Don King's Rancho Bernardo Blog

When buying a home, one of the first things that you need to do after your purchase offer is accepted is a home inspection. Here are answers to common questions regarding home inspections. When Should The Inspection Be Done? In California, unless a different timeframe was negotiated, you have 17 ...

When you sell a house or condo, the buyers will require a Structural Pest Control Clearance as a condition of getting their loan. This means your property must be free of wood-destroying pests such as termites and dry rot, which is a wood-eating fungus. Lately, there seems to be an epidemic of bo...

You have probably seen the TV ads begging San Diegans to reduce water usage. I don't know the politics of it, but water supplies from other areas to Southern California have been cut back. So here are three ways you can save water (and save some money). 1. Go Dry. By changing your landscaping, yo...

Sadly, due to the slowing economy and dropping home values, many homeowners find themselves facing foreclosure.I hope this doesn't apply to you but, if it does, you should be aware that there are scam artists out there trying to take advantage of you during this emotional period.The latest "Calif...

There are tons of home mortgage lenders out there - banks, savings & loans, home loan companies, and even Internet lenders. So, how do you choose which lender is best for you. Here are 10 questions that you should ask a lender that may help.1. What are your most popular loans and why?2. Which typ...

Are you aware that, in California, it is against the law to throw electronics equipment, including computers, in the trash or in a landfill?So, what should you do with electronic equipment that you no longer need?If it is still in working order, the preferred solution is to donate the equipment t...

"Consumer Reports" magazine is a fountain of information for the homeowner, from which paint to use when repainting your house to which appliance or car to buy.The March 2008 issue has an interesting article on air duct cleaning. They warn readers to be wary of a scam that goes like this. You rec...

Each year, Realtor Magazine conducts a survey on the cost of various remodeling projects around the country and how much they add to the value of the house.In 2007, the value of remodeling nationwide trended down compared to 2006. The reasons are the rising cost of remodeling and a slight depreci...

Fire Impact On Rancho BernardoSince the wildfires roared through two and a half weeks ago, I've driven through the neighborhoods that were hardest hit. Along the northern edge of RB, it looks like some neighborhoods were bombed. Some streets are closed to all but residents.The latest count says o...

Fire Impact On Rancho BernardoThe Witch Creek Fire, which originated between Ramona and Julian on Sunday, roared through San Pasqual Valley early Monday morning along the northern edge of RB. It was pushed by Santa Ana winds gusting up to 60 mph with the fire sometimes moving at 50 mph.Residents ...