Rona writes: Sometime in the very near future, our Congress is going to start picking apart our current tax structure. This examination of allowable deductions is not part of the New Year’s Eve wrangling that is going on as I write this. But, for at least a month, I have been getting frantic emails from
Rona writes: I am not much for talking about elections like they are sporting events with losers and winners. But, Elizabeth Warren on the Banking Committee is a win. BostonMagazine blogger Janelle Nanos tells the story of what she sees as a great bout coming, now that Dr. Warren is on the Banking Committee. I
Rona writes: On Friday, November 2, I wrote my final entry at the blog site set up by The Boston Globe. I left to pay more attention to the real need for information for real house buyers and owners. My first obligation has always been to my clients and my friends and family. You are
Dianne Schaefer reporting: I was driving home from Maine a few weeks ago, and saw a house up on blocks about to be moved. Have you ever seen a house moved? At the end of the 19th century, this was a common practice. If something wanted to expand into a space where there was an
Reprinted, with additions, from Boston.com Real Estate Now (April 2009.)* Rona Fischman wrote: Em3's comment is from March 30, 2009 chat: em3’s comment: as buyers, we are refusing to pay top dollar for homes that aren't worth it, (i.e. house needs gut job, rehab, school system is only ok, etc.) What if we see a
By Dave Twombly A few months ago some recently married friends of mine decided to start their home search. As we know, there is important prep work that needs to happen before starting a search. You have to figure out what is important to you in a home, where you want to be, check commutes,
Dear Friends, As most of you know, I have been a blogger at Boston.com for about five years. They are really getting me down lately. I am unhappy enough to start looking for a new job in journalism. In the course of reviewing my portfolio, I came upon this. I have to admit that Boston.com
by Rona Fischman "Don’t do what I did," says a chorus of buyer's agents who made buying mistakes in the past. Buyer’s Agents, heal thyselves! A lot of buyer’s agents made huge mistakes when they bought their own houses, before they found out about buyer agency and entered the profession. They worked with agents who
Apres le water heater, le deluge by Ron Rothenberg, 4 Buyers Real Estate Conventional water heaters have always bothered me. Why would anyone install an appliance that is guaranteed to fill your basement with water the moment its warranty expires? The age of the conventional water heater may be ending. I'm happy to see
Rona reports: I just spoke to Loren Shapiro at Asset Mortgage. He's an all-around good guy and trusty lender. He called his credit rep to fact-check on a question that frequently comes up: Suppose I want to shop around for a lender. Does my credit get damaged by having multiple lenders making credit inquiries (checking