Using an FHA Loan to Buy Apartments

Question: “Can I use an FHA loan to buy apartments that I’m going to live in?” Answer: FHA loans are for 1-4 unit owner-occupied properties. So in theory, you can use one if you buy a duplex, triplex, or fourplex. However, the qualifying for a triplex or fourplex is so poorly thought out that’s it’s
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Is Closing Done via E-signatures or in Person?

Question: “We may be out of town when our sale closes. Is the closing done via esignatures, or do we have to be present?” Answer: Good news. Unlike other states, in California you do not need to sign anything at closing. It’s all signed beforehand. Of course, there could be some last-minute document to sign,
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How to Know if Your New Home Was Fumigated

Question: “I just bought a house and closed a couple of weeks ago. My neighbor said he never saw a termite tent go on. How do I know it was fumigated?” Answer: Let me ask a few questions… First, did the contract call for a pest control clearance? If so, was a fumigation required for
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This Week’s Crazy Building: Biosphere 2

Biosphere 2 by Johndedios licensed under the terms of CC BY 3.0
This week’s crazy building is Biosphere 2 in Oracle, Arizona. Biosphere 2’s weird series of structures has an even weirder history. Based on the name, you may expect that there was a similar building built before this one. In fact, Biosphere 2 was meant as the second self-sufficient biosphere—the first being Earth itself. It originally contained miniature
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Will Lenders Make a 30-Year Loan to a Senior?

Question: “I’m 63 years old and would like to move and buy a home in San Diego. Will lenders make a 30 year loan to a senior? That would mean I’d be 93 when the loan is paid off” Answer: Good news. Lenders are not allowed to discriminate based on age. If you qualify, they’ll
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Buying a Warranty for the Homebuyer

Question: “I got an offer on my home that asks us to pay for an optional warranty on the a/c unit. We rarely use it and its 15 years old. If it breaks for the buyer, I don’t want to take on that expense. How do I protect myself?” Answer: You’re buying a warranty policy
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Is it Worth it to Sell Your Home As-Is?

Looking to sell your San Diego home? Get a free home value report Buying a San Diego home? Search all homes for sale   Today we are here to answer a question we’ve been getting a lot lately, “Can I sell my home as-is?” When people ask this question, they are really asking two questions. “Can
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The 50/20/10 Rule for Looking at Homes

Question: “I’ve only been looking at homes for a couple of weeks and seen about 25. There’s one I really like, but I’m afraid it’s too soon. I know there’s no magic number, but how many homes do you suggest I see before buying one?” Answer: Because it’s very subjective, I’m going to just make
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This Week’s Crazy Building: Robarts Library

Robarts Library by Sascha Noyes is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
This week’s crazy building is Robarts Library at the University of Toronto. This fortress-like structure is one of the most prominent examples of Brutalist architecture: raw concrete with strong lines and a plain, stark feel. It’s appropriately nicknamed “Fort Book.” Opened in 1973 and created by Mathers & Haldenby Architects, it features over 4.5 million
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Can You Get a VA Loan to Buy a Rental?

Question: “Hi Gary. I’d like to buy a property to rent to my son and his family. Can I use my VA eligibility to get a VA loan?” Answer: Unfortunately, no. You can only get a VA loan on a home that you intend to live in. This is a longshot, but if you don’t
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