homebuying

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...

A difficult balance Relationships between tenants and landlords are usually complicated. Both parties have vital interests: to maximize their investment via a steady flow of rents for landlords. And for tenants to have the enjoyment of a safe, convenient home at the lowest possible monthly cost and for the longest time possible.  Government gets into it Federal, State, and Local governments do their...

A Trend-Setting Group The average life expectancy in America, now around 79 years, grew significantly during the 20th and 21st centuries. One consequence is the appearance of generations of Americans with very distinct views on life, including homeownership.  Millennials are the Americans born between the early 1980s and the early 2000s, as per the most accepted definitions. We are talking about...