The best way for first-time home buyers to come up with a down payment for a home: save for one, of course! But sometimes you’re in a hurry. Maybe your dream house just popped up on the market, or you’ve simply had it with being a...
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You don’t need a real estate license to find your dream home, but it does help to become familiar with real estate jargon you might encounter during the process. When searching for a home or applying for a mortgage, refer back to this handy...
Homeownership can be a major undertaking that impacts multiple aspects of your day-to-day life. Determiningwhen to buy a house isn’t only about your financial readiness, though it is definitely one aspect — a house is probably one of the most expensive purchases you’ll make....
If you’re ready to make the jump from renter to homeowner, you’ll most likely need to save for a down payment. The Even if you’re just window shopping, these 10 steps will help ensure your finances are ready when the right house does come...
If you’re ready to make the jump from renter to homeowner, you’ll most likely need to save for a down payment. The typical down payment on a home is between 3% and 20% of the purchase price. While 56% of buyers with a mortgage put...
As you close in on making an offer on a home, your real estate agent – or the seller’s agent – will ask about “earnest money.” Earnest money is a type of security deposit, also known as a “good faith” deposit, offered to show...
Escrow is a legally binding arrangement where a third party holds assets from a buyer and seller during the sales process until a transaction is complete. While escrow can be used for various purposes, from online purchases to home buying, the most common use is...
Do You Need a COVID-19 Booster Shot? Most people who are fully vaccinated against thecoronavirusare relatively well-protected from serious illness and death from COVID-19. But even highly effectivevaccinesoften become less so over time. Early research on vaccines that use mRNA to protect you from...
A Homeowners association, or “HOA”, is a community of homeowners who abide to a governed structure formed by the neighborhood. It’s an association created to care for the neighborhood formed by the residents within that community. The association maintains and cares for the integrity...
If you are reading this, congratulations! Finally deciding on taking this important and crucial step is a huge accomplishment. But like all big steps in life there are risks, big and small, that need to be carefully considered and navigated. This list will help...
We get it. You love your pets, and you love your houseplants—they’re almost like pets themselves! In many cases, pets and plants can safely co-exist, but there are also a large number of well-known houseplants that are toxic to cats and dogs. This can...
“Staging” is the practice of setting up and furnishing an empty house being sold, rather than leaving it empty. It’s all for cosmetic purposes. Staging is a relatively new practice that has exploded in popularity in the past 2 decades. It was discovered that...
Now that the weather is warming up (perhaps a little too warm this year), it’s time to air out the house, mow our lawns, and most importantly: clean our grills. Besides warmer weather, this sensational season brings out the best in summer cuisine and...
Now that most of us have flipped the A/C on high inside our homes, it’s safe to say that summer is officially here! And with it, an entire roster of spring-cleaning chores we’ve been putting off… Well folks, it’s time to stop procrastinating and...
Whether you’re dealing with stress from the demands of your job, a traumatic event, or simply the uncertain state of the world, you’re not alone. Around 75 percent of individuals struggle with feelings of stress that jeopardize their mental and physical health. Naturally, some...
It’s the first day of 75-degree weather. You walk outside, embrace the warmth, inhale the fresh air, and promptly die of a sneeze attack… Springtime is back! And with it, a slew of tiny invaders trying to weasel their way into your sinus track....
Is there anything like getting greeted at the door by your jubilant pup or snuggling your unconditionally loving cat? Whatever pet you call your own, there’s no doubt that animals can bring us insane amounts of joy in our everyday life. What you might...
Housing instability and affordability is a serious problem in America. The novel coronavirus pandemic, the negative effects of climate change, and a movement to fight racial injustice have brought America’s long-lasting housing issues to the forefront. Luckily, the Biden-Harris ambitious housing agendas might bring...
It feels like an existential question – to vaccinate or not to vaccinate. But it shouldn’t be. As a culture, we are far removed from the days of high infant mortality and the uncertainty and despair caused when waves of disease hit communities. Vaccines...
With the holiday season on our heels, it’s time to think about how we can celebrate safely. For many of us, the holidays are one of the only times of year when we can connect with our family and friends. But with the coronavirus...
With the holidays approaching and COVID numbers going up across the country – traveling for the holidays is becoming more complicated. The CDC is recommending people stay home, but if you have to travel, here are a few things to think about. Get tested....
California is facing the worst fire season in record history! It is advisable not to underestimate the impact of a glint as it can explode, destroy possessions, and endanger homes and lives. 30,763 fire outbreaks occurred in the first half of 2017, according to...
Between stay-at-home orders and the remote-based “new normal” of the Covid-19 pandemic, researchers estimate that around 42% of the population is currently working from home. While working from home is a dream come true for some people, the situation is less than ideal for...
Thinking about buying a home in the time of Covid? While it may sound like a strange idea considering the uncertainty and irregularity of the past few months, many people are still considering taking the leap into a new home. But is now really...
Summer is heating up, is the real estate market doing the same? This year has been a wild ride for those looking to buy or sell their homes. From historically low interest rates early in the year to unpredictable trends due to the global...
