tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27990797210886399752024-02-19T04:46:41.515-08:00« Janice Lee Real Estate »Janice Lee has been involved in real estate for fourteen years and is in the top 1% of all San Francisco Bay Area residential real estate agents in terms of sales and completed over 400 transactions. She is Top 23 Coldwell Banker San Francisco Peninsula Agent, #1 Agent in her Sunset office and ranked #15 Nationwide with the Asian Real Estate Association of America. DRE #01720205Janice Lee - Coldwell Bankerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17071425614199511293noreply@blogger.comBlogger458125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799079721088639975.post-35322112869903576862020-05-06T18:30:00.000-07:002020-05-06T18:30:23.511-07:00Pandemic-Friendly Tips for Selling Your House<h2 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 3.6rem; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 22px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Pandemic-Friendly Tips for Selling Your House</strong></span></h2>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">At first glance, it might appear that a home sale is impossible during a worldwide pandemic. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Check out these resources to help you navigate a successful home sale, regardless of what COVID-19 sends your way.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Technology Is Your Friend</span></strong></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">In one sense, the pandemic couldn’t have come along at a better point in history. Since our age has the advantages of technology, we can do things to accommodate home sellers that no generation before could consider.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">● <span> </span><a href="https://www.followupboss.com/blog/real-estate-listing-websites-search-engines" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Go online</a><span> </span>to explore the real estate market in your area.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">● Consider adding<span> </span><a href="https://www.landhub.com/land-news/a-quick-guide-for-using-drones-to-sell-your-property/" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">drones</a><span> </span>to your arsenal of home-selling tech, since it’s a great way to present your property from unique perspectives.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">● Hubspot suggests you ease staging woes with well-chosen<span> </span><a href="https://blog.hubspot.com/sales/best-virtual-staging-software" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">apps for virtual staging</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">● Prepare your home for<span> </span><a href="https://www.homeadvisor.com/r/how-to-stage-photograph-your-own-home-and-give-virtual-tours/" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">presenting it virtually</a><span> </span>to buyers via photography and virtual tours.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Safe Showing Practices</span></strong></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Attracting buyers is one thing, but what if they want to take a closer look at your home? There are ways to do it safely, whether it’s in person or virtually.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">● House hunters can schedule<span> </span><a href="https://propertyspark.com/top-11-most-innovative-real-estate-virtual-tour-companies/" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">live virtual tours</a><span> </span>with a real estate agent, which is both convenient and safe.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">● You can even host a<span> </span><a href="https://rismedia.com/2020/04/12/virtual-open-house/" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">virtual open house</a><span> </span>event.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">● After the tour, a<span> </span><a href="https://cleaningproductreviews.info/coronavirus-cleaning-tips-to-keep-your-home-free-of-covid-19/" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">thorough disinfection</a><span> </span>ensures the safety of you and your loved ones.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Nitty Gritty Details</span></strong></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Thanks to your preparation and great use of technology, you’re likely to have an offer soon! Of course, home sales and purchases are major financial decisions, and when it’s time to sign on the dotted line, you can even tackle those aspects of your transaction safely.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">● When it’s time for you to do some house hunting of your own, you can use the internet for<span> </span><a href="https://www.janiceleehomes.com/finance/" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">prequalifying</a><span> </span>on your next mortgage.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">● The home inspection is a vital part of the selling and buying process.<span> </span><a href="https://www.homeinspector.org/Resources-News/Covid-19-Home-Inspections" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Proper precautions</a><span> </span>ensure everyone stays safe.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">● Even during lockdown, Alta points out that there are safe<span> </span><a href="https://blog.alta.org/2020/04/title-industry-delivers-with-curbside-drive-through-closing-options-title-and-settlement-companies-across-the-country-have.html" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">ways to complete</a><span> </span>your closing paperwork.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">If it’s time to sell your home, you have options as technology and safety precautions can ensure your success even during the pandemic.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px;">By Alice Robertson.</span></div>
Janice Lee - Coldwell Bankerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17071425614199511293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799079721088639975.post-50538103392332564532020-04-19T12:41:00.000-07:002020-04-19T12:41:21.734-07:00Think This Is a Housing Crisis?<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Think This Is a Housing Crisis?</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Think Again. </span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />With all the unanswered questions caused by COVID-19 and the economic slowdown we’re experiencing across the country today, many are asking if the housing market is in trouble. For those who remember 2008, it’s logical to ask that question.<br /><br />Many of us experienced financial hardships, lost homes, and were out of work during the Great Recession – the recession that started with a housing and mortgage crisis. Today, we face a very different challenge: an external health crisis that has caused a pause in much of the economy and a major shutdown of many parts of the country.<br /><br />Let’s look at five things we know about today’s housing market that were different in 2008.<br /><br />1. Appreciation<br /><br />When we look at appreciation in the visual below, there’s a big difference between the 6 years prior to the housing crash and the most recent 6-year period of time. Leading up to the crash, we had much higher appreciation in this country than we see today. In fact, the highest level of appreciation most recently is below the lowest level we saw leading up to the crash. Prices have been rising lately, but not at the rate they were climbing back when we had runaway appreciation.<br /><br />2. Mortgage Credit<br /><br />The Mortgage Credit Availability Index is a monthly measure by the Mortgage Bankers Association that gauges the level of difficulty to secure a loan. The higher the index, the easier it is to get a loan; the lower the index, the harder. Today we’re nowhere near the levels seen before the housing crash when it was very easy to get approved for a mortgage. After the crash, however, lending standards tightened and have remained that way leading up to today.<br /><br />3. Number of Homes for Sale<br /><br />One of the causes of the housing crash in 2008 was an oversupply of homes for sale. Today, as shown in the next image, we see a much different picture. We don’t have enough homes on the market for the number of people who want to buy them. Across the country, we have less than 6 months of inventory, an undersupply of homes available for interested buyers.<br /><br />4. Use of Home Equity<br /><br />The chart below shows the difference in how people are accessing the equity in their homes today as compared to 2008. In 2008, consumers were harvesting equity from their homes (through cash-out refinances) and using it to finance their lifestyles. Today, consumers are treating the equity in their homes much more cautiously.<br /><br />5. Home Equity Today<br /><br />Today, 53.8% of homes across the country have at least 50% equity. In 2008, homeowners walked away when they owed more than what their homes were worth. With the equity homeowners have now, they’re much less likely to walk away from their homes.<br /><br />Bottom Line<br /><br />The COVID-19 crisis is causing different challenges across the country than the ones we faced in 2008. Back then, we had a housing crisis; today, we face a health crisis. What we know now is that housing is in a much stronger position today than it was in 2008. It is no longer the center of the economic slowdown. Rather, it could be just what helps pull us out of the downturn.<br /><br />Source: Keeping Current Matters</span></div>
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Janice Lee - Coldwell Bankerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17071425614199511293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799079721088639975.post-34250152655692164832020-04-13T11:47:00.000-07:002020-04-13T11:47:08.921-07:00FINANCIAL RELIEF TO EMPLOYER, EMPLOYEE AND INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR<h1 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 3.6rem; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">FINANCIAL RELIEF TO EMPLOYER, EMPLOYEE AND INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR</span></h1>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed on March 27 to provide financial relief to small business owners, independent contractors and other unemployed Americans. The Act was unprecedented in size and was passed quickly through Congress to speed relief to those harmed by the COVID-19 crisis. There are many ambiguous provisions in the law that will be clarified by rule-making at the federal and state agencies.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">April 6 Updates</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">The SBA has announced that lenders may begin processing loan applications as soon as April 3, 2020 for small businesses, and April 10, 2020 for independent contractors and the self-employed. If you need assistance finding a PPP lender, SBA has created a “<a href="https://www.sba.gov/paycheckprotection/find" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Lender Match</a>” tool that allows you to search for lenders based on your Zip Code.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">As of April 6, Wells Fargo has stopped taking PPP loan applications. Please use the “Lender Match” tool to find another lender in your area.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Additionally, EDD provided additional guidance on their efforts to implement the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program to provide unemployment compensation for independent contractors and others not served by the traditional unemployment compensation system. </span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Those programs into three categories:</span></strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"> </span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">· <a href="https://www.carcovidupdates.org/relief-faq-for-agents" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Loan Programs from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)</a></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">· <a href="https://www.carcovidupdates.org/relief-faq-for-agents" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Unemployment Compensation for Agents – PUA Program</a></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">· <a href="https://www.carcovidupdates.org/relief-faq-for-agents" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Other Assistance</a></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Loan Programs from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)</span></strong></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has several loan programs that may benefit business owners and /or independent contractor whose business has been adversely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. The information below will help salespersons determine if they are eligible for any of these programs, as well as which program may be the best option for their circumstances.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: red; font-size: 18px;">Watch out for SBA loan scams, which have been on the rise since the release of the CARES Act.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">What assistance is available for small businesses from the SBA?</span></strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">The federal government, through the SBA, is providing significant relief for small businesses suffering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">· Paycheck Protection Program Loans (PPP)</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">· Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL)</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">· SBA Express Bridge Loans (EBL)</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Which of the SBA loans should I apply for?</span></strong></div>
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<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">As described below, Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans are provided on very favorable terms, and they may be the best option for most small business owners. Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) also remain an excellent option. If you need immediate financial relief, requesting an EIDL emergency grant or arranging an SBA Express Bridge Loan (EBLs) (discussed below) with your lender are good options.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Can I apply for both a PPP loan and an EIDL loan?</span></strong></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Yes – but borrowers cannot take out an EIDL and a PPP loan for the same purposes. You could, if desired, get a PPP loan to cover lost income and other costs that are forgivable under the PPP, and then get an EIDL loan to cover some of your other expenses. <strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">You should carefully review the options available to select the SBA loans that will be the best fit for your needs and circumstances.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">If a small business owner has already applied for or received an EIDL loan related to COVID-19 before April 3, 2020 and used the loan proceeds to cover payroll costs, the small business owner might be able to refinance the EIDL into a PPP loan for purposes of loan forgiveness. Remaining portions of the EIDL, for purposes other than those laid out as eligible for loan forgiveness under the PPP loan, will remain a non-forgivable loan. Recipients of the EIDL emergency grant will have that amount subtracted from the amount forgiven under the PPP loan.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">What is a Paycheck Protection Program loan, and who qualifies?</span></strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act has created the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), an expansion of SBA’s 7(a) loan program for providing financial assistance to small businesses.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Businesses with fewer than 500 employees — including sole proprietors, independent contractors, and other self-employed individuals — all qualify for PPP loans.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Borrowers are required to make a good faith certification that they have been affected by COVID-19 and will use funds to maintain payroll and to cover other debt obligations. </span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">How much money can I borrow with a PPP loan, and what can I use the money for?</span></strong></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">SBA will loan borrowers up to $10 million.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">What are the benefits of a PPP loan?</span></strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">PPP loans are offered on highly favorable terms for borrowers: They are forgivable, they are guaranteed by the government, and payments are deferred. Additionally, no collateral is required to obtain a loan, and there is no personal guarantee requirement.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">“Loan forgiveness” means that you are not required to repay your loan. Borrowers are eligible for loan forgiveness, in an amount equal to what the borrower spent during an eight-week period within the covered period (defined below), for the following expenses: (1) payroll costs; (2) interest payment on any mortgage incurred prior to February 15, 2020; (3) payment of rent on any lease in force prior to February 15, 2020; and (4) payment on any utility for which service began before February 15, 2020. According to the SBA, due to likely high subscription in the program, it is anticipated that not more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the forgiven amount may be for non-payroll costs. The covered period during which expenses can be forgiven extends from February 15, 2020 to June 30, 2020. Borrowers can choose which 8 weeks they want to count towards the covered period, which can start as early as February 15, 2020. In order to obtain loan forgiveness, you will need to carefully document your use of the loan proceeds. This includes:</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">· 1099-MISC form documenting your receipt of the loan proceeds.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">· Receipts demonstrating use of loan proceeds for mortgage interest, rent, and/or utility payments.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Borrowers will work with lenders to verify covered expenses and the proper amount of forgiveness. If the full principal of the PPP loan is forgiven, the borrower is not responsible for the interest accrued in the 8-week covered period. The remainder of the loan that is not forgiven (if any) will operate according to the loan terms agreed upon by you and the lender.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">“Government guarantee” of a loan means that the government assumes the debt obligation for the loan if the borrower defaults. A government guarantees reduces the risk to the borrower. PPP loans are 100% guaranteed by the government through December 31, 2020. After that, PPP loans are 75% guaranteed for loans exceeding $150,000 and 85% guaranteed for loans equal to or less than $150,000. PPP loans will have a 1.00% fixed interest rate.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">“Payment deferment” means that you are not required to immediately begin making payments to the lender. Borrowers will receive complete payment deferment for PPP loans for six months; however, interest will continue to accrue over this period. The loan will be due two years after its origination.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Where can I apply for a PPP loan?