To own real estate you must hold title, and the way you hold title affects how the ownership of a property can be transferred; how the property can be financed, improved or used as collateral, and it has tax implications. Methods of holding title include limited liability companies (LLCs) and limited liability partnerships (LLPs), … Read more
As you may recall, last year we sponsored a contest asking for recommendations to make Ukiah a safer place to live and work. The vast majority of people who submitted entries—including contest winner Jane Covella—suggested activities for the Ukiah Police Department (UPD) to undertake. Police Chief Chris Dewey listened intensely to all suggestions, and appropriately … Read more
Recently, rural properties in California have had a harder time qualifying for homeowner’s insurance. After the big fires in 2014 (and the not-so-big Black Bart Fire locally), many insurance companies have declined new requests for coverage and even opted not to renew existing policies. Why? Because the Department of Insurance disallowed a rate increase for … Read more
When I sold my last home, I hired a staging company to arrange furniture and furnishings to show off my home’s best features. I had moved out, so the company brought in furniture and made the place look great. Some estimates say sellers receive an average of $2 in increased sale price for every $1 … Read more
Spring Safety Tips – Part II This is a continuation from last week’s column, sharing ideas to make you and your family safer around your home. Again, a big thank you to Realty World Selzer Realty Construction team leader Matt Jacobson for his expertise. 1. Extension Cords Extension cords are a necessary evil masquerading … Read more
With the arrival of March, the Spring Cleaning bug takes hold of some of us. Might I suggest that while you’re cleaning out your junk drawer and organizing your closet that you also look around to make sure your home isn’t full of accidents waiting to happen. Big thanks to Realty World Selzer Realty Construction … Read more
If you’re a do-it-yourselfer on a budget, finding ways to get the most from your home is a fun, but constant challenge. Here are some tips, thanks to the folks at ThisOldHouse.com and Blog.RealEstateBook.com. 1. Turn a Closet into a Home Office. Simply remove the closet door, take out the closet’s hanging rods, and replace … Read more
Did you know that many real estate companies offer assistance with more than buying and selling property? They also help people buy or sell businesses. Before a transaction can take place, however, a value for the business must be established. The first step in valuing a business is quantifying the value of its assets, including … Read more
I’ve talked in the past about all the ways real estate agents can help you, but I thought it is time to revisit this, and to share the reason I’d choose a realtor over a real estate agent who chooses not to be a realtor. On the selling side, a real estate agent will assess … Read more