Oh the dreaded term, “Mello-Roos”. Like a 4, no 9 letter word. But what does Mello-Roos mean and where did this tax come from? When Proposition 13 passed in 1978, it severely limited the ability of local governments to use property taxes to construct public facilities and services. As a result, Californians were forced to [...]

What’s More Important in Your FICO Score… a Collection or the Balance of the Collection? One of the most common myths about credit scores (FICO) is that if you were to pay or settle collection accounts that your scores improves. Some also believe paying a collection will lead to the removal of the collection from [...]

One of the most frequently asked questions from clients planning a 1031 Exchange is, “Can I use my exchange funds to pay for closing costs without being taxed”? Although surprisingly little guidance is available in the tax code, there are some rules of thumb that will help clients and their tax advisors determine how best [...]

What does it mean to weatherproof your home?   It is the process of applying coatings and surface barrier materials to make walls or surface areas impervious to water or heat/cold air loss. Why should I weatherproof my home?  The main purpose comes in keeping something out that you do not want inside your home, namely [...]