A Step-By-Step Review of Title Searches You’ve decided to purchase a home and hope to take possession as soon as possible. The terms have been agreed upon and all the financial arrangements have been made. But there’s one important detail remaining. Before the transaction can close, a title search must be made. The most accurate.. read more →
by E. Christopher Caravette Suppose you represent a contractor who furnished labor, services, fixtures, and material to a homeowner, bills the homeowner but is not paid. Also, suppose that the homeowner, after the contractor has completed the job, claims that he never entered into a contract and refuses to pay. There is no written contract.. read more →
Today’s lower interest rates have spurred you to refinance your mortgage. Now you can expect to reap the benefits of substantially reduced monthly mortgage payments, but you can also expect to pay the lender the typical closing costs associated with any mortgage loan. Why? Because from the lender’s standpoint, a refinanced loan is no different.. read more →
Flush with Cash? It’s Vacation-Home Time! by Daniel Akst May and June are big months for buying second homes, and business owners lush with profits are out looking at vacation properties. They’re not alone. The proportion of home sales in this category roughly doubled in the 1990s, to 6%, and there’s not any reason to.. read more →
A Home Inspection Can Save Money and Grief by Kerrie Kenned Chicago homeowner Tom Robinson thought he was doing everything right when he bought his two-flat in Roscoe Village two years ago. A long-time Roscoe Village resident, he knew the market well. He had looked at many two-flats before settling on this one — he.. read more →