real estate

The high cost of homes in parts of California has many consumers asking if now is a better time to buy or rent. The short answer is, “It depends.” One thing it depends on is your reasons for wanting to buy a home. Home ownership, besides being a financial investment,…

With low inventory levels and a strong housing sellers’ market in California, you may be thinking it’s a good time to sell your home—or start making some improvements in preparation of selling. A few upgrades may be the difference between a disappointing home-selling experience and finding a buyer willing to pay your asking…

Summer’s not over yet. There’s still time to take a road trip to one of California’s many state parks. From beaches and deserts to redwood forests and mountain summits, California parks offer a variety of amazing and beautiful sites to explore. The Consumer Connection article “Time for a Road Trip!” details…

If you watch Modern Family, you’re familiar with Phil Dunphy, suburban Los Angeles real estate agent and self-proclaimed real estate guru. You may have even caught one of the Real Estate Phil’s-osophies commercials for the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) starring Ty Burrell, the actor who plays Dunphy. It’s not…

Our special issue celebrates 10 years of consumer news. In line with our previous years’ Consumer Connections, this issue features articles that help consumers stay informed about the latest trends and scams. Read about acupuncture and the health benefits it can provide, plus information and news about LASIK surgery, consumer…

The 2013/2014 legislative season ended September 30, 2014, with the Governor signing 931 bills into law in 2014.  Summarized below are recently signed bills that affect California Bureau of Real Estate (CalBRE) licensees and subdividers. All statutes are effective January 1, 2015, unless otherwise indicated. Assembly Bill 2018 (Bocanegra) –…

Those who commit fraud often target and exploit senior citizens. According to the FBI, the reason they do is because senior citizens are most likely to have a sizeable “nest egg” that criminals can target, and seniors are typically seen as more trusting of others. Older Americans are also less…