Net-zero energy — when a building produces as much energy as it consumes — used to be science fiction. Here in California, it’s about to get real. The California Energy Commission (CEC) — California’s primary energy policy and planning agency — recently adopted...
If you're a first-time mortgage borrower, you might be asking yourself, "What is MIP?" Home buyers considering getting a loan from the Federal Housing Administration will find MIP, or mortgage insurance premium, especially relevant because all FHA loans require insurance. Here's what you...
The most competitive, tightest housing market in decades may finally be loosening its grip, and that could put pressure on overheated home prices. The supply of homes for sale in the second quarter of 2018, the all-important spring market, rose...
If you're thinking about buying your first home, that pesky down payment has probably kept you awake more than a few nights. We get it—while a pre-approval is crucial for determining your buying power, it's the down payment that shows...
Consumer sentiment about future economic conditions in California remained about the same in the second quarter (Q2) of 2018. Planned spending on big-ticket purchases rose from the previous quarter. The outlook for future spending is more positive than negative, according to Chapman University’s...
The electricity you use to power your home can cost a pretty penny. The average family spends $1,900 a year on utility bills, according to the government's Energy Star program. But did you know that performing simple home maintenance tasks can...
Will mortgage rates at recent record levels drive down home buying? Mortgage interest rates just hit the highest level in seven years, but those in the lending trenches already knew that, right? That news shouldn’t come as a surprise to those of you...
Selling your home? Then you've likely had that rude awakening where a real estate agent tours your home and breaks some tough news: Your house needs work before it goes on the market. For starters, you'll have to fix the boiler. And paint. And replace those outdated cabinets...
Zillow predicts that 2018 will shape up to be an even hotter real estate market than in 2017 . An analysis conducted by Zillow Research, a division of Zillow Group that operates the Zillow real estate marketplace, found that homes sold faster...
You may be wondering if its time for you or someone in your family to downsize their home. There are many reasons why one may want to downsize: empty nest, location change, the cut of maintenance, the cut in price,...