19 Oct 2022

Will the market drop in 2023?

Fannie Mae sure thinks so.  They expect home prices to fall next year. As the Federal Reserve policymakers struggle with inflation, Fannie Mae’s predictions are: National home prices to decline by 1.5 percent in 2023, and home sales predicted to fall by 21 percent. While the fight to control inflation by tightening the monetary policy continues, the slowing effect on the housing market of the higher mortgage rate environment is predictable and evident. Prices are

By Christine Schneider | | In California Real Estate Trends | Read moreLeave a comment
11 Aug 2022

Who Moved My Cheese?

 “Will the housing market crash?” (Question asked more now than ever on Google) The actual issue now is not are we in a downtrend real estate market, it’s how long will it last and how intense will it be?You are probably wondering: Will it turn around soon?Well, it is possible - though likely a unicorn event, and I don’t see a lot of unicorns on the street.If you are frozen with fear, that’s path to

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22 Oct 2021

Here’s What You Need to Disclose When Selling Your Home

If you're a resident of the Golden State, you are required by law to disclose specific details about your property to prospective buyers. You can share this information via the State of California, Department of Real Estate, Disclosures in Real Property Transactions form. You can use this form, also known as the real estate transfer disclosure statement (TDS), to "describe the condition of property and, in the case of a sale, to a prospective buyer

By Christine Schneider | | In Home Selling Tips and Advice | Read moreLeave a comment
22 Oct 2021

Keeping Your Property Safe for Visitors

Did you know that you are responsible for anyone who steps foot on your property, whether you invited them or not? If you’re like most homeowners, you may not be aware of your responsibility to keep children and others safe in your neighborhood. You may believe that the safety of neighborhood children, as well as other visitors to other properties, is the responsibility of their parents (or other property owners). However, according to state law,

By Christine Schneider | | In All About Santa Cruz County, How to | Read more1 Comment
20 Nov 2020

Prop 19 Just Passed in California: What Does This Mean for Homeowners?

California Proposition 19, the Property Tax Transfers, Exemptions, and Revenue of Wildfire Agencies and Counties Amendment, was recently approved by a 51.1% majority vote. Now, many homeowners are wondering how they will be impacted as we move into 2021. Let’s take a closer look! A YES on Prop 19: The Impact on Homeowners Proposition 19 was on the ballot in California as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment directed at changing specific property tax rules. Here

By Christine Schneider | | In California Real Estate Trends, New Legislation and Your Real Estate | Read moreLeave a comment
20 Nov 2020

Looking Deeper: Will the tide soon turn in our booming real estate market?

Since 2011, the residential real estate market has been steadily climbing. Housing prices have increased year-over-year in most major markets, with the housing medium rising 55% over the last decade (June 2010 to June 2020). This bullish market has proven beneficial to investors and homeowners across the country. However, as a result of the 2020 market, some analysts predict that 2021 may experience a significant shift. We may be transitioning to a bear market as

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9 Oct 2020

Fall 2020: California is Still a Seller’s Market

Annual market trends can be somewhat predictable; transaction velocity spiking in Spring and Summer and slowing through Fall and Winter results from children returning to school and adults returning to their routines.  However, this year has witnessed a change; due to the global pandemic, we have experienced a year like no other. As a result, recent reports by the National Association of Realtors and Realtor.com concluded that this Fall and its subsequent months would remain

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19 Aug 2020

Common Disclosures: Seller’s Duty and Obligation to Disclose in California

In order to protect buyers, selling a home in the United States requires that specific details be disclosed to potential homebuyers; however, exactly what information has to be disclosed can vary by state. In California, the specifics are outlined in the Department of Real Estate’s “Disclosures in Real Property Transactions,” document, which includes disclosures required by both state and federal law and regulations. It is imperative to note that there is a legal obligation to

