A Look Back at 2018

It’s hard to believe another year’s gone by. From a real estate perspective, 2018 had some interesting developments. Here are a few facts, figures and observations to help you make good real estate decisions in the year to come. HOME PRICES While the median sales price for a single-family home in Ukiah remained flat at … Read more


How Real Estate Has Changed…a Walk Through Old-time Ukiah

I was talking with a friend whose husband grew up in Ukiah and often gives directions based on landmarks that don’t exist anymore. “Keep going past the old Green Barn,” he’ll say, or “You know, it’s next to where Wildbergers used to be.” Hearing the names of these old businesses brought back a flood of … Read more


All Kinds of Loans – Part IV

This is the fourth and final column in a series describing the various types of real estate loans. While you must have some way to repay the loan, you really do have a huge variety of options when it comes to buying real estate. CalVet – These are intended for active service members or military … Read more


All Kinds of Loans – Part III

This is the third in a series describing the various types of real estate loans. Whether you have excellent credit or no credit, whether you’ve saved for a down payment or you can’t rub two nickels together, there’s a loan for you. Seller Carry Backs – For seller carry backs, the seller agrees to provide … Read more


All Kinds of Loans – Part II

Last week, I began describing the many types of real estate loans available for residential, commercial, industrial, or agricultural property. Thinking about buying property? There’s a loan for just about every situation—some for expensive properties, some for fixer-uppers, some for farmers, some for businesspeople, some for short terms, some for long terms. You name it, … Read more


All Kinds of Loans – Part I

Since most of us don’t have hundreds of thousands of dollars lying around to purchase real estate, we need a loan. The good news is that there are plenty of types of loans to choose from. Whether you’re interested in residential, commercial, industrial, or agricultural property, individuals and institutions are ready to fund your investment—as … Read more


Opportunity Zones – Not the Panacea We Hoped For

In June, I wrote about Opportunity Zones, a new program that looked to be the best investment opportunity since Google. It turns out, things are less promising than they originally appeared unless you fit into a very narrow band of real estate investors. Please! This is one investment opportunity where you MUST talk to your … Read more


Reverse Deferred Exchanges – Not for the Faint of Heart

Last week, I wrote about 1031 exchanges, which help real estate investors defer paying capital gains tax when buying and selling properties. Now I’m going to share something even more esoteric—a reverse deferred exchange. While 90 percent of real estate investors will never have reason to be involved in one, it’s still fun to learn … Read more


Let’s Skip the Capital Gains Tax, Shall We?

I attended a party recently where the topic of real estate exchanges came up. Before I say more, I must remind you that when I write about investing or the tax implications of owning real estate, I am simply sharing my opinion. If you are thinking of investing or have questions about taxes with regard … Read more