Any time two or more parties sign a legally binding contract, the need for conflict resolution may arise, which can be addressed via mediation, arbitration, or litigation. With mediation, a neutral third party, a mediator, attempts to bring the parties together, to find a way forward that everyone can agree to without assigning fault or … Read more
Many people, including some REALTORs, think winter is a terrible time to buy or sell a house (or any other property). Between the cold, wet weather and the holiday distractions, REALTORs sometimes recommend that their clients wait until spring to dive into the market. This is not necessarily good advice. I once knew a REALTOR … Read more
When it comes to negotiating, some people are under the misconception that it must be adversarial to the point where there is a clear winner and a clear loser. This isn’t the case. In real estate, if buyers and sellers are clear about their must-haves and willing to compromise a little on their would-likes, both … Read more
Recently, one of my REALTORs received a phone call from someone who lives in Spain but owns property in Ukiah. The caller wanted to sell his 800 acres of unimproved land and needed to do so somewhat quickly because he had some family medical expenses to cover. The seller seemed reasonable and motivated, so the … Read more
As the weather starts to cool, it’s a good time to prepare your home for winter. Gutters I usually start annual maintenance and upkeep before the rains come by cleaning out the gutters. It’s a lot easier to remove dead leaves and dry debris with a leaf blower before everything gets soggy and heavy. However, … Read more
With Halloween right around the corner, this seemed like a good time to discuss how to determine whether you’re about to buy a haunted house. Although I suppose any home could be haunted, the best ghost stories usually involve old mansions. As it happens, the Ukiah Valley has quite a few properties dating back to … Read more
Open houses are a great way for REALTORS to promote properties for sale, allowing prospective buyers to kick the tires, so to speak. It’s one thing to look at pictures of a home for sale. It’s a whole different experience to test whether the mirrored closet doors roll smoothly on their tracks. When you walk … Read more
On the November ballot, you’ll see Proposition 33: Prohibit State Limitations on Local Rent Control Initiative (2024), a measure designed to undo the Costa-Hawkins Act from 1995. Whenever I see legislation in favor of rent control, I want to offer everyone with a vote a free class in basic economics. There’s no denying I’m biased … Read more
I like to keep up with state and national real estate trends, because what happens elsewhere can affect us, either directly or indirectly. To that end, I just learned about a new mixed-use development in Los Angeles, funded in part by Costco. (Mixed-use zoning allows multiple uses on a given plot of land, for example, … Read more