Typical Investor Profile Starting to Shift

Big investors are gradually stepping away from many housing markets, as distressed homes start to dry up. But another type of investor is stepping in to fill their shoes. The number of home sales to investors rose in October, but a closer look at many markets shows a different investor picture forming.

Impact of Investors

• Are Mega-Investors Changing Rental Housing?
  
• Field Opens for Buyers
  
• 5 Markets to Watch for Investors in 2015
  

"We've seen buying activity slowing down among the largest institutional investors, and some of this activity [is being] replaced by mid-sized companies and individuals looking to buy and rent out single-family homes," Rick Sharga, executive vice president of Auction.com, told CNBC. "The asset class seems likely to continue to grow, but the share of inventory purchased by the largest funds appears to be shrinking."
Big institutional investors have a large backlog of homes already on their books to renovate and rent, which is eating away at their profits until they can get these homes onto the market. As such, smaller investors are stepping in to buy some of these properties from the bigger investors to manage in their own portfolios, CNBC reports.

Freddie Mac: Buy Sooner Rather than Later

In a recent video update on the housing market, Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac’s chief economist, stated that with both mortgage interest rates and home prices projected to increase in 2015 buying now makes sense.

“If you are planning to buy a home in the next year, it’s better to do it sooner rather than later.”

Here are the latest mortgage interest rate projections from four major housing entities: Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) and the National Association of Realtors (NAR):

Thinking of Selling & Moving Up?

This advice isn’t limited to just the first-time buyer. If you are considering moving up to the home your family has always wanted, waiting also makes no sense.

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Apartment Rent Surge Expected into 2015

Renters need to brace themselves: Apartment rent is expected to continue to outpace inflation next year. It’s a landlord’s market, which means strong demand continues to give landlords justification to hike rents.

A Soaring Sector
Apartment Boom Riding Two-Decade High
4 Predictions for the Commercial Market
14 Priciest Neighborhoods for Renters
Rising Rents, Falling Wages Leave More Cash-Strapped

Rent growth will likely reach 3.9 percent in 2015, only a slight dip from 4 percent this year, according to a recent forecast released by the National Association of REALTORS®. For at least two more years, vacancy rates for rental apartments are expected to remain low.  
“Low housing inventory and the sizable demand for rentals will continue to spur multifamily construction as well as keep rents rising above inflation through next year,” says Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that annual rental inflation is nearly double the price of overall inflation.
Builders are increasing the construction of multifamily units but are struggling to keep pace with demand.
The following metros saw the lowest vacancy rates for rental apartments in the fourth quarter, according to NAR:

• Orange County, Calif.: 2.2%
• Sacramento, Calif.: 2.2%
• Providence, R.I.: 2.3%
• New Haven, Conn.: 2.3%
• Hartford, Conn.: 2.4%

5 Safety Tips When Decorating the Exterior for the Holidays

It’s that time of year where home owners are busy decorating their exteriors with holiday lights and making them for festival for the holidays. Many landscape and lawn care companies support their clients year-round by providing snow removal and holiday lighting in the winter. There are many safety concerns that home owners should take into consideration when putting up their own holiday lights, such as:

1. Inspect the lights and wires.
Inspect all lights, decorations and extension cords before using. Wires can become brittle.Throw lights away if there is exposed copper or broken sockets.

2. Don’t overload circuits and watch for electrical concerns.
Avoid connecting five or more strands end to end, otherwise the circuit can be overloaded. However, for many LEDs you can add more than five strands. Also, do not pull the strands too tight so they can reach an outlet. Other electrical concerns to watch for:

• Tears in the wiring surface could result in electrocution.
• When creating a lighting configuration on a lawn, make sure to keep connections out of depressions that could collect ground water.
• Be sure to tape down extension cords if they cross walkways.

3. Read the labels carefully for outdoor use.
LED lights re more energy efficient and require less wattage than incandescent bulbs. But make sure the lights and extension cords are rated for indoor and outdoor use or specifically for outdoor use. Outdoor lights should be plugged into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs.). Also, don’t replace light bulbs without unplugging the light strand or decoration.

4. Take caution on rooftops or elevated areas.
Ladders should be inspected – look for lose or missing screws, hinges, bolts and nuts before using and be sure they are stable and in good condition. Be sure to ground the ladder on a solid, even surface with no risk of sliding.
Don’t overreach when on ladders. When stringing lights, climb down and move the ladder often. Also, keep ladders as far as possible from electrical lines. 
Finally, if the roof is too steep or too high, don’t risk scaling it and endangering yourself. Hire a trained landscape professional that has the training to offer unique installation methods and premium quality products with the latest trends in decoration and technology.

