logo

Category : Blog

What is your idea of a fireplace? Here are some common types.

A fireplace is a desirable, sometimes functional feature in any home. A fireplace helps give a home a warm classic look whether it’s lit or not. Of course fireplaces where developed out of necessity back in the days when electric or gas heaters where not so readily available. Today in most homes a fireplace is an optional feature but one that is often desired. The most obvious difference in fireplace types is whether it is wood-burning, gas, or electric. Most […]

Here are some of the fastest growing cities in Southern California.

Buying a new home is can be risky. One way for the buyer to make sure they are making a sound investment is to research home values now, and in the future. A good indicator of future home value is city growth. A city with strong growth will most likely increase the value of a home as more retail and services increase. With that in mind, here are a few of the fastest growing cities in 2016. Palmdale Palmdale is […]

Things you should know for the 2015 tax year.

It’s that time of year again. Now that the holidays are behind us it’s time to get ready for the first hurdle of the year, filing your taxes. While most of us aren’t completely familiar with the tax laws (few are) it’s probably a good idea to be aware of some of the basics. Tax gifting limits: IRS has raised the limit in 2015 on tax-free transfers at death or during life, known as the basic exclusion. The max gifting […]

What is a “Mello-Roos” anyway?

When buying a new home, one thing buyers are often confronted with is a “Mello-Roos” tax. Though it comes up a lot, not everyone is exactly sure what the “Mello-Roos” is other than another tax to pay. So for those who aren’t sure, here’s a brief explanation. Mello-Roos is simply a special tax assessed to homeowners in a community as repayment for bonds used to fund the infrastructure within their community. To homebuyers a Mello -Roos is not a desirable […]

SO HOW WELL DID HOME SALES GO IN 2015?

For many of us, the past years indications are a good way to tell what the new year has in store. This is also true when it comes to home sales. Knowing what the market did last year will help us get a good feeling about how it will perform in 2016 so we can plan accordingly. According to a well known market tracker, home sales increased 10 percent from a year earlier across Southern California in December, the second […]

HOME IMPROVEMENT THAT MAY NOT BE WORTH IT IN THE LONG RUN

Adding value to your property is a smart decision. But beware; there are some projects that sound good in theory but will cost you more than the equity payout.  Here are some projects to avoid: Home Office Remodel The home office is a popular space in most homes today. If your home office leaves a lot to be desired kept your improvements simple; a pleasant paint color, better lighting or a nice desk.  Don’t try to remodel it unless there’s […]

TRY NOT TO DO THESE THINGS WHEN SELLING YOUR HOME

When it comes time to sell your home there are a few things you need to make sure not to do if you want a good experience. Watch your Selling Price Nothing wrong with asking for a fair price but don’t go overboard. Homes with prices set too high usually stay on the market for longer periods of time and often sell for less than homes that are fairly priced to start with. Take your agents advice, they know the […]

INCOME PROPERTY AND TAX DEDUCTIONS, WHAT TO EXPECT

For people who have income property as a business this is probably nothing you haven’t already heard but there are a lot of new income property holders. Thanks to the phenomenon of flipping (purchasing houses with the idea of selling them for a profit), some people became accidental landlords when they weren’t able to sell the property without incurring a loss. The good news is that more deductions and tax strategies are available for rental real estate than almost any […]

DO YOU WANT TO GET ON YOUR REAL ESTATE AGENTS NERVES? HERE’S HOW

To be a good real estate agent you have to have a great deal of patience, and at the same time be a “people” person. But since real estate agents are people too, they aren’t perfect and so there are things about clients that can get on their nerves. Here are some things to avoid doing if you want to have a good relationship with your agent. Try not to be so negative about minor things when looking at a […]

IS IT OK TO USE A DRONE IN REAL ESTATE PHOTOGRAPHY?

You have probably heard of drones and how popular they are becoming. This for Christmas of 2015 it was expected that over a million drones would be give as gifts. Hardly a day goes by without some mention of drones, either on the news or just in conversation. Most who are interested can afford to buy a drone and it only takes a few hours of experience before you can fly one with confidence. Some entrepreneurs are now using drones in a variety […]