Seller Guides

Guides and resources for home sellers in Orange County and the surrounding areas, covering everything from prep and pricing to negotiation and closing. Written by Michael Mellgren, REALTOR®.

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Seller Guides Which North Orange County Markets Are Holding Up Best as Mortgage Rates Rise? Quick Answer Brea is holding up best. The North Orange County housing market recorded 2,825 closed sales across ten markets from January 1 through July 30, 2026. Sellers averaged 99.6% of original list price in 30.6 days. Brea led at 101.8% in 23.1 days, and Villa Park trailed at 95.9%. Market data as of July […]
Seller Guides Selling a Home With Unpermitted Work in California: Disclosure, Risk, and Your Options Quick Answer Selling a home with unpermitted work in California is legal, and it happens in every price band. Disclosure is not optional. The state transfer disclosure form asks, in plain words, about room additions, structural changes, or other work done without necessary permits. A seller who knows the answer must give it. Disclosure, permitting, […]
Seller Guides Does Remodeling Raise Your Property Taxes in California? Quick Answer Does remodeling raise your property taxes in California? Only if the work counts as new construction. Under Proposition 13, the assessor reassesses just the new portion, never the whole home. A room addition or an ADU is assessable, but normal maintenance and like-for-like replacement is not. Property tax rules verified as of July […]
Seller Guides 1031 Exchange in California: Rules, Deadlines, and What the State Requires Quick Answer A 1031 exchange in California lets an investment property owner defer tax by reinvesting the sale proceeds in another investment property. Two federal clocks control it. The first gives 45 days to identify the replacement property in writing, and the second gives 180 days to close. Missing either clock makes the whole gain […]
Seller Guides Capital Gains Tax When Selling Your California Home: The $250K/$500K Exclusion Explained Quick Answer Capital gains tax when selling your California home applies only to the gain above the exclusion. A single filer excludes $250,000. A married couple filing jointly excludes $500,000. To qualify, you must have owned the home and lived in it as your main home for two of the last five years. Tax rules […]
Buyer Guides Escrow, Title, and Closing Costs in Orange County: What Buyers and Sellers Pay Quick Answer Closing costs in Orange County fall into three groups: charges the county fixes, charges the companies you hire quote you, and prorated items you owe for the days you held the property. Orange County’s transfer tax runs $0.55 per $500 of price. Escrow and title fees vary by company, so compare them. Escrow, […]
Seller Guides Inheriting a Home With a Reverse Mortgage: Options and Deadlines for Heirs Quick Answer Inheriting a home with a reverse mortgage starts a federal clock, not a probate one. The loan becomes due and payable when the last borrower dies. Once the servicer mails the due and payable notice, the estate gets 30 days. Pay, sell, or hand back the home. Nobody owes more than the house […]
Seller Guides Selling an Inherited Home in California: What Heirs Need to Know Quick Answer Selling an inherited home in California starts with one question: how the title transfers. A successor trustee can list a home held in a living trust within weeks. A home held in the owner’s own name is a probate asset. Someone needs court authority to sign the deed. That single distinction drives the […]
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Seller Guides How to Sell Your Home in Orange County: A Step-by-Step Guide Quick Answer To sell your home in Orange County, follow eight steps: set your timeline, choose a listing agent, price from recent comparable sales, prepare the home, understand your selling costs, market it widely, review and negotiate offers, then close. Pricing to recent closings is the lever that moves a home fastest. Home-selling steps reviewed […]
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Michael Mellgren Realtor
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Michael mellgren, realtor dre# 02321556 | phone (714) 420-6629 | michaelmellgren@gmail.com

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