5. Remove lights at the end of the holiday season.
Over a period of time, lights exposed to the weather can have damage to the wires, lights, and sockets. Watch for any weather damage before you tow the lights away for next year.

Holiday Tradition in San Carlos

It's that time of year again! Time for the glorious decorations on Eucalyptus Ave. between Orange and Tamarack in San Carlos to shine like the stars for Christmas. If you haven't experienced driving down this street at night during the holidays - don't miss out! It is truly breathtaking and a lot of fun.

Check out some of the homes at:
http://www.lightsofthevalley.com/Properties/San_Carlos.asp

American Dream homes: Prices in 10 cities

How much does the American Dream home cost? From $2 million in Los Altos, Calif., to $65,000 in Cleveland, here's what you'll pay for a 4-bedroom, 2-bath house, according to Coldwell Banker's annual survey.

Go to this link to see:
http://money.cnn.com/gallery/real_estate/2014/11/18/american-dream-homes/index.html?section=money_realestate&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fmoney_realestate+%28Real+Estate%29

Fannie And Freddie Set To Make Mortgaging Easier

Representations and warranties for existing but underutilized Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidelines came online Monday that will make it easier to get a mortgage to buy a home. The mortgage giants have a minimum credit score floor of 620 but most lenders have been reluctant to incorporate that standard in underwriting guidelines.  As well, consideration is being given to lowering the minimum down payment from 5% to 3%, but no decision or announcement has been made.  Obviously this would be great news for prospective homebuyers that do not have a lot of money to put down or may have some challenging credit history. This will of course add homebuyer candidates to the buyer pool and should create increased demand in the housing markets.

These expanded guidelines, if prudently applied, could add a layer to the mortgage and home buyer consumer market that is presently underserved.

That being said, if these new guidelines speak to your borrower profile, do not expect to just head over to your local mortgage lender and pick up a briefcase full of house buying cash.

How easy it will be to get conventional loans with 3% down payments and 620 credit scores is another issue. Mortgage lenders live in the cocoon of Qualified Mortgage protection and while this easing may in fact expand Ability-To-Repay parameters, a price will be paid to fortify these riskier loans. That price will take the form of higher risk based interest rates, more expensive PMI (mortgage insurance), increased reserve asset requirements, even tougher debt ratio standards. Easier is not a synonym for expanded and expanded is what is really happening to Fannie and Freddie guidelines.

The real bonus with these expanded guidelines is how conventional financing will be positioned for direct competition with FHA loans. FHA, HUD and the deficit black hole that is the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund are about to see demand for overpriced Mortgage Insurance Premiums plummet. FHA MIP has increased five times over the last three years and is now priced beyond the point where anybody at HUD can reasonably explain why. Add to this Cadillac mortgage insurance pricing the fact that there is no way to get rid of FHA MIP regardless of equity, and conventional financing becomes the ipso facto clearly more attractive alternative.

The math is pretty simple: FHA requires upfront MIP and conventional PMI does not. FHA MIP is more expensive than conventional PMI, and oh yeah, FHA MIP stays with the loan for the life of the loan regardless of equity, while conventional PMI allows for current appraisal supported equity of 22% to eliminate PMI. The choice is simple; no possibility of parole or parole.

Conventional loans are tougher on things like debt ratios (comparing monthly income to mortgage payments and recurring debts), but every FHA mortgage consumer should have their mortgage rep take a long and hard look at whether a conventional loan with a 3% down payment or a 620 credit score is a viable option.
I have been notoriously hard on HUD, the FHA, even Commissioner Galante about the consumer gouging nature of ever increasing FHA mortgage insurance premiums and the interestingly managed runaway deficit MMI Fund. Free market economics have a way of correcting and creating balance even in engineered market sectors. With expanded conventional mortgage financing in one corner and positioned directly against FHA mortgage financing, the current and only game in town in the opposing corner, FHA MIP may be market forced to competitive pricing. Otherwise, FHA mortgage business will fall victim to accelerating conventional originations and that MMI Fund deficit will collapse on itself. Watch.

Market Insider: San Carlos

See how your San Carlos real estate market is doing @:

 http://www.sancarloshomefinder.com/mimarket/zip/94070/

Your New (and Noisy) Neighborhood at Night

If the first night you spend in your new neighborhood is the night you move in, you might be in for some tough surprises. Popular Mechanic listed sounds you might not be expecting.

1. Highway Noise: It can carry further when it’s humid, so you should check the neighborhood in the early morning, when the air is at its dewiest.
2. Industrial Noise: Check the neighborhood for industrial activity, especially where they use big, metal, roll-up doors. The workers might keep the doors closed in the winter but open in the summer, exposing you to unexpected sounds from within the factory.
3. Rail Yards: Idling trains can be very loud, especially late at night or during humid days.
4. Junkyards: These might use large machinery such as large-terrain forklifts and wheel loaders, which can be very noisy.
5. Water-Tower Pumps: These pumps charge overnight, sometimes causing a steady, throbbing sound. Then again, it might be too quiet to notice.

