As expected, Santa Clara County home sales were down in July, dipping nearly 50% under last year. Meanwhile, prices remain high, though with little change year over year. One thing to watch is the time properties spend on the market, which is stretching out and providing more opportunity for negotiation.
When you buy a home, Santa Clara County and most jurisdictions require you to purchase an insurance policy on your title, aka homeowner’s title insurance. While it may seem like an additional burden, you never know when you’re going to need it, and it’s important to know what it covers — and what it doesn’t!
Even after your real estate company conducts a title search and explores all the publicly available details about a property, there is still a risk that new problems will arise. Title insurance can provide you with security against things like ownership claims from other parties including undisclosed heirs, flawed public records, false signatures on documents, including fraud and forgery, outstanding liens and lawsuits, judgments or encumbrances, and unrecorded easements or other restrictive covenants that reduce a property’s value.
As you can see from Pearl’s take, title insurance covers a lot, but it isn’t cheap, so it’s good to know where it comes up short. You won’t get any protection against infestations from termites and other pests, mold and mildew, fire or weather damage, underground fuel tanks (this comes up more often than you’d think), or any issues not caused by the previous homeowners. Depending on your location and the insurer, fire and storm coverage may be included in your homeowner’s insurance policy or offered as an add-on.
We’re hosting open houses this Saturday and Sunday! Come check out these Silicon Valley properties priced under $2M. Want to receive a report on market activity in your neighborhood, including home values, sale prices, and any active, sold, or pending properties going back six months? Sign up here!
181 Ada Ave, Unit 55
Mountain View, CA 94043
3 Beds | 2.5 Baths | 1,560 sqft | $1.78M
134 Lyell Street
Los Altos, CA 94022
3 Beds | 2 Baths | 1,405 sqft | $1,753,500
Last week, Apple went public with a warning to iOS and macOS users that a security flaw uncovered by an anonymous researcher could let hackers take control of their devices. Mashable looks at what Apple is doing to fix the bug.
It’s less than two weeks until Labor Day, and that means we only have a few fleeting moments left to savor the hot sunny days and abundance of opportunities for summer fun. So what’s on your agenda for this weekend?
Since we’ve been stuck at home the past two years, I’ve become obsessed with bringing the great outdoors to our own backyard, and this list of “glamping” essentials from the Skimm really hit home. Maybe the Geek will invest in an insulated blanket if I get him the campfire beer caramelizer!
I’m all for a backyard camping adventure, as long as I can bring my grill. Give me a charbroiled burger, a seared steak, a crispy chicken breast, a blistered bratwurst… But it doesn’t stop with meats. Did you know you can grill dips and salads? Bon Appetit has those and 90 other recipes.
