family around the holiday dinner table

You Could be in a New Home for the Holidays

  • September 29, 2023
  • devinlucas

Have you been dreaming of selling your home, buying a new one and moving in before the holidays? This scenario is actually fairly common and totally doable. A knowledgeable agent such as Devin Lucas or Courtney Lucas with the Lucas Real Estate Group in Newport Beach can guide you through the process, negotiate the best terms and get you into a new home – all in time to celebrate with family and friends. Here’s how you can get started.

brown ice cream cone

Common Leasing Mistakes Made By Leasing Agents

  • September 4, 2023
  • devinlucas

Even leasing professionals make mistakes. From the California Association of REALTORS® Broker Insights Newsletter – August 2023, there are quite a few common mistakes out there that warranted an advisory. Make sure you, or your REALTOR®, are compliant, especially when it comes to leasing in tenant-friendly California….

two computers and paperwork in between

Proposition 19 Interplay With Inheritance and Portability (55 and Older Transfer) – A Way to Make BOTH Aspects of Prop 19 Work For You

  • August 16, 2023
  • devinlucas

As we have written on extensively, Proposition 19, new for 2021 (replacing older propositions 58, 193, 60 and 90), has two main components, portability and inheritance. (Review our many articles on Prop 19 starting here, link to main prop 19 page.)

These two aspects can be combined in some regards, and not combined in others.

For example, if you inherit a property and qualify for Prop 19, and therefore keep that property’s low (prop 13) tax basis, you CAN then sell that property when you are 55 or older and transfer that same low (prop 13) tax basis to a new property. More details below.

Hourglass next to a calendar

What Happens If I Cannot Meet the One Year Deadline to Move In and File the Claim for Homeowners’ Exemption or Claim for Reassessment Exclusion Under Prop 19?

  • August 16, 2023
  • devinlucas

The answer to this critical question is in FLUX.  The official answer, detailed below, is that the one (1) year deadline is firm, with no exceptions.  HOWEVER, as of April 1, 2022, the BOE has used its “Emergency Powers” to enact a common sense answer to this question (allowing additional time to file a claim for Homeowners Exemption, with caveats).  

Image of a tax return and cup of coffee.

Step-Up In Basis Explained

  • August 16, 2023
  • devinlucas

When you inherit real estate and then subsequently sell that real estate, you will likely benefit dramatically from the step-up in basis, aka the step-up in basis or the stepped up basis.
The step-up in basis, what does this mean?  If a child or grandchild later sells a gifted or inherited home, they may have to pay capital gains taxes depending on a variety of factors.  If a property is inherited, there is a “step-up” in basis of the value of the property (to the value at the time of death) for purposes of calculating capital gains when the property is later sold.  The “step-up” essentially provides a higher value of the property when calculating any “gains” as compared to the sales price.  The “step-up” can have enormous tax benefits for the heirs that will be lost by gifting property during lifetime.

Newport Beach Monthly Activity Report – All Activity For July 2023

  • August 16, 2023
  • devinlucas

Here is your latest Newport Beach Activity Report for July 2023, analyzing data as it affects a specific market area. The Market Summary below offers a look at sales activity for the prior month and year, along with current and past year-to-date statistics. The graphs cover several different aspects of the real estate market. Note how some of the graphs break out trends by price increments.

Please contact us if you would like more information on the current market.

Graphic of Costa Mesa real estate sales July 2023 (small)

Costa Mesa Monthly Activity Report – All Activity For July 2023

  • August 16, 2023
  • devinlucas

Here is your latest Costa Mesa Activity Report, analyzing data as it affects a specific market area. The Market Summary below offers a look at sales activity for the prior month and year, along with current and past year-to-date statistics. The graphs cover several different aspects of the real estate market. Note how some of … Continue Reading