Buying your first home in San Jose can be exciting—and, yes, a little intimidating. Once you start looking at prices in Santa Clara County, it becomes pretty clear that “affordable” means something different here than it does in many other parts of the country. But here’s something I remind first-time buyers all the time: You […]

Standard California homeowners insurance policies don’t cover earthquake damage — a fact that surprises many buyers relocating to San Jose from other parts of the country. Deciding whether to purchase separate earthquake coverage is a genuinely personal calculation, but here’s the framework to think it through. Why Standard Homeowners Insurance Doesn’t Cover Earthquakes Earthquake risk […]

If you’re relocating to Silicon Valley for a job at Google—or already work there and are thinking about buying a home—it’s tempting to start your search with one question: Which neighborhood gives me the shortest commute? Commute matters, of course. But when you’re making a major home purchase, it shouldn’t be the only factor. San […]

One of the biggest surprises for many homebuyers in California isn’t the mortgage—it’s the property taxes. You might move into your dream home only to discover that your neighbor, who lives in the exact same model, pays thousands of dollars less in property taxes every year. It doesn’t seem fair at first, but there’s a […]