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Why is this still an issue in the USA in 2011?? http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/23/AR2011012303404.html
I thought this was a beautiful thought in regard to those of us who have lost our beloved four-legged members of the family.
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together….
Author unknown…
Adding my two cents… Although severe earthquakes that do great damage are not common, we still need to be prepared when it comes to having insurance on our homes in case we ever do need it. Do you have a home earthquake policy and, do you have earthquake precautions in your home in place?
Brought to you by C.A.R and CA insurance commissioner
California insurance commissioner urges earthquake preparedness
California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones this week urged Californians to update their earthquake preparedness plans and evaluate the need for earthquake insurance.
“On this 17th anniversary of the Northridge earthquake, let us be reminded that we live in a region of the country that is constantly in flux,” said Commissioner Dave Jones. “While it was certainly a tragic event that impacted many Californians, we must be even more prepared for the next big earthquake that scientists say may come at any time.”
Earthquake preparedness includes the following:
• Review your insurance policies at least once each year with your agent or broker to ensure that they provide adequate coverage.
• Consider purchasing an earthquake policy if your home is in an earthquake-prone area, doesn’t meet current building standards, or is built upon unstable ground.
• Take measures to retrofit your home to increase your safety during an earthquake.
• Brace your water heater to minimize the risks of fire and water damage caused by water heaters that topple during earthquakes.
• Bolt your home’s wood frame to its foundation to prevent damage resulting from the structure sliding off its foundation. And for houses on raised foundations, brace of “cripple walls” to reduce damage from earthquakes.
• Mobile home owners should use earthquake-bracing systems to reduce the chance of damage from homes slipping off support jacks.
• Fasten cupboard doors with child-proof latches to prevent them from opening and spilling their contents.
• Fasten bookcases, mirrors, televisions, and other tall or heavy objects to wall studs.
• Gas appliances should have flexible attachments, and family members should be familiar with gas shut-off techniques.
Most homeowners’ and renters’ policies do not cover damage from earthquakes. The California Earthquake Authority was formed to provide earthquake insurance to residential property owners including homeowners, individual condominium unit owners, mobile homeowners, and renters. Under the CEA plan, the CEA member insurance company is required to offer earthquake coverage subject to the minimum dwelling and personal property. Dwellings must be covered according to CEA policy guidelines; however, other structures such as outbuildings, swimming pools, and masonry fences are specifically excluded, as is the case with the majority of earthquake policies. CEA has more recently offered broader coverage in response to growing claim reserves and positive reports of plan solvency.
Earthquake coverage can not be purchased directly from CEA. CEA does not offer stand-alone earthquake policies. Only licensed California insurers who are CEA-member companies can sell CEA policies. A residential property policy must be in force or homeowners must purchase a new residential property policy from a CEA member insurer in order to be offered a CEA policy. The residential insurance companies participating in CEA currently underwrite more than 70 percent of the residential property insurance sold in California. A participating CEA company can only offer CEA policies.
Get important information about preparing for a disaster from the California Department of Insurance website at www.insurance.ca.gov. Or, call its consumer hotline at (800) 927-HELP.
Reported from C.A.R (California Association of Realtors)
Foreclosures down in Arizona, California, Nevada in 2010
Foreclosure starts and sales declined in Arizona, California, and Nevada in 2010 due in large part to a reduction in foreclosure sales amid last fall’s robo-signing scandal.
The decline in foreclosure starts in the three western states was the first annual decline since the foreclosure crisis began, according to ForeclosureRadar. Foreclosure cancellations rose in the first half of 2010 as homeowners saw more short sales and loan modifications approved. Investors quickly flipped foreclosure purchases for profits as buyers hurried to take advantage of tax credits. But as the tax credits expired, the market began to slow.
Foreclosure cancellations also began to drop as the government push for loan modifications faded and short sales slowed with the rest of the housing market. In the third quarter, foreclosure sales dramatically declined after the robo-signing scandal broke, leading Bank of America to completely halt foreclosure sales for nearly two months.
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Who says Californians can’t make fun of themselves!!
Today’s blog is dedicated to my fellow Californians, and, especially to those of us who live in this wonderful, vibrant and exciting city we call the “City of Angels”
You know your a Californian when…….
1. You say “like” and “for sure” and “right on” and “dude” and “totally” and “peace out” and “chill” and “tight” and “bro” and “hell of” and “hella” (Nor Cal only) and “faded” and “stoked” and “fo sho” and you say them often.
