When most homebuyers think about affordability, they focus almost entirely on one number: the monthly mortgage payment. It is the number lenders qualify them for, the figure discussed during showings, and the benchmark most buyers use to set their price range.
What that number does not capture is the full cost of owning a home once the keys are in hand.
Continue reading The True Cost of Homeownership: What You Pay Beyond the Mortgage
Real estate scams are targeting more victims than ever before, and they’re becoming increasingly sophisticated. Nearly 10,000 Americans fell victim to real estate fraud in 2024, losing over $173 million according to FBI reports. Even more concerning, about one in four home buyers or sellers encounter suspicious activity during the closing process, and one in 20 end up victims of wire fraud.
Continue reading How to Spot Real Estate Scams
As a homeowner, you’re likely diligent about the basics such as trimming plants, touching up paint, and cleaning regularly. But what about the critical home maintenance tasks you don’t see every day?
Continue reading 10 Often Overlooked Home Maintenance Tasks That Could Save You Thousands
Dreaming of buying a home but feeling priced out? You’re not alone! A large percentage of U.S. adults feel affordable homeownership is not an option for them. In fact, according to a recent survey by Bankrate, 78% of aspiring homebuyers cite affordability issues as their primary deterrent.
Continue reading 5 Roadblocks to Affordable Homeownership:
Top housing experts and economists give 2025 market predictions of what mortgage rates will do, and where home values in the San Diego and national markets are headed.
Continue reading 2025 Market Predictions
For many homebuyers, multigenerational living used to be considered an option of last resort. It was a route families took only when they needed to ride out a financial storm or care for ailing family members. But that mindset is on the decline. A growing number of families now are purchasing multigenerational homes and moving in together by choice.
Continue reading Multigenerational Home Buying: How to Find a Home That Fits Your Whole Family
Whether or not you’re planning to sell your home soon, it’s essential to ensure that improvements you make today will boost your property value when it’s time to sell. Strategic upgrades can make all the difference. But you don’t have to embark on a major remodel to make a significant improvement.
Continue reading 7 Weekend Projects to Boost Your Property Value
From wildfires to floods, the past few years have brought a historic number of devastating climate and weather events to the United States. In 2023 alone, there were 28 individual weather-related disasters that caused at least $1 billion in damages each. These events triggered a huge influx of home insurance claims, and analysts expect the increase in both catastrophes and claims to continue.
Continue reading Home Insurance Premiums:
When you’ve lived somewhere for many years, it can be tough to say goodbye. But if you (or a loved one) currently have a home that is bigger than necessary or is too high maintenance, it may be time to trade unused square footage for a smaller, more manageable space and downsize your home.
Continue reading Downsize Your Home, Rightsize Your Life
It’s not easy being a first-time homebuyer right now. At the end of last year, housing affordability hit an all-time low. Additionally, mortgage rates have risen significantly since 2021, while inventory remains tight for many property categories, but especially for starter homes. Even lower-priced condos are harder to snag these days, as investors and downsizers muscle out first-timers by offering stronger, often cash-heavy bids.
Continue reading First-Time Homebuyer? How to Make It Work