Right now, it’s a gig economy for somewhere around 20% to 30% of the US workforce. Rather than having routine hours and a stable income, these workers are operating on commission and setting their own hours. Such people may be working for a company like Uber or Airbnb, or may be self-employed. While commission-based work […]
Effective in 2020, California will be the first state to require that all new residential constructions have solar power. This is in response to a requirement that 50% of the state’s energy be from non-carbon-producing sources by the year 2030, which the state feels is best achieved through solar power. The mandate allows for either […]
Chinese investors have historically contributed significantly to foreign investment in California. The numbers dropped sharply last year, from $16.2 billion in 2016 to $7.3 billion in 2017. San Francisco and Los Angeles in particular saw a decline of 52% and 67% respectively. The largest decrease was in money spent to acquire or build hotels. Chinese […]
In May, Los Angeles County set into motion a plan drafted in August of last year that would hopefully be the solution to multiple problems at once. The ordinance seeks to create new housing for the homeless through the development of accessory dwelling units, or ADUs. Nonpermitted ADUs have been quite common, and recent changes […]
Single women are now the second largest category of homeowners, behind only married couples. They account for over double as many home purchases as single men, at 18% compared to only 7%. The number is expected to keep going up. Even homebuilders are taking note, and new projects are increasingly catering to what are perceived […]
UPDATE: The fifth measure, the $2 billion homeless housing bond, has now been approved for the November ballot. California is already getting four new housing measures on the November ballot, which would do the following: 1. expand rent control 2. increase Prop 13 benefits to homeowners 3. clean up lead paint 4. $4 billion new development […]
Rent control seems like it’s a good thing in an environment in which rental prices and house prices are both skyrocketing throughout California. 60% of people support rent control according to a 2017 survey. We certainly need something to to make affordable housing available to more people. But is rent control the correct choice? With […]
According to a recent Gallup poll, only 10% of respondents believe that prices will fall. The remaining 90% are split between rising and staying the same, at 64% and 26% respectively. In 2009, during the recession, only 22% of respondents believed home prices would be going up soon. Because of rising house prices, about the […]
You’ve meticulously maintained your home. The floors are spotless. Someone has really cared for this home, so any buyer can just move straight in, right? Not necessarily. If your home is in an older style and hasn’t been updated, people will notice. Even if you clean regularly, that doesn’t mean you’ve done all the necessary […]
If you’re an “empty nester” whose children are all grown and have moved out of the house you’re still living in, it may be time to downsize. Chances are, your current home is bigger than you need it to be, perhaps too big. Unless you’re renting out rooms, perhaps you never see half your home, […]