If you are in the fortunate position of having a little money to invest, or if you are just curious about investing, here’s a bit on real estate as an investment. Before I get started, I’ll remind you that I am neither a financial advisor nor a tax professional. I am not advising any action; … Read more
Most people in real estate don’t expect interest rates to stay down much longer. As unemployment drops and the economic recovery gains momentum and therefore demand for business borrowing, the pressure to raise interest rates increases. In addition the federal government has spent $17,000,000,000,000 more than they had. They therefore borrowed the money. This results … Read more
Last week, I reviewed the job qualifications of selling real estate, but there are many more careers available in the real estate industry. If you love living in Ukiah but wonder how you can support yourself financially, especially if you don’t have a college degree, a career in the real estate industry might be a … Read more
Many young people love living in Ukiah but wonder how they can support themselves financially in such a small town, especially without a college degree. For some, a career in the real estate industry might be a good fit. Jobs range from sales agent to property manager to loan officer, and more. They all require … Read more
With winter approaching, I thought I’d start with a few home maintenance reminders: Caulk exterior joints around your windows and doors. Not sealing gaps where the wind and cold can seep in could add hundreds of dollars to your heating bills. Have your furnace inspected and cleaned. Annual maintenance is a lot cheaper than having … Read more
In a real estate transaction, as in most transactions, it’s important to know who is responsible for what. If your house doesn’t sell as quickly as you hope or you can’t find the home of your dreams, whose fault is it? If your house sells in a day or the first house you view is … Read more
The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors is reviewing a program called PACE – an acronym for Property Assessed Clean Energy. While I am a fan of clean energy, I’m not a fan of this program and here’s why: the way the program is funded threatens lenders, and if lenders don’t lend, the housing market tumbles. … Read more
A reader recently asked if I’d write a column explaining how property taxes are assessed, how they can change, and how Proposition 13 affects the whole situation. So, here you go. The money you pay in taxes is based on two things: the assessed value of your property and the tax rate for your area. … Read more
I’ve talked about how to hire a realtor and a lender, but they probably won’t be the only professionals you need during your real estate transaction. You may need an insurance agent, home inspector, pest and fungus inspector, several contractors, landscapers, appraisers, and others. It’s never a bad idea to ask your friends and neighbors … Read more