It’s not uncommon to wish to sell a home to a family member, but it can become a tricky situation. You have to be mindful of not only the personal elements that can come with doing this type of transaction with a relative, but the IRS may also scrutinize the transaction if you don’t avoid certain red flags.
It’s perfectly legal to sell a home to a family member as long as you’re not just doing it to avoid taxes. If you’re selling the property at a steeply discounted rate, you might have to pay an estate and gift tax, but beyond that, it’s just like any other real estate transaction. more...
Lower mortgage rates are not prompting homeowners or potential homebuyers to contact their lenders, as other obstacles stand in their way. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s seasonally adjusted index, the total mortgage application volume fell 2.5% last week from the previous week. more...
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The hot housing market is not even — and some cities and types of properties are noticing higher price gains than others. Condominium prices, in particular, are rising less than those for single-family homes across the board, according to recent insights from Black Knight. more...
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The recently enacted COVID-19 relief legislation, the American Rescue Plan Act, included $9.9 billion in relief for homeowners to be administered through a new Homeowner Assistance Fund. These funds, which will soon be made available to eligible homeowners through their states, may be used for assistance with mortgage payments, homeowner’s insurance, utility payments, and other specified purposes. more...
Property taxes provide funds for schools, roads, and many other vital aspects of our community. However, that doesn't mean you should be paying more than you have to. If you're a veteran, disabled, over 65, or under certain income thresholds, you may qualify for a property tax exemption. Here are some other ways to lower your taxes: more...
Staging your home in the best way possible is proven to increase the value of your home. Walking into a house with basic furniture and decorations gives potential buyers an idea of what life will be like there. And removing personal items helps you disconnect from the home. more...
Nationally respected business recommendation website, Expertise.com, scored 178 Property Management companies in San Francisco and 31 Property Management companies in Concord — so far, we technically rank #1 on both lists in 2021! We also received this award last year in San Francisco, and both lists were recently updated on March 12th and 17th, 2021 — giving us a great sign that our hard work is not going unnoticed! more...
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Prop 19 frees up inventory while providing tax savings for seniors, homeowners with disabilities, and wildfire victims — here are the ways it helps: more...
The rental market is very competitive, but fortunately, there are a few things you should do to give your property the edge! Aside from the glaring essentials such as gas, electricity, and hot water, as a property owner, it is prudent to make sure that the property has proper flooring, solid quality blinds, and reliable appliances. more...
If you’re planning to buy a new house, a big part of that is saving for a down payment. Your down payment is the money you put down when you close on a mortgage. Lenders will often describe down-payment in terms of percentages. A down payment represents what you initially own when you buy a home. Then, the remainder comes from your lender. more...
Presidents Day weekend marks the unofficial start of the spring housing market, but if you’re looking to get in this year, hold onto your wallet. Bidding wars are off the charts, even as home prices are rising rapidly. more...
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California plans to extend eviction protections through the end of June while using federal money to pay off up to 80% of unpaid rent owed by tenants. Gov. Gavin Newsom and the top two legislative leaders of California state announced Monday night. more...
Owning a home is a huge undertaking but a potentially rewarding one. When you buy a place of your own, you get to build equity in an asset that can increase in value over time. You also gain the stability of not having a landlord who can decide to renew your lease or not. But if you think that 2021 is the year for you to buy a home, you should know what the housing and mortgage market could have in store. Here are a few things to keep in mind: more...
This blog post will update with the most recent changes around this listing.
We are glad to announce that this attractive income property/fixer-upper in the Temescal neighborhood is now pending sale! 5425 Shattuck Avenue comes with tenants paying rent, period details throughout the home, and an incredibly spacious backyard with small cabin. This 4-bedrooms, 2-bathroom home could be a great handyman's fixer-upper or a flippers dream — Take a look at these images below:
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This blog post will update with the most recent changes around this listing.
We are glad to announce that this newly-renovated home in Melrose at 5329 Wentworth Avenue has now sold! This fully remodeled and upgraded home features three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a spacious backyard with mature fruit trees. This light-filled craftsman's style home also features an expansive private backyard, perfect for hosting those family gatherings or socially distanced BBQs. more...
Seasoned home buyers know that winter is usually the right time to begin househunting since many of their competitors wait until spring. But this winter, buyers may notice that despite the cooler temps and the holidays, they’ve got company — in fact, lots of it. COVID-19 kept buyers on lockdown for most of the spring season, so many are making up for the lost time by home shopping aggressively now. more...
