10 Dec 2019

How CA Wildfires Affect Your Insurance Rate

According to the California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), there have been 6,872 reported number of fires, 253,321 acres of land burned, 732 structures damaged or destroyed, and 3 confirmed fatalities, all within California this last year. They reported that California has witnessed one of the “deadliest and most destructive wildfires in its history in 2017 and 2018.” CAL FIRE identified that although “wildfires are a natural part of California’s landscape, the

By Talia Chopra | | In California Real Estate Trends, Home Buying Tips and Advice, Home Renovation, Maintenance and Care | Read moreLeave a comment
9 Dec 2019

Benefits of Downsizing and How to Prepare for Your Next Move

Change is difficult, but perspective makes a huge difference: Downsizing does not have to be a negative moment in your life. In fact, downsizing your home represents tremendous opportunity and can actually bring many benefits to your daily life! First off, when you downsize you have less space to take care of. Therefore, when it comes to cleaning and organizing, in the future, there will be fewer chores to handle. Secondly, downsizing actually helps reduce

By Talia Chopra | | In Home Buying Tips and Advice, Home Selling Tips and Advice | Read moreLeave a comment
8 Dec 2019

What You Should Look for in Your Next Home: A Guide for Seniors

Many people nearing the end of their professional lives and looking forward to retirement consider moving into a smaller home. Downsizing can bring many benefits especially if you no longer have your children living in the home. By downsizing in your later years, you can help improve the quality of your daily life while saving time and money on the cheaper maintenance of a simpler home. If you are considering moving as you prepare to

By Talia Chopra | | In Home Buying Tips and Advice | Read moreLeave a comment
28 Nov 2019

First Time Home Buying: How to Prioritize

When you head down the path of homeownership for the first time it is inevitable that you will be faced with an array of decisions related to what amenities you have to give up in order to afford it. This initial step is a huge financial commitment for anyone; and, unless you have endless access to capital, there are bound to be specific aspects of the home that you will have to sacrifice in order to afford your first purchase. These can come in the form of choosing between an extra bedroom verse an office, the size of the backyard, or an extra bathroom.

By Talia Chopra | | In Home Buying Tips and Advice, Uncategorized | Read moreLeave a comment
9 Oct 2019

New Condo Rules Making it Easier to Buy

If you are thinking of buying a condo or townhouse with an FHA loan product, we’ve got some good news for you: the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) just made it easier to buy a condo using their Federal Housing Agency (FHA) low down-payment loans.  The first thing to note is that, in order to buy a condo or townhouse using an FHA loan product, your unit will need to get “approval” from

By Talia Chopra | | In California Real Estate Trends, Home Buying Tips and Advice, New Legislation and Your Real Estate | Read moreLeave a comment
2 Oct 2019

The Pest Inspection – What you Need to Know When Buying or Selling Santa Cruz Real Estate

Are you planning on buying or selling property with a structure on it (i.e. a home, condo, townhouse) in Santa Cruz County? If so, do you know what a pest inspection is and how it is used in the sale of property? Read on to learn why these inspections are important, and how it may impact your home purchase or sale.  What is the Pest Inspection? A Wood Destroying Pest & Organism Inspection Report (pest

By Talia Chopra | | In Home Buying Tips and Advice, Home Selling Tips and Advice | Read moreLeave a comment
13 Sep 2019

6 Ways Seniors Can Prevent Downsizing Disasters

By: Shirley Martin - tidylifetoday.com Moving to a smaller home during retirement? Downsizing is a common move that can improve quality of life for many seniors. With a smaller home comes less worry and stress, so you don't want to worry too much about the steps needed to complete this process smoothly. Which is why you should use the following tips to prevent common mistakes from happening.  Look into Local Housing Prices  Cost is usually

By Talia Chopra | | In Home Buying Tips and Advice, Home Selling Tips and Advice | Read moreLeave a comment
2 Aug 2019

Can I Live in A Yurt in Santa Cruz County?

Are you one of the growing numbers of people interested in alternative (and often less expensive) housing options like yurts? If so, it’s important to understand your local government’s rules and regulations related to living in these structures year round, as a primary residence. Read on to explore the option of living in a yurt in Santa Cruz County. What is A Yurt? Traditionally, yurts consisted of an expanding wooden circular frame overlaid with a

By Talia Chopra | | In All About Santa Cruz County, California Real Estate Trends, Home Buying Tips and Advice, Uncategorized | Read moreLeave a comment
3 May 2019

Avoiding Capital Gains with a Deferred Sales Trust

Do you own a property which has appreciated considerably since you purchased it? Have you been hesitant to sell because you want to avoid paying capital gains tax? If you've answered yes to either of these questions you may benefit from using a Deferred Sales Trust (DST). If you are at risk of paying a substantial sum in capital gains tax when selling your home, and if you either don’t quality for or would like

By Talia Chopra | | In California Real Estate Trends, Home Buying Tips and Advice, Home Selling Tips and Advice, Investment Property in Santa Cruz County | Read moreLeave a comment
3 May 2019

