Tag: Real Estate

California Is Desperate for Affordable Housing But Can’t Stop Getting in Its Own Way

In Los Angeles, 49 units are taking 17 years to build, facing nearly every hurdle that state laws allow. A Los Angeles nonprofit was given government land in January 2007 to build a few dozen units of affordable housing. They’re finally hoping to open the building next year. Lorena Plaza, a 49-unit development rising in the […]

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Pasadena : What is an Accessory Dwelling Unit?

An accessory dwelling unit (ADU) is a small, self-contained residential unit located on the same lot as an existing single-family home. An ADU has all the basic facilities needed for day-to-day living independent of the main home, such as a kitchen, sleeping area, and a bathroom. As the term “accessory” implies, ADUs are generally defined to […]

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New homes dominate real estate market in many areas.

If you are a homebuyer looking for a brand-spanking new house, you’re in luck in many parts of the country. The market is now flooded with the most brand-new, single-family houses to hit the market since the Great Recession, according to Realtor.com. The number of these newly-built homes, 795,000, jumped 7.7% from 2016 to 2017, according […]

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Tired of the hassle of selling your home?

It’s the oldest fix-and-flip pitch in American real estate: “We’ll buy your home, guaranteed, no matter what its condition, and we’ll pay you quick cash with no commissions, and close in seven days or less.” You’ve probably encountered versions of this on TV or elsewhere. The only way such offers make sense is if the […]

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Do zoning laws create housing shortages and higher prices?

Major urban centers across the United States are experiencing steep increases in housing prices. Economic and population growth have created increased demand for housing. Wages have not been able to catch up to home prices. Politicians come to the rescue with policy proposals: subsidies, rent controls, etc. — to solve the housing affordability crisis. Governor […]

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Do sellers prefer conventional mortgages over FHA?

FHA loans can be great deals for families with smaller down payments and for people in very high-cost housing areas. In fact, in areas where real estate is expensive, borrowers can take FHA mortgages for as much as $$636,150, but the limits vary from place-to-place. One of the differences between conventional and FHA loans is the required […]

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Pasadena’s Occupancy Inspection: Unconstitutional?

The Santa Barbara Association of REALTORS® (SBAOR) has filed a lawsuit against the city of Santa Barbara claiming its Occupancy Inspection program is unconstitutional on the grounds that it violates a person’s right to search only with a warrant (Click for Details.) Our local association, the Pasadena Foothills Association of Realtors (PFAR) has repeatedly argued that such […]

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