be shocking. However, it's true. In fact, statutes in every state encourage the theft of your neighbor's unused property.  more...

Editor's note: Robert Bruss is temporarily away. The following column from Bruss' "Best of" collection first appeared Sunday, June 18, 2006.

DEAR BOB: I gave my tenant the required notice to move, confirmed with a receipt of notice. She agreed to move out. But the unit is now locked, no one is there, and her car is parked in the driveway. I phoned several times, but no reply. What options do I have? I already hired a contractor to update the unit, based on the tenant's promise to move out on schedule --Paras R.  more...

Editor's note: Robert Bruss is temporarily away. The following column from Bruss' "Best of" collection first appeared Sunday, June 18, 2006.  more...

Editor's note: Robert Bruss is temporarily away. The following column from Bruss' "Best of" collection first appeared Sunday, July 16, 2006.

Magda Benavides purchased her ground-floor condominium in 1994. Seven years later, mold was found in the exterior walls adjacent to her unit. Benavides' physician advised her to move out.  more...

Editor's note: Robert Bruss is temporarily away. The following column from Bruss' "Best of" collection first appeared Sunday, July 16, 2006.  more...

Dear Barry,

When I bought my home, the seller disclosed that the sunroom was added without a building permit. At the time, my Realtor assured me that a permit was not required because the room is less than 150 square feet. But now I'm doing some remodeling, and my contractor says the sunroom is not legal without a permit. When I called my Realtor, she said the contractor is wrong. Who do I believe? --Barbara

Dear Barbara,

Your contractor has advised you correctly.  more...

Dealing with a city's building department can be a nuisance, depending on where you live. The cost of obtaining permits ups the overall cost of a project. However, skipping the permit process can potentially cost you much more.

One homeowner jeopardized a profitable home sale because a significant remodel to the house was done without required building permits. In this case, the renovations added about 1,000 square feet to the building. The buyer's appraiser searched the public record for the recorded square footage of the house.  more...