Resources
Free tools, step-by-step guides and the official local links buyers, sellers and homeowners actually need, gathered in one place by the Alonso Real Estate Group.
Free tools
No sign-up for the calculator, condo lookup or new construction map.
For buyers
Five steps from budget to keys, with the tool or guide for each one.
Know your real budget before you tour, so sellers take your offer seriously.
California property taxes start at 1% of the price plus local bonds and assessments, and many newer Santa Clarita neighborhoods add Mello-Roos. Add HOA dues and insurance before you set a price range.
Search the MLS, compare neighborhoods, and check a condo before you fall for it: an FHA or VA buyer needs an approved project.
Search all homes FHA & VA Condo Lookup New construction Neighborhood guides
Your agent writes the offer and its contingencies; escrow holds the deposit while inspections, appraisal and the loan come together.
Do the final walkthrough, sign, get your keys. Then file your Homeowners' Exemption and watch for the supplemental tax bill.
Final walkthrough checklist Owning a home: taxes, permits, utilities
For sellers
Price from real closings, prepare the house, and know your costs before you list.
For homeowners
Taxes, exemptions, insurance, permits and utilities, with links straight to the official source.
Installments are due November 1 and February 1, and become late after December 10 and April 10. After you buy, expect a separate supplemental bill within about 3 to 12 months; it is usually not paid through your loan's impound account.
Live in the home you own? The exemption takes $7,000 off your assessed value, about $70 a year, and you only file once.
Homeowners 55 and older, or severely disabled, can carry their property tax base to a replacement home anywhere in California, up to three times. Inherited homes follow new rules too.
If carriers turn your home down, the California FAIR Plan is the insurer of last resort. The Department of Insurance helps you compare companies and file complaints.
California FAIR Plan CA Department of Insurance Wildfire coverage, explained
Who issues your permit depends on where you live: the City of Santa Clarita for Valencia, Saugus, Newhall and Canyon Country; LA County Public Works for unincorporated areas like Stevenson Ranch and Castaic; and LA Building & Safety for San Fernando Valley neighborhoods in the City of Los Angeles.
City of Santa Clarita LA County Public Works LA Building & Safety
SCV Water, Southern California Edison and SoCalGas serve most of the Santa Clarita Valley. In City of Los Angeles neighborhoods, LADWP provides water and power.
Check any address for fire hazard severity zones and earthquake fault zones before you buy or renovate.
Seasonal maintenance, how long appliances last, and which repairs to leave to a pro.
Annual maintenance checklist Appliance life expectancy Repairs for the pros
Neighborhoods
Homes, schools, commutes and lifestyle for the twelve communities we know best.
FAQ
Yes. The payment calculator, the FHA & VA condo lookup and the new construction map work without signing up. The home value estimate and saved home searches ask for your contact details so we can send you results.
Use our FHA & VA Condo Lookup. Search by building name, street, city or ZIP to see a project's FHA approval and VA status on a map, drawn from the HUD and VA lists.
When you buy a home in Los Angeles County, the Assessor reassesses it at the purchase price and sends a separate bill for the difference between the new value and the seller's old value. It usually arrives 3 to 12 months after you buy and is usually not paid by your lender's impound account, so set money aside for it.
If you live in the home, file the Homeowners' Exemption once to take $7,000 off your assessed value. If your home's market value drops below its assessed value, you can ask the Assessor for a decline-in-value review. Owners 55 and older can use Prop 19 to carry their tax base to a new home.
Most structural, electrical, plumbing and many outdoor projects need one. Which office issues it depends on where you live: the City of Santa Clarita, LA County Public Works for unincorporated areas, or LA Building & Safety in the City of Los Angeles. Work done without permits can complicate a future sale, so check first.
Yes. CalHFA offers first mortgages and down payment assistance for eligible first-time buyers through approved lenders, and some cities and counties run their own programs. A lender can tell you what you qualify for; we can introduce you to local lenders who use them.
Yes. We run virtual home buying and virtual home selling with video tours, electronic signatures and remote closings.
Ask us. We answer real estate questions for free, whether you are buying, selling or just curious.
Links to government and other outside sites are provided for convenience. Rules, dates and programs change; confirm details with the agency or your lender. Alonso Real Estate Group is a brokerage, not a lender or tax advisor.
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