Blog
Welcome to our blog!
Welcome to Mar East Street, a private one-way street perfectly situated along the Tiburon Peninsula in Tiburon, California. Many of the homes along Mar East are literally situated above the water on piers, offering residents an unimaginable lifestyle that can not be compared. Homes along Mar East benefit from close proximity to downtown Tiburon, and …
According to a 2021 study, 65% of single-family homes in North Lake Tahoe are short-term rentals or second homes. Meanwhile, the need for workforce housing is at an all-time high and approximately 200 to 300 households who work in Lake Tahoe are searching for housing at a given time. In an effort to bridge …
After investing in self-storage and other income-producing properties like duplexes and 4-plexes, Alicia and I determined it was time to diversify, so we have now jumped into short-term rentals. Our entrance into STRs also sparked clients’ curiosity so we figured it was a great subject to discuss. Short-term rental properties can be an excellent …
Things To Consider When Buying a Short-Term Rental Investment Property (STR) Read More »
Home values skyrocketed all across the Bay Area during the pandemic. It is not uncommon to see homeowners walk away with a huge gain after selling their homes. And while that gain is wonderful, you’ll need to be prepared to pay the income taxes associated with your sale to your state and federal government. In …
Welcome to the Kirkland, Washington waterfront! Located just 19 minutes from downtown Seattle and 9 mins from the City of Bellevue, Kirkland embodies the charm of a small waterfront community while keeping you central to the city and neighboring metropolitan areas. Located on the eastern shore of Lake Washington, Kirkland is best known for its …
We are excited to share that our very close friend and client officially closed on his purchase of 27 Somerset Place, Novato! Due to our affiliation with Homes for Heroes, he received a check in the amount of $5,040.00 shortly after closing, sourced from our gross earnings of this transaction. This check is our …
Welcome to West Shore Road of Belvedere, an exclusive and private waterfront neighborhood offering unique resort-like living perched immediately on Richardson Bay. West Shore Road consists of 49 or so homes, most of which have docks, all situated on a road with a single entrance and exit resulting in very little traffic. Homes along …
Placer County has passed the ability for residential property owners in the Lake Tahoe Basin area to add one accessory dwelling unit (ADU) and one junior accessory dwelling unit (JADU). Giving property owners the ability to add 2 new units to their property! Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) or commonly referred to as in-law units are …
You Can Now Build 2 ADUs in the Placer County Portion of the Lake Tahoe Basin! Read More »
One of our favorite days and favorite traditions, Opening Day on the Bay is something we look forward to all year long. The tradition started back in the 1800s when the Belvedere houseboats, also referred to as “arks,” made the move from their winter positions on the Belvedere Lagoon to the beautiful Belvedere Cove where …
An escalation clause (also called a relative bid, or a sharp bid) is a provision written into the purchase contract that increases your purchase price incrementally above competing offers, to a set amount. An escalation clause is only triggered when there are competing bona fide offers. For example, if you are writing a purchase …
Welcome to Corinthian Island, a picturesque and private former island split by the two municipalities of Tiburon, and Belvedere, California. Corinthian Island consists of about 58 homes give or take, most of which benefit from spectacular views of the picture-perfect Belvedere Cove, Golden Gate Bridge, SF Bay, and the San Francisco skyline. These homes are …
Waterfront real estate is without a doubt the most desirable real estate in Marin County, California. If you are considering buying a waterfront property here on the Bay, you need to make some considerations prior to writing offers, and closing escrow. Work with a local waterfront real estate specialist: Waterfront real estate has specific …
Things To Consider When Buying Waterfront Real Estate in Marin County Read More »
Over the years, Alicia and I have fallen in love with Washington State, most importantly Seattle, and the surrounding area. We even got married in Seattle last December. So, we are very excited to announce that in addition to our operations here in California, we are now licensed and actively working with EXP Realty of …
Alicia and I are thrilled to announce our affiliation with Homes For Heroes! We decided to partner with Homes for Heroes in an effort to honor our current and future clients that are real-life heroes. If Alicia and I have learned anything in the last two years, our nation’s heroes never cease to amaze us, …
WE ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH HOMES FOR HEROES Read More »
When utilizing a loan to purchase property, homebuyers often feel the urge to waive their appraisal contingency upfront in an effort to better stand out to sellers in today’s competitive market. We can understand the urge to waive your appraisal contingency, but there are some things that you need to understand as a homebuyer prior …
Should You Waive a Home Appraisal Contingency? Key Points to Understand Read More »
Bay Area Floating Home Communities What is a floating home? Floating homes are residences built on top of a buoyant base that are permanently anchored in one location. Oftentimes, floating homes adorn eccentric layouts, and are often backed by interesting history. These floating homes and their communities offer a unique place to live and …
Check out these 4 Sausalito Floating Homes Currently For Sale! Click here —–> 4 Floating Homes For Sale <—– to view the complete list. Floating homes offer such a unique waterfront lifestyle. But it is the architecture and the historical materials that have been used to build these homes that interest us the most. Out …
