Dear Barry,

I'm considering the purchase of a home that was built in 1951, and I have two questions:

1. Are plumbing systems from that era consistent with today's standards? (I think the pipes are steel.)

2. Are electrical systems of that age safe, and are they capable of providing enough power for today's electrical needs? --David

Dear David,  more...

DEAR BOB: About six months ago, I completed an Internal Revenue Code 1031 tax-deferred exchange, but I have not been able to rent the acquired house due to an oversupply of rentals in my area. Homeowners are having difficulty selling and are trying to rent while waiting for the sales market to improve. I am running out of money for my mortgage payments. Can I move into the house and rent my old home, which I can rent cheaply and still have a positive cash flow? Would I lose my IRC 1031 tax savings? --Dee D.  more...

If you are involved with buying, selling or brokering houses and condominiums but you don't enjoy getting involved in lawsuits, "The No-Lawsuit Guide to Real Estate" by Realtor Barbara Nichols will show you how to stay out of court. The author has been involved with hundreds of real estate cases, primarily as a consultant and expert witness, so she is well-qualified to advise how to prevent realty lawsuits.  more...