Spring Cleaning to Avoid Disaster – Part II

As I mentioned last week, spring cleaning is kind of like exercising—the benefits are great, but it’s hard to get yourself to do it. Here’s…

Which Type of Mortgage is Right for you?

When you apply for mortgage to buy a home, the options can be confusing, even overwhelming. Figuring out which loan is right for you depends…

Beware of Office Exclusives

Generally speaking, when you decide to list your house for sale, you expect your REALTOR to shout it from the rooftops. That is, you want…

10 Years Ago

Exactly 10 years ago this week, I started writing this weekly real estate column. Here was the inaugural column.By way of introduction, I’m Dick Selzer…

Two Problems You Can’t Ignore: Lead and Asbestos

When it comes to buying an older home, some problems are annoying while others can pose a serious threat to your health. If you don’t…

Spring Cleaning to Avoid Disaster

Spring cleaning is kind of like exercising—the benefits are great, but it’s hard to get yourself to do it. Here’s a little pep talk about…

Why should I care about the difference between a legal parcel and an APN?

If you’ve ever looked at a property tax statement, you’ll notice there’s at least one parcel number listed. This is your assessor’s parcel number (APN),…

California Unveils Shared Loan Program for First-Time Buyers

My friend Ginny Richards, a senior loan officer at Kind Lending in Ukiah, was just telling me about a new loan program from the California…

Mold is Serious Business

In the past, I’ve addressed the risks posed by asbestos and lead. This week, I’ll tackle the dangers of mold. Not all mold is created…

Be the Best Buyer You Can Be

When it comes to making the biggest purchase of your life, a lack of experience and strong emotions can get in the way. Here are…