4 Sausalito Floating Homes Currently Listed For Sale Read More »
When the pandemic hit the San Francisco Bay Area in early 2020 and work from home became a reality for people across the country, a subsequent migration out of urban / city areas and into more rural areas took place. For many people, that meant buying second homes in regions like Lake Tahoe. In …
California Prop 19: Transferring Your Property Tax Basis + Saving Money Prop 19 is designed to make it more affordable for homeowners aged 55 and older who wish to sell their primary residence and move to another home within the state of California by allowing them to transfer their existing property tax basis. …
California Prop 19: Transferring Your Property Tax Basis + Saving Money Read More »
On September 16th, the governor signed off on SB 9, also known as the California Housing Opportunity and More Efficiency (HOME) Act, which officially became law on January 1, 2022. California SB 9 allows two things to happen for single-family zoned properties (You can choose one or the other or a combination) Urban …
California SB 9: Single Family Zoning Has Changed! Read More »
On Saturday we had the pleasure of taking the Fort Point Lantern Tour and it was such a unique experience! Built in 1861, Fort Point was built as part of a defense system of forts to protect the San Francisco Bay. Originally built for the Civil War, Fort Point was used the most during World …
Home appraisals have been a hot topic this month, so we thought we would take a moment to outline what a home appraisal is, and what the process looks like, specifically for buyers in today’s market. What is a home appraisal? A home appraisal is where a licensed real estate appraiser acts as …
How would you like to off-set your mortgage, and other monthly home ownership expenses? By getting creative, your home can become an income producing property, allowing you to pay down your mortgage earlier than anticipated, or, open up funds to be invested elsewhere. Over the years, we have seen countless ways homeowners have produced …
Septic systems are commonly associated with homes located in country-like settings however we do find homes on septic systems in some parts of Marin County. What is a septic system? Septic systems are underground wastewater treatment structures, commonly used in rural areas in lieu of sewers where a public sewer utility does not …
BUYING A HOME IN MARIN WITH A SEPTIC SYSTEM: KEY POINTS TO UNDERSTAND Read More »
What is an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)? According to the American Planning Association, an Accessory Dwelling Unity (ADU) is a smaller, independent residential dwelling unit located on the same lot as a stand-alone (i.e., detached) single-family home. While the abbreviation of ADU is becoming more widely used, for many years ADUs were typically referred to …
ADUs: Solving the California Housing Crisis While Offsetting Your Mortgage Read More »
Thinking about building your own home? Here are some things to consider! If you are considering buying land to build a home on you need to know a few things prior to starting the process. Land development is a segment of real estate Alicia and I have a bunch of experience in as we actively …
Thinking about building your own home? Here are some things to consider! Read More »
Bridge Loans Ok, home sellers. If you are considering buying a new home prior to selling your current home then you should know about bridge loans. What is a bridge loan? A bridge loan offers you the opportunity to finance your new home before selling your current home. Bridge loans traditionally require …
The California housing market once again outperforms expectations, breaking the record high median price for the fourth straight month! I sound like a broken record however it is important to understand that inventory remains super low, and buyer demand continues to increase. If you’ve been considering selling your house or are curious as to what …
𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬 – 𝐀𝐬𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞 You should have an estimate as to what your net proceeds are going to be when selling your home. I’ve broken down what’s included in the calculation of net seller proceeds below. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬? ”Net …
I have a buyer I am representing who is purchasing a home in Tiburon. We got him locked in with his lender on a 15-year mortgage at a super good rate with favorable terms. Here’s the funny part: one week into home shopping my buyer gets notice from his employer that he is going …
Planning on buying a home? Here are the 9 costs associated with the home buying process that you need to be aware of. Down Payment Lender-based origination, underwriting, and application fees. Title-based fees Survey and appraisal fees Recording fees Pre-paid property taxes, homeowners insurance, and mortgage interest. PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance) if applicable Escrow …
9 Costs Associated with the Home Buying Process That You Need to Be Aware Of Read More »
A big perk of owning your own home are the homeowner tax credits! But what are homeowner tax credits? A homeowner’s tax credit is a specific tax benefit available to homeowners. This benefit allows the owner of a home to reduce their income tax rate, deduct certain home-related expenses, or receive a tax credit through …
Why you need a title report You want to have a solid understanding of the property you are buying. Title reports outline important information related to the property like current ownership, parcel maps, and possible issues related to ownership. Quick tip: As a buyer, you should always read and understand the title report pertaining to …
Title Reports: Why You Should Read & Understand Them When Buying Property Read More »
