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Downsizing: Getting the Sequence Right
Moving to something smaller can be the right decision and is frequently made in the wrong order, which is what produces the regret.
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The house, the second house, and the places you choose to live next.
46 guides · page 3 of 3
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Managing an Empty House: Insurance, Security, and Maintenance
Protect an unoccupied estate property with written insurance terms, documented inspections, climate controls, secure mail, maintenance records, and a clear decision timetable.
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Inheriting a House With Siblings: A Practical Co-Ownership Plan
Verify title, value, tax basis, expenses, occupancy, buyout terms, sale options, and state partition rules when a house is inherited with siblings.
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Mortgage Unaffordable After a Spouse Dies: Options Before Foreclosure
Confirm successor status, build a hardship budget, submit a complete mortgage-assistance application, compare retention and exit options, and protect foreclosure deadlines.
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Homeowners Insurance After a Spouse Dies: Prevent a Coverage Gap
Notify the insurer, verify who is insured, protect an estate or vacant home, reconcile escrow, document valuables, and obtain written coverage confirmation after a death.
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Reverse Mortgage After Death: A Guide for Spouses and Heirs
Identify the borrower, preserve spouse protections, respond to due-and-payable notices, value the home, and compare keeping, selling, or surrendering a HECM property.
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Mortgage Successor-in-Interest Rights After a Spouse Dies
How a surviving spouse can document ownership, request successor confirmation, preserve payments, review escrow and insurance, seek loss mitigation, and escalate servicing errors.
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Should a Widow Keep or Sell the House? A Decision Framework
Compare ownership, mortgage, taxes, insurance, maintenance, accessibility, sale costs, housing alternatives, and emotional readiness before keeping or selling a home.