Blog - Steve Ruiz Homes - Regency Real Estate

INFOGRAPHIC: Best Home Renovation and Design Websites to Follow in 2019

Thinking of Selling Without an Agent? 6 Reasons Why You Shouldn't

Real Estate Advice Buyers Can Safely Ignore

Investing in Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs): 101

INFOGRAPHIC: NAR’s Existing Home Sales Report For December 2018

What Buyers Should Know About Buying a House at an Auction

Why Do Listings Go Back on the Market?

Are You Ready to Move? 11 Signs That the Answer is 'Yes'

How to Snag a Low-Interest Rate on Your Mortgage

10 Things All Homeowners Should Know About Home Security

INFOGRAPHIC: Median Home Prices Across California

Tips to Creating an Efficient Home Office

9 Things to Consider When Adding an Addition to Your Home

How to Create a More Sustainable Home

INFOGRAPHIC: NAR’s Existing Home Sales Report For November 2018

Myths and Facts About Selling Your First Home

What Buyers and Sellers Should Know About Transfer Taxes

Things Buyers Should Never Do When Negotiating on a Home

INFOGRAPHIC: 10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Buyer Agent

8 Affordable Ways to Improve Your Kitchen

Why Sellers Should Be Flexible With Their Showing Times

Why Do Mortgage Lenders Require a Home Appraisal?

Should You Get a Mortgage Online?

9 Home Cooling Mistakes That Are Costing You

INFOGRAPHIC: California Sales Report For October 2018

What Repairs Provide Sellers With the Highest ROI?

Conventional Vs FHA Home Loan: Which Should You Choose?

7 Tips For Buying a Retirement Home

INFOGRAPHIC: NAR’s Existing Home Sales Report For September 2018

What Exactly is a "Second Mortgage"?

What Happens if the Home Fails the Home Inspection?

Is a Rent-to-Own Program Right For You?

INFOGRAPHIC: California’s Housing Market Forecast For 2019

How to Decide Between a Conventional or FHA Home Loan

Which Colors Should You Use When Staging Your Home?

How is the Housing Market Influenced By the Economy?

These Are Things That Millennial Buyers Look at When Searching For a Home

Should You Hire Movers or Move Yourself?

INFOGRAPHIC: 8 Things Buyers Should Never Say at an Open House

What to Ask a Potential Home Stager Before Hiring One

How is Property Divided When Couples Divorce?

Strategies For Pricing a Home in a Hot Seller's Market

How to Make Your Cookie-Cutter Home Stand Out

Should You Buy an Old House Versus New?

INFOGRAPHIC: What Do First-Time Homebuyers Look Like?

How to Make the Most of a Small Space

How Much Are Famous Homes in Movies and TV Actually Worth?

Home Equity Loan Vs. Home Equity Line of Credit: What's the Difference?

INFOGRAPHIC: NAR’s Existing Home Sales Report For July 2018

Why a Lower Interest Rate Might Not Make Your Mortgage Cheaper

10 Ways to Keep Your Home Safe While it's Vacant

How Quickly Can Your Credit Score Increase?

INFOGRAPHIC: 8 Reasons Why FSBOs End Up Selling With Real Estate Agents

All About the 1031 Exchange For Avoiding Capital Gains in Real Estate Sales

What is Involved in a Swimming Pool Inspection Before Buying a Home?

7 Tricks Home Stagers Use to Attract Buyers

INFOGRAPHIC: California Sales Report For June 2018

Should You Fix Up Your Home Before Selling it?

Signs That a Housing Market is Cooling Off

These 7 Home Buying Mistakes Can Cost You

What Do Builder's Warranties Cover When Buying a New Home?

Thinking of Buying on a Golf Course? Here Are 6 Things to Consider First

What Do HOA Fees Cover?

Should You Build an Addition to Your Home?

INFOGRAPHIC: NAR’s Existing Home Sales Report For May 2018

Should You Buy Mortgage Insurance?

Small, Simple Changes That Can Make Your Home More "Green"

Should You Take Your Home off the Market?

7 Things That Sellers Should Leave Behind When They Sell

Should You Renew Your Lease?