Finding Your Property’s Boundary Lines

Are you unsure if that fence that your neighbor put up is an accurate indicator of your lot’s boundary lines? Do you have a plot map that disagrees with the county's records? If so, you may be one of the many property owners who are not sure where their property's boundary lines fall. Finding accurate lot lines becomes increasingly important when it comes time to buy or sell property - you can imagine how giving

By Talia Chopra | | In Home Buying Tips and Advice, Home Renovation, Maintenance and Care, Home Selling Tips and Advice | Read moreLeave a comment
1 May 2019

Fireproofing Your Home

With 1.8 million acres burning over the past year, 2018 was the worst in recorded history for California. A new federal report concluded that "California accounted for the highest number of structures lost in one state in 2018: 17,133 residences, 703 commercial/mixed residential structures and 5,811 minor structures.” Many of us remember the 2016, 4,474-acre Loma Fire which displaced hundreds near the Loma Prieta ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains and destroyed 12 homes in

By Talia Chopra | | In Home Buying Tips and Advice, Home Renovation, Maintenance and Care | Read moreLeave a comment
8 Apr 2019

Housing Bills on the Horizon: What Is Being Proposed in Sacramento?

Locally and on a statewide level, rent control and just cause for eviction ordinances have not been very successful in winning majority-approval. Understandably, legislators fear that if nothing is done, rental housing will continue to make up a disproportionately high percentage of renters paychecks. California legislators are working to come up with solutions to our local and statewide housing issues. Some focus on decreasing the barriers to development, while others focus on capping rental rates

By Talia Chopra | | In California Real Estate Trends, Home Buying Tips and Advice | Read moreLeave a comment
26 Mar 2019

Protecting Your Assets Real Estate Deals: Pros and Cons of Choosing Arbitration

If you are buying or selling your home and have just written or received an offer, there is an important clause to be aware of: Dispute Resolution. Most offers to purchase and sell residential real estate in the state of California are written using the California Residential Purchase Agreement And Joint Escrow Instructions form (RPA-CA). When full executed by you and the other party this contract specifies the terms of your sale, including the purchase

By Talia Chopra | | In Home Buying Tips and Advice, Home Selling Tips and Advice | Read more1 Comment
14 Mar 2019

Do I need a Permit to Do This? – Santa Cruz County Edition

When you make a modification to your property it’s important to understand the permitting requirements. While a licensed contractor will often know if a permit is needed, ultimately it is your responsibility to ensure that all necessary permits were obtained for the work done. In certain cases, no permit is required, but Building Code laws rules varying from city to city and so the safest course of action is to inquire with your local planning

By Talia Chopra | | In Home Buying Tips and Advice, Home Renovation, Maintenance and Care | Read moreLeave a comment
6 Mar 2019

Owning a Property with A Septic System in Santa Cruz County: What you Need to Know.

Did you know that the San Lorenzo Valley Watershed has the highest density of septic systems of any comparable area in the State? This means, if you are buying or selling property in the San Lorenzo Valley (Ben Lomond, Felton, Brookdale or Boulder Creek), you’ll likely have to understand what it means to own and what can go wrong with a septic system. The following are typical questions that buyers and/or sellers will ask when dealing with septic systems:

By Talia Chopra | | In Home Buying Tips and Advice, Home Renovation, Maintenance and Care, Uncategorized | Read moreLeave a comment
31 Jan 2019

Buying a Home with A Reverse Mortgage?

Did you know that, if you are 62 or older, you may be able to use a reverse mortgage to purchase a home? In this article we cover how you can use the equity in your current residence to purchase property; different Reverse Mortgage options on the market today, and how this financial decision will impact your heirs. Using a Reverse Mortgages to Buy a Home You may have heard of using a Reverse Mortgages

By Talia Chopra | | In California Real Estate Trends, Home Buying Tips and Advice, Home Selling Tips and Advice | Read moreLeave a comment
4 Jan 2019

A New Year’s Resolution in Three Easy Steps- Home Edition

We all do it. From time to time, we all procrastinate on our home maintenance and upkeep. What if this year was different? We propose that all those reading this article create an action plan, noting what maintenance and upgrades their home 1) needs most, 2) probably should have, and 3) would be nice to have. Once you’ve made your list and checked it twice, create an action plan for the year (because unfortunately Santa

By Talia Chopra | | In Home Buying Tips and Advice, Home Renovation, Maintenance and Care | Read moreLeave a comment
17 Dec 2018

Solar Panels Required on New Homes in California – What it Means

California just became the first state to require all new construction, starting in 2020, to be solar powered. The new standards apply to new residential single-family buildings and multifamily buildings up to three stories high. The solar power can either be supplied by a new structure’s own set of solar panels, or buy a shared solar-power system serving a group of homes. The formalization of this mandate into the CA Building Code has elicited mixed

By Talia Chopra | | In California Legislation and Your Real Estate, California Real Estate Trends, Climate Change and Real Estate, Home Buying Tips and Advice, New Legislation and Your Real Estate, Real Estate and Environmental Sustainability | Read moreLeave a comment
30 Oct 2018

