California’s real estate market is constantly evolving, shaped by new laws, environmental challenges, and a shifting insurance landscape. One of the most significant changes taking effect this year impacts how sellers disclose wildfire risks to potential buyers. As of...
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Berkeley EMBER Initiative Explained – UPDATED (June 30, 2025)
In an era of accelerating climate change, few California cities are as vulnerable to wildfire as Berkeley. Nestled at the base of the East Bay Hills, with dense vegetation, historic homes, and narrow, winding roads, the city faces mounting risks from wind-driven...

Berkeley’s BESO Overhaul: What Sellers and Buyers Need to Know
Berkeley has long stood at the forefront of progressive environmental policy, and nowhere is that more evident than in the city’s approach to building emissions. In 2015, the city launched the Building Emissions Saving Ordinance—commonly known as BESO—as part of a...

What is Title Insurance and Do You Need it?
When you buy a home, you want to be sure that you have clear ownership of the property. Unfortunately, that's not always the case. Title problems can arise that threaten your ownership, and title insurance is designed to protect you from those problems. In this...
Burning Questions: How California Fires Are Reshaping the Home Insurance Landscape
The Growing Crisis in California’s Insurance Market The recent, catastrophic wildfires in Southern California have exacerbated significant vulnerabilities in California’s home insurance market. Escalating wildfire risks, an exodus of private insurers, and regulatory...
Berkeley ADU Amnesty Program: Unlock Your Property’s Potential
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) can be a great asset for homeowners, providing additional living space, rental income, and flexibile housing arrangements. In an effort to increase the availability of housing units, the city of Berkeley has been making it easier and...
Realtor Commissions and the N.A.R. Settlement
Overview On October 31, 2023 a jury in a lawsuit filed by a nationwide class of home sellers found the National Association of Realtors (N.A.R.) and a number of large real estate brokerages liable for more than $5 billion in damages for conspiring to inflate real...
N.A.R. Settlement: What Home Buyers and Sellers Need to Know
The recent settlement in the N.A.R. (National Association of Realtors) Sitzer/Burnett case has caused ripples throughout the real estate industry. Many headlines have focused on the large settlement amount as well as the notion that real estate commissions and...