Mecklenburg Times: News for Mecklenburg, Union and Iredell counties Real Estate, Development, Construction, and Community News in the Charlotte area and throughout Mecklenburg, Union and Iredell counties

Q: I live in a 55+ condo community. Our building consists of 64 apartments, each one with a designated parking space. In addition, there are 4 handicap spaces with corresponding signs indicated that spaces are reserved for visitors (up to ...

Tagged with: parking

  As the real estate market continues to heat up and more people are jumping into the investing business, I am starting to see some interesting and disturbing trends, such as multiple wholesalers contracting to buy the same house from ...

Tagged with: contract

Q:   Did Congress repeal the stepped-up basis when it enacted the new tax laws late last year? My husband died a month ago and I am concerned about the large tax I may have to pay when I sell the ...

Tagged with: Stepped-up basis

Dear Mr. Berko: Since we sold our business and retired 11 years ago, our $768,000 individual retirement account has averaged 8.8 percent, including dividends. I’m proud of this performance because I manage the account. Some years were better than others, ...

Tagged with: spouse

By Tom Zeeb (More gold has been mined from the thoughts of men than has been taken from the earth. So, dust off the cobwebs and use all those ideas you have) Wolfgang Riebe   So you how do you ...

Tagged with: baseball

I’m a local, experienced Realtor and, coincidentally, trained as a home inspector. While I found the article on mold somewhat helpful, I do believe you could also note some other possible relief for these buyers. Most states, perhaps all, have ...

Tagged with: IRS

Dear Mr. Berko: Malls and shopping centers have fallen significantly in value. I want the names of six mall REITs selling below book value and six mall REITs that have comeback potential. Then tell me why you like them. And ...

Tagged with: REIT

I have a passion regarding self-directed retirement account investing, and the more work I do for clients in that field, the more I run across the same three conundrums vexing many people who want to retire but are afraid they ...

Tagged with: retirement

Q:     I bought a co-op 10 years ago. This was an free standing house. We did a “tear down” and completely rebuilt . All the construction was on a cash basis. Question: Does the IRS allow you to estimate home ...

Tagged with: taxes

Dear Mr. Berko: My stockbroker is recommending that I buy 400 shares of Altria ($23,200), the big tobacco company, because it pays nearly 5 percent. I told him that I’m not sure I would be comfortable owning stock in a ...

Tagged with: General Electric