Q: I found my real-estate agent through a Web site. Now that we've found a house and I've signed a contract with the seller, my agent is ignoring my e-mails and phone calls regarding follow-up details. Who should I contact if I still cannot find her?

Q: Is there a public ethics agency where a condominium homeowner may file a complaint concerning an autocratic homeowner board president and a property manager where they conspired to recall two homeowner board members who did not agree with the property manager's proposed annual budget?
A civil suit cannot be considered since homeowners' funds would be used to defend the case. (The Washington Real Estate Commission was contacted without success.)

Q: I'm retired and must sell my home and move to a warmer climate for health reasons. But my real-estate agent says the market is slow because there are so many for-sale homes. He says many owners don't really need to sell. This is making it hard for those of us who do. What can be done to discourage these sellers?

Q: Our condo's former board of directors made questionable decisions regarding very serious financial matters. The new board is trying to recover from this matter, but some now-former board members won't let go. Their demands are constant. How can we get this situation under control?

Q: We've relocated to Seattle, but have had no success selling our two waterfront houses near Houston. Is it reasonable to try to trade them instead for a home in Seattle?

Q: I keep reading about the subprime mortgage meltdown, the subsequent foreclosures and lenders going out of business. I thought that private mortgage insurance (PMI) was supposed to protect lenders when borrowers defaulted. Why hasn't it?

Q: The contractor building town houses next door has undermined and damaged our fence. I've called and written to him twice. No response. How can I prevail upon him to restore our fence to its previous condition?

Q: After we signed a lease-option agreement to buy a house we discovered the seller never obtained a permit to add a third bedroom and that room's construction is so poor a wall moves when pushed. We're afraid this could doom an inspection and sale. Do we have any options other than walking away?