What happens when home prices stay high, insurance gets harder to secure, and agents still have to keep moving forward?

Patrick Merrill sits down with Jodie Francisco, a California REALTOR® with 25 years of experience, to discuss Los Angeles pricing, wildfire risk, the California FAIR Plan, Difference in Conditions (DIC) coverage, earthquake insurance, ULA transfer taxes, rent regulations, and the mindset agents need when the market slows.

🎤 Host & Guest

Host: Patrick Merrill

Host of the LIFTED Podcast and a top-producing REALTOR® serving the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Patrick is a RealTrends Verified Top Agent with ABR and GRI designations.

Guest: Jodie Francisco

Jodie Francisco, “Your Eye on Real Estate,” is a REALTOR® with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties in Sherman Oaks. With 25 years of experience, she serves buyers and sellers across the San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles and holds SRES, eCertified®, and RBC® Cross-Border Certified credentials.

🔑 What You’ll Learn

• Stay productive when the market slows.

• Understand California insurance challenges, including the FAIR Plan, DIC coverage, and earthquake insurance.

• Set realistic expectations for Los Angeles affordability and million-dollar starter homes.

• Learn how Zone Zero, ULA taxes, and rent regulations can affect homeowners and investors.

❓ Key Questions Answered

Q: What is Zone Zero in California wildfire protection?

A: A five-foot area around a home kept clear of vegetation and combustible materials.

Q: Why might homeowners need the California FAIR Plan?

A: It can provide fire coverage when traditional insurers will not.

Q: What is a Difference in Conditions (DIC) policy?

A: A DIC policy can help fill coverage gaps left by the California FAIR Plan.

Q: How does the ULA tax affect Los Angeles real estate?

A: It adds costs to higher-value transactions and can affect luxury and new-construction deals.

⏱️ Chapters

(00:00) - Intro

(00:21) - Meet Jodie Francisco

(01:16) - First-Time Buyer Advice

(02:00) - Staying Focused in a Slow Market

(03:12) - Wildfire Risk in Los Angeles

(05:04) - California Home Insurance

(07:27) - California FAIR Plan

(11:36) - Required vs. Optional Coverage

(13:40) - Who Is Buying in Sherman Oaks?

(14:57) - California Lifestyle & Highway 1

(17:13) - Comparing Entry-Level Prices: MS vs LA

(19:42) - Post-COVID Migration

(20:53) - New Construction & ULA Tax

(22:22) - Rent Control & Landlord Rules

(25:27) - Connect With Jodie Francisco

📇 Connect with Jodie Francisco

🌎 Website: www.jodiefrancisco.com

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JodieFranciscoRealtor/

📘 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodiefrancisco/

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jodeye18/

🎙 Connect with Patrick Merrill

🌎 Website: https://cbsmithhomesalabama.com/agents/patrick-merrill

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LIFTED-Patrick-Merrill

📘 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lifted/id1882611045🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/30tXkqPjyDfrcfPOoxd0kE

LIFTED is about growing as a professional, a leader, and a human. Subscribe, follow, and leave a rating so more agents can find the show.

⭐ Produced by Icons of Real Estate – iconsofrealestate.com

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