Want to learn more about buying a house in San Diego? Here’s what all home buyers should know before getting started, including insights into the North San Diego County real estate market.
Did you know that there’s a limit on how much a landlord can collect for a security deposit? If you’re a landlord or a renter in California, here’s what you need to know about AB 12, which became law on July 1, 2024. Security deposits that were collected BEFORE July 1, 2024 are not affected by this law. New Security Deposit Limits California Assembly Bill 12 (AB 12) amended Civil Code § 1950.5(c)(1). Here’s the
Property Tax is Boring. Read This Anyway. Why am I writing about property tax calculation? I want you to have the freedom to make informed choices throughout your entire real estate experience: when you buy a home, while you live in it, and when you sell it. Almost everyone thinks that since real estate property tax is inevitable, there’s no good reason to understand the annual bills. I believe the opposite: Your property tax bill is
I have HUGE NEWS for 100% disabled veterans who own their home in California! Beginning January 2027, there is a major update to the California property tax exemption for disabled veterans. My previous article about the disabled veterans property tax exemption applies to property tax bills through 2026. Starting in 2027, the exemption will significantly increase. New for 2027 So what is big change for 2027? In 2026, the basic exemption was $180,671, and the
Can you afford a monthly mortgage bill, but need San Diego down payment assistance? Good news! There are San Diego down payment assistance programs for low- and median-income home buyers in San Diego County. Here are some details about the Housing Commission’s San Diego down payment assistance programs, including how to qualify, and how to apply. Deferred Loans DCCA CalHome Down Payment Assistance – Outside San Diego City Limits The DCCA CalHome program is one
Have you considered buying a rental property, or converting your current home into a rental? Here’s a rental property cost analysis guide to help you get started. If you’re thinking of converting your current home into a rental, read my article about converting residences to rentals. You can count 75% of market rent toward your income qualification for the purchase of your next home. Rental Property Cost Analysis – Collect the Data Here’s what you
UPDATE: As of May 20, 2026, the fees for the 2027-2028 tax year have changed. See below for more details. Homeowners who live within City of San Diego limits have a trash pickup charge on their property tax bill, which started July 2025. Beginning that tax year, which runs from July 2025 through June 2026, City residents are charged for trash pickup. This charge is a line item on the property tax bills. 2027 Update
Rent Increase Limit in San Diego County – updated for 2026 2026 UPDATE: Includes the updated CPI, which was released April 10, 2026. Also, Fox 5 News interviewed me about the rent cap law – check out the interview here. The rent increase limit, or rent cap, became effective on January 1, 2020. And, even though this happened over SIX YEARS ago, I have trouble finding accurate information, or even a decent guide explaining what
Buying a home is exciting – you finally have a home, and a mailbox, of your very own! Now… the sale is public record, and that the mailbox will be filled with junk mail. While most junk mail looks harmless, there are mail scams for new home buyers that look like legitimate bills. Many pretend to come from government agencies. These “bills” are from companies who are trying to take advantage of you. When you purchase or refinance
UPDATE: Beginning in 2027, the disabled veterans property tax exemption has increased. Please go to my 2027 update article for more information. The Disabled Veterans Property Tax Exemption is for certain military veterans, or their unmarried surviving spouses. Who is Eligible? This exemption is for veterans who, because of injury or disease from military service, are: Totally disabled means that the United States Veterans Administration or military service has rated the disability at 100%. In
Here’s some great news for San Diego home buyers! New for 2026, there is down payment assistance available to those with moderate incomes. The County of San Diego’s Housing and Community Services provides the funding for this Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance (DCCA) program. The San Diego Housing Commission administers this program on behalf of the County. This article will cover: Program Details Moderate income, first-time home buyers may qualify for a low-interest, deferred
Multifamily Property – Buy with only 5% down payment! Did you know that you can buy a multifamily property with only 5% down payment? If you live in one unit, and rent out the other units, you can use an owner occupied loan to purchase! Loan Limits for Multifamily Properties For properties that include more than one single-family residence, the 2026 San Diego loan limit is higher: Duplex (a home divided into two residences): $1,599,375Triplex
2026 Mortgage Loan Limits Mortgage loan limits will increase on January 1, 2026. In San Diego, the jumbo loan limit for a single family home will be $1,104,000. Here is a current list of the limits for all counties in the United States. San Diego County Effective January 1, 2026, here are the three tiers of mortgages for properties in San Diego County: When lenders talk about mortgage loan limits, they’re referring to conforming loan limits.
