home

Dogs are the most frequent ESA A growing awareness As American society becomes more aware of the prevalence of mental health issues, new treatment options to alleviate those ailments have appeared. Many are pharmaceutical, but some treatments rely on adding elements to the patient’s daily life experience.  Emotional Support Animals (ESA) are an example of non-pharmaceutical treatment for mental...

California leads the nation Our state is leading the nation again! The state enacted legislation banning the sale of gas-powered cars and trucks after 2035. The motivation of this law is to reduce the emission of gasses that contribute to climate change.  We expect many other states to follow California in this monumental change. The implications for supply chains, retail commerce, and housing...

A looming slowdown The national housing market is sending signals of a slowdown, including in the Bay Area. As I mentioned in my last blog post, the real estate market fundamentals are changing very fast, and I want to keep you well informed to adapt to these changes.  The trends are changing. More homes are available for sale and potential buyers now have increased negotiation power. In San...

The end of inflation is not near The end of high inflation does not seem to be anywhere near. In June 2022, the rate of 9.1% was the highest since November 1981! This increase is above the forecast of 8.6% that most economists were expecting for this year.  No sector of the economy is untouched. Food, construction materials, and energy prices have gone through the roof. The majority, 71% to be...

Is this housing solution right for you? Finding affordable apartments has become a challenge, especially as inflation continues to affect home and rental prices. This is especially true if you’re a first-time renter, like a student or a new professional. As prices continue to increase, people are looking for smaller apartments to stay within their budget. A popular option for many people is the...

A growing trend Mass shootings are, unfortunately, an increasingly common phenomenon in America. According to the Gun Violence Archive, a non-profit corporation, 267 instances have happened in 2022. For comparison, 269 occurred in all of 2014. Our state of California is part of this nationwide trend. So far, in 2022, the state averaged one mass shooting every week. This might sound horrific, but...

What exactly are Cryptocurrencies? You'll read or hear about Bitcoin and other Cryptocurrencies everywhere you turn. But what exactly is "Crypto"? Cryptocurrencies are digital or virtual currencies secured by cryptography. Encryption makes them impossible to counterfeit or double-spend. Cryptocurrencies store value and can be used as a means of payment, backed by a secure database of transactions known...

Life is unpredictable Life is constantly changing, throwing us curveballs, and challenging our assumptions. The same house we thought we would live in until retirement or until our children are all grown up might need selling. And fast! There are many reasons for this to happen. Some are positive, for example, a great job offer in another City or State or a business opportunity far from your current...

The Golden State Most experts agree that our beautiful state of California has an abundance of natural and human resources. If measured separately from the rest of the U.S., our state would be the world's fifth-largest economy. After all, we nurtured the planet’s leading tech, entertainment, and defense industries. In addition, older economic sectors, such as agriculture, significantly contribute to...

Highest gas prices in America It is no surprise to us who drive that gas prices have climbed to unprecedented highs. In the Bay Area, the price per gallon has reached $5.00, and above, Californians pay the highest taxes for gasoline in the U.S., further increasing its cost.  No signs of improvement Relief is nowhere in sight for two reasons. First, the war in Ukraine has nearly closed Russian oil...