We are excited to announce that this beautiful home at 4760 Davenport Avenue has now SOLD! This Redwood Heights ranch style home offers a spacious and sophisticated dual-level design, two-car garage, off-street parking, and multi-tiered level landscaped water-efficient grounds. The fireplace complements a host of amenities which including energy-efficient double pane windows, spacious galley-style kitchen, gleaming hardwood engineered floors, spacious countertops, freshly painted interior, and an abundance of garden space to enjoy and create long-lasting memories!
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Walking down the leafy streets near Berkeley’s Oakville Avenue, and you’ll come across a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home whose value Zillow puts at $2.3 million. Its owners are paying $14,742 a year in property taxes. Go around the corner on the same block to The Plaza Drive, and you’ll see another two-bathroom, three-bedroom home with a similar Zillow value of $2.5 million. Its owners are paying about $5,464 in property taxes! more...
This blog post will update with the most recent changes around this listing.
We are proud to announce that this elegant home in Cleveland Heights is officially pending sale after three days! This elegant home sits on a hill with a multi-level staircase leading from the street, overlooking the surrounding neighborhood! 882 Prospect Avenue and all of its outstanding curb appeal was listed once before with a few tenants. After finalizing a deal to relocate the tenant(s) safely, Darryl re-listed this home with beautiful decor by dressed to sell and received an excellent offer for his clients — take a look at these images below:
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Smoking in multi-unit housing and apartments may become prohibited in San Francisco soon. The City and County of San Francisco Board of Supervisors are considering an ordinance that would change the health code to “prohibit smoking inside all private dwelling units in multi-unit housing complexes containing three or more units.” more...
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Proposition 19 has officially passed! California voters have approved a makeover to the state’s landmark 1978 law to limit property taxes with 51% support. The measure allows homeowners 55 and older, the disabled, and wildfire victims to carry low property tax rates with them when they move. Though, it strips property tax breaks from people who inherit property. more...
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The Hayward City Council demonstrated wisdom and long-term thinking last night in voting not to accept the Staff recommendation to limit future rent increases in Hayward to the Consumer Price Index - capped at 5%, with a floor of 2%. more...
We are proud to announce that after ONE DAY on the market, this well-loved and cared for craftsman home is now SOLD! This home has been in the Tellez family since the mid-1960s in the Valley-View Reed neighborhood. The family sought after Darryl after his work with 1547 Hallbrook Drive, as he successfully found a million-dollar offer and went into contract within three days!
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Now's your chance to own this charming updated three bed and two bath home. This home is a dream location for Commuters! Minutes away from freeways, both BART stations, and a short commute downtown to Todos Santos Plaza.
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Congrats on investing in a new home! Now you may be wondering how do you increase its worth? One way to increase the value is by building equity. Equity is the market value of your home or property, minus your outstanding mortgage debt. Building equity is one of the most important financial benefits of ownership. more...
We are proud to announce this well-loved and cared for craftsman home in San Jose is now SOLD! 1547 Hallbrook Drive was on the market for the first time in almost 50 years, with only two previous owners!
Within a week, 1547 Hallbrook Drive received an all-cash offer and moved into Escrow. Just like the owners of this home, we are confident that Darryl can make your home buying or selling experience swift and seamless.
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After diving to nearly the lowest level in its history in April, an index measuring consumer viewpoint in the housing market bounced back significantly in June. Mortgage applications to purchase a home rose 5% for the week and were a remarkable 33% higher than a year ago.
Renters were particularly optimistic about home buying, and it shows. more...
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Spring and summer cleaning do not need to be an unwanted series of tasks. If you’ve added decluttering to your list of spring cleaning tasks, this seven-day challenge will get your home tidy and organized in no time—and with little to no added stress. These manageable steps should not take up too much of your day and will assist you with bringing a feeling of tranquillity and harmony into your home. more...
We are glad to announce this beautiful single-family home in Oakland has officially been SOLD! more...
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The Spring and Summer seasons are usually the best time to sell a home for those seeking to earn the most profits. Due to COVID-19, it remains uncertain if conventional wisdom may apply since buyers and sellers alike have slowly returned to the market. more...
Rents for one-bedroom apartments in San Francisco have dropped by 9.2% since June 2019, according to Zumper. That is the highest drop since the rental site started recording such data in 2015, and brings median one-bedroom prices down to levels not seen since March 2017. more...
