March 2017

With affordability deteriorating alongside rising prices and essentially flat sales for several years, fewer Californians have been able to make the jump back into owning their own homes. The number of homeowners in the state rebounded from 7.12 million households in 2014 to 7.56 million in 2016. However, the renter population has increased by more than the uptick in homeownership. The California...

There is a myth about HOA fees among new home buyers, who regard HOA fees as a deal-killer to buy a condo or a townhouse. I'd like to take this time to demystify. First of all, HOA fee is not unique to condos and townhouses. Almost all new single family development have HOA and the owners of the single family homes need to pay a monthly due. Secondly, HOA fee is not money-down-the-drain. It actually...

On Lake Merritt’s northern shore sits Oakland’s Adams Point, a diverse, walkable neighborhood coming into its own. The lake, hailed as “one of the most unique urban spaces in the United States,” and adjacent Lakeside Park offer myriad recreation activities for residents. Run the three-mile trail surrounding the lake, rent a canoe at the Boating Center, visit the public gardens or take in...