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Orange County, CA Property Taxes: A Homeowner’s Guide

Learn everything about Orange County property taxes, from rates, due dates, and reassessments to payment options and available exemptions for homeowners.

April 15, 2026 10 min read
A modern house in California

Rates Fall Back to the Sweet Spot After Oil Crash

Oil Prices (WTI) Plummeted To $92 Per Barrel From $104 Per Barrel On Monday. Interest rates followed and are now almost 3/8% LOWER than they were a few weeks ago. This unprecedented plunge in...

April 15, 2026 3 min read
Aerial photo of an American neighborhood.

Massachusetts FHA Loan Limits for 2026

In 2025, the FHFA raised Massachusetts' baseline fha loan limit to $541,287, climbing to $1,249,125 in high-cost counties. This guide explains how those limits are calculated, what they mean for your...

April 13, 2026 8 min read
Massachusetts nice house

Cook County Property Taxes 2026: A Complete Guide

Cook County property taxes fund schools, public safety, and infrastructure, but they can be complex. This guide explains tax due dates, rates, exemptions, appeals, and tools to avoid overpayment,...

April 13, 2026 11 min read
A great picture of a line of houses

5 Key Pieces Of Investment/Life Advice I Stole From 5,000 Podcasts (#5 Is The Most Important)

Man, do we have a lot to be angry about! The Iran war pushed up oil prices, inflation, and rates – putting a massive damper on our springtime real estate boom. Excess regulations make every...

April 13, 2026 4 min read
man looking at his laptop in anticipation of the latest news regarding the economy and recent events.

Uh Oh…Oil’s Up; Credit Scores – A Brief, Fascinating History – Pointing To Where We’re Going

Oil was way up this morning, as were gold prices – and I was very worried about the ceasefire collapsing! But… oil prices just fell again, suggesting that something is signaling to oil traders...

April 9, 2026 4 min read
Credit Scores – A Brief, Fascinating History – Pointing To Where We’re Going.

$839K Listing Sells For $300K Over; Provides Two Great Appraisal Lessons!

Per our client’s agent, there were 22 offers – and our client’s $1,150,000 offer was not even in the running. So, we’re assuming the home sold for close to $1,200,000, but we won’t know...

April 3, 2026 3 min read
House appraisal of a 839k listing.

Trump’s Speech to Calm The Markets, Roiled Markets

On Friday of last week, JVM sent commandos into all of CrossCountry Mortgage’s offices in the SF Bay Area. The raid was very successful, as we shut down all of CrossCountry’s Bay Area...

April 2, 2026 3 min read
Trump affecting the roiled markets from his speech.

Getting a Mortgage in San Antonio: What Buyers Need to Know

San Antonio's housing market in 2026 is about as buyer-friendly as it has been in years. Inventory is up, homes are sitting longer, and sellers are offering concessions that were not on the table 12...

April 1, 2026 11 min read
Stock photograph of a residential district and the downtown skyline of San Antonio Texas USA at twilight.

30% Down Requires No Appraisal Contingency Or Shortfall Funds, UNLESS…

This is a reminder that appraisal contingencies and/or proof of funds to cover appraisal shortfalls are unnecessary with large down payments. This is because lenders can easily shift financing from...

April 1, 2026 2 min read
Real estate agent showing a modern home interior to a young couple during a property viewing, discussing features and layout near large windows, representing home buying, house tour, property inspection, and real estate investment decisions.

Can Non-Citizens Still Get Mortgages?

Oil prices – which have been sparking inflation fears and driving rates higher – rose again over the weekend. But rates fell sharply today in the face of rising oil prices. Rates fell because the...

March 30, 2026 2 min read
Charming single-family suburban home with front porch, landscaped garden, and walkway leading to the entrance, representing homeownership, residential real estate, mortgage financing, and the housing market.

San Francisco Home Prices: What the Data Says Right Now

San Francisco's housing market in 2026 is really two markets running side by side. Single-family homes are selling in two weeks, going for 10 to 15 percent above asking, with inventory near historic...

March 27, 2026 8 min read
Townhouses neighborhood exterior with a view of traffic lights and trees at the front. Neighborhood in San Francisco, California with bow windows and pastel color exterior.

Jumbo Loans in San Francisco: Limits, Rates & Buyer Tips

If you are buying a single-family home in San Francisco, a jumbo loan is not a specialty product you might need. It is almost certainly the product you will use. With the median sale price sitting...

March 27, 2026 9 min read
urban houses in San Francisco under blue sky

How to Buy a Home in San Francisco: A Step-by-Step Guide

San Francisco is one of the most rewarding places to own a home, and one of the most complex places to buy one. Prices are high, inventory is tight, and […]

March 27, 2026 12 min read
The Sunset - Outer Sunset - Westlake District areas of San Francisco, which transition to Daly City, Colma, Serramonte and South San Francisco, or the Industrial City - residential communities sprawling up a hillside, San Francisco, California, 2012.
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