Sibling rivalry over family home: No one wins Q: Mom died a year ago, leaving the family home to my brother and me. I live in the house and would like to stay there, but my brother, who lives in California, wants to sell it and take his half of the proceeds.
Where We Live: Lansdowne on the Potomac, in Virginia's Loudoun County The first thing house hunters typically notice about Lansdowne on the Potomac is the neighborhood's aesthetic: the manicured lawns, the landscaped common areas, the decorative street signs and the manmade waterfall near the entrance.
Ask the builder: Are garage-door openers worth it? DEAR TIM: The house I moved into doesn't have a garage-door opener. I'm wondering whether these devices are really necessary. Also, the price differences between models have me seriously considering a discount opener. What should I take into account when purchasing one? -- Samantha R., Providence...
Lender could end up paying if all fees were not revealed at buyer's closing Q: My wife and I purchased a house in Florida last April. This past weekend we received a letter and an invoice from the law office that acted as the parties' closing agent, informing us that we owed fees for "additional endorsements requested by the lender after the closing."
Shaping the City: Let there be light (carefully) in Metro stations Lately Metro has taken a lot of heat because of persistent subway system deficiencies: lack of air conditioning in rail cars; escalator and elevator outages; and operator or equipment failures resulting in derailments and collisions -- along with injuries and fatalities.
Taking steps toward refinancing a rental property I have a rental property that I bought five years ago for $170,000 but now is valued at $120,000. I have a mortgage at 6.75 percent with about $45,000 in equity on the property. I am not in financial difficulty, but I would like to take advantage of low interest rates. Is it possible to refinance...
