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home Property & Money Property & Money Landlords & Property Management Articles & FAQs Tenants’ Associations: What Should a Landlord Do? Buying a Foreclosed Home as a Rental Property When Should a Landlord Hire a Property Management Company? When Should a Landlord Hire a Lawyer? Renting Out Your Property Articles & FAQs How to Screen and Select Tenants FAQ Choosing Tenants: Avoid Fair Housing Complaints and Lawsuits Create an Advertisement for Your Rental Property How to Advertise Your Rental Property Leases and Rental Agreements FAQ Whether to Use a Lease or Rental Agreement Ten Terms To Include in Your Lease or Rental Agreement Top Ten Tax Deductions for Landlords Top Ten Legal Mistakes That Can Sink Your Landlord Business What's the Best Way to Screen Tenants? Foreclosure and Renting to a New Tenant: Tenant Remedies Pets Caught in Foreclosure -- Landlords Can Help Smart Landlord Policies for Pet-Friendly Rentals Does Your Landlord Website Help or Hurt Your Business? Tenants Caught in Foreclosure: Who Gets the Rent? Q&As What does 'last month's rent' really mean? Can I evict a tenant to rent the place to my daughter? Can I break a lease where the view of my shop from the street is being blocked? How do I kick out one roommate but not the other? Can I put tenants' security deposits in my checking account? Shouldn't the apartment have been cleaned before we moved in? My tenants want network cable: Who pays? Are tenants entitled to a rent receipt? What are my commercial tenant 's responsibilities after assigning her lease? How much can I raise the rent on a commercial sublease? How do I enforce my 'no pets' policy? How do I divide damages between departing cotenants? Can my tenant break the lease just because of noise from upstairs? Landlord Liabilities: Repairs, Safety & Privacy Articles & FAQs Tenant Injuries: Landlord Liability and Insurance FAQ Repairs, Maintenance, and Entry to Rented Premises Lead Disclosures for Rental Property FAQ Criminal Acts and Activities: Landlord Liability FAQ 10 Steps Toward Low-Risk Landlording Smart Landlord Policies for Pet-Friendly Rentals Shelter-in-Place Orders: What Must a Landlord Do? How Landlords Should Handle Press or Public Inquiries Q&As Are tenants entitled to alternate housing during pest extermination? Shouldn't the apartment have been cleaned before we moved in? My tenants want network cable: Who pays? What does invasion of privacy mean? How do I divide damages between departing cotenants? Can I throw out the stuff my tenant left behind? How should a landlord prepare for court? Evicting a Tenant or Ending a Lease Articles & FAQs Terminating a Lease or Rental Agreement FAQ Don't Lock Out or Freeze Out a Tenant -- It's Illegal Resolving Landlord-Tenant Disputes FAQ How Evictions Work: Rules for Landlords and Property Managers Bankrupt Tenants: How the New Bankruptcy Law Affects Evictions Q&As What does 'last month's rent' really mean? Can I change the locks on a tenant's guest who refuses to leave? How do we get the tenant to move, so we can sell? How do I kick out one roommate but not the other? Can I check my tenant's story about his welfare check? Are tenants entitled to a rent receipt? How much can I raise the rent on a commercial sublease? To evict a husband and wife, do I have to serve both? How do I enforce my 'no pets' policy? How should a landlord prepare for court? Real Estate Articles & FAQs After the Fire: Dealing with Your Insurance Company Go Green At Home, Save Money Q&As How does seller financing work in a home sale? Buying a House Articles & FAQs Buying a Home: Overview Deciding Whether You’re Ready to Buy a House Beginning Your Home Search Should I Hire a Real Estate Agent or Lawyer to Buy a House? How to Research New Communities or Neighborhoods Making an Offer on a House Contingencies to Include in Your House Purchase Contract Trading Up: Tips for Selling Your Home and Buying Another Get a House Inspection Before Buying Buying a Newly Built House Homeowners' Insurance: What You Need to Know Seven Steps to Buying Your Second Home Should You Cobuy a Second Home? Home Inspection: First Time Home Buyer Buying a Foreclosed Home: Pros and Cons Choosing Your Real Estate Agent Buying a Foreclosed Home as a Rental Property Mold in the Home: What Homebuyers Need to Know Buying a Home in a Buyer's Market Buying a House Before You’re 30: Are You Ready? Homeowners’ Insurance: Do You Have Enough Coverage? Single-Woman