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11 May 2020

How Coronavirus is Impacting The Real Estate Market

As spring — the most popular time for homes to be sold on the market — approaches, shelter-in-place restrictions remain in place on both federal and state levels, creating numerous challenges for those looking to transact. Unfortunately, the unanticipated outbreak of COVID-19 has had an unprecedented impact on the real estate market. Although the numbers and data are still being collected, there are a few trends that have been prevalent since the pandemic hit the

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11 Feb 2020

Land Loans – What You Need to Know

If you are considering purchasing land to build a home, it is important to understand that the loan necessary to purchase the land will be quite different compared to your regular mortgage. Here are some of the key points to understand when you are pursuing a land loan: 1 – Not All Land is Created Equal As stated above, not all land is the same. Land can have a variety of improvements, many which are

By Christine Schneider | | In Home Buying Tips and Advice | Read moreLeave a comment
4 Sep 2019

What You Need to Know about Disclosures when Selling Property

When you sell a piece of residential real estate in California, you will most likely need to fill out the Real Estate Transfer Disclosure Statement (TDS) and the Seller Property Questionnaire (SPQ). These documents serve as disclosures, giving you the opportunity to share what you know about your property with the buyer. Below we will explain the importance of, and how to fill out both of these disclosures.  The Real Estate Transfer Disclosure Statement Section

By Christine Schneider | | In California Real Estate Trends, 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 Christine Schneider | | In All About Santa Cruz County, California Real Estate Trends, Home Buying Tips and Advice, Uncategorized | Read moreLeave a comment
16 Jul 2019

Statewide Rent Cap and Just Cause for Eviction Proposed

Rent control and just cause for eviction laws have been proposed on both a statewide and local level over the past year. One bill is inching towards implementing state-wide rent control and just cause for eviction - AB 1482. However, unlike past bills, this one has numerous provisions in place to temper the negative impacts that rent control and just cause for eviction often have on property-owners. For example, the changes made by the bill

By Christine Schneider | | In California Legislation and Your Real Estate, California Real Estate Trends, New Legislation and Your Real Estate, Rent Control, Rent Control and Just Cause For Eviction, Santa Cruz Legislation and Your Real Estate | Read moreLeave a comment
4 Jun 2019

Creating and Selling A “Smart Home”

Smart homes are homes that have been equipped with lighting, heating, safety features and/or other devices that can be controlled remotely by phone or computer. According to a 2016 survey, 60 percent of Americans think that a home needs to have at least three categories of smart products for it to be considered “smart”.

By Christine Schneider | | In California Real Estate Trends, Home Selling Tips and Advice, Uncategorized | 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 Christine Schneider | | In California Real Estate Trends, Home Buying Tips and Advice | Read moreLeave a comment
1 Apr 2019

Tiny Homes in Santa Cruz County?

Tiny Homes are catching the attention of people all over the country (have you seen the HGTV show Tiny House, Big Living?). Here in Santa Cruz County, we’ve had quite a few clients ask if they can put a Tiny Home on a lot. The short answer is, “it depends”. Read the more comprehensive answer below. What is a “Tiny Home”? A tiny home is typically one that is under 400 square feet, though some

By Christine Schneider | | In Real Estate and Environmental Sustainability, Santa Cruz Real Estate Trends, Uncategorized, Vacation Rental Santa Cruz | 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 Christine Schneider | | In California Real Estate Trends, Home Buying Tips and Advice, Home Selling Tips and Advice | Read moreLeave a comment
7 Jan 2019

What to Expect in the 2019 California Housing Market

As 2018 comes to a close, we are starting to see the housing market slow down in California. According to the California Association of Realtors, the statewide sales-to-list price ratio (sales price / list price) has hit the lowest level in 20 months and was down from a year ago: 98.5 percent in September 2018 compared with 99.1 percent in September 2017. We are also beginning to see inventory rise as homes stay on the market longer. Can

By Christine Schneider | | In California Real Estate Trends, Santa Cruz Real Estate Trends | Read moreLeave a comment