Real Estate Education
Plain-English San Diego buyer, seller, and ownership explainers
What Is Mello-Roos? A San Diego Buyer's Honest Guide
Mello-Roos on a San Diego listing? Here's what it is, what it costs, whether it's deductible, how long it lasts, and which neighborhoods have it.
What Is an HOA? What San Diego Buyers Should Know
HOA dues are the norm in San Diego. Here's what an HOA is, what it costs, what your dues cover, how it differs from Mello-Roos, and what to check before you buy.
Closing Costs in San Diego, Explained (Buyer's Guide)
What buyers and sellers actually pay to close in San Diego — the 2–5% range, who pays title and transfer tax, and how to lower your costs.
How Property Taxes Work in San Diego (Buyer's Guide)
San Diego property taxes explained: the 1% Prop 13 base, the real ~1.1–1.25% rate, the supplemental bill that surprises buyers, and how to lower yours.
Moving to San Diego? What It Costs Before You Even Arrive
The upfront costs of moving to San Diego that nobody warns you about — before you've slept a night here.
The Map: The 3 San Diego Neighborhoods Where the Duplex + ADU Play Still Works in 2026
Part 4 of the San Diego Real Estate Cheat Code Series. The 3 San Diego neighborhoods where the duplex + ADU play still pencils out in 2026.
The Search: How to Find a Duplex + ADU Property in San Diego (in 30 Minutes a Day)
Part 3 of the San Diego Real Estate Cheat Code Series. The exact 4-step search filter I use to find duplexes with ADU potential — Multi-Family + 5,000 sq ft + ugly + RM zoning.
The ADU Play: How to Turn One San Diego Duplex Into Three Paychecks
Part 2 of the San Diego Real Estate Cheat Code. How to add an ADU to your duplex and turn one property into three paychecks.
The $30K San Diego Home-Buying Hack Most Buyers Never Hear About
Part 1 of the San Diego Real Estate Cheat Code series. The $190K down payment myth is keeping buyers on the sidelines — the real number is closer to $30K if you know the FHA duplex play.