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 Lower Your Home Insurance Cost in California With a Home Inspection

Can a home inspection lower your home insurance cost in California?Yes, in many cases. An inspection focused on the roof, plumbing, electrical and wildfire hardening shows you what insurers will object to. Fixing those items and documenting the work can qualify you for discounts, including the wildf

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What Not To Fix Before Selling Your Home So You Do Not Lose Money

What Not To Fix Before Selling Your Home So You Do Not Lose Money (Watch the full breakdown in the video above) When Sarah called me, she sounded excited and exhausted at the same time. “We are almost ready to sell,” she said. “We are thinking about doing a full kitchen remodel, new bathrooms, new f

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Downsizing in Orange County, 5 Common Regrets, Prop 19, HOA Fees, And How to Avoid Costly Mistakes

(Watch the full breakdown in the video above) Prefer to watch? See the video version of this guide, with chapters and the full transcript. Downsizing sounds simple on paper. Sell the big house, buy something smaller, reduce the stress, lower the expenses, and enjoy the next chapter. In real life, do

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