$19.1 Billion Disaster Relief Bill
THE BILL WILL HELP CALIFORNIA COMMUNITIES AND OTHERS President Trump signed a $19.1 billion disaster relief bill intended to provide assistance to communities grappling with recovery from wildfires, flooding, and hurricanes. That includes those of u...
Is Information on Real Estate TV Shows Believable?
4 MISGUIDED “TRUTHS” PROMOTED BY POPULAR PROGRAMMING The HGTV effect in the real estate industry is real, but don’t kid yourself into believing all of what you see and hear on your favorite real estate TV shows is necessarily valid. Think abou...
Interest Rates: No More Hikes in 2019?
PRIME TIME TO LIST YOUR HOME IN MONTECITO Last week, the Federal Reserve decided to keep interest rates steady, amending earlier predictions there would be more interest rate hikes in 2019. The news came as a relief to many investors. And it gets...
Montecito Homebuyers: Should You Pay Cash Or Take Out a Mortgage?
WHAT GIVES YOU THE BIGGEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK? Montecito homebuyers sometimes ask if they should pay cash or take out a mortgage when investing in real estate. While most of my clients opt for a cash purchase, that might not be the best option for e...
Bye-bye, 2018 Tax Deductions. Hello, Loopholes
5 TAX BREAKS THAT HAVE DISAPPEARED (SORT OF) The major overhaul of the U.S. tax code has left many homeowners confused this tax season. But the new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) IS not as frightening as you might think with regard to 2018 ta ded...
6 Ways to Build Wealth Without Touching the Stock Market
HERE ARE SOME DIVERSE AND LUCRATIVE INVESTMENT OPTIONS There are so many ways to build wealth without relying on one of the most common wealth-building platforms: the stock market. To some, investing in the stock market might feel a bit risky today ...
“California Chic” is Alive and Well in Montecito
THE EFFORTLESS COOL LOOK SYNONYMOUS WITH CALIFORNIA STYLE If you already live in Montecito or just about any of the communities in or around Santa Barbara, there’s a good chance you’re already embracing “California Chic.” It comes easy for...
Next Housing Crash Prediction: Is One Coming?
5 reasons NOT to fear a housing crash As we head into 2019, it seems like everyone is awaiting the experts’ next housing crash prediction. Some of those experts do warn there’s trouble brewing in the U.S. housing market; asserting fear that an...
Is a Recession Coming?
Recessions happen. 5 warning signs to watch for. While our economy is at full steam right now, lately I’ve been hearing the question “Is a recession coming?” from clients and colleagues. A decade after the global financial crisis, the United...
Montecito Community Leadership Forms The Partnership for Resilient Communities
As our neighbors in Ventura and Los Angeles begin to recover from the Woolsey Fire, Montecito community leaders form The Partnership for Resilient Communities I’m thoroughly impressed with the Montecito community leadership that formed the Partner...