Below is general discussion of various factors impacting property taxes in San Diego, California. The reader should consult their tax advisor for definitive guidance about property tax issues and not rely soley on the informaton below. Property tax rates are capped in California due to the passage of Proposition 13 in 1978 (?Prop 13?). Prop 13 was a ballot measure approved by the voters of California to limit property tax increases. The legislation also mandated that any f...

All of us want to increase our profit margins. And one common recommendation to do so is to start investing. And real estate is an interesting avenue for one to invest in. It is interesting as it offers high returns for investments. But if not handled with care it is possible that you will see your dreams come a swift and tragic end. So first learn about the real estate and only then think about investing. The first thing you need to understand is that real estate involves a ...

San Diego County is home to one of the largest concentrations of military bases in the United States. In fact, the San Diego area contains 12 major Marine Corps and Navy bases and facilities. If you?re in the military and moving to San Diego, one of your biggest decisions is whether to buy a property, live on base housing (if this option is available to you), or rent a home or apartment. If you choose to buy a property, there are many issues to consider before taking this st...

Stock home plans are of the same quality as a set of custom designed house plans, but are less expensive. This is the primary reason we have seen such a boom in the sales of stock house plans since the mid 1990's. Stock house plans are generally home plan designs the were created for the mass public based on the current trends of the home plan shopper. Building designers gain great knowledge through feedback from builder clients as well as the general public to stay in tune w...

The first thing most people think about when building a new home is the cost. You may have seen a cost per square foot calculator of some sort on a few house plan broker sites and home designer websites showing you the averages of building a particular home in the south, north, east, and west coast. Unfortunately, the cost per square foot method (CPSFM) tends to mislead unaware homebuyers. When calculating square foot cost of say a 2,000 square foot home, you are able to comp...

By the time you are ready to purchase your house plans, it is assumed that you have done all of the necessary preparation to get to that point. Notice that I said "assumed". There are several things that must be considered before you decide on a house plan and surprisingly many people just do not come prepared. Below you will find a small checklist that can be used as a guideline in the process of finding the right house plan for your specific needs. (1) Select and purchas...

The following are a few of many ways to cut home construction cost and also increase value to your new house plan. (1) Be your own general contractor (GC) Being your own general contractor can save you the greatest amount of money. You can save as much as 30 percent. However, being a GC requires a great deal of work, time, and manager skills. You must be able to plan daily task, schedule sub-contractors, make daily on-site inspections, research and order materials, etc....

Most house plans include everything you need to build your home; however, additional items may be needed to obtain a building permit. You will need a site plan which shows the location of your house on the property, the property line, and the setbacks. Other items may or may not include a septic tank system design if your lot is not serviced by the city or county sewer system. Depending on the part of the country you live in, you will need to insure your house plans are in...

If you are trying to sell an empty home, you may have found this to be a blessing and a curse. An empty home is easy to show. Buyers might like that fact that they can move right in. Potential buyers might even have an easier time seeing themselves in the home. On the other hand, an empty home may feel cold and impersonal. Buyers are looking for a home that they can fall in love with. Even if your home is the nicest home that they buyers look at, if they don?t ?feel the...

Have you ever considered refinancing your current mortgage? When you refinance you are taking out a new loan at a better interest rate, which will replace your existing loan. Refinancing is often a good way to lower your monthly mortgage payment. You can take advantage of lower interest rates as they become available. Having a lower payment each month can be very beneficial. The money saved can be used to save for the future, begin paying off other debts and so forth. A...