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Question: I recently signed a sales contract to sell my home. But then I changed my mind. I returned the buyer's earnest money and put it in writing that I was canceling the contract according to the clause related to "seller's default." Did I do this correctly? I can't be forced to sell, can I?

-- Cindy, Alpharetta, Ga.

Question: My homeowner-association president instructed me in writing to keep my October 2003 homeowner-association fee and instead cut down a tree in a common area that was protruding into my roof. Later, another homeowner volunteered to cut the tree, and at that time I went ahead and paid the association fee. The fee was returned to me, and I was told my property had been placed in lien/collection status. This occurred again in November, and I recently received a letter from a California collection company requesting $450 for non-payment of my homeowner-association fees. The only reason I didn't pay the October fee at the usual time was because the homeowner association president instructed me not to, and yet they have still proceeded with collection efforts. What can I do?