</span></strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">The United States Small Business Administration (SBA) delegates the authority to make PPP loans to numerous lenders throughout the country. These lenders will be handling the PPP application process. Because PPP is an expansion of the already-existent 7(a) program, the financial institutions that offer 7(a) loans will be offering PPP loans as well. There are thousands of banks that already participate in the SBA’s lending programs, including numerous community banks. All of the largest banks (such as JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America) will be offering PPP loans. Check with your bank - If they currently offer SBA 7(a) loans, they will be offering PPP loans very soon. <span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: red;">Note: As of April 6, Wells Fargo has stopped taking PPP loan applications. Please use the “<a href="https://www.sba.gov/paycheckprotection/find" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Lender Match</a>” tool to find another lender in your area. (Wells Fargo may have reopened their applications again)</span></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">The SBA has announced that lenders may begin processing loan applications as soon as April 3, 2020 for small businesses, and April 10, 2020 for independent contractors and the self-employed.</strong> If you choose to apply for assistance, work with your lender to apply as soon as possible. The SBA has released a sample application form if you want to see the information that will be requested from you when you apply: <a href="https://www.sba.gov/document/sba-form--paycheck-protection-program-ppp-sample-application-form" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.sba.gov/ document/sba-form--paycheck- protection-program-ppp-sample- application-form</a>. <strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">However, please contact your lender to apply for a PPP loan and to obtain the real application form. You cannot apply for PPP loans on the SBA website</strong>. The deadline to apply for a PPP loan is June 30th, 2020.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">If you need assistance finding a PPP lender, SBA has created a “<a href="https://www.sba.gov/paycheckprotection/find" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Lender Match</a>” tool that allows you to search for lenders based on your Zip Code.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">How long will it take for me to get a PPP loan after I apply?</span></strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">According to the Wall Street Journal, it usually takes SBA around one month to process a 7(a) loan. However, government officials have stated that the PPP process will be significantly expedited.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Will I need to pay income tax on the PPP loan proceeds if I use the proceeds as income replacement?</span></strong></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Any forgiven loan amounts under the SBA 7(a) PPP program will not count as income for the borrower for tax purposes.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">What is an Economic Injury Disaster Loan, and who qualifies?</span></strong></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) are targeted, low-interest loans to small businesses that have been severely impacted by the coronavirus. They are currently available to small businesses with fewer than 500 employees, including sole proprietors, independent contractors and other self-employed individuals.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">How much money can I borrow with an EIDL?</span></strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">The CARES Act establishes an emergency grant to allow an eligible applicant who has applied for an EIDL to request an advance on that loan of up to $10,000. SBA must then distribute the emergency grant within three days. An applicant would not be required to repay the emergency grant even if they are subsequently denied an EIDL loan. Other resources may refer to an EIDL emergency grant as (1) an EIDLA; (2) an Emergency Economic Injury Grant; or (3) an EIDL Grant. An SBA official has stated in an interview that whether you receive the full $10,000 EIDL advance depends on the size of the business. Businesses with fewer than 10 employees and independent contractors are not going to receive $10,000. </span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">When applying for an EIDL loan, the applicant must certify that the emergency grant funds will be used to provide paid sick leave to employees unable to work due to the direct effect of the COVID–19 pandemic, maintain payroll to retain employees during business disruptions or substantial slowdowns, meet increased costs to obtain materials unavailable from the applicant’s original source due to interrupted supply chains, make rent or mortgage payments and repay obligations that cannot be met due to revenue losses.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">The full amount of the loan can be up to $2 million, with interest rates of 3.75% for contractors. You cannot request the specific amount of the loan — instead, the SBA determines how much you can borrow using a formula intended to approximate six months of your operating expenses. Keep in mind that although the emergency grant does not need to be repaid, <strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">the remainder of the EIDL loan is not forgivable</strong>. Repayment plans are available — up to 30 years — as determined on a case-by-case basis. EIDLs may be used for working capital purposes, including payments of fixed debts, payroll, and accounts payable. They may not be used to refinance long term debt.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Where can I apply for an EIDL, and what information do I need?</span></strong></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">A streamlined online application for EIDL loans has been made available by SBA at the following link: <a href="https://covid19relief.sba.gov/" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://covid19relief. sba.gov/</a></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">You will need to provide the following information as part of the application process:</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">· General information about the business, including EIN (or SSN for a sole proprietorship)</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">· Gross revenues for the 12 months prior to the date of the disaster (which SBA designates as Jan. 31, 2020)</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">· Cost of goods sold for the 12 months prior to the date of the disaster</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">· Personal and contact information for business owners</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">· Information about where to send funds (bank name, account number, and routing number)</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">When applying, you will need to supply the following documents:</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">· SBA Form 5 (or SBA Form 5C if you are a sole proprietor)</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">· Tax Information Authorization (IRS Form 4506T)</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">· Complete copies of your most recent Federal income tax returns</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">· Personal Financial Statement (SBA Form 413) completed, signed and dated by the applicant</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">· Schedule of Liabilities listing all fixed debts (SBA Form 2202 may be used)</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">How long will it take for me to get an EIDL after I apply?</span></strong></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">EIDL emergency grants must be disbursed within three days of receipt of the application. According to the New York Times, it typically takes one to two weeks for the SBA to make a decision on an application, and up to a week after that for the full loan check to be disbursed.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Where can I find more information about EIDLs?</span></strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">The SBA has an online guide, which is available here: </span></div>
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<a href="https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">https://www.sba.gov/funding- programs/disaster-assistance</span></a></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">What is an SBA Express Bridge Loan, and who qualifies?</span></strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">The Express Bridge Loan (EBL) program authorizes SBA express lenders to provide expedited guaranteed bridge loan financing on an emergency basis for disaster-related purposes to small businesses (including sole proprietors, independent contractors and other self-employed individuals) while those small businesses apply for and await long-term financing. Effective March 25, 2020, SBA expanded the program to apply nationwide. Independent contractors who have been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 emergency are eligible. The contractor must have been engaging in business when the declared disaster commenced and must meet all other 7(a) loan eligibility requirements.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">SBA express lenders are only allowed to make EBL loans to eligible borrowers with which the lender had an existing banking relationship on or before the date of the applicable disaster. Check with your bank to determine if it is currently offering EBLs and to see if you qualify. Applying for an EBL will be done through your lender.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">How much money can I borrow with an EBL, and what are the terms of the loan?</span></strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">You can borrow up to $25,000, which can be used for “disaster-related purposes” to support the survival and/or reopening of your business. The maximum EBL loan term is seven years. The lender may require the EBL borrower to pay the loan, in part or in full, if the borrower is approved for long-term disaster financing (such as an EIDL) that allows loan proceeds to be used for EBL loan reimbursement.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">How long will it take for me to get an EBL after I apply?</span></strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Because an EBL loan is a bridge loan, first disbursement of the EBL loan must occur within 45 days of the lender’s receipt of an SBA loan number. If the first disbursement is not made within 90 days from receipt of an SBA loan number, the EBL loan will be canceled.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Where can I find more information about EBLs?</span></strong></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">SBA’s EBL program guide is available here:</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.sba.gov/document/support--express-bridge-loan-pilot-program-guide" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">https://www.sba.gov/document/ support--express-bridge-loan- pilot-program-guide</span></a></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Unemployment Compensation for Independent Contractor – PUA Program</span></strong></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">The CARES Act also includes a new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program expanding unemployment benefits eligibility to business owners, self-employed workers, freelancers, and independent contractors and part-time workers. This means if you’re unable to work as a direct result of the pandemic and you aren’t eligible for ordinary unemployment insurance benefits, you may be entitled to PUA benefits.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">What are some of the criteria an independent contractor needs to meet to qualify for PUA?</span></strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">· Person isn’t traditionally eligible for unemployment compensation because he/she is an independent contractor or is self-employed.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">· Person has exhausted any other unemployment benefits, if applicable.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">· Person isn’t receiving paid sick leave or other paid leave benefits.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">· Person doesn’t have the ability to work remotely with pay.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">· Person is unable to work because of COVID-19.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">What does it mean to be unable to work because of COVID-19?</span></strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"> </span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Here are some circumstances that constitute inability to work due to COVID-19:</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">· You can’t reach your place of work because of a quarantine imposed as a direct result of the COVID-19 public health emergency.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">· You or a household member have been diagnosed with COVID-19.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">· You’re providing care for a family member who has been diagnosed with COVID–19.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">· You’ve been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">· You had to quit your job as a direct result of COVID–19.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">· Your place of employment is closed as a direct result of the COVID–19 public health emergency.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">· You have a child who’s unable to attend school that’s closed as a direct result of COVID-19.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">· You have become the head of household or breadwinner. </span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">· You have been forced to suspend operations as a direct result of the COVID-19 public health emergency, such as if an emergency order restricting movement that makes continued operations unsustainable. Or the COVID-19 public health emergency has severely limited your ability to continue performing your customary work activities and has thereby forced you to suspend such activities.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">· The Secretary of Labor has discretion to establish additional criteria, meaning, these listed reasons may be further limited or possibly expanded.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Do I have to be completely unemployed to qualify?</span></strong></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">No. You may receive PUA benefits based on being unemployed, partially unemployed or unable or unavailable to work. The California Employment Development Department (“EDD”) defines partial unemployment as a period when a worker was employed by a regular employer, worked less than his or her normal customary full-time hours because of lack of full-time work, and there was no severance of the employer-employee relationship. PUA benefits may be reduced by any partial earnings.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">How much PUA will I get if I'm eligible?</span></strong></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Benefit amounts are calculated based on previous earnings, using a formula from the Disaster Unemployment Assistance program under the Stafford Act.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Those who are eligible for PUA can also receive $600 per week through July 31, 2020, under the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">States may not be ready to process claims for freelancers, gig workers, and independent contractors for awhile, but workers will be eligible for retroactive benefits and can receive benefits for up to 39 weeks.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Are PUA benefits likely to be taxable?</span></strong></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Yes. Regular unemployment insurance is counted as income and taxed on individual tax returns, and these expansions of unemployment insurance are also likely to be counted as taxable income. Taxpayers will likely be required to disclose all of their unemployment insurance benefits when they file their taxes.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">How long will assistance be provided?</span></strong></div>
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<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Up to 39 weeks (between January 27, 2020 and December 31, 2020). However, the $600 additional per week benefit will only be available through July 31, 2020. </span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">There could be an additional 13 weeks of unemployment benefits through December 31, 2020, to help those who remain unemployed after weeks of state unemployment benefits are no longer available.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">How are the criteria for PUA eligibility checked?</span></strong></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">The PUA requires you to self-certify. In order to ensure the efficacy and integrity of the process however, the self-certification paperwork will include 1) a certification under penalty of perjury; 2) a warning that lying about meeting any of the listed criteria may be fraud; and 3) a statement that fraud is subject to criminal prosecution.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Can the EDD audit you?</span></strong></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Yes. Under the PUA program, each state must take reasonable and customary precautions to deter and detect fraud, such as, for example, a random audit of a sample of claims to detect fraud.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">How do I file a claim?</span></strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Clear guidance has yet to be released. It appears the administration of PUA funds will be administered through the existing state agencies as soon as the federal government unlocks the funds. In California, claim filing and administration of PUA funds will probably be through the California EDD. C.A.R. will provide step-by-step guidance on how to apply for PUA funds as soon as the application process is announced.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Will there be a waiting period to apply?</span></strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"> </span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">No. California will waive the one-week waiting period, but it isn’t clear as to how long it’ll take for payments to be approved and processed.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Can I get PUA if I'm receiving social security benefits?</span></strong></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Yes. In California receipt of social security benefits are not reportable to the EDD as wages and do not reduce any unemployment benefits received.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">When should I expect to receive my first PUA payment and payments thereafter?</span></strong></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">If your claim is approved, it will likely take at least 3 weeks (if not longer) before you receive your first PUA payment (with the exception primarily of wage and identity issues). But after that first benefit payment, you may have to answer basic certification questions every two weeks to receive bi-weekly payments as long as you remain eligible.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Three New Unemployment Programs Under the CARES Act</span></strong></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">In addition to the PUA program, the CARES Act extends unemployment benefits through two other initiatives: the <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/pandemic-emergency-unemployment-compensation-peuc-definition-4802046" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)</a> program and the <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/federal-pandemic-unemployment-compensation-fpuc-definition-4802039" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC)</a><span> </span>program. FPUC is a flat amount given to people who are receiving unemployment insurance, including those who get a partial unemployment benefit check. It applies to people who receive benefits under PUA and PEUC.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Other Assistance</span></strong></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">If I get sick with COVID-19, is paid sick leave available to me?</span></strong></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Yes, in the form of tax credits. Under the newly enacted federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), employees who must self-isolate or are diagnosed with COVID-19 are now able to claim a tax credit for two weeks of sick leave.