Frequently Asked Questions

Properkey is a California-based real estate brokerage offering a complete suite of services under one roof:

• Sell - List your home for free with full MLS exposure
• Buy - Find your next home with expert guidance
• Finance (Properkey Financing) - Compare hundreds of loan options at once
• Escrow (Properkey Escrow) - Award-winning title and escrow services
• Manage - Full-service property management at 5% flat fee
• Insure - Shop best rates for homeowners insurance

Stats:

• 20+ years experience
• 1,000+ homes sold
• Licensed in 5 states
• 5-star client rating

Contact:

• Email: [email protected]
• Or leave a message with me right now and the team will follow up.

Ready to list your home? Here's how to get started:

Step 1: Go to properkey.us/sell
Visit our sell page to begin. You'll see our simple listing tool right at the top.

Step 2: Enter Your Address
Type your property address into the search bar and click "List Now" to start creating your listing.

Step 3: Complete the Listing Wizard
Our guided wizard walks you through:

• Property type and details
• Room counts and square footage
• Features and amenities
• Photos of your home
• Setting your price
• Owner information

What You Get (All Free):

• Personal Realtor - A licensed CA broker assigned to your listing
• Local MLS Listing - Your home on every major site (Zillow, Redfin, Realtor.com)
• Award-Winning Service - 20+ years experience, 1,000+ homes sold
• $0 Listing Fee - You only pay the buyer's agent commission

How Long Does It Take?
Most sellers complete the wizard in 30-60 minutes. You can save and return anytime.

Need Help?
If you get stuck at any step, just ask me! Or say "talk to a broker" to connect with our team directly.

👉 Start now at properkey.us/sell

Properkey offers free listing - there is no listing fee to sell your home.

Traditional agents typically charge 2.5-3% commission. On a $600,000 home, that's $15,000-$18,000.

With Properkey:

• $0 listing fee
• You keep 100% of your equity
• Full MLS exposure included
• Professional photography included
• Dedicated agent support included

You only pay the buyer's agent commission (which you set).

We make money when our clients use us to buy, finance, manage, and insure their homes.

But we list your property for free - even if you don't use us for anything else.

If you don't use our other services, hopefully you have a great experience, tell everyone you know, and they use us to:

• Buy their next home
• Sell their property
• Finance with Properkey Financing
• Manage their rental properties
• Insure their homes

Our goal is to provide such a great experience that you become a lifelong client and refer your friends and family.

Properkey is different. Here's how we compare to other options:

vs. Zillow/Realtor.com (Listing Portals)

• They're advertising platforms - they sell your info to agents
• Properkey is an actual brokerage - we represent you directly
• Your listing on Properkey goes to ALL those sites automatically via MLS

vs. Redfin

• Redfin charges 1-1.5% listing fee
• Properkey charges $0 listing fee
• Both offer tech-forward experiences, but you keep more with Properkey

vs. Opendoor/iBuyers

• They buy your home at a discount (often 5-10% below market)
• Properkey lists on the open market for full value
• You get competing offers, not a single lowball

vs. Traditional Agents (Coldwell Banker, Keller Williams, etc.)

• They charge 2.5-3% listing commission ($15-18K on a $600K home)
• Properkey charges $0 listing fee
• Same MLS exposure, same professional service

Why Properkey?

• $0 listing fee (you only pay buyer's agent)
• Full MLS exposure to all major sites
• One-stop shop: sell, buy, finance, escrow, manage, insure
• Licensed California brokers supporting you

For immediate assistance:

• Leave a message right here with me — the team is notified right away
• Email: [email protected]
• Broker: [email protected]

Address:
16950 Via de Santa Fe Suite 5060-141
Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067

If you'd like to speak with a broker directly, just say "I want to talk to a human" and I'll connect you.

Properkey primarily serves California with full MLS access across all major networks.

We're licensed in 5 states and serve all California counties including:

• Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego
• Sacramento, San Francisco Bay Area
• Riverside, San Bernardino
• Fresno, Kern
• And all other CA counties

Escrow is a neutral arrangement where a third party — typically an escrow or title company — holds funds and documents on behalf of the buyer and seller until all conditions of the sale are met. Nothing changes hands until both sides have fulfilled their obligations.

