Real Estate Tips & Guides

Real estate is full of moments where a little knowledge changes everything. These guides come straight from our work with buyers and sellers across San Francisco and Marin — real lessons from real deals. Browse by topic below, and reach out anytime you have a question.

Buying a Home

Everything from reading a listing to navigating disclosures, financing, and tricky deals.

• Why your buyer’s agent matters
• What “active,” “pending,” and “contingent” really mean
• Foundation retrofits and the disclosure package
• HOA documents and special assessments
• The Land That Wasn’t: due diligence at auction
• What is a simultaneous close?
• City-backed loans, explained
• Buying a tenant-occupied home in San Francisco

Selling a Home

How to time it, price it, and prepare it so your home sells for what it’s worth.

• When is the best time to sell your house?
• Should you buy or sell during the winter holidays?
• Pricing your home against new construction
• Should you renovate before selling?
• What’s included when you buy a house? Fixtures vs. personal property

Owning Your Home: Taxes, Insurance & Upkeep

Protecting your biggest asset — from property taxes and insurance to staying ahead of maintenance.

• Prop 19: keep your low property tax after 55
• What happens if you fall behind on California property taxes
• California home insurance: what buyers and sellers need to know
• Home maintenance and insurance claims

About Primavera Realty

Who we are and how we work — a family-run, client-first brokerage.

• The Primavera Realty story: why we went independent
• Why we built a relationship-first brokerage
• Your realtor beyond the sale

Have a question we haven’t covered?

Whether you’re buying, selling, or just trying to understand the Bay Area market, we’re always glad to help. Call (415) 407-5324, get a free home valuation, or run the numbers with our mortgage calculator. — Beatrice Kopilenko, REALTOR® · DRE #01970797