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">What if I need to care for an ill family member or a child whose school or daycare has closed?</span></strong></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">The two weeks of tax-creditable sick leave provided under the FFCRA, discussed above, can be used for these purposes.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Are disability benefits available to me if I get sick or need to care for a sick family member? </span></strong></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">It depends. If you have enrolled in California’s optional Disability Insurance Elective Coverage (DIEC) program for self-employed individuals and independent contractors, you may be eligible to receive disability or paid family leave benefits if you are unable to work due to being sick or if you are caring for a sick family member. More information about the DIEC program can be found here: <a href="https://www.edd.ca.gov/disability/Self-Employed.htm" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.edd.ca.gov/ disability/Self-Employed.htm</a>. If you have not enrolled in the DIEC, however, as an independent contractor you are not eligible for disability benefits.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Are unemployment benefits available to me if I get sick and am unable to work?</span></strong></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Yes. As discussed above, the new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program (PUA) expands unemployment benefits to workers, including independent contractors, who are unemployed or partially unemployed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. See here for details. Additionally, if you were previously an employee instead of an independent contractor, or have a side job where you are an employee, you may be eligible for unemployment benefits from the State of California if your employer paid taxes for such benefits. You should file an unemployment claim with the California EDD here, and they will determine your eligibility.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Direct Payments to Taxpayers</span></strong></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Additionally, the bill provides tax rebate payments of $1,200 per adult and $500 per child to taxpayers whose adjusted gross income was $75,000 or less for individuals or double that amount for joint return filers. For income levels above those thresholds, the payments would be phased out. Individual taxpayers with annual gross incomes above $99,000 and joint filers with annual gross incomes above $198,000 are not expected to receive any payments.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: green; font-size: 22px;">Financial Resources for Rental Housing Property Owners</span></strong></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">The ongoing economic crisis resulting from COVID-19, as well as the passing of eviction moratoria by the Governor and many local jurisdictions, has created a number of financial issues for rental property owners. While large corporate property owners can often absorb the loss of rent for a short period of time, it can be a substantial hardship for non-corporate owners.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">For guidance on state and local eviction and rent moratoria, as well as other rental housing issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, all of the information provided below entails dealing with your loan servicers. Please note that the demand for information, coupled with the personnel issues created by Covid-19, will likely require waiting on hold, or for an email reply, for long periods of time.</span></div>
Janice Lee - Coldwell Bankerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17071425614199511293noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799079721088639975.post-94483828518713732020-04-01T21:06:00.000-07:002020-04-01T21:06:57.484-07:00Thank you to all the generous donors<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you to all the generous donors of n95 masks, masks, wipes, shoe covers, gloves! Picked up and dropped off at Kaiser today. I can pick up any other donations you have. The medical staff still need more supplies especially n95 masks. Thank you Kitty Lee for boxes of shoe covers, Seriri Tsang wipes, Anonymous donor of n95s and gloves, Sam Lee and Cristi for a ton of wipes, masks ++, Sabrina Gee for shoe covers and wipes, Alex Clark, Nancy Weber, Leah Tracy for shoe covers.</span></div>
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Janice Lee - Coldwell Bankerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17071425614199511293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799079721088639975.post-32226391681321441182020-03-10T12:05:00.000-07:002020-03-10T12:05:14.232-07:00How to transform a dorm room into something special<h1 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 3.6rem; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 20px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">How to transform a dorm room into something special</strong></span></h1>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 20px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"> </strong></span><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xpWIA_1hMug/XmfkmUtNYII/AAAAAAACDKE/GIQoy-Ktb7sHLS-jV7EXPANcmJGinBDmQCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/blog%2B3.8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1215" data-original-width="810" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xpWIA_1hMug/XmfkmUtNYII/AAAAAAACDKE/GIQoy-Ktb7sHLS-jV7EXPANcmJGinBDmQCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/blog%2B3.8.jpg" width="213" /></a></h1>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">A few weekends ago, I spoke with a lovely mother-daughter duo who were in shopping for some new bedding. The daughter was headed to Kentucky for her freshman year and they were searching for the perfect shade of blue to show off her new school pride. It got me thinking about how bedding can transform a cold, impersonal room and how fun it could be to showcase collegiate looks and dorm room design tips.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">There is so much to get ready when you are moving out on your own for the first time. I remember being so excited to start my journey at the University of Missouri-Columbia (don’t hold that against me, Kansas fans) as an “official adult” (in my head at least), and the first thing on my journey to adulthood was creating my living space. I was ready to leave behind my boy band posters and childhood bedroom for a life of style and sophistication — then I saw what a dorm room actually looked like. As you know, dorm rooms can be very impersonal and intimidating at first, but even the most beautiful art starts with a blank canvas.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">How does one turn a new home-away-from-home into a space that is uniquely hers? Besides the obvious (although often limited) floor and wall space, most dorms are equipped with a basic bed, desk and chest of drawers. While there is not much you can do about the generic, standard-issue furniture, there are touches you can add that will make a big impact on those pieces. Even though we’re designing a space that will last for a semester or a year, many of the pieces we talk about below will live far beyond the dorm days.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Let’s start with bedding. To match or not to match? You can make either option work beautifully. I can’t resist a set of matching twin beds; I love using symmetry in design and in small spaces to help keep visual clutter to a minimum. Matching beds are easy to put together if you and your roommate have similar tastes. If you don’t, consider sticking with neutrals and just trying to land on an accent fabric that speaks to you both. Add a personal finishing touch with monogrammed pillows.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">If you want to coordinate but not match, consider again sticking with a neutral base for both beds and playing up your favorite patterns in the same color palette in accent pillows and throws. One fun idea: Get two duvets with the same fabric on one side and different but coordinating fabrics on the other. Place them on each bed neutral side up and turn them down for a fun pop of pattern and color. Finish each bed with pillows and throws that coordinate with each duvet.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Perhaps a roommate isn’t part of the equation for you (or you’re not sure who you’re rooming with yet). You can still have a gorgeous bed. Dress up your basic dorm bed with textiles you love. If a DIY headboard isn’t for you, but you still want to cover up the one you’ve been assigned, just add some large pillows — one euro or two king pillows go a long way in helping to hide what you might not want to see. Add a Wilton bedspread — it’s long ruffled drop are great for hiding all of those under-bed storage containers. Finish off your look with a school spirit pillow or two or, of course, a monogrammed lumbar.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">With bedding covered, it’s time for some vignettes. We love vignettes styled on trays for any space, but they are fabulous and especially functional in a dorm room where you may need to move things from bed top to dresser top to desktop quickly and often. In these spaces especially, don’t shy away from using every day and often-used items in your groupings. Maybe those biochem textbooks will be far more appealing tucked under a trinket tray full of baubles. Add cute containers for your student ID, phone charger and other essentials for student life for a vignette that is practical and pretty.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Let’s shift our focus to the desktop. I spent a lot of time at my desk in school (and I mean a LOT), so this might just be my favorite dorm room element. Desks can be the real “workhorse” of the room; they are where you put in all those study hours, of course, but they also act as a vanity, a “meal prep” station (cheese and crackers counts as a meal, right?), a dinner table and more.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Because you need empty space on a desk to actually do all of the above, don’t pack it full of tiny accessories that will clutter it up. Instead, leave room for all of your essentials and add one or two impactful pieces like a statement lamp and a family photo dressed up in a fancy frame. Both items will look great when it’s time to move into that first apartment, too.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">We can’t forget the aforementioned walls and floors. While nails are a no-go, there are plenty of practical items you can “command strip” to blank walls (my dorm room was practically held together with 3M strips). For instance, instead of a basic mirror and hook, add a fanciful detail like these antiqued mirrored hooks for jewelry and your room key. Pull the whole space together with an indoor/outdoor rug to soften up the space and add an inviting layer that’s easier to clean (at least between<span> </span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">semesters).</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 10px;">By Katie Laughridge</span></strong></div>
Janice Lee - Coldwell Bankerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17071425614199511293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799079721088639975.post-77099786252959379192020-03-01T10:10:00.000-08:002020-03-01T10:10:12.532-08:00Landscaping the perfect garden: Dream first, budget second<h1 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 3.6rem; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Landscaping the perfect garden: Dream first, budget second</span></strong></h1>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"> </span></strong> </h1>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Do I need to sell one kidney or two? That was the main question I had as we waited for our landscape designer to send over his cost estimate for the plan he’d presented the week before.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">My husband, DC, and I loved the vision Tony Evans created to transform our ho-hum backyard into a place we would actually look forward to coming home to — as opposed to one we hid behind pulled drapes.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">However, before budget realities could dash our dreams – The fountain! The fire feature! The spa! — we indulged in the fantasy of seeing our backyard through the magic spectacles of a professionally rendered design in which almost anything is possible. And we played how much do you think? We bandied about numbers as high as a year of college tuition – for the plan without the pool and spa, which was an option. Adding the pool, we figured, would double the cost. (P.S. We weren’t wrong.)</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">DC had the cardiac paddles ready as I opened the email containing the estimate — and Evans got on the phone to talk me through the initial shock.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">“It’s all phase-able,” Evans said, as I began to digest the numbers. “We can start small, and work a bit at a time.”</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">To prevent hyperventilation, he wisely submitted the cost estimate in three ways: good, better, best. Good, for example, eliminated the pool and used mulch instead of the more expensive beach rock, among other trade-offs.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Although the price estimates were not too far from our calculated guesses, none included must-have features like the wall fountain, the fire bowls, the patio furniture or the lighting. To get that yard, we were going to have to get creative or win the lotto. But this much we knew: Now that we’ve seen what’s possible, we’re not turning back.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">As DC and I mulled which organ to sell, we revisited the factors that Evans considered when designing our yard — or any yard:</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Take inventory</strong>: “When approaching a design, first I look at what the property has that we want to keep,” Evans said. As I looked across our yard, I couldn’t imagine what deserved salvaging. His answer: a couple of trees, a blooming bougainvillea and the fence, which we couldn’t move if we’d wanted to.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Prioritize privacy</strong>: “If people can see you in your backyard, you won’t use it,” he said. To screen the neighbor’s view into our yard, Evans’s plan calls for a row of tall bamboo trees (the kind that don’t send runners) and more hedge material along the back fence.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Downplay negatives</strong>: A good landscape design should play up a property’s strengths and play down its weaknesses, he said. Like every yard, ours had both — including a long garage wall with no windows that needed to be minimized. “On its own, it’s not nice to look at,” said Evans, “but some of best gardens in the world have courtyard gardens up against walls.” His plan calls for covering the wall with fig ivy, putting a fountain against it, and flanking the fountain with generous potted urns, turning a minus into an appealing plus.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Play up positives</strong>: “Similarly, I try to take what’s good – like your view — and make it better,” he said. Our yard’s best feature is the green space it opens onto, which is visible when you walk in the front door. To capitalize on that, Evans developed site lines down the property, and placed eye-catching fire bowls, to draw the eye out.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Create rooms to scale</strong>: When designing outdoor rooms, Evans routinely steals proportions from the home’s interior. If your eating area is 13- by 10-feet, match that outside. Similarly if your living room is 16-by-20, recreate that proportion outdoors. Our yard’s plan turns the covered patio into a living room, offers an eating area off to the side with an adjacent outdoor barbecue station and, completing the triangle, has an entertainment “room” with chairs circling a fire. It fits the home’s proportions, and makes sense.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Design for flow and connection</strong>: Our outdoor dining table currently sits on our covered patio by the back door, interrupting the flow between the house and yard. “It creates a barrier rather than an invitation,” Evans pointed out. His plan moves the table out into the yard, and replaces it with a sitting area you can walk through. Like an indoor floor plan that flows, the outdoor rooms are well connected. From the house, you step into the outdoor living room, then can move to the outdoor dining room and then the hearth room with the fire.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">As you can see, the possibilities for a great yard are practically infinite. I just wish our budget were, too.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 10px;">By MARNI JAMESON</span></strong></div>
Janice Lee - Coldwell Bankerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17071425614199511293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799079721088639975.post-46544567114160101902020-02-25T11:34:00.000-08:002020-02-25T11:34:23.247-08:00How to sell your ‘ugly’ house when no one is biting<h2 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 3.6rem; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">How to sell your ‘ugly’ house when no one is biting</span></b></h2>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">In today’s market, renovated move-in ready properties sell at a premium.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">But what if you can’t or won’t fix up your house? A property that is dated, unrenovated or unloved, can linger on the market for months, pushing the price down.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Fixer-uppers may have been appealing a decade ago, but today they leave buyers cold, said McKenzie Ryan, an agent with Compass in New York City.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">“Ten years ago, most people wanted to add some value and put their own fingerprint on it,” she said. “Now it has been such a shift, particularly with millennial buyers — they want a finished product. They don’t want to put in the sweat equity.”</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">For homeowners without the money or time for a renovation, new options can help sell a property with no out-of-pocket costs.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 20px;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Pre-sale renovations with no upfront cost</b></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Some real estate agencies, like Compass, Coldwell Banker and Keller Williams, are offering renovation services with no upfront costs to their clients. The firms then recoup the cost of the renovation from the price of the home after it sells.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Ryan was hired to sell a two-bedroom, two-bath condo on Manhattan’s Upper West Side after the owners were unable to sell it with another agent at a list price of $1.3 million.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">The feedback the sellers received was that prospective buyers would be more interested in the home if it were updated.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">So, together with the owners, Ryan is fixing it up. Her company’s service, Compass Concierge, fronts the cost of the home improvements. The condo will be painted, the floors will be sanded and stained, kitchen cabinets will be painted and receive new hardware, and a bathroom will get a new vanity, flooring and a light fixture. Once all the renovations are complete, the condo will go back on the market for $1.395 million — a price that will more than make up for the cost of renovations.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">“When I’ve done this with properties, my listings have sold quicker and at a higher price compared to similar properties in the building,” Ryan said.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 20px;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Sell quickly with no showings</b></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Many investors — called instant buyers or ibuyers — advertise quick cash offers for “ugly houses,” often at below-market prices. They flip the properties for a profit, saving sellers the hassle of showings and costly renovations. Even real estate firms, like Zillow and Redfin, have ibuyer divisions that will make a cash offer on a home— often sight unseen — based on the specific location and attributes of the property.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Sundae, a real estate company based in southern California, buys homes with a quick cash offer, and then renovates and flips them. After a representative does an in-person evaluation of a home that is then analyzed by a construction cost expert and a valuation expert, Sundae makes the seller a cash offer.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Homeowners can sell as-is, with no fees, repairs, cleanups or showings and also get up to a $10,000 cash advance from the sale upfront to help with the move, if needed. Some closings have happened in as little as 10 days.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">“When people come to us we evaluate three things: Do you have the money for renovations? Do you have the time? Do you have the know-how?” said Josh Stech, CEO at Sundae. “If the home needs a little bit too much work, selling to Sundae may be a good option.”</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">And Stech said, people sometimes need a hand to hold, since a quick sale is often brought on by an unplanned life event.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">“Often people are in duress,” Stech said. “They are going through a transaction that is unfamiliar and high stakes and typically there is a relocation, divorce or death involved.”</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Selling the home with no showings — especially for people with serious pet issues, a history of hoarding or estate sales in which family members may not be nearby — can be the most appealing part for some sellers.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">For many people, he said, it matters what happens to the house even as they walk away.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">“They want a family to live there,” said Stech. “They want to see that the house has the kids and dog running around the backyard like they remember from 30 years ago. They just can’t do the work to get it there.”</span></div>
