As I’ve said before, landlords and tenants often see things from very different perspectives. Having been in the property management business for decades, I have seen all sorts of crazy things. Sometimes the landlords are right. Sometimes the tenants are right. Many times, it comes down to the details of the lease agreement. Even though … Read more
Last week, I began sharing information about the process people must go through to determine whether a property has environmental contamination, and if it does, what to do about it. Decades ago, people used materials that were toxic to people and the planet on a somewhat regular basis and even regulations are now in place … Read more
Decades ago, health and safety regulations and environmental protections didn’t really exist, so people used materials that were toxic to people and the planet on a somewhat regular basis. Thankfully, this is no longer the case, but once in a while when a property changes hands, the buyer discovers an old problem that was never … Read more
If you’re at least 62 years old and you own your home outright, you can borrow against it and never have to pay back the loan. It’s called a reverse mortgage and it allows you to convert some of your home’s equity into cash. Unlike traditional mortgages, the loan does not have to be repaid … Read more
In a small community like ours, most people know several Realtors, so what do you do when it’s time to buy or sell property–who do you choose to represent you? The answer is simple: you pick the person who can best meet your needs (as opposed to the person you meet for drinks after work). … Read more
These days, buildings are a lot safer, more technologically advanced, and environmentally friendly than they once were, which is great. What isn’t great is the increased costs that occur when the government starts requiring every new home to incorporate each new innovation. If new technology is worthwhile and cost-effective, people will adopt it without the … Read more
Last week, I shared the tax benefits associated with having a home office. This week, I’ll share another way to reduce your tax burden: if you have a medical condition that requires upgrades to your home, you may be able to write off part of the cost of those upgrades. Before I go on, I … Read more
There are lots of great reasons to own a home. One of my favorites is the tax benefits. Many homeowners can write off the interest on their mortgage and on the amount they pay in property taxes. But if you have a home office, you may be able to take advantage of additional tax savings. … Read more
The City of Healdsburg is trying to bypass the Costa-Hawkins legislation by considering an ordinance related to “just cause for eviction.” In 1995, the California State Legislature enacted the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, preventing local governments from enacting rent controls on single-family homes and on housing built after 1995. Rent controls limit how much landlords … Read more