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Break lease, repay rent discount?

By Janet Portman, Wednesday, July 9, 2008.

Q: I rented an apartment that was advertised at $1,500 per month "plus discount." My yearlong lease gave me a monthly discount of $100, so my real rent was $1,400. I had to break the lease after eight months, and now have to repay the discount, $800, for those months. I know, I know -- I signed the lease with this provision, but I'm still wondering if there's any way I can challenge this fee. --Mary S.  more...

Buying REO is no cakewalk

By Tara-Nicholle Nelson, Wednesday, July 9, 2008.

Q: I'm in the middle of buying a house that is a bank-owned foreclosure. It seems like every step of this escrow has been problematic, and I'm wondering if this is a sign that I should not buy this house. For example, we were supposed to close escrow in 30 days, but it's been more than 45 days since the listing agent told us that our offer was being accepted, and I'm just now signing documents. Now they're saying the bank still could take weeks to sign their documents. Is this normal?

A: All across America, Realtors are hearing a low, anguished drone -- like a really loud, really bad case of tinnitus. That sound is the wailing and gnashing of teeth of untold numbers of innocent home buyers in escrow, those brave (but smart) souls who have gotten past their "buyer's block" and decided to take advantage of this buyer's market. What is causing all this toil and trouble?  more...

My get-rich-quick scheme

By Teresa Boardman, Wednesday, July 9, 2008.

This is going to sound like a blatant advertisement for the Inman Real Estate Connect conference, and maybe it is but they did not ask me to write it. People who understand me know that it isn't all that easy to get me to do anything, but I digress.

There is a hidden benefit to attending Inman's Bloggers Connect and Real Estate Connect conferences that they don't advertise and I want everyone to know about.  more...