Blog
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. Read More
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 aware of your responsibility to keep children and others safe in your neighborhood. You may believe that the safety of neighborhood children, as well as... Read More
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. Read More
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. Read More
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. Read More
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. Read More
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. Read More
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. Read More
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. Read More
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.” Read More