Whether buying a home for the first time or back in the market after decades, making an offer comes with nuances that may make or break a deal. Although the market has finally slowed down after the past few years of fast deals and low availability, homebuyers still...
What you should know about real estate easements
Purchasing real estate is exciting, but you have a lot of research and decisions to make to ensure you make a great deal for the property you want. You may have a lot thrown at you at once when you investigate the property, but one thing you may not understand is...
Is a realtor legally liable for a potential buyer’s injuries?
It's every real estate agent's nightmare scenario: while showing a house and hoping for that big commission check, a client slips, falls, injures themselves and files a lawsuit. Recently an Iowa court held that the realtor in such a case was not at fault. Summary of...
What to consider before finalizing a historic home sale
Buying a home can be one of life's most joyful and stressful experiences. However, you must take on additional due diligence when you have your heart set on a property in one of Santa Rosa's historic districts. These are three essential points home buyers should...
Where to start when purchasing your first home
Buying your first home can be exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. This can be true no matter where you live at. Beyond that, buying a home may feel like an even more complex task when the housing market is competitive. This can be particularly true when you...
What can you do if a deed’s legal description contains an error?
Tiny discrepancies in a deed's legal description of a real estate property can easily go unnoticed during a transaction and for years afterward. However, even the smallest of ambiguities can cause huge problems when they finally become apparent. Correcting description...
Most common new construction deficiencies
When buying a new construction home, you trust your builder to build a safe and quality structure that will shelter your family for years to come. However, when builders, contractors or manufacturers cut corners or perform subpar work, you may discover your final...
Tips for winning a real estate bidding war
Though the white-hot housing market shows some signs of a cooldown, housing inventory remains low, and competition among buyers is high. Migrations are a continuing by-product of increased career mobility, leaving real estate as a surging market. How can a prospective...
Town invokes wildlife protections to halt multi-family housing
The California Housing Opportunity and More Efficiency Act requires cities to permit property owners to build an additional residential unit on parcels of land zoned for single-dwelling units. The law went into effect statewide on January 1, 2022. One California town...
Your guests may become tenants if you allow them to stay too long
With the growing population and rising cost of living, non-expensive housing is scarcer than ever before. The current housing shortage especially impacts individuals looking for their first, affordable abodes. Due to this crisis, it is not uncommon for individuals to...