Check the neighborhood out yourself to make sure: Go for a nighttime drive or look on maps to see what you’re up against.

Blue States See Higher Home Value Appreciation, Study Finds

Homeowners in blue states saw more value appreciation since the last election than than those in red states, according to a Zillow study published on Monday.

Home values in liberal-leaning states have risen 17.8 percent since the last election, while those in conservative-led states have risen a more modest 8.9 percent.

So can you turn your home value around in the next vote? Not likely. The cause of the appreciation is not liberal leanings but location — most blue states are large, coastal and host to the nation’s largest cities.

Zillow blogger Emily Heffter also pointed out that home values in blue states have more ground to make up.

“Red states avoided the worst of the housing market crash,” Heffter said. “That meant that [blue states] had a bigger bounce back up.”

What if you live in a swing state? Your home value appreciation likely falls somewhere in between: Zillow found an average of 14 percent for “purple” states.

Living Large in Smaller Homes

The answer to affordable housing lies in less space and more peace of mind.

 Written by Shira Boss

Struggling with the high cost of housing? Want to be a homeowner but wondering how you can afford it? There’s a solution: think smaller.

A smaller home not only costs less in monthly payments, but costs less to maintain, to furnish, to decorate, to clean, and especially to heat and cool. With less space to look after, you can free up not only money but time.

“The reality is housing represents a huge debt that has become unsustainable for the average family,” said Susan Milewski, who worked as a realtor for 23 years and is now a proponent of affordable housing. “The rule of thumb for housing used to be between 25-29 percent of one’s paycheck to be applied toward housing. Now it's more like 75 percent and this leaves less disposable income for food, clothing and other essentials. Never mind a savings plan.”

Milewski advocates smaller homes with fewer amenities and for using solar, wind and geothermal energy.
The average size of a new home in 2012 topped 2,500 square feet, according to the US Census Bureau—that’s compared to 1,660 square feet in 1973. At that time, 23 percent of new homes had four or more bedrooms. Today, 41 percent have four or more bedrooms – and nearly a third have three or more baths. Cleaning a bathroom is onerous—why clean three (or more)?

In areas of the country, e.g. Florida, where a McMansion might seem affordable, do buyers consider how much it will cost to heat and cool?

The average single family home racks up $2,200 in energy bills each year, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (46 percent of that for heating and cooling). Fewer rooms and smaller rooms = lower bills.

Have you ever shopped for window coverings, only to be shocked at how expensive they can be? It makes a big difference to need to dress up only a few windows vs. many. The same goes for furniture, decorations, repairs, and the time or cost to clean.

Another bonus of smaller-space living: less room for storage means thinking twice before shopping. That leaves both money and time for other pursuits.

“The more stuff we own, the more mental energy is held hostage by them,” wrote Joshua Becker, author of the book Simplify, in a blog post, “ 12 Reasons Why You’ll Be Happier in a Smaller Home.” “The same is absolutely true with our largest, most valuable asset. Buy small and free your mind.”

Bay Area Home Sales Slowdown Not Experienced in San Mateo County

San Mateo County was the sole Bay Area county that saw an increase in home sales, as volume increased by 18 percent. In addition, the median price rose to $750,000, a 25 percent increase.

January 15, 2014

La Jolla, CA.-----Last month’s Bay Area home sales were the slowest for a December in six years, the result of a constrained supply of homes for sale. Prices continued to rise on a year-over-year basis, although at a slower pace than earlier in 2013, a real estate information service reported.

San Mateo County was the sole Bay Area county that saw an increase in home sales from December 2012 to December 2013, as volume increased by 18 percent. In addition, the median price rose to $750,000 in one year, a 25 percent increase.

A total of 6,714 new and resale houses and condos sold in the nine-county Bay Area last month. That was the lowest for any December since 2007, when 5,065 homes sold. Last month’s sales were up 0.8 percent from 6,659 in November, and down 12.7 percent from 7,688 in December 2012, according to San Diego-based DataQuick.

Sales almost always increase from November to December, usually around 8 percent. Last month’s sales were 21.3 percent below the December average of 8,529 since 1988, when when DataQuick’s statistics begin. Bay Area sales haven’t been above average for any particular month in more than seven years. The most active December was in 2003 when 12,349 homes sold, while the least active was in 2007, when 5,065 sold.

The median price paid for a home in the Bay Area last month was $548,500. That was 0.3 percent lower than $550,000 in November, and 23.9 percent above $442,750 for December 2012. While the median has been at roughly the current level since last summer, it has increased year-over-year for 21 consecutive months.

