Do You Have to Pay Capital Gains Tax When You Sell Your House in Downey, CA? (2026 Guide)

Short answer: probably not, if it's your primary home. Most Downey homeowners who sell their primary residence in 2026 owe zero capital gains tax, thanks to a federal exclusion of up to $250,000 in profit for single filers and $500,000 for married couples filing jointly. But "probably not" isn't the

Do I Need a Real Estate Agent to Buy a Home in Downey?

Do I Need a Real Estate Agent to Buy a Home in Downey? You're not legally required to have one, but in almost every case it doesn't cost you anything extra as a buyer, since the seller typically covers both agents' commissions. That's the part most first-time buyers don't realize until they're alrea

What's a Good Faith Deposit (Earnest Money) in California?

What's a Good Faith Deposit (Earnest Money) in California? A good faith deposit, also called earnest money, is the amount you put down to show you're serious about a purchase once your offer is accepted. In California, it's typically 1-3% of the purchase price and gets held in escrow, then applied t