Homebuyers: What to Consider Q&As When I get married, will my wife gain ownership rights to my house? If one owner of property held in joint tenancy dies, who pays the mortgage? Can we get a home loan if my husband has a past bankruptcy? Should we cosign for our son's home loan? Must we pay the increased homeowners' assessment fee for cable? My boyfriend owns the house -- how do I make clear that I own the furniture? Can a house seller refuse a full-price offer? What happens if we've sold our old house without buying a new one? How does seller financing work in a home sale? How do I find a house in a new area? Who's legally responsible for the flooding in my new home's basement? Is flood insurance necessary if we're not in a flood zone? Can mom get quitclaimed property back? Can our debt-ridden daughter avoid foreclosure? Mortgages & Home Affordability Articles & FAQs Mortgage Basics FAQ Qualifying for a Mortgage Where to Shop for a Home Loan or Mortgage Your Home as a Tax Shelter: Top Ten Tax Deductions for Owning Your Home How Do I Get Rid of My PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance)? Tips for Buying an Affordable House Refinancing in Today’s Market: Replace Your Current Mortgage Borrowing From Family and Friends to Buy a House Second Homes: What You Need to Know Fixed Rate vs. Adjustable Rate Mortgages Home Equity Loans Finding a Down Payment to Buy a House Seller Financing in Home Sales Comparing Mortgage Points and Fees Cobuying a Home Q&As How long do we have to sell our house before foreclosure? If we’re foreclosed on, when do we actually have to leave our house? Can we get a home loan if my husband has a past bankruptcy? How does seller financing work in a home sale? Can our debt-ridden daughter avoid foreclosure? Selling a House Articles & FAQs Selling Your Home: Overview Preparing Your House for Sale Do You Need a Real Estate Agent to Sell Your House? Holding an Open House Required Disclosures When Selling Real Estate Tax Breaks for Selling Your Home: Read the Fine Print Deeds FAQ Selling Your House FAQ Alternatives to Selling: Benefits to Becoming a Landlord Selling Your Home in a Down Market Home Sales Tips Negotiate Your Real Estate Commission Do Home Improvements Really Add Value? Q&As How long do we have to sell our house before foreclosure? Can I put tenants' security deposits in my checking account? What happens if we've sold our old house without buying a new one? Can mom get quitclaimed property back? Can our debt-ridden daughter avoid foreclosure? Neighbor & Home-Related Disputes Articles & FAQs Homeowners' Right to Views Neighbor Disputes Over Water Damage Noise FAQ Fences FAQ Trees FAQ Understanding Homeowners' Associations and CC&Rs Home Improvement: How to Avoid Paying Twice Rural Neighbors and the Right to Farm When Secondhand Smoke Invades Your Home Boundaries FAQ Hurricanes and Flood Insurance: What Homeowners Should Know Green Remodeling: Eco-Friendly Home Improvements Q&As How can I protect my property boundary lines when my neighbor wants to build a fence? The roots of our neighbor's tree are damaging our yards. What can we do? Do the neighborhood kids have the right to play sidewalk baseball at all hours? Can my neighbors sue for suffering since my tree fell on their garage? Removing a dying tree: Who bears the cost? Is it legal for dogs to swim in the condo pool? Are there laws governing destructive cats? Can I sue the noisy, unsightly neighborhood hockey rink? Can I sue? My neighbor's contractor cut down my trees. My neighbor shot my dog for trespassing. What can I do? Construction next door is eroding the foundations of my fence. What can I do? We want to remove trees on our land, but the neighbor says no. What to do? Shouldn't the landlord deal with my noisy, demanding, downstairs neighbors? How can I turn down the volume on my next-door neighbors? What can a homeowner do about noisy next-door renters? Must my neighbor pay for the damage he's caused to my fence? Foreclosure Articles & FAQs How Foreclosure Works Short Sales and Deeds in Lieu of Foreclosure How Bankruptcy Can Help With Foreclosure When Foreclosure Threatens: Can You Afford to Keep Your Home? How to Avoid Foreclosure Mortgage Refinancing to Avoid Foreclosure: The HOPE for Homeowners Act Reduce Your Mortgage Obligations to Avoid Foreclosure Mortgage Reform: The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 Defenses to Foreclosure Don’t Lose Your Home to Foreclosure “Rescue” Scammers