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A good time to buy? It depends

By Teresa Boardman, Wednesday, July 2, 2008.

It is hard to imagine or understand, but not everyone trusts real estate agents or Realtors. According to a Harris poll, 20 percent don't trust us at all and only 7 percent trust us completely.

As an industry we shoot ourselves in the foot when it comes to being trustworthy. Examples include the press releases and other information from the National Association of Realtors (NAR). NAR is a huge trade association and exists to promote our industry. As such, NAR likes to put a positive spin on buying real estate.  more...

Dead landscaping to cost landlord thousands

By Robert Griswold, Wednesday, July 2, 2008.

Q: I am a landlord with one rental house. I have a problem with damage done to the landscaping by the tenants who recently moved out. The rental contract states, "The tenants agree to care for and adequately water the lawn, shrubbery and trees." I have always paid the water bill and there was no noticeable change in the monthly amount so I was very disappointed when I met them for their move-out inspection to find they let the trees, shrubbery and grass die.  more...

Elderly couple urged to rethink real estate title

By Benny Kass, Wednesday, July 2, 2008.

Q: My parents (now in their 80s) own a small apartment building with my brother and his wife. Title is held as joint tenants with right of survivorship. When the property was initially purchased, they agreed that this would be a 50/50 partnership. Both couples also agreed that if they died, their respective 50 percent share would go to their respective estate and not to the remaining partners. I have two questions:

Shouldn't they have the title redrawn as tenants in common so as to accomplish what they initially intended?  more...

Family challenges 'cure or quit' notice

By Janet Portman, Wednesday, July 2, 2008.

Q: My wife and I received a three-day "Notice to cure or quit" from our property manager. The manager claims my child was throwing thrash and making excessive noise inside the apartment complex. When we asked for proof, they said that they did not have any. In fact, we found out that there were several other children playing with our child on the alleged date, and their parents did not receive notices. I smell discrimination! --Robert  more...