Prices Continue to Heat Up as Summer Arrives
Homes prices in Los Angeles county increased by 8.5% in May 2018 from the same period last year, according to the CoreLogic Home Price Index. This upward trend has been steady since the spring of 2012 as growing employment and an expanding economy have boosted demand amid a below-average supply of homes for sale. March, […]
Should You Refinance Your Mortgage?
Mortgage interest rates have been below 3% for several months now, giving buyers more purchasing power and helping them to offset the increase in housing prices. Buyers aren’t the only ones who should take advantage of these rates. If you can reduce your current interest rate by .05% or more, you’d be wise to consider […]
How Props 60 and 90 can Benefit You
Property Tax Fear Holding You Back From Downsizing? We have a housing shortage in Los Angeles and we also have very little inventory. Why is inventory so low? Because people who have owned a home for a long time don’t want to sell and lose their low property tax base. You may be surprised to […]
Design in the time of Corona
The Coronavirus Pandemic will likely change the way we think about spreading germs for a long time to come. Stocking up on Clorox wipes and hand-sanitizer isn’t the only way to keep your home as clean as possible. There are a number of antibacterial materials you can incorporate into your home design that are both […]
Demystifying Mortgage Rates
The 30-year fixed mortgage, as tracked by Freddie Mac, hit its lowest point ever in 2012. Since then, it has risen fairly steadily. Recently, we’ve seen rates move up to around 4.5%. While still low, by historical standards, rates are definitely trending upwards. When purchasing a home, mortgage rates are a key factor in […]
Honey, We’re Home (All. The. Time.)
The housing market is going strong in Los Angeles. Buyer activity is high, and interest rates are low. Inventory is still tight, so home sellers are still able to command strong prices. Homebuyers need to shop differently due to the pandemic, and what they’re looking for has shifted a bit. According to consultants at Caliber […]
How will the new tax laws affect you?
1. Mortgage interest deduction (applies to first and second homes) The mortgage interest tax deduction is touted as a way to make homeownership more affordable. It cuts the federal income tax that qualifying homeowners pay by reducing their taxable income by the amount of mortgage interest they pay. Beginning in 2018, the deduction is scaled […]
You CAN Sell or Buy a Home During the Covid-19 Pandemic*
*You just need to go about it differently. May escrow closings were the lowest they’ve been since the great recession, but pending sales have recently increased by 67% in California. Part of that is due to the fact that it was illegal to show property in person from mid-March through mid-April, and most escrows last […]
How Strategic Realtors Analyze California Market Data to Craft Winning Offers
The California real estate market is one of the most complex, competitive, and data-driven markets in the country. From coastal luxury properties to suburban family homes and urban condos, prices can shift rapidly based on interest rates, inventory levels, migration patterns, and local demand. In such an environment, winning an offer is rarely about luck—it’s […]
Coronavirus & the Spring Los Angeles Housing Market
The question I am asked over and over again by my clients is: will there be a crash? I believe the answer is no. My opinion is that as restrictions start to ease, some sellers who were on the sidelines will re-enter the market. And some buyers who were poised to purchase earlier in the […]