Spring Cleaning

With the end of the rain and the blooming of wildflowers comes that undeniable itch to put your home in order—it’s time for spring-cleaning. Maintaining a home requires time, effort, and a little planning. While many chores must be done daily, weekly, or monthly, some only need to be done seasonally or annually—so they’re easier … Read more


Building a Custom Deck

We are at the tail end of the rainy season, and as the weather warms we’ll want to spend more time outdoors. If you’re thinking about building a deck, here are a few ideas. In Mendocino County, most people build decks out of redwood or composite material. A third option, one most folks don’t know … Read more


Real Estate Investing in Your 20’s and 30’s

Each week I ask for recommendations for column topics, and this week I received an excellent suggestion from Realty World agent and Ukiah’s rookie agent of the year Tanya Gilmore, who wants to help people of her generation think ahead and make wise investments. She rightly pointed out that many people are waiting until their … Read more


Buyers Aren’t Liars

There’s a phrase every Realtor has heard and many believe: buyers are liars. Realtors representing buyers sometimes feel misled when buyers change their minds or reveal information later that would have been helpful earlier. As a buyer, it is unlikely that you hire a Realtor with the idea, “Hey, I’m going to lie to this … Read more


10 Tips to Prepare for a Home Appraisal

Whether the real estate market is booming or crawling, having a property appraised is a major hurdle for sellers, buyers and lenders. The appraisal is an objective, third-party report that reviews your property, the neighborhood, and comparable sales in the area to determine the value of your property. Before the appraiser schedules his inspection, I … Read more


It’s a Buyer’s and a Seller’s Market

Right now it’s a buyer’s and a seller’s market. How can it be both? It’s these low interest rates. Low rates allow more people to qualify for loans, bringing renters into the home-buying market. Low rates also make it easier for homeowners who want to upgrade to afford more expensive homes. On a typical $300,000 … Read more


Building Your Own Home – Get the Skinny Up Front

Purchasing a to-be-built home is completely different from buying an existing home. When building your own home, whether it’s customizing a spec home or creating a custom home from scratch, you can avoid expensive misunderstandings by asking your contractor some key questions up front. Building a custom home on land you’ve purchased is a big … Read more


There’s More to a Loan Officer Than Rates

One of the most common questions any Realtor gets is, “Which lender can get me the lowest rates?” While rates are vital, the better question is, “Which lender provides the best value?” The loan officer handing your loan can either make life fairly simple or incredibly miserable. The one you found online may have promised … Read more


Thinking of Buying for the First Time? Think Fast.

If you’re interested in owning your own home, it’s time to go for it. Home prices have started increasing faster than inflation, and interest rates are at historic lows—but probably not for long. Even if you do not have a down payment, you might be able to qualify for a home loan. Both the United … Read more