Learning that your rental home is being put up for sale can create a wave of panic and unpleasant emotions. You need not panic, however, as the law gives renters certain rights in this situation. Your landlord isn't allowed to break your lease due to a sale unless the lease itself allows him to do so. At a minimum, you have the right to 30 days' notice before you must move. Usually, however, you have the right to stay in your rental unit until the lease expires.

Most commonly issued in the form of home equity loans and home equity lines of credit, a second mortgage can serve as a good way to access the equity in your home. Once in hand, you can use this money to fix your home, buy a new car or pay off high-interest credit cards. While getting this money when you need it is often a blessing, it can become a curse if you fall behind on your loan payments. When you take out a mortgage, you agree to use the home you're buying as collateral for the debt. If

If you're in the midst of a divorce or property dispute, you may hear the term "quitclaim deed" thrown around quite a bit. Someone may even ask you to sign one. You can do so at any time, but doing so releases your ownership stake in the property. If, for example, you and your spouse own a home together, the home becomes your spouse's if you sign a quitclaim deed. The same is true of business partners or friends with whom you share a vacation home. Upon signing the quitclaim deed, you no longer