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<b style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 10px;">By Anna Bahney</span></b></div>
Janice Lee - Coldwell Bankerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17071425614199511293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799079721088639975.post-57125149894804147332020-02-14T11:17:00.001-08:002020-02-14T11:17:33.754-08:00What further negotiations can take place after an offer is accepted?<h2 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 3.6rem; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">What further negotiations can take place after an offer is accepted?</span></strong></h2>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"> </span></strong></h1>
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<h1 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 3.6rem; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"> </span></strong></h1>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">- Once the purchase agreement between buyer and seller has been accepted, there are still items that can come up and require further negotiating. One of the most common is the home inspection - and unless a home is flawless-which few are-there will probably be some negotiations between the parties before the close of escrow.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">The purpose of the home inspection is to find significant defects that would cause a buyer to not want to move forward with the transaction, or, at the very least, have the items repaired. Negotiating repairs after a home inspection should be kept to what is vital, and not previously known prior to writing an offer.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">When negotiating home inspection items, we always recommend a credit at closing, or a price reduction, whenever possible. There is too much uncertainty and stress on seller to do repair work if it can be avoided. The buyer is likely to be particular about the quality of the work, and if not done to their satisfaction, could cause delays. For sellers, it is important to recognize problems that could be issues with anyone, and deal with them-which is why we always recommend pre-sale inspections, prior to listing a property.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">- These days disclosure package are part of any offering. They have anywhere from 150 to more than 250 pages and include such items as inspections, permit records, leases, estoppels, seller questionnaires, warranties and bids for corrective work.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Buyers, and their agents, are asked to review the disclosures prior to submitting an offer so as to be able to make an informed, hopefully non-contingent offer.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">However, once in escrow, changed circumstances may dictate renegotiation: further inspections called for in the pest report did not get done upfront and now reveal unexpected damage; a tenant finally tuns in his estoppel and claims protected status; the sewer lateral backs up; a tree comes down in a storm. This is not the time for the blame game but rather for reaching a prompt, equitable resolution. And this is where good agents shine.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">- Contingencies can be included for inspections, finance, appraisal, or HOA documents, for example. This allows time to continue investigating for any deficiencies, the ability to continue the lender qualification, and protects them in the event that an appraisal is less than the purchase price.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Negotiations can occur if something new is discovered, or if a property does not appraise. Perhaps a credit or a revised price could be options.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">In San Francisco, listing agents often have disclosure packages available during the marketing process, giving buyers the opportunity to review pre-inspections, invite their own inspector/architect, and for them and their agent to review pricing.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">In cases where there are multiple offers, it is not uncommon for buyers to waive these contingencies when they feel confident with the pre-inspection process and confident with their ability to secure financing, even if it doesn’t appraise.</span></div>
Janice Lee - Coldwell Bankerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17071425614199511293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799079721088639975.post-34320935093915104902020-01-31T12:15:00.000-08:002020-01-31T12:15:10.262-08:00Should you walk your dog on the left or the right?<h1 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 3.6rem; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 20px;">Should you walk your dog on the left or the right?</span></h1>
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<h1 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 3.6rem; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 20px;"> </span></h1>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Q</strong>: My dog, Wanda, is taking chemo for lymphoma and fortunately, she’s doing great. I’m trying to get her on nice trail walks several times a week, and this raises a question.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">My habit is to walk on the left side of the trail, with Wanda on leash to my left. This way I’m between Wanda and other oncoming dogs and their people as we pass. Wanda loves everyone and wants to jump up on them and this helps me control her.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">I thought it was customary to walk on the left side, but more often than not, oncoming walkers and joggers position themselves to pass on Wanda’s side. Is there trail etiquette of which I’m unaware?</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">A</strong>: The general rule for walking on trails is to stay to the right and pass on the left. As to which side the dog goes on, show and hunting dogs are trained to stay on their human’s left side, but for most dogs, it doesn’t matter. Experts, however, suggest you pick a side — left or right — and keep to it so that the dog doesn’t accidentally trip you going back and forth.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">My dog seems to prefer the left, but maybe that’s just his politics.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">When encountering another dog, especially one you and your dog don’t know, it is wiser to put yourself between your dog and the passing one. Whether you do that or not, it’s important to pull your dog into your side and keep it on a short leash.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">There are five basic rules of etiquette when it comes to walking your dog. Don’t go onto a neighbor’s yard, lawn, garden or property unless invited; scoop the poop and take it with you; don’t assume everyone likes your dog as much as you do — some people don’t like dogs and some are terrified of them; don’t assume the dog or person you are passing is interested in being friends; and keep your dog on a leash.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">How you choose to pass other dogs and people is not a choice Miss Manners would comment on or criticize. Being safe is the most important thing. I hope Wanda continues to do well with the chemo.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Q</strong>: I put in a very nice winter garden of broccoli, red cabbage, cauliflower, spinach and lettuce. To my distress, some critter has been eating the plants mercilessly. The leaves are often eaten down to the stub.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">I tried to put several bottles of sriracha sauce around the edges of the garden, but that did not seem to work as a repellent. Do you have any idea who could be the villain?</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Is there anything I can do to fight back?</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">A</strong>: To best combat your garden moocher, you need to determine what creature it is. Brassicas — your cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli — can be plagued by cabbage worms that can do some serious damage. Rats also are a common problem, but birds can also eat the plants.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Look for the caterpillars on and in the plants, and be diligent in picking them off.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">If you notice the damage occurring overnight, then you’ve likely got rats. Look for a product that has hot peppers in it along with a wax base that will adhere to the plant in damp weather and discourage the rodents. Covering your plants with row cloth can help protect from birds and insects.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 10px;">By JOAN MORRIS</span></strong></div>
Janice Lee - Coldwell Bankerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17071425614199511293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799079721088639975.post-85095053854802925432020-01-23T07:41:00.000-08:002020-01-23T07:41:32.909-08:00Saving for a Bay Area down payment?<h1 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 3.6rem; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Saving for a Bay Area down payment? This is how long it could take</strong></span></h1>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">New study looks at down payments across the nation</span></h2>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Resolving to become a homeowner in the next few years? Buyers in places like St. Louis and Tampa need only to save a modest amount to make that goal a reality.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">But in the Bay Area, you’ll need a stash.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">According to a new analysis from Realtor.com, would-be homeowners in the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward metro area need to sock away $3,379 a month for five years to cobble together a median down payment of $212,000.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">If that gives you sticker shock, forget the South Bay.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">In the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metro area, where the median home goes for more than $1 million, homebuyers are putting down an average of $265,000. That requires saving $4,224 every month for five years or a whopping $7,170 each month for three years.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">And those figures don’t account for any potential change in home prices. So if the market accelerates, those amounts could rise.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Still, it could be worse.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">“With recent moves toward lower mortgage rates, home buyers have seen slight relief in the last 12 months in high-priced markets,” Realtor.com’s director of economic research, Javier Vivas Castillo, said in an email. “The lower cost of borrowing along with moderating home-price growth, and in some cases price corrections and builder incentives, have opened up the window to more prospective home buyers.”</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Across the 20 or so metro areas Realtor.com analyzed, buyers in the Bay Area are shelling out the largest down payments. The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim region is the next most expensive. Still, with an average home price of $645,000 and an average down payment of $132,000, buyers need to save a relatively modest $2,104 over five years for the standard down payment.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">By comparison, the average U.S. home is worth around $243,000, according to Zillow. In other words, many American homes are worth less than a typical Bay Area down payment.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">According to Realtor.com, there’s also a significant variation in the percentage people put down. Despite sky-high housing costs, buyers in the San Francisco area — home to wealthy tech workers who pull in some of the highest salaries in the nation — typically put down a robust 24 percent.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">“Generally, buyers in denser, higher-priced markets tend to aim for higher down payments as loan risk, interest and requirements tend to increase with higher home-purchase values,” Vivas Castillo said.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">People who put down large down payments can also sometimes avoid buying private mortgage insurance, he added.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Still, “first-time buyers in these markets are particularly forced to be more creative, so scenarios such as BOMAD — bank-of-mom-and-dad — financing, multigenerational mortgages, dual-income, no-kids saving strategies, longer commutes, mortgage helpers and renovations are not uncommon,” Vivas Castillo said.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">In other markets, where housing is relatively affordable but salaries are also lower, people put smaller amounts down. In the Philadelphia-Camden, New Jersey-Wilmington, Delaware area, for instance, buyers are putting down $21,900. That’s eight percent of the median sale price of $260,000.</span></div>
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<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">To calculate the amounts, Realtor.com assumed an interest rate of 1.8 percent on the savings.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">A growing number of Bay Area residents, particularly millennials, say they are considering leaving the region in part because owning a home is no longer a realistic dream. In the Seattle area, a popular destination for people leaving California, the median down payment is $73,000. In the Phoenix area, another popular choice, it’s just $25,000.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Ultimately, at least in the Bay Area, Vivas Castillo said, “our analysis of the recent down payment data shows home ownership in some markets remains a luxury item.”</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">A new law makes buying a home a little easier for at least one group of people: veterans.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">VA loans have long given active-duty military service members and veterans access to home loans that allow for zero down payment. But in the past, there have been limits. In expensive places like Santa Clara County, where last year the cap was in the $700,000s, down payments have been required for typical, market-rate homes, which were regularly priced above $1 million. As of January 1, those limits are mostly gone and the impact in places like San Jose and Oakland stands to be significant.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">“Now, if a veteran can afford a $1.5 million mortgage, they can get that mortgage without putting down a dime and that has not been the case in years past,” said Chris Birk with Veterans United Home Loans, which recently ran an analysis of where veterans will see the largest increase in their ability to purchase without putting any money down.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">It’s unclear exactly how many people might benefit. But according to Veterans United figures, in fiscal year 2019, more than 1,300 families relied on VA loans in Contra Costa County. Hundreds more families took out the loans in Alameda, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties that year. Now, Birk said, he’s hearing from borrowers who pushed off closing on property until after the start of 2020 to take advantage of the change.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">With the help of the new law and with the GI Bill reducing the need for hefty student loans, young veterans may be in a much better position when it comes to buying a home than their non-military peers who are struggling to put together large down payments while burdened with debt.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">“They’re not stuck,” Birk said, “on the sidelines like civilians.”</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 10px;">By EMILY DERUY</span></strong></div>
Janice Lee - Coldwell Bankerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17071425614199511293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799079721088639975.post-54089203247646246942020-01-15T10:12:00.001-08:002020-01-15T10:12:54.583-08:00Will the housing market crash in 2020?<h2 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 3.6rem; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 26px;">Will the housing market crash in 2020?</span><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vXGg2VHr73k/Xh9V6SMIQwI/AAAAAAAB_nY/Nly2vypKPaoIplCD52PsMfGwibRggwIrgCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/blog%2B1.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vXGg2VHr73k/Xh9V6SMIQwI/AAAAAAAB_nY/Nly2vypKPaoIplCD52PsMfGwibRggwIrgCNcBGAsYHQ/s400/blog%2B1.15.jpg" width="400" /></a></h2>
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<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">The Bay Area just said goodbye to a decade when real estate prices soared to astronomical heights. The 2010s were marked by $1 million fixer-uppers and bidding wars, and many homeowners saw their property values double. In 2019, prices flattened out a bit compared to 2018.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">At the start of a new decade, what will 2020 bring? Is a crash on the horizon? What impact with the U.S. presidential election have?</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">We reached out to four experts to weigh in on the outlook for the Bay Area real estate market in 2020. We've compiled their responses to several questions below.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">BOOM OR BUST: WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE HOUSING MARKET IN 2020?</strong></span></div>