The Bay Area median peaked at $665,000 in June and July 2007, then dropped to a low of $290,000 in March 2009. While much of the median's ups and downs in recent years can be attributed to shifts in the types of homes sold, it now appears most of the current year-over-year gain reflects a rise in home values.

For 14 consecutive months the Bay Area median has risen more than 20 percent on a year-over-year basis.

“If current trends hold, including year-over-year price appreciation of 20-plus percent, the typical home would be selling for $50,000 to $60,000 more by spring. Perhaps twice that at the upper end of the market. That could loosen up quite a bit of inventory. The question then is, how much of the pent-up demand that accumulated during the down years is still there? An additional issue is the fussy mortgage market, although things are moving in the right direction there, slowly,” said John Walsh, DataQuick president.

Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs), an important indicator of mortgage availability, accounted for 22.0 percent of the Bay Area’s home purchase loans in December. That was up from 20.0 percent in November, and up from 11.0 percent in December 2012. It was the highest since 25.4 percent in July 2008. ARMs hit a low of 3.0 percent of loans in January 2009. Since 2000, ARMs have accounted for 47.2 percent of all Bay Area purchase loans.

Jumbo loans, mortgages above the old conforming limit of $417,000, accounted for 49.2 percent of last month’s purchase lending, down slightly from a revised 49.8 percent in November, and up from 40.1 percent a year ago. Jumbo usage dropped to as low as 17.1 percent in January 2009. Before the credit crunch hit in August 2007, jumbos accounted for more than 60 percent of Bay Area purchase loans.

Government-insured FHA home purchase loans, a popular choice among first-time buyers, accounted for 11.3 percent of all Bay Area home purchase mortgages in December, up from 10.4 percent in November and down from 13.8 percent a year earlier. In recent months the FHA share has been the lowest since early 2008, mainly because of tighter FHA qualifying standards and the difficulties first-time buyers have competing with investors and cash buyers.

Last month the number of homes that sold for less than $500,000 dropped 28.9 percent year-over-year, while the number that sold for more increased 12.3 percent, DataQuick reported.

Distressed property sales – the combination of foreclosure resales and “short sales” – made up about 15.0 percent of the resale market last month. That was up from 13.2 percent the prior month and down from 35.7 percent a year earlier.

Foreclosure resales – homes that had been foreclosed on in the prior 12 months – accounted for 4.5 percent of resales in December, up from 3.7 percent the month before, and down from 12.1 percent a year ago. Foreclosure resales peaked at 52.0 percent in February 2009. The monthly average for foreclosure resales over the past 17 years is 10 percent.

Short sales – transactions where the sale price fell short of what was owed on the property – made up an estimated 10.5 percent of Bay Area resales last month. That was up from an estimated 9.5 percent in November and down from 23.6 percent a year earlier.

Last month absentee buyers – mostly investors – purchased 23.0 percent of all Bay Area homes. That was up from November’s revised 20.6 percent and down from 26.0 percent in December 2012. Absentee buyers paid a median $439,000 last month, up 35.1 percent from $325,000 a year earlier.

Buyers who appear to have paid all cash – meaning no sign of a corresponding purchase loan was found in the public record – accounted for 22.5 percent of sales in December, up from a revised 22.1 percent in November and down from 29.9 percent a year earlier. The monthly average going back to 1988 is 13.3 percent. Cash buyers paid a median $468,500 in December, up 48.3 percent from a year earlier.

In December, Bay Area home buyers put $1.72 billion of their own money on the table in the form of a down payment or as an outright cash purchase. That number hit an all-time high of $2.64 billion last May. They borrowed $2.56 billion last month in mortgage money from lenders.

The most active lenders to Bay Area home buyers in December were Wells Fargo with 13.0 percent of the purchase loan market, Bank of America with 4.5 percent and Stearns Lending with 3.8 percent.

San Diego-based DataQuick monitors real estate activity nationwide and provides information to consumers, educational institutions, public agencies, lending institutions, title companies and industry analysts. Because of late data availability, sales were estimated in Alameda, San Francisco and San Mateo counties.

The typical monthly mortgage payment that Bay Area buyers committed themselves to paying last month was $2,219. Adjusted for inflation, last month’s payment was 22.1 percent below the typical payment in spring 1989, the peak of the prior real estate cycle. It was 42.5 percent below the current cycle's peak in July 2007. It was 76.3 percent above the February 2012 bottom of the current cycle.

Indicators of market distress continue to decline. Foreclosure activity remains well below year-ago and far below peak levels. Financing with multiple mortgages is very low, and down payment sizes are stable, DataQuick reported.