Renters in Foreclosure: What Are Their Rights? Tenants Caught in Foreclosure: Who Gets the Rent? Foreclosure and Renting to a New Tenant: Tenant Remedies Pets Caught in Foreclosure -- Landlords Can Help Buying a Foreclosed Home: Pros and Cons Buying a Foreclosed Home as a Rental Property Q&As How long do we have to sell our house before foreclosure? If we’re foreclosed on, when do we actually have to leave our house? Can our debt-ridden daughter avoid foreclosure? Credit Repair & Debt Articles & FAQs Financial Tip: Stash Some Cash for Emergencies Prioritizing Debts and Investments: Advice for Recent Graduates and Young Professionals Paying for Graduate School: How to Finance Higher Education Disaster-Proofing Your Documents Personal Finances 101: Overview Making and Repaying Debts Articles & FAQs When You Can't Pay Your Debts FAQ Which Debts Must You Repay? Tax Consequences When a Creditor Writes Off or Settles a Debt Automatic Deductions: Watch Out for Pitfalls Repossession: What Creditors Can and Can’t Take Busy Family’s Guide to Money: A Podcast Choosing a Credit Counseling Agency Time-Barred Debts: When Collectors Cannot Sue You for Unpaid Debts Promissory Notes: Personal Loans to Family and Friends Q&As How long do we have to sell our house before foreclosure? How do I improve my credit position after bankruptcy? What percentage of my wages can creditors take? Can my car be repossessed without warning? If we’re foreclosed on, when do we actually have to leave our house? Can our debt-ridden daughter avoid foreclosure? Cleaning Up Your Credit Report Articles & FAQs Rebuilding Credit FAQ How to Clean Up Your Credit Report Credit Scoring Don't Use a Credit Repair Clinic How to Make a Budget and Stick to It Ten Tips to Survive the Holidays Without Going Broke Credit Report Basics Q&As I'm deeply in debt -- can I be evicted for this? Can the Chapter 13 trustee dismiss my case if I've missed a couple of payments? How do I improve my credit position after bankruptcy? Why does my repossessed car appear on my credit report while I still have a right to redeem? Can I take my soon-to-be ex-spouse's name off our joint checking account? Can we get a home loan if my husband has a past bankruptcy? Why shouldn't I reaffirm my credit card debts in bankruptcy? Should we cosign for our son's home loan? Will working with a credit counseling service hurt my credit? Cosigner and guarantor -- what's the difference? Can I ask my credit card companies to wait until I can pay? Can I refinance after a bankruptcy? Can I add my good payment history on a private loan to my credit report? Am I liable for credit card charges my ex racks up after the divorce? Dealing With Creditors Articles & FAQs Dealing With Collection Agencies FAQ What to Do If a Bill Collector Crosses the Line Legal Protections for America's Military: The Servicemembers' Civil Relief Act Q&As Can a creditor freeze my bank account? How long do we have to sell our house before foreclosure? Can I cash a check that I've held for months? Can my car be repossessed without warning? If I receive things in the mail that I never ordered, do I have to pay for them? Is it legal to bill me using a postcard? Am I liable for credit card charges my ex racks up after the divorce? What can I do to collect on a bum check? Should a deadbeat dad's nonpayments go on his credit report? Can I collect on a loan to someone who's died? Student Loans Articles & FAQs Student Loan Repayment Options Student Loans: Cancellation, Deferment, and Forbearance What Happens If You Default on Your Student Loans Making a Budget for College Q&As Can my Social Security be tapped to pay defaulted student loans? Does being on disability get me out of paying student loans? In divorce, is my ex liable for student loans that we consolidated? Should I start a prepaid tuition plan for my child? Credit and Debit Cards Articles & FAQs Different Types of Credit and Debit Cards What to Do If There's an Error on Your Debit or Credit Card Statement Your Liability for Unauthorized Credit and Debit Card Charges Kids & Credit Cards: When Are They Ready for Plastic? Getting a Credit Card When You Have Bad Credit Shopping for Credit Cards Avoiding Credit Card Debt Q&As Can I stop credit card companies from giving cards to my mentally disabled son? How do I improve my credit position after bankruptcy? What percentage of my wages can creditors take? I lost my credit card far from home -- what's my liability? Can I ask my credit card com