Author Archives: bchrealestate

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About bchrealestate

Specializing in beach and marina properties at the Channel Islands Harbor on California's Gold Coast located halfway between Malibu and Santa Barbara.

Standard or Itemized

Posted on March 20, 2018 by bchrealestate

Taxpayers can decide each year whether to take the standard deduction or their itemized deductions when filing their personal income tax returns. Roughly, 75% of households with more than $75,000 income and most homeowners itemize their deductions. Beginning in 2018, … Continue reading →

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Inventory Continues to be a Challenge

Posted on March 13, 2018 by bchrealestate

In any given market, inventories fluctuate based on supply and demand considering area and price range. The National Association of REALTORS considers a balanced market to be a six-month supply of homes. If it takes longer than six months to … Continue reading →

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Your Refund Could be the Difference

Posted on March 7, 2018 by bchrealestate

One of the silver linings to filing your income tax return is finding out that you are going to receive a refund. If you happen to be one of these fortunate taxpayers, your next decision is what to do with … Continue reading →

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Fair Skies on Horizon

Posted on February 27, 2018 by bchrealestate

Buyers who have been concerned about what might happen to the tax laws affecting home ownership should feel more comfortable about moving forward with their decision to purchase. The 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act passed by Congress and signed … Continue reading →

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Historical Perspective

Posted on February 20, 2018 by bchrealestate

In 1968, mortgage rates were 8.5%. The next year, rates went down to 7%. Homeowners could buy a 15-20% larger home for the same payments if they could find someone to assume their mortgage. FHA and VA mortgages were very … Continue reading →

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The #1 Reason to Sell Now

Posted on February 13, 2018 by bchrealestate

The price of any item (including residential real estate) is determined by ‘supply and demand.’ If many people are looking to buy an item and the supply of that item is limited, the price of that item increases. According to … Continue reading →

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The “Right” Agent and the “Right” Home

Posted on February 13, 2018 by bchrealestate

Some buyers think that finding the right home is the critical part of the buying process and that is how they determine which agent to use. While it is important, there may be a broader skill set to consider when … Continue reading →

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Convincing Advantages with Standard Deduction

Posted on February 6, 2018 by bchrealestate

The new tax law doubles the standard deduction and it is estimated that over 90% of taxpayers will elect to use it. However, even without considering tax benefits, homeownership has convincing advantages. Besides the personal and social reasons for owning … Continue reading →

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Lower Your Expenses without PMI

Posted on January 30, 2018 by bchrealestate

Mortgage loans for more than 80% loan-to-value typically require private mortgage insurance. Mortgage insurance reimburses the lender if a borrower defaults on a loan. PMI is expensive, and homeowners should be aware of how to remove it when certain conditions … Continue reading →

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Ready for Retirement

Posted on January 23, 2018 by bchrealestate

It can be shocking to hear how many people spend more time planning their vacation or next mobile phone purchase than planning for retirement. It is hard to imagine that they are expecting Social Security will take them through their … Continue reading →

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