In California, an escrow company or title company commonly handles this. Funds are released only when all conditions are satisfied, such as inspections, loan approval, and document signing.

"Escrow" can also refer to an impound account after closing, where the lender collects a portion of property taxes and insurance with each monthly mortgage payment and pays those bills when they come due.

In California, sellers of most 1-to-4 unit residential properties are required by law to disclose known material facts about the property's condition.

Key disclosure forms:

• Transfer Disclosure Statement (TDS) — required under Civil Code 1102. The seller must complete this form in their own hand describing the property's condition, known defects, and any material facts. An agent may explain the form but may not fill it in for the seller.
• Natural Hazard Disclosure (NHD) — required under Civil Code 1103. Identifies whether the property is in a flood zone, fire hazard zone, earthquake fault zone, or other designated natural hazard area.

These disclosures cannot be waived, even in an as-is sale. For questions about what you specifically need to disclose, consult your agent or a real estate attorney.

A contingency is a condition in a purchase contract that must be met for the sale to proceed. If the condition is not met, the party holding the contingency can typically exit the deal.

Common contingencies:

• Inspection — the buyer can have the home professionally inspected and negotiate repairs or walk away.
• Appraisal — the property must appraise at or above the agreed price for the loan to fund.
• Financing — the buyer must secure loan approval by a specified date.
• Home sale — the buyer's purchase depends on selling their current home.

In California, default contingency periods are commonly 17 days for inspection and appraisal, and 21 days for the loan contingency, though these can be negotiated.

Contingency removal is the buyer's written waiver of a contingency. Once removed, the buyer loses that exit right.

Once a seller accepts an offer, the escrow and contingency period begins:

1. Escrow opens — the buyer's earnest money deposit goes into escrow.
2. Inspections — the buyer arranges a home inspection (and possibly pest, roof, or other inspections).
3. Appraisal — the buyer's lender orders an appraisal to confirm the home's value.
4. Contingency removal — as each contingency is satisfied, the buyer formally removes it.
5. Loan approval — the buyer's lender finalizes the mortgage.
6. Final walkthrough — the buyer verifies the home's condition before closing.
7. Closing — documents are signed, funds are disbursed, and ownership transfers.

The timeline depends on the contract terms, but a typical California escrow runs 30 to 45 days.

Closing costs are the fees and expenses paid when a real estate transaction is finalized. They are separate from the sale price and typically run a few percent of the purchase price.

Common seller closing costs: real estate commissions, title and escrow fees, transfer taxes, prorated property taxes, and any agreed-upon repairs or credits.

Common buyer closing costs: loan origination fees, appraisal fee, title insurance, escrow fees, prepaid taxes and insurance, and recording fees. The CFPB estimates buyer closing costs typically range from 2% to 5% of the purchase price, not including the down payment.

Exact amounts vary by transaction. Your agent or escrow officer can provide an estimate specific to your situation.

Earnest money is a good-faith deposit a buyer makes when submitting an offer on a home. It shows the seller the buyer is serious about the purchase.

The deposit is typically 1% to 3% of the purchase price and is held in an escrow account. At closing, the earnest money is credited toward the buyer's down payment or closing costs.

If the deal falls through, whether the buyer gets the earnest money back depends on the terms of the contract and which contingencies are still in place. For example, if the buyer cancels during an active inspection contingency, the deposit is typically refundable.

A CMA, or Comparative Market Analysis, is a data-driven estimate of a home's market value based on recent sales of similar properties in the same area. An agent prepares it by comparing homes with similar size, condition, features, and location.

A CMA is not an appraisal — it is an informal estimate to help guide pricing decisions. Only a licensed appraiser can provide a formal appraisal. Your agent can prepare a CMA and walk you through how they arrived at the suggested range.

A counteroffer is a response to an offer that changes one or more terms — such as the price, closing date, contingencies, or deposit amount. When a seller counters, the original offer is rejected and replaced with the new terms.

The buyer can then accept the counteroffer, reject it, or counter back. Negotiation continues until both parties agree or one side walks away. Each counter creates a new offer that must be accepted within the specified timeframe.

A listing agreement is a written contract between a homeowner and a real estate brokerage that authorizes the agent to market and sell the home on the owner's behalf. It defines the commission, the listing term, and the agent's duties.

