All Forum Posts by: Edward Burns

I would probably leave the tree in the center of the front lawn but would strongly consider getting rid of the tree on the side of the front lawn. However, if the paving on the driveway is cracked (it appears it might be) then the tree might be the cause and would need to go eventually.

Get of rid of all the clutter. Removing everything visible on the porch and in the yard will make it appear larger and neater. The same holds true for the kitchen.

Living in a house while you are fixing it up to flip can be challenging but definitely can be done. The approach I have taken is three prong. Before moving in, I make sure it is livable (the furnace functions, water lines are secure, electricity works. In addition if I plan on knocking out a wall, I try to do that before moving in. Then it simply becomes a matter of attempting to keep the dust and dirt from construction from spreading through out the house and your belongings.

Mortgages for less $50K each can be difficult to obtain. So I would check out Seller financing or Local banks and/or credit unions for financing. The availability of financing or lack of it, will dictate what course of action to take.

Some county web sites will allow a search by the property owners' name. But this would need to be done county by county. In addition, it would not turn up properties held separately by different LLC's, Partnerships, or other legal entities that the person might own.

Look at it this way, If you were to co-sign a loan for someone to borrow money from a bank, "Do You Think The Bank Would Hesitate Coming After You For the Amount Due if the Borrower Defaulted"

Very good idea to check it out first. If I remember correctly the rules for Cook county are different than the rest of the 7-county metro area, so do not assume the same rules apply everywhere.

Have not seen the results of your court date from late February. While hoping you got good news, I have the feeling you have again been let down by the system.

Check with your local postmaster for the ins and outs of what is required. They have certain rules that need to be followed. I'm not sure if new inside mailboxes are permitted for small apartment buildings as the post office prefers to be able drive up to the boxes in many areas.

If you are not concerned about the possibility of property damage (and since you sound like you still considering this property) then talk to an insurance agent about liability insurance. They should not need the age of the house for that.

There are other possibilities. One is to have a title company do a preliminary title search (tell them you need the age of the home), or two, check yourself at the county courthouse for the information.