REAL ESTATE

By Inman News Feed

Tips for replacing air ducts in slab foundation home

Multiple broken joints may require rerouting system overhead Paul Bianchina Inman News® Q: We have recently discovered that the air ducts in our slab are breaking down; and it was recommended that we consider rerouting the air ducts to the attic. What are the advantages/disadvantages of having air ducts in the floor vs. overhead? Also we have heard that there are now several companies that can coat the inside of your air ducts in the floor with a paint-like substance that seals off any breaches in the system, therefore leaving the system in the floor vs. rerouting. Have you heard of this procedure, and, if so, is it something you would recommend? We feel that rerouting the system is very expensive because not only would we have to pay for the new air duct system in the attic, but also we would have to purchase a new heating unit that can be placed horizontally in the attic. The rerouting also would have a "domino" effect in that we would need to consider replacing all of our flooring to cover the old register holes. Another solution that was mentioned is a...

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Posted Feb. 3, 2012

REAL ESTATE

By AC Weekly

VIDEOS: First Time Home Buyer's Guide

Philadelphia Weekly's video guide to buying a home for the first time.

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Posted Mar. 30, 2010

REAL ESTATE

What's Your Home Worth?

The Zestimate (pronounced ZEST-ti-met, rhymes with estimate) home valuation is Zillow's estimated market value, computed using a proprietary formula. It is not an appraisal. It is a starting point in determining a home's value. The Zestimate is pulled from data; your real estate agent or appraiser physically inspects the home and takes special features, location, and market conditions into account. Variations in price also occur because of negotiating factors, closing costs, and timing of closing....

Provided by Zillow

REAL ESTATE

By Inman News Feed

IRS crackdown on identity theft

Real Estate Tax Talk Stephen Fishman Inman News® Here's an easy way for an identity thief to make money: Use the victim's Social Security number to file a forged tax return and claim a refund. The fake return is usually filed early in the tax season, before the real return is filed. You may be unaware that this has happened until you file your return later in the filing season and discover that two returns have been filed using the same Social Security number. The Internal Revenue Service is well aware of this problem and is trying stop it. Last week, as part of a stepped-up effort against refund fraud and identity theft, the IRS and the U.S. Justice Department conducted a massive national sweep targeting suspected identity thieves. The IRS has also stepped up its internal reviews to spot false tax returns before tax refunds are issued. How do you know if you're an IRS identity theft victim? One way is if you receive an IRS notice or letter stating that: - more than one tax return for you was filed; -...

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Posted Feb. 3, 2012