uuid:b0349cc0-8bee-44c3-9b65-74a7c186600b;id=638 Copyright © Townhall.com. All Rights Reserved. Terms under which this service is provided to you 2013-05-19T06:04:21-04:00 http://media.townhall.com/TownHall/icons/TH-feed-icon-128x128.gif Townhall.com http://townhall.com b88b6d38-4363-4f8f-be3e-d755dd0684d1

<a href='http://townhall.com/columnists/edithlank/'>Edith Lank Column</a><br /> I'm not upset with my sister; I just don't understand her. She has no mortgage, rent or car payments and a really well paying job so I find this inexcusable. Before I speak to her, I just want to know what my rights are.

2013-04-27T00:01:00-04:00 2013-05-19T10:04:21Z Edith Lank Dear Ms. Lank: When my 96-year-old dad dies, will we heirs have to pay on his mortgage until the property sells? What happens if we don&#39;t... 12ec4c45-99b3-4e1a-a328-9ec5b85aa4a3

<a href='http://townhall.com/columnists/edithlank/'>Edith Lank Column</a><br /> Dear Ms. Lank: I am 22, got my dream job and am now relocating. My parents think, since rent may be high, I should try to buy and have something to show.

2013-02-03T00:00:00-05:00 2013-05-19T10:04:21Z Edith Lank Dear Ms. Lank: I am 22, got my dream job and am now relocating. My parents think, since rent may be high, I should try to buy and have something... b866634a-d24a-43e2-bd84-9d8c9ae5544f

<a href='http://townhall.com/columnists/edithlank/'>Edith Lank Column</a><br /> There's no way you -- or I -- can give estate-planning advice without knowing a lot more about the parties involved. I'm not really qualified to do it anyhow. All I can do is warn readers that there may be unintended consequences to do-it-yourself legal strategies and send them to a professional.

2013-01-29T00:01:00-05:00 2013-05-19T10:04:21Z Edith Lank Dear Ms. Lank: Why did you tell that man to make out a will to add his companion's name to the title on their house? Everyone knows that goes to... 0190a2e0-eeeb-4972-8b7d-0ff622ecbe76

<a href='http://townhall.com/columnists/edithlank/'>Edith Lank Column</a><br /> Dear Ms. Lank: Did you know that there will be a 3.8. percent tax on homes sold in the year 2013 to finance the Obamacare program? -- Email Answer: No, there won't.

2012-11-04T00:01:00-04:00 2013-05-19T10:04:21Z Edith Lank Dear Ms. Lank: Did you know that there will be a 3.8. percent tax on homes sold in the year 2013 to finance the Obamacare program? --... a25d4647-db74-40a9-ab72-3ddb3e0c4598

<a href='http://townhall.com/columnists/edithlank/'>Edith Lank Column</a><br /> The bad news is that each owner is legally responsible for the entire tax bill. The good news is that in a tax foreclosure, action is usually taken against the property, and not personally against the landowner(s). If you don't pay, your relationship with your cousins might take a hit, but I don't think your credit record would.

2011-07-24T00:01:00-04:00 2013-05-19T10:04:21Z Edith Lank Ms. Lank: I own some land with four cousins. They camp there, but I live thousands of miles away. If I stop paying my share of the taxes, will it... bb309088-3dd0-4f84-bf99-62bdfba7d9b8

<a href='http://townhall.com/columnists/edithlank/'>Edith Lank Column</a><br /> Recently, a reader asked if he replaced his bathtub with a walk-in shower, would that make his house harder to sell someday? I passed that on with the question: "Would you buy a house with no tub?"

2011-03-28T00:01:00-04:00 2013-05-19T10:04:21Z Edith Lank Recently, a reader asked if he replaced his bathtub with a walk-in shower, would that make his house harder to sell someday? I passed that on with... 2696d754-d380-4620-ae45-6a64b31f6d39

<a href='http://townhall.com/columnists/edithlank/'>Edith Lank Column</a><br /> We would like to know if mortgage companies will refuse us for a 15- or 30-year mortgage because of our age. Can you please help us with this?

2011-03-17T00:01:00-04:00 2013-05-19T10:04:21Z Edith Lank Dear Edith: My husband and I are 78 and 75, and we would like to buy a second home in Florida. We would like to know if mortgage companies will... 8a75ed28-7d4a-4b0e-a40b-583ca9561233

<a href='http://townhall.com/columnists/edithlank/'>Edith Lank Column</a><br /> If the property is listed too high, the gang will soon find out because buyers won't bother coming to see it.

2011-02-27T00:01:00-05:00 2013-05-19T10:04:21Z Edith Lank Dear Edith: Four brothers inherited a 54-year-old home, a "fixer-upper." A state-certified appraiser says it's worth $170,000 or a bit more. The... 19e73d09-db23-4bf7-9563-83e05b5435e2

<a href='http://townhall.com/columnists/edithlank/'>Edith Lank Column</a><br /> The public records of the county where your vacation home is located currently show that mortgage as a lien, a financial claim, against your property. To clear the record and show the debt has been discharged, a certificate of satisfaction signed by the lender (in some states, a deed of reconveyance) must also be filed.

