Getting Married? Issues to Consider When Purchasing Property Before the Wedding
Let's say a couple is engaged to be married. However, before the marriage ceremony, the couple decides to purchase a marital home. Possibly, they want to buy a first house, condominium or cooperative apartment. Prior...
How to Handle a Vacation Home When Estate Planning
When people own something of sentimental value, they are sometimes unsure of how to pass it along to their heirs. This can happen with a vacation home — especially if the place has been in...
What You Should Know About Transferring Investment Property to a Trust
Suppose you own real estate properties for investment purposes. Further assume that you would like to achieve the following:
1. You no longer want to manage the real estate properties.
2. You want your heirs to avoid probate...
10 Home Improvements that Add Value
Before deciding where to spend home improvement dollars, consider talking to real estate professionals who are familiar with your area and have years of experience. They spend their days talking to potential buyers and know...
8 Ways to Save on Homeowner’s Insurance
If you're like most Americans, your home represents the single largest investment you'll ever make. So it makes sense to protect that investment with insurance. Rates for homeowners insurance can vary significantly with a variety...
Home Improvements: Stay Clear of Mechanics’ Liens
It usually starts out simply enough: You want to make some improvements to your home such as remodeling the kitchen and bathrooms or adding a garage. So you hire a general contractor to handle...
Use a Qualified Personal Residence Trust for Your Vacation Home
Do you own a beach house, ski chalet, resort condo or other vacation getaway? Perhaps it's the place where cherished family reunions take place with your children and grandchildren. Many people with second homes want...
IRS Clarification: Home Equity Loan Interest May Still Be Deductible
The IRS recently announced that in many cases, taxpayers can continue to deduct interest paid on home equity loans. The tax agency issued the clarification because there were questions and concerns that such expenses were...
Real Property and the Estate Process
There are many ways you can hold title to real property, which is defined as land and anything erected on it. However, how real property is titled will affect how it is transferred during the administration of an estate.
Consider...
Close-Up on Mortgage Interest Deduction Rules
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) imposes new limits on home mortgage interest deductions. Here's how the changes could affect your tax situation.
The Basics
For the 2018 through 2025 tax years, the new law generally...