INFOGRAPHIC: 9 Questions to Ask a Real Estate Agent Before Hiring One

Sellers: How to Effectively Handle an Offer

What Sellers Should Know About Listing Agreements

Can Your Mortgage Application Be Rejected After You've Already Been Pre-Approved?

INFOGRAPHIC: N.A.R.’s Existing Home Sales Report For April 2018

11 Tips For First-Time Homebuyers Breaking Into the Housing Market

How to Finally Get Rid of Your PMI or FHA Mortgage Insurance

What's the Difference Between 'Exurbs' and 'Suburbs'?

INFOGRAPHIC: How Much Value Can Be Added With Exterior Upgrades?

What is a "Proof of Funds" Letter in a Real Estate Purchase?

What to Look For When Buying a Flipped Property

Title Insurance 101: Everything You Need to Know

INFOGRAPHIC: N.A.R.’s Existing Home Sales Report For March 2018

What is the MLS and How Does it Work?

What's the Difference Between Replacement Cost Vs Actual Cash Value in Home Insurance?

Sellers: Before You Finalize Your Taxes, Here are 5 Write-Offs

INFOGRAPHIC: Your Home Inspection Checklist

What Exactly is a Mortgage Transfer?

What Types of Liens Can Cloud the Title on My Property?

Why Should Buyers Sign a Buyer's Representation Agreement?

INFOGRAPHIC: First-Time Homebuyer Stats

Pros and Cons of Buying in a Gated Community

How to Handle the Final Walk-Through Inspection Before You Close

Is it Possible to Buy a Home With Bad Credit?

INFOGRAPHIC: California Sales Report For February 2018

What is an 'Alienation Clause' in Real Estate?

How Sellers Can Attract Multiple Offers on Their Homes

How to Get Rid of That Unsightly Popcorn Ceiling

INFOGRAPHIC: California Sales Report For January 2018

8 Crucial Things Your Real Estate Landing Page Should Have

Open Concept Floor Plans: Pros and Cons

What's the Difference Between "Assessed Value" and "Fair Market Value"?

INFOGRAPHIC: 14 Real Estate Terms All Buyers Should Know

8 Neighborhood Features Homebuyers Should Steer Clear of

Should Sellers Have a Pre-Listing Home Inspection Done?

How Much Notice Should Sellers Request Before Showings?

INFOGRAPHIC: 11 Common Myths About Buying a Condo

7 Red Flags of a Moving Scam

What Are HOA Transfer Fees and Who Pays For Them?

Can You Sell Your Home With a Lien on it?

INFOGRAPHIC: 16 Guidelines to Follow For a Well-Organized Home

8 Factors That Play Key Roles in Determining Your Mortgage Rate

What's the Difference Between Mortgage "Term" Vs. "Amortization"?

What Your Home's Decor Says About Your Personality

6 Signs of a Seller's Markets

What's the Difference Between a Construction Loan and Traditional Mortgage?

INFOGRAPHIC: Housing Outlook For 2018

Homebuyers: How to Tell if You're Getting a Good Deal

Using Your 401(K) or IRA For Your Down Payment

Pros and Cons of Buying a Timeshare

INFOGRAPHIC: 14 Real Estate Marketing Statistics

Tips to Creating Some Privacy in a Small Space

Debunking the Most Common Down Payment Myths

What is an Option ARM Mortgage?

INFOGRAPHIC: California Sales Report For October 2017

Housing Prices in Southern California Tie 2007 Peak

Interesting Stats on the Relationship Between Real Estate and Social Media

9 Savvy Home Improvement Apps

California Sales Report For September 2017

Why Talking to a Mortgage Specialist is Important Even if You're Not Ready to Buy Just Yet

NAR's Stats on the Home Search Process in 2017

The Homeowner's Guide to Holiday Etiquette

INFOGRAPHIC: Home Financing Trends in 2017

Tips on Making the Most of Your Fall Listing

INFOGRAPHIC: Interesting Stats About Home Design Website Houzz.com

What Buyers Should Know About the Earnest Money Deposit

Top Cities in California For Public Transportation

Using Houzz and Pinterest to For Your Next Home Improvement Project

INFOGRAPHIC: Home Buyer Trends Across the U.S. in 2017

Tips to Cutting Back on Your Homeowner's Insurance Bill

When is it a Good Time For a Cash-Out Refinance?

