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.

How to Interview a Newport Beach Real Estate Agent Before You Hire

What should you ask a Newport Beach real estate agent before you hire them?Ask who they represent, what the written agreement commits them to, which recent comparable sales they would use for your exact submarket, and how they will communicate. Get every answer in writing before you sign. Most peopl

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Using Prop 19 to Move to Irvine? Watch Out for Mello-Roos and These Other Costs

Proposition 19 can be a powerful tool for a homeowner 55 or older who wants to move to Irvine. It lets you carry your low property tax base from the home you sell to the home you buy. But I see the same mistake over and over: people run the Prop 19 math, see a big savings number, and stop there. The

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Buying a Home as a Married Couple in Orange County: Title, Taxes and Your Down Payment

How should a married couple take title to a home in California?Most married couples do best with community property with right of survivorship. It avoids probate and gets a full step-up in basis at the first death. Document any separate-property down payment before closing. When a married couple buy

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