The most common type is an exclusive right-to-sell agreement, meaning the listing agent earns the commission regardless of who brings the buyer. The agreement also covers marketing permissions, lockbox use, and showing instructions.

Title is the legal right to ownership of a property. When you sell a home, you transfer title to the buyer.

A title search is conducted during escrow to confirm the seller has clear ownership and there are no outstanding liens, judgments, or other claims against the property. Title insurance protects against defects that may not have been discovered during the search.

Days on Market, or DOM, is the number of days a property has been actively listed for sale. It starts when the listing goes live on the MLS and ends when the seller accepts an offer.

DOM is a common metric buyers and agents use to gauge demand. A low DOM often signals strong buyer interest, while a higher DOM may indicate the property is overpriced or has other challenges. Your agent can help put DOM in context for your local market.

Home staging is the process of preparing and furnishing a home to appeal to the widest range of potential buyers. This can include decluttering, rearranging furniture, adding decor, and making cosmetic improvements.

Staging is a marketing strategy — it helps buyers envision themselves living in the space. Some sellers hire professional stagers, while others simply declutter and clean. Your agent can advise on what level of staging makes sense for your property and market.

Listing Creation:

• Most users complete the wizard in 30-60 minutes
• You can save progress and return anytime
• Review typically takes 1-2 business days

Going Live:
1. Complete all wizard steps
2. Submit for review
3. Properkey reviews (1-2 business days)
4. Listing approved and published to MLS
5. Live on Zillow, Redfin, Realtor.com within 24-48 hours

Tip: Have your property info ready (square footage, lot size, features) to complete faster.

After you submit your listing:

1. Pending Review - Our team checks for completeness and accuracy
2. Under Review - Active review by Properkey staff
3. Approved - Listing is published to MLS
4. Active - Your home is live and visible to buyers

You'll receive:

• Email confirmation of submission
• Notification when approved
• Your listing link to share

Timeline: Typically 1-2 business days from submission to live listing.

Before Submission: You can freely edit any wizard step.

After Submission:

• Direct wizard editing is locked
• Use the Review page to request changes
• Some fields can be updated via modals
• Contact support for major changes

What You Can Change:

• Price adjustments
• Description updates
• Photo additions/reordering
• Status changes

What Requires Support:

• Property type changes
• Address corrections
• Ownership changes

Pre-qualification and pre-approval are steps in the mortgage process, but they differ in depth:

Pre-qualification is an informal estimate of how much you might be able to borrow, based on self-reported income, assets, and debts. It typically does not involve a credit check or document verification.

Pre-approval is a more thorough process where the lender verifies your financial documents, runs a credit check, and issues a conditional commitment up to a specific amount. A pre-approval letter carries more weight when making an offer.

Note that lenders may use these terms differently. The CFPB advises consumers to ask exactly what documentation and verification each lender requires for their version of "pre-approval."

The down payment is the portion of a home's purchase price that the buyer pays upfront out of pocket. The remainder is covered by the mortgage loan.

Common down payment amounts range from 3% to 20% or more of the purchase price, depending on the loan type. Putting down less than 20% on a conventional loan typically requires private mortgage insurance (PMI).

Some loan programs offer lower down payment options: FHA loans may require as little as 3.5%, and VA loans for eligible military members often require no down payment at all. Your lender can explain what options are available based on your situation.

An appraisal is an independent estimate of a property's market value performed by a licensed appraiser, typically required by the buyer's lender before finalizing a mortgage.

The appraiser visits the property, evaluates its condition and features, and compares it to recent sales of similar homes in the area. The resulting report gives the lender confidence that the property is worth at least the loan amount.

If the appraisal comes in lower than the purchase price, the buyer may need to renegotiate the price, bring additional cash, or exercise the appraisal contingency. An appraisal differs from a home inspection, which focuses on condition rather than value.

A home inspection is an examination of a property's condition by a licensed inspector, typically arranged and paid for by the buyer during the inspection contingency period.

The inspector evaluates the home's structure, roof, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and other systems, then provides a written report. The inspection is informational — it helps the buyer understand the property's condition and identify potential issues.

Based on the report, the buyer may negotiate repairs, request credits, or in some cases choose to walk away under the inspection contingency. A home inspection is not the same as an appraisal, which estimates value.