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<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Ken Rosen</strong>, chairman of the Fisher Center for Real Estate and Urban Economics at UC Berkeley: "First of all, the rate of price increases flattened out for home prices in 2019 ... We expect that to continue in 2020. We have low-interest rates, but we also have the fact that housing is very expensive so it’s hard to become a bullish market. We expect the affordability problem to continue for the Bay Area. Job growth may slow and there's the possibility of a recession. A lot of people are going to decide now is a good time to sell because the market has gone up a lot in the past and prices are high."</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Herman Chan</strong>, Sotheby's real estate agent working in the East Bay: "Bay Area real estate in 2020 will not face a crash. Unlike the great financial crisis where people bought with zero down payment, too many people have large down payments in their home or paid all cash in the past 10 years. They aren’t going to just walk away. Rents are still among the highest in nation and the appreciation ramped up steadily in the past 10 years, so many homeowners have options. They will wait it out, rent it out or cash out. However, for homebuyers the ramp-up has made the acquisition price a barrier to entry. The market will probably be flat overall. So it is not a crash, nor is it a boom."</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Patrick Carlisle</strong>, chief market analyst at Compass Bay Area: "My guess is that the market will stay relatively even, neither increasing nor dropping by very much. Most of the Bay Area counties in 2019 saw median prices about the same as in 2018 (SF, San Mateo), dropped a little (Marin, Sonoma, Southern Alameda County, Santa Clara County), or bumped up a little (the Oakland-Berkeley, Inner East Bay region). That will probably occur in 2020, as well.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">"I don't see a crash as likely, unless caused by some big, sudden, macro-economic, national or international event, which could be anything from war with Iran, to a Chinese stock market crash, or huge oil supply issues, run on the markets, or some new financially engineered, Wall-Street product that no one understands blows up. And the fact that personal, corporate, U.S. government and international debt are all at all-time highs and climbing is of significant concern. The only local event that could cause a big, negative adjustment would probably be an environmental/ecological event - such as an earthquake, massive fires with huge and continuing power outages."</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Pierre Buljan</strong>, real estate agent on the Peninsula for more than 40 years and currently with Compass: "In my humble opinion, I don’t see any market crash in the near future. Two reasons, the market has already been leveling off over the past year, all over the greater Bay Area. Second reason, I don’t see much of a political climate change this coming year either. Prices are not expected to rise but rather stay neutral this year (if there is such a thing?). Lots of new construction is in process, which will help stabilize prices and give buyers an edge, so to speak. People will remain cautious as it is an election year and more on guard with fewer new construction projects started this year than in recent past."</span></div>
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<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">WHAT FACTORS WILL IMPACT THE BAY AREA MARKET IN 2020?</strong></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Rosen</strong>: "Federal tax reform. Tax incentives are less desirable to homeowners. Federal tax reform limits state and local income tax deduction to $10,000, so raises the effective tax rate and after-tax costs of housing substantially in California and other high tax states. The doubling of the standard deduction and reduction in mortgage interest deductibility also reduces the incentives for homeownership. The after-tax cost of owning a home has gone up."</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Chan</strong>: "Iran. Election. China. There was a reckoning with the IPOs buzz that fizzled. Frenzy is gone. There is a normalization in the market, which overall I find healthy. And of course lack of housing/affordability is always a factor."</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Carlisle</strong>: "Outward migration of residents and businesses, foreign immigration, employment, interest rates, stock markets, venture capital."</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Buljan</strong>: "The election. If any major changes are to happen, it will be after the elections. [But] the more likely factor that could gravely affect the real estate market is the recent California political talks about repealing Prop 13 and effectively raising the property tax prices three-fold! That could spell a destabilizing in the real estate market not seen in years and could prove to be a disaster for home owners and their ability to hang on to properties that they have owned forever."</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">WILL INTEREST RATES GO UP IN 2020?</strong></span></div>
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<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Rosen</strong>: "I think they’re going to go up by about 50 basis points. That’s the long-term interest rate. Short-term rates will remain about the same."</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Chan</strong>: "When the market was more frothy one to two years ago, the Fed had planned a couple rate hikes, but they reneged as the stock market and trade wars caused uncertainty. Heading into election year, I highly doubt the rates will jump....at least until new president is elected."</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Carlisle</strong>: "Interest rates are famously difficult to predict. Just 13 months ago, the big predictions by economists and financial experts for 2019 were interest rates in the 5% to 5.5% range. Instead, they dropped to 3.5% to 3.75% - an enormous swing between forecasts and reality. I expect interest rates will probably stay low in 2020, but that's simply a guess."</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Buljan</strong>: "I don’t see any interest rate hikes in the near future as the Feds don’t want any major shake up during an election year."</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">WILL 2020 BE A GOOD YEAR TO BUY OR SELL A HOME IN THE BAY AREA?</strong></span></div>
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<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Rosen</strong>: "It’s a balanced market now. If you want to sell, now’s the time to do it. If you want to buy, it’s the best opportunity in some time. It might even shift into a buyer's market though that’s hard to believe in the Bay Area."</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Chan</strong>: "We are in an inflection period now. It is hard to say clearly across the board. It is about market segmentation now. If you are buying with expectation of high appreciation in a couple years, it’s probably not a good idea. If you are buying long-term, then sure, lay down roots, take advantage of the super low rates. If you want to sell a house you just bought recently, it’s probably not going to turn out profitable after factoring carrying costs, closing costs, realtor fees, taxes, etc. If you have lived a long while and equity is hefty, then sure, sell now to cash out.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Sellers need to manage their expectations. They won’t be getting a dozen offers in one week. Maybe one to two, and longer days on market. Can’t rely on a hot market to unload. Don’t skimp on advertising and with the political uncertainties this year, some people may retract from the market and buyers who are actively searching can take advantage of less competition."</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Buljan</strong>: "2020 will be both a good year to buy and sell. Prices have stabilized this past year, making it a better time to buy than in recent past years, but they are also at an all-time high, which in essence makes it a good time to sell."</span></div>
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<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">WHERE CAN HOME BUYERS FIND DEALS IN THE BAY AREA IN 2020?</strong></span></div>
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<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Rosen</strong>: "I’d say I don’t want to pick cities. If you're going to buy a home, get it as close to your job as you can because one of the other big problems beyond high housing prices is congestion has gotten bad in the area. Buy close to public transit or as close to work as you can because that big commute has become a problem for everyone in the Bay Area."</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Chan</strong>: "Single family homes in metro areas are still coveted. I wouldn’t say those are the best deals, but those will hold value the best. New Luxury Condos are overbuilt and many do not feel those are strong investments anymore due to oversupply and lack of product differentiation. If you are looking for a good deal, many condo developers are more willing to wheel and deal to make a sale."</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Buljan</strong>: "I think that people can and will find deals in pockets of the Bay Area real estate, properties that were priced aggressively within the last year and not sold will be back again at more reasonable prices and they will be deals to be had."</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 10px;">By Amy Graff</span></strong></div>
Janice Lee - Coldwell Bankerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17071425614199511293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799079721088639975.post-43180257019291733722020-01-03T05:24:00.001-08:002020-01-03T05:24:22.178-08:00Happy New Year!<div class="_5pbx userContent _3576" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-testid="post_message" id="js_vk">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Wishing everyone a happy and prosperous new year!</span></h2>
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Janice Lee - Coldwell Bankerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17071425614199511293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799079721088639975.post-77726167267357977422019-12-16T07:21:00.000-08:002019-12-16T07:21:03.258-08:00How best to use baskets for home decor and storage<h1 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 3.6rem; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 22px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">How best to use baskets for home decor and storage</strong></span></h1>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Over the years, I have written about some arguably pretty minor topics — white paint, yard boulders and computer disposal among them. Somehow, while dwelling on all sorts of fascinating-no-point-is-too-small minutiae, I have neglected to write about a common domestic workhorse, an item most of us use. Every. Single. Day.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">So today, as we approach the season of gratefulness, I am giving long-overdue homage to the humble, honorable basket.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">An art form that began in antiquity, baskets have transcended every age, culture and civilization. Weavers have used whatever was plentiful and free – grasses, reeds, palm branches, seagrass — to fashion into everything from bowls and bins to birdcages. They’ve woven containers tight enough to hold water and loose enough to catch fish. Like the wheel, baskets are hard to improve upon. They just work.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">“Although baskets date back to ancient times, we still use them in the same ways to gather, transport and store,” said Robyn Bailey, owner of Mainly Baskets, a 40-year-old Georgia-based company with an all-female-run factory in the Philippines. In the factory, women hand weave mainly baskets (but also furniture) out of sustainable natural materials harvested in Southeast Asia, including rattan, water hyacinth and seagrass.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">It’s not an easy business. Longaberger, a well-known basket company that started in Ohio in 1973, and grew to a $1 billion company with 8,000 employees, went out of business last year. Longaberger baskets tend to be picnic size or smaller, while Mainly Baskets tend toward larger, more substantial baskets. Naturally, I had questions.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Q: Why should baskets be part of every home?</span></strong></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">A: Besides being beautiful and useful, baskets work with every décor style, whether rustic, country, traditional, ethnic or modern. They are multi-purpose, so can easily go from room to room, and are one of the easiest ways to give a room interest and dimension.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Q: Baskets come at many price levels. How can you tell a well-made basket from a cheap one?</span></strong></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">A: Not every basket needs to last for decades. Some just need to deliver a batch of muffins. But if you want one that will last, give it the squeeze-and-twist test. It shouldn’t smush. Pick the basket up. It should have some heft. Most of mine you can sit on.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Q: Beyond the obvious uses – holding fruit, bread, toys, magazines and Easter eggs – how else can decorators incorporate baskets at home?</span></strong></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">A: Use a basket for any items you need to corral, and anywhere you don’t want your uglies to show. They can hold firewood, toiletries, remote controls, plants, toilet paper, mail, towels, laundry, shoes, socks and umbrellas. I put a big basket at the end of my sectional for throw blankets.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Q: What’s the difference between rattan and wicker?</span></strong></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">A: Rattan is a vine that grows on trees. It’s harvested, so you don’t chop down the tree; thus, it’s renewable and sustainable. Because it is solid, rattan is stronger and lasts longer than bamboo, which is hollow. Wicker is not a material, but a weaving technique that uses rattan, as well as reed, willow or bamboo, to make wicker furniture and baskets.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Q: What do you wish more home decorators knew about baskets?</span></strong></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">A: That large baskets can be statement pieces. Adding a beautifully proportioned, handsome basket to a room is like getting a piece of furniture.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 10px;">By MARNI JAMESON</span></div>
Janice Lee - Coldwell Bankerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17071425614199511293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799079721088639975.post-15234929132388208042019-12-05T09:45:00.000-08:002019-12-05T09:45:14.778-08:00Financial sacrifices bigger for younger Bay Area home buyers<h1 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 3.6rem; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 22px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Financial sacrifices bigger for younger Bay Area home buyers</strong></span></h1>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Some millennial home buyers admit to dropping health insurance for a downpayment</strong></span></h2>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Buying a home involves sacrifices, but younger workers are pinching budgets tighter to get into a home than their predecessors.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">About 7 in 10 millennial and Generation Z homebuyers say they cut spending on everything from entertainment to health care to afford a down payment, while just 3 in 10 baby boomers admitted trimming expenses, according to a national Zillow survey.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">The survey highlights the growing gap between the cost of housing for young Bay Area residents and families compared to earlier generations. Millennials, generally between the ages of 22 and 38, are finding it necessary to take more drastic steps to cut expenses.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">“It’s not very affordable for young buyers,” said Zillow economist Kathryn Coursolle, adding that family help is important, too. “Generation Z and millennials are more likely to get help on their down payment.”</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">In 1960, the typical Bay Area family paid about twice their annual income for a home. Today, an average Bay Area family pays roughly nine times their annual income to purchase a house.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">The typical starter home in the Bay Area buys a luxury home in most other parts of the country. In the East Bay and San Francisco, a typical starter house — defined as the median value for a home in the bottom third of the market — goes for $547,000, according to Zillow. In the South Bay, it’s $736,000.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Compared to older buyers, millennials surveyed are making more sacrifices to get into a home. Younger buyers admitted to cutting and saving in traditional ways: spending less on entertainment and dining out (29 percent), picking up additional work (24 percent), and postponing vacation plans (18 percent).</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">But they also said they made deeper cuts with potential long-term consequences: contributing less to retirement savings (14 percent), delaying doctor visits (13 percent) or reducing or canceling health insurance altogether (11 percent).</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">By contrast, just 3 percent of baby boomers said they had cut health insurance to pay for a home.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Not all Bay Area millennials run into problems. High-paying tech jobs and double-income families mean part of the population can afford the region’s $810,000 median sale price.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Ramesh Rao, a Coldwell Banker agent in Cupertino, has worked with tech clients through years of Silicon Valley booms and busts.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Despite high prices in neighborhoods around Facebook, Google and Apple, Rao sees strong demand. A young software engineer making $125,000 plus stock options and bonuses after college can accrue enough personal wealth by the time she reaches her late 20s or early 30s to buy a home with a partner, he said.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">The competition for talent between major tech companies has driven salaries up for engineers, Rao said. Many techies can afford to stay in the region, and like the ability to shop their talents to different companies and startups, he said. “The Bay Area is the perfect place,” he said.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">San Mateo agent Jeff LaMont said some Bay Area tech companies provide low-cost, forgivable loans to help employees make a down payment. The loans tie workers to a company, but many are willing to accept the deal, he said.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Others find a more traditional source, LaMont said: “They’re going to the bank of Mom and Dad.”</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 10px;">By LOUIS HANSEN</span></div>
