Blog

Notes on the local market

2026-10-05 · 10 min read

How Should Buyers Review an HOA Budget and Reserves Before Buying a Condo?

An HOA fee and reserve balance are starting points. Read the budget with planned work, assessments, minutes, and your lender's project questions.

2026-10-04 · 10 min read

What Goes in a Condominium Disclosure Package for a Bay Area Sale?

Order current association records early, keep seller disclosures separate, and give buyers a dated index that makes missing or revised documents visible.

2026-10-03 · 10 min read

How Do You Read a Preliminary Title Report for a Bay Area Home?

A preliminary title report is a policy offer with exceptions, not a clean-title certificate. Read the entries that could affect your plans and ask for the underlying documents.

2026-10-02 · 10 min read

Should a Seller Make a Repair or Offer a Credit After Inspection?

After a buyer requests a change based on an inspection, compare the actual work, lender rules, timing, and net proceeds before offering a repair or credit.

2026-10-01 · 10 min read

How Do You Check Permit History Before Buying a Bay Area Home?

A permit search can answer useful questions about additions and major work, but only when you find the right agency, read the status, and compare records with the home.

2026-09-30 · 10 min read

How Should You Compare Multiple Offers on a Bay Area Home?

The highest price is one part of an offer. Put the money, contract conditions, dates, and your own move on the same page before you decide.

2026-09-29 · 11 min read

Should You Sell Your Bay Area Home Before Buying the Next One?

The order of two transactions changes your cash, your negotiating room, and where you live between closings. Start with the numbers and the contracts, not a guess about the market.

2026-09-28 · 8 min read

Deck and Balcony Checklist for Bay Area Home Buyers

A deck or balcony can sell the feeling of a home before you have checked how the space works. Slow down and separate the view from the structure, records, responsibility, and future plans.

2026-09-27 · 8 min read

Garage Checklist for Bay Area Home Buyers: What to Check Before You Buy

A garage label does not tell you how the space will work with your vehicle, storage, daily route, or future plans. Check the whole space before you decide what it adds to the home.

2026-09-24 · 8 min read

Internet and Cell Service Checklist for Bay Area Home Buyers

Internet access can look fine during a short tour and still leave unanswered questions about the exact address, interior signal, wiring, and detached spaces. Check each layer before you decide what the home will support.

2026-09-23 · 8 min read

Bay Area Fireplace Checklist for Home Buyers

A fireplace can be a focal point and still leave practical questions about its type, condition, service history, and permitted use. Check what is visible, then identify what still needs records or a qualified opinion.

2026-09-22 · 8 min read

Flooring Checklist for Bay Area Home Buyers

Flooring can change how a home feels, functions, and fits your budget. A careful review helps you separate visible wear from questions that need records or a qualified opinion.

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