Title insurance protects against financial loss from defects in a property's title that were not discovered during the title search — such as unknown liens, recording errors, forgery, or undisclosed heirs.

There are two types:

• Lender's title insurance — required by most mortgage lenders; protects the lender's interest in the property.
• Owner's title insurance — optional but recommended; protects the buyer's ownership interest.

Title insurance is a one-time premium paid at closing, unlike homeowners insurance which has recurring premiums. It covers past events (hidden defects), while homeowners insurance covers future events (fire, theft, storms).

A purchase agreement (also called a purchase contract or offer) is the written contract between a buyer and seller that sets the terms of a real estate transaction.

It typically includes the purchase price, earnest money deposit amount, contingencies (inspection, appraisal, financing), proposed closing date, and any special terms or conditions.

Once both parties sign, the agreement becomes a binding contract. In California, standard forms from the California Association of Realtors are commonly used. For questions about what specific terms mean or how they affect you, consult your agent or a real estate attorney.

The final walkthrough is the buyer's last chance to inspect the property before closing, typically done a day or two before the closing date.

The purpose is to verify that the home's condition matches what was agreed upon: that any negotiated repairs have been completed, that no new damage has occurred, and that the seller has moved out and left the property in the expected condition.

The walkthrough is not a second inspection — it is a quick check to confirm everything is as expected before signing closing documents.

Conventional loans are not backed by the government. They come in two forms:

• Conforming — meets the loan limits set by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA).
• Jumbo — exceeds conforming limits and typically has stricter qualification requirements.

FHA loans are insured by the Federal Housing Administration. They allow lower down payments (as low as 3.5%) and more flexible credit requirements, but require mortgage insurance for the life of the loan in most cases.

VA loans are guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs for eligible military members and veterans. They often require no down payment and no PMI.

Each loan type has different requirements and trade-offs. A licensed loan officer can explain which options fit your situation.

A mortgage is a loan used to buy real estate, where the property itself serves as collateral. If the borrower stops making payments, the lender can foreclose on the property.

Monthly mortgage payments typically include principal (the loan balance), interest (the cost of borrowing), property taxes, and homeowners insurance — often referred to as PITI. Most mortgages are repaid over 15 or 30 years.

Fixed-rate mortgage: The interest rate stays the same for the entire loan term, so your monthly principal and interest payment never changes. Common terms are 15 and 30 years.

Adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM): The interest rate is fixed for an initial period (commonly 5, 7, or 10 years), then adjusts periodically based on a market index plus a margin. The initial rate is often lower than a fixed rate, but payments can increase significantly after the adjustment period begins.

The CFPB notes that with an ARM, your payment can rise substantially after the initial fixed period. Each type has trade-offs — a fixed rate offers predictability, while an ARM may offer lower initial payments.

Private Mortgage Insurance, or PMI, is insurance that protects the lender (not the borrower) if the borrower defaults on the loan. It is typically required on conventional loans when the down payment is less than 20%.

PMI is added to your monthly mortgage payment. Once you reach approximately 20% equity in the home — through payments or appreciation — you can usually request that PMI be cancelled. By law, the lender must automatically cancel PMI when you reach 22% equity based on the original value.

FHA loans have their own mortgage insurance (MIP) with different rules. VA loans do not require PMI.

The interest rate is the cost of borrowing money, expressed as a percentage of the loan. The APR, or Annual Percentage Rate, is a broader measure that includes the interest rate plus certain fees and charges like origination fees and discount points.

Because APR includes more costs, it is usually higher than the interest rate. The CFPB recommends comparing APR to APR (not rate to APR) when evaluating loan offers, since it gives a more complete picture of the total borrowing cost.

Amortization is the process of paying down a loan through regular monthly payments over its term. Each payment covers both interest and principal.

In the early years, a larger portion of each payment goes toward interest. As the loan balance decreases over time, more of each payment goes toward principal. By the end of the term, the loan is fully paid off.

An amortization schedule shows the breakdown of each payment over the life of the loan.

Discount points are optional upfront fees a borrower can pay at closing to reduce the interest rate on their mortgage. One point equals 1% of the loan amount.

Paying points lowers your monthly payment but increases your upfront costs. Whether buying points makes sense depends on how long you plan to keep the loan — the longer you stay, the more you save from the lower rate. Your lender can help you compare scenarios.

