u/janejacobs1

Committed gardener considering downsizing in from the 'burbs to a small rowhouse in the city. In my current detached single family home I'm now able to modify downspouts to divert rainwater into barrels. However it seems like it would be disallowed to cut into a downspout shared between two rowhouses. This is a photo of the front, downspout marked in red--I assume because the roof slopes in both directions that there's an identical one on the back. Looks like these downspouts go directly into the ground. Is the water sent directly into the storm drain system?

https://preview.redd.it/5bym6kllr52h1.png?width=388&format=png&auto=webp&s=770ec4b61d13f88600c56ac8df7f3f961ccb5709

Looking for a cabinet production shop with a table saw setup (outfeed and side extension) big enough to cut the long edges from three vintage doors I’m resizing, and willing to help with a one-off task. My contractor saw is too small, and cuts by my circular saw are not are not as perfectly consistent as a table saw’s. Some have suggested a track saw but these doors are unique so I figure I have one shot on these cuts and want them to be exactly right.

I discovered a great home in a perfect location for my kids, scheduled for tax auction in a month. I’d be a newbie to the auction process plus my pockets aren’t deep enough to compete head to head with well funded experienced bidders. So I’m contacting the owner ahead of the auction to see if he’s open to selling outright before the sale, for the amount of his debt plus moving costs and his first few months of rent somewhere else, totaling ~$105k. If he consents to that price (and of course agrees to pay off the lien with the proceeds), I would hold the property and make needed repairs while my first-time-homebuyer kids shop for funding. It’s a long shot but if he accepts, would the low price Im paying him vs its estimated market value of $350-400k trigger a gift tax or other problem? And same question for when I turn around and sell it to my kids for the same spread (what I’ve spent on it vs open market value)? — I know the latter would not be considered an arms’ length transaction, but what about the former? And one more thing, of course I’ll run a title search, but will that turn up any possible IRS liens as well? (Property is in the name of a family trust if that matters for any of the above, but I do understand that liens attach to the property not the delinquent owner.) — This is new territory for me but it’s a rare opportunity to make a real difference in my kid’s’ financial future so I hoping for advice on how to best make it happen without making big mistakes.

I found a lovely home in a perfect location for my son and his partner that is scheduled to go to tax auction soon. I’m approaching the owner about paying their tax balance before it goes to auction, plus funding their move and first few months of rent—all totaled, about 105k. After that (and a title search) I propose transferring the deed to me for some nominal amount. On open market it would sell for ~400k. Following the transfer I would make any needed repairs, then my son and his partner would secure funding to buy it from me for what I expended so far, i. e. the 105k plus repair expenses. — This is new territory to me, so don’t hold back…please tell me if this is a good plan or not. Also, will the owner basically selling the property to me for, say, $1 trigger gift tax or other issues? Then when I turn around and sell it to my kids for ~105k, same question?