Kyle Van B Realty

02/20/2026

The following is a message from the California Department of Real Estate dated February 20, 2026:

DRE Urges California Seniors Watch for Targeted Real Estate and Property Scams

Sacramento, Calif. – The California Department of Real Estate (DRE) encourages seniors to be aware of real estate and mortgage fraud targeting older adults. Scammers increasingly target seniors with real estate and mortgage-related deception, exploiting their trust and financial vulnerability.

The following tips aim to help Californians safeguard themselves before harm is done, as well as how to report this type of fraud.

Fraud Avoidance Tips:

1. Be vigilant, diligent, and suspicious, and proceed very cautiously, when contacted by strangers.

2. Use only licensed professionals when engaging the services of people or companies offering rental, home loan, foreclosure rescue, or other real estate services on your behalf. Check licensing at dre.ca.gov and dfpi.ca.gov.

3. Never pay in cash, or wire cash to anyone, in connection with real estate transactions; Also, be certain to protect your personal information, such as social security number, so scammers cannot steal your identity.

4. Never pay anyone for home loans or foreclosure relief services in advance of successfully completing the work you wanted them to do for you.

5. Never sign an agreement for a real estate transaction (including a Rental) or a home loan that you cannot afford.

6. Never sign a real estate (including Rental) or home loan agreement that you do not understand or have not read, or which contains blank spaces.

7. Anyone (including scammers without an appropriate or legitimate California license) can advertise on television or radio, in newspapers, magazines or on the Internet.

8. Just because someone looks professional, sounds like an expert, and/or gives you confidence in their real estate knowledge, does not mean that you can or should trust them.

9. Never transfer or sign your home over to any 3rd party or anyone else who claims that such a transfer can or will help you repair your credit or keep you in your home. Also, never sign a “power of attorney” giving rights to your property or money to any individual – or any company – you do not personally know and trust.

10. Monitor and periodically check the title to your real estate holdings, just like you check your credit reports; and act immediately if you detect fraud.

11. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is!


Current Types of Real Estate Fraud:

1. Foreclosure Rescue Schemes:
Scammers promise to save a homeowner’s property from foreclosure in exchange for fees or title transfer. Victims often lose both their homes and money when no real help is provided.


2. Unlicensed Prepaid Rental Listing Services Fraud:
Scammers offer rental property lists for a fee without proper licensing. Victims often pay upfront but receive outdated or nonexistent listings, leaving them without a rental and no recourse.


3. Timeshare Resale & Rental Schemes:
Fraudsters promise to sell or rent timeshares for a fee but either fail to deliver, exaggerate property value, or sell nonexistent interests, exploiting owners’ desire to liquidate or monetize their timeshare.


4. Online Rental Fraud:
Scammers advertise fake rental properties online, often requesting deposits or personal information before disappearing, targeting people searching for homes or vacation rentals.


5. Unlicensed Property Managers:
Individuals manage rental properties without the necessary real estate license, potentially leading to mismanagement, legal issues, or financial loss for property owners and tenants.


6. Real Property Recordation Fraud
Fraudsters forge or falsify deeds and record them against properties without the owner's consent, potentially leading to disputes over property ownership.


7. Real Property Investment Schemes
Scammers promote high-return real estate investments that are either nonexistent or misrepresented, leading to financial losses for investors.


8. Reverse Mortgage Scams:
Fraudulent schemes target seniors, offering reverse mortgages with misleading terms or fees, potentially leading to loss of home equity or foreclosure.


9. Vacant Land Scams
Scammers or bad actors posing as owners of vacant land and contact real estate agents for their assistance to sell a property they do not own.

How Consumers Can Report Suspected Fraud:


If you believe you have been a victim of a mortgage crime or have a concern or complaint about a real estate salesperson or broker, you can file a complaint with DRE: https://dre.ca.gov/Consumers/FileComplaint.html

###

The Department of Real Estate is the regulatory agency that enforces the Real Estate Law, Subdivided Lands Law, and Vacation Ownership and Timeshare Act. DRE oversees the licensure of approximately 434,000 licensees. The Department’s mission is to safeguard and promote the public interests in real estate matters through licensure, regulation, education, and enforcement. Consumer protection is its highest priority.