2011-02-13T00:01:00-05:00 2013-05-19T10:04:21Z Edith Lank Dear Edith: My husband and I are close to paying off a vacation property that we purchased 15 years ago with a private mortgage. Our names are... df5c910d-75cc-44c2-bcb2-143c90dedc8c

<a href='http://townhall.com/columnists/edithlank/'>Edith Lank Column</a><br /> Unlike the 2009 and 2010 homebuyer tax credits, the one you used for your 2008 purchase does have to be repaid, over a 15-year-period starting with your 2010 tax return (use IRS form 5405).

2011-02-06T00:01:00-05:00 2013-05-19T10:04:21Z Edith Lank Dear Edith: Back in 2008, we received a first-time homebuyer credit of $7,500 on our income taxes. My husband says we need to repay that amount. I... d1a9ffc7-01c6-4321-9ac4-4f357d79c23c

<a href='http://townhall.com/columnists/edithlank/'>Edith Lank Column</a><br /> I try to hold "see a lawyer" advice to no more than once per column, and I realize it's not what your mother wants to hear, but here it goes anyhow.

2011-01-30T00:01:00-05:00 2013-05-19T10:04:21Z Edith Lank Hello, Edith: My dad just passed away in October, so my mom is trying to get everything in order for when she passes or has to move into a nursing... 235e8f13-5c0b-4397-aa65-abc6e5d063ca

<a href='http://townhall.com/columnists/edithlank/'>Edith Lank Column</a><br /> Someone who wants to live in the house would prefer a vacant unit. An investor would rather see both units leased to dependable tenants.

2011-01-23T00:01:00-05:00 2013-05-19T10:04:21Z Edith Lank Dear Edith: As executor of an estate, I am trying to sell a duplex. The upper unit is currently occupied, but the lower one is not. Would having a... 0996e6a1-b00c-47ec-b612-718d40d88202

<a href='http://townhall.com/columnists/edithlank/'>Edith Lank Column</a><br /> After the turmoil and troubles with mortgages in the last couple of years, companies like Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae won't buy loans unless they meet today's stricter lending standards.

2011-01-16T00:01:00-05:00 2013-05-19T10:04:21Z Edith Lank Dear Mrs. Lank: I have made three attempts at refinancing my current mortgage. My credit score is good (around 773-800). I am retired with a... 1575d465-6738-4fcd-aa8f-e5ef5fba95aa

<a href='http://townhall.com/columnists/edithlank/'>Edith Lank Column</a><br /> There's no ethics problem here. If your agent doesn't perform any services in the sale of your home, she won't expect any fee.

2011-01-13T00:01:00-05:00 2013-05-19T10:04:21Z Edith Lank Dear Ms. Lank: We are working with a broker to find a new home. Then we plan to list our current home with her.At a recent social event, we... 83d6b2c0-7407-4137-9f42-9c4bfb8e0f3b

<a href='http://townhall.com/columnists/edithlank/'>Edith Lank Column</a><br /> A finished basement makes a house more attractive to buyers so that it's easier to sell, but it seldom raises market value very much.

2011-01-02T00:01:00-05:00 2013-05-19T10:04:21Z Edith Lank Dear Edith: We moved into our house some years ago. It is a 1,056-square-foot ranch house, with a partially finished half of the basement. The... 7088e037-8503-44f0-bf9e-38ffe7f1596f

<a href='http://townhall.com/columnists/edithlank/'>Edith Lank Column</a><br /> The buyer just needs to find a real estate agent who is familiar with FHA and has a relationship with a lender/broker that can guide/educate the buyer(s) and navigate FHA's 203(k) rehabilitation loan.

2010-12-26T00:01:00-05:00 2013-05-19T10:04:21Z Edith Lank Ms. Lank: I disagree with your statement "the definition of market value boils down to what someone will pay." Market value's true definition... d4940c94-79f0-4a8b-b3bc-1124c500ecae

<a href='http://townhall.com/columnists/edithlank/'>Edith Lank Column</a><br /> I realize you've consulted more than one accountant, and things are pretty confusing for everyone right now.

2010-12-19T00:01:00-05:00 2013-05-19T10:04:21Z Edith Lank Dear Edith: My mother passed away last month. She purchased her house for $18,500 in 1963. My sister and I inherited it, and we have it on the... f32d8bfe-9e76-40a5-921d-38462c1be79b

<a href='http://townhall.com/columnists/edithlank/'>Edith Lank Column</a><br />

2010-12-12T00:01:00-05:00 2013-05-19T10:04:21Z Edith Lank Hi, Edith: Our home has been on the market for almost a year. We listed at $20,000 less than what our real estate agent suggested because we live... 10df7260-0a62-46e2-8c26-67ef5fef5471

<a href='http://townhall.com/columnists/edithlank/'>Edith Lank Column</a><br />

2010-12-05T00:01:00-05:00 2013-05-19T10:04:21Z Edith Lank Edith: We are moving to a rural area in another state. Last summer, we looked at houses there with a Realtor. She spent time with us and was very... ed3b1c93-7ae3-4aa6-a9b5-f9241aa74a05

<a href='http://townhall.com/columnists/edithlank/'>Edith Lank Column</a><br />

2010-11-28T00:01:00-05:00 2013-05-19T10:04:21Z Edith Lank Mrs. Lank: I disagreed with your answer to T.Y. regarding the reason for their house not selling. In a buyer's market, when people fail to show at...