It's one of the most common conflicts families face after losing a parent: the house is paid off, everyone loves it, and one sibling wants to keep it — but the others need or want their share in cash now, not years from now. Nobody wants a lawsuit. Nobody wants to sell a house that's been in the family for decades just to split a check three ways. A sibling buyout loan is usually how that gets resolved, but in California, how you fund it determines whether you keep your pare

A parent just passed.There's a property involved.And now the family needs to figure out what to do with it. One sibling wants to keep the house.The others want their share — in cash.And nobody wants to sell. This is exactly what a Prop 19 equalization loan is designed for. First — what is Prop 19? Proposition 19 passed in California in 2020 and changed the rules around inherited property and property taxes. Before Prop 19 — children could inherit a parent's home and keep the

Short answer: yes. But it's more nuanced than a regular mortgage. Let me walk you through it. What gives a trustee the authority to borrow? The trust document itself. Most well-drafted trusts in California give the trustee the power to encumber trust property — meaning they can take out a loan against it. Before doing anything — read the trust document. Look for language about borrowing, encumbering, or mortgaging property. If it's there — you have the authority to proceed. I

Most people think of Prop 19 as an inheritance issue. Something that kicks in after a parent passes. But here's what catches families off guard.. Prop 19 also changed the rules for parent-to-child transfers during life. Not just after death. And a lot of families are planning around the old rules without realizing they don't apply anymore. What changed Before Prop 19, parents could transfer property to their kids — including rental properties, vacation homes, investment prope

You just found out a property is held in a trust. Maybe a parent passed. Maybe you're the successor trustee. And now someone needs money. Fast. Banks are saying no. And you're not sure what options even exist. Let me break it down. So what is a trust loan? A trust loan is a mortgage made directly to a trust. Instead of lending to an individual — a lender makes a loan to the trust itself. The real estate held inside the trust is used as collateral. Simple as that. Why can't ba