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.

1031 Exchanges in California: Rules, Deadlines and the Clawback

Photo: Ariel Blanco on Unsplash How does a 1031 exchange work in California?You sell investment or business real estate, a qualified intermediary holds the proceeds, and you buy like-kind property within 45 and 180 days. California follows the federal deferral but tracks gain on out-of-state swaps.

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Home Staging in Orange County: What Pays Off Before You List

Photo: Amy Vosters on Unsplash Is home staging worth it in Orange County?Often, yes. In NAR's 2025 staging survey, 83% of buyers' agents said staging helps buyers picture a home as theirs. In Orange County, focus on the living room, primary bedroom and kitchen, and follow California's photo disclosu

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Sold Your Irvine Home After Renting It Out? The Tax Rules That Change Everything

Here is a situation I see all the time in Irvine. A family buys a home, lives in it for several years, then takes a job in another city or moves up to a bigger house. Instead of selling, they rent the old place to a UCI faculty family, a grad student household or a young professional. A few years la

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