Welcome to our Resource Page!
The Advantage Real Estate Team knows that knowledge is power, so we have assembled some useful links to websites and literature that will help you better understand your rights and obligations in a residential real estate transaction. We hope that these links will pique your interest and help you familiarize yourself to some of the ideas and terms used when purchasing or selling a property.
If you have any questions about any of these topics, please reach out to us directly, we are here to help!
RESIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS BOOKLET
This publication is designed to provide information about some environmental hazards that may be found on or in residential property and to provide homeowners and prospective homeowners with the information and additional resources needed to make an informed decision about environmental hazards that may be present on a property.
LEAD HAZARDS
Protecting yourself and your family from lead in your home is crucial for your health and well-being. The Protect Your Family pamphlet, published by the US EPA, explains the dangers of lead in your home and how to protect yourself from lead-based paint hazards.
GREAT SCHOOLS
If living within the bounds of a certain school district is a determining factor when searching for a new home, information regarding schools and surrounding neighborhoods can be found on greatschools.org, niche.com and similar websites.
MEGAN’S LAW DATABASE
The California Megan’s Law website is a searchable tool to obtain information from the registered sex offender database. The information contained in the database is updated daily by law enforcement.
WATER-CONSERVING PLUMBING FIXTURES
California law requires water-conserving plumbing fixtures in all single-family homes built before 1994, regardless of whether it’s being sold. Information regarding this requirement and others can be found in this downloadable brochure
HOME ENERGY RATING
Energy efficiency is an important consideration for homeowners. The HERS Program, also called the Field Verification and Diagnostic Testing Program, is a way to ensure that the various features of a home meet the California Building Energy Efficiency Standards. The California Energy Commission’s HERS Program webpage contains resources and literature for homeowners.
ESCROW 101 REFERENCE GUIDE
The CA Department of Real Estate provides this informational pamphlet discussing escrow fundamentals to provide homebuyers with general escrow know-how, including the basic language/ terminology and steps in the process, and to provide helpful tips in selecting and managing escrow transactions and spotting potential fraud.
HOMEOWNER TAX INFORMATION
Most buyers know they will have to pay property tax, but they don’t know the assessment process, how the tax is collected, property tax exemptions, and other property tax relief measures. To learn more, we’ve provided you with the California Property Tax An Overview.
HOME WARRANTY PLAN
A home warranty plan protects the major home appliances, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems in your home. Unlike your homeowner’s insurance policy, which protects your home from covered perils, a home warranty is a service contract that covers general wear and tear. See below to learn more.
EARTHQUAKE SAFETY
As a current or future owner of a home, you should be aware of the risks—potentially considerable and catastrophic—that earthquakes pose to your property and to the safety of you and your family. If you are selling a home the state has certain requirements you must meet before you can close escrow. And, if you are buying a property, you should know if the property is at risk by hiring a home inspector and reading all disclosures thoroughly. The Homeowner’s Guide to Earthquake Safety goes into detail on both topics.
TITLE INSURANCE
There are two types of policy holders of title insurance. One is an owner’s policy. This is typically paid for by the Seller at the close of escrow. This insures the buyer for as long as he or she owns the property. The other is a lender’s policy. This policy ensures that the lender’s security interest in the property has priority over claims that others may have in your property. It is a condition for obtaining a loan. For more information see below.
RESIDENTIAL INSURANCE
Finding insurance for your investment can often be confusing and frustrating. When searching for a good quality insurance, emphasis should be placed on obtaining coverage that is reasonably priced and written by authorized insurance companies that have a reputation of paying claims fairly and promptly. This guide provides helpful information.
CONSUMER GUIDE TO DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS FOR SELLERS
As a buyer, you have the right to inspect a property before buying it. You also have the right to review disclosures that have been provided to you by the seller and the real estate company representing the seller. Here is a guide to help you understand your rights.