Our Property Management division has seen some crazy things in their day, from tenants (residents) parking motorcycles indoors to ankle-deep water after botched faucet repairs. Happily, most of our residents are reasonable, responsible people, but a few of them—or sometimes their children—get themselves into some wild situations. While I was still in college, I bought … Read more
When you fall in love with a house, it’s easy to get swept away in the emotion of it all, imagining summer barbecues in the backyard and holiday celebrations around the hearth. However, before you begin arranging the furniture, be sure to look for these warning signs that things may not be as perfect as … Read more
Sometimes cutting corners to save a buck can be really expensive. Let’s say you have great neighbors. You’ve known them for years. You have dinner at each other’s homes from time to time and you often chat over the fence. They’re quite a bit older than you, and eventually one of the spouses passes away. … Read more
When you buy or sell a house, it can be very exciting, whether you’re becoming a homeowner for the first time, upgrading to a new neighborhood, or selling a home to start an adventure elsewhere. Sometimes, however, things do not go as planned. There’s a paragraph in the standard purchase agreement from the California Association … Read more
Many renters are under the mistaken impression that they cannot afford to buy a house. Some believe they need a substantial down payment; others believe they cannot afford the monthly expenses of home ownership. While these assumptions may be true, it’s best to review the facts before crossing home ownership off your list. We’ll assume … Read more
You may have noticed that heaters, and electricity in general, have a way of going out when Mother Nature brings her coldest winter storm of the season. While we don’t face the same freezing extremes as people in Wisconsin or Minnesota, it’s still a bummer to be cold. If you have a low tolerance for … Read more
If we thought we had a housing shortage before the fires, we really have one now. While the developers of the Vineyard Crossing housing development on Lover’s Lane in Ukiah are determined to work with the county to make the development a success, they and developers like them face significant hurdles as they try to … Read more
Every year at this time, people contemplate new beginnings. When it comes to our happiness, jobs can have a big impact, so if you’re in a job that makes you unhappy for whatever reason, this might be a great time to consider a change to real estate. The housing market in Mendocino County and throughout … Read more
Last week, I mentioned several things Realtors would like their clients who are selling property to know, including the benefits of choosing simple décor, not keeping secrets, only doing improvements that will provide a return on their investment, and opting to fix big-ticket items rather than reducing the property’s sale price. Here are a few … Read more