The details that decide a transaction.

Not necessarily. Buyer-agent compensation is negotiable and is no longer advertised on the MLS. Some sellers choose to offer a concession toward the buyer’s costs to widen the buyer pool; others do not. We will show you how each approach affects your net proceeds so you can decide.

Typically the Transfer Disclosure Statement, Seller Property Questionnaire, Natural Hazard Disclosure report, lead-based paint disclosure for homes built before 1978, smoke and carbon-monoxide detector and water-heater bracing compliance, and HOA documents where applicable. We prepare and track every item with you.

It depends on price point, location, condition and the season. Our pricing analysis includes current days on market and absorption for your segment so your timeline is realistic from day one.

Often, yes. Options include contingent offers, a rent-back after closing, or bridge financing through our mortgage division, Strategic Equities. We plan the sequence with you before you list.

We will tell you which items are likely to return more than they cost and which are not worth doing. Pre-listing inspections can also reduce surprises once you are in escrow.

After you buy, the county reassesses the property and sends one or more supplemental bills for the difference between the old and new assessed value. They are separate from your regular bill and are usually not paid through your loan impound account, so plan for them.

Homeowners who are 55 or older, severely disabled, or victims of a wildfire or natural disaster can generally transfer their tax base to a replacement primary residence anywhere in California, up to three times. Prop 19 also narrowed parent-to-child transfers to family homes used as the child’s primary residence. Talk to your tax advisor about your situation.

San Diego and Riverside counties charge a documentary transfer tax of $1.10 per $1,000 of value when a property sells. Who pays it is negotiable in the contract.

State law allows accessory dwelling units and junior ADUs on most residential lots in California, subject to local standards. An ADU can add rental income or space for family. We can connect you with designers who know the local permitting process.

Coverage has become harder to find in some fire-prone areas, particularly in East County, the backcountry and parts of the Temecula Valley. Get quotes early in escrow; where the private market declines, the California FAIR Plan offers basic fire coverage, often paired with a separate policy for other risks.

Owned systems transfer with the home. Leased systems and power-purchase agreements must be assumed by the buyer or paid off, which requires the solar company’s approval — something we start on early in escrow.