Archive for April, 2024

What Is a Mortgage Commitment Letter?

Posted on April 10th, 2024 in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Buying a house can be challenging when competing with other bidders. Providing a mortgage commitment letter with your offer shows you're a serious buyer. There are conditional and firm commitment letters, both requiring specific conditions to be met. The letter does not guarantee approval but is a crucial step in the homebuying process.

Continue to full article

A Real Estate Professional serving Silicon Valley since 1993 | Southern California Home Sales Report

Posted on April 8th, 2024 in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Late-Fall 2023 Median Home Prices: Median price rises across Southern California by 5.1%.
County-wise Median Prices (2024): Orange County leads with $1.1 million, followed by Los Angeles, San Diego, Ventura, Riverside, and San Bernardino.

A Real Estate Professional serving Silicon Valley since 1993 | Rental Market Trends in the US

Posted on April 5th, 2024 in Uncategorized | No Comments »

While rents are still 29.9% higher than before the pandemic, the yearly increase in February was only 3.5%.
This slowdown is likely due to a combination of more rental housing being built and a general economic slowdown.

A Real Estate Professional serving Silicon Valley since 1993 | California: TPA Rent Caps Explained for Existing Tenants

Posted on April 4th, 2024 in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Coverage:

– Most multi-unit buildings in California (exceptions apply).
– Single-family homes owned by corporations, REITs, or LLCs with corporate members (unless exempt).
Exemptions include:

– New buildings (built within the last 15-yr).
– Owner-occupied duplexes.
– Units with stricter local rent control.
– Single-family homes as separate units.

What is a down payment on a house and how much is required?

Posted on April 3rd, 2024 in Uncategorized | No Comments »

To find the best mortgage, compare offers. A down payment is an upfront payment, usually a percentage of the house's price, showing financial investment. Different loans require varying down payment percentages. Some lenders offer low down payment options. Larger down payments can lead to lower interest rates and monthly payments.

Continue to full article

27 show home tricks and how to spot them

Posted on April 2nd, 2024 in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Every show home uses tactics to create an idealized version of a property. Tricks include creating a lifestyle story, using pitch-perfect props, subtle symmetry, heating up the space, omitting TV screens, using mirrors for illusion, showcasing high-end finishes, clever lighting, missing internal doors, uniform flooring, child-sized furniture, and missing essential items like fridges.

Continue to full article

A Real Estate Professional serving Silicon Valley since 1993 | California Disaster Tax Relief Explained

Posted on April 1st, 2024 in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Tax Relief Eligibility: Property damaged by calamity may qualify for tax relief.
Proposition 19 Transfer: Allows tax base transfer for substantially damaged properties.