Janice Lee - Coldwell Bankerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17071425614199511293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799079721088639975.post-82556523732195151802019-11-19T04:06:00.000-08:002019-11-19T04:06:11.896-08:00Benefits and Drawbacks of a pocket listing?<h1 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 3.6rem; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 10px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">What are the benefits and drawbacks of a pocket listing? When do you recommend taking this approach?</span></strong></h1>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"> </span></strong><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sTnNFIyEPbQ/XdPaen1U5xI/AAAAAAABuw4/D340a8xCruUK1E9k7rmOGU6bbcFep-FUgCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/blog%2B11.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="613" data-original-width="920" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sTnNFIyEPbQ/XdPaen1U5xI/AAAAAAABuw4/D340a8xCruUK1E9k7rmOGU6bbcFep-FUgCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/blog%2B11.19.jpg" width="320" /></a><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"> </span></strong></h1>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">A</strong>: There are occasions in which selling a home, “off-market” (not exposed to the wider buying public by keeping it out of the MLS) may make sense.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Sellers who do not have the time, energy and/or desire to prepare their home for presentation on the Internet and to the public may prefer the off-market route.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Sellers who prefer a higher level of privacy, wishing to limit access to their homes may choose this route as well.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">The potential downsides include a more limited buyer pool, fewer offers and ultimately a lower selling price; likely more true for properties that are not located in the most sought-after locations than those that are.</span></div>
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<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Whether a pocket listing makes sense depends upon the particular property being sold and the individual needs of the seller.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">A</strong>: Pocket listings take several forms, but all involve limited exposure, usually outside the MLS.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">One benefit is that it protects the privacy of high-profile individuals and high-profile possessions. It also eases burdens on some households and allows sellers to stay in place—not disrupting kids, pets, ill residents, etc. These are the primary scenarios when I might recommend a pocket listing as being in the seller’s best interest. A pocket listing also creates exclusivity: Some argue buyers pay more if they think they are getting a special opportunity. It also speeds the transaction by avoiding full pre-market preparation. Finally, it does not trigger adverse days-on-market stats.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">But there are drawbacks. Mainly, sellers will never know what they might have received from full market exposure and possibly multiple offers. Also, capable buyers come from many sources and pocket listings by definition limit the options. This only works in markets with low inventory relative to high demand. Limiting exposure discourages cooperation, and is “anti-consumer.” Pocket listings lack transparency, which may result in discriminatory practices. Some argue primary benefit is to listing agent or broker, who is more likely to represent both sides</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">This became an even hotter topic as the National Association of Realtors just voted to require all listings to be entered into the local MLS within one day of marketing to the public, starting May 2020. Will that decision be challenged? Will local MLS continue to allow sellers to waive this requirement? Stay tuned.</span></div>
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<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">A</strong>: The National Association of Realtors’ board of directors approved MLS Statement 8.0, also known as the Clear Cooperation policy, at its meeting. The policy requires listing brokers who are participants in a multiple listing service to submit their listing to the MLS within one business day of marketing the property to the public. This new rule goes into effect on May 1, 2020 and will impact the number of pocket listings coming on the market.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Why is this Rule somewhat controversial? For years, “pocket” or “off-market” listings have been used in three primary scenarios, enabling sellers to test a list price for a property where relevant comparison properties are difficult to surmise, or to gauge pricing in a saturated market, or lastly the sellers are living in the house and prefer limited showings and/or more privacy during the sales process. It is common for agents to share off-market listings through their brokerages, agent networks, and other groups.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">However, this can be perceived as insider-only knowledge and doesn’t always maximize the property’s exposure. This can be limiting for buyers not connected to those information sources, or those unfamiliar with the area. Sometimes the limited exposure of a pocket listing can shortchange the seller, or attach a false stigma that there is something wrong with the property.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">In summary, MLS Statement 8.0 will help ensure the fiduciary duty of the agent which is to expose the seller's property to as wide an audience as possible so that they can obtain the highest possible sales price.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 10px;">By SFGate</span></div>
Janice Lee - Coldwell Bankerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17071425614199511293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799079721088639975.post-7897912364164419092019-11-11T19:36:00.000-08:002019-11-11T19:36:20.001-08:004 Things to Do with Your Home When Deciding to Downsize<h1 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 3.6rem; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 10px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 20px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">4 Things to Do with Your Home When Deciding to Downsize</strong></span></h1>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qL7AREVwMfk/XcooaNAzenI/AAAAAAABuRw/DQkGNn2u3JkF8minGMhipmXZLuVmgskxACNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/blog%2B12.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qL7AREVwMfk/XcooaNAzenI/AAAAAAABuRw/DQkGNn2u3JkF8minGMhipmXZLuVmgskxACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/blog%2B12.11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">As they settle into retirement, many seniors begin taking a good, hard look at their homes. For some, the idea of living in a spacious house no longer holds any appeal, especially if it requires a lot of maintenance and upkeep. Enter the concept of downsizing, which involves paring down your possessions and moving into a smaller, more manageable home. For some seniors, this could mean purchasing a smaller house, finding an apartment, moving in with loved ones, or shifting gears altogether and moving into an assisted living facility. However, regardless of the reasons for your downsize or where you want to end up when all’s said and done, you’ll need to determine what, exactly, you’ll do with your old property.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Here are four options you should consider when you start thinking about downsizing.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 20px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Selling Your Home</strong></span></div>
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<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Successfully selling your home depends on quite a bit with the<span> </span><a href="https://www.mashvisor.com/blog/current-housing-market-trends/" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">current housing market</a>, so take the time to talk to a realtor or research what the market is like in your area. It may be wise to go ahead and sell, or it might be better to wait. With the market staying relatively competitive in San Francisco (the average sale price last month was<span> </span><a href="https://www.redfin.com/city/17151/CA/San-Francisco/housing-market" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">$1.43M</a>) you could net a substantial profit that you can put toward your next living situation. Keep in mind that if you put your home on the market, you’ll need to think through the details that will set it apart.<span> </span><a href="https://www.hgtv.com/shows/designed-to-sell/15-secrets-of-home-staging-pictures" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Stage your home</a><span> </span>so that it appeals to the most buyers and connect with a realtor that has experience working with seniors.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 20px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Renting Your Home</strong></span></div>
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<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">For many seniors,<span> </span><a href="http://www.interest.com/real-estate/news/7-smart-moves-for-getting-started-landlord/" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">renting</a><span> </span>out their home can add extra cash to their bank accounts, creating a safety net for unexpected medical costs or a nest egg for adventure and travel. Just be sure you have enough set aside for any big fixes your tenants might need and to cover any costs that might occur in between renters. It’s also wise to ask a close family member to help out with repairs so you’re not left with the brunt of the responsibility.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 20px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Remodeling Your Home</strong></span></div>
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<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Rather than a move to independent living or a smaller home, some seniors may decide to remodel their homes to accommodate their changing<span> </span><a href="https://www.consumeraffairs.com/homeowners/aging-in-place-home-modifications.html" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">accessibility needs</a>. The most common rooms to remodel are the kitchen and the bathroom, where both accessibility and safety are a huge priority. You can install non-slip flooring, raise countertops, and put handrails near tubs, toilet and sinks. The right kinds of modifications not only reduce hazards of slips and falls, but also help seniors continue to live independently.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 20px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Leaving Your Home with Family</strong></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Leaving your home with your family allows them to build on your traditions in their family home. Not only does this help your family members out, but it can also be a great way to keep your home as a financial<span> </span><a href="https://www.thebalance.com/best-retirement-investments-2388568" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">investment</a>, which can be an important asset in your financial portfolio. If the market temperature is too cold, leaving it with your family means it is taken care of until a time when it will get a better listing price. For some seniors, it is an easy way to maintain financial stability and peace of mind while living in a retirement center. Just make sure you know the<span> </span><a href="https://web.blockadvisors.com/family-property-transfers/" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">laws</a><span> </span>in your state surrounding leaving property to a family member.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 20px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Uncertain on Where to Go?</strong></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">In addition to finding a solution for their current home, many seniors feel overwhelmed when trying to settle on the ideal living situation. Should you buy a smaller house? A condo? Rent an apartment? Oftentimes, independent living can be the perfect solution as it offers the best of both worlds allowing seniors to purchase a condo or rent an apartment in a 55+ community. This alleviates expenses associated with large homes, offers a social outlet, and provides access to meals and caregiving when needed. Plus, there are reasonable financing options for people living in San Francisco. The average monthly payment for an independent living facility in the Bay Area is<span> </span><a href="https://www.aplaceformom.com/independent-living/california/san-francisco" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">roughly $1,500 to $11,270</a><span> </span>per month. This can be an intimidating option for some people, so if you’re on the fence about independent living, tour a handful of communities to see if one works for you and your lifestyle.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">As you plan for a transition to a smaller living space, letting go of a house filled with memories can be<span> </span><a href="https://www.sortitoutboston.com/the-emotional-side-of-downsizing-seniors-2/" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">bittersweet</a>. If selling doesn’t feel right, know you have options. With a bit of planning and some help from loved ones, you can make the transition easier and allow yourself to enjoy your golden years with less worry and more time doing the things you love.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 10px;">By Jim Vogel</span></div>
Janice Lee - Coldwell Bankerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17071425614199511293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799079721088639975.post-80120443372394270572019-10-17T08:13:00.000-07:002019-10-17T08:13:32.378-07:0010 reasons to buy a California home sooner rather than later<h1 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 3.6rem; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 10px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">10 reasons to buy a California home sooner rather than later</strong></h1>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Let me take on a role usually in the wheelhouse of the real estate industry and say it feels like a fairly good time to consider buying a California home.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">I do this as a public service. It seems the leadership of many statewide real estate groups is way too busy painting worst-case scenarios in order to fight political battles in Sacramento.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">I’m not sure how scaring off potential California house hunters is good business for the real estate craft, in the short run or for the long haul. Is it a shock home sales languish at modest levels and homeownership is stagnant following relentless “unaffordable” and “shortage” messaging? Could you image car dealers blaming lackluster sales — and they’re now suffering a slump, too — on a poorly-priced product?</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Look what Jordan Levine, deputy chief economist for the California Association of Realtors, recently told this news organization: “No one can afford houses even at lower rates. It was out of reach before. It’s not going to be more affordable now.”</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Really? Nobody? In a state with roughly a half-million homebuyers each year? You know, in other consumer-facing sales businesses — usually called “retailing” — when things are slow you have a sale! And in some ways, that’s quietly what’s ongoing in California real estate.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">It’s not easy for this jaded journalist to conclude current buying conditions are favorable amid mounds of economic gyrations, partisan noise and the much-debated “affordability” issue. Yes, I’m aware that California homeownership isn’t a reality for numerous folks, especially for singles and those with dings on their credit history. And, yes, down payments are a critical roadblock.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Thus, I say “buy” knowing it’s not an easy process and there will be more bumps to come. But let me share 10 reasons you might want to buy sooner rather than later.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">1. Bosses are hiring …</span></strong><span> </span>Forget all the industry-centric real estate statistics that are too-frequently debated. Real estate is first and foremost about “Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!” And California continues to be a jobs-creation machine. In the five years through 2019’s first quarter, bosses statewide added 4.2 million jobs — No. 1 among the states. That adds up to California bosses growing their staffs by 32% in the period vs. 29% nationally. Unemployment? At record lows, nearing 4%. Dear house hunters, without a job there is no hunt.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">2. Wages are up, too …</strong></span><span> </span>Pay matters. And while not every newly created job generates homebuying cash flows, many new opportunities are coming with better pay. California’s average weekly wages in 2019’s first quarter ran at a $72,800 annual rate — No. 5 nationally. And over five years, that’s up 21% — easily topping 14% gains nationally and the third-best raises among the states. More jobs with more pay translate to more purchasing power, especially in households that have two breadwinners.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">3. Low, low rates are not forever …</strong></span><span> </span>A record-breaking drop in mortgage rates — back below 4% again — makes for historically cheap money if you’ve got the household creditworthiness to qualify. And while we’ve seen this on-and-off the past few years, don’t assume it’ll always be that way. Since 1971, when Freddie Mac started tracking mortgage costs, a below 4%, 30-year fixed-rate was available just 9% of the time. And for those folks waiting for a potential price pullback to buy, remember this: you’ll need prices to drop 11% to make up for the monthly cost of a 1 percentage-point jump in rates.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">4. Lenders are lending …</strong></span><span> </span>If you can’t get a mortgage, who cares what the terms are! And while this isn’t the easy-money days of a decade ago it also is NOT like the tight-money era after last decade’s market crash. The Urban Institute’s yardstick of mortgage availability shows lenders’ willingness to lend in the first quarter of 2019 at its highest level since 2013. Who’s eager to lend? Seek out non-traditional lenders or traditional banks building up their in-house loan portfolios.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">5. Price appreciation is cooling …</strong></span><span> </span>Yes, California home values are expensive and have risen 39% in five years vs. 33% nationally. But for those considering out-of-state purchases, the eye-catching gains are elsewhere: 11 states topped the Golden State’s five-year appreciation rate, including popular destination for ex-Californians. Nevada prices are up 63% in five years, then Idaho (60%) and Washington state (57%).</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">6. Multiple offers are also out of style …</strong></span><span> </span>California bargains may be rare, especially at lower price points, but at least there’s some supply to choose from. Note a slightly above-average inventory of existing homes on the market as of Oct. 3: 34,456 listings in broker networks for Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties, according to ReportsOnHousing. That’s slightly above the average listing count of 33,882 for this time of year since 2012. Please note: new escrows are up 14% in a year, so certain buyers are noticing the turn in the market.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">7. It’s not build-it-and-they-will-come but …</strong><span> </span></span>Nobody’s building like yesteryear. And, yes, California builders have filed permits to build single-family homes in the past five years at a pace that’s half of the historic production. Still, homebuilding’s up 85% above the post-recession low and has run at the fastest rate in nine years. Plus, builders have had trouble selling lately, especially those fancy low-seven-figure models. So price cuts, freebies, and ready-to-move-in homes (ahem, unsold standing inventory) are available.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">8. Yes, we’re having a sale …</strong></span><span> </span>It’s amazing what “normal” inventory does. It’s no longer a seller’s market, so house hunters have room to haggle. Ponder that five of the 11 big metro areas with the steepest jumps in price reductions this year were in the Golden State, according to Zillow stats. Listings with price cuts jumped 115% in a year in the San Jose area; 67% in San Francisco; 31% in San Diego; 28% in Los Angeles and Orange counties; and 18% in the Inland Empire. So “asking” price is just that: the seller’s wish list!