Real Estate Education
San Diego real estate terms, explained plainly.
Guides to closing costs, Mello-Roos, property taxes, HOA rules, financing, and the local details buyers and sellers should understand before they make a move.
Guides to closing costs, Mello-Roos, property taxes, HOA rules, financing, and the local details buyers and sellers should understand before they make a move.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The upfront costs of moving to San Diego that nobody warns you about — before you've slept a night here.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Twelve years and 500+ closings later, the answer to almost any San Diego real-estate question is: it depends on the block. Tell us what you're thinking and the Routt Home Team will send back the unfiltered take.