5 Easy Home Improvements For Renters

According to a recent report released by Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies, 43 million households in the United States were housed in rental homes by early 2013, the highest rate in a decade.

Renters often experience the conundrum of wanting to spruce up the pad, yet simultaneously feeling reluctant to sink loads of money into something they’ll ultimately walk away from. They may want a fresh new look but aren’t about to redo the cabinetry or remodel the porch.

If you find yourself similarly torn, here are 5 easy, inexpensive improvements that can help to rejuvenate your rental:

1) Lights: One of the brightest ideas I’ve ever had was to install dimmer switches in the dining room, living room, kitchen, and bedroom lights in my apartment. Good lighting is so important, yet not high on a landlord’s list. It’s easy, and you’ll notice an immediate upgrade in your quality of life. If you are feeling particularly ambitious, consider changing any ghastly fixtures that may have come with the rental. Again, lighting is key!

2) Doors: One simple way to dress up your house is to replace any old, tired looking doors. If that’s forbidden by the management, consider wallpapering a door or two. A little wallpaper can go a long way.

3) Tile: The experts at Apartment Therapy suggest using wall tiles, “like the FASTBO from IKEA” to cover unsightly kitchen tile. It can be applied for temporary wall use with sticky-backed velcro.

4) Hardware: Knobs, tie-back, handles: Go through your rental and determine if a hardware makeover is in order. Anthropologie has a great selection of charming accoutrements that may make you love your home anew.

5) Everywhere: It’s all in the details! You can a dd a little moulding to your walls or ceiling to give a bland rental some character. Millwork is a bit of a time investment, but it can be done. Watch this video for an idea of what you may be getting yourself into.

Of course, make sure to check your lease and clear any major changes with the landlord. You don’t want to lose that security deposit!

Americans Think This Purchase Is the Best Investment – Why They're Wrong

by  Melinda Carstensen

As a native Floridian who lives and works in New York City, the argument of renting vs. buying often pops up in conversation with friends from home. Blind to the allure of the city that all New Yorkers know, they just don’t get why I tolerate throwing away more than one-quarter of my cash flow on housing, the long-held standard ratio for income: rent.

While you've certainly got to be rolling in dough to own property in the Big Apple, I have never had a desire to own a home, a car or land. Those things have never been defining elements in my “American Dream.” For me, renting is a no-brainer.

Unsurprisingly, it appears that the majority of the U.S. disagrees. In  a Gallup poll released last week, about 30 percent of 1,026 American adults surveyed said they felt real estate was the best long-term investment. Gallup chose participants randomly and questioned them on the telephone. The margin of sampling error was  ±4 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level, the report notes.

Business Insider’s Joe Weisenthal notes that multiple experts felt Americans’ qualms with homeownership would be forever tarnished in light of the housing crash. But nope, compared with last year, five percent more of Americans surveyed in the poll this year said real estate is a better investment than gold, stocks/mutual funds, savings accounts, and bonds.

Mathematically, buying makes more sense than renting, so I’ll give my friends that. Zillow’s Krishna Rao calls out the stark differences in affordability trends for rent and purchasing a home in a 2014 report. The report shows the percentage of income spent on rent has reached an average of 30 percent in the U.S., while the average spent on a mortgage has steadily fallen to about 17 percent.

“Nationally, the share of income that households must devote to rent has increased steadily and consistently since 2000, as the increase in rent has dramatically outpaced the growth in income over the same period,” Rao said in the report.

The Daily Beast even wrote this week about  an impending rent bubble burst.

However, when considering inflation, as an investment real estate doesn’t pull much weight. According to the  U.S. Census Bureau Survey of Construction, single-family real estate generated a .74 percent annual return over the last 30 years.

"And this doesn’t even account for many of the miscellaneous costs involved in real estate,” writes Cullen Roche, of  Pragmatic Capitalism.

“A house is basically a depreciating asset that comes with an appreciating piece of land. But that depreciating asset is extremely expensive over its lifetime. When you calculate the total costs that go into maintaining this asset the returns are very likely to be negative over long periods of time. So that 0.74 percent figure is probably higher than you should really expect.”

The homeownership rate for U.S. homes was 65.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2013, or 0.2 percentage points lower than the fourth quarter of 2012, according to a  2014 U.S. Census Bureau report.

To rank U.S. housing markets in value, Fitch Ratings looked at its quarterly Sustainable Home Price model, which weighs pricing against factors like income growth, unemployment rates, population growth, inventory and the like.  A June 2013 Forbes article explained the system: "If home prices grow faster than the rest of the local economy, then housing is becoming overvalued; if homes are trading for prices lower than the local economy can sustain, then housing is undervalued.”

