Hector My Realtor Blog Page

  If you’ve been paying attention to the news, you’ve seen it’s getting harder to secure California homeowners insurance. Farmers Insurance, the second most popular home insurance California provider, just announced their intentions to place a cap on new policies. This trails even stricter decisions by State Farm and Allstate to completely cease issuing homeowner’s policies in California. Even the California Earthquake Authority is getting in on the act, declaring a limitation on payouts for major quakes. Yet, there are still actions you can take if your California homeowners insurance coverage is disrupted.  Details of the Farmers Insurance Announcement Photo credit:  Envato Farmers Insurance clarified their intent to cap new home insurance California policies at 7,000 per month. While they originally had no cap, they’ve estimated this figure as the volume of new policies they can feasibly write while remaining profitable.  The cap went into effect on Monday, July 3...

  Meta launched “Threads” this week, a new app that rivals Twitter. We personally signed up for the Threads app so you don’t have to. Here’s what we found… The Basics A “Thread” is their version of a Tweet. 500 characters is the limit, per Thread. You cannot edit a Thread once it is up. There is no way to login on a desktop – you must download the app to your mobile device. Right now, there is no option for direct messages. There are absolutely no ads as of yet. Hashtags do not seem to be a thing on the app. Emojis, GIFs, and text are a go. You may download Threads via the app store or by scanning the QR code at  Threads.net . Threads vs. Twitter Much like Twitter, Threads is a mainly a short-form, text-based app, that also welcomes images, links, GIFs, and the like. The app is easy to navigate, easy to post on, and easy to understand. Unlike Twitter, they do not limit your consumption of the app. Since Elon Musk overtook Twitter as owner, many changes have shocked and enraged...

  Dining out is a major part of the quintessential Los Angeles experience. The convening of the city’s disparate cultures are mirrored in flavor combinations you won’t find anywhere else. You can discover culinary wonders to perk up palates from fine dining establishments to corner food trucks. But chasing that foodie fix is becoming more tough on the bank account. Now, a service fee restaurant patrons loathe is popping up more frequently on bills across the country. And a serious percentage of Los Angeles restaurants are jumping on the national trend. With a lack of communication as to where that service fees end up, patrons are walking away with a bad taste in their mouths.  Understanding the Service Fee Restaurant Owners Add to Your Bill Photo credit:  Envato So, what is a service fee? Well, for starters, it’s a short question with a long answer. At its most basic, a service fee offers a means for a business to collect payment for goods or services. Pretty vague, right...

  There is nothing quite like switching up the vibes in your home.  Decorating your home is a lot of fun but if you aren’t careful, you could end up breaking the bank.  No need to worry though, if you are willing to get creative and tap into those DIY skills, you can update your home inexpensively and still create the vibe you want.  Today we will be sharing a few tips for decorating your home without spending a small fortune. Use Wallpaper Photo Credit:  Envato Wallpaper is no longer just for grandma’s house.  Nowadays there are so many fun options to spruce it when decorating your home.  Wallpaper will immediately transform any room and is relatively easy to install.  Not only is it easy to get up, the take down is also pretty pain free.  It’s also nowhere near as messy and time-consuming as painting. You can order it online and spend a Saturday reinventing your favorite space. Hit Up Your Local Thrift Store Photo Credit:  Envato One o...

  A sustainable home is one that is built in a way that conserves resources, is energy efficient and water wise and one that reduces your carbon footprint. Creating a sustainable environment is on the top of everyone’s mind these days. Being aware of the best changes you can make and products you can buy that save energy and resources is so important when it comes to reducing waste and help the environment. Your home can be part of this movement as well. With a few small changes, you can create a more sustainable home. 1. Install High-Performance Windows Photo Credit:  Envato Elements Installing high-performance windows can cut energy usage, as windows account for 50% or more of lost energy. Replacing your home’s windows makes your home energy-efficient, reduces the noise level and protects your furniture from fading. New technologies out right now include double glazing, special coatings, nonconductive framing materials and higher-quality, air-tight construction. Installing e...