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....
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...
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...
Not many hopeful homebuyers realize there are legitimate—and surprisingly simple—ways to reduce or even eliminate some of the upfront costs associated with purchasing a home. Closing costs tend to be one of the biggest hurdles. They can feel like a moving target, and...
For me, helping a veteran buy a home has never just been another transaction. It’s personal. My brother is a United States Marine, who served multiple deployments in combat conditions beginning with 9/11. My Dad served in the Army in the late 1960s to the mid-70s. One...
Over a year into California’s requirement that buyers sign a representation agreement before touring a home with a licensed agent, confusion still lingers—and in some cases, it’s being made worse by inconsistent practices within the industry. Recently, one of my...