Properkey Financing is Properkey's financing arm that compares hundreds of loans at once.

How It Works:
1. Fill out one application
2. Get matched with multiple lenders
3. Compare rates side-by-side
4. Choose the best option for you

Benefits:

• Wholesale access (programs beyond retail banks)
• Real-time interest rates
• Clear explanations, no sales pressure
• Pre-approval for stronger offers

Types of Loans:

• Purchase loans
• Refinance (rate & term, cash-out)
• HELOC
• Jumbo loans
• FHA, VA, conventional

Homeowners insurance protects the physical structure of your home, your personal belongings, and your liability against covered events such as fire, theft, storms, and certain accidents.

Most mortgage lenders require homeowners insurance as a condition of the loan. Premiums are paid annually or through a monthly escrow impound account.

Standard homeowners policies typically do NOT cover flood or earthquake damage — those require separate policies. The specific perils covered, coverage limits, and deductibles depend on the policy. A licensed insurance agent can help you understand your options.

Flood insurance is a separate policy that covers damage from flooding — standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage.

The most common source is the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), administered by FEMA. Properties in designated Special Flood Hazard Areas are typically required by the lender to carry flood insurance.

Key details: NFIP flood policies have a 30-day waiting period before coverage begins (they do not use binders). Private flood insurance is also available and may offer additional coverage options. Your lender or insurance agent can tell you whether flood insurance is required for a specific property.

A home warranty is a service contract that covers the repair or replacement of major home systems and appliances (like HVAC, plumbing, or kitchen appliances) that break down from normal wear and tear. It is optional and has an annual fee plus a service call fee.

Homeowners insurance covers damage to the home's structure and your belongings from sudden, unexpected events like fire, theft, or storms. It is typically required by your lender and has an annual premium plus a deductible.

In short: a warranty covers things that wear out; insurance covers things that are damaged or destroyed. They serve different purposes and can complement each other.

An insurance binder is a temporary agreement confirming that coverage is in effect until the formal insurance policy is issued. It is commonly used at closing to prove the buyer has homeowners insurance in place.

Note: the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) does not recognize binders for flood insurance — flood policies must be fully issued and have a 30-day waiting period.

Properkey Escrow provides title and escrow services for your transaction.

What's Included:

• Title search and insurance
• Document preparation
• Fund management and disbursement
• Lien clearances
• Closing coordination
• Notary services

Transaction Types:

• Residential purchases
• Commercial transactions
• Refinances
• 1031 exchanges
• Short sales and REO

License: California DRE License #01979718

Properkey Escrow coordinates with all parties to ensure on-time, clean closings.

## Residential
For: Owner-occupied homes with a single owner/family unit

Choose this for standard homes where one family lives, including:

• Single Family Residence - Detached homes on their own lot
• Condominium - Unit in a multi-unit building with shared common areas
• Townhouse - Multi-story attached homes sharing walls
• Cabin/Vacation Home - Recreational or seasonal properties
• Manufactured Home - Factory-built homes on a permanent foundation

Key indicator: One dwelling unit, one family/owner

---

## Residential Income
For: Properties with multiple rental units generating income

Choose this if your property has multiple separate living units:

• Duplex - 2 separate units
• Triplex - 3 separate units
• Quadplex - 4 separate units
• Multi-Family (5+) - 5 or more units

Key indicator: Multiple separate units with their own kitchens and entrances. This includes properties where the owner lives in one unit and rents others.

Not sure? If you rent out a room in your home (no separate kitchen/entrance), that's still Residential. If it's a complete separate unit, it's Residential Income.

---

## Commercial Sale
For: Selling business or commercial properties

Choose this for properties used for business purposes:

• Retail - Stores, shopping centers
• Office - Office buildings, professional spaces
• Industrial - Warehouses, manufacturing facilities
• Mixed Use - Combination of commercial and residential

---

## Commercial Lease
For: Leasing out commercial/business space

Same property types as Commercial Sale, but you're offering a lease rather than selling the property.

---

## Land
For: Vacant parcels without significant structures

Choose this for undeveloped or minimally developed land:

• Unimproved Land - Raw, undeveloped parcels
• Agricultural Land - Farmland without a farmhouse

Note: If the land has a house or other significant dwelling, use Residential or Farm instead.

