Unless you have enough cash to buy a home outright, acquiring a home requires finding a lender who thinks you’re a safe bet. This means it’s time to get your finances in order. Affording a home includes both short-term and long-term costs. Lenders can confirm that you have enough money for a down payment, but … Read more
When it comes to selling your house, it can be tempting to ignore some of your Realtor’s advice, especially when they want you to do a bunch of work that may seem unnecessary. The fact is you are not objective about your house. No one is. A Realtor can help you see your own blind … Read more
Besides satisfying your curiosity, knowing your home’s value can come in handy. A home appraisal is an unbiased evaluation to determine your property’s market value. This is the third of a three-part series. Eminent domain Litigation can generate the need for an appraisal in several ways. Let’s say the government plans to expand a roadway … Read more
Besides satisfying your curiosity, knowing your home’s value can come in handy whether you’re litigating a legal case, dealing with estate issues, or managing an insurance claim. A home appraisal is an unbiased evaluation to determine your property’s market value. This is the second of a three-part series. Bankruptcy or other litigation In the event … Read more
When it comes to income and investing, understanding how timing affects your taxes is a big deal. Profits from your investment property are affected by the timing of sales as well as how you hold the property (including how you manage depreciation). Installment Sale If you own property free and clear (or with very little … Read more
I’ve talked about home inspections many times, but I don’t usually talk about the impact of timing. If you’re buying a home, it’s important to know which inspections to get and when to do a final investigation of the property’s condition. You’ll want to make sure that all the agreed-upon work has been done to … Read more
During hot Ukiah summers, those of us who can’t live without air conditioning receive eye-popping energy bills. One way to reduce those bills is to stop using so much air conditioning, but who wants to sit around and sweat? A far more comfortable way to reduce costs is to improve your home’s energy efficiency. Energy … Read more
In early 2022, mortgage rates were down around 2.5 percent. Today, they’re closer to 7.5 percent. On a 30-year, fixed-rate loan, this means your monthly payment would be up by 77 percent. Talk about financial whiplash! Even though, historically speaking, interest rates have returned to normal for single family homes (between 6 and 8 percent), … Read more
As summers get hotter and hotter, it takes more energy to keep them cool. Here are some ways to keep costs—and temperatures—down. Shade trees One of the best ways to keep houses cool is to shade them from direct sunlight. Deciduous trees on the west and south sides of your home can reduce the overall … Read more