Samantha Forshpan Real Estate

05/23/2026

If you're house hunting, it's worth paying attention to what might be built nearby. Data centers can bring jobs and investment, but they can also raise questions about noise, water use, and power demand.

Data centers are becoming a bigger part of the real estate conversation as demand for AI and cloud computing keeps growing. They can support local economies and bring new investment, but they may also change how nearby neighborhoods are perceived. If you're buying, selling, or just keeping an eye on...

05/20/2026

Buyers may have slightly more room than they did a couple of years ago, but high prices and rates are still doing the math no favors.

California’s 2026 housing market is still expensive, still tight, and still very different depending on where you’re looking. The article points to modest sales growth, limited inventory, high mortgage rates, and affordability that remains tough for many households. It’s useful context for any...

05/19/2026

Buyers aren’t just dealing with high prices; they’re also facing mortgage costs that have moved much faster than incomes.

California home prices have mostly flattened since mid-2022, but affordability hasn’t improved much because borrowing costs are still so high. The LAO notes that a typical two-bedroom home payment was about $4,440 in March 2026, compared with about $2,700 to rent a similar place. That gap helps ex...

05/18/2026

More housing rules are shifting from local discretion toward statewide timelines, online permitting, density, and stronger enforcement.

05/17/2026

Despite second-home mortgage rates above 7%, some retirees see rental income potential strong enough to offset costs and build equity.

Average mortgage rates for second homes stand at about 7.03%, roughly 0.25% to 0.50% higher than primary residences. Still, retirees in high-demand areas are renting properties to cover mortgages, HOA dues, and management fees, sometimes generating extra profit. Experts stress treating the venture l...

05/15/2026

Los Angeles County is facing continued population decline and economic headwinds, while San Francisco is experiencing modest growth driven by a surge in AI-related tech investment.

New census data show San Francisco's population grew 0.62% in 2025, aided by an AI-driven tech boom and increased office leasing, while Los Angeles County's population fell 0.55%, losing about 54,000 people—the largest numeric drop in the U.S. LA's losses were fueled by a steep decline in net inte...

05/14/2026

Savvy homeowners pay attention to these hidden pitfalls long before putting up a “For Sale” sign. Knowing what hurts property resale value gives sellers a powerful edge and helps avoid costly surprises.

A home can look like a dream on paper and still scare off buyers the moment they step inside. Small quirks quickly turn into major deal-breakers when buyers compare multiple listings in a competitive market. Features that once felt trendy or personal can quietly slash your home’s resale value and ...

05/13/2026

Upscale improvements can certainly be worth the investment if executed with a sense of balance between design panache, functionality, and market sensibility.

Upscale improvements can certainly be worth the investment if executed with a sense of balance between design panache, functionality, and market sensibility. The most important factor to weigh before splurging is "adherence to the home's price range and location. If you over-improve — say, install...

05/12/2026

Hollywood starlet Angelina Jolie has put her legendary Los Angeles estate on the market for $29.9 million—nearly two years after confessing that she wanted to leave the U.S. for good and move abroad.

Jolie, 50, purchased the extraordinary dwelling, which was once home to iconic filmmaker Cecil B. DeMille, for $24.5 million in 2017, less than a year after she filed for divorce from fellow on-screen star Brad Pitt, and it has served as her primary residence ever since.

05/11/2026

A roof issue is easier to handle when it is caught early, especially with signs like missing shingles, gutter granules, water stains, or sagging areas.

Roofs take different kinds of punishment depending on where a home is located, from hail and heavy rain to snow, wind, sun, and falling branches. This article walks through common warning signs homeowners can spot from the ground, including cracked shingles, water stains, gutter granules, and dents....