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California Homeowner Insurance Conundrum
You may have heard that several large insurance carriers including State Farm, Allstate, and Farmers have recently announced that they will not be offering new homeowner insurance policies in California. The reasons for this include increased claims from catastrophic...
June 2023 – Real Estate Market Update
It's now time for my June 2023 real estate market update. While the June gloom settled in a little early this year, we're now moving into the heart of the summer season, which for real estate typically means a slower time with fewer transactions. It seems that the...
National Real Estate Market Update for 2023
While I provide a monthly market update which focuses on economic trends, I thought I would take this opportunity to provide a national real estate market update for 2023. My goal is to provide some broader context on industry specific trends and how I think this will...
Windows and Doors: Replace or Restore?
Let's start this discussion by defining an important term that most people aren't familiar with. Fenestration refers to the design, arrangement, and placement of windows, doors, and other openings in a building's facade. Fenestration plays a crucial role in every...
May 2023 – Real Estate Market Update
It's now time for my May 2023 real estate market update. We're already seen the Federal Reserve meeting results as well as the April Consumer Price Index report. These reports give us some useful information in forecasting the real estate market, but there are other...
How to Become a Homeowner on a First Time Buyer Budget
It's not easy being a first-time buyer right now. At the end of last year, housing affordability hit an all-time low. Additionally, mortgage rates have risen significantly since 2022, while inventory remains tight for many property categories, but especially for...
Creating a Sustainable Home: A Guide for Buyers, Homeowners, and Sellers
Introduction: Berkeley has a reputation as a bastion of environmentalism, and for good reason. From sustainable agriculture to green energy, Berkeley residents have long been at the forefront of the eco-friendly movement. And when it comes to residential real estate,...
April 2023 – Real Estate Market Update
Welcome to my April 2023 real estate market update. Given the general turbulence of the financial markets this year, the past few weeks have been relatively calm. The most recent Consumer Price Index Report was just released and as always it provides some clues on how...