Blog

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.

California Moratorium on Evictions Extended Until September 30, 2021

We recently wrote about the numerous moratoriums implemented by varying levels of government, including both federal and state agencies. The situation has continued to evolve, and governments are responding. Mostly recently, on June 28, 2021, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation, AB 832, extending the state’s eviction moratorium through September 30, 2021 and providing debt relief for “Californians that have suffered economic hardship due to the pandemic.”

Understanding Legal Tools Prevents Trespassers from Taking Your Property

Most homeowners are unaware that their property could be legally taken from their possession by a trespasser. It sounds outlandish, but unfortunately, such a shocking transfer of ownership can happen, and property owners should be educated on their state’s laws regarding this process. Knowing the rules can help homeowners reduce the risk of losing their property unexpectedly or being taken advantage of.

Is your neighbor obstructing your view? Here’s What You Can Do

A property’s value is often related to the view it offers residents. A home facing an ocean or lake often sells at an exponentially higher rate than its neighbor across…

According to NASA, Indoor Plants Improve Air Quality! Here’s What Homeowners Need to Know

Typically, we think about air pollution as something that affects us most when we are outside — you probably imagine the kind of smoggy air you can see and smell, especially in cities with sizable manufacturing industries. It might surprise you to know that indoor pollution, which is less obvious, can be much more insidious and just as bad for your health — or even worse! These plants can help.