For years, renters have faced a frustrating reality: They could pay thousands of dollars on time every month and still have little to show for it when applying for a mortgage. Meanwhile, someone with minimal housing history but a few credit cards could appear more...
Ask the Realtor
Ask the Realtor
Ask the realtor: Your house is watching — The legal risk sellers forget during showings
Most of us barely notice our smart home devices anymore. The Ring doorbell catches package thieves. The Nest camera lets us check on the dog. Motion alerts buzz our phones so often that they’ve become background noise in daily life. Security cameras are no longer...
Ask the realtor: Selling a tenant-occupied home in San Bernardino County? Here’s what California law actually says
Another week, another Facebook post from a tenant scrambling to find housing because their landlord decided to sell the property. And almost every time, the comment section fills with well-meaning advice that ranges from partially correct to completely wrong. The...
Ask the realtor: When your listing agent won’t show up — The hidden cost of hiring out of area
There are moments in real estate that make you stop, blink and wonder if you somehow slipped into an alternate universe. Yesterday was one of those days. I got a call from a very nice couple – Texas plates, vacation rental booked, ready to buy a home on the mountain....
Ask the realtor: Beyond FHA — A new 3% down program may be coming
Let’s clear something up right out of the gate: This is not an FHA loan. Most buyers hear “3 percent down” and immediately think of familiar low down payment programs that have been around for years. But a new proposal gaining momentum in California is something...
Ask the realtor: Why fixer-uppers are falling out of favor in today’s housing market
The classic fixer-upper used to be the golden ticket for buyers looking to build equity. Buy low, renovate, and watch the value climb. But today’s market is telling a different story. More and more buyers are passing on homes that need significant work and instead...




