Capital gains tax and the principal residence exemption

Your home is likely the largest investment you will ever make. However, while most investments carry a large tax burden when you sell them for a profit, your home benefits from federal rules to encourage home ownership. As long as the property is your principal residence, you can claim an exemption on capital gains tax… Continue reading Capital gains tax and the principal residence exemption

What exactly are condominium declarations, by-laws and rules?

A condo declaration is a document that creates the condominium corporation. It defines what each unit is physically, establishes the common elements, and assigns responsibility for repair and maintenance of each unit and the common areas. It also sets out each owner’s proportionate interest in the common elements and share of the common expenses, and… Continue reading What exactly are condominium declarations, by-laws and rules?

Title insurance: you probably already have it

Every now and then, I receive mail from banks about getting title insurance for my home. Title insurance is a very valuable tool; it protects you from any problems with the title to your property that could not be discovered before your purchase was completed, and protects you going forward against fraud (either a false… Continue reading Title insurance: you probably already have it