Lower price point, less maintenance, and often a better location for the money. It's easy to see why a townhome catches your eye. Before you get too far into the process, there are a few financing details worth knowing that don't come up with a single-family home.

Not Every Community Qualifies the Same Way

Some townhome associations qualify for standard conventional loan programs, and some don't. That distinction changes the entire financing process and timeline, so it's worth confirming early rather than discovering it mid-escrow.

Recent Changes Worth Knowing

A streamlined financing option for townhome associations was discontinued this past August, which has slowed down some closings. Looking ahead, HOA reserve requirements are set to rise from 10% to 15% starting around January. Associations that aren't prepared for that increase could temporarily lose eligibility for standard financing, which may affect how many buyers can qualify for a given property.

None of this puts a townhome off the table. It just means asking the right questions upfront makes for a smoother process from offer to closing.

Found a townhome you're considering? Let us check its financing status before you fall too in love with it.

Notice things feeling a little quieter out there? Kids are back in school, schedules are settling, and the market always eases up this time of year. If it feels like a snail's pace compared to the last couple of years, that's because it is. But this isn't a slowdown to worry about. It's simply a return to the steady, pre-pandemic rhythm we all remember.
That slower pace holds true whether you're watching a condo, a townhome, or a single-family neighborhood. Things are moving, just without the frenzy.
If you're in a community with HOA dues, we know the hesitation. Dues can feel like money going nowhere, especially when a special assessment shows up out of the blue. But shift your perspective for a moment. When the roof needs replacing or termites move in, you're not covering that alone. Your neighbors are right there with you, sharing the cost. Want to know what's coming before it happens? Join the board and you'll always be in the know.
If a move has been on your mind, whether it's a condo, a townhome, or a house down the street, we'd love to help you figure out if now is the right time. Or if you're curious about the market this fall, or what your home might be worth right now, we're just a message away.

Sellers, what's the one thing you actually need to sell your home? It's not a fancy MLS description. It's not a sign in the yard. It's not even an agent.

You need a buyer.

That's it. Selling a home comes down to two parties agreeing on a price and terms. Everything else, the marketing, the staging, the open houses, exists to get you there. It all points to one outcome: finding the person who wants what you have and is ready to say yes.

This is why pricing matters so much. Price too high and you scare buyers away before they ever walk through the door. Price it right and you create competition, the kind that gets you multiple offers and leverage at the negotiating table.

It's also why exposure matters. The more qualified buyers who see your home, the better your odds of finding the one who falls in love with it, and the one willing to meet your terms.

But getting there isn't automatic. It matters who you work with. A good agent knows how to price your home to attract serious interest instead of scaring it off. A good agent knows how to market it so the right people actually see it. And a good agent knows how to separate a genuinely qualified buyer from someone who's just curious, so you're not wasting time on offers that never make it to the finish line.

An agent's job isn't to sell your home. It's to bring you the buyer who will, and to do it with the right pricing, the right marketing, and the right strategy behind it.

At the end of the day, escrow doesn't open because of a great sign or a slick brochure. It opens because two people agreed. Our job is making sure that agreement happens on your terms.

A lot of homeowners place their home into a trust for smart reasons—estate planning, avoiding probate, protecting family assets, keeping things organized.

And then… life happens.

Years go by, the home stays in the trust, and everything seems fine… until it’s time to sell.

That’s when many families realize there’s more to selling a trust-owned property than just signing listing paperwork.

One of the biggest questions that can come up during escrow?

Does the trust have its own Tax ID (EIN), or is it still reporting another way?

Depending on how the trust is structured—whether it’s revocable, irrevocable, or if there’s been a major life event like the passing of the original trust creator—the trust may need its own tax reporting information.

And if no one has looked at the trust paperwork in years… this can become one of those last-minute details that catches people off guard.

Here’s the good news: it’s usually fixable. But it’s a lot better to catch it before escrow than in the middle of it.

Before listing a home held in a trust, it’s worth checking:

✔ Is title currently vested in the trust?
✔ Are the trustees and trust documents up to date?
✔ Does the trust already have its own Tax ID, if applicable?
✔ Have your CPA or estate attorney reviewed how the sale should be reported?

Real estate isn’t always about staging, marketing, and negotiations. Sometimes it’s the paperwork behind the scenes that matters just as much.

And trust us... the smoother you prepare on the front end, the smoother escrow usually goes on the back end.

As always, every trust is different. Be sure to speak with your CPA, tax professional, or estate attorney for guidance specific to your situation.