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.

Selling a Newport Beach Home as a Trustee or Executor: What You Owe the Heirs

What does a trustee or executor owe the heirs when selling a Newport Beach home? A fair price reached through a sound process, equal treatment of every beneficiary, no personal benefit from the sale, and enough information along the way that the heirs can see the job was done properly. In California

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Big House vs. Simple Life in Newport Beach: The Real Annual Cost of Each

Most downsizing conversations start with feelings. As a CPA, I usually start somewhere else: what does each home actually cost you to own for 1 year? When you put a large Newport Beach house and a smaller condo or townhome side by side, line by line, the answer is often not what people expect. Somet

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Step-Up in Basis on an Inherited California Home: Why You May Owe $0 in Tax

Watch the full breakdown in the video above. Do you pay capital gains tax when you sell an inherited house in California?Usually little or none. Under the step-up in basis, your tax basis resets to the home's value on the date of death, so only growth after that date is taxed. If your parents bought

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