Los Angeles Real Estate Blog & Market Updates

Buying a home in the San Fernando Valley and Westside comes down to three things: getting genuinely ready before you start looking, finding an agent who treats your specific priorities as the plan rather than following a generic script, and having real support through every stage from the first showing to well after closing. Buyers who compromise on the right things, rather than waiting for a home that checks every box, tend to build equity faster and feel more confident alon

Major changes to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac condominium financing standards took effect on August 3, 2026, and another important reserve-funding change arrives January 4, 2027. For condo buyers and sellers throughout Los Angeles, including the San Fernando Valley and the Westside, that means an HOA’s reserves, deferred maintenance, special assessments, insurance and other building-level issues can affect whether a buyer is able to obtain the loan they planned to use.

The most important questions to ask a realtor before selling your home are how well they know your neighborhood, how they approach pricing, how they handle negotiations and offers, and how they will guide you through premarketing and preparation. In the San Fernando Valley and on the Westside right now, real local knowledge and pricing discipline separate a trustworthy advisor from someone reciting a quick AI search.

Busy Escrow Officer's desk Published on Monday, June 15, 2026 by Leegie Parker Leegie Parker | Real Estate Advisor | DRE 01020534 | Compass | Leegie.com Quick Answer In California real estate, escrow is the neutral third-party process that holds funds, documents, and instructions while a home sale moves from contract to closing. Unlike many states that use attorneys, California buyers and sellers rely on a licensed escrow company and a designated escrow officer to c