Last week, I reviewed the most common types of deeds: grant deeds and quit-claim deeds. In California, deeds are the instruments used to transfer of property from one owner to another. The type of deed you have can affect when and how you can sell your house—so it’s worth understanding what you’ve got. The types … Read more
Deeds are the instruments used when property is transferred from one owner to another in California. Deeds include the name(s) of the buyer and seller and a legal description of the property, among other information, and it’s best if they are recorded in the county where the property is located so the title (ownership) to … Read more
With orange skies, smoky air, and wildfire evacuations to the north, south and east, it’s no wonder that people are beginning to question whether they should move out of Mendocino County or even out of state. I understand the inclination, but be sure to think things through before you make a hasty decision that won’t … Read more
Many homebuyers want the most favorable home loan terms they can get—the lowest interest rate and fewest points without the need for private mortgage insurance. One way to do this is to save your pennies until you can come up with a down payment that’s 20 percent of the sale price. On a $400,000 home, … Read more
When you’re looking for buyers or tenants for your property, you’ll have a hard time finding anyone who wants to sign on the dotted line if unpleasant odors are the first thing to hit people when they walk through the front door. Here are some tips to get rid of stubborn smells. Old Garbage and … Read more
This is the third in a three-part series about recommendations on how to perform an annual home safety audit. This time, I’ll focus on the outdoors, specifically, fire-safe landscaping. You may have noticed that in mid-May, workers could be found along many public roads clearing brush and removing low-hanging branches. They were hired to do … Read more
As I mentioned last week, once you’ve lived in a house for a while, little details often become invisible, which is why annual safety audits are such a good idea. Here’s a continuation of last week’s checklist to keep your home safe and in good repair. Kitchen Fire Extinguishers To keep everyone safe in the … Read more
When you are in the process of buying a house, you pay attention to the smallest details about the property. But after you’ve lived in a house for a while, those details often become invisible. This is why it’s such a good idea to do an annual safety audit. It forces you to pay attention … Read more
Summer is the perfect time to take on a few home maintenance projects, so before the sunshine gives way to fall showers, here are some recommendations. If you see peeling, cracked, or chipped paint, consider painting the exterior of your home to protect the siding underneath. Now’s also a great time to seal cracks in … Read more