Buying a home isn’t just about the price and mortgage — it’s also about understanding what you’ll pay each year in property taxes (and sometimes, Mello-Roos). 🏠 Property Taxes 101 In California, property taxes are typically about 1% of your home’s assessed value, plus any local voter-approved bonds or special assessments. - Your assessed value is based on your purchase price when you buy. - Under Prop 13, that value can only increase by a maximum of 2% per year, protecting you from big tax jumps. - When you sell, the next owner’s taxes reset based on their purchase price, not yours. ✅ Example: If you buy a home for $1,000,000, your annual property tax will likely be around $10,000–$12,000 per year (depending on local add-ons). 🏗️ What Is Mello-Roos? Mello-Roos is an additional tax assessment found in some newer communities. It helps fund infrastructure and public facilities like: - New schools 🏫 - Roads and sidewalks 🛣️ - Parks and fire stations 🌳🚒 You’ll usually see Mello-Roos in master-planned communities or recently developed areas — for example, parts of Eastvale, Rancho Mission Viejo, Irvine, and Yorba Linda. 📅 It’s charged annually with your property tax bill and often lasts 20–40 years, depending on the district’s bonds.💡 You can find the exact Mello-Roos amount in the Preliminary Title Report or the Property Tax Bill before you buy. 📊 Why It Matters When Buying Understanding property taxes and Mello-Roos helps you: - Accurately estimate your monthly payment and total housing cost - Compare communities fairly (some may have lower prices but higher Mello-Roos) - Avoid surprises at closing or after you move in 🧭 Pro Tip When I help clients evaluate homes, we always review the full tax breakdown before writing an offer — so you know exactly what you’re committing to. Curious what the taxes or Mello-Roos look like for a specific home?👉 Drop the address in the comments or DM me, and I’ll pull up the details for you.

Let’s debate this for a second: Side A (The Waiters):“I’ll just wait until interest rates drop, prices cool, or the market becomes less competitive. That way, I’ll get a better deal.” Side B (The Doers):“The perfect time is when the right home becomes available and I’m financially ready. If I wait for the market to line up perfectly, I risk missing out on years of equity growth, tax advantages, and simply living in a home I love.” Here’s the truth: The market never announces the “perfect time.” By the time headlines declare it, opportunities are already gone. - Rates can change daily. - Prices can adjust—but long-term, they trend upward. - The longer you wait, the more you may pay later. - So ask yourself—do you want to chase the idea of perfect timing, or start building the life you want now?