2 . You don’t get snow days off because there’s only snow in Mammoth, Tahoe, Shasta, and Big Bear.
3. In school earthquake drills happen more than fire drills
4. You can wear sandals all year long.
5. You know who the roller skating, guitar playing with a turbin on his head guy is down at Venice Beach.
6 . You go to the Beach – not “down to the shore.”
7. You can fix your Starbucks Mocha Latte while driving on the 405 freeway during rush hour
8 . You know 65 mph really means 100.
9. When it rains it usually floods since we really don’t have storm drains.
10. Our governor at any given time can be a movie star.
11 . You judge people based on what area code they live in, North or south of Sunset, The Hills or the Flats, west side or east side, or North or South side of Ventura Blvd.
12. You might get looked at funny by locals when you’re on vacation in their state, but when they find out you’re from California suddenly you turn into a Greek GOD.
13. Your vacation time is saved for plastic surgery
14 . We don’t stop at stop signs… we do a “california roll”
15 . You can get fresh and REAL Mexican food 24 hours a day.
16 . All the TV shows you watch are in “other” states which get filmed here.
17 . We’re the Golden State. Not the Cheese State. Not the Garden State…..GOLDEN!!!
18 .We have In-N-Out Burger (Arizona and Vegas are lucky we share that with them).
19. You’re sick of playing tour guide and taking visiting out of towners to Disneyland, Universal Studios Groehman’s Chinese Theater, Malibu beach etc, etc etc…..!
20 . We call it soda, not pop.
21 . Oh, and no one from California calls it Cali… that’s how we know you’re not from around here.
22 . The fastest part of your commute is down your driveway.
23 . Your sense of direction=Toward the ocean and away from the ocean.
24 . You eat an In-N-Out burger at least once a week!!!
25 . The primary bugs that you worry about are electronic.
26. Your time figured by your driving commute is not by miles but in minutes it takes to get someplace.
27 . Your monthly house payments exceed your annual income.
28 . You can’t find your other earring because your son/brother is wearing it.
29 . Your family tree contains “significant others.”
30. You see 25 lawyers chasing an ambulance.
31. More than clothes come out of the closets.
32 . More money is spent on face lifts than on diapers.
33 . Smoking in most places is not optional.
34 .You pack shorts and a T-shirt for skiing in the snow, and a sweater and a wetsuit for the beach.
35 . When you can’t schedule a meeting because you must “do lunch.”
36 . Your children learn to walk in Birkenstocks.
37 .You’ll reluctantly miss yoga class to wait for the hot tub repairman.
38 . It’s barely sprinkling rain and there’s a report on every news station: “STORM WATCH”
39 . You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends from California.
40 . Your coworker has 8 body piercings and none are visible.
41 . You make over $300,000 a year and still can’t afford a house.
42 . You have a very strong opinion about where your coffee beans are grown and can taste the difference between Sumatran and Ethiopian.
43 . You need a part time job to pay for the pruning of those beautiful palm trees on your property.
44. A really great parking space can totally move you to tears.
45 . A low speed police pursuit will interrupt ANY TV broadcast.
46 . Unlike back home, the guy at 8:30 am at Starbucks wearing the baseball cap and sunglasses who looks like George Clooney IS George Clooney.
47 . Gas costs $1.00 per gallon more than anywhere else in the U.S.
48 . Both you AND your dog AND your cat have therapists.
49 . You pass an elementary school playground and the children are all busy with their cell phones or I pods.
50. When asked if you miss having 4 changing seasons you say “We do have four seasons – Brush Fire season, Mud slide season , Santa Ana Winds season and all around earthquake season.
51. We call them sprinkles (not Jimmies) Submarine sandwiches (not Hoagies), and “Going to The Market” (not food shopping)
52. Being a vegetarian is not like telling someone your an alien.
53 When it comes to driving around Los Angeles, you know at least 4 or 5 different ways to get from point A to point B!
54. Pedestrian’s really DO have the right of way!
55. You don’t ask for autographs when you run into celebrities around town.
56. You remember the date , time and magnitude of the 1994 Northridge earthquake and, that in fact, this blog post is on the anniversary day 17 years ago.
57. It’s barely sprinkling rain and there’s a report on every news station: “STORM WATCH” and…..
58. If an inch of rain or more is predicted people are raiding the markets for bread and milk.
59. You know where “The Brady Bunch” house is.
60 Avocado’s are a staple in your house.
61. Not only do you eat at El Pollo Loco, you know what it means.
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This article is from the New York Times which is of some interest
HOMEOWNERS looking to lower their monthly mortgage payments and also save some on interest may be able to do so without all the hefty fees and daunting credit requirements of refinancing.