In the Patch communities around Atlanta, Detroit, Chicago, Las Vegas and Orlando, Fitch Ratings found properties were undervalued, while it found that near Washington D.C. and major cities in California like San Diego, San Jose, Los Angeles and San Francisco, properties were overvalued.

Those figures are interesting, but considering how fickle the housing market is (see: the housing crash), how useful is it to even analyze these values? Sure,  rent may be soaring across the U.S., but at least we renters know what we're getting for our money. I’ve never been one to enjoy gambling.

3 Reasons Fall is the Best Season to Buy or Sell a Home

Spring has long been considered the best time of year for real estate, but home purchases also pick up during fall, according to an ERA Real Estate Survey. The survey found that 40 percent of brokers and sales professionals attribute a new focus on real estate to the end of the vacation season. They also asked their brokers why:

1. Home for the Holidays: “As vacations wind down after Labor Day and people become more focused, the desire to be in a new home for the holidays is a historically strong driver of fall home sales,” said Charlie Young, president and CEO of ERA Real Estate.

2. Back-to-School Mentality: As Labor Day passes and kids go back to school, home buyers get down to business. The official end of summer also means the end of vacation season for many people, which means they’re refreshed and ready to refocus.

3. Tax Benefits: 10 percent of survey respondents found that their buyers want to have access to homeowner’s tax benefits before the new year. Homeowners can claim mortgage interest, residential energy efficiency and casualty losses, among other pay-backs.
Take advantage of the season by checking out Zillow’s listings and Open Houses near you.

Confidence is Key: Home Ownership Seems More Attainable

Country Financial, an insurance company from Bloomington, IL, found that 89 percent of Americans still think buying a home is essential to the American dream.

According to their COUNTRY Financial Security Index survey, more people believe home ownership is achievable. Only 41 percent of survey responders saw home ownership as attainable in 2013, while 64 percent now believe they could own a home.

Still, some people see more financial barriers than possibilities for home ownership. Fourteen percent of responders said their credit score was too low; 13 percent said they lacked the money for a down payment; and 12 percent were impeded by the price of homes in their area.

“Younger Americans are more likely to reject the idea of home ownership. Yet, the financial challenges of buying a home can affect those of any age,” said Joe Buhrmann, manager of financial security support at Country Financial.

However, Zillow found that 82 percent of Millennials felt confident that they’d be able to afford to buy a home someday.

7 Ways to Cut Home Heating Costs

October means the beginning of home heating season. Last season, which ended in March 2014, the U.S. saw an average cost of $4.18 per gallon for home heating fuel. Heating your home takes more energy than water heating, cooling, lighting or other appliances, so that $4.18 can really add up over the winter.

Here’s how to cut back on your heating costs – without having to put on an extra sweater.

1. Have the system inspected by a professional before (or at the beginning of) the heating season. A poorly maintained system loses heat.
2. Clean or replace the furnace filter, following the instructions on the manual.
3. Move furniture and curtains away from heat registers and air ducts.
4. Place a sheet of aluminum foil behind a radiator, especially if it’s against an outside wall. The foil will reflect heat back into the room, so you don’t lose it.
5. Use an extra blanket when sleeping.
6. Close your attic, basement, and garage doors to keep drafts out. Make sure exterior doors are closed as well.
7. Seal cracks in walls and floors, and weather strip your windows and doors.

Start Planning Now, San Carlos: USPS Releases 2014 Holiday Shipping Deadlines

With Christmas just two months away, the U.S. Postal Service is offering holiday shipping tips to help customers ship the 15.5 billion cards, letters and packages expected to be delivered in time for Christmas.

“The key to holiday shipping is being prepared and starting early,” advised San Diego District Manager Jim Olson. “This is our season and we are ready to deliver. The Postal Service’s knowledgeable employees are here to help customers ensure their holiday packages are packed, tracked and delivered with ease.”
In addition to offering 2014 holiday stamps, Post Offices nationwide will offer festive Priority Mail boxes and other packing items to provide customers with added convenience, including bubble mailers, mailing cartons, bubble wrap and packaging tape.

No time for a trip to the Post Office? No problem. By using Click-N-Ship on usps.com, on-the-go customers can ship their packages when it’s most convenient for them. As an added bonus, customers can receive savings off retail prices when they print their own labels with postage online.
Here are more holiday shipping tips to help customers prepare their holiday shipments for an on-time delivery:

• Enjoy convenience: Order free Priority Mail shipping supplies on usps.com and have them delivered to your door, free of charge.

• Be informed: Check usps.com to verify that your items can be shipped.

• Pack smart: Pick a strong and sturdy box, cushion contents with packing peanuts, newspaper or bubble wrap and tape it closed with strong packing tape.

• Save a trip: Visit usps.com to pay for postage and request free Package Pickup at your door.