Why You Should Think About a Home's Resale Value When You're Buying it

What's the Difference Between an APR and Mortgage Interest Rate?

What Real Estate Investors Need to Know About the 1031 Exchanges

What Can Sellers Do if the Buyer Backs Out of the Deal?

Tips For Comparing Mortgage Loans With Different Lenders

INFOGRAPHIC: 10 Things Every First-Time Buyer Should Do

6 Kitchen Design Trends Sellers Should Consider

What's the Difference Between a Freehold Townhouse and a Condo Townhouse?

7 Quick Tips for Buying Your Second Home

How is a New Home in an Old Neighborhood Valued?

How to Make Your Home More Pet Friendly

INFOGRAPHIC: 10 Things Real Estate Agents Do For Buyers

7 Myths Vs. Facts About Your Credit Score

What's the Difference Between a Lease Purchase and a Lease Option?

What is Covered Under Home Warranty Plans?

11 Tips to Buying a Newly Constructed Home From a Builder

10 Ways to Create an Extravagant-Looking Bathroom (On a Budget)

INFOGRAPHIC: California Sales Report For June 2017

How Do BPO's Determine the Value of a Home?

When and How Can You Legally Break a Lease in California?

10 Unique Materials to Use For Your Kitchen Backsplash

INFOGRAPHIC: 11 Things Home Buyers Are Looking For

Should You Buy a Starter Home or Wait to Buy Your "Forever" Home?

6 Tips to Ensure a Prompt Closing

7 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying a Vacation Property

INFOGRAPHIC: California Sales Report For May 2017

Important Deadlines in Real Estate Contracts That Can't Be Missed

INFOGRAPHIC: 10 Newbie Homebuyer Mistakes That Should Be Avoided

6 Reasons to Consider Buying an Old House

INFOGRAPHIC: 10 Creative Ways to Slash Your Energy Bill This Summer

How the Mortgage Process Works When Buying a Home

8 Tips For Selling a Unique Home

6 Questions Every Buyer Should Ask the Seller Before Move-in Day

7 Reasons Why You Need Your Own Agent to Represent You When Purchasing a New Home from a Builder

How to Sell a Home in "As Is" Condition

What's the Difference Between Market and Assessed Value?

Buying a Home With a Pool? You Should Have it Inspected

5 Savvy Tips to Packing Delicate Items When You Move

INFOGRAPHIC: 12 Fast Tips To Staging Your Home Yourself

Myths Vs. Facts About Home Appraisals

10 Tips When Viewing a Home For Sale

10 Factors That Affect Your Home Appraisal

What Are Bridge Loans and How Do They Work?

How to Make Sure Your Home Sells Faster Than Others on the Block

INFOGRAPHIC: California Sales Report For March 2017

6 Questions to Ask Before Converting Your Attic Into a Usable Space

INFOGRAPHIC: 8 Blunders Buyers Are Often Guilty of in a Seller’s Market

5 Tips For Moving With Kids in Tow

How to Put in an Offer on a Home That’s Overpriced

6 Signs Your Home is Listed Too High

INFOGRAPHIC: Top 9 Things to Consider Before Putting an Offer on a Home

How Smart Home Technology Affects the Real Estate Industry

7 Reasons to Add Mulch to Your Landscaping

6 Design Trends That Buyers Don’t Like

INFOGRAPHIC: Top 9 Reasons Why Closings Are Delayed in Real Estate

Tax Blunders That First-Time Homeowners Make

Real Estate Titles: What’s the Difference Between an Agent, Broker, and REALTOR®?

What Considerations Should Be Made When Adding a Skylight to Your Home?

INFOGRAPHIC: C.A.R.’s January Sales Report

How Prorations Are Handled in Real Estate Transactions

7 Things to Consider Before Buying an Airbnb Investment

Should You Purchase Extra Coverage on Mover’s Insurance?

