Imagine you've owned your California home for 20, 30 or even 40 years. You bought it when prices were dramatically lower. Over the decades, the home's value climbed — perhaps to $1 million, $1.5 million or considerably more. But thanks to California's Proposition 13, your property's taxable value may still be far below its current market value. Now you want to move. Maybe you want to downsize. Maybe you want to leave the Bay Area for a less expensive part of Califor

Many purchased or refinanced when mortgage rates were dramatically lower than today's market. At the same time, years of home-price appreciation have left longtime owners with substantial equity. A recent Realtor.com analysis estimates that the typical California homeowner has approximately $627,000 in home equity. That creates an obvious question: What if you need access to some of that equity but don't want to give up your existing first mortgage? For certain homeow

If you're an eligible Veteran or active-duty service member buying a home in Southern California, don't assume a VA loan is only useful when you're purchasing an inexpensive home with no money down. In markets like Orange County, San Diego and Los Angeles, the VA home loan benefit can be particularly powerful because qualified borrowers with full entitlement aren't subject to a VA county loan limit. That means VA financing can potentially be used for a $700,000 condo, a $

If you're an eligible Veteran, active-duty service member or surviving spouse buying a home in California, the VA home loan can be one of the most powerful mortgage options available. But there's a problem. A lot of buyers — and frankly, some real estate professionals — make the VA loan process sound much more complicated than it actually is. The basic process is straightforward: Confirm your VA eligibility. Obtain your Certificate of Eligibility. Get fully preapprove

If you're buying a home in Laguna Niguel, a conventional mortgage will probably be one of the first financing options you consider. But "conventional loan" covers a much wider range of situations than many buyers realize. You may be able to buy with less than 20% down. You may qualify for a 3% or 5% down payment option. You may be able to finance a loan well above the standard national conforming limit because Orange County is considered a high-cost housing market. And depend

If you're looking for an FHA loan in Laguna Niguel, you don't need to find an "FHA-only" lender. You need to work with an FHA-approved mortgage lender or loan professional who can determine whether FHA actually makes sense for your situation, compare it with conventional and other available financing, and structure the loan around Orange County home prices. That's an important distinction. An FHA loan can be an excellent option for buyers who have a smaller down payment, less

If you own a home in Laguna Niguel and are considering refinancing, the first question shouldn't necessarily be: "What's the refinance rate?" The better first question is: "What am I trying to accomplish?" A homeowner trying to lower a monthly payment has a very different objective from someone trying to pull $200,000 of equity out of a property. And someone who needs $75,000 for a remodel may discover that refinancing the entire first mortgage isn't the smartest way to acces