General information, not legal or tax advice. Talk with a CA attorney or CPA about your situation. Rules as of October 24, 2026; the source links hold the current text.
Will you be here or gone during the sale?
Sidney Manzo is a Highland Park real estate agent who handles relocation sales and helps owners sell well after they've moved, in real estate since 1990.
Pick the scenario first. The rest of the plan follows from it.
| Scenario | What it means for the sale | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Sell, then move | You stay through closing. Simplest. | Showings while you pack |
| Move, then sell (vacant) | Easiest to show and stage | Vacancy terms in your insurance policy, utilities, mail, yard |
| Move, rent it out, sell later | Income now, sale later | City rental rules and the use test for the home-sale exclusion |
| Employer relocation program | A relocation company may set the timeline or make an offer | Read the program terms with your own advisers before you list |
What has to happen before you leave?
Before the movers come
- Sign the listing agreement and disclosures while you can walk the house.
- Order the City's Residential Property Report (LADBS, LAMC 96.300; $70.85). LADBS requires it before the sale or escrow.
- Pull permit history from LADBS records so nothing surprises you from out of town.
- If you're in the Highland Park–Garvanza HPOZ, finish work the 2010 Preservation Plan exempts (interior work, same-color paint) and file any staff-level requests now (new paint colors, in-kind repairs). Leave Board-level work for the buyer.
- Photograph the house before it's emptied, and again once it's staged.
- Set up a list of local contacts: gardener, cleaner, handyman, locksmith.
- Give escrow your forwarding address and how you'll sign (in person, mobile notary, or as escrow allows).
Who handles the house once you've gone?
| Task | Who usually does it |
|---|---|
| Showings and lockbox | Listing agent |
| Weekly walk-through, mail, lights | Listing agent or a trusted neighbor |
| Yard and pool upkeep | Your gardener or service, on your account |
| Repairs from inspections | Vendors you approve by email or text, with photos |
| Signing | You, through escrow (often with a mobile notary) |
| Final walk-through | The buyer, with the agents |
Which taxes come up when you sell from out of town?
California withholding. The Franchise Tax Board describes real estate withholding as a prepayment of income tax due from selling California real property. It applies whether or not you still live here. The FTB lists exemptions, including sales of $100,000 or less and sales in foreclosure, with the full list in Form 593, Parts III and IV. You give Form 593 to your escrow agent before closing. Ask a CPA which part applies to you.
The federal home-sale exclusion. IRS Publication 523 allows a partial exclusion when you don't meet the full two-year tests because of a work-related move. One example: you took or were transferred to a new job at least 50 miles farther from the home than your old work location. If you rent the house out before selling, the use test can change. Ask a CPA before you choose "rent it first."
City and County transfer taxes. LA County charges $1.10 per $1,000, and the City of Los Angeles adds $2.25 per $500. Measure ULA applies only above the Office of Finance thresholds. The Office of Finance states: "Effective for transactions closing after June 30, 2026, the new ULA thresholds will be $5,400,000 and $10,900,000."
How do you show a Highland Park house you no longer live in?
Vacant houses show their bones, which can help older Craftsman and Victorian houses. Light staging gives buyers scale for rooms built around porches, built-ins and fireplaces. Mention transit where it fits: Metro's station data lists Highland Park Station on the A Line, with entrances at Avenue 57 and Avenue 59. Set clear showing windows and ask for feedback after each weekend.
Decision point: if the house needs more than light work and you're already gone, it often makes more sense to price for condition than to manage contractors from a distance. See selling as-is in Highland Park.
What does selling cost?
Commission, escrow and title, the transfer taxes above, the RPR fee, utilities and upkeep while the house is vacant, and possibly a double mortgage payment if you've bought at the other end.
The amount or rate of real estate commissions is not fixed by law. They are set by each broker individually and may be negotiable between the seller and broker.
Who handles relocation sales in Highland Park?
Sidney Manzo, CA DRE #01108914
In real estate since 1990 · RE/MAX Hall of Fame · Member, Pasadena Association of REALTORS® and California Association of REALTORS® (C.A.R.)
Brokerage: RE/MAX Dream Properties (ASLG Inc), CA DRE #02142193
Last reviewed by Sidney Manzo · About Sidney
Questions
Relocation questions
- Can I sell my Highland Park home after I've moved out of state?
- Yes. Your listing agent handles showings and access, vendors work from approvals you send with photos, and escrow can arrange signing, often through a mobile notary. Sign the listing paperwork and order the City's Residential Property Report before you leave if you can.
- Does California withhold tax when I sell my home?
- It may. The Franchise Tax Board describes real estate withholding as a prepayment of income tax on the sale of California real property, with exemptions listed on Form 593, including sales of $100,000 or less and sales in foreclosure. You give Form 593 to escrow before closing; ask a CPA which exemption fits.
- I'm moving for a new job before I've lived here two years. Can I exclude any gain?
- Possibly. IRS Publication 523 allows a partial exclusion for a work-related move, for example a new job at least 50 miles farther from the home than your old work location. Confirm with a CPA.
- Should I rent out my Highland Park house instead of selling now?
- Weigh it with a CPA. Renting can change how the home-sale exclusion's use test applies, and City of Los Angeles rental rules may apply depending on the property. The inherited-property page covers the City's rent rules in more detail.
- Does Measure ULA apply to my sale?
- Only above the City thresholds. The Office of Finance states that for transactions closing after June 30, 2026 the thresholds are $5,400,000 and $10,900,000, and they adjust each year.
- Is the home review an appraisal?
- No. Sidney's home review is a broker opinion of price from recent comparable sales. It is not an appraisal. Selling another home in the area too? See the Eagle Rock and Pasadena guides, along with South Pasadena. Only Eagle Rock is in the City of Los Angeles, so the RPR and City transfer tax apply there and not in the other two.
Sources
Sources
- Franchise Tax Board, Real estate withholding (Form 593) (accessed October 24, 2026)
- IRS Publication 523, Selling Your Home (work-related move) (accessed October 24, 2026)
- LADBS, Residential Property Report (LAMC 96.300) (accessed October 24, 2026)
- City of LA Office of Finance, Measure ULA FAQ (accessed October 24, 2026)
- LA County Registrar-Recorder, documentary transfer tax (accessed October 24, 2026)
- Highland Park–Garvanza Preservation Plan, §§3.5–3.6 (accessed October 24, 2026)
- Metro rail GTFS station data (accessed October 24, 2026)
Your agent
Who reviews your home?
Sidney Manzo, Agent, CA DRE #01108914.
- In real estate since 1990
- 155+ closed sales
- RE/MAX Hall of Fame
- Member, Pasadena Association of REALTORS® and C.A.R.
RE/MAX Dream Properties (ASLG Inc), CA DRE #02142193
Last reviewed by Sidney Manzo.