One of life’s most challenging aspects is watching our parents age. Then comes the day when you, and they, realize they’ve lost their physical independence. Whether they are downsizing into a smaller, less maintenance-intensive home or are moving in with you or to a care home, giving up a long-loved home is wrenching. Thankfully, they […]

Hi Kathy: My husband and I have recently moved to Mission Valley from San Francisco. We chose this area because it is centrally located to my husband’s work Downtown and my research work at a bio-medical company in Sorrento Valley. Our combined income is over $100,000 and we have little debt. My husband also has […]

So, you’ve heard that home prices are falling, the inventory of available homes is beginning to grow and, if you look closely, you’ll see a crack beginning to form in that once-fiery sellers’ market. Whereas in the recent past, homebuyers were a dime a dozen, you may just be on the precipice of being an […]

The National Association of Realtors tells us that 44 percent of homebuyers visit open houses. While most don’t end up buying the home, it gives them an idea of what homes in their price range offer. And, that’s a brilliant strategy. Even if you don’t plan on buying the homes you tour, it helps you […]

Most homeowners can clearly recall that moment it became clear that they could, and would, buy a home. Ditching the landlord is a dream of many and when you can see that dream – grasp it – it’s intoxicating. It’s easy to jump right into the process and let the cards fall where they may, […]

Now, before you turn your nose up at the topic, we aren’t talking about senior living communities – those group homes for baby boomers and their elders where they take a little bus to Walmart once a week and someone else does all the cooking. We’re talking about retirement communities – for boomers who are active and […]

Owning a rental property poses tax considerations that are more complex than the residential property you live in and requires a more refined tax strategy. Below is the tax information you need to know as well as some top tax tips for owners of rental properties. Rental Property Tax Considerations When filling in your tax returns, your […]

Tenants come in two “flavors,” affable and nightmarish. We hope, for your sake, that when it comes time to sell your rental your tenants are the former. The whole process will go much smoother. If they are disagreeable, you may want to take option 1 when deciding when to list your rental property. Timing the sale […]

Real estate isn’t a game for the faint of heart. To ensure that you walk away from the deal with the maximum amount of money possible requires following a time-tested process. Unfortunately, not all real estate agents counsel their clients on the do’s and don’ts of selling a home so mistakes happen frequently. Let’s take […]

Marcy, a first-time homebuyer, was over-the-moon excited about finally moving into her new home. The day arrived, the movers were actually on time and, for the first time since the final walk-through, she opened the door to her home. Since she had a case of water bottles with her, she headed straight for the refrigerator […]

We recently received an email from a former client. He’s considering selling his home and, as many home sellers do, he went online to see if he could figure out how much the home is worth. “Zillow values my home at $325,000,” he writes. “Yet, one of my neighbors recently sold his home, which is […]

Unless you’re Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates or Warren Buffet, your home purchase may be the biggest financial investment you make during your lifetime. Scary thought, isn’t it? Not if you approach this investment as the three wealthiest Americans would. Buying a home is a business transaction and, to avoid costly mistakes, it needs to be […]

That letter from the bank: You know the one — it says you’re approved to buy a home for a certain amount of money. It’s burning a hole in your pocket. Now it comes down to deciding what type of home to buy, within your budget. Condo or townhome? Existing home or a newly constructed […]

Three digits. They may be all that is standing between you and your own home or continuing to rent. Known as your “credit score,” those digits reflect how risky it will be to lend you money. The score may also impact other aspects of the home buying process as well.  How your credit score is […]

Buying a home isn’t as easy as walking up to a lender and requesting a mortgage. You’ll need cash for a down payment and the loan’s closing costs unless you’re applying for a VA or USDA loan. If you’ll be going after a conventional loan, you’ll typically (but not always) need 20 percent of the […]

One thing I know for certain: homeowners that sell their homes quickly and for top dollar are happy. Let’s face it, selling a home is hard work and nobody wants to be in that position for any longer than they absolutely have to. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to get in and out […]

Shopping for a new home can be overwhelming. Finding a real estate agent, looking at homes online, and applying for loan approval, there is a lot to do, and it can be difficult to know where to start. Believe it or not, there is a first step that every home buyer should take–before they start […]

When we think about the impulse purchase, most of us picture a grocery store. After all, retailers purposefully set up their stores to encourage us to pick up and purchase items on a whim. If you, like millions of consumers, like to shop for fun, if you are status conscious or if you find that […]

One of the hardest things in life for us to come to grips with is that our parents have advanced into old age. At some point in the not-too distant future, they will leave the home, whether through death or hospitalization. Then, it’s up to you to dispose of their belongings and the home. Depending […]

After all the back-and-forth on price and haggling over concessions and repairs, it’s finally over and your offer to purchase the home was accepted. Now, the real work begins. Granted, you and the seller are no longer front and center on the home purchase stage; there are some details you’ll need to attend to after […]