Green Homes For Sale in Santa Cruz

What is a Green Home?   The definition of a “Green Building” can vary widely depending on who you ask. Green buildings are often constructed in a way and/or with building materials that result in less pollution during construction and energy-consumption over the lifetime of the building. Green features can range from energy-saving features to being zero-net energy (a building that produces all of the energy it consumes).   Why Green Homes Are A Good

By Talia Chopra | | In All About Santa Cruz County, California Real Estate Trends, Climate Change and Real Estate, Home Buying Tips and Advice, Real Estate and Environmental Sustainability, Santa Cruz Real Estate Trends | Read moreLeave a comment
24 Oct 2018

3 Tips to Organize Your Next Move

My husband and I just did the big 12 hour move out here to California. We were given 30 days’ notice and with everything else going on in our lives, we weren’t nearly as prepared as we were hoping to be. Now, I’ve read lots of posts about decluttering my home before moving but it really is easier to say than to do. Here are 3 tips I found most useful during our recent move

By Talia Chopra | | In Home Buying Tips and Advice, Home Selling Tips and Advice | Read moreLeave a comment
10 Oct 2018

Crowdfunding your Downpayment

Technology is making it possible to buy a home in novel ways.   Launched by CMG Financial, HomeFundMe is a crowdfunding website that allows family, friends, and others to contribute to your down-payment. One of the main advantages of using the site is that contributions are properly documented to ensure lenders accept the money as legitimate down-payment funds. According to the CEO of CMG Financial, the idea behind the project is not to fund the

By Talia Chopra | | In Home Buying Tips and Advice | Read more1 Comment
10 Sep 2018

Real Estate In the Coastal Zone? What to Consider

  Santa Cruz County Coastal Zone Map:   What is the Coastal Commission?   The California coast is a unique treasure loved by locals and visitors alike. To protect California’s coast and ocean for present and future generations, citizens came together in 1972 to enact the The California Coastal Conservation Initiative. Through this initiative, the Coastal Commission came into being. Four years later, the State Legislature enacted the California Coastal Act, which is the primary law that

By Talia Chopra | | In All About Santa Cruz County, Home Buying Tips and Advice, Home Renovation, Maintenance and Care, Real Estate and Environmental Sustainability | Read moreLeave a comment
9 Jul 2018

Rent Control in Santa Cruz County Mobile Home Parks

When you purchase a mobile home on a leased-lot, you will be asked to sign a rental agreement. State law allows you a choice of signing a month-to-month or a one year agreement. The management is also allowed to offer you a long-term (more than one year) lease. Did you know that if you sign a long-term lease you may lose valuable rent-adjustment protections?   There is currently a santa cruz county rent stabilization ordinance,

By Talia Chopra | | In All About Santa Cruz County, Home Buying Tips and Advice, Santa Cruz Mobile Home | Read moreLeave a comment
9 Jul 2018

The Indoor Generation and The Importance of Indoor Air Quality

We spend 90% of our time indoors with minimal daylight and fresh air. Studies suggest that daylight can improve your children’s learning abilities by up to 15%. Living in damp and moldy homes increases risk of asthma by 40%. Children's rooms often contain the most pollutants. Read more in this blog post...

By Talia Chopra | | In Climate Change and Real Estate, Home Buying Tips and Advice, Home Renovation, Maintenance and Care, Real Estate and Environmental Sustainability | Read moreLeave a comment
9 Jul 2018

New Homes in Santa Cruz County (Updated March 2019)

Buying New Homes in Santa Cruz   If you are interested in buying a newer home in Santa Cruz county you may be in luck. It may seem difficult to find new homes, but it doesn't have to be. We are a team of Real Estate professionals who have lived and worked in this county for over eleven years and are well equipped to help you find a new home in Santa Cruz County.  

By Talia Chopra | | In Home Buying Tips and Advice, Investment Property in Santa Cruz County, Vacation Rental Santa Cruz | Read moreLeave a comment
9 Jul 2018

4 Things All Homeowners Must Know to Save Time, Money, and Improve Your Home

This blog post is a spin off of the book: 100 Things Every Homeowner Must Know: How to Save Money, Solve Problems and Improve Your Home and is written in the spirit of smart-homeownership. As with most things in life, the better you get to know your home, the better you'll be able to care for and improve it. Your Plumbing and Water System In modern plumbing, a drain-waste-vent (or DWV) system is part of

By Talia Chopra | | In Home Buying Tips and Advice, Home Renovation, Maintenance and Care, Home Selling Tips and Advice | Read moreLeave a comment
19 Jun 2018

Condo Vs Single Family Residential Home – Which is Right For You?

When shopping for a home or investment property, you may consider whether or not it’s worth it to buy a condo. On one hand, condos are often less expensive in terms of the amount of space you get for your money, however HOA dues may even-out the playing field between condos and single family residential homes (SFR’s). According to this Walnut Creek lender, $100 of monthly HOA dues = $15,000+ of purchasing power on average.

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