RESOURCES
Who Pays What ?
A Guide to Closing Costs in California.
What to Expect at the Escrow Closing.
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As a realtor in California, it's crucial to understand the breakdown of closing costs for your clients. Below is a comprehensive overview of various charges and fees involved in closing a real estate transaction in different counties across the state.
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Click HERE to download our comprehensive guide to closing costs in California to gain valuable insights into the expenses involved in your real estate transaction.
2024 California Laws Affecting Real Estate
A brief summary of some recently passed laws covering topics such as ADUs being sold as condominiums, listing agreements, disclosures, remote online notarization, and more.
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Below are summaries of new state laws that may affect real estate licensees and applicants.
Unless otherwise noted, the laws take effect January 1, 2024.
• AB-1345: Residential Exclusive Listing Agreements Act. This law prohibits 1) exclusive listing agreements on residential 1 to 4 properties lasting longer than 24 months from the date the agreement was made; 2) renewing an exclusive listing agreement on the above-mentioned type for longer than 12 months from the date the renewal was made; 3) automatic extensions on of exclusive listings on any type of residential property and 4) recording or filing an exclusive listing agreement for residential property of any duration. The 24-month prohibition applies to exclusive listings on residential one to four properties, condos, and manufactured homes. Other prohibitions will apply to exclusive listings on any type of residential property even where the property is improved with more than four units. It also deems any licensed real estate professional who violates these prohibitions as having violated that person’s licensing laws.
Source: California Legislative Information website, http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
UNDERSTANDING LIVING TRUST
Estate planners often recommend “Living Trusts” as a viable option when contemplating the manner in which to hold title to real property. When a property is held in a Living Trust, title companies have particular requirements to facilitate the transaction. While not comprehensive, following are answers to many commonly asked questions. If you have questions that are not answered below, your title company representative may be able to assist you, however, one may wish to seek legal counsel.
How to Find the Right Mortgage Lender
Choosing the right lender is an important step on your homebuying journey. Not only will it impact your costs as a borrower but also your overall experience when buying a home.
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Mortgage lenders can vary quite a bit. Every company offers different interest rates and loan programs, and fees and customer service can be widely different as well.
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How do you find the right lender for your home purchase? Here are the steps you should take.
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Understand what loan type you need. There are many kinds of home loans, including FHA, conventional, jumbo and more. Each one has different requirements for borrowers. Study up on loan programs to determine which ones might work for you. Doing this can help you pinpoint a lender who offers what you’re searching for.
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Ask for referrals. Ask your friends, family and colleagues for lenders they may have used when buying a home. We can also discuss local lending experts as you get started on your home search. Then, you can continue your research about available loan programs, rates and other details.
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Check out online reviews. Look up customer reviews of the lenders you’re considering on multiple platforms. You can also look at the NMLS database to see if there are any legal or licensing issues with the lender.
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Get preapproved and compare offers. Once you’ve narrowed your pool of potential lenders, apply for preapproval. Then, you’ll get a loan estimate detailing the terms and costs of the mortgage each company is offering you, which you can use to compare your options.
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If you have questions about homebuying or need help finding a great mortgage lender to work with, get in touch today.
Professional Resources
Meet the team of professionals I work with to achieve all of my clients real estate goals. I've assembled this list based on frequent requests for recommendations from clients and friends for excellent local professionals. I hope this list can serve as a resource as you evaluate different professionals. As always, I recommend checking references and doing due diligence first.
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If you have questions about any of the professionals or businesses below about who might be most appropriate for your personal situation, or comments in general, please contact us.
Accounting
