Most California married couples own their homes as “joint tenants,” because they want the surviving spouse to own the entire home, without any formal court proceeding to confirm the transfer. Unfortunately, owning property as “joint tenants” can seriously affect the taxation of any subsequent sale of the property after the death of one spouse. This is because the U.S. Internal … Read More
What is Title Insurance and why do I need it?
I find that many home buyers and borrowers lack a fundamental understanding about title insurance. While most past clients have admitted to briefly discussing the topic with their real estate agent, they don’t seem to understand its purpose or function–only that it will be an additional expense on the settlement sheet for which they are responsible. What is Title Insurance? … Read More
Closing Costs when buying a home
One of the first questions most homebuyers ask is “What are the closing costs?” It’s an important discussion, because buyer’s are often stretched to come up with more than just a down payment. Certain fees are automatically assigned to either the buyer or the seller and other costs are either negotiable or dictated by local custom. Here’s what you … Read More
Homeownership Information
Links to information related to home ownership and mortgages. Topics include “What is Title Insurance and Why do I need it?”, “Ways to hold title to a property”, “Property taxes and Proposition 8”, “Homestead Declaration” and more.
Property Tax Information
California Property Taxes – useful information and links to County Tax Assessor websites. Property taxes are typically paid in two installments, the first in the fall (usually before December 10th) and the second in the spring (usually before April 10th). Click on the link below to see the property tax calendar for California. Property Tax Calendar for California Here are … Read More