Questions about Property Tax Reassessment Dear Phyllis, I have been a fan since your column first appeared in the Glendale News-Press. My question is about property tax reassessment. My wife and I have owned our two-bedroom, one-bath home since 1982, and due to Prop 13, our property taxes are very low. We never had children, […]
Avoiding a Pre-Nup Dear Phyllis, I enjoy your real estate column and believe I have a new topic for you. We started a savings fund for our daughter when she was born. My husband and I each added $500 yearly and deposited her birthday and Christmas money. She wants to buy a condominium on the […]
Personal Property Not Included Dear Phyllis, I recently purchased a home, and my real estate agent assured me the washer, dryer and refrigerator were included in the sale. The Zillow listing clearly stated they were part of the purchase. During the final walkthrough, I saw them in place. When I moved in, I was shocked […]
Undisclosed Death Dear Phyllis, My daughter and her husband purchased a home in Azusa six months ago. The house was sold via probate and was a fi xer, but my son-in-law is very handy. So that was not a problem. After just a month upon moving in a neighbor told them that the home was […]
Home Showing Etiquette Dear Phyllis, I am considering moving to be closer to my children in Orange County. I recently met with the Realtor who sold me my home. He is adamant that I am not present when my home is shown. I have been in my house for nearly 40 years and can answer […]
The Art of the Counter Offer Dear Phyllis, After years of reading your real estate advice, I have a question. My son and his wife recently made an offer on a condominium. It was very underpriced, and there was a total of 12 offers. The seller’s agent only responded to the three highest offers. When […]
What Is Elder Abuse? Dear Phyllis, Three years ago, my sister moved in with my parents to their four-bedroom home in Tustin. She brought her large mixed-breed dog, which has caused considerable damage. Recently, I discovered that my parents took out a $700,000 loan. Part of the money was used to build a one-bedroom guest […]
Selling A Home In Probate Dear Phyllis, I will be inheriting my uncle’s home but first, it needs to go through probate. How does this affect selling it and what steps should I take to manage the process? John Dear John, Selling a Los Angeles County home in probate presents unique challenges due to the […]
How To Avoid An Escrow Renegotiation Dear Phyllis, I am a fan of your column, and this has been bothering me. My mother sold her La Crescenta home last year. She received three offers and accepted the highest. After the escrow was opened, the buyer did their inspection and asked for a $35,000 credit. They […]
Gross vs. Net Commission Dear Phyllis, We sold our home last year, and the process was a nightmare. We faced numerous inspection issues, causing us to fall out of escrow multiple times. To make matters worse, the buyer’s agent was vacationing in Europe during the inspection period, which slowed down the process. His lack of […]