As the spring home buying season gets underway, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage saw the largest weekly decline since mid-September. The decline in rates increases prospective homebuyers’ purchasing power and should provide a strong incentive to make a move. Additionally, this decline in rates is already providing some existing homeowners the opportunity to refinance. In fact, […]

A damning conclusion comes from a surprising source: A new report by YIMBY Law, a pro-development nonprofit that would very much like to see these laws work. The analysis, released today, studied five state laws passed since 2021 that have swept away regulatory barriers to building apartment buildings and other dense residential developments in places […]

California Proposition 19, a constitutional amendment for property tax transfers and exemptions, was approved by voters during the November 2020 election and took effect on February 16, 2021. This is the most dramatic change to property tax protections since Proposition 13 was passed in 1978. Property owners need to understand the property tax consequences of […]

The Fix Our Forests Act (H.R. 471) was brought forward to the 119th Congress by Bruce Westerman of Arkansas and supported by El Dorado County representatives Tom McClintock and Kevin Kiley. The bill establishes requirements for managing forests on federal land, which include minimizing wildfire threats, expediting review processes for forest management projects and forest […]

Buying a home is an important life decision. Make sure you consider these important tips before you buy: 1. Look at your finances and decide how much you can afford.2. Make sure to physical inspect the home and property for potential fixes and hazards.3. Tour the neighborhood at different hours to get a feel for the […]

Follow these tips when preparing your home for sale: Stage each living area to help potential buyers imagine living in that space. Keep all rooms clean, including children rooms. Remove clutter and extra furniture to help the space feel clean and larger.

Buying your first home may feel out of reach in today’s market. But it is still possible if you have the right team of pros and the right resources on your side. Connect with a local real estate broker and their partnering, trusted lender. We’ll help you with home loans and other homeownership assistance programs. You […]

Have a seat and buckle in. The real estate industry is already in a whirlwind — and the year has barely kicked off. To put it simply, the industry appears to be in its “rapid evolution” era. What does this look like? Firstly, real estate professionals are facing an unyielding storm of new challenges. For […]

The US real-estate market is bound to have a better year in 2025 after a historically horrible stretch for housing affordability, but those looking for major improvements may be disappointed. Entry-level home affordability reached a 40-year low last year, according to data compiled by Zelman & Associates, the real-estate research firm led by famed analyst […]

California’s New Requirements for Home Buyer-Broker Representation Agreements As of Jan. 1, 2025, California law mandates a written buyer-broker representation agreement for buyer’s brokers to receive a commission in real property sales. The new law applies to sales of all property types, including office, retail, industrial, multifamily and single-family properties. The new law does not […]