washingtonpost.com - Housing CounselHousing CounselPoints or No Points Buyer or Seller The Intricacies of Mortgage Shopping- April 23, 2005 Third in a series of articles: Among the biggest tax benefits that the federal government gives homeowners are deductions for mortgage interest and points. Here's a closer look.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9772-2005Jan14.html?nav=rss_business/column... Deed of Trust Gives Lender Broad Power Over the Home You Buy- April 23, 2005 First in a series of articles Q I plan to settle next week on a house I am buying. I contacted the title attorney who will be conducting my settlement and asked that I be allowed to review in advance all the papers that I will have to sign. The attorney...http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A63914-2005Feb4.html?nav=rss_business/column... A Parent's Remarriage Can Change Plans to Will a Home to Children- April 23, 2005 After our mother died, my father remarried. He added his new wife as an owner of the family home, and they now own our house as "tenants by the entirety." He showed us his will, which appears consistent with his desire that the house be transferred to us upon his death. Are we protectedhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27411-2005Mar11.html?nav=rss_business/colum... Deferring Capital Gains Tax in 'Like-Kind' Exchanges- April 23, 2005 Fourth in a series of articles: Real estate investors large and small pay capital gains tax when they sell their property -- and the bills can be sizable.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A25581-2005Jan21.html?nav=rss_business/colum... Government Issues Rules to Protect Borrowers From Predatory Practices- April 23, 2005 Predatory lending remains a cancer in the American economy. There are still too many lenders in this country that prey on people and take advantage of them -- and take their money, despite the efforts of local, state and federal agencies.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7889-2005Mar4.html?nav=rss_business/columns... Defining Your 'Principal Residence' for Tax Purposes Isn't Always Simple- April 23, 2005 Second in a series of articles: There is no definition of principal residence in the tax code. If you ask an IRS agent -- or your tax lawyer -- for a definition, he will advise you that "whether or not property is used by the taxpayer as his principal residence . . . depends on all the facts and circumstances in each case, including the good faith of the taxpayer."http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A56715-2005Jan7.html?nav=rss_business/column... The No-Tax House Sale- April 23, 2005 If you once owned a home that at one point was your principal residence, but was later rented out, the IRS may just have given you some good news. Depending on the facts of your situation -- and the timing -- you may be able to combine the principal-residence capital gains tax exclusion of up to $500,000 with a tax-deferred exchange, and pay no federal tax at all when you sell your house.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53641-2005Feb25.html?nav=rss_business/colum... Buyers Often Have Little Recourse in PMI Battles- April 23, 2005 Q When I was arranging my mortgage, my down payment lost ground. Instead of having enough money to put down 20 percent, I could only muster 17 percent. Initially, I was going to get an 80 percent loan. My mortgage coordinator advised that instead of borrowing or taking a second mortgage for that small amount, I should opt for private mortgage insurance to cover the difference.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A25114-2004Dec24.html?nav=rss_business/colum... Amending Condominium Bylaws Is Difficult, but Sometimes There Is No Alternative- April 23, 2005 Q I have been a member of the board of directors of my condominium association for about five years. We have some issues that we have been unable to resolve because the governing documents would have to be amended for us to act. For example, we would like to change the provisions regarding leasing units and pets. Everyone says it is nearly impossible to amend the documents, so they don't even try. What do you thinkhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A35575-2005Feb18.html?nav=rss_business/colum... No Girlfriend Exemption Applies When Transferring Property- April 23, 2005 Q I have a standard mortgage on a single-family house that I own by myself. I would like to add my live-in girlfriend to the deed. She will pay me half the current value of the house. If I do this, can I retain my current mortgage, thereby avoiding more closing costs and the loss of my favorable mortgage rate Also, is this a taxable event that would require me to pay capital-gains tax I know that the simplest solution would be for us to get married, but there are other financial issues...http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A47398-2005Mar18.html?nav=rss_business/colum... |