9 Questions You Should Ask Your Mortgage Lender

Solar Panels: Should You Lease or Buy?

What is Considered a Fixture in Real Estate?

5 Home Upgrades You Might Be Tempted to Make, But Probably Shouldn’t

Why a "Pending Sale" Doesn't Mean That Dream Home is Off the Market Just Yet

INFOGRAPHIC: 8 Things Buyers Need to Know About Home Inspections

4 Ways Selling a Condo is Different From Selling a House

INFOGRAPHIC: 10 Tips to a Successful Open House

How Do Contractors’ Warranties Work to Protect Homeowners From Poor Quality Work?

How Real Estate Commissions Work

What’s the Difference Between a Promissory Note and a Mortgage?

Common Restrictive Covenants in an HOA

What’s the Difference Between Staging Your Home and Decorating it?

What Makes Real Estate Contracts Legal in California?

Areas in Your Home That Are Not Included in the Overall Square Footage

INFOGRAPHIC: 8 Reasons to Buy a Home in 2017

9 Ways to Make Your Cookie-Cutter Home More Unique

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Pricing Your Home

7 Decor and Design Predictions For the New Year

The Process of Going From Putting an Offer to Closing Escrow

6 Things to Consider When Designing an Outdoor Kitchen

7 Tips For Selling Your First Home

How to Curb Condensation in Your Home’s Crawl Space

6 Things You Can’t Hide From Your Landlord

How Will 2017 Pan Out For California’s Housing Market?

5 Ways to Revamp Your Bathroom Without a Whole Remodeling Job

How to Handle a Low-Ball Offer on Your Home

What’s the Difference Between Fractional Ownership and a Timeshare?

Get Your Timing Right With Adjustable Mortgages

Should You Stain or Paint Your Kitchen Cabinets For a Change in Color?

9 Savvy Tactics Home Stagers Use to Attract Buyers

7 Best Small Cities in California to Live in

INFOGRAPHIC: California’s September 2016 Housing Market Update

Should You Put Hardwood Flooring in the Kitchen?

Why Buying the Best House in the Neighborhood Might Not Be the Best Idea

Using Price-Per-Square-Foot Analysis to Price a Home

HOA Governing Documents That You Need to Look Over When Buying

Selling? These Are Your Disclosure Obligations

Pros and Cons of Selling Your Home at an Auction

Should You Consider Selling if You’re in the Middle of a Hot Seller’s Market?

More Single Women Are Buying Real Estate Than Single Men

What You Need to Know About Your Earnest Deposit on a Home Purchase

What You Need to Know About Selling Shares of Your Home Equity

8 Essential Items Your Home Renovation Contract Should Include

7 Dangers That May Be Lurking in Your Yard

Be Prepared For These Things When Gutting Your Home

How to Maintain Your Home’s Exterior Stucco

6 Scenarios Where it Doesn’t Pay to Go the DIY Route

Home Remodeling Projects: How Much Do They Really Cost?

6 Reasons Your Home Isn’t Selling

Rent or Buy? 6 Questions to Ask Yourself

No Credit? How to Build it From the Ground Up

Buying a Model Home: Good or Bad Idea?

Top Things Buyers and Sellers Want From Their Real Estate Agents

Rising Rates Credited With Slowing the Mortgage Refinancing Boom

How is Big Data Changing the Real Estate Industry?

How to Restructure Your Mortgage to Save a Ton of Money

First-Timer Mortgage Mistakes to Avoid

California Commercial Property Boom Showing Signs of Cooling Off

Ways to Prevent Going Over-Budget on a Remodel

10 Natural Remedies to Keep Bugs and Pests Away From Your Home

How Using a Licensed Real Estate Agent Can Legally Protect You

Clever Tips to Stage & Sell Your Home When You Have Small Kids

5 Extra Costs When Buying a New Construction Home

Will Britain’s Bail-Out From the EU Affect Mortgage Interest Rates in the US?

What Do Your Property Taxes Dollars Go Towards?

INFOGRAPHIC: 9 Ideas For Low-Maintenance Landscaping

Baby Boomers: Just As Likely to Upsize as Downsize?

