On the November ballot, you’ll see Proposition 33: Prohibit State Limitations on Local Rent Control Initiative (2024), a measure designed to undo the Costa-Hawkins Act from 1995. Whenever I see legislation in favor of rent control, I want to offer everyone with a vote a free class in basic economics. There’s no denying I’m biased … Read more
I like to keep up with state and national real estate trends, because what happens elsewhere can affect us, either directly or indirectly. To that end, I just learned about a new mixed-use development in Los Angeles, funded in part by Costco. (Mixed-use zoning allows multiple uses on a given plot of land, for example, … Read more
On the November ballot, you’ll see California Proposition 36: Drug and Theft Crime Penalties and Treatment-Mandated Felonies Initiative. Some people are calling this a “tough-on-crime” initiative, but really, it’s a common-sense initiative intended to fix a whole bunch of problems caused by Proposition 47. I had a conversation with Mendocino County Sheriff Matt Kendall and … Read more
I recently spent some time with the Ukiah city manager, Sage Sangiacomo, and a city council member, Doug Crane, to learn more about a proposed tax sharing and annexation agreement between the City of Ukiah and Mendocino County. Based on the agreement, ultimately, the new city limits could more than double the City’s current footprint. … Read more
If you are in escrow and the property you’re buying requires flood insurance, you might want to speed things along. The vast majority of flood insurance is provided through the National Flood Insurance Program, a government program that is about to expire (again) on September 30, 2024. If it doesn’t get renewed in a timely … Read more
I recently asked my sales manager if he could give homebuyers only one piece of advice, what would it be? He didn’t hesitate when he said, “Tell them to read everything.” He recounted times when he’d given written material to clients and explained that the information could significantly influence the value of a property, only … Read more
If you look at the top ten most destructive fires in California history according to the Western Fire Chief’s Association, you’ll notice almost all of them occurred in last five years or so. August Complex in Mendocino, Humboldt, Trinity, Tehama, Glenn, Lake, and Colusa counties, August 2020: 1,032,648 acres burned, 935 structures destroyed, 1 death … Read more
If you are renting a house because you believe you cannot afford to buy, you might be surprised to discover that owning a home is within your reach. An entry-level home in the Ukiah Valley can run as low as $350,000. Let’s assume, for the moment, that you haven’t been able to save anything for … Read more
Last year, one out of every five homes built in California was an accessory dwelling unit, or ADU. Just three years ago, the rate was half that. While Ukiah’s increase hasn’t been as dramatic as the statewide surge, we have seen an uptick. Here’s why. In places like the San Francisco Bay Area, much of … Read more