As we head into another fire season, one question keeps coming up from clients: "How expensive is fire insurance up here?" It's a practical question, especially as insurance premiums have become a growing part of the monthly cost of homeownership. But surprisingly,...
Features
Features
Those Were The Days: Skyland Heights becomes a popular resort — Part 2, 1905-1911
People first came to camp at Skyland (on the peak, on the crest east of current day Crestline) during the lumbermill days beginning in the 1850s because of its beauty and views to the ocean. When the Arrowhead Toll Road opened in the 1890s, the beautiful views,...
Mountain Musings with Uncle Mott: Commercials You Love to Hate
I find it annoying when TV networks advertise products I’m not interested in, such as to lower your life insurance costs. Like this dude named Johnathan who advertises every 10 minutes promoting life insurance for only $9.95 a month. A man says, “I’m over 50, what’s...
Estate Planning: Will my heirs have to pay taxes on their inheritance?
One of the most common questions families ask when creating an estate plan is, “Will my heirs have to pay taxes on what they inherit?” Fortunately, for most Californians, the answer is no. California does not impose a state inheritance tax or a state estate tax. In...
Financial Focus: The Hidden Danger of Investing Too Cautiously
One significant risk investors face isn’t losing money in a market dip: it’s failing to reach their long-term financial goals. Many people focus on avoiding short-term losses and invest too conservatively, which can limit growth over time and may impact your...
Ask the realtor: Why open houses are more important than ever for California homebuyers
If you’ve been thinking about buying a home but aren’t quite ready to commit to a real estate agent, there’s good news: Open houses have become one of the easiest and least stressful ways to begin your search. For years, open houses attracted plenty of "lookie-loos" –...