5 Reasons to Relocate to California

How to Make Sure You're Getting a Fair Deal on a Flipped House

Common Building Code Violations: Is Your Home Up to Snuff?

Buyer’s Guide to Jumbo Mortgages

What You Should Know About Having a Co-Signer on Your Mortgage

6 Questions to Ask Your Home Inspector

Why Did My Mortgage Payments Increase?

INFOGRAPHIC: Top Fastest Moving Markets in the US

California Suburbs Expanding, But Supply is Still Tight

Can the Presidential Election Affect the Housing Market?

Silicon Valley Housing Market Finally Cools Off After Extended Price Climbs

Buyers and Sellers Beware: Signs of Real Estate Scams to Be Aware of

Chinese Buyers Continue to Pour Into US Real Estate

How Real Estate Can Generate Income For the Retirement Years

Fact or Fiction: Do Natural Food Stores Boost Nearby Property Values?

6 Trends Fueling the Current Real Estate Market

INFOGRAPHIC: Median Home Prices Throughout California Counties

Understand Your Easement Rights on Your Property

INFOGRAPHIC: How Proximity to Specific Neighborhood Traits Impacts Property

5 Things Your Neighbor’s Home Sale Can Tell You

INFOGRAPHIC: California Home Sales in February 2016

9 Mortgage Mistakes to Avoid

INFOGRAPHIC: Real Estate Buzzwords Your Listing Needs to Get Attention

7 Things First-Time Sellers Need to Know Before Listing

How Do Sky-High Property Values Impact Homebuyers?

2016 Home Plan and Design Trends in California

What to Check For When Reviewing HOA Documents

How Do Interest Rates Affect Home Sale Prices?

Buying? Must-Have Contingencies to Include in Your Real Estate Contract

How Soon After Foreclosure Can You Buy Again?

Are Foreign Investors Upping the Competition With American Buyers?

Why Are Millennials Still on the Fence About Getting Into the Housing Market?

What’s Driving California Housing Prices Up?

What’s the Difference Between a Mortgage Pre-Qualification and Pre-Approval?

Why Now is a Great Time to Buy Into California’s Housing Market

INFOGRAPHIC: How Did California’s 2015 Housing Market Stack Up Against 2014?

Luxury Real Estate in San Fran Headed For a Cooling Off Period

5 Financial Benefits of Owning Real Estate

8 Tips to Fireproofing Your Home

Infographic: Baby Boomers & The Real Estate Market

Rules of Etiquette You Should Know Before Buying a Home

What to Do When You Find Your Dream Home . . . But It’s Not For Sale

Can Your Neighbor Legally Object to the For Sale Sign on Your Property?

How Will Rock-Bottom Oil Prices Affect the Housing Market?

[INFOGRAPHIC] 16 Interesting Facts About California's Real Estate Market

What Will California’s Housing Market Look Like in 2016?

Get the Most Out of Your Real Estate Investment

10 Ways to Cut Back Waste at Home

9 Out of 10 of the Priciest Real Estate Markets in the Country Are in California

7 Interior Design Trends to Look Out For in 2016

Infographic: Your 11-Item Checklist to Determine if That Neighborhood Is Right for You

Infographic: This Is What Millennials Look for In Real Estate

5 Key Stages of a Major Home Rehab Job

How to Buy and Sell a Home at the Same Time Without Going Insane

Using Video to Market Your Property

5 Reasons Why You Should Buy Your Next Home in 2016

Here’s How Millennials Are Getting Mortgages These Days

Infographic: 15 Ways to Conserve Water at Home

Using Video to Market Your Property

5 Cool Furniture Options That Will Let Your Guest Room Double as an Office

How Californians Are Going Green at Home

How to Prep for Holiday House Guests

Downtown or Suburbs - What’s the Right Scene For You?

Beyond Red and Green: 4 Modern Decorating Ideas for the Holidays

Advantage: Home Ownership - You Can’t Build the Same Level of Wealth by Renting

Tips From the Pros: 6 Home Remodeling Mistakes to Avoid

Sia Flipping Loz Feliz Home After Owning For Only Four Months

7 Ways to Boost the Resale Value of Your Home

5 Fastest Growing Cities Across the U.S.

8 Clever Moving Tips to Cut Down on Time and Hassle

Private Showings Vs. Open Houses: Which Wins?

