Can you trust real estate listing photos anymore?

With editing software and AI tools becoming more advanced, it is easier than ever to alter images of a property before it hits the market. That is exactly why California Assembly Bill 723 (AB 723) is going into effect on January 1, 2026.

In this episode of the Kern County Real Estate Review, Laurie McCarty is joined by Chris O’Donnell, owner of Selling Image and one of Bakersfield’s most trusted real estate photographers, to break down what AB 723 really means for buyers, sellers, and agents.

AB 723 requires a reasonably conspicuous disclosure on any listing photo that has been digitally altered or AI-generated in a way that changes physical elements of a property. It also requires access to the original, unedited images through a link, URL, or QR code. The goal is transparency and protecting buyers from misleading property images.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What counts as a “digitally altered” real estate photo
• How AI is changing real estate photography
• What must now be disclosed under AB 723
• How this law impacts virtual staging
• Why transparency in listing photos matters
• What buyers should watch for when viewing homes online
• How agents and photographers are adapting to the new requirements

If you are buying, selling, or simply browsing homes online, this is a conversation you need to hear.

Tune in to understand how AB 723 will change real estate listings in California and what it means for the future of real estate photography.

Is Bakersfield still affordable for home buyers heading into 2026? In this episode of the Kern County Real Estate Review, we break down what affordability really looks like right now and what buyers, sellers, and renters should be paying attention to this year.

Laurie McCarty digs into the latest housing data, including a new Realtor.com report ranking California markets by affordability, and explains where Bakersfield stands compared to the rest of the state. The conversation also covers interest rates, Federal Reserve leadership changes, and how potential rate shifts could impact monthly payments and buyer confidence in the months ahead.

This episode also features the monthly Open House, Open Mic special, highlighting some of the top open houses happening across Kern County and hearing directly from the agents hosting them. Plus, we explore rental trends, including short-term rentals, luxury apartment demand, and what new developments like Greyhound Flats say about how people want to live in Bakersfield.

Whether you’re thinking about buying, selling, investing, or just trying to understand where the market is headed, this episode offers real insight, local perspective, and practical context for navigating the 2026 housing market.

Closing escrow is an incredible moment, but the real work of homeownership starts the second you get the keys. In this episode of the Kern County Real Estate Review, Laurie McCarty shares the 15 must-do steps after closing escrow that can protect your home, protect your privacy, and prevent the most common (and most expensive) move-in surprises.

You will learn what to handle first, what can wait, and why small tasks can save you major frustration later.

Whether you are a first-time buyer or you have owned homes before, this is a fast, practical checklist you will want to keep handy, and it is the kind of episode you will want to share with anyone closing escrow soon.

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Most people hear “solar” and picture rooftop panels and a major installation. This episode covers a very different option: portable, plug-in solar that can work for renters and homeowners, without putting panels on your roof.

Host Laurie McCarty is joined by Cora Stryker, co-founder of Bright Saver, to break down plug-in solar in plain English, including what it is, how it works, and why it is an option more people should know about.

In this episode, listeners will learn:

• What plug-in solar is and how it differs from traditional rooftop solar

• Whether portable solar is safe and what proper setup looks like

• What it can realistically power and what expectations to have

• Who plug-in solar is best for, including renters, condo owners, and shaded properties

• Typical cost ranges and common misconceptions about savings

• Where panels can be placed, such as patios, balconies, or backyards

• California regulations, interconnection concerns, and adoption challenges

• What the future of portable solar could look like over the next several years

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Thinking about moving out of California? Do not make a move until you hear this.

In this episode of the Kern County Real Estate Review, Laurie McCarty breaks down what you need to know before you relocate, with two guests who bring real, on-the-ground perspective from the place many Californians are moving to.

Laurie is joined by Margaret Edmonston of The McCarty Group, who recently relocated to South Carolina and now helps clients both in California and in South Carolina, and Kelly Kommel, Associate Broker with Rawls Realty.

Together, they cover the mistakes that cost relocating buyers the most, what to think through before you do anything else, how to avoid falling in love with the wrong area based on online browsing, how timing works when you are selling in California and buying out of state, and the key differences California buyers should expect in contracts, inspections, closing timelines, and home features.

If moving out of California is even a possibility this year, this episode will help you plan smarter and avoid expensive surprises._____________________________

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When a home insurance claim happens, the process can feel overwhelming fast, and the first steps you take can affect your settlement, timeline, and stress level.

In this episode of the Kern County Real Estate Review, Laurie McCarty is joined by Chris Mooney of Waypoint Adjusting to explain what a public adjuster is, how a public adjuster differs from the insurance company’s adjuster, and why homeowners hire one to help with property damage claims. They cover what the claims process looks like from start to finish, the most common types of homeowners insurance claims (fire, wildfire, smoke damage, water damage, and more), and the mistakes homeowners make early on that can accidentally hurt a claim.

You will also learn what “covered” really means, what to watch for in your homeowners policy, where claims delays usually happen, and what to consider before accepting a quick settlement. If you have ever wondered whether to bring in a public adjuster on day one, after a denial, or somewhere in the middle, this conversation breaks it down in plain English.

Keywords: public adjuster, homeowners insurance claim help, insurance claim settlement, fire claim, wildfire claim, smoke damage claim, water damage claim, denied insurance claim, California homeowners insurance, FAIR Plan, property damage claim, Waypoint Adjusting, Kern County Real Estate Review.

New year, new rules — and in California, those rules can change real estate fast. In this episode of the Kern County Real Estate Review, Laurie McCarty breaks down the most important new California housing and real estate laws taking effect in 2026 and what they mean in real life for homeowners, renters, landlords, investors, and real estate professionals.

From tenant and landlord updates that affect everyday rental situations, to ADU and SB 9 changes that can impact equity and income strategy, to permitting “shot-clock” reforms meant to reduce approval delays — this is the 2026 legal update listeners will want before making a move this year. Laurie also covers the big-picture housing policies shaping supply, density, and approvals across the state, plus a key transparency update for listings involving digitally altered or AI-modified photos.

If you live in Bakersfield, Kern County, or anywhere in California and you plan to buy, sell, rent, invest, or build in 2026, this episode will help you understand what changed, why it matters, and what to watch next.

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2026 is not shaping up to be a “crash year.” It’s shaping up to be a clarity year.

In this episode of the Kern County Real Estate Review, Laurie McCarty shares her annual predictions for what buyers and sellers should really expect in the year ahead—joined by local mortgage lender Christy White to bring the lending perspective into the conversation.

Before the forecasts, Laurie also breaks down a headline that sounds almost too good to be true: Martha Stewart launching prefab home designs with price tags starting around $150,000—and what that number doesn’t include.

In this episode, we break down:• Why more people may finally stop waiting for the “perfect time”• What will separate the homes that sell smoothly from the ones that sit• The pricing and presentation mistakes that matter more in a selective market• What affordability could look like in 2026—and what might actually move the needle• The key lending factors that buyers will feel most this year

If you’re planning a move in 2026 (or trying to understand what the next year may really look like in Kern County), this episode brings the kind of practical clarity you won’t get from national headlines.