In the golden state of California, you can indeed have it all - there are both beaches and mountains easily within reach and throughout the year climate that’s sure to make you smile. There is a price to be paid, however, and it’s not just financial. In truth, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows to own a home, and along with all the natural beauty of California comes numerous natural risks as well. These disasters can not only put your personal belongings at-risk but also can negatively impact the overall worth of your home.

If I’ve learned one thing about homeownership, it’s that y...

Every Californian homeowner knows the trials and tribulations of wildfire season. As of 2019, California officially has more wildfires than any other state. By the end of 2020, state and local resources had fought nearly 8,000 wildfires that burned approximately 260,000 acres of land. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported about 10,488 buildings destroyed. As the climate continues to heat up, wildfires' danger continues to grow, with each year breaking previous wildfire records. Heat and lack of regular rainfall threaten plant life, and drought spells grow longe...

When buying or selling a home in California, obtaining an NHD report is an absolute must. California is actually the only state in the country that requires a Natural Hazard Disclosure during a real estate transaction because of the wide range of environmental hazards present in its diverse landscape. Quite simply, buyers have a right to know if their property is at significant risk of damages from a wildfire, flooding or even earthquakes. An NHD report helps them better understand the risks associated with a property, including the potential for additional insurance costs. Because of this...

Of all the destinations in the world, California is by far one of the most desirable thanks to endless stretches of sandy beaches, mild and sunny weather as well as exciting and tantalizing food stops.For those of us who are fortunate enough to live in this Golden State, however, there are also a few more things to consider. While property brokers and real estate sellers are required by law to supply a Natural Hazard Disclosure (or NHD) Report if a property falls within a hazard area, mudslides are not classified in this range. Rather, mudslides are an effect of flooding or seismic activity...

2020 was notable for a lot of things — and for California residents, part of this was the record-setting fire season. Over 4.1 million acres of California burned in 2020, with five of the state’s six largest fires in history happening during the calendar year.Unfortunately, these statistics represent the continuation of a trend, rather than an outlier. California’s wildfire risk seems to grow each year, putting lives and property at risk.In response to steadily worsening fire conditions, 2019 saw the passage of new laws regarding homeowner responsibilities for those who live in wildfire haz...

Despite its great beauty, California is home to a variety of natural hazards. The state frequently ranks at or near the top of lists for both the greatest number of wildfires and total number of acres burned in any given year.There is no understating the extreme danger that California’s wildfires can pose to lives and property. Because of this, the state government takes responsibility for preventing and suppressing wildfires in areas outside of federal ownership or city boundaries.Of course, many people live in these areas — designated as a State Responsibility Area, or SRA. Residents of t...

Becoming a homeowner is a big undertaking, especially if you plan on living in California. There's a lot to consider. The unpredictable weather and ever-changing climate are sure to keep everyone homeowner on their toes, which is why it's essential to have a natural hazard disclosure report. Today, one of the biggest things to be aware of when buying a home in California is flooding. In California, flooding occurs annually; yet no one knows when or where to predict it. Over the years, every county in California has been declared a flood disaster. One in five Californians and more than $580 ...

One key element of the Natural Hazard Disclosure is the flood certification. Flood certifications are actually required by mortgage lenders in California, and for good reason. The Public Policy Institute estimates that one in five Californians is vulnerable to flooding, alongside $580 billion in structures.In fact, every county in the state has been declared a flood disaster area at some point. Whether the result of overflowing rivers, flash flooding or even urban flooding caused by poor drainage, flooding is a serious issue in California.Flood certifications for an NHD Report are determine...

With mortgage rates still at record lows, many Americans are wondering how the 2020 Presidential election will impact today's housing market.In short — it's difficult to predict.Though 2020 has been volatile in a variety of ways, presidential elections have historically had little impact on the mortgage rates that followed. According to Dana George of Motley Fool, the 12 elections since 1978 illustrate a different factor to consider — the overall health of the U.S. economy."The rate ended the year higher than it started after seven elections. It dropped four times and, in 2012, it stayed th...

It's fun to enter the California real estate market. If you're beginning to look for your potential home, you might be looking at your options for obtaining a mortgage. Something that many people don't know beforehand is that your mortgage lender will have a few requirements. One of those requirements is that you obtain a flood certificate for the home you're buying. You may already be aware of the California requirement for home sellers to provide a natural hazard disclosure, which states the risk to your home from various hazards. A flood certificate is a document specifically related to ...