For more information, visit: www.dre.ca.gov.

This is the home page of the California Department of Real Estate (DRE)

10/10/2025

Have you noticed ripple effects moving through the economy this year? Changes in the market place affect me, too. I have just moved my book of business to better serve your California Real Estate needs.

This is the most useful real estate website in the area, with advanced search technologies that allow you to view listings in the MLS, or to ensure your own home is sold in reasonable time and for top dollar.

05/26/2025

Tip: Squash Flowers But No Squash?

Gardeners often become concerned when there are early flowers but they don't make fruits. All of the early flowers are males (except in hybrid varieties) and female flowers follow shortly.

Both male and female flowers develop on the same plant. During the main growing season the ratio of
male-female flowers is usually 3:1.

The female flower has a miniature fruit at the base and is on a short stem whereas the male is on a longer stem. Pollen must be transferred to the female flowers from the male flowers for fruit to develop and this is mainly done by squash bees.

But what is happening when the fruit begins to grow, then dries or rots? This is due to not
enough pollen grains delivered to the female flower.

There's a couple of things you can do:
hand pollinate... or attract more squash bees to your garden.

Squash bees pollinate plants in the Cucurbita genus exclusively and are active early in the mornings when the squash flowers are open.

They are solitary bees and make nests in bare ground, often right under the plants they are pollinating. Providing soft soil that is easy for them to excavate in is best. If you are short on garden space, or don’t want a messy empty corner, consider pathways made from pavers with soil between them.

Also, avoid all use of pesticides because that can kill them. Planting your cucurbits (squash, zucchini, gourds) in the same place every year may help too.

More info about hand pollinating:
https://www.seedsavers.org/site/pdf/squash-hp.pdf

Photo: UCANR

12/24/2024

Looking forward to this biopic! 😎

10/02/2024

Yeah Kyle! 💥 ⚾️ 👏 🤎

09/03/2024

07/30/2024

Being a Buyer in a Seller’s market can be frustrating. You may feel like you are seeking a needle in a haystack.

So it’s important, not just to have your down payment and loan approval in order, but also your hierarchy of needs, with regards not just to you as an individual, but to the family as a whole.

So when you find the property, that seemingly checks all the boxes, you are not walking away in search of a perfection that may or may not exist.

There is an opportunity cost of the current market. The home you eschew now at $640k could easily reach $700k when demand increases due to falling rates. The perceived loss of spending $50 or 60 grand to get it right with real time and labor could be offset by a surge in equity.

This summer (2024) has seen a softening of Seller advantages, due to sustained high rates over the last year. But as the Fed lowers these rates, NAR has reported an estimated 5-10 Million potential buyers waiting in the wings, without an indication of any supply increase prepared to meet their demand or expectations of falling prices.

As a Homeowner, do you remember a time when you missed a great opportunity because you were not willing to pay a little more, or sacrifice additional time and money to enhancing a purchase to meet your lifestyle requirements?

04/04/2024

Setting new records is possible when you have a great team! 😃

Love 🥰 my SELLERS, my Designer 😉, my Trades, my Crews, 💪 our Escrow, 👏 the Buyers’ Agent(s) 👏, and of course, the BUYERS who are STOKED!!! 🔥 🙌 😆

This property sold for $1,075,000, beating 🏆 the neighborhood record 💰 by $65k. ✅ Please let me know how I can help YOU (or someone you know) achieve your 2024 Real Estate Goals.

Serving North County San Diego 🌊 🏘️ since 2010. 🤙🏽

Beautiful contemporary 2415 sq ft 4 bedroom PLUS den (or possible 5th bedroom) 2.75 bath Single Family Residence on .13 acres overlooking open space, rolling hills, and eucalyptus grove, located conveniently between Ivey Ranch Elementary and MLK Middle School, in Ivey Glenn, a jewel of Ivey Ranch. R...