---

## Farm
For: Agricultural properties with structures

Choose this for working agricultural operations that include buildings:

• Farmland with a farmhouse
• Ranches with structures
• Agricultural operations with barns, silos, etc.

Land vs Farm: If it's just farmable land with no buildings, use Land. If it has a farmhouse or agricultural buildings, use Farm.

---

## Quick Reference

| Situation | Choose |
|-----------|--------|
| Single family home | Residential |
| Condo you own | Residential |
| Duplex (2 units) | Residential Income |
| House with ADU | Residential Income |
| Vacant lot | Land |
| Farm with farmhouse | Farm |
| Farmland, no buildings | Land |
| Manufactured on owned land | Residential |
| Office building for sale | Commercial Sale |
| Warehouse for lease | Commercial Lease |

Listing Statuses show where a property is in the selling process:

Active - Property is on the market and available for offers
Active Under Contract - Has an accepted offer but still showing (backup offers welcome)
Pending - Under contract, no longer showing
Sold - Transaction completed, property has closed
Expired - Listing contract ended without sale
Cancelled - Seller withdrew the listing
Off Market - Temporarily removed from active marketing

On Properkey, your listing goes through these stages:
1. Draft → You're still building your listing
2. In Progress → Completing the wizard steps
3. Pending Signatures → Documents sent for signing
4. Submitted → Sent to Properkey for review
5. Under Review → Our team is checking everything
6. Active → Live on the MLS!

After Active, status depends on your sale progress.

## Residential Subtypes

Single Family Residence
A standalone home on its own lot, not attached to other units. Most common property type.

Condominium
A unit within a larger building or complex. You own the interior space; the HOA owns common areas (hallways, pool, gym, exterior).

Townhouse
Multi-story home that shares one or more walls with neighboring units. You typically own the land beneath your unit.

Cabin/Vacation Home
Recreational property, often in rural or resort areas. May be seasonal or year-round.

Manufactured Home
Factory-built home placed on a permanent foundation on land you own. Different from mobile homes in parks.

---

## Residential Income Subtypes

Duplex
Building with 2 separate living units, each with its own entrance, kitchen, and bathroom.

Triplex
Building with 3 separate living units.

Quadplex / Fourplex
Building with 4 separate living units. This is the maximum for residential financing (5+ units require commercial loans).

Multi-Family (5+ units)
Apartment buildings with 5 or more units. Requires commercial financing and different management considerations.

---

## Land Subtypes

Unimproved Land
Raw land with no utilities, roads, or development. May require significant work before building.

Agricultural Land
Farmable land without structures. Zoned for farming/ranching use.

---

## Commercial Subtypes

Retail
Storefronts, shopping centers, restaurants - customer-facing businesses.

Office
Professional office spaces, from single suites to entire buildings.

Industrial
Warehouses, manufacturing facilities, distribution centers.

Mixed Use
Buildings combining commercial (ground floor retail/office) with residential units above.

---

## How to Choose

Not sure between Condo and Townhouse?

• Condo: You own just your unit's interior; HOA owns exterior/land
• Townhouse: You typically own your unit AND the land it sits on

Not sure between Duplex and Single Family with ADU?

• Duplex: Two separate, equivalent units (same address, two units)
• SFR with ADU: Main house + accessory dwelling (still considered one property)

Not sure between Land and Farm?

• Land: No significant structures
• Farm: Has farmhouse, barns, or agricultural buildings

Properkey uses the RESO Data Dictionary standard for property data. This is the real estate industry's standard for consistent property information across all MLS systems.

Common Field Categories:

Property Basics:

• PropertyType: Main category (Residential, Land, Commercial, etc.)
• PropertySubType: Specific type (Single Family, Condo, Townhouse, etc.)
• LivingArea: Interior square footage
• LotSizeAcres: Land size in acres
• BedroomsTotal, BathroomsFull, BathroomsHalf: Room counts

Financial:

• ListPrice: Asking price
• AssociationFee: Monthly HOA fees
• TaxAnnualAmount: Yearly property tax

Features:

• InteriorFeatures: Inside amenities
• ExteriorFeatures: Outside amenities
• Appliances: Included appliances
• Heating/Cooling: HVAC systems
• Utilities: Available utility connections

Location:

• City, StateOrProvince, PostalCode: Address components
• Latitude, Longitude: Geographic coordinates

If a user asks about a specific field, explain what it means in plain language.