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Like clockwork each spring, pests will find a way to sneak in through the tiniest of cracks and crevices in your home, and you'll try your best to fight them off. Fortunately, taking just a few proactive steps before summer arrives can limit the number of bugs and rodents that come inside. Here are four tips to make your home a bug-free zone this spring and summer: more...
Buying a home is one of the most significant financial decisions you’ll make in your life. Although, on occasion, it can be one of the largest sources of stress for many first-time buyers is the financing process. Unless you’ve planned thoroughly and dedicated time for research, receiving a mortgage can feel complicated and overwhelming. Luckily, you could learn from these common mistakes first-time homebuyers make to have a less stressful experience: more...
While the spring market would usually be running at full power now, COVID-19 has put an impermanent stop to most real estate transactions. However, that does not imply that you cannot set aside the effort to prepare your home to be listed and available to be purchased once we flatten the curve. In light of that, here are four recommendations on things you can do to prepare your home to hit the market after stay-at-home orders have been relieved: more...
Almost 75% of Realtors report that their sellers have not reduced their listing prices down to draw new buyers amid this pandemic, announced by the National Association of REALTORS. That indicates the amount of precaution home sellers consider to avoid feeling pressured to sell quickly during COVID-19. more...
Richmond City Council on Tuesday dismissed an emergency request that would suspend all rent and mortgage payments in Richmond for the span of the COVID-19 shelter-in-place precautions. Alternatively, the city councilmembers cast a vote for protections like the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors announced before Tuesday. The Board of Supervisors passed an emergency law applying to every one of the 19 cities and unincorporated regions, Supervisor John Gioia said in an update. more...
While risk is an individual choice, the real estate industry is adjusting to give access to home buying securely during the coronavirus pandemic. You would now be able to do numerous things at a safe social distance, or even remotely with regards to purchasing a home that you might not have considered doing previously. more...
Cash vs. Mortgage Overview:
There's a lot to consider when contemplating purchasing a home outright versus financing it. Here are some of the major differences between using cash or a mortgage to buy a home: more...
With millions of Americans facing financial burdens like student loans and high rents, saving up to make the traditional 20% down payment on a first home can be daunting. There’s good news for prospective homeowners: You don’t need to do it! more...
This week, several cities, the County of Alameda, and the State of California enacted moratoria on evictions for nonpayment of rent. Below you will find summaries of each ordinance relevant to your location: more...
Bay Area home costs have begun growing, with careful consumers venturing once more into the market in the midst of low inventory and consistent demand. The middle deal cost in January for single-family homes rose, year-over-year, in Santa Clara, San Mateo, Alameda, and Contra Costa areas, as indicated by another Zillow study. The greatest risers were in tech-strong San Mateo, where the average sale cost expanded 6.3% to $1.47 million, and Santa Clara, with the cost up 2.7% to $1.21 million. more...
Buying a new house while selling your old home is the best path to take for some home sellers turned home purchasers. Ideally, this change would happen in one day. However, in reality, it isn't so straightforward, and you'll have to expect some time between selling your home and purchasing your new one or the other way around. The procedure is a difficult dance full of complex steps and a rhythm that is hard to do flawlessly. All in all, you might be wondering, would I be able to purchase another house before I sell mine? The response to that is, yes, you can! Yet the bigger question is whether you will want to once you understand the entire process. more...
Due to the evolving coronavirus pandemic Congress has officially rescheduled the final day to file your 2019 taxes to June 15th, 2020. With that in mind, you might be thinking about whether there are tax deductions when selling a home, and of course, there are! You may recall 2018's new tax code otherwise known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, that changed a few guidelines for homeowners. But have confidence that if you sold your home last year, or intend to sell this year, expect some tax deductions that can still amount to sizable savings when you file with the IRS. Need a full summary of the considerable number of deductions (as well as tax exemptions or other write-offs) at a home seller's disposal? Look at this rundown to ensure you miss none of them. more...
In spite of the fact that the home buying season has begun sooner than expected this year, Zillow says that homes recorded in May usually sell for more than other months in the year. Truth be told, the Mortgage Bankers Association said that January 2020 was the hottest January for purchasing mortgage applications in 11 years. more...
Real Estate website Realty Hop has announced San Francisco is one of the coldest home markets in the country
throughout the previous four consecutive months. The listing website estimated the contrast between a home's list price and the closing price. “In theory, stronger markets should exhibit fewer price drops and smaller percentage discounts,” according to Realty Hop. more...
