Brentwood allows an ADU of up to 1,000 square feet on a single-family lot, and the city must act on a complete application within 60 days. With preapproved plans that drops to 30. Those two numbers settle most of what people want to know before they start pricing a build.

Spring is traditionally the busiest selling season in the East Bay, with the most buyers, but more competing listings too, while fall and winter bring fewer buyers and less competition, and honestly your personal timing and pricing often matter more than the month. Here is how to think about when …

Staging helps most homes show better, photograph well, and sell faster, but a lighter, minimal-prep approach can make sense in a hot market, on a tight timeline, or for homes headed to buyers who plan to renovate. Whether to invest in staging is one of the first questions sellers …

When you sell a California home for more than you paid, you may owe capital gains tax, though a primary-residence exclusion can shelter much or all of the gain for many homeowners. This is general information, not tax advice, and every situation is different, so a tax professional is essential. …

Brentwood sellers have one piece of good news most never hear: there is no city transfer tax here. Contra Costa charges a countywide documentary transfer tax of $0.55 per $500 of value, and in this county only El Cerrito and Richmond add a city tax on top. Brentwood does …

Whether to sell before you buy or buy first depends on your finances, the market, and your tolerance for risk, selling first gives you certainty and a stronger budget, while buying first lets you move once but means carrying two homes for a time. This is one of the …

Brentwood splits almost exactly down the middle on homeowners associations. At the time of writing, the city's active listings are close to half with an HOA and half without. That is unusual. Most cities lean heavily one way, and it means the question here is not whether Brentwood is an …

Your net proceeds are what you actually walk away with after a sale, your sale price minus your remaining mortgage, selling costs, and prorations, and it is a far more useful number than the list price. Sellers often focus on the sale price, but the net is what matters to …

Choosing the right listing agent comes down to local market expertise, a real marketing plan, sound pricing strategy, strong communication, and a track record you can verify, not simply the lowest commission. The agent you pick has a direct effect on your final sale price and how smoothly it goes. …

The tax bill that catches new Brentwood owners is the one that never arrives. Contra Costa County mails the annual Secured bill once a year, by November 1. If you close after that mailing, no bill comes to you, and the county is explicit that not receiving one …