Conventional home loan programs are the most common loan programs used to buy a home. They make up around 60% of all mortgages. NOTE: You can also check your eligibility for two other popular loan programs, FHA Loan Programs and VA Loan Programs. FHA loans are insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and down payment starts at 3.5%. VA loans are insured by the Veteran’s Administration and offer no down payment, and no monthly mortgage insurance.
Fox News interviewed me about the rent cap law – see it here. The rent increase limit, or rent cap, became effective on January 1, 2020. And, even though this happened over FIVE YEARS ago, I have trouble finding accurate information, or even a decent guide explaining what IS the rent cap maximum for San Diego County. So, here we are. If you have experienced the same frustration, I hope this article helps. If you
Mortgage Waiting Periods After a Bankruptcy, Foreclosure, or Short Sale How long do you have to wait before you can get a new mortgage? Mortgage waiting periods depend on what type of loan you want to use for your next home. The good news is, you may only need to wait as little as 2 years! To that end, here’s a breakdown of the waiting periods, based on the event. Mortgage Waiting Periods After Bankruptcy
One of real estate’s best-kept secrets is the Renovation Loan. Renovation loans can help buyers afford to buy and rehab a home. Both the purchase price and the renovation costs are tied into one single mortgage. Your loan is closed in as-is condition, utilizing the after-improved value. Renovation Loans aren’t just for home buyers – if you currently own a home, you can refinance your home with a Renovation Loan, to pay for improvements. Here’s what renovation
Mortgage Affordability Calculation – The First Step for Home Buyers Almost all home buyers begin with the same question: How Much Home Can I Afford? Only your lender can give you a definitive answer, but Nick Richardson at JMJ Mortgage has provided a simple formula to get you started. Use the 43% Rule for a quick mortgage affordability calculation. You can also use my Mortgage Approval Estimate Worksheet to help you determine how much home you can buy. Lenders Approve a Total
When you plan to buy a home, one of the first things to know is how much cash you need to get started. This article outlines: Buyer closing costs depend on lots of things, including the type of loan, the type of property, the final sales price, and even your credit rating. You can print this Cost to Buy a House Worksheet to estimate your buyer closing costs. This worksheet includes the upfront costs, which are paid at
Unless you have been boycotting all media lately (I wouldn’t blame you), you have heard that the rules have changed for buyer agent commissions. I won’t go into details about the class action lawsuits, but you can read more about the National Association of REALTORS® settlement here. Today’s home buyers should know: What are the new commission rules that I need to follow? There is only ONE new requirement for home buyers: Before an agent
Are you planning a budget for your existing home, or considering buying a home? There are plenty of mortgage calculators available online, but they don’t include all homeowner expenses. How much does it really cost to own a house? Use my Monthly Housing Costs Worksheet to help plan your monthly expenses. The Cost to Own a House – Not Just the Mortgage Homeownership can build net worth, provide financial stability, and even create a source of rental
Need some relief from property tax bills? If you are a homeowner in California and over 62, blind, and/or disabled, you may qualify for the Property Tax Postponement Program. (NOTE: If you are a military veteran with a service-connected disability, read about the Disabled Veterans’ Property Tax Exemption.) Eligible homeowners can postpone payment of current-year property taxes on their primary residence. Postponed amounts are secured by a lien against the property, and accrue interest at a rate of 5%.
Are you an all-cash buyer? When you pay with cash, you can enjoy a negotiating advantage, a shorter escrow period, and you pay fewer escrow fees. Here’s a list of closing costs for cash buyers, and an example of the costs for a cash purchase of a $500,000 home. NOTE: These costs apply to California sales. If you are buying a home outside of California, these numbers probably don’t apply. Check with a local real estate company
If you’re self employed, how do you qualify to buy a home? How do you satisfy a lender without regular bi-weekly paychecks? Many self employed people are afraid that they can’t qualify for a mortgage, because they don’t receive a certain amount of income every two weeks. Here’s the good news: many self employed people can qualify to buy a home. If you identify as a sole proprietor, W-9 employee, freelancer, or independent contractor, your loan
What are the different types of mortgage lenders out there? Whether you’re looking to buy or refi, there are plenty of companies competing for your business. While they all serve the purpose of financing a real estate purchase, they can look very different from each other. So how do you decide where to go and what to look for? Here’s a quick rundown on the different types of lenders, and how I, as a real