Alicia and I took a date night drive out to Stinson Beach for a little hiking and dinner on the beach. The weather did not disappoint! Have you ever considered living out at the beach? Perhaps it’s not all that crazy of an idea now that many companies have instated work from home plans for …
Let’s talk about title insurance. What is it and why is it important? What is title insurance? Title insurance protects homeowners against any loss that may arise from title related issues. While homeowners insurance protects against future physical mishaps to the home itself, a title insurance policy protects the homeowner from undiscovered preexisting title related …
Title Insurance: What is it and why is it important? Read More »
2020 Real Estate Trends Moving to less densely populated areas Many buyers are moving out of densely populated cities like San Francisco to areas like Marin County, Lake Tahoe, and Sonoma. These buyers are looking for more space and privacy. Many have been told by their employers that they will not be going back into …
Down payments are one of the largest hurdles in homeownership, especially amongst younger buyers. In the event you have not saved enough funds for the down payment to purchase a home, many lenders allow borrowers to purchase a home utilizing gift funds. What are gift funds? A gift giver (commonly a buyer’s parents) is providing …
Mortgage reserves are savings balances that remain after you close on your home purchase. Also known as emergency funds, in the event of substantial income loss or unemployment, reserves assure mortgage lenders that you will be in a position to continue making your scheduled mortgage payments. Essentially, they are cash funds that you can …
Mortgage Reserves – what are they and how much do you need when buying a home? Read More »
There are quite a few homes currently for sale in Sausalito, CA that offer beautiful views. So we put together a list of our top 5! It was very hard to narrow it down because each home offers something a little different. But these homes just really stood out. Tell us your favorite in the …
5 of Our Favorite Bay View Homes in Sausalito Currently Listed for Sale Read More »
This weekend’s weather forecast for Sausalito is 80 degrees on Saturday and 83 degrees on Sunday! (weather report) So we have put together a list of 5 fun activities that the whole family can enjoy to help you plan and make the most of this warm Fall weekend. Kayaking and Paddle Boarding at Seatrek Get …
5 Activities To Do With Your Kids On a Beautiful Weekend in Sausalito, CA Read More »
If you are not in a position to put the standard 20% down payment on the home you are purchasing you will likely need to factor in the cost of PMI (private mortgage insurance). 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐏𝐌𝐈? Private mortgage insurance is a type of insurance that may be required by your mortgage lender if your …
If you’re planning on purchasing a home and you plan to utilize a mortgage to do so there are some things you should not do in advance. Don’t apply for new credit: applying for new credit can lower your credit score Don’t close any credit accounts or transfer your debt: although it may be a …
It is true, the Marin County real estate market is performing very well right now! People from San Francisco are moving out of the city and opting for less populated Marin County. This migration out of San Francisco paired with record low interest rates and first time home buyer incentives has increased competition amongst buyers. …
The Marin County real estate market is highly competitive and I am regularly seeing multiple offer scenarios on single-family homes. To get an offer accepted by a seller it takes the right realtor who understands not only how to negotiate on your behalf but how to instill confidence in the selling party. If you want …
One of Sausalito’s main tourist attractions is the famed and eclectic houseboat communities that populate the waterfront. There are currently 10 floating homes for sale in Sausalito, each one serving as a unique piece of Sausalito’s history. Click HERE to view the complete list! During World War II, Sausalito’s Marinship shipyard was contracted to make …
Did you know that Sausalito is just one short hour away from the coastal town of Bodega Bay? This past weekend we had a beautiful afternoon full of clear skies, whales, and BBQ oysters. Bodega Head Our first stop on Saturday was Bodega Head which is a rocky headland that forms the entrance into Bodega …
When purchasing a home it is important that we inspect the integrity of the home before closing escrow and you become the new owner. Over the years I have found that an increasing number of home sellers will have inspection reports performed before listing their home for sale in an effort to streamline the escrow …
Pre-purchase Inspections and Their Importance When Buying a Home Read More »
Check out these awesome opportunities on single-family homes located in Marin County, California priced $1,000,000 and under! Click here to view the complete list! *Keep in mind, this list is updated as of June 10, 2020. If you are reading this blog post after that date and would like an up to date report, please …
47 Single Family Homes for Sale in Marin County Priced $1,000,000 and Under Read More »
Over this past year I have been asked the question “Torben, should I buy or rent? So I decided to compile a list of pros and cons for you to consider before leaping into homeownership. I have come to find that it is not a one size fits all scenario. It comes down to where …
Buying a home is not as far fetched as it may seem. After many years of facilitating the buying process for my clients and my family’s real estate investment fund, I have learned the ins and outs of purchasing real estate. With the right team and the proper approach, buying a home can be simple …
Home Buying Made Easy – Understanding the Process Read More »
