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Resources &
Helpful Links

Whether you are buying, selling, or simply researching your options, these resources can help you understand important real estate questions, find official information, and explore the next steps that may apply to your situation.

Real estate resources and checklist on a desk

Buyer Resources

Tools and information to help you prepare for the home buying process — from understanding your budget to navigating financing options.

Laura Holbert discussing a home buying plan with a couple on a laptop

Mortgage Calculator

Use the mortgage calculator to estimate a potential monthly housing payment based on assumptions such as purchase price, down payment, interest rate, and property taxes. Actual payments may also include homeowners insurance, HOA dues, special assessments, mortgage insurance, or other costs depending on the property and financing. A calculator provides an estimate and does not determine loan qualification or final lender terms.

Pre-Approval Checklist

Mortgage lenders may request documents such as income records, bank or asset statements, tax documents, identification, and information about debts or other financial obligations. Requirements vary by borrower, lender, and loan program. Having requested documents available can help you prepare for the pre-approval process.

Loan & Homebuyer Assistance Programs

Depending on eligibility and the property, buyers may explore conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, CalHFA, and other financing or homebuyer-assistance options. FHA, VA, and USDA are loan programs; down-payment or closing-cost assistance may be available through separate programs such as certain CalHFA offerings or other eligible sources. Programs, funding, income limits, credit requirements, property requirements, and availability can change. A qualified lender should confirm current eligibility and program terms.

HUD Homebuyer Education

HUD-approved housing counseling agencies provide education and counseling on topics that may include home buying, budgeting, credit, mortgages, and homeownership. Cost and services vary by provider.

Understanding Credit Scores

Credit reports and credit scores are related, but they are not the same thing. Your credit report contains information about your credit history, while credit-scoring models use information from your reports to calculate scores.

Consumers can currently review their credit reports online at AnnualCreditReport.com at no cost, with online access available weekly from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies.

Reviewing your own credit report does not hurt your credit score.

If you are planning to purchase a home, a lender can explain which credit-scoring model and requirements may apply to the loan program you are considering.

Seller Resources

Seller resources covering home value, preparation, disclosures, taxes, estimated net proceeds, downsizing, and other questions that may arise before or during a Murrieta home sale.

Laura Holbert consults with an older couple at a table with seller guides and a laptop

Home Valuation Request

Curious about your home's current market position? Laura & Cheryl can prepare a complimentary, no-obligation Comparative Market Analysis that considers relevant recent sales, current competition, property condition, neighborhood characteristics, and other property-specific factors.

Pre-Sale Home Preparation

A property-specific guide to deciding what may be worth cleaning, repairing, preparing, improving, staging, or leaving alone before listing. Laura & Cheryl help sellers prioritize based on the property, current competition, budget, timeline, and estimated net proceeds.

California Seller Disclosures

California residential sellers may have statutory and other disclosure obligations involving property conditions and material facts. This guide provides a general overview of common disclosure documents and the seller disclosure process. Legal or property-specific disclosure questions may require advice from an appropriate qualified professional.

Capital Gains Tax Guide

Homeowners who sell a main residence may qualify to exclude up to $250,000 of gain from federal income, or up to $500,000 in many qualifying joint-return situations, if applicable IRS eligibility requirements are met. Ownership, use, prior exclusions, marital status, rental or business use, depreciation, and other circumstances can affect the result. Consult a qualified tax professional about your individual situation.

Proposition 19 Tax Guide

Proposition 19 may allow certain eligible homeowners, including qualifying homeowners age 55 or older, severely and permanently disabled homeowners, and qualifying wildfire or natural-disaster victims, to transfer an eligible base-year value to a replacement principal residence anywhere in California, subject to applicable requirements. Eligibility, timing, value calculations, filing requirements, and the resulting taxable value should be confirmed with the appropriate county assessor.

Understanding Net Proceeds

Laura & Cheryl can prepare an estimated seller net sheet using the anticipated sale price, known or estimated transaction expenses, mortgage payoff information, credits, and other applicable assumptions. The net sheet is an estimate and can change as the transaction terms and final charges become known.

Downsizing Self-Assessment

Use our 20-question self-assessment to think through space, maintenance, finances, timing, lifestyle priorities, and whether exploring a smaller or different property may be worth considering.

General Information Disclaimer

These resources are provided for general real estate education and convenience. They are not legal, tax, lending, credit, accounting, insurance, or financial advice. Program requirements, laws, tax rules, loan limits, financing terms, and governmental information can change. Verify current information with the appropriate official source or qualified professional.

Last reviewed and updated: September 2026

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