Orange County Real Estate Blog

Straight answers from Dar Mardan, Realtor® + CPA, on selling, buying, taxes, Prop 19 and downsizing in Newport Beach, Irvine and across Orange County.

Prop 19 and an Inherited Home: The One-Year Rule That Decides Your Property Tax

Watch the full breakdown in the video above. What happens to property taxes when you inherit a home in California? Under Proposition 19, an inherited California home is reassessed to full market value unless a child moves in as their principal residence within one year and files for the homeowners’

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Irvine Home Improvements That Match Your Neighborhood

In Irvine's 2026 balanced market, the renovations that pay off are the ones that match your village's finish level, not the ones that exceed it. Mid-range kitchen and bath refreshes, exterior curb appeal, and functional updates consistently outperform over-customized projects when it comes to buyer

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The Cost Basis Problem Behind a $4M+ Newport Beach Home Sale

What actually decides the tax bill on a $4 million-plus Newport Beach home sale? Your adjusted cost basis. For an owner who has held a Newport Beach or Corona del Mar home for decades, undocumented improvements can be worth hundreds of thousands in basis — and every dollar you can’t prove is taxable

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