We all know the value of a home inspection when someone buys a house. But here’s something we don’t emphasize nearly enough:
Home inspections shouldn’t only happen at purchase.
They should happen every 5 years throughout ownership.
And when we
Why the Interest Rate You’re Advertised May not be the Rate You Get
Every lender has seen this happen.
A loan is fully approved. The terms are solid. The borrower is comfortable.
Then — a shiny email arrives advertising a rate that looks better.
Cue the phone call.
Here’s the part consumers
Why Refinancing in California Takes Longer
Refinancing in California usually takes longer than in other states—and that’s by design. California has strong consumer protection laws that add required steps, including:
- Mandatory disclosures
- Detailed underwriting
- Appraisal and title review
- Trust documentation (common in CA)
- A required 3-business-day
California Mortgage Disclosures: What You’ll Receive (and Why
Buying or refinancing a home in California comes with a lot of disclosures. That’s normal—and required. California has strong consumer protection laws, which means lenders must explain the loan clearly and in writing at several points during the process.
How
Depreciation Made Simple for First-Time Rental Owners
A customer asked me to send a simple explanation of depreciation for a rental purchase. Here is what I sent.
One of the biggest “hidden benefits” in buying a rental property is depreciation. Depreciation is a tax deduction the
First-Time Landlord? Consider Hiring a Property Management Company
Here’s
The Service Approach I Live By
Even though I have been a lender for more than 50 years, I can’t approve every loan or win every rate battle — no one can. But here’s what I can do, every single time:
- Listen fully — with all
Buyers: Get Ready to Buy
I tell those who ask about buying in San Jose that now is not the time to buy; but, get ready. It seems like this economic misery has been with us forever but it has only been a short while … Read the rest
Buy Out of The Area
I am not a fan of San Jose Real Estate prices. As with many large cities the home prices can be way too expensive for most and buying a home seems unreachable.
Years ago I lived and worked in Orange … Read the rest
If interest rates are high – why are home prices staying high
Interest rates and home prices are in many ways tied together. When rates go down so many times the home prices go up and when rates climb the home prices will go down. That was not the case when we
The Wall Street Journal today has a front page article Fed Hikes Don’t Go Far Enough For Some Investors.
The Wall Street Journal today has a front page article Fed Hikes Don’t Go Far Enough For Some Investors. In the article there is a quote from an analyst “When you’re looking at where deals are pricing, it is simply … Read the rest
5 Backyard Design Ideas That Your Dogs Will Love
If you’re like most of us dog owners, you’ve been spending and plan to spend a lot of time with your pooches this year. This means it’s the perfect time to make the backyard more inviting to both you and … Read the rest
Healthy Home, Healthy You:
Remodels and Upgrades That Can Improve Your Health and Well-Being
The word “remodel” often gets one thinking that improvements are being made to a home in order to increase the value of the house or to improve the aesthetics. However, … Read the rest
Columnist: Reverse Mortgages Can Improve Retirement Security
In a recent story titled How to Create a Retirement ‘Paycheck,’ syndicated columnist and certified financial planner Liz Weston recommended strategies for improving retirement security that included getting a reverse mortgage.
After first discussing income annuities, Weston added, “Another option … Read the rest
Choosing a Home with Good Bones
How To Know If A House Has ‘Good Bones’
When you’re shopping for a new home, it’s not uncommon to hear your realtor say that a house has “good bones.” But what does that mean? You might notice that they … Read the rest