Kathleen Finnegan

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are neighborhood preferences changing?

Americans are increasingly showing their desires for walkable neighborhoods that combine a mix of homes and stores. In fact, a new survey shows that the least popular neighborhood is a suburban one with just houses in it. Sixty percent of Americans surveyed say they favor neighborhoods with a mix of houses and stores and other businesses that are easy to walk to over neighborhoods that require greater driving among home, work, and recreation, according to the 2013 Community Preference Survey of... Continue Reading >

appraisals – how to maximize value

So, you’ve got an offer on your house from a qualified buyer and you’re ready to call the movers. Before you pick up the phone, remember that a few hurdles still have to be overcome before settlement day—in particular, the home appraisal. An appraisal, paid for by the buyer, is required by the buyer’s lender to ensure that the property’s value is equal to or higher than the loan amount. If your buyer has offered $250,000 on your home and intends... Continue Reading >

you’re all settled in – now what?

After buyers move in to their new home, they should be prepared for some home fixes to present themselves each season. Below is a checklist of routine maintenance and small home repairs that home buyers should expect to do their first year to help avoid more costly problems from surfacing later on: During move-in week: Turn on all major appliances and run them for a complete cycle. Even if the buyer already completed a home inspection, they should test again, experts say. After... Continue Reading >

rise to new heights – Bershire Hathaway announced

Warren Buffett’s new real estate franchise is officially open for business.  This change has little effect on daily operations, but we are excited by the opportunity to collaborate with such a wonderful network of brilliant minds. Buffett's company, Berkshire Hathaway, has launched its Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties division with about 3,200 agents in more than 62 offices across Southern California and the Central Coast. San Diego-based Prudential California Realty became the first brokerage to relaunch under the HomeServices franchise. The franchise... Continue Reading >

what’s in a wine glass?

Figuring that out can be tricky, even embarrassing, for casual tasters and experts alike. And that raises the question: Should we spring for the expensive labels or settle for box wine? In the most recent of these experiments, British psychologist Richard Wiseman asked 578 visitors to the Edinburgh Science Fair to taste eight pairs of wine, evenly divided between red and white. In each pair, one wine cost significantly more than the other. Yet, overall, the tasters correctly identified the wines by... Continue Reading >

ask Kathleen

You've got questions. We've got answers! A real estate transaction has many moving parts. The real estate agent's role is to smooth the home sale process, from setting the price to closing the deal. Before hiring a specific real estate agent, take advantage of his or her knowledge about houses and the market, ask the right questions to determine the agent's suitability for your transaction. The real estate agent whom you hire should be a good match for your style, your neighborhood,... Continue Reading >

give your credit score a boost!

Unfortunately, most consumers still do not know basic facts about credit scores and their financial significance, The truth is, your credit score, sometimes called a FICO score, is a number based on the information in your credit file that shows how likely you are to pay a loan back on time -- the higher your score, the less risky you are. There are three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. The credit bureaus write up your report based on any... Continue Reading >