Your Real Estate Connection Georgina Patterson

06/09/2026

Thinking about selling your home?

One important thing to understand is the capital gains exclusion for a primary residence. In simple terms, this may allow you to exclude up to $250,000 of gain if you are single, or up to $500,000 if you are married filing jointly.

The basic rule: you generally need to have lived in the home for at least 2 out of the last 5 years before selling.

This can make a big difference, especially for homeowners in Marin County and throughout California where property values have grown over time.

Read the full blog to learn the basics in simple terms. https://www.georginathehomefinder.com/post/can-you-explain-the-capital-gains-exclusion-for-a-primary-residence-in-simple-terms

06/02/2026

🏡 Most buyers think the hard part ends at closing. In reality? That’s when smart homeownership in California really begins.

The first 30 days after getting your keys can either protect your investment... or cost you thousands later.

Here’s what every new California homeowner should do after closing: 👇

✔️ Apply for your California homestead exemption to potentially lower your property taxes
✔️ Set up bi-weekly mortgage payments to reduce long-term interest
✔️ Shop your homeowners insurance yearly — especially in the Atlanta market
✔️ Change locks, garage codes & security settings immediately
✔️ Save and print your inspection report — it’s your home maintenance roadmap
✔️ Install fresh HVAC filters to protect your system and improve efficiency
✔️ Locate water, gas & electrical shut-offs before an emergency happens

Buying the home is step one.

Protecting your investment is step two. 🔑

💬 COMMENT “GUIDE” and I’ll send you my California Homebuyer Guide with tips for before, during, and after closing.

05/29/2026

Sausalito, CA offers a rare waterfront rhythm: marina views, hillside homes, and easy access to San Francisco.

On the blog, I’m sharing a closer look at what makes this Marin County city so compelling for buyers who value location, views, and long-term value.

Read the latest blog: https://www.georginathehomefinder.com/post/sausalito-california

05/28/2026

Some mistakes you can fix in a weekend. These stay on your balance sheet for a decade.

➡️ The house in the wrong location. Busy road behind the fence, commercial lot next door, neighbor’s yard that looks like a salvage yard. You cannot renovate your way out of a bad location. Ever. This is the one that quietly destroys resale value and there is no repair estimate for it because no check fixes it.

Buy this house and it follows you to your next sale.

➡️ The house with foundation red flags. Cracks wider than 1/4 inch, stair-step cracks in brick, or ground that slopes toward the house instead of away from it. Repairs run $10,000 to $50,000+. And that is before you find out what the water intrusion did to everything above it.

➡️ The house where someone did their own work. Uneven drywall, sloppy trim, square footage that does not match county records. Unpermitted additions.

That work becomes your liability the second you close. Insurance problems, appraisal problems, resale problems. All yours now.

➡️ The house that smells wrong. Not old. Not dusty. Musty. That smell means mold is present somewhere. It does not go away with candles or a coat of Kilz.

Remediation runs $5,000 to $30,000 depending on how far it spread inside the walls and crawlspace.

➡️ The house with a roof that is older than it looks. Moss buildup, flat texture, mismatched patches on one section. A roof with 3 to 5 years left is $15,000 to $30,000+ sitting right behind the asking price. Sellers know. They are counting on you not to ask the right questions.

Three or more of these together and you are not buying a home. You are buying a project that will cost you money, time, and sleep for the next 10 to 15 years.

Comment YES for a free Home Buyer’s Checklist so you know exactly what to look for at your next open house.

05/27/2026

Selling a highly appreciated home in California can bring important tax questions, especially for long-term homeowners in Marin County and the Bay Area.

In this blog, we cover capital gains, cost basis, primary residence exclusions, improvements vs. repairs, and why organized records matter before selling.

Read the full blog here: https://www.georginathehomefinder.com/post/homeownership-and-tax-benefits-a-10-part-blog-series-2

DM me to talk through what this could look like for you.

05/26/2026

Property taxes are one of the most important costs to understand when buying a home in California, especially in higher-value areas like Marin County.

In this blog, we cover assessed values, Proposition 13, reassessments, and why property taxes matter when planning for long-term homeownership.

Read the full blog here: https://www.georginaandthehomefinder.com/post/homeownership-and-tax-benefits-a-10-part-blog-series-1

DM me to talk through what this could look like for you.

05/15/2026

BLOG #2 — Mortgage Interest Deductions

Many homeowners misunderstand how mortgage interest deductions actually work.

One of the biggest misconceptions?

You cannot deduct your entire mortgage payment.

Typically, only the qualifying interest portion may be deductible, not the principal.

Another common misunderstanding is assuming deductions create dollar-for-dollar refunds. In reality, deductions reduce taxable income, and the actual savings depend on your financial situation and tax bracket.

For homeowners in Marin County and the San Francisco Bay Area, understanding these details can make a meaningful difference when deciding whether renting or buying makes more sense long term.

In this newest blog, we cover:
• Mortgage interest deductions
• Common misconceptions
• Loan qualification limits
• Why these deductions matter in California

Read the newest blog here: https://www.georginathehomefinder.com/post/homeownership-and-tax-benefits-a-10-part-blog-series

DM me to discover whether buying or renting makes more sense for you.

12/31/2025

12/25/2025

This beautiful hand-painted Christmas card was gifted to me by a friend who has become a client.
Helping her sell her home was an honor, and moments like this mean so much to me.