Selling your home can be both invigorating and upsetting, particularly if it's your first time. Despite why you chose to sell your home, there are various complexities you can accidentally fall into, making your home selling experience far less than perfect. Fortunately, we've assembled a summary of the most widely recognized home selling mistakes to avoid when selling your home.
Underestimating the cost of selling your house
While the point of selling your home is to eventually benefit from the profits, many home sellers disregard the expenses related to selling their home. First of all, you can hope to utilize five to six percent of the entire cost of your home to cover the commissions of both the seller and buyer agents. For instance, in the event that you sell your home for $700,000 you could end up paying upwards of $30,000 in commission fees. Besides, this substantial cost does exclude potential concessions homebuyers may need you to make during the negotiation stage, for example, making fixes proposed by a home inspector.
Skipping a pre-listing home inspection before selling your house
Selling a house can be stressful, even when everything is going according to plan. However, if a homebuyer employs an inspector who notices an issue like pests, mold, or a split foundation, your feelings of anxiety will increase as you jeopardize losing the entire deal. Given that home inspections are relatively affordable, there's very little motive to stay away from them. Getting a pre-posting home review will comfort your psyche, as you'll either realize that your house is in sound condition or you'll have the option to handle the issues before homebuyers get the opportunity to bring them up during the negotiation stage. In the event that an issue arises, you can either fix it or you can tell purchasers and afterward and make a concession during the negotiation stage by properly depreciating the cost of your home.
Pricing your home incorrectly
On the off chance that you price your home excessively high, your home may remain available on the market for an unfathomable length of time. Then again, in the event that you price your home very low, you'll probably sell your home swiftly yet you chance passing up a lot of cash. The initial step to seeing how much your house is worth is using an online calculator or contact Advent for a free home valuation consultation. Schedule a meeting with your realtor afterward to consider an adequate pricing method for your home. They will take a gander at similar properties in your neighborhood that were recently sold, as well as bring perceptive insights into what the housing market is currently doing. Together, you'll select a satisfactory opening cost as well as a pricing strategy that will incentivize purchasers if your home starts to sit available for a long time.
Not budgeting for your move
At the point when you think about the moving procedure, you have two choices: paying a moving company or get your friend's truck and moving your items with buddies. By hiring a moving company instead of moving without anyone's help, you're getting somebody who will pack, move, and afterward unload your things. This implies a full-service mover can certainly be justified despite the tasks associated with selling your home. Also, when you contract movers your assets are safeguarded so you're secured in the event that anything breaks.
Not addressing the exterior of your house
Throughout the years, your home's outside has gotten damaged from the elements. With everything the unstoppable force of life tosses at it consistently, the paint on your home's outside and the stain on your deck has likely lost a touch of their radiance. So before posting, make certain to pressure wash your home first. Ensuring your home puts its best self forward in the marketing photos, you will likewise improve the general check offer when purchasers, in the long run, arrive for a tour. Along with pressure washing your home and deck, you can likewise set aside the time to pressure wash your garage door entryway, fence, yard, driveways, and any walkways you may have.
One of the primary things a potential purchaser will see when they pull up to your house is the paint. On the off chance that you need to establish a suitable first impression, at that point you'll have to guarantee that your house is painted an intriguing color and that the nature of your paintwork is choice. While the activity of repainting your home may take a couple of days, the benefit of painting your home before selling will be certainly justified regardless of the effort. An ongoing report found that painting the outside of your home has a 51% quantifiable profit. But try not to stop with just the outside! In the event that you happen to have a bold and unfitting divider, you'll need to repaint them to be a more buyer-friendly neutral shade. Doing so will make it simpler for purchasers to have the option to imagine themselves living in your home as it makes them think about your dividers as a clear canvas. more...
In 2019, half of the most competitive neighborhoods for buying a home were in the Bay Area. In a recent report from Redfin, home purchasers seeking an area for the calmest, most floral, and convenient distance to restaurants and markets, was the country's most sought after neighborhood in 2019. About 72% of homes in White Oaks, C.A. sold above asking value this year, and most were available for less than fourteen days. Redfin found the median sale price of a home in White Oaks was valued at around $1,835,000. White Oaks took the top spot in Redfin's positioning of the 20 most competitive neighborhoods, yet it has a great deal of nearby competition. Ten of the top neighborhoods are in the Bay Area and near half of those are in Oakland. more...
