The Myth of “Grandfathered”

“Don’t worry, it’s grandfathered.” It is one of the most reassuring phrases in real estate. Buyers hear it when a home has a nonconforming feature, an addition that doesn’t match current codes, or a structure built under older regulations. The implication is simple: whatever exists today is protecte

Design Review Isn’t About Taste: How Architecture Boards Evaluate Homes

Many buyers assume that if they own a home, they can redesign it however they like. Throughout much of the Monterey Peninsula, however, that assumption runs into a powerful layer of oversight: architectural review. Before significant exterior changes can be approved, many projects must pass through

Homes Without Sewers: All About Septic Systems

Outside of denser neighborhoods, a significant number of properties rely on septic systems to manage wastewater. These systems operate underground and, when functioning properly, most homeowners rarely think about them. But when buying a property, understanding how a septic system works and what con