I recently asked my sales manager if he could give homebuyers only one piece of advice, what would it be? He didn’t hesitate when he said, “Tell them to read everything.” He recounted times when he’d given written material to clients and explained that the information could significantly influence the value of a property, only … Read more
If you look at the top ten most destructive fires in California history according to the Western Fire Chief’s Association, you’ll notice almost all of them occurred in last five years or so. August Complex in Mendocino, Humboldt, Trinity, Tehama, Glenn, Lake, and Colusa counties, August 2020: 1,032,648 acres burned, 935 structures destroyed, 1 death … Read more
If you are renting a house because you believe you cannot afford to buy, you might be surprised to discover that owning a home is within your reach. An entry-level home in the Ukiah Valley can run as low as $350,000. Let’s assume, for the moment, that you haven’t been able to save anything for … Read more
Last year, one out of every five homes built in California was an accessory dwelling unit, or ADU. Just three years ago, the rate was half that. While Ukiah’s increase hasn’t been as dramatic as the statewide surge, we have seen an uptick. Here’s why. In places like the San Francisco Bay Area, much of … Read more
Since COVID, people seem to have more pets, or at least they seem to bring their animals to more places more often. When folks are out and about at the park or on a walk with their animals, that’s great, but you know things have gotten out of hand when a person tries to bring … Read more
Wherever you live, that’s your home. Although you may not own the structure, you do own the possessions within it, and that’s what homeowner’s insurance protects. In this context, homeowner’s and renter’s insurance are the same thing. If you’re thinking, “My stuff isn’t worth much, so why would I spend the money on insurance?” allow … Read more
Selling your house can be both exciting and stressful. Knowing what to expect can reduce tension and allow you to have the best experience possible. Here’s what you’ll need to do and need to know. Select a REALTOR. Step one in selling your house is signing a listing agreement that grants your REALTOR the exclusive … Read more
A recent antitrust lawsuit against the National Association of REALTORs has been getting some media attention, so although I reviewed this issue briefly in a prior column, I thought I’d dedicate a little more attention to it. I’ll be commenting on the Minnesota case, not the copycat cases that are starting to follow, because the … Read more
Many do-it-yourself homeowners enjoy upgrading their own home rather than hiring a licensed contractor to do so. As long as you do the work in accordance with current building standards and acquire all the necessary permits, this is perfectly fine—with one caveat. In California, if the work requires a building permit and you want to … Read more