Saving money
What Every Short Sale Buyer Should Know
As many people are aware, short sales are not going away any time soon, and they often present the opportunity to purchase desirable properties at prices below comparables – not such great news for the neighbors, but a blessing for buyers. If you are a buyer considering purchasing a short sale, or if you know…
Read MoreDo We Need to Change the Real Estate Commission Structure?
Many people think so. There have been many debates, especially lately, about the nature of real estate commissions and whether the structure should be changed. I think we need to take a serious look at not only commission structure, but real estate services in general, to figure out a win-win situation for buyers, sellers and…
Read MoreHow To Get Through the Holidays Without Breaking the Piggy Bank
The holidays are a wonderful time of year, but they can also be stressful when it comes to gift-giving, especially when the budget is tight. There are a few different types of gift-givers, but no matter which one is more like you there are solutions to keep you stress-free and finish the year with money…
Read MoreWater Wise in Carlsbad
If you live in Carlsbad and are looking for a way to be more water conscious, you are in luck. As a resident you are eligible to participate in the city’s home water audit program, which just got a little easier. The city has just completed two videos that can be seen either on the…
Read MoreGetting Your Home Ready for Sale Without Breaking the Piggy Bank
Many sellers often make one of two mistakes when getting ready to sell their home: either they spend way too much money fixing up their homes (money that will likely NOT be recouped), or they do not take the time to make some subtle yet important changes that could make the “love it” lightbulb shine…
Read MoreBuyers: Buy Now and You Could Get up to $18,000 Tax Credit!!
Thanks to an a combination of state and federal laws, you could be eligible for up to $18,000 in tax credits if you are a first time homebuyer, or up to $16,500 if you are a non-first time buyer and meet the requirements. But this is only available for a limited time, so if you…
Read MoreCalifornia Homebuyer Tax Credit Extended
Today Governor Schwarzenegger officially signed an extension for the home buyer tax credit through December 31, 2010. The bill provides $200 million for tax credits, allocating $100 million for first time home buyers (defined as those who have not owned a home in the last 3 years) and $100 million for purchasers of new or…
Read MoreProperty Tax Savings for Sellers 55 and Over
Did you know that if you are over 55 you have an excellent opportunity to sell your home and downsize, while also saving money on property taxes? There are several propositions in California that allow these sellers to save substantially on property taxes. Proposition 13 was first initiated to prevent drastic increases in property values…
Read MoreReversion to Simplicity
There has been a lot of talk in the media lately about refocusing on priorities and reassessing what is valuable in our lives. Into this equation falls one’s home and the manner in which we live. The real estate boom of the early 2000s was all about bigger, better, more, about keeping up with the…
Read More