Claudia Torrijos Realtor

09/04/2026

Paying off a mortgage early isn’t always the smartest move. A low‑rate mortgage around 3% is cheap debt, costing about $1,750 in monthly interest on a $700,000 balance. Compare that to a small $7,000 balance at 20–24%, which burns roughly $140 every month. Dollar‑for‑dollar, high‑interest debt is eight times more expensive, draining cash far faster than a huge low‑rate mortgage. That’s why eliminating high‑interest balances first protects your liquidity, strengthens financial flexibility, and delivers a far better return than paying off cheap mortgage debt early

08/21/2026

Some interesting Q and A about HOA topics...

Question : We have an owner who has not paid an assessment for several years. The property is being used as rental property. Answer : Your board needs to a...

08/17/2026

The Hidden Home Maintenance Problems That Are Easy to Miss Until They Get Expensive https://realtytimes.com/new-headlines/the-hidden-home-maintenance-problems-that-are-easy-to-miss-until-they-get-expensive

08/17/2026

Is a condo you are buying or selling eligible for FHA financing? Not all of them are... Find out here: https://entp.hud.gov/idapp/html/condlook.cfm

08/16/2026

There were an estimated 51.3% more home sellers than buyers in the U.S. housing market in July, just shy of December's peak of 51.8% and up from 47.9% the month before. That's according to a new report from Redfin, the real estate brokerage powered by Rocket.

Miami, Nashville and several parts of Texas are the nation's strongest buyer's markets, where sellers outnumber buyers by the widest margins.

08/10/2026

Does your Castle Await?
As a longtime Los Angeles County realtor, I’ve lived through the true bottom of the market — and what we’re experiencing today doesn’t come close. Here are four reasons why this isn’t the worst market of all time:

• Stronger Lending Environment: Buyers are qualifying under far healthier standards than the crash era, keeping the market stable.
• Limited Inventory: Low supply continues to support home values, unlike the flood of listings during the 2008–2011 downturn.
• Consistent Demand: People still want to live in LA, and demand across price points remains steady.
• High Equity Levels: Homeowners aren’t underwater, preventing the wave of distressed sales that defined the true bottom.

This market has challenges, but it’s far more resilient than the worst years we’ve seen.

08/07/2026

In one graph, this is why home prices will NOT come tumbling down any time soon. Supply and demand will remain far out of balance for years. That said, if you can manage the payments, it WILL pay off to buy. Even now. Let's talk.

08/06/2026

Did You Know?

08/05/2026

An FHA 203(k) loan is one of the few financing tools that actually fits today’s tight, low‑inventory housing market. It lets buyers roll the purchase price and renovation costs into a single mortgage, which means homes that look outdated, neglected, or overpriced because of needed repairs suddenly become viable options. The required 3.5% down payment keeps entry costs low, and the program’s more flexible credit standards help buyers who might struggle with conventional underwriting. In a market where turnkey homes are expensive and competitive, a 203(k) loan gives buyers room to create value—upgrading kitchens, fixing structural issues, or modernizing older properties while building equity from day one. It’s a strategic way to expand choices and control costs.

08/05/2026