That Extra Room Might Not Exist on Paper: Unpermitted Additions and What Happens When You Sell Living in the Mountains series Last time we talked about what it actually takes to add an ADU to a rural property: the well, the septic, the power, the county, the fire authority. This post is about the ot

Zone 0 Is Getting Closer: What the August 2026 Draft Means for Homeowners If you own a home in Descanso, Alpine, Pine Valley, Guatay, or anywhere else in our backcountry, you have probably heard the phrase "Zone 0" by now. The California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection released its latest draf

What "ADU Potential" Really Means Out Here Living in the Mountains series Every so often I see a listing out here in the backcountry with a line about ADU potential. Big lot, plenty of open space, room to build. And I understand the appeal, because the state has made it easier than it used to be to

What Actually Shows Up When a Fire Starts I get some version of this question on almost every showing in the backcountry. A buyer stands on a deck, looks out at the oaks and the chaparral running up the ridge, and asks what happens if a fire starts. It is a fair question, and the honest answer is a

Solar Panels and Home Value: Asset or Headache When You Sell? Drive through Alpine, Descanso, or Pine Valley and you will see solar on rooftops everywhere. It makes sense. We get the sun, our summers are warm, and SDG&E rates are some of the highest in the country. So a lot of folks made the move to

Fire Insurance, Explained: What Your Policy Covers and Why the FAIR Plan Keeps Coming Up If you live in a high wildfire risk zone here in San Diego, you've probably had at least one conversation about fire insurance that left you more confused than when you started. This isn't only a mountain issue.

  Living Ready in the Mountains Zone Zero: The First Five Feet That Decide Your Home's Odds A plain-English guide to ember-resistant landscaping, home hardening, and fire access for East County homeowners. I have lived in these mountain communities for the better part of my adult life, and I come fr

Living Ready in the Mountains: A Descanso Homeowner's Guide to Wildfire Preparedness There is a reason so many of us choose the mountains. The oaks, the quiet, the clean air off the ridgelines, the sense of space you just cannot find down the hill. Living in Descanso and the surrounding communities

Don't Get "Welled": What I Learned About Wells and Septic the Hard Way Let me tell you about a cold January evening in 2025 that I'll never forget. I went to the sink to wash my face, turned on the faucet, and… nothing. Not a sputter, not a drip. Now, when you're on a private well, "no water" doesn'