</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">9. Thus, relative “affordability” …</strong></span><span> </span>I’m no fan of numerous “affordability” indexes that are a poor portrayal of financing conditions. Still, ponder a California Association of Realtors’ index that attempts to replicate such conditions for first-time buyers. It showed 47% of households statewide theoretically “qualify” to buy a starter home. Ignore the mathematical logic and note that this “affordability” benchmark is down from 73% in 2012 … But who was willing to bet on housing just after the Great Recession when statewide unemployment ran at 10%? Compare the latest “affordability” reading with pre-bubble conditions: In 2000-06, 43% “affordability” was the norm. So history says, on perhaps an odd scale, these are not incredibly “unaffordable” times.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">10. And, finally, your landlord …</strong></span><span> </span>California homeownership is not risk-free, nor cheap. But it can offer certain cash-flow certainties that renting cannot. So far in 2019, the cost of renting in Los Angeles and Orange counties rose at the fastest pace in 14 years — 5.5% — according to the Consumer Price Index. It’s only slightly better in Riverside and San Bernardino counties: up 4.3%. You need shelter. Do you want to make a landlord wealthy, or take your shot at home-owning success?</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">So if you’re “on the fence,” don’t forget one slightly discussed ownership advantage. Oh sure, most folks know a chunk of that hefty monthly house payment still can be tax-deductible — especially mortgage interest and possibly property taxes.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Yet there’s this other large slice of that check to the lender — what’s called “principal reduction” — that’s actually you paying yourself. That cash can likely be later accessed either with a second mortgage or when you sell your home.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Before I go, I will add caveats to my buy-now thesis.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Various domestic and geopolitical risks are out there. But if such anxieties vanished, you’d be fighting off crowds of eager house hunters.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">And no matter what historic patterns you study, or what any snapshot of current market conditions tell you, there’s also an equally quantifiable factor: economic hiccups, market surprises, political stupidity and downright disasters can occur.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">But if you want guarantees in life, here’s a few: Death. Taxes. And the rent will rise.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px;">By <strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">JONATHAN LANSNER</strong></span></div>
Janice Lee - Coldwell Bankerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17071425614199511293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799079721088639975.post-21128707236625697402019-09-30T10:58:00.000-07:002019-09-30T10:58:15.822-07:00Outdoor lighting improves safety and aesthetics<h1 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 3.6rem; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 10px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Outdoor lighting improves safety and aesthetics</span></strong></h1>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Just as you rely on a well-designed lighting plan inside your home, you should pay careful attention to how you illuminate the exterior. Outdoor lighting can ensure your family’s safety, improve home security and enhance how you use the space.</span></h2>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Decorative lighting</strong></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Judicious use of outdoor decorative lights gives your home character. They can be used to highlight flower gardens, decorative architectural components and landscaping. Small, low-voltage fixtures work well along the edges of walkways. These fixtures can be powered by the home electrical system, or solar cells that collect and store energy during the daylight hours.</span></div>
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<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Handrails and stair steps can be accented and illuminated by rope lighting. Rope lights are plastic tubes that house a string of LED lamps. Often these rope lights are used on deck railings to create a festive look. They come in a variety of colors and are often inexpensive.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Small spotlights are often used for accent lighting. These fixtures can be manufactured with a spike that pushes into the ground for easy installation. The light head can be rotated and angled for precise positioning. These fixtures can be powered by solar panels or by the home’s electrical system. You can buy special filters to place over the spotlight to create festive colors.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">LED bulbs make an excellent choice for outdoor lighting. LEDs use much less energy than incandescent bulbs, and will last for years.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Safety and security</strong></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Darkness is not your friend when navigating your property after dark. If walkways and stairs are unlit, you can easily stumble and injure yourself. Path lights, post lights and walkway/stairway lights improve visibility and make your home look all the better. They all come in a variety of styles to fit your needs and aesthetic.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Many outdoor lighting products can help deter crime after dark. Architectural details of your home or landscaping installations create nooks and crannies where unsavory types might hide, and flood lights can fill in all those shadows. It’s best to use motion sensors on outdoor lights so you don’t overload your neighborhood with light (or burn up energy unnecessarily!)</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Security lights shouldn’t shine through neighbors’ windows or create unpleasant glare. You also don’t want them to interfere with your own security cameras. A lighting expert can help fine-tune these placement details.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Outdoor lighting control</strong></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">You can use timers to switch on security lights at predetermined times, which helps create the impression you’re at home when you’re out of town. Photoelectric sensors detect changes in light, and provide automatic operation from dusk until dawn. They’re a good alternative to timers because they don’t need to be adjusted as daylight hours fluctuate.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">A combination light uses both photoelectric and motion sensors. They turn on the light at partial power at dusk, then activate it to full power when movement is detected.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Many security lights can be wired to smart home systems and controlled from your computer or phone.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 10px;">By Paul Pogue</span></strong></div>
Janice Lee - Coldwell Bankerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17071425614199511293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799079721088639975.post-12275738165370816992019-09-24T10:13:00.000-07:002019-09-24T10:13:12.337-07:00How to avoid these 5 common new homeowner mistakes<h1 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 3.6rem; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 10px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">How to avoid these 5 common new homeowner mistakes</strong></span></h1>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Take the time to plan and prepare before executing design and new project ideas</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"> </span><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nZ6D3RBI6WQ/XYpOW3n7q3I/AAAAAAABtDQ/FdR7hFR1g0gWT9o2D4maMPDWMrhQ_8JYwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/blog%2B9.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="767" height="239" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nZ6D3RBI6WQ/XYpOW3n7q3I/AAAAAAABtDQ/FdR7hFR1g0gWT9o2D4maMPDWMrhQ_8JYwCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/blog%2B9.24.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"> </span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">So you’ve just purchased a new home. Naturally the experience is filled with lots of excitement and anticipation. From renovation and remodeling ideas to design, a number of projects and considerations likely come to mind. Poor execution and planning can derail or delay a homeowner’s opportunity to enjoy a new home to the fullest. Here are some common new homeowner mistakes and how to potentially avoid them.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">1) Purchasing furniture in advance:</strong><span> </span>This is a common mistake of new homeowners. Often if you purchase furniture prior to moving in, the result is a space that may be overstuffed. Proper planning and measuring is critical to creating a successful floorplan.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">2) Attending to renovations and repairs after move-in:</strong><span> </span>Renovations, repairs and painting are best executed prior to moving in. This willavoid disruptions of your everyday life and enjoyment. Whenever possible, move into your new home only after renovations are completed.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">3) Not spending time in a home a different times of the day before moving in:</strong><span> </span>Different times of day can cast different temperatures and light. This can also be true for the outdoors as well. Before picking a paint color, observe the light in your new home at different times of day. Thinking about building a new deck? Observe how light casts onto your desired location to make sure you will experience the desired amount of shade and/or sun.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">4) Not having the proper outdoor equipment:</strong><span> </span>From heavy-duty lawn mowers and tractors to equipment for weeds, shrubs and brush, you want to make sure you have the right equipment to properly maintain your new home. The home seller can be a great and invaluable resource as well as the real estate agent representing the sale.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">5) Not allocating space based on your family’s needs and lifestyle:</strong></span><span> </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Just because the previous owner used a bedroom as a hobby room or home office doesn’t mean you have to. Evaluate a home based on your own needs for functionality and lifestyle and reallocate spaces accordingly.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 10px;">By Cathy Hobbs</span></div>
Janice Lee - Coldwell Bankerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17071425614199511293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799079721088639975.post-75459985199818275752019-09-09T12:47:00.000-07:002019-09-09T12:47:28.401-07:00Real Estate Client Expectations in a Tech-Driven World<h1 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 3.6rem; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 10px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Real Estate Client Expectations in a Tech-Driven World</strong></span></h1>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Remember the days when selling a property meant your real estate agent hammered a sign in the yard and put a lockbox on the doorknob? Today's world of selling properties looks vastly different with the advances and conveniences afforded by technology and the Internet. However, with that comes higher expectations of a seller's real estate professional.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Sellers are more sophisticated about the real estate transaction, thanks to the proliferation of online information. They want to know things like what kind of marketing their agent does, how that agent uses online tools, whether staging of their home is included in the agent's services, what kinds of photos will appear on the agent's website and brochures, and whether twilight open houses will be held.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">There are some important new developments for sellers to know:</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">• Expanded listing exposure. Multiple Listing Services (MLSs) can now collaborate through syndication of a listing beyond the "home" MLS so that a property can get exposure to more potential buyers.</span></div>
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<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">• Better data. Tools like Realtors Property Resource (RPR) are available to the brokers and agents who subscribe to MLSListings, and they can track data, trends and market information in real time to formulate more accurate property valuations.</span></div>
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<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">• Direct access to information. Critical market and property data are now available to buyers and now in the MLS, where the advantage over third party sites is continuous, real-time updates. This means greater empowerment in the transaction process.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">These consumer-centric advantages and features may beg the question; what is the value today of the real estate professional? Without a doubt, digital platforms are becoming more sophisticated and giving buyers and sellers a great deal of data. But, there's more to the sale of a property than advanced algorithms and numbers. Technology alone could not factor in all the possible considerations that will ultimately affect a buyer's decision in virtually every sale.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">The role and value of a real estate professional lies in their ability to interpret the data, and to guide you through the lengthy transaction process using their market knowledge and expertise. Agents and brokers can get the right buyer and best sale price.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">It is a fact; these days a seller demands more from a real estate professional, owing to their access to information. However, today's brokers and agents are armed with the tools and knowledge to meet those demands.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 10px;">By MLS Listings, Inc.</span></div>
Janice Lee - Coldwell Bankerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17071425614199511293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799079721088639975.post-29314450098707253572019-09-03T19:41:00.000-07:002019-09-03T19:41:05.451-07:00Are You Really Ready to Buy or Sell a Home?<h1 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 3.6rem; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 10px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Are You Really Ready to Buy or Sell a Home?</strong></span><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mqJEbO4iORk/XW8kCPCBT7I/AAAAAAABsos/LB3pU47Atfoln6QsRJo9Ctc2ffuhdl4BQCLcBGAs/s1600/blog%2B9.3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mqJEbO4iORk/XW8kCPCBT7I/AAAAAAABsos/LB3pU47Atfoln6QsRJo9Ctc2ffuhdl4BQCLcBGAs/s320/blog%2B9.3.jpg" width="320" /></a></h1>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Your home. It's likely the biggest investment you will make in your lifetime. It can also be the biggest asset you own. So, making a move to buy or sell a home can be one of the most consequential decisions you make in your lifetime. Certainly, you will have a primary reason for doing either, but have you weighed other important considerations? There are guideposts that can help to ensure you are being necessarily thoughtful when approaching the purchase of a new home, or selling the one you're in.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Buying a home? Think about...</strong></span></div>
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<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">•<span> </span><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Financials</strong>. How much can you afford in a down payment? If you put down less than 20%, you will pay a lot more for your house in fees like mortgage interest because lenders see you as a riskier buyer. Look at what the taxes and other fees, as well as maintenance costs, will be and how much you will need to save every month in addition to paying your house note.</span></div>
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<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">•<span> </span><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Growth.</strong><span> </span>How long do you plan to stay in this home? As your family grows or your lifestyle changes, will this home be able to grow with you or will you find you will quickly outgrow the home? The flexibility of a home design and the opportunity to make expansions or remodel should be considered.</span></div>
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<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">•<span> </span><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Resale.</strong><span> </span>How will your home fare in pricing to re-sell? If you buy the best home on the block or in the neighborhood, it will be harder to get a higher asking price. Look for homes located in a good school district, offer walkability to shops and restaurants or other community features, and have lower crime rates. These aspects will raise the value of your home and make it a real asset.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Selling a home? Think about...</strong></span></div>
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<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">•<span> </span><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Pricing.</strong><span> </span>Pricing your home correctly will save a considerable amount of angst and frustration. Aim too high and you will get little response. The market determines what your property is worth – what a buyer is willing to pay for a house comparable to yours. Work with your real estate professional to get your home priced right.</span></div>
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<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">•<span> </span><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Timing.</strong><span> </span>In California's perennially hot markets, "peak season" for selling a home is virtually year-round so timing really means looking at aspects of different seasons. In late spring and summer, more buyers are trying to get into a home before school starts but this means greater competition with other properties for sale. Selling around the winter holidays may mean fewer buyers but it also makes a great home highly sought after – and potentially higher sale prices at this time of year.</span></div>
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<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">•<span> </span><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Financials.</strong><span> </span>Preparing your home for sale may require repairs and even some renovations to maximize the value and the appeal to potential buyers. Do you have enough money set aside to invest in upping the value of your home? Talk to your real estate professional about key features buyers look for in a home, as well as where updates and upgrades will pay off.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Real estate moves are often an exciting new chapter in your life but it's important not to allow emotions to drive those decisions. Give serious consideration to all that is involved in the process and you will end up with a move that you can feel good about for years to come.</span></div>
