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.

Buy First or Sell First? How Prop 19's Price Limits Change With the Order of Your Move

Does it matter for Prop 19 whether you buy first or sell first? Yes, and it can matter by tens of thousands of dollars over the time you own your next home. Prop 19 lets an eligible homeowner carry a low property tax value to a replacement home, but the price ceiling for a full carryover depends on

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Can You Sell Mom's House in a Living Trust Without Probate?

Watch the full breakdown in the video above. Can you sell Mom's house in a living trust without probate in California?Yes. If the house is titled in the trust, the successor trustee can list and sell it with no judge and no probate. The trouble starts when the deed never made it back into the trust.

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Title Insurance in California: What It Covers and Who Pays in Orange County

Photo: Ariel Blanco on Unsplash What does title insurance cover in California, and who pays for it?California title insurance protects against hidden ownership problems, like forged deeds or old liens, for a one-time premium paid at closing. In Orange County, the seller customarily pays for the buye

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