Whether you own your own home or live in a rental, homeowners insurance is a worthwhile investment. It covers everything from losses and damages to your house and belongings, as well as some surprising extras. Please keep in mind that I’m about to tell you what’s common, not necessarily what’s in your particular policy. The … Read more
Right now, people who want to sell their current home and buy a different one find themselves in a bit of a quandary. The market is hot and residential properties are selling like hot cakes, so sellers are understandably eager to get their property on the market. However, what do they do if their house … Read more
Choosing the right house for your retirement years depends on several factors. Many people downsize to a smaller home, either because their economic situation demands it or because they don’t want to deal with the maintenance and upkeep of a larger home. Others move to be closer to the amenities they now have time to … Read more
If you’ve been thinking of buying a home, now is the time, especially if Congress passes the First-Time Homebuyer Act, which would allow low- and middle-income earners who haven’t owned a home for at least three years to get a $15,000 tax credit when they purchase a primary residence and live there for at least … Read more
Last week, I shared some information about why title insurance is so valuable. This week, I’ll share a few more compelling reasons to get the best title insurance you can afford. As a reminder, title insurance isn’t like other insurance. Instead of paying ongoing premiums for protection against some problem in the future, for a … Read more
When Realtors explain the importance of title insurance to prospective homebuyers, many homebuyers understandably assume that title insurance is like other insurance—a policy for which they pay ongoing premiums that will protect them in some way against problems that could occur in the future. However, title insurance does the opposite. For a one-time fee, title … Read more
Recently, several people have asked me whether I think housing prices are inflated and likely to lead to a market correction. It’s an understandable question, especially for those who owned property in 2005-‘06 when the last housing bubble burst. For now, at least, I see no warning signals. Housing Prices First of all, in the … Read more
Recently, a fellow called me looking for a small, private-money loan of $14,000 to fund some home renovations. He had a credit score of 840, which is about as close to perfect as you’re likely to find. He had no outstanding debt to speak of, having just paid off his car loan a year after … Read more
If you’ve been house hunting, you know the local market is tight. Supply is down which forces prices up. Although Mendocino County is more affordable than some parts of California, it’s getting harder to find property in a price range that’s comfortable for most people. In the real estate business, we use the Housing Affordability … Read more