| Selling
Your Home - Whom to Contact
Where do I get information on IRS publications?
The Internal Revenue Service publishes a number of real estate
publications. They are listed by number:
* 521 "Moving Expenses"
* 523 "Selling Your Home"
* 527 "Residential Rental Property"
* 534 "Depreciation"
* 541 "Tax Information on Partnerships"
* 551 "Basis of Assets"
* 555 "Federal Tax Information on Community Property"
* 561 "Determining the Value of Donated Property"
* 590 "Individual Retirement Arrangements"
* 908 "Bankruptcy and Other Debt Cancellation"
* 936 "Home Mortgage Interest Deduction"
Order by calling 1-800- TAX-FORM.
What standards do appraisers
use to estimate value?
Appraisers use several factors when estimating a home's value,
including the home's size and square footage, the condition of
the home and neighborhood, comparable local sales, any pertinent
historical information, sales performance and indices that forecast
future value. For detailed information on appraisal standards,
contact the Appraisal Institute at 875 N. Michigan Ave., Suite
2400, Chicago, IL 60611-1980; (312) 335-4458.
Where do I get information
about finding a real estate attorney?
To find a real estate attorney, contact your local bar association,
which may offer local referral services. You may also ask friends
or your real estate agent for their recommendations. When you
have several names, call each to find out about fees and their
level of experience.
Where do I get information
on filing consumer complaints?
For information about filing consumer complaints, look to these
sources:
* Consumer Federation of America, 1424 16th St. N.W., Suite 604,
Washington, DC 20036; (202) 387-6121.
* United Homeowners Association; 1511 K St., N.W.; Washington,
DC 20005; (202) 408-8842.
* Consumers Union, 1535 Mission St., San Francisco, CA 94103 or
call (415) 431-6747.
* Consumer Action Council, 116 New Montgomery St., Suite 233,
San Francisco, CA 94105; (415) 777-9648.
Where do I get information
about closing costs?
For more on closing costs, ask for the "Consumers Guide to
Mortgage Settlement Costs," Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco,
Public Information Department, P.O. Box 7702, San Francisco, CA
94120 or call (415) 974-2163.
Where do I get information
on housing market stats?
A real estate agent is a good source for finding out the status
of the local housing market. So is your statewide association
of Realtors, most of which are continuously compiling such statistics
from local real estate boards. For overall housing statistics,
U.S. Housing Markets regularly publishes quarterly reports on
home building and home buying. Your local builders association
probably gets this report. If not, the housing research firm is
located in Canton, Mich.; call (800) 755-6269 for information;
the firm also maintains an Internet site. Finally, check with
the U.S. Bureau of the Census in Washington, D.C.; (301) 763-2422.
The census bureau also maintains a site on the Internet. The Chicago
Title company also has published a pamphlet, "Who's Buying
Homes in America." Write Chicago Title and Trust Family of
Title Insurers, 171 North Clark St., Chicago, IL 60601-3294.
How do I reach the IRS?
To reach the Internal Revenue Service, call (800) TAX-1040.
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