Alexis Estevez, Realtor

No. 4: Don't move debt around!

6 Small and Easy Steps to Improve Your Credit Score The best way to improve your credit score is simple, but not always that easy: Reduce your debt. Pay...

For a relatively low cost, a home warranty can make buying a home a lot less worrisome.

The Pros of Buying a Home Warranty For $600 or so a year, plus a service fee of around $75 every time you ask for repair, a home warran...

Want to lift your spirits and feel yourself relax? Try these eight tricks to make your bathroom feel like a spa.

Transforming Your Bath Into a Spa A long soak in a bubble-filled tub can feel like heaven after a hard day at work—and soaking in a ba...

State-sponsored 529 accounts are a tax-free way to pay for a child's college education.

Getting the Most Out of Your Child's 529 Plan to Pay for College State-sponsored 529 accounts are a tax-free way to pay for a child’s college education. Opening an i...

There is an art to communication. Hone your listening skills with these tips.

3 Tips to Improve Your Listening Skills Are you having trouble communicating with your partner, friends or colleagues? Do you forget what yo...

Here are some tips for letting more light into your home. Which room are you looking forward to brightening up?

Add Some Light and Life to Your Rooms Want to brighten up a room but don’t have the time to paint or the budget to add a window? Con...

If you don't have gap insurance for your car, you may get caught short in an accident. Make sure you understand your coverage by knowing these terms.

Deciphering Auto Insurance Jargon From buying auto insurance to filing a claim, figuring out the language of auto insurance can be dif...

Having trouble hitting your hydration marks? These tips might help.

Tips to Keep You Hydrated While we all know water is essential for our health, not all of us enjoy chugging those recommended ...

Are you aware of the benefits your credit card offers?

Best Ways to Use Credit Card Concierge Somewhere on your credit card statement—or maybe even on the back of the card—is contact information...

Automatic transfers are just the start to effortless saving tricks.

5 Ways to Trick Yourself Into Saving Money The savings rate in America is pretty abysmal. Fifty-seven percent of Americans have less than $1,00...

Low credit shouldn't stop you from getting a second mortgage to pay off debt or make home repairs. What home project would you use the money for?

Refi Options for Those With Low Credit Scores If you want to get a second mortgage so you can make renovations to your home, it can be difficult i...

Federal laws are meant to protect student loan borrowers. Here are some ways to make sure problems with your lender don't become burdensome.

Solving Student Loan Challenges When it comes to student loans, dealing with the lender can be more difficult than repaying the loan...

No. 1: Know your billing cycle start date.

How to Earn Credit Card Grace-Period Perks If you pay your credit card bill in full each month and don’t pay interest, you’re using your credit...

They add up! Avoid bank fees, like ATM charges, with these tips.

How to Avoid Bank Fees The average bank fee for overdraft protection is $33. Make the mistake of not having enough money in...

Looking to change the mood of the day? A little creativity can go a long way.

3 Ways to Add Creativity to Your Day Creative-types can feel stalled if they don’t have a frequent creative release. But with work ...

Try these simple organizational hacks to make your life a little easier.

5 Easy Organizational Tips Do you feel like you’re constantly battling clutter around the house? You’re not alone, ...

Looking to invest? Here's what you need to know.

Growth vs. Value Investing: Know the Differences Your investing style and tolerance for risk can help determine what type of stock mutual funds you i...

How often do you use a debit card? To avoid identity theft, start using it less.

Debit Cards: Why You Should Proceed With Caution A debit card can be your worst enemy when it comes to identity fraud. Credit and debit card fraud to...

Worried about your eyesight? There's a few things you can do.

How to Support Better Vision For desk jockeys, or anyone who spends long hours staring at a screen, it’s important to pay m...

Old stone fireplace? Keep it safe and looking lovely with a quick, easy facelift.

Maintaining the Beauty of Your Natural Stone Fireplace In your home or in your vacation cabin, a handsome stone hearth is often the gathering place for com...

Do you usually skip the fine print on credit card offers? Here's why that's a bad idea.

Understanding Credit Card Offers: Are You Reading the Fine Print? The fine print at the end of a credit card offer letter can tell a consumer a lot more about how goo...

Add a sense of serenity to your home with these soothing shades.

5 Peaceful Paint Colors If you plan to repaint your interiors this year, don’t forget to pick a hue that will positive...

Do you pay your credit card bill in full each month? If not, you could be throwing away cash-back bonuses.

Cash-Back Credit Card Mistakes to Avoid A cash-back credit card can result in 5 percent or more back on your purchases, essentially giving y...

A credit score takes time to build, so starting young is important. College students can start by paying their student loans on time.

Managing Credit Responsibly as a College Student Building good credit in college is one of the best financial moves students can make. Having good cr...

Shopping for homeowners insurance? Here's what you need to know.

How to Lower Your Homeowners Insurance You’ve probably seen thousands of ads for Geico or Aflac on television talking about the latest savi...

Establish goals and habits now to prepare.

5 Financial Tips for First-Time Parents So a babe is on the way? Congrats! Along with the chaos of, well, everything that is to come, your f...

Do your walls need a little freshening up? Here's what you can do.

How to Clean Painted Walls Did your toddler scribble on the walls? Or perhaps a year or two of wear and tear have your interior...

🏡✨ California Housing Market Update ✨🏡

As we step into 2024, the Golden State's housing landscape presents a mix of challenges and optimism. Despite housing affordability hitting a 16-year low in Q4 2023, with a median home requiring an annual income of $222,800, there's a silver lining on the horizon. 📉💸

Interest rates, peaking at a 23-year high of 7.39%, are expected to decline, sparking positive vibes among potential buyers. 📉❤️ February's preliminary data shows a gentle uptick in sales and listings, hinting at a brighter start to the year. 🌟🏠

Moreover, the Home Purchase Sentiment Index has soared to its highest since March 2022, driven by growing consumer confidence and expectations of falling mortgage rates. 📈🔍

Business leaders share this optimism, with CEO confidence rebounding as they eye economic improvements and potential benefits from reduced inflation and Fed rate cuts. 🏢💼

While short-term inflation expectations stabilize, construction spending is on the rise, promising more residential projects to ease the tight housing supply. 🚧🏗️

Stay tuned as we navigate through these evolving market conditions. Will 2024 be the year of recovery and growth in California's real estate? Only time will tell. 🕰️🔮

Here are some ways to ensure your children keep their credit history secure

Keeping Your Child's Credit History Clean If your child has a Social Security number, they can become a victim of identity theft. With a clean...

📈 Exciting news! Fed keeps rates steady, but job market boost sends mortgage rates up! 🌟 Spring homebuying season is heating up with rising purchase applications and pending sales. 💼💳 Stay optimistic as we navigate economic shifts! 💪🏠