The COVID-19 pandemic has upended many aspects of our economy, and the housing market is no exception. In addition to realtors, many rental property owners have been affected. If you own a rental property that has been recently vacated, consider the following steps for preparing it to go back on the market. Read more

Whether it’s an investment property or a family home, selling real estate is no simple undertaking. Besides the high stakes involved, there are several aspects to address, from perfecting the property’s visual presentation to strategizing a marketing campaign. To help you make the most of your property sale, we’ve asked six Diamond Certified Expert Contributors in the real estate field to provide their insights. Read more

The COVID-19 pandemic has uprooted work, life and study patterns for many families in the Bay Area, prompting people to reevaluate their living spaces. Some have decided to search for larger homes in the suburbs or rural areas, while others have decided to leave the region altogether. With real estate remaining an essential business throughout the pandemic, the industry adapted quickly to its new circumstances. In this article, we’ll examine what the real estate market looks like in 2021. Read more

When preparing to buy a home, it’s natural to be preoccupied with thoughts about your future residence. However, it’s important to not overlook the more technical (read: less exciting) aspects of purchasing a property, such as applying for a mortgage loan. Getting approved for a home loan has always been an involved process, but since the subprime mortgage crisis that preempted the 2008 recession, it has become even more rigorous, so you’ll want to be well-prepared. Here are three tips for making the most of your mortgage loan application. Read more

In addition to the complex process involved, there are a lot of pitfalls to avoid when selling a home, many of which have significant financial consequences. Unfortunately, some homeowners can’t escape said pitfalls, often due to held misconceptions about appraisal, marketing and other parts of the process. To avoid difficulties with your home sale, consider these common seller misconceptions: Read more

If you’re in the market for a new home, one of the first things you’ll need to do is find a Realtor. However, with an abundance of working professionals in the real estate field, you’ll need to be proactive about finding one who’s qualified and dependable. Besides verifying licensing and getting references, one way to evaluate a Realtor is to ask plenty of questions. Here are five things to ask a Realtor: Read more

While part of preparing a rental property for market is getting the physical space move-in ready, the other part is addressing non-physical details such as tenant screening. Due to the potential consequences of oversights or poor decisions in this area, it’s important to take a meticulous, preventative approach. To learn a few critical steps, read the following tip sheet by Diamond Certified Expert Contributor Sam LaPlaca of CM Property Management Inc.:

1. Verify income. Accepting a tenant who can’t afford the rent is a mistake that can cost you a lot of time, money and frustration. That’s why, in addition to asking for pay stubs and bank statements, Read more