hot topics

Important things to know before renting out a property

Important things to know before renting out a property

Renting a property is just as big an investment, as compared to buying one. There are many important factors to be considered, even if your stay is temporary. Especially when you are moving in with your family, you have to ensure the following. Area: The most important and first factor to consider is where are you planning to move exactly? Are you renting a nice quiet house in the suburbs where your kids could ride their bikes on the streets peacefully or are you renting an apartment in the city, because it is close by to work. Either way, make sure you can enjoy a good night’s sleep! Basic amenities: No matter how good or great the neighborhood and your new house is, make sure you do a thorough inspection before agreeing to anything. The house or apartment you are renting out might be a couple of years old, so first impressions are not always the best impression when it comes to property. You have to take your time and ensure everything is just the way you need. Pet’s or no pets: Check if the said property or apartment for rent is pet friendly or not. Some home owners are very particular about keeping pets in the house.
Tips to decide on what kind of property to rent

Tips to decide on what kind of property to rent

House hunting can take a toll on you, especially if your are new to the city and the neighborhood for that matter. You don’t just go and move in the first place you see, that is not how it works. There are a number of factors to consider and options to weigh in even before you can think of moving in. Here are a few factors to consider before signing in that lease deed. Legal system: There are specific tenant laws which govern the agreement, which will also differ according to location. You may find homes which are available for rent directly by the owner, but this is where those owner tenant laws come into play. Understand the laws which govern that particular are in order to make sure the owner is not taking you for a ride and that everything he says pertains to the generally accepted norms. Property inspection: Whether you go through an agent or find listings for homes for rent by owners directly, you still have to ensure that a thorough inception is conducted by an expert. If you do find anything that needs repairing or needs replacement in the apartment, do not hesitate to contact the owner.
Resources you can use to know more about property archives

Resources you can use to know more about property archives

Archives contain information and source documents which have been accumulated over the years since the property was developed. These are normally collection of records to shed some light about the person or organization mentioned in the archives. These are a collection of records which are preserved over a period of time, also updated as and when significant changes are made to keep it updated and for reference and further research purposes. Generally, the people who conduct research at archives are filmmakers, demographers, lawyers, historians and more, mostly for academic purposes. But when it comes to archives for property, the research is done to identify the history behind the said property. Here are a couple of useful resources to research the history behind any property. Overview of records and historical collections: Municipal records and country archives will have documents pertaining to the history, development and more of the said property. Records will indicate the property’s description, legal and otherwise, values original and appraised, reasons for any appraisal or decrease for that matter, sales records, physical details about the property like area, square footage and more. The records will also contain assessor’s property information, tax information and other information pertaining to other legal matters which are connected to the said property.
Things you should know before visiting property archives

Things you should know before visiting property archives

Property archives may be open for the public for research purpose but there are a number of things that you should know before visiting these places. Here is a list of do’s and don’ts while visiting a public records office or any property archives. Security check in: Not everyone is allowed to visit a public records office, in fact some places allow only people who have a valid government issued Id to avail registration and get a research card. This can be anything from your driver’s license to passports issued by recognized government’s. The registration is essential for security purposes and accesses to government records, which are open for public research purposes. Use of camera’s, cellphones and other devices: The guidelines issued for use of cameras in an archives offices will again differ for different counties and district offices and the researcher is responsible for compliances as per the state guidelines. Cellphones are generally permitted on silent or vibrate mode only, so as to not disturb fellow researchers. Use of laptops or other devices will again depend on the type of research and guidelines issued by the archives. Copies and reproductions: Since the information stored in public archives are as the name suggests, for public research purpose, copies can be made for a price which is decided by the archive.
The need for property records explained

The need for property records explained

Any papers which contain vital information about a property or piece of land are called property records. The records generally indicate who is the legal owner of the property, which also includes proof of ownership and the deed registered under the his or her name. A property records office is a place which maintains such information for every property, plot or patch of land owned in that particular county or city. The records of any sale, purchase with respect to property will be maintained in this office. Other related information to the said property can be found in this office. Papers with respect to any loan, outstanding payments, tax related information, detailed information about the owner can all be all found. There are a number of reason for which property records might be needed. Here are a few to name. Records contain vital documents about the owner and all related information which comes in very handy when there is a need to settle disputes with respect to any mortgages and foreclosure for the property. Property records contain documents which can be utilized for dealing with any easement rights. Easement can be explained as a right to use someone else’s land or property for a specified purpose.
Plan your estate with revocable living trust

Plan your estate with revocable living trust

Have you felt the need of estate planning? Are you looking for a simple yet effective estate planning tool? If so, one of the best options that could be considered is the revocable living trust. Revocable literally means something that can be revoked or cancelled. The revocable living trust is a trust created in your lifetime to manage your assets, and the trust has the flexibility of being revoked or cancelled at any point of time. Though several other options are available for estate planning, this is considered to be one of the best. The person creating a revocable living trust is called the grantor or trustmaker, and he is the one who controls and manages the assets. There may be cases when the grantor prefers to have an attorney or an institution to oversee the trust’s activities. How does it work The trustmaker creates the trust with legal formalities that include preparation of documents consisting of the asset details and the trustee details. The trust documents also have the name of the beneficiary who would take charge of the trust under two conditions: When the trustmaker becomes mentally ill In this case, the successor trustee takes over the charge on the trust and manages all the affairs related to the assets and their finances.
Your concise guide to estate planning

Your concise guide to estate planning

There are several entities such as trusts, powers of attorney and wills, involved in estate planning. They aid spouses and families of estate holders to benefit from the estate of the deceased. The absence of an estate plan leads the estate to go into probate and thereafter, judged by a court. Devising an estate plan requires one to go to an estate planning attorney to ensure that the welfare of the estate goes as one planned it to be. Benefits of an estate plan An estate plan is not only for the affluent, but also for those who want to ensure that their families have a hassle-free time after their demise. Following are some of the compelling reasons to opt for an estate plan: Saves your family from all legal hassles – An efficient estate planning saves the family from getting involved in laborious legal procedures. Reduces estate taxes – By gifting assets, you are able to lower the complete value of your estate because once assets are gifted, they cannot be held against the estate value. Consequently, the property taxes levied on your estate will decrease. Prevents unnecessary expenses – An efficient estate plan made with the advice of a skilled attorney helps you save your family from spending money for unnecessary causes such as taxes and litigation.