Author Archives: Christine Schneider

Here’s What You Need to Disclose When Selling Your Home

If you’re a resident of the Golden State, you are required by law to disclose specific details about your property to prospective buyers. You can share this information via the…

Federal Flood Insurance Spikes, Affecting California Coastal Homeowners

On October 1, 2021, a historic recalculation of flood insurance premiums by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) went into effect, according to a two-phase process.

Keeping Your Property Safe for Visitors: It’s the law!

Did you know that you are responsible for anyone who steps foot on your property, whether you invited them or not? If you’re like most homeowners, you may not be…

Sellers Beware: Tips for Protecting Your Home in a Virtual World

3D tours leverage photos and videos to market a property. They offer viewers an opportunity to walk through the home without ever actually visiting it. However, these photos and videos occasionally reveal too much information and can pose a risk to the homeowner.

What to Do When A Neighbor’s Business Disrupts Your Life

During the global COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen a massive rise in the number of home businesses. While some employees have shifted to a work-from-home model, these changes might cause issues in your community.

California Wildfires Contaminate Water Supply: Here’s What Homebuyers Need to Understand

Research revealed how wildfires could have a volatile impact on the health of residents in surrounding communities via the water supply.

How Direct Air Technology Can Reduce Our Carbon Footprint

The global temperature is rising and poses an enormous risk to the world around us. CO2 emitted by fossil fuels is one of the largest contributors to the problem, accounting for 65% of global greenhouse gas emissions. To ensure our future's security, scientists have been assessing how to reduce global warming, limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C or less per year, and the recent increased use of carbon capture technology is one possible solution. However, the effectiveness of this technique is still controversial. Here's what we know so far.

Fence Laws in California Explained

Inspired by the book Neighborhood Law by Emily Doskow and Lina Guillen, we decided to dig deeper into California laws pertaining to fences. We wanted to answer homeowners’ most frequently asked questions regarding property boundaries and sharing a fence with neighbors. Here’s what we learned.

Discussions Continue in Santa Cruz County About Loosening ADU Ordinances

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors has been discussing the need for changes to the accessory dwelling unit (ADU) handbook for months with the expectation that outstanding issues would be resolved at this month’s meeting. However, the discussion will continue as the board rejected proposed recommendations at the August 10 gathering.

Exercising Care and Caution with Cash-Out Financing

In 2020, the United States witnessed a real estate phenomenon. Interest rates dropped, home prices rose, and U.S. homeowners pulled out nearly $185 billion from their homes' equity through cash-out refinancing, representing the highest amount of equity pulled out since 2007. However, analysts are now warning homeowners to be cautious when pursuing a cash-out refinance. Here's why.