HOA (Homeowners Association) information is important for buyers:

AssociationYN - Whether the property has an HOA (Yes/No)

AssociationFee - The regular fee amount
AssociationFeeFrequency - How often it's paid:

• Monthly
• Quarterly
• Annually
• Semi-Annually

AssociationAmenities - What the HOA provides:

• Pool, Spa
• Clubhouse
• Tennis, Basketball courts
• Security, Gated access
• Landscaping

What HOA fees typically cover:

• Common area maintenance
• Exterior building maintenance (for condos)
• Amenities upkeep
• Insurance for common areas
• Reserve fund contributions

If you're listing a property with an HOA, you'll need:

• Current monthly/quarterly fee amount
• What amenities are included
• Any special assessments

Properkey offers full-service property management at a 5% flat fee with no markups.

Services Included:

• Tenant Placement - Screening, background checks, leases
• Rent Collection - Automated collection, late fee enforcement
• Maintenance - 24/7 support, trusted vendor network
• Inspections - Regular property check-ins
• Financial Reports - Monthly statements, expense tracking

Who It's For:

• First-time landlords
• Long-term investors
• Out-of-state property owners
• Anyone wanting hands-off ownership

Note: Available for properties anywhere, not just those purchased through Properkey.

For rental listings, you'll need:

Required:

• Property type and subtype
• Living area (square feet)
• Bedrooms and bathrooms
• Monthly rent amount
• Lease term preference

Optional but Recommended:

• Security deposit amount
• Available date
• Pet policy
• Included amenities
• Photos

Lease Terms Available:

• Month-to-Month
• 6 Months
• 1 Year
• 2+ Years

Monthly Rent:

• Required field
• Enter your asking monthly rent

Security Deposit:

• Optional
• Typically 1x monthly rent
• California limits deposits to 1 month (unfurnished) or 2 months (furnished)

Lease Term:

• Select your preferred minimum lease length
• Month-to-Month offers most flexibility
• Longer terms provide stability

Pet Policy:

• No Pets
• Cats OK
• Dogs OK
• All Pets Welcome

Tip: Clear pet policies attract the right tenants and set expectations.

Properkey is committed to Fair Housing compliance. The Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 3601-3619) and California's Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA, Gov. Code 12955) prohibit discrimination in housing based on protected characteristics.

Protected classes (federal + California):

• Race and color
• Religion
• National origin
• Sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation
• Familial status (families with children)
• Disability
• Marital status (California)
• Source of income (California)
• Age (California)
• Genetic information (California)
• Military/veteran status (California)

What Properkey agents must NOT do:

• Steer buyers toward or away from neighborhoods based on demographics
• Comment on school quality, neighborhood safety, or community composition
• Describe areas using language that implies a preferred occupant type
• Refuse or discourage service based on any protected characteristic

Objective resources for callers:

• School ratings: GreatSchools.org
• Crime data: local police department websites or CrimeMapping.com
• Census demographics: data.census.gov

For housing discrimination complaints:

• HUD: 1-800-669-9777
• California DFEH: 1-800-884-1684
• Local Fair Housing Council (nonprofit, free service)

2026 HUD update: HUD's April 2026 "Dear Colleague" letter clarified that agents do not violate the Fair Housing Act merely by discussing the prevalence of crime or the quality of schools, provided information is shared consistently and without intentional discrimination. However, subjective opinions ("good/bad/safe neighborhood") remain a steering risk. The safest approach is to offer every caller the same objective third-party resources and never characterize an area.

Properkey treats Fair Housing compliance as non-negotiable. Our AI assistant will redirect neighborhood and demographic questions to objective public sources and focus on property features.

Our licensed California brokers are here to help:

What brokers do:

• Review and optimize your listing
• Answer questions about the selling process
• Help evaluate and negotiate offers
• Guide you through disclosures and documents
• Coordinate with buyer's agents

When to contact a broker:

• Questions about pricing strategy
• Reviewing offers
• Complex situations or negotiations
• Legal or regulatory questions

Click 'Speak with a Broker' anytime to connect with our team.