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.

Clearing Out the Family Home Before You Sell in Orange County

How long does it take to clear out a family home before selling it in Orange County? For a home a family has lived in for 20 years or more, plan on 8 to 12 weeks from the first sorting session to an empty, list-ready house. The work itself is not complicated. What takes time is the decisions: what e

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How Much Capital Gains Tax Will I Pay When I Sell My Home in California? (2026)

Watch the full breakdown in the video above. How much capital gains tax will I pay when I sell my home in California? If you lived in the home 2 of the last 5 years, the first $250,000 of profit is tax-free ($500,000 if married). Profit above that is taxed by the IRS, a 3.8% surtax and California, o

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2-1 Buydown vs. Price Cut: The Smarter Way to Sell Your Orange County Home in 2026

Watch the full breakdown in the video above. Is a 2-1 buydown better than a price cut when you sell your Orange County home?Usually, yes. On a $1,500,000 home, a $28,594 price cut lowers the buyer's payment by about $160 a month. The same money as a 2-1 buydown lowers it by $1,577 a month in year 1.

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