Central Coast Real Estate Archives - Real Estate With Stephanie

October 20, 2026

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Central Coast Real Estate

Rate Buydown vs. Price Cut: Selling in Santa Maria & Orcutt

At 7.4% rates, a seller-paid rate buydown can cut a Santa Maria or Orcutt buyer's payment 2–3x more than the same-dollar price cut. Here's the math.

September 20, 2026

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Central Coast Real Estate

Cost to Sell a Home in Santa Maria & Orcutt (2026)

Selling in Santa Maria or Orcutt usually costs 5.5–8% of the sale price, including commissions, escrow, title, and the $1.10/$1,000 county transfer tax.

August 20, 2026

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Central Coast Real Estate

Give Up Your 3% Mortgage to Move in Orcutt? Run the Math

Moving up from a 3% to a 7.4% mortgage can add $2,500+ a month, but downsizing in Orcutt or Santa Maria can keep your payment flat. Here's the math.

July 20, 2026

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Central Coast Real Estate

Buy Before You Sell in Orcutt? Your 5 Options in 2026

You can buy your next Orcutt or Santa Maria home before selling. Compare contingent offers, bridge loans, HELOCs, and rent-backs, with real costs.

June 20, 2026

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Central Coast Real Estate

Prop 19 in Santa Barbara County: Keep Your Tax Base at 55+

Homeowners 55+ in Orcutt and Santa Maria can move their property tax base to a new California home up to 3 times under Prop 19. Here's how and what it saves.

March 8, 2025

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Time To Return To Office? Moving May Be In Your Future

Time To Return To Office? Moving May Be In Your Future It’s no secret that remote work has surged over the last few years. And that flexibility gave a lot […]

August 9, 2024

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Mortgage Rates Down from Recent High

Mortgage Rates Down a Full Percent from Recent High Mortgage rates have been one of the hottest topics in the housing market lately because of their impact on affordability. And if you’re someone […]

March 20, 2024

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Homeowners Today Have Options To Avoid Foreclosure

Homeowners Today Have Options To Avoid Foreclosure Even with the latest data coming in, the experts agree there’s no chance of a large-scale foreclosure crisis like the one we saw back in […]

March 13, 2024

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What Mortgage Rate Do You Need To Move?

What Mortgage Rate Do You Need To Move? If you’ve been thinking about buying a home, mortgage rates are probably top of mind for you. They may even be why you’ve […]