A little-known strategy, called “recasting,” or “re-amortization,” is available through some mortgage lenders and servicers.
It involves paying off a lump sum of the principal amount and asking to have the monthly payments reset according to the original interest rate and loan terms. The lump sum reduces the principal, so your new monthly payments decrease slightly and you save on interest paid over the life of the loan.
Lenders typically charge an administrative fee of $150 or more for this service, though borrowers are not required to pay closing costs or submit to another credit check, because they are not asking for a new loan.
Recasting works well for those unable to qualify for refinancing amid the ever-toughening credit guidelines — perhaps because they are self-employed or have less-than-stellar credit — as well as for those with extra cash, like a year-end bonus.
“People don’t really know about it,” said Alan Rosenbaum, the founder and chief executive of the Guardhill Financial Corporation in New York, “but it’s become more common recently.”
Although the term “recasting” is often used by the mortgage industry to refer to interest-rate resets on adjustable-rate mortgages, here the interest rate and loan term stay the same.
Here’s how it might work. Let’s say that as of late December, you had just over $230,449 of principal left on a 30-year fixed-rate loan for $300,000 taken out at 7.93 percent in 1995. You have been paying just under $2,187 a month in principal and interest. But if you put in $20,000 toward that remaining principal and asked your lender to reamortize your payments over the remaining 15 years on the loan, your monthly payment would drop by $184, to around $2,002. Putting in $100,000 would save $945 a month and bring payments to $1,241.
Making extra payments toward the principal while not asking the bank to recast a loan keeps monthly payments the same and merely shortens the time it takes to pay off the loan.
There are a few caveats to recasting, however. The first is that you may need to have a large sum on hand. JPMorgan Chase, for example, charges a $150 fee and requires a minimum $5,000 payment toward the principal.
Another issue is having a lender, or loan servicer, that offers the service. And even those that do may impose restrictions. JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America exclude loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs, and loans that were sold off and securitized may also need investor approval.
While few if any lenders advertise recasting, “they are trying to become more customer-service-oriented, and they will do it on a case-by-case basis,” Mr. Rosenbaum said. Homeowners should contact their lender’s customer service department.
Lenders, which would probably rather earn thousands of dollars in closing fees from refinancing your loan, are not obliged to recast mortgages. And certain types of mortgages, for example interest-only and adjustable-rate loans, usually aren’t eligible. The borrower will also need to have been current with all mortgage payments to qualify.
Edward Ades, the owner of Universal Mortgage in Brooklyn, says recasting can be especially useful to recent buyers, for whom it makes little financial sense to refinance but who expect to receive a tax refund or other substantial money after closing on their property, like proceeds from a relative’s sale of property, stocks or other assets.
If your interest rate is 5 percent or lower, Mr. Ades added, it may not make sense to recast a loan, because the extra cash could be put into an investment with a higher return. “At the end of the day,” he said, “I always tell people they have to do whatever makes them sleep better.”
This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:
From the Ellen DeGeneres Show
What qualities should your Realtor have?
1. A realtor must have confidence! Confidence makes all things possible. Confidence enables the realtor to do all the things necessary to get you the best deal!
2. Real estate is about money and finances. Your realtor should have many tools available to find out all the information necessary within the market and actually utilize them to advise their client effectively. Researching information and having a plan A, B and C is essential.
3. A good realtor should be smart. Smart is not the same as being the most knowledgeable or, for that matter, not necessarily the most years working in real estate. Smart has many facets including, quickness on their feet, great organizational skills, passion about what they do, and following up with their clients.
4. Tenacity. A realtor needs to be able to resolve issues and mediate. This is a lot of what real estate about and what realtor’s spend most of their time doing once they find you a house or list your house. A realtor must be attentive and hard working in their approach toward helping you, the investor to make the best deal possible.
5. A realtor must have an imagination. Imagination is the key to creativity. Real estate is a structured process in many ways, but also is about thinking outside the box in order to find the best home for their client’s needs and wants.
6. Likability. Chances are if your realtor is not likeable to you, then other parties won’t find them likeable as well, including other agents and in their dealing with them. So, if your realtor causes friction or is not personable , then that can most certainly affect the buyer or the seller’s interest in the home buying process.
A lot of the time you can usually observe if your realtor has these qualities from the beginning. So….be observant but also use your intuition as well!
Avg. Sales Price: 379,000
Avg. Days on Market: 69
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