Clicking on banner ads enables JWR to constantly improve
Jewish World Review Nov. 16, 1999 /7 Kislev, 5760

Bruce Williams

Bruce Williams
JWR's Pundits
World Editorial
Cartoon Showcase

Mallard Fillmore

Michael Barone
Mona Charen
Linda Chavez
David Corn
Greg Crosby
Larry Elder
Don Feder
Suzanne Fields
Paul Greenberg
Bob Greene
Betsy Hart
Nat Hentoff
David Horowitz
Arianna Huffington
Marianne Jennings
Michael Kelly
Mort Kondracke
Ch. Krauthammer
Lawrence Kudlow
Dr. Laura
David Limbaugh
Michelle Malkin
Chris Matthews
Michael Medved
MUGGER
Kathleen Parker
Robert Samuelson
Debbie Schlussel
Sam Schulman
Tony Snow
Thomas Sowell
Cal Thomas
Jonathan S. Tobin
Ben Wattenberg
George Will
Bruce Williams
Walter Williams
Mort Zuckerman

Consumer Reports
Weekly Standard

Econophone

Value is what will sell


http://www.jewishworldreview.com -- DEAR BRUCE: We own a house in the South with a $60,000 mortgage. While the house has been appraised at $190,000, we have had it on the market for $184,000 for five years. We did have an offer of $180,000, which we accepted, but the buyer had bad credit. This is a beautiful English Tudor house with 3,400 heated square feet, a two car garage, etc. I left it with the best real estate agent in town. We have tried others, and still no success. -- L.G., via e-mail

DEAR L.G.: Sales are a function of value in a particular market. Your home may be gorgeous, but if no one is willing to pay $184,000 for it, then it is clearly not worth $190,000. It is worth only what someone will pay. I suggest that if you really want to move, lower the price until it comes into sync with the rest of the market.

DEAR BRUCE: You had a query from a B.K. about Treasury Notes. You might have mentioned that another place they could look is at the Web site www.publicdebt.treasury.gov/sec/sectrdir.htm. This site is currently updated and contains all of the information plus downloadable forms of the treasury direct service. -- A READER

DEAR READER: Thank you very much for sharing this information. How in the world does one keep track of Web sites whose addresses are as long as "War and Peace"? I certainly appreciate your contribution.

DEAR BRUCE: I have an aunt who lives in Wisconsin, while I live in another state. She has no spouse or children, just a niece and sister-in-law. She would like me to be the executor of her will. Is it possible for me to be the executor, even though I live in another state? -- K.G., St. Charles, Ill.

DEAR K.G.: The Attorney General's office in Wisconsin directed me to the statute regarding appointing executors to estates (this information can be located at www.legis.state.wi.us). Statute 856.23 states that "nonresidency may be sufficient cause for nonappointment or removal of a person in a court's discretion." In other words, you may have to appoint a representative for yourself who resides in the state of Wisconsin to keep the courts from disqualifying you. Your aunt should consult an attorney to make sure she follows protocol.



Send your questions to JWR contributor Bruce Williams by clicking here. (Questions of general interest will be answered in future columns. Owing to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.) Interested in buying or selling a house? Let Bruce Williams' "House Smart" be your guide. (Sales of the book help fund JWR).

Up

11/11/99: Y2K: No big deal for real estate
11/08/99: Real life is tough luck
11/03/99: The right time to cash a savings bond
11/01/99: Slow road for savings accounts
10/29/99: What do you want from insurance?
10/27/99: You have a right to see your tax forms!
10/25/99: Why own a house at 65?
10/22/99: Online fine, but CDs?
10/20/99: Love, honor -- and separate credit
10/18/99: Find the value of your stocks
10/15/99: Property lien prevents trade
10/13/99: Clear up debt, only then tie the knot
10/11/99: If it ain't broke...
10/04/99: Should I stick with the company IRA?
10/04/99: Get a financial education!
10/01/99: Insurance: Not much one person can do
09/30/99: Lost tickets are lost cash
09/29/99: Trusting only one financial planner
09/27/99: Adult children should help out
09/24/99: Tips for first-time home buyers
09/21/99: Use the rule of 72s!
09/17/99: Legal strategy can be a pain
09/15/99: Teen drivers drive up insurance
09/13/99: Always use an attorney!
09/10/99: Whose taxes are they, anyway?
09/08/99: How do I roll over my 401(k)?
09/03/99: How can I work out my IRS payments?
09/01/99: When your company can't pay you
08/30/99: Beware of shady viatical investments
08/26/99: Landlords vary on security deposits
08/25/99: Educational IRAs must be spent on education
08/23/99: Finding out the value of old stocks
08/20/99: How to get an FHA refund
08/19/99: 100 percent financing is a scam
08/16/99: Will I have to pay a capital gains tax?
08/16/99: Thinking about PMI
08/13/99: Short-term mutual funds a-OK
08/11/99: It's your job to shop around
08/10/99: Sometimes, roots need to be uprooted
08/09/99: 'Pre-approved' doesn't mean a thing
08/06/99: Only you can determine your investments
08/04/99: Bank IRA the lowest-risk option
08/03/99: Reverse mortgages good for the elderly
08/02/99: Get the survey BEFORE you buy the house!
07/28/99: Get a lawyer -- it's worth it!
07/27/99: If it ain't broke...

©1999, NEA