• Track it: Sign up for text and email alerts through my.usps.com to track the delivery status of your packages.
• Gift options: Pick up a gift card from your local Post Office; they make great gifts for family and friends.

“We know how stressful the holiday season can be,” said Olson. “With a little help from the Postal Service, you can prepare your holiday shipments with ease so you can get back to enjoying this special time of year.”

USPS 2014 Christmas Shipping Deadlines:

To ensure that holiday mail and packages are delivered in time for Christmas, the Postal Service recommends the following mailing and shipping deadlines:

• Dec. 2 – First-Class Mail International
• Dec. 2 – Priority Mail International
• Dec. 10 – Priority Mail Express International
• Dec. 15 – Standard Post
• Dec. 17 – Global Express Guaranteed
• Dec. 20 – First-Class Mail
• Dec. 20 – Priority Mail
• Dec. 23 – Priority Mail Express*

The dates listed above are the earliest deadlines for international and military mail.
*Priority Mail Express postage refund eligibility is adjusted for shipments mailed Dec. 22–25.
For more shipping tips, visit usps.com.

5 Easy Home Improvements For Renters

According to a recent report released by Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies, 43 million households in the United States were housed in rental homes by early 2013, the highest rate in a decade.

Renters often experience the conundrum of wanting to spruce up the pad, yet simultaneously feeling reluctant to sink loads of money into something they’ll ultimately walk away from. They may want a fresh new look but aren’t about to redo the cabinetry or remodel the porch.

If you find yourself similarly torn, here are 5 easy, inexpensive improvements that can help to rejuvenate your rental:

1) Lights: One of the brightest ideas I’ve ever had was to install dimmer switches in the dining room, living room, kitchen, and bedroom lights in my apartment. Good lighting is so important, yet not high on a landlord’s list. It’s easy, and you’ll notice an immediate upgrade in your quality of life. If you are feeling particularly ambitious, consider changing any ghastly fixtures that may have come with the rental. Again, lighting is key!

2) Doors: One simple way to dress up your house is to replace any old, tired looking doors. If that’s forbidden by the management, consider wallpapering a door or two. A little wallpaper can go a long way.

3) Tile: The experts at Apartment Therapy suggest using wall tiles, “like the FASTBO from IKEA” to cover unsightly kitchen tile. It can be applied for temporary wall use with sticky-backed velcro.

4) Hardware: Knobs, tie-back, handles: Go through your rental and determine if a hardware makeover is in order. Anthropologie has a great selection of charming accoutrements that may make you love your home anew.

5) Everywhere: It’s all in the details! You can a dd a little moulding to your walls or ceiling to give a bland rental some character. Millwork is a bit of a time investment, but it can be done. Watch this video for an idea of what you may be getting yourself into.

Of course, make sure to check your lease and clear any major changes with the landlord. You don’t want to lose that security deposit!

Do you have any tips for fixing up a rental unit? Tell us in the comments or in a blog post.

Google seals massive Sunnyvale, Redwood City deals

Google Inc. has cemented a pair of massive real estate deals in Sunnyvale and Redwood City that boost the company's Silicon Valley footprint by 2.8 million square feet – about the size of the Empire State Building and enough room for more than 10,000 workers.

Even by Google standards, the latest transactions are blockbusters: In one deal, Google has agreed to lease all of Jay Paul Co.'s Moffett Place, a 1.9 million square foot office campus currently under construction in Sunnyvale. It's a contender for the largest office lease ever signed in Silicon Valley and perhaps the state of California.

In a separate but no less notable deal, Mountain View-based Google completed the purchase of six buildings from Blackstone Group and Starwood Capital totaling about 934,000 square feet at Redwood City's Pacific Shores office park. It's Google's first entry into that city and a potential game changer for that commercial real estate market.

"Google is obviously a very strong company and they are in hyper growth mode," said Amber Schiada, director of research for real estate services firm JLL.

Google confirmed the closing of both deals — both of which I previously reported were in the works — but declined to comment further. Blackstone didn't return inquiries. Jay Paul's longtime broker Phil Mahoney of Newmark Cornish & Carey, said Moffett Place is off the market.

Google's expansion on the Peninsula has been the biggest real estate story since the 2008 Great Recession as the world's biggest Web-search advertising company has bought and leased building after building, radiating out from its Mountain View headquarters. Its real estate growth dwarfs even that of Cisco Systems Inc.'s expansion during the 1990s.

Terms of the latest deals were not disclosed, but sources estimated the Redwood City sale at around $625 per square foot, or $583.75 million. That would make it perhaps Google's single largest real estate acquisition by footprint and dollar amount ever in Silicon Valley. In an Oct. 23 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Google said it completed a purchase of land and office buildings for $585 million this month.

