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…

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Do 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…

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Water 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…

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California 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…

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Property 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…

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Reversion 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…

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