Nef's Blog

So, you have saved up enough for a down payment and you have done several internet searches of desirable homes in the neighborhood you are interested in.  Where do you go from there?  While there are many factors and details to consider when buying a home, there have been tried and true principl...

So, the curb appeal has attracted you in examining the interior of the home in the first place, and after examining the house with your realtor, you have come to the conclusion that this house suits your needs and budget.  This is the point where a buyer needs to squelch down some of their giddy...

Buying a home usually is the largest single investment you will ever make and you have to be able to cut through the sales hype and real estate terminology to know if the home you are considering is worth the investment. To minimize unpleasant surprises and unexpected difficulties, you’ll want t...

Remember the old saying “Image is everything.”? In this day of internet shopping for homes-- 87% of buyers last year used the Internet to help find a home according to the National Association of Realtors-- any homeowner interested in selling their home should keep this idea in mind as they prep...

So you've survived most of the escrow process with very little wear and tear, you are now in the final stages of escrow and the purchase of your house is soon to close.  What exactly occurs during closing and what can you do to prepare?  There are several things you should do to be certain that y...

Although it may be contrary to what many consumers believe, homes sales occur year round; however, springtime is usually the time in the year when most sellers seriously contemplate placing their home on the market for sale and housing inventory tends to increase.  In my 25+ years of selling and ...

Gone are the days when you stuck a yard sale sign in a home that was being prepared for sale, held an open house and printed out flyers as some of the major tools for marketing real estate property.  As homes that are listed for sale populate the internet and are available to be viewed by a natio...

When it comes time to purchase their home, most homebuyers are familiar with other types of insurance (auto, boat, life) but are not certain as to exactly what title insurance is and what it covers. A savvy homebuyer, in order to best protect himself, must insist that title insurance is provided ...

Each year many homeowners decide to maximize the profit on their home sales by selling it "For Sale By Owner". At first glance, this is the most tempting option to most homeowners especially in the current real estate market with its rapid appreciation rate.  Why pay substantial broker fees when ...

In a previous blog entry, I had provided information regarding the tax consequences that most homeowners would incur due to the forgiveness of an outstanding debt in a short sale by their lender.  It seems that every rule has its exception.Reporting in the Santa Cruz Sentinel (Mar 2007)regarding ...