Janice Lee - Coldwell Bankerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17071425614199511293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799079721088639975.post-12776846466082899952019-08-27T10:28:00.001-07:002019-08-27T10:28:09.475-07:00What to know when buying new windows<h1 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 3.6rem; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 10px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">What to know when buying new windows</span></strong><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1lSpBFUUu9g/XWVnwGFYrII/AAAAAAABskw/6we_VyuO1rgEPPIRhWGQY_w9NyvOIjrvwCLcBGAs/s1600/blog%2B8.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="777" height="236" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1lSpBFUUu9g/XWVnwGFYrII/AAAAAAABskw/6we_VyuO1rgEPPIRhWGQY_w9NyvOIjrvwCLcBGAs/s320/blog%2B8.27.jpg" width="320" /></a></h1>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Shopping for new windows means sorting through an overwhelming amount of numbers, options, performance factors and styles. But once you learn the basics, you’ll work your way around the stats like a pro.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Before you dive too deep into the window buying process, first consider whether your existing windows are nearing the end of their lifespan. Aluminum windows generally last between 15 and 20 years, while wooden windows last around 30 years.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Efficiency also plays a major role. According to the Department of Energy, heat loss or gain through windows are responsible for more than 25 percent of residential heating and cooling energy use. You can make a big difference in your energy bill by upgrading to more efficient windows.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;">Reading a window label</span></strong></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Two labels provide vital information on window performance: the Energy Star label and the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) label. Don’t overlook these, because they tell you quite a bit about how much those windows can help you. The Energy Star label indicates the window meets energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Energy Star offers a climate zone map online that helps you select the best products for the area you live in.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">A NFRC certification label verifies that a window meets their standards and provides performance information. This label rates a window’s U-factor, solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC), visible transmittance and air leakage. These stats may look like alphabet soup, but they play a big role in how much energy you’ll save!</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">What the numbers mean:</span></strong></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">1. U-factor</strong></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Between .20 and 1.20. A window’s U-factor is a measure of how much heat can escape a home by passing through the window. The lower the number, the better the heat retention.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">2. Solar heat gain coefficient</strong></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Between 0 and 1. This indicates how much heat from sunlight a window can block. The lower the number, the less you’ll spend on cooling.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">3. Visible transmittance</strong></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Between 0 and 1. This indicates how much light the window allows into your home. The higher the number, the more light is transmitted.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">4. Air leakage</strong></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Between 0.1 and 0.3. This refers to how much air infiltration a window product permits. The lower the rating, the less air will pass through the cracks.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Hiring a window pro</strong></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Besides the window choice itself, the biggest decision you’ll make with new windows is choosing who installs them. Make sure any pro you hire holds the proper license, bonding and insurance to do the work and meets these qualifications:</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">- Are they full-time window installers?</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">- Have they installed your type of window before?</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">- What certifications and manufacturer training do they have?</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">- What kind of warranty do they offer?</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">- Are they familiar with specific local and neighborhood rules governing windows?</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 10px;">By Paul F. P. Pogue</span></div>
Janice Lee - Coldwell Bankerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17071425614199511293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799079721088639975.post-13916890241706921822019-08-19T13:31:00.000-07:002019-08-19T13:31:00.668-07:00How to decide whether to repair or replace your roof<h1 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 3.6rem; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 10px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 20px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">How to decide whether to repair or replace your roof</strong></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0B-p7Q_IIzlG_r8XcTZ4pmteBEvu8St-Lpu5DJSsSLinmqNYy-jd41qE8sjBI4bsR4QdDQrLsAj29uqDsF_W0XogjcTYQU4KjYG1RTHbQR0hbQOeZGMrhviepaOia8Ki7iLHOaxRhBYY9/s1600/blog+8.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="863" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0B-p7Q_IIzlG_r8XcTZ4pmteBEvu8St-Lpu5DJSsSLinmqNYy-jd41qE8sjBI4bsR4QdDQrLsAj29uqDsF_W0XogjcTYQU4KjYG1RTHbQR0hbQOeZGMrhviepaOia8Ki7iLHOaxRhBYY9/s320/blog+8.19.jpg" width="320" /></a></h1>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">You can save a lot of money in the long run if you pay attention to this vital component of your home</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Your roof is one of the single biggest investments in your home’s infrastructure, and it plays a vital role in the rest of the house’s well-being. This means the decision to repair or replace it needs to be taken very seriously.</span></div>
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<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Questions to ask a roofing inspector</strong></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Roof damage can create expensive problems in a hurry. Water intrusion or obvious gaps in the attic are a major warning sign. Buckled shingles and damaged flashing could alert you in advance of problems.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">The National Roofing Contractors Association recommends getting your roof inspected every spring and fall to identify potential problems. Those are the busiest times for roofers, so you’d be wise to make calls now in order to get someone out in September. A roof inspection costs about $200, but you can head off much more expensive repairs down the line. And this second opinion can make a big difference when deciding whether to spend tens of thousands of dollars replacing your roof.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Ask your inspector these specific questions to you figure out when and if you need to replace your roof:</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">- How long will the current roof last?</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">- How long will the flashing and other components last?</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">- What signs of deterioration are you seeing?</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">- How likely are additional leaks?</span></div>
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<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Another notable concern: How will the repairs match the existing roof? Some repairs aren’t visible at all, but visible repairs are hard to create a perfect match due to weathering. If you’re hoping to sell the home in the next few years, you may want to take this into account.</span></div>
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<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">How much does a roofing job cost?</strong></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">The average re-roofing job costs about $8,000, but this can vary widely based on your material type and size of home. Copper, aluminum and steel are some of the longest-lasting materials, with lifespans around 50 or 60 years, but they’ll cost more. Tiles and asphalt shingles will last about 30 years, but they cost the least of all roofing materials. However, you’ll be repairing them more frequently.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Depending on the job, you can save 25 percent by covering an existing asphalt roof with a new layer of shingles. However, some roofers say this might cause you to miss water damage on the plywood level that might otherwise have been discovered. Make sure you hire a roofer with experience in this method.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">The most important element in the roofing decision, though, is a trustworthy roofer. Make sure your roofer is licensed, bonded and insured, and has a physical location in your area. Ask for references, and check them.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Ask what guarantees they place on their work. The industry standard for workmanship is between five and 10 years. Some specific manufacturers also offer much longer material warranties.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">A good roofer also won’t object if you want to seek a second opinion. They know that this is a big investment and you shouldn’t rush into the decision without all the information. All these factors will add hours to your process, but if you’re going to spends thousands of dollars, they’re a wise time investment.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 10px;">By Paul F. P. Pogue, Angie’s List</span></div>
Janice Lee - Coldwell Bankerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17071425614199511293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799079721088639975.post-9791305004344968612019-08-12T12:21:00.000-07:002019-08-12T12:21:40.071-07:00How to Make Your Home Your Stress-Free Sanctuary<h1 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 3.6rem; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 10px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">How to Make Your Home Your Stress-Free Sanctuary</strong></span></h1>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px;">Everyone deserves a little peace and contentment in their own home. As the stresses of school, work, relationships, social and political issues, and the environment all continue to compound on a seemingly daily basis, the need to escape into an inner sanctum and close out all of the distractions and frustrations of the outside world. Your home should serve as your oasis – as a safe space within which you can fully relax. With that in mind, here are a few simple ways to turn your home into a den of serenity:</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Fresh, Natural Light</strong></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px;">Allowing more<span> </span><a href="https://www.servicesutra.com/blog/amazing-ways-to-make-your-home-a-stress-free-sanctuary/" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">sunlight</a><span> </span>in your home not only reduces the need for artificial lighting, thus benefiting the environment, but also does wonders for your mood and emotional health. By making changes that allow for more of the sun’s rays to come streaming into your home, you will find that it makes everything brighter and more luminescent, improving your attitude and the friendliness of your home.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Declutter and Organize</strong></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px;">This is essential in almost anyone being able to relax and take it easy in their home. Packrats and hoarders aside, most of us can’t stand when numerous items and objects are out of place and haphazardly strewn all about the house. Getting these things<span> </span><a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/elements-of-a-peaceful-home-3144735" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">cleaned up</a><span> </span>and neatly put away is critical to being at peace inside ones’ own four walls.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Redecorate and Paint</strong></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px;">One sure fire way to brighten up your in-home existence is to brighten up its colors and design. For several years neutrals and grays have been very popular in-home décor. But while staying up to date on the latest interior fashions may be trendy, the current fads are not always suited to everyone’s needs. Find the styles and looks that you most warm up to and splash them all over your home. Forget about what’s in the magazines or on TV.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Turn Your Bedroom into a Haven for Sleep</strong></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px;">While the other rooms of your house may be for entertaining guests, engaging in activities such as exercise, reading or creativity, cooking, or anything else that you may have purposed them for; the bedroom should be for sleeping.<span> </span><a href="https://www.mattressadvisor.com/make-your-bedroom-ideal-for-great-sleep/" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Setting it up</a><span> </span>in a way that encourages and induces a peaceful nighttime bliss is vital to the overall function of your home as your own personal sanctuary.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px;">Having minimal to no electronic lighting is a good start. And cool and comfortable bedding to lower your body temperature and help aid in sleep is another. Other good ideas include making it as sound proof as possible, reducing incoming light, and leaving all aspects of work and entertainment outside the room.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Flowers, Plants, or Aromatherapy</strong></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px;">Scent can play a huge role in the overall relaxation and stress reduction that a home can offer. Finding out which subtle and gentle smells are best suited to your personal calm can go a long way in melting away the troubles of the world. The natural sunlight that you are using will help<span> </span><a href="https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-12375/7-feng-shui-tips-to-make-your-home-a-sanctuary.html" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #337ab7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">plants and flowers</a><span> </span>to flourish, while candles, oils, and incense can offer pleasant fragrances all throughout the house.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px;">Your home should be a place you love to be – an environment in which you can truly relax. Keep our tips in mind and start creating your sanctuary today.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 10px;">(photo courtesy of pexels.com)</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 10px;">By Morgan Taylor</span></div>
Janice Lee - Coldwell Bankerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17071425614199511293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799079721088639975.post-51989641270780556922019-08-05T11:03:00.001-07:002019-08-05T11:03:41.611-07:00Contemporary Lighting Techniques<h1 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 3.6rem; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 10px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18pt;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Contemporary Lighting Techniques</strong></span><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4E0eRfw4mEk/XUhvSjDSIsI/AAAAAAABsbM/Ufl8WvL8bpkrY3mjviE1AswAcPvosAIWACLcBGAs/s1600/blog%2B8.5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="990" height="256" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4E0eRfw4mEk/XUhvSjDSIsI/AAAAAAABsbM/Ufl8WvL8bpkrY3mjviE1AswAcPvosAIWACLcBGAs/s320/blog%2B8.5.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18pt;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"> </strong></span></h1>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;">Lighting can transform your home and change the appearance of colors and textures. More than just light your way, it creates a mood. Lighting options have dramatically improved in recent years with the introduction of compact fluorescent bulbs, or CFLs, and LED lighting, or light-emitting diode. A new lighting plan should include the use of energy-efficient lighting, which in some cases is required by building codes. Successful lighting has a layered effect so that there is general ambient lighting as well as one or two zones for task lighting, such as reading or cooking, or low light in a media room. Hire a qualified electrician to install your lighting.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18pt;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Kitchens and Bathrooms</strong></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;">Good-quality lighting in your kitchen makes preparing and cooking much more enjoyable than a poorly lit room. To illuminate the entire space, recessed lighting is a good basic provision of contemporary lighting style. Install task lighting such as LED rope above your countertop, underneath the bottom of upper cabinets. Use one-to-three pendant lights over an island in materials such as clear or colored glass or metal. Bathrooms benefit from a combination of recessed lighting and a well-lit mirror. Install sconces, which diffuse and spread light evenly.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18pt;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Living Room</strong></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;">Contemporary lighting can be playful or whimsical and has a sculptural appearance with less ornamental detail than traditional styles. One such example is a large, round glass fixture centered above a conversation area. Add contemporary ambient lighting by installing two sculptural wall sconces on either side of a console. Modern lighting focuses on unusual shapes and sizes. Add an arched floor lamp with a stone base over a club chair for classic modern flair.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18pt;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Track and Picture Lighting</strong></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;">Focused light produces illumination in a specific direction and adds a layer to an already established lighting plan. An excellent alternative to recessed lighting is the use of track lighting on the ceiling that can be swiveled in different directions for balanced light or to highlight art on the walls. Lighting your art with picture lighting allows a soft glow on the art, even if other lights are dimmed or turned off.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18pt;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Pendants</strong></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;">Create a dramatic effect by hanging two or more large pendants in a hallway or a fixture with multiple lights over a dining table. Allow the lighting to take center stage as a sculptural, artistic element in a room. Bell shapes in smooth rounded glass or metal in assorted colors hung in a dining area shines downward onto the table like a spotlight.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18pt;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Materials</strong></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;">Contemporary lighting finishes include styles such as pendants made with brushed metal and colored glass and marble floor lamp bases with large linen drum shades. Modern chandeliers are linear with strings of crystal hung at different lengths in a straight line instead of the traditional tiered design. Glass orbs hung in groups over a side table are simple and sculptural, the foundation for contemporary style.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 10pt;">By Alicia Garey</span></div>
Janice Lee - Coldwell Bankerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17071425614199511293noreply@blogger.com0