Our Blog
Helpful real estate info from the pros.
Be a Backyard property owner: What Is ADU Law?
Building an accessory dwelling unit or ADU in California is one of the best investments right now and homeowners should look into maximizing these laws to their fullest potential. But first, let’s take a look at what ADUs are and how homeowners can generate rental...
Room Colors and How They Affect You
“Living without color is like living without love... It brings so much happiness and life and love to a space. Color is absolutely nothing to be afraid of.” — world-class interior designer Kelly Wearstler. Colors can have a profound effect on one’s emotions. Invite...
How Prop 19 Works
Property taxes increase when a property changes ownership. The taxable value of most properties is less than what they could be sold for. This is because the price most properties could sell for grows faster than 2 percent per year. Because of this, when a property...
Low End vs Luxury Real Estate: Which Is A Better Investment
Whether you're looking into it now or thinking about investments in the future, you might be wondering which league you want to play in the real estate investing game — the low end or high end? Much like any investment, you must know your numbers. We share the things...
Your Must-Have Homebuyer Checklist
Are you ready to buy a home? There’s more to a home purchase than picking your favorite listing and just moving in. There are several reasons why the process takes a while: the biggest reason is that it’s tough for home buyers to find their dream home at their dream...
Caring for the Most Neglected Parts of Your Home
If your muddy dog suddenly runs inside the house, you wipe the dirt up. If the trash is full, you take it out. We all know how to care and keep our homes clean, but let’s face it -- there are areas in the house that we tend to forget. We get it — life happens, you’re...
Things To Look Out For When Viewing A Property
Are you thinking of buying a home? Aside from the things you need to prepare before making a purchase, you also need to prepare some questions and mental notes when looking around for a home. Here are some important considerations when buying a house in California....
Smart Gadgets We Are Loving Right Now (and You Will Too!)
Our homes may not look as futuristic as the ones in The Jetsons yet, but we sure have gone far, and technology continues to evolve rapidly. Now, almost everything in your home can be connected through WIFI. Our application of robotics and artificial intelligence keeps...
Selling a Home to Buy One
Purchasing a home now will give you an opportunity to get the lowest mortgage rates in history. You may be thinking of making a transition—to a bigger home, to a retirement home, or to a different neighborhood among other things. And perhaps, you may be wondering if...
How to Change the Size of a Room with Paint
We shared in a previous blog about the power of color and how it creates mood in a space. Now, we’ll talk about the power of paint on how it can create a visual impact on a room. The amazing people at Liven Design illustrate how you can seemingly change the physical...
Quick Morning Cleaning Routine
Busy moms, we hear you! Hate having to constantly catch up on cleaning every after work or on the weekends? A few minutes in the morning is all you need — seriously! You can achieve a clean and tidy home in a fraction of the time and here’s a cleaning plan you can...
The Difference Between Using the Bank and a Mortgage Broker
We get this question a lot from our first time buyers — are banks and mortgage brokers the same? The quick answer is no and here’s the definition and difference between the two. A bank offers you a home loan. They usually have a set rate and strict rules for approving...
Does Size Matter? Should I Buy a Big House or a Small House?
Not sure what size of home is the right one for you? We share the pros and cons of having a big house or a small house. Now, the size of a home depends on how you define it or relative to your current living situation. When we talk about small houses, we’re not...
Reasons To Speak With A Lender Even If You’re Not Ready To Buy Yet
Buyers usually start their house-hunting process just after having saved up for a downpayment. It makes perfect sense right? But did you know that you need not wait until you saved up for a downpayment before talking to a mortgage lender? The following are the...
Prepare Your Home for a Real Estate Photographer
A photogenic home makes a good first impression and attracts more potential buyers. So sellers, take note — the following are ways to prepare your home for the listing photos. Make it sparkle We clean up when guests come over, right? So much more when...
How Owning a House Changes Your Life
Homeownership, the American dream. You might be wondering what it’s really like and if it’s as great as it sounds. Clever's recent homeowner study sheds some light on this. They surveyed 1,000 U.S. homeowners and found that 52% were caught off guard by the actual...
What Agents Do For Buyers
Picture this: you're on a quest to find your dream home, right? Well, that's where a real estate agent swoops in to save the day! These folks are like your house-hunting superheroes. Buying a new home isn't just about picking a listing and moving in — it can be a bit...
Things to Avoid After Applying for a Mortgage
We previously talked about things to avoid before applying for a mortgage, now let’s talk about what not to do after. So you've just applied for a mortgage, and now you're in that waiting game and there are a few things you wanna steer clear of during this time to...