Downtown Oakland’s development has been long coming, but the 2008 recession delivered a critical blow to the proposed plan. Freezing practically all development in Oakland until around 2015, as high priced rents were driving the residents and organizations out of San Francisco eastbound. more...
A recent report from Realtor.com® confirms that lower mortgage rates have piqued the interest of more buyers this fall. However, the consistently shrinking inventory of lower-cost homes is not keeping up with the high demand of buyers. more...
Home Trends can make your home feel and look new and refreshing, but they can also make your home feel outdated and uncomfortable. Some trends reach their end date while some become timeless. You might be asking yourself “How can I tell when my home needs to be renovated?” The most common method of staying up-to-date is to find blogs, influencers, and catalogs that fit the moods you want to show inside and outside of your home. You can modernize your home with small details like adding wallpaper, plants, and accents. Or you could go big and paint your rooms, order new furniture, or even add/remove the carpet.
But remember, trends change like the seasons. So here is a list of 10 Home Decor Trends we’ve noticed that are losing their appeal this forthcoming Winter Season.
1. Fake Plants
Implementing Plants in your home can help improve your indoor air quality. So place a few living plants in the appropriate hospitable locations of your home over several fake plants and flowers. If you’re concerned about your lack of a green thumb, here are a few suggestions that are easy to care for during winter.
• In an Overly-Heated Room: Cacti and Desert Plants
• In a Dry Room: Aloe or Fiddle Leaf Fig Trees
• In a Dry Room: Philodendrons or Succulents
• In a Low-Light Room: Chinese Evergreen, or Aglaonema
• In a Drafty Room: Christmas Cactus or Jade Plants
2. Too Much Granite
Granite is a popular option when choosing kitchen counters, but avoid going overboard by adding accents such as quartz or butcher block countertop for your kitchen island and workspace.
3. Industrial Everything
Industrial home decor has been popular for decades; Edison bulbs, exposed brick, rusted or brushed metal accents are a few examples of this decor design. However, there is such a thing as too much industrial. If you want to go for an industrial look inside of your home, add a couple of elements such as modern pendant lights or a pegboard backsplash.
4. All Grey Everything
Adding to the Industrial trend we’ve listed prior to this, all grey rooms can sometimes make a room feel dull and life-less in contrary to creating a calming and minimal environment. If it is too late to re-paint your walls or you absolutely adore your grey furniture, try adding in some vivid colored plants or wall decor that is an appropriate fit for the type room.
5. Vertical Blinds
Vertical blinds can be a pain to open, close, and can become tangled easily. So most home decor enthusiasts update to mini blinds, DIY window treatments, and lightweight curtains to preserve the abundant natural sunlight in their homes.
6. Indoor Wicker Furniture
Wicker furniture is typically a top choice for your balcony or porch, so keep the wicker outside. When used indoors, wicker is one of those home trends that can quickly make a home look dated.
7. Carriage hinges
Carriage Hinges are most popularly found on tilt-up retractable garage doors that usually do not open like shed doors. This trend could make your home garage feel more like a barn shed as opposed to a destination for your vehicle.
8. Tuscan-Inspired Kitchens
A popular kitchen design trend for just about two decades, but Tuscan kitchens are starting to lose their appeal. Instead of lots of stone and darker colors, today’s kitchens focus on brighter lighting and a crisp color palette for home trends.
9. Brass Hardware
Metals may be in when it comes to accessories, but avoid shiny brass as it can make a kitchen look dated. Instead, replace cabinet hardware with brushed nickel, glass or stainless steel.
10. Bold Appliances
Bold kitchen colors are on-trend, but avoid choosing bright colors for appliances. You wouldn’t put a ’70s avocado green or goldenrod refrigerator in your kitchen now, so just imagine how that bold red or seafoam green appliance will in a few years.
We hope this list is helpful to your home modernization, we anticipate the various point of views about trendy home decor. Please let us know what your thoughts are in the comment section below, or tag us in your post on any social platform!
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As the brisk winds of winter approach us, Advent Properties is here to keep you updated on how you can prepare to keep your home warm, cozy, clean and sturdy!
For your safety, and to avoid damage to your property inside and out; it is best to routinely clean your microwave and oven, range hood filters, unclog sink and drain holes, replace heater filter, and check smoke alarms and fire extinguishers on a monthly basis. more...
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