Clik here to view.
Grandson awaits inheritance but worries about lease renewal, ability to buy home
Question: Regarding your October 28, 2023, column titled “Son wants to know if parents should sell now or wait for ‘top dollar’ ” on The Mercury News and East Bay Times websites: In that column, the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
When a senior’s properties are in the name of advisers
Question: My parents have passed. I moved into their old home. It is in a pricey Silicon Valley neighborhood. The other home is vacant. It needs lots of work. Fortunately, that home is within walking...
View ArticleClik here to view.
An acre of land with an abandoned house: Time to call insurance agents
Question: We want to build a house. There is a Bay Area lot for sale in our area. It is an acre. It is close to town. There is natural gas connected. However, it is in a high-fire designated area....
View ArticleClik here to view.
When you find the perfect home with storage space but someone throws a wrench...
Question: We are in a tight squeeze! We are selling our current home and buying a new one simultaneously. The down payment for the new house hinges on the sale of our current residence, leaving us with...
View ArticleClik here to view.
When siblings doubt the skills of 3 appraisers, what’s the next step?
Question: Our parents are deceased. A sibling wants to buy the house, which is fine. However, to obtain value, we hired an appraiser. Another sibling balked at the low value. So we hired appraiser No....
View ArticleClik here to view.
Family attempts to grieve grandfather but needs help with ownership claims
Question: Years ago my father bought his father’s house and my grandfather remained an occupant. My grandfather continued to live in the large bedroom and my father moved into the small bedroom....
View ArticleClik here to view.
You can get what you want, but buyers need to take charge
Question: We bought a home with a large lot. The yards are full of auto parts and outbuildings. Debris fills the grounds. Our buyer’s agent suggested we be specific about our wants and needs. We...
View ArticleClik here to view.
When there is a problem, real estate forms come in handy
Question: Regarding your March 30, 2024, column titled “You can get what you want, but buyers need to take charge” on The Mercury News and East Bay Times websites: In that column, the home sellers...
View ArticleClik here to view.
An accessory dwelling unit can provide peace of mind for all
Question: My forgetful father-in-law lives alone. Yesterday, he left a pot on the gas stovetop, and the next-door neighbor noticed smoke from the kitchen window. It was a narrow escape. We must act...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Negotiating in the wacky world of Bay Area real estate
Question: After months of home shopping, we found the perfect property. We were thrilled. The buyer’s agent we hired went to work drafting our purchase-offer proposal. Then things took a turn for the...
View Article
