Orange County real estate

Blog & videos

Buying and selling advice, neighborhood breakdowns, and video walkthroughs from around Orange County.

October 27, 2026
Roth vs. Traditional 401(k) & IRA Explained: Taxes, Home Buying & Investing
How Roth and Traditional 401(k)s and IRAs are taxed, whether you can borrow from a 401(k) or tap an IRA to buy a first home, and where REITs fit.
October 19, 2026
Inheriting a California Home in a Trust: Bills, Mortgage, and Property Taxes
What happens to the bills, mortgage, utilities, and property taxes when a California home in a trust is inherited, and who decides what to do with it.
August 27, 2026
How Much Do First-Time Home Buyers Actually Put Down?
Katherine looks at national data on what first-time buyers actually put down, and how that compares to average savings by age.
July 16, 2026
Huntington Beach vs. Newport Beach: Home Prices, Housing, and Costs Compared
Huntington Beach's median sale is $1,338,580; Newport Beach's is $3,849,900. Prices since 2000, houses vs. condos, housing types, monthly cost, and rents.
August 12, 2026
Buying a Home? Ask These 10 Questions at Every Open House
Katherine breaks down 10 questions every buyer should ask at an open house, from the seller's motivation to hidden repair issues.
July 2, 2026
What to Expect During Escrow in California
Katherine walks through what happens during escrow in California, from inspections and appraisal to signing, funding, and closing.

Shorts

Quick answers in under two minutes.

Articles

Written posts on buying, selling, and the Orange County market.

Blog & videos

Roth vs. Traditional 401(k) & IRA Explained: Taxes, Home Buying & Investing

Inheriting a California Home in a Trust: Bills, Mortgage, and Property Taxes

How Much Do First-Time Home Buyers Actually Put Down?

Huntington Beach vs. Newport Beach: Home Prices, Housing, and Costs Compared

Buying a Home? Ask These 10 Questions at Every Open House

What to Expect During Escrow in California

More videos

5 Most Dog-Friendly Cities in Orange County, CA

Best Seasonal Events in Orange County | Things to Do Year-Round in OC

What Is a 2-1 Mortgage Rate Buydown? | How It Works

10 Biggest Mistakes First-Time Home Buyers Make

Condo vs. Mobile Home in Orange County: What Each Really Costs

10 Real Estate Words Sellers Should Know

Types of Mortgage Loans, Property Taxes & Mortgage Rates

What Is an Appraisal?

What NOT to do while buying a house

How to Prepare Your Home for Listing Photos

Home Warranty vs Home Insurance: What's the Difference?

HELP! My Landlord Is Selling the House… Do I Have to Move?

What Sellers Should Know About Buyer Repair Requests

What Happens After You Accept an Offer?

Moving Sucks — But It Doesn't Have To

7 Common Homebuyer Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)

What Is Escrow in Home Buying? A Simple Guide for First-Time Buyers

Selling Your Home? Top Tips to Maximize Value & Sell Faster

Essential Home Buying Tips: Get Ready to Buy with Confidence

Thinking About Downsizing?

Shorts

Which Home Renovations Require Permits in Orange County?

Is Home Staging Worth It? Does It Really Help Sell Your Home?

What Actually Stays With a House When You Sell It?

What Happens If a Buyer Misses a Contingency Deadline?

What Does a Home Inspection NOT Tell You?

Should You Sell Your Home Before Buying Your Next One?

How to Hold Title to a Home in California: Vesting Explained

Will vs. Living Trust in California: How to Avoid Probate

Days on Market Can Be Misleading: What Homebuyers Should Know

Buyer Requests Repairs: Fix It or Offer a Credit?

3 Home Renovations to Think Twice About Before Selling

5 Smallest Cities in Orange County by Population

Buying a Condo? 4 HOA Red Flags to Check

Selling a $1 Million Home? Here's What You Actually Keep

5 Home Improvements to Make Before Selling (Backed by Research)

5 Economic Reports That Affect Mortgage Rates and Home Prices

Inherited a House in California? 4 Things You Need to Know

Before You Cut Your Home Price by $20,000, Watch This

5 Most Populated Cities in Orange County, CA

California Property Taxes Explained: How Much & When to Pay

5 Smallest Cities in Orange County by Land Area

Buyer Repair Requests: What Sellers Need to Know

Top 5 School Districts in Orange County (2027 Rankings)

How Accurate Is Zillow's Zestimate?

What Happens If Your Home Appraisal Comes in Low?

What Happens to Your Earnest Money Deposit?

Largest Cities in Orange County by Land Area

Why Mortgage Rates Change (It's Not Just the Fed)

Articles

Which Home Improvements Need a Permit in Orange County?

1031 Exchanges in California: How to Sell Investment Property and Defer Capital Gains Taxes

5 Home Improvements Worth Making Before You Sell

What $1 Million Buys in Orange County, City by City

How Much Income Do You Need to Buy a Home in Orange County in 2026? City by City

Buyer Repair Requests in California: What Sellers Need to Know

What Happens If a Home Appraisal Comes in Low?

What Actually Influences Mortgage Rates?

Should Orange County Buyers Wait for Lower Mortgage Rates?