Many people rent rather than own their homes. If this is true for you, you depend on a landlord to maintain your residence in good working order. At a minimum, landlords are responsible for ensuring homes are habitable and safe. The legal definition of habitable means the structure should be weather-tight...
Many of us don’t think much about the water we use. If we turn on the tap and water comes out, we’re satisfied. When we hear ominous warnings about droughts, we stop watering our lawns (or limit watering to early mornings), but deep down, we’re not too concerned. The tap...
Many of us don’t think much about the water we use. If we turn on the tap and water comes out, we’re satisfied. When we hear ominous warnings about droughts, we stop watering our lawns (or limit watering to early mornings), but deep down, we’re not too concerned. The tap...
Home ownership isn’t right for everyone, but it can be a great investment and provide a huge sense of satisfaction. Before you cross home ownership off your list because you don’t think you can afford it, let me tell you what it takes. The median house price in the Ukiah Valley...
In my office, we have a list of individuals and organizations we won’t do business with—most are vendors, others are past clients who behaved so poorly we won’t work with them again. The reasons vendors get put on the list can include things like doing substandard work, having no liability insurance...
As I was driving into town to come to work this morning, I noticed the weeds growing up in the median strip on Perkins Street near the Hwy 101 onramp and offramp. I’ve noticed these weed for weeks and they irritate me. If you checked the median near Hwy 101 on...
Having a good relationship with your neighbors can make life far more peaceful and enjoyable, so whenever you contemplate outdoor home projects—whether you’re installing a new deck or hiring someone to install a sprinkler system—it’s wise to consider how those projects will affect the people around you, not only while...
When it comes to making a decision as important as purchasing a home, be sure to base your decision on facts—not myths. Here are a few myths debunked. Myth #1: It’s always better to own than to rent. Not necessarily. When people say owning a home is an investment while renting just...
This is the fourth and final column in a series describing the various types of real estate loans. While you must have some way to repay the loan, you really do have a huge variety of options when it comes to buying real estate. CalVet – These are intended for active...
This is the third in a series describing the various types of real estate loans. Whether you have excellent credit or no credit, whether you’ve saved for a down payment or you can’t rub two nickels together, there’s a loan for you. Seller Carry Backs – For seller carry backs, the...
