26
Aug
2026

Zillow.com can give you a quick view of houses for sale (and more)

Zillow.com is a popular online tool many buyers and sellers use to ‘zestimate’ current home values. You type in an address, and Zillow provides an estimate on the home’s value (whether it’s…
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Posted in: General Real Estate Advice & Tips, Practical Advice For Home Sellers, Practical Advice For Homebuyers
26
Aug
2026

Unreal estate: A potential deal that didn’t turn out all that ‘gr-r-reat’

In my years as a real estate agent in San Francisco, I’ve met some colorful characters. And I’ve seen what seemed like solid deals fall apart at the last minute, for the…
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Posted in: Fun Real Estate
26
Aug
2026

What is a lease to buy option in real estate

A difficult real estate market often forces buyers and sellers to get creative with financing. One example of this that I see occasionally is a lease to buy agreement. Let’s say you’re trying…
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Posted in: Practical Advice For Home Sellers, Practical Advice For Homebuyers, Real Estate Market Trends
How to buy a house in 2016
26
Aug
2026

How much house can I afford?

Lower home prices and interest rates make this a great time to buy a house. But figuring out exactly how much house you can afford can be tricky. A lot of variables…
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Posted in: General Real Estate Advice & Tips, Practical Advice For Homebuyers
26
Aug
2026

Why you should ask your agent to be proactive during the appraisal process

If you’re a homebuyer or you’re looking to refinance, you should be aware of yet another potential stumbling block to getting financing. Obtaining an appraisal that accurately represents the fair market value…
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Posted in: General Real Estate Advice & Tips, Practical Advice For Homebuyers, Real Estate Market Trends
home buyer-real estate agent relationship
26
Aug
2026

What’s the difference between a real estate agent and a broker?

The terms real estate agent and real estate broker are sometimes used interchangeably. But there is a difference. Real estate sales agents are licensed to sell real estate in a certain state. They receive…
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Posted in: Fun Real Estate, Real Estate Market Trends
26
Aug
2026

Home not selling? Fresh tips for getting it sold part I

This week’s beautiful weather in San Francisco was a welcome reminder: Spring is almost here, which means buyers are coming back out. So if you've been trying to sell your home in…
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Posted in: Practical Advice For Home Sellers
26
Aug
2026

Mandatory retrofitting could shake up San Francisco homeowners

Here's a heads-up to owners of older buildings vulnerable to earthquake damage in San Francisco. If legislation proposed by Mayor Gavin Newsom becomes reality, you could be forced to spend money retrofitting…
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Posted in: General Real Estate Advice & Tips, Practical Advice For Homeowners
starter home
26
Aug
2026

The changing face of home loans: mortgage broker or direct lender?

When it came to financing a home, it used to be that about 70% of the loans were done through mortgage brokers, as opposed to banks directly.  Now, the tables have turned.…
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Posted in: General Real Estate Advice & Tips, Practical Advice For Homebuyers, Real Estate Market Trends
distressed real estate for sale
26
Aug
2026

Top 5 tips for buying a foreclosure or short sale in real estate

Nowadays, it's likely you'll come across a short sale or a foreclosure in your home search, no matter the price range. You may be lured by the low price or the terms…
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Posted in: General Real Estate Advice & Tips, Practical Advice For Homebuyers, Real Estate Foreclosure Tips