What Qualifies as a Service Animal?
Years ago, the only service animal most of us knew about was a seeing-eye dog, and no one could deny the legitimacy of that essential…
Category: Real Estate
Read the Find Print to Find Restrictions: CC&Rs
A reader recently expressed surprise and dismay about what she called a “deed exclusion clause” that restricted what she could do on her property. Likely,…
Wouldn’t You Want to Know If You Were Buying “The Snake House”?
I received a letter recently asking if Mendocino County has “local traditions” around what is revealed when selling real estate. This gentleman sold his house…
The Unexpected 2020 Housing Market
Like almost everything else in 2020, the housing market has provided some surprises. One would think that during a pandemic, people would hunker down, delay…
When to Lock Your Rate
Interest rates can have a dramatic effect on the cost of real property over time. To guard against rate changes during the escrow process, buyers…
Joint Ownership Questions Answered
Recently, I received questions about owning property via a partnership; specifically, how to bequeath a vacation home to two children. Admirably, the property owners wanted…
Preparing Your Home for Inspections
When selling residential real estate, there’s no escaping all sorts of inspections—home inspections, pest and fungus, septic, well, soil, roof, and more. Streamlining this process…
What’s All This Hullabaloo About Water Heaters?
Water heaters are one of those appliances most of us don’t think much about until a cold shower reminds us that it is, in fact,…
Not All Home Offices Are Created Equal
In late 2020, nearly half of Americans were working from home. Although the pandemic will eventually end and people will be allowed to return to…
Proposed Oak Tree Ordinance Makes No Sense – Part II
As I mentioned last week, Mendocino County staffers in the Planning Department have published their proposed County Oak Tree and Oak Woodlands ordinance, an ordinance…