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Reporting from Washington — More than a few financially strapped owners have tried to unload their homes through what’s known as a short sale, only to end up stymied by what most believe to be an uncooperative lender.

The latest federal statistics on housing prices in hundreds of local markets reveal patterns that haven’t been making the nightly news: While on a national basis homeowners have lost over $1 trillion in equity since the end of the boom, the overwhelming majority of local markets continue to show net cumulative value growth over the [...]

Question
We are submitting an application to purchase a co-op apartment. One question on the application is: “Do you plan to make any alterations or changes to the apartment?” We do plan to make alterations, including opening the kitchen and closing off the dining room. Several other units in the same line of apartments have already [...]

Question
I have been living for more than 12 years with a roommate, who is 62 years old. I want him to leave, but he refuses. Is he too old to be evicted? If I decide to move out and he isn’t given a new lease (the current one is in my name only), am I [...]

Question
I need to terminate my lease four months early. I have always paid my rent on time and have been living in the apartment for four years. Can my landlord penalize me or give me a hard time?
Answer
“A lease is a binding contract,” said Sherwin Belkin, a Manhattan lawyer who frequently represents landlords. “The parties [...]

Question
I have lived in a rent-stabilized apartment since 1965. Recently, the lower lock on the front door jammed and couldn’t be opened, so I got a locksmith to drill it and open the door for a fee of $108. The lock now needs to be replaced. Wouldn’t this be the responsibility of the building’s owner? [...]

Question
When I first purchased my condominium, I rented a parking spot in the basement of the building. After two years, I purchased the spot. In my designated spot I not only park my car but also store personal possessions in plastic storage boxes and lockers.
I have now received a notice stating that if I don’t [...]

FOR some would-be home sellers, the big question isn’t whether they should sell, but where they should move. In the summer of 2007, Davida and Bret Hogan were in just such a quandary. With a new baby, the possibility of more space had taken on new appeal.

Question
I found a town house in what appears to be in excellent condition in Brooklyn. It is being offered as a “short sale.” The agent says I must sign a contract before I know whether my offer is accepted. What are the risks of this?
Answer
There are no significant risks in buying at a “short sale.”

Question
A couple with a child are looking to rent my home. They are in the middle of a bankruptcy, but they promised to pay the rent on time. I am not sure if I am included in the bankruptcy law’s “automatic stay” once I rent them my home. Any advice?
Answer
Harold A. Olsen, a Manhattan lawyer [...]