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011: What’s Up With Real Estate in the San Francisco Bay Area?

Absolute Trust Talk

Release Date: 07/03/2018

160: Celebrity Probate Case Files: O.J. Simpson show art 160: Celebrity Probate Case Files: O.J. Simpson

Absolute Trust Talk

In this special Absolute Trust Talk episode, Kirsten Howe and associate attorney Jessica Colbert step into the captivating world of celebrity estates, taking a closer look at the probate of O.J. Simpson. Unlike traditional probates, where assets are distributed to heirs, O.J.'s estate paints a very different picture—one dominated by overwhelming debts, including a $117 million judgment. From the auctioning of memorabilia to an intriguing home equity dispute, this episode uncovers the complexities faced by executors in balancing creditors' claims and legal obligations. Whether you're a...

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159: Trustees' Checklist: Essential Notices You Can't Afford to Miss show art 159: Trustees' Checklist: Essential Notices You Can't Afford to Miss

Absolute Trust Talk

Trustees, are you confident you’ve completed all your legal responsibilities? This final, crucial question is one every trustee should ask—but the answer is rarely simple. In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, host Kirsten Howe and associate attorney Jessica Colbert delve into the often-overlooked legal notices trustees are required to send before making final distributions. They discuss the critical 120-day notice to trust beneficiaries and heirs, informing them of their rights to contest the trust. They also cover essential notifications to the Department of Health Care Services and...

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158: Avoiding Trustee Liability: Critical Steps Before Distributing Assets show art 158: Avoiding Trustee Liability: Critical Steps Before Distributing Assets

Absolute Trust Talk

Being named a trustee is a significant responsibility that demands careful attention, time, and effort—and missing critical steps can lead to complex legal consequences. In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, host Kirsten Howe and associate attorney Jessica Colbert delve into real-life cases where trustees overlooked essential duties. They discuss three crucial questions every trustee must ask before making final distributions:   1.     Have I done everything necessary concerning income taxes? 2.     Is there a supplemental property tax...

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157: Avoiding Probate Hassles: Understanding California's 2025 Law Change show art 157: Avoiding Probate Hassles: Understanding California's 2025 Law Change

Absolute Trust Talk

A significant shift in California probate law is on the horizon, promising to make estate transfers more accessible for many homeowners. In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, host Kirsten Howe and associate attorney Jessica Colbert delve into a game-changing legislation effective April 1, 2025. This new law allows for a simplified transfer of primary residences valued up to $750,000 to heirs—without the need for probate or a formal estate plan. They discuss how this expansion of the small estate affidavit and petition procedures can ease the burden on families, making property...

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156: Probate Alternatives: Real Estate Affidavits and Succession Petitions Explained show art 156: Probate Alternatives: Real Estate Affidavits and Succession Petitions Explained

Absolute Trust Talk

In the third episode of their probate alternatives series on Absolute Trust Talk, host Kirsten Howe and associate attorney Jessica Colbert delve into two streamlined legal procedures that help families avoid the costly and time-consuming probate process when transferring small real estate estates in California. They explain an affidavit procedure for properties valued under $61,500 and a petition for determining succession to property for estates under $184,500. The discussion covers the requirements for each method, including waiting periods, the role of a probate referee, and when each...

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155: Spousal Property Petitions: An Easier Alternative to Probate show art 155: Spousal Property Petitions: An Easier Alternative to Probate

Absolute Trust Talk

In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, Kirsten Howe and associate attorney Jessica Colbert delve into the spousal property petition, a vital tool that offers a faster and more cost-effective way for surviving spouses to claim assets from a deceased spouse's estate. They break down the legal nuances, sharing practical examples of how this process works and how it can sometimes be used even after both spouses have passed away. With real-world scenarios and expert advice, this episode sheds light on probate alternatives that can ease the estate administration process for families. Whether...

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154: Unlocking Assets Without Probate: The Benefits of Using a Small Estate Affidavit show art 154: Unlocking Assets Without Probate: The Benefits of Using a Small Estate Affidavit

Absolute Trust Talk

Navigating the probate process can feel overwhelming, so what if there was a way to avoid it entirely? In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, associate attorney Jessica Colbert and managing attorney Kirsten Howe introduce the small estate affidavit—an often overlooked yet highly effective tool for bypassing probate when certain conditions are met. Together, they break down what it takes to qualify for this process, explain how it works to transfer personal property without court involvement and point out some important details and potential challenges. Don’t miss this insightful...