The Bank of Mom and Dad Becoming More Popular For Young Buyers Tight on Cash

Condo, Strata, HOA & Co-op – What’s the Difference?

Understanding the Piggyback Loan, and How it Can Save You Money

Should You Take Your Home Off the Market if it Isn’t Selling?

How Does the Fed Affect Mortgage Rates?

House Passes Bill to Protect Mortgage Industry Experts and Homebuyers Under New Mortgage Disclosure Rules

Should You Expand Your Present Home, or Move to a Larger Home?

Taylor Swift Drops $25 Mil on Beverly Hills Mansion, Adding to Her Real Estate Empire

How the Rococo Design Trend Is Making Even the Smallest Homes Look Ornate

Can't Be Missed Brunch Hotspots in Orange County

5 Tips for Making a TV Part of Your Décor

14 Home Design Accounts You Need to Follow On Instagram

Stylish & Affordable Furniture for First-Time Homeowners

5 Common Code Violations Made When Renovating. Number 4 Will Surprise You!

8 Fall Design Trends to Inspire Your Interior Decorating Projects

These Features Will Help Your Home Sell Faster

How to Create a Sustainable Home Garden

Home Safety Features That Save You on Property Insurance

Siding For Your Home’s Exterior: You’ve Got Options

New Mortgage Disclosure Rule Arms Buyers

Top Home Renovations That Bring in the Highest ROI

7 Affordable Ways to Give Your Home a Luxurious Feel

Don’t Do These Things Before Closing on a Home

Unique Bar Ideas for Serving Guests in Your Home

Plant Killer? Learn Where to Place Plants in Your Home

Negotiating a Lease Agreement? 4 Things That Are on the Table

Limited Budget? Clever Tips for Redesigning Your Home Office

Don’t Assume Your Home Will Sell Itself Just Because it’s a Sellers Market

How to Create an Art Gallery Wall in Your Home

Own a Historic Home? These Regulations Could Affect Your Remodeling Plans

How Much Do You Really Need For a Down Payment?

How Long Does the Mortgage Closing Process Take?

How "Inside Out" Can Get You Ready For A Move

Infographic: Home Builder Confidence Hits Nine-Month High After Sluggish Winter

What You Should (and Shouldn’t) Do During DIY Pergola Construction

Surprise Moving Company Add-On Fees that Could Jack Up the Price of Your Move

Tips for Hiding TV Cords and Plugs in Your Home

“McDreamy” Unloads His Ultra-Modern Home for a Cool $15 MIL

The Importance of Home Inspection

Inside Scoop on Penn Jillette’s New $3.3M Las Vegas Mansion!

Secret Bookcase Doors Provide Privacy, Extra Storage, & Excitement

Why Did Your Credit Score Suddenly Plummet?

No Front Porch? 5 Easy Ways to Make Your Front Door More Inviting

6 Reasons to Avoid the "For Sale By Owner" Route

4 Unique Ideas for Transforming Your Garage into a Living Space

Home Appraisal Lower Than Expected? Your Next Steps

New Home Buyer? 5 Mistakes to Avoid

The Real Benefits of Home Ownership

Just Moved In? 4 Tips to Make Unpacking As Painless As Possible

Building Your Home From Scratch Doesn’t Have to Cost a Fortune

Fixed or Variable Mortgage Rate? Which is Right For You?

3 Renovations That Will Make Your Home Safer for Young Children

Get Your Mortgage Process Moving Full Steam Ahead!

Up the Odds of Having Your Remodeling Job Approved by the Review Board

Fix-and-Flip, or Complete Tear Down? How to Tell the Difference

5 Types of Investment Properties to Scope Out To Boost Your Profitability

5 Problems Your Home Inspector Might Not Catch

3 Things to Consider Before Switching Your Carpet for Hardwood

6 Reasons Why a Mortgage Refinance Could Work For You