Free Range Life

Need to Sell an Inherited Property? Tips for Selling Homes in Probate Proceedings.

By Rachel Puryear, Consulting Attorney and Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway, (DRE 02099554) Losing a loved one is always very hard. In the midst of grief, dealing with all of the administrative matters that come along with a death can be overwhelming. Having the right kind of professionals assisting you with all the tasks to be done,…

Struggling to Come Up With a Home Down Payment? There are Programs that Can Help.

By Rachel Puryear, Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway, (DRE 02099554), Legal Consultant, and Mortgage Loan Originator (NMLS 2019354) One of the most difficult stumbling blocks for people trying to buy their first home, is coming up with the down payment. Fortunately, there are a wide variety of programs that can help with that. You Might Not Need…

Getting Divorced, but Wondering if You Can Keep Your Home? This Type of Refinance Might Help You Do So.

By Rachel Puryear, Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway, (DRE 02099554), Legal Consultant, and Mortgage Loan Originator (NMLS 2019354) Breaking up is always hard to do. Many divorcing couples decide to sell their marital home, divvy the proceeds, and live elsewhere. But if you have a home you have loved for a long time and are worried…

Adding an In-Law Unit to your Home: Possibilities, and Incentives are Available.

By Rachel Puryear, Consulting Attorney and Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway, (DRE 02099554), Mortgage Loan Originator (NMLS 2019354) With a tight housing market, very low interest rates, and an increasing array of building options; the accessory dwelling unit (ADU) – also colloquially known as an in-law unit or granny flat – is becoming a popular addition…

Wondering if You Should Get an Irrevocable Trust in Response to Prop 19? For Most Families, Probably Not.

By Rachel Puryear, Semi-Retired Attorney, Legal Geek, Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway (DRE 02099554) Since the passage of Prop 19 in California, I have had several inquiries about what the new law means for families interested in estate planning. I have also noticed a trend of people asking if they should get an irrevocable trust, in order to avoid…

A Cold Case: Antarctica’s Unsolved Murder Investigation

By Rachel Puryear, Semi-Retired Attorney, Legal Geek, Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway (DRE 02099554) One of my bucket list items – on a long list of bucket list travel items – is to visit Antarctica. I want to see penguins and polar bears, and the glaciers (what’s left of them) against the glow of 18-hour+ sunlight.…

What California Homeowners and Families Should Know About Prop 19

By Rachel Puryear, Attorney and Broker California just passed Proposition 19, a mixed bag of changes to its property tax rules. Here’s a breakdown of the good, the bad, and the ugly of what it means for California homeowners, their families, and even their tenants. Homeowners over 55 (as well as people who are severely…

The Election Showed Us That Voting Matters, and Long Term Strategy is Key

By Rachel Puryear, Attorney and Real Estate Broker Hi there, friends of Free Range Law. I know it’s been a while, and I thank those of you who have reached out and said they have missed my posts. I have missed writing them, too, and am glad to be back. Like millions of others, I…

If You Haven’t Already, Register to Vote. If You Have, Help Someone Else Vote.

By Rachel Puryear, Attorney and Founder of Legal Document Helpers There’s an old joke among lawyers: Good lawyers know the law, but the best lawyers know the judge. This joke touches on an even older truth – that is, it matters who makes and interprets laws. Who the judge is, easily swings a legal case either…

If You’re Married and Buying a Home in CA, Here’s a Way to Title Your House for a Capital Gains Advantage

By Rachel Puryear, Attorney and Founder of Legal Document Helpers Buying a home is an exciting milestone for any couple! One of the little details you might not think about until it’s time to sign papers, though, is how to title your home. The papers you sign will include a form where you select how…