Blog

Selling Your Home After Decades? What You Need to Know About Capital Gains Taxes Today

By Ramesh Rao | Mar 23, 2025

If you’ve lived in your home for decades and are thinking about selling, you may wonder how capital gains taxes will affect your profits. In the past, homeowners who sold their primary residence could defer paying capital gains taxes by rolling the proceeds into a new home of equal or greater value. This was a […]

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Potential Impact of Birthright Citizenship on Bay Area Housing Market (Long Term View)

By Ramesh Rao | Feb 25, 2025

President Trump’s Executive Order regarding Birthright Citizenship has caused concern among foreign-born engineers with H1B visas working in the high-tech industry. It has also upended their home-buying plans. Many of my clients have put their real estate plans on hold, waiting for clarity before taking the plunge. H1B Visa Holders and Entry-Level Housing Demand H1B […]

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Saratoga Housing Market Review: A Look Back at 2024 and What’s Ahead for 2025

By Ramesh Rao | Dec 24, 2024

Nestled in the heart of Silicon Valley, Saratoga boasts tree-lined streets, expansive lots, and a tranquil suburban lifestyle that attracts high-end buyers year after year. The 2024 housing market in Saratoga upheld its reputation for luxury and exclusivity while navigating broader economic trends. Let’s explore how the market performed this year and what buyers and […]

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2024 Cupertino Housing Market Review: A Year in Reflection

By Ramesh Rao | Dec 24, 2024

As 2024 comes to a close, it’s the perfect time to reflect on how the Cupertino housing market has performed this year. Known for its proximity to Silicon Valley tech giants and its top-rated schools, Cupertino remains a highly desirable area for homeowners and investors alike. Let’s dive into the key trends, highlights, and challenges […]

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How to Keep Your Home Ready for Showings

By Ramesh Rao | Dec 22, 2024

When your house is listed on the market, you want to make sure that it stays in tip-top shape. People will be coming and going to check out your place. This may seem like a challenge, but if you follow these steps, you will sell your home in no time! Never turn down a showing. […]

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Credit Triggers: How to Protect Yourself from Incessant Lender Calls

By Ramesh Rao | Dec 18, 2024

Have you recently applied for a mortgage, or are you planning to? If so, you might be in for an unexpected and frustrating experience. Shortly after your credit report is pulled for a loan inquiry, you could receive numerous calls from random lenders trying to win your business. This is the result of what’s known […]

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FOUR THINGS NOT TO DO DURING THE CLOSING PROCESS

By Ramesh Rao | Dec 13, 2024

When you are closing on your home, you need to make sure that you don’t make any drastic changes that could negatively impact the sale. Here are the top four things you should NEVER do when you are trying to buy. 1)  Change jobs: What job you hold is one of the first things that […]

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Should I Buy My Next Home Before I List My Current One?

By Ramesh Rao | Dec 11, 2024

In many areas across the country, homes are selling fast. But in the Bay Area, homes are selling within a week with multiple offers for way over the asking price.   This sounds like a great thing for anyone looking to sell a house. But it can cause quite a dilemma. Where will you go […]

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The North Wind Season: Home Decorating for the Holidays

By Ramesh Rao | Dec 11, 2024

At the same time each year, the air outside turns brisk and cold when northern wind gusts rise. Whether you call it a big city or a small-town home, holiday decorations will be drawn across front lawns, tangled around door frames, and twisted along porch railings. But whatever the celebration, across darkening landscapes everywhere, residences […]

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