I know I’ve mentioned it before, but it bears repeating: in this market, sometimes you need more cash to rent a house than to buy it. If you’re interested in owning your own home, read on. Several loan programs allow buyers to purchase a home for less cash than a conventional (bank) loan and sometimes … Read more
This column is in response to a community member’s request. I’m about to provide information that should be used as a basis for discussion with your accountant or financial planner. I’m not either, so I’m simply sharing my opinion, NOT giving advice here. The question I received was, “Should I use my Individual Retirement Account … Read more
As I mentioned last week, sometimes life goes in a direction you don’t expect. This week, I’ll share some information about liquidated damages, specific performance, arbitration, and mediation. Before you put the paper down from unbearable boredom, let me put this another way. Here’s how to save yourself expensive court fees and legal hassles, and … Read more
Sometimes life goes in a direction you don’t expect—either positive or negative. So this week, I thought I’d write about one way to prepare for surprises of the unpleasant variety. (Most of us can handle the happy surprises without too much preparation.) Whether you’re a homeowner or renter, I strongly recommend investing in homeowner’s or … Read more
Last week I shared ideas about how to improve your home’s energy efficiency by making changes to your home’s interior (replacing old appliances, adding a whole-house fan, etc.). This week, I’ll share some thoughts on exterior improvements to reduce your costs and increase your comfort. As with many things, improvements come in all shapes and … Read more
It’s a seller’s market, and if you’re thinking of selling, one way to be successful is to make your home more energy efficient. Even if you’re not thinking of selling, it’s nice to have your home remain comfortable without high utility bills. In real estate lingo, the first “improvement” to a piece of property is … Read more
It continues to be a seller’s market. Home prices are rising and rates are still at historic lows. As I’m thinking about real estate and trying to help folks get what they expect out of a transaction, it occurred to me that one area that can cause a lot of heartache is confusion about real … Read more
I was reading one of the many emails I receive daily, and I came across one from the California Association of realtors that was pretty good so I thought I’d share some of it. Basically, it talked about why there’s good reason to be optimistic about the housing market. Home values are on the rise. … Read more
I’ve referred to the MLS in previous blogs, but I don’t know that I’ve explained what it is and why it’s so valuable, so here you go. MLS stands for Multiple Listing Service, and it is a system whereby real estate agents in a specific geographic area share information about all the properties for sale … Read more