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Legends and tales taking blame for housing downturn

By Lou Barnes, Thursday, June 28, 2007.

The 10-year T-note fell this week all the way to 5.05 percent from its 5.26 percent top two weeks ago. Long-term mortgage rates have settled today near 6.75 percent.

The interest rate decline has had several contributors. In approximate order of importance: fear of default on widening classes of ill-advised debt has pushed money to high-quality paper; a "retracement" from the crest of a big move is normal; and gradually improving inflation data are tilting the Fed from a tight stance toward balanced.

Lastly, regarding an accelerating U.S. economy: wait a minute fellas.  more...

Don't stay a renter forever Premium Content

By Bernice Ross, Thursday, June 28, 2007.

Are your buyers waiting the market out? If so, here's how to get them off the fence and under contract.

One of the most important questions agents and brokers are asking today is, "How can we persuade our buyers to take action now rather than waiting?"

Many buyers are convinced that waiting will allow them to buy the property at a lower cost. This flawed thinking fails to consider the true costs of home ownership, not only in terms of tax consequences, but also in terms of wealth accumulation.  more...

Fair housing? Premium Content

By Alison Rogers, Thursday, June 28, 2007.

A little head-scratcher for the Fourth of July: It seems odd, in the New York City of 2007, to think about Fair Housing. Everyone is priced out of Manhattan apartments, black, brown and white alike, and it is tough to imagine that, if a purple customer came falling out of the heavens with a suitcase full of cash, brokers wouldn't trip all over themselves to serve him.

But we didn't always live in today's utopia, where the majority is color-blinded by greed. A mere generation ago, people experienced housing discrimination based on the color of their skin.  more...

Beat the heat, install a patio cover

By Paul Bianchina, Thursday, June 28, 2007.

When summer temperatures soar, the backyard is definitely the place to be. But if your patio or deck bakes in the sun more than you'd like, it might be time to consider a patio cover to get yourself some welcome shade.

Patio covers range from the simple to the ornate. They can be large or small, painted or natural wood, and covered with anything from wood slats to solid roofing. But remember that when summer's sun is replaced with the ravages of winter your patio cover needs to stand up to the elements, so whatever your design, make sure it's built correctly.  more...

Trespasser may be granted legal use of your property

By Robert Bruss, Thursday, June 28, 2007.

Editor's note: Robert Bruss is temporarily away and will return next week. The following column from Bruss' "Best of" collection first appeared Sunday, June 25, 2006.

Not too long ago, a neighbor asked if I knew where our sewer and storm drains are located. He apparently wants to adjust the drainage on his property to drain into the public storm sewer drain, which I knew adjoins our lots.

After that brief conversation, I checked the legal description for my property. All it says is the city has a public utility easement along the northerly 5 feet of my property.  more...

Neighbor's plan to build 'McMansion' could fail

By Robert Bruss, Wednesday, June 27, 2007.

Editor's note: Robert Bruss is temporarily away and will return next week. The following column from Bruss' "Best of" collection first appeared Sunday, June 25, 2006.  more...

Gift real estate, save on taxes

By Robert Bruss, Wednesday, June 27, 2007.

Editor's note: Robert Bruss is temporarily away and will return next week. The following column from Bruss' "Best of" collection first appeared Sunday, June 25, 2006.  more...

Factory-built homes back in vogue

By Tom Kelly, Tuesday, June 26, 2007.

Remember the tight, cute "kit" cottage you saw at the annual Home Show (one of five clustered in the featured vacation-home area) that would fit just perfectly on the wooded lot you've always wanted in the mountains?

It seems that builders and manufacturers always are urging consumers to dream -- whether it be a stately primary residence or a precut timber home composed of hand-milled Montana logs trucked directly to your site.  more...

Noisy water heater could be trouble

By Bill and Kevin Burnett, Tuesday, June 26, 2007.

Q: I have a hot water heater that is about 12 years old. It was top of the line when I bought it. About a year ago, it started making big boiling-bubble sounds when we used the hot water. It's directly under our dining room, so the noise is very noticeable.

Also, my mom has a water heater that is brand-new and makes those same big popping noises. What causes this? Can it be repaired? Is it time to get a new heater, and if so what kind do you recommend? Is my mom's new heater defective?  more...

Multiple sewer backups put city in hot seat

By Robert Bruss, Tuesday, June 26, 2007.

Editor's note: Robert Bruss is temporarily away. The following column from Bruss' "Best of" collection first appeared Sunday, June 25, 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.  more...

Title office: We have a problem

By Robert Bruss, Tuesday, June 26, 2007.

Editor's note: Robert Bruss is temporarily away. The following column from Bruss' "Best of" collection first appeared Sunday, June 25, 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.  more...

Get your fence off my land before I explode

By Barry Stone, Monday, June 25, 2007.

Dear Barry,

Shortly after buying my home, a problem developed with my neighbor. She built a fence about 3 feet on my side of the property line and now refuses to take it down. Is it legal for her to do this? I'm afraid that she may claim ownership of that part of my property if I do nothing. Am I allowed to take down her fence if it is on my property? --Robin

Dear Robin,  more...

Best lenders for real estate investing

By Robert Bruss, Monday, June 25, 2007.

Editor's note: Robert Bruss is temporarily away. The following column from Bruss' "Best of" collection first appeared Sunday, June 25, 2006.  more...

No stepped-up basis if you don't inherit anything

By Robert Bruss, Sunday, June 24, 2007.

Editor's note: Robert Bruss is temporarily away and will return next week. The following column from Bruss' "Best of" collection first appeared Sunday, Nov. 12, 2006.

DEAR BOB: Our house is owned under my living-trust name. If I survive my husband, will the basis for the house be stepped up to market value as of the date of his death? Should I add my husband's living trust to the deed?  more...

Tighter lending rules could backfire

By Jack Guttentag, Sunday, June 24, 2007.

(This is Part 1 of a two-part series. Read Part 2, "Sky-high loans get borrowers out of trouble.")

Case histories of subprime loans that have gone to foreclosure often generate righteous indignation. With benefit of hindsight, many if not most of them look as if they never should have been made.  more...

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