Covid-19 has turned our world upsidedown. As uncertainty continues to rise, so does our stress and anxiety. But we don’t have to let that stress get the better of us. While we continue to adjust to this new way of life, so too can...
Buying a new home can be daunting. After you get through the obstacles of getting a home loan, finding your perfect house, you have to navigate the waiting period of making your offer. If you have a dedicated agent behind you, this process will...
Running a business – big or small – takes a lot of planning and foresight. With a new year around the corner, it’s time to start considering what’s store for businesses in the coming months. Our society and economy are in a constant state...
2020 is almost here, and the future is looking bright for small businesses. There are many exciting opportunities to grow your business in 2020. You just need to be aware of these trends. That way, you can implement them in your own brand. Luckily,...
As humans, we tend to look at the changing of a calendar as a ceremonial clean slate to get things done. This time of the year is when we decide to eat better, join a gym, and find other ways to live a healthier...
Now is the Time to Buy in Long Beach for First Time Home Buyers It might sound crazy to suggest that now is a good time to buy a home anywhere in California, no less Long Beach. It is true! Multiple factors are leading...
Escrow is not fun for anyone involved – buyers nor sellers. It can be a stressful time of waiting and feeling unsure about how things will go moving forward. With that said, escrow is a vital part of the home buying process. It protects...
These days, it can be difficult to spot what is official from what is phony. With new scams and schemes coming out every day, we have to do our best to take every precaution before handing out personal and financial information. While many of...
Buying or selling a home can feel like a never-ending process. While it is natural to want to skip to the finale, it is important to know that simply closing escrow does not mean all the work is done. You can take comfort in...
If you are in the process of buying a new home, you will likely soon run into the concept of holding title on your property. In real estate, a title is required to show ownership of the land and home. After a sale, the...
Anyone looking at purchasing a property should go down every avenue to assure they are making the best decision for their bottom line. One of the best ways to get the best value for your investment is to explore the option of purchasing a...
It is no secret that the word “cancellation”, when used in reference to the sale of a home or property, can strike fear in everyone involved in the deal. This fear is likely reasonable given the ramifications of a potential stalemate when the cancellation...
As a small business, you want to make sure you’re doing everything right. This includes a long list of tasks throughout the year. Depending on how you’ve run your business and kept track of all of your transactions, taxes are one part of the...
Big financial agreements require a certain level of protection. Escrow, fortunately, offers this kind of protection for both buyers and sellers. When considering the sale of a business, property, or deliverable working arrangements, escrow acts as a protective intermediary for the financial aspect of...
Buying a house can be a stressful experience. It takes a lot of time and effort…not to mention money to find the home you always wished for. Heartbreakingly, the dreams of many have become a nightmare thanks to mortgage scams. Scammers are preying on...
We tend to end each year with the mantra, “New year, new me!” Well, this war cry isn’t just for you. Businesses take the beginning of the year as a clean slate as well. A new calendar year is an ideal time to take...
Are you a struggling business in California considering a bulk sale (or bulk transfer)? While you might just want to overload everything you own and be done, there are still some rules you have to follow. If you are looking to get out of...
Saving for retirement always manages to sneak to the back of our minds. However, we should remember how important decisions made now will be in the future. Regardless of whether you started as soon as you took your first job or have 15 years...
As another year passes us by, so does a whole new year of payroll laws. Just as everyone in the Human Resources Department is wrapping their heads around all the changes 2017 brought, 2018 dumps a bunch more on their laps. Let’s take a...
Nationwide, states have ABC (Alcoholic Beverage Control) departments that regulate the production, sale, and purchase of alcohol. While laws vary from state to state there are a multitude of similarities. The clear majority of states have a variety of types of ABC licenses,...
In this article, we will be discussing what to look for in an escrow partner and how a slow escrow can cost you. But first, let us establish what an escrow is, how it works and why it is important: When someone goes...
The Fed has been steadily increasing interest rates since the beginning of the year and on June 13, the Fed again raised interest rates from 1.75 -2% which sent financial markets into a spiral and worried potential home buyers. The Fed cites the improving...
MITIGATION NECESSARY TO PROTECT LICENSED ESCROW COMPANIES FROM THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF THE LEASE ACCOUNTING STANDARDS CHANGE ABSTRACT Escrow companies licensed by the State of California, unlike their competitors who perform escrow services under an exemption, are required to meet state-mandated minimum liquidity...
1 Purchase The benefit of purchasing a low-cost property is a low investment and the yields are consistent. Get a routine of purchasing one or two low-value properties a year and 10 years down the line you’ll have accumulated over a dozen of them....
Now, more than ever, the younger generations are starting to take an interest in real estate. As you begin your real estate venture, here are some helpful tips to prepare for your first investment. –Improve Your Credit Score Before you start looking at houses,...
Gina Kim – CEO Janice Cheon – Managing Partner At Escrow World, Inc., every client is unique and has different needs. Yet each is similar in two crucial ways, deserving the highest level of accuracy and receiving excellence in customer service. We let that lead...
Create a timeline After you open escrow ask your realtor to give you an overview of the escrow process that can help you create a timeline. Mapping everything out visually is a helpful way of relieving many anxieties. Tracking the progression of escrow is...