Ben Lesser, Wintter & Associates, CPA, (925) 933-2676
Bryan Blythe, Richard T. Dwyer & Company, CPA, (650) 342-7163
Marc Leardini, Young Craig LLP, CPA, (650) 209-1814
Architect
Adam Bittle, Architecture Allure, (650) 208-1204
Nancy Scheinholtz, Scheinholtz Associates, 650-558-0700
Geoff Gibson, Winder Gibson Architects, (415) 318-8634
Deborah Vieira, Deborah Vieira Design, (650) 504-0992
Michael Tauber, Michael Tauber Architecture, (415) 706-6576,
Appraiser
Brock Riddle, (650) 348-8409
Nancy Dierx, (650) 366-6585, dierx.nancy@gmail.com
Attorney (Estate Planning)
Nancy Rossi, Nancy Rossi Law, (650) 931-2507
Alan D. Khalfin, Attorney, Vaksman Khalfin, PC, (650) 450-4945
Mark Rodiles, Law Office of Mark Rodiles-Peterson, 650-516-7002, Pacificaestatelaw.com
Attorney (Real Estate)
Charlie Bronitsky, Esq. (650) 327-2900 ext: 16
David Finkelstein, DGF Law, (650) 353-7151
Cary Kletter, Kletter Law, (415) 434-3400
April S. Glatt, Esq., Chauvel & Glatt, LLP (650) 573-9500 ext: 2002
TJ Walsh, Real Estate, HOA Specialist, Chauvel & Glatt, LLP (650) 573-9500
Charles H. Rible, Esq., (650) 573-0307
Carpet Cleaning
Bakers Floor & Surface, (650) 652-9440
Carpet Cleaning
David Nagle, Inspector Flue Seau, (650) 593-3814F
Contractors/Builders
Brian Younger, General Contractor, (650) 430-0594, coleconstructiononline@gmail.com
Mike Cacci, Cacci Construction, (650) 508-0778
David Tapia, Tapia Construction, (650) 732-0327; speak to Gabriele Tapia
Tony Ward, Tony Ward Construction, Inc., (415) 596-1888
Rich Mathers, Rich Mathers Construction, Inc., (650) 793-0715
Jim Lindstrom, JP Lindstrom Inc, (650) 343-9562,
Designers
Mari Ines Woodsome, M.A. Woodsome Design (415) 637-3270
Eliza Edelman, Edelman Interiors (415-578-8782
Engineers
Eric Cox, Kembcon Engineering, (650) 689-5218; structural and civil engineer
Adam Klein, BKG, â€(650) 489-9224‬
Financial Advisor
Michael Ma, Parallel Advisors, (415) 728-9186
Floors (hardwood install and refinishing)
Dennis Gaspar, DG Floors, 650-400-3340
Simon Nguyen, Golden Hardwood Floor, (415) 751-5415
Fiduciary
Dean Lipsitz, Private Professional Fiduciary, (510)798-520, deanlipsitz.com
Foreign Investment Real Property Tax Act
Grout Cleaning and Polishing
Michael Johnson, Grout Works Bay Area, (925)849-7300
Home Security
Jan Antonelli, ADT, (650) 670-7332; jantonelli@adt.com
Home Cleaning
Junk Hauler
Think Pink & Green, Steve and Dominic Bianchini, (415) 320-4987, www.thinkpinkandgreen.com
Alberto Galvao, Junk It Co & Marina’s House Cleaning And Hauling, (650) 274-5332
Marisol Gonzales, Orchids Maid, (650) 773-6239
Maria Ruvalcaba, 209-814-2831
Handyman
Skip - A "Honey Do" List Handyman, 650-595-4333, ahoneydolist@gmail.com
Home Inspections
Gale Miyahara, Home Analysis Service, (650) 291-1907
Thomas Perez, Vista Inspection Services, 415-682-4020
Insurance (homeowners, auto, etc)
Derry Wisnom, MacCorkle Insurance Services, 650-227-7214, derry.wisnom@maccorkle.com
Gino Benedetti, VP, Calender-Robinson Co., Inc. 415-978-3823, gbenedetti@calrob.com
Landscape Architect
Landscape Reflections, Stephanie O'Rourke, https://www.landscape-reflections.com
Kirsten Rudger Landscape Design, Kirsten Rudger, (858) 449-7101 https://www.rudgerlandscapes.com/
Landscaping
Antonio Gonzalez Landscaping, (650) 245-9750 AntonioGonzalezLandscaping@gmail.com
Loan Officer
Jeff Spoelstra
Loan Officer | NMLS #1657141
155 East Main Avenue Suite 170, Morgan Hill CA 95037
O: (408) 825-0222 | M: (408) 838-5820
Locksmith
San Mateo Lockworks, (650) 344-4905
Pop-A-Lock, (415) 668-5625
Mold
Cheryl Pierce, Moldbusters, (415) 731-6653
Art Bagirov, Real Estate Inspection Group, (408) 398-5550
Painters
Nolan Painting Company, Michael Nolan, (650) 389-9327
Alfie Holmes, Alfie Holmes Painting & Faux Finishing, (650) 921-6473
Ron Huff Painting, (831) 331-8278
Pest
Franz Termite Control, (650) 493-0445
JK Control, â€(415) 468-2002‬
Ecotech Pest Elimination, Jonathan Giorgi/Joshua, (650) 455 8202
Other local options: Bay Area Termite, Premier, A&R, Matt Outman Termite
Plumbing
Todd Lindstrom, Lindstrom Plumbing, (650) 343-4542
Caccia Plumbing, (650) 342-5363
Pool Service
Shawn Kirby, Kirby's Pools, kirbyspools.com (650) 921-8288, kirbyspools@gmail.com
Professional Organizer
Sheri Lynn, Going, Going, Gone...The Art of Organizing & Managing Moves, 650-455-8449, gggorganizing.com
Working Behind The Scenes, Babs Harband (650) 579-3929, babsharband@yahoo.com
Rat Removal/Remediation
Attic Crew, (877) 961-3358, https://atticrew.com
Prop 19taxbreak
Prop 19 allows eligible homeowners to transfer the taxable value of their primary residence to a replacement primary residence anywhere in California, regardless of location or value, as long as the replacement residence is purchased or newly constructed within two years of the sale of the original primary residence. Homeowners can save big on their annual property tax bills, whether they move to a replacement home that is the same price, more expensive, or less expensive than their original home.
Realtors
For a referral to an agent around the Bay Area, or throughout the country, we can help you identify, interview, and select an agent who will assist you.
Roofing
Carlos Rodriguez, Mr. Roofing, (650) 872-3232
Roof Doctors, 800-913-1180, office@roofdoctors.com, www.roofdoctors.com
Surveyor
Greg Ippolito, PLS, Foresight Land Surveying, (415) 735-6180