Backup offer def: “A thing to be called on, if necessary; a reserve. A real estate purchase contract that only becomes effective if the current contract cannot close. “In… Read more ⇢

This is generally the time of year when potential home sellers begin to think about putting their home on the market. Along with making plans for minor improvements and… Read more ⇢

In 2009, short sales earned a reputation as being a slow, and often unsuccessful, process. After waiting months for lender approval only to have the offer turned down, the… Read more ⇢

Q.  How clean is a seller required to leave a house at close of escrow? The common term that is used in many real estate contracts is that a… Read more ⇢

If you are preparing to put a home on the market, it’s expected that a few minor repairs and improvements will need to be done first. But what repairs… Read more ⇢

My parents raised me up right, and I must say that I take pride in being respectable. But increasingly here on the Westside, you’ll hear me, and many of… Read more ⇢

We have recently talked about the life of an escrow, and the purpose of contingencies in a sale, and why… Read more ⇢

The question I hear most often from clients today is, "So, where the heck is the bottom of the market? Should I sell, buy, or wait?" Here are the five things… Read more ⇢

After my recent post, “Having a Back Out Plan: Why You Need Contingencies”, I had a lot of questions from first time buyers asking for… Read more ⇢

I have been studying all the comparative market data across neighborhoods on the Westside, to see what the market is doing, year over year.  Here’s one interesting graph to… Read more ⇢

Some consumers with exceptional credit reports and high FICO scores are being denied mortgages by Fannie Mae’s automated underwriting system because there is a notation in the credit report… Read more ⇢

That’s it, you’ve done it. Your Realtor® has skillfully negotiated an agreement for you to buy or sell a property, and your Realtor® tells you that it’s time to “open… Read more ⇢

Homeowners insurance is insurance that covers your home and its contents from various liabilities. Homeowner’s insurance covers a broad range of losses or indemnity to people’s houses and home… Read more ⇢

Q. I keep hearing about forclosures and “Shadow Inventory”.  What is this term, and why should I care? A.  One big topic lately in real estate circles has been… Read more ⇢

Those that choose to sell their own homes often hope to avoid the commission paid to real estate agents. While those familiar with the housing… Read more ⇢