A Seller’s Perspective
How to calculate capital gains on a primary residence
Dear Phyllis, I look forward to your weekly column. My husband and I are thinking of selling our home and moving to Nevada. He has a civil service pension and we could have a much higher standard of living there. Can you explain how to c...
The offer process, selecting the right buyer
Of course most home sellers want to sell for the highest price. But many are very emotional about their home and neighbors. I just got off the phone with a past client. We received more than a dozen offers on her home. In a certain price range,...
Seniors, learn how to transfer your low property taxes when downsizing
Seniors, learn how to transfer your low property taxes when downsizing Dear Phyllis, My husband and I are planning on downsizing. But we are undecided if we should rent our present home and then perhaps rent something in San Diego whe...
What are the pros and cons of a long escrow?
What are the pros and cons of a long escrow? Dear Phyllis, I read your real estate column and understand that many homes are selling quickly. But I have a higher valued home which has been on and off the market for nearly a year. My a...
How to create curb appeal on a budget
How to create curb appeal on a budget Dear Phyllis, My aunt passed away and I am therefore, the executor of her estate. I live in Northern California and don’t have time to do much before it gets on the market. I don’t mind doing ...
Harb and Co. Summer Wind Down
It's hard to believe summer is nearly over. I was at Smart and Final this week, and there was a massive display of back-to-school supplies. Last weekend, I finally enjoyed my pool (with one quick break to meet a buyer at an open house). The sod...
Coming Soon Listing in Burbank
We are busy preparing a coming soon listing in Burbank. A coming soon listing is one where the home seller has signed the listing contract and their Realtor is now working on preparing the home for sale. So, here's where we are at. We have an e...
What are offer instructions?
We received eight offers on our Montrose listing. It is a very competitive real estate market for desirable Montrose and La Crescenta homes for sale.  What are offer instructions? Sorting through multiple offers can be very confusing unl...