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153: AB Trusts After 2013: What You Need to Do Now show art 153: AB Trusts After 2013: What You Need to Do Now

Absolute Trust Talk

Welcome back to Absolute Trust Talk! In this exciting episode, associate attorney Jessica Colbert steps into the spotlight for the first time, accompanied by managing attorney Kirsten Howe. Together, they continue the series AB Trusts: Do You Have One? Do You Need One? This episode uncovers the surprising reason many couples have AB trusts without realizing it, and what steps you should take if you find yourself in this situation. You’ll also learn why it might be time to reconsider an AB trust, especially if you are the surviving spouse and want to make changes. Don’t miss out on this...

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152: The Truth About AB Trusts: Will Your Wishes Be Followed? show art 152: The Truth About AB Trusts: Will Your Wishes Be Followed?

Absolute Trust Talk

Welcome back to Absolute Trust Talk with Kirsten Howe and associate attorney Jessica Colbert! In this second episode of our AB Trust series, we dive into a vital question: Will your wishes truly be honored? While AB Trusts are a common estate planning tool for couples, they have potential challenges. One significant issue is when the deceased spouse's wishes are unintentionally—or even deliberately—overlooked or altered. Tune in as we explore how and why this happens and, more importantly, what steps you can take to ensure that your estate plan works exactly as intended.   ...

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151: Is an AB Trust Right for You? Essential Insights for Married Couples show art 151: Is an AB Trust Right for You? Essential Insights for Married Couples

Absolute Trust Talk

Married couples, is your AB trust still serving your needs, or has it outstayed its welcome? In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, Kirsten Howe and associate attorney Jessica Colbert take a closer look at AB trusts, a once-standard estate planning tool. They discuss when an AB trust makes sense and when it might just add unnecessary complexity and cost. Tune in as they explain the key benefits of asset control after death, while also considering the downsides, such as tax filing requirements and maintenance expenses. Whether you're revisiting an existing trust or planning for the future,...

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More Episodes

In episode eleven of Absolute Trust Talk, Kirsten welcomes award-winning Remax Accord Real Estate Broker Mark Shaw into the studio. Mark has been serving Contra Costa and Alameda Counties for more than 19 years and, even though he spent some time as a teacher, you could say his career started back in the 60’s & 70’s when he was helping his father pass out flyers and set up open house signs.

Mark is well-versed in the San Francisco Bay Area real estate market, and Kirsten wastes no time digging in. During this podcast, Mark and Kirsten discuss why buying and selling in the Bay Area is so unusual right now and how the cash purchase of a home is influencing the marketplace.

Later, Mark weighs in on some surprising statistics and trends that are influencing aspects of the local market, and also, shares some advice to sellers on some essential tasks that need to be done before putting your home on the market. Download this resource here! 

 

Big Three From Episode #011:

What the clients are thinking:

  1. Can I trust you?
  2. Are you good at what you do?
  3. Do you care about my needs and me?

 

Time-stamped Show Notes:

2:00 – What is making the San Francisco Bay Area real estate market so high? Can a seller name their price?

3:12 – The average buyer spends this much time searching for homes before they contact a realtor.

3:40 – Does the amount of cash buyers have to spend on housing distort the market?

6:15 – Why the number of years people are staying in their homes (not moving) is increasing.

8:30 – What are the main reasons people move?

11:40 – How is the buyer’s market trending?

16:42 – This is a huge determining factor in real estate sales.

22:11 – In the current market. what do sellers have to do to get their house sold?

26:14 – It might seem all dollars and cents, but home buying has much more to do with this.

 

Episode #011 Freebie: 13 Top Tips for Home Maintenance and Safety

Taking care of a property can be a lot of work, and some maintenance issues will obviously take priority over others. However, when it comes to your home’s safety, there are easy, low-cost, DIY projects we neglect because they are either not at the top of the list or not top of mind. Absolute Trust Talk guest Mark Shaw has generously offered to share his resource “13 Top Tips for Home Maintenance and Safety” to ATT’s audience. Shaw created this resource to be a tool to simplify target issues and help you focus on simple, common-sense tasks to keep your home safe. He has broken these projects down so they are easy to commit to doing one or two per month to maintain a safe home environment.