"I welcome them to our city and I look forward to working with them," said Redwood City Mayor Jeffrey Gee in an interview this afternoon. "For a long time I would go around and say, 'Redwood City is one of the best kept secrets in the Bay Area. With Google and everything going on, we're not a secret anymore.'"
Aside from sheer size, the deals are notable for several reasons. First, they showcase Google's incredibly ambitious growth plans as the company enters new business sectors such as wearable computing, self-driving cars and robotics — all of which could be huge space users on their own.

Google has not even moved into much of the space it has leased or bought over the last several years. Yet the company continues to bank more elbow room for future expansion, suggesting it is thinking far down the line in terms of its space needs. Google counted 55,030 employees globally as of Sept. 30, according to its most recent quarterly report, up 18 percent — or 8,600 Googlers — from a year ago.

The transactions also alter the marketplace dynamics in two cities by taking available space off the table. Schiada noted that Moffett Place was the largest speculatively built project under construction in Silicon Valley. In Redwood City's Pacific Shores, which is more than 90 percent leased, I'm told Google will honor all current tenants' leases for now, but will evaluate moving into spaces as they become available in the years ahead.

"A big question is what does this leave for tenants," Schiada said, speaking specifically about the Moffett Place deal. "It also increases rates, because the supply becomes more limited."
Still, that could actually be a good thing for tenants down the line by pushing developers to build more product, she added.

"This deal essentially eliminates a significant portion of new development, which could prompt more developers to move forward," she said.

Office space vacancy in Silicon Valley decreased to 14.1 percent in the third quarter, down from 15.4 percent a year earlier, JLL research showed. That's down from a recession-era peak of 26.4 percent in 2009. Researchers concur that Google is playing a substantive role in soaking up supply.
Jim Beeger, a veteran broker with Colliers International, said in the short term, the Sunnyvale deal could also push tenants back into the market.

The transaction could "cause tenants of all sizes to realize they should have more of a sense of urgency in their search for a new site," he said. "Moffett Place will be difficult to replicate, and those who lingered no longer have this option."

Sethena Leiker, senior analyst for Cushman & Wakefield's Silicon Valley office, agreed.
"There's not a lot of spec development coming," she said. "If you want to take any new space, you're going to have to take something that's proposed."

One result, Beeger said, could be a "trickle-down effect" of growing tenants moving to other areas of Santa Clara County that have available sites.

Score for Sunnyvale
Google's lease at Moffett Place is a huge win for San Francisco-based Jay Paul Co., if one that's not entirely unexpected. Jay Paul already leased 949,000 square feet to Google in Sunnyvale at a nearby campus called Technology Corners, making Google a natural prospect for the new development.
And while Google has not yet started moving into Technology Corners, the company has also been growing elsewhere in Sunnyvale this year, snapping up the old Juniper Networks headquarters (424,000 square feet) and former head office of Palm Computing Inc. (285,000 square feet). And it's rumored that a fund, CBRE Global Investors, that's buying up land all around Sunnyvale's Moffett Park business district is actually acting on behalf of Google.

Yet landing Google wasn't guaranteed when Jay Paul started building Moffett Place earlier this year on spec. Other major tech tenants were also making offers on the property, according to sources. The rent Google is paying isn't known, but Jay Paul was asking $3.75 per square foot on a triple-net basis, or not including utilities, taxes and fees.

Moffett Place is located on 55 acres near the intersection of Highway 237 and N. Mathilda Ave. Currently, the first phase is under construction with three buildings totaling about 900,000 square feet. Google is still a couple of years away from moving in there. In addition to the office buildings, the DES Architects + Engineers-designed project includes an amenities building with outdoor pool and a living roof — which Jay Paul calls the "high garden" — on top of a parking garage.

Redwood City action
In Redwood City, Google picks a up a major chunk one of Silicon Valley's marquee office campuses. The 10-building, 1.7-million-square-foot project was built by Jay Paul Co. in the early 2000s and gained notice for its sleek design and swanky amenities including pools, a rock-climbing wall, day spa and baseball diamonds. The company is taking Blackstone and Starwood's buildings at 1200, 1300, 1600, 1700, 1800 and 1900 Seaport Blvd.

Starwood bought the campus in 2006 for about $833 million, and immediately sold two buildings to Shorenstein, the San Francisco-based landlord. Blackstone came into the picture after acquiring the junior debt on the property a couple of years ago. Informatica also acquired two buildings out of the 10 in 2012 for $525 per square foot. Google's acquisition this week is only for the six Blackstone/Starwood buildings.
As I reported earlier this month, a new owner could build even more office space at Pacific Shores. New zoning approved about a year ago could allow total build-out of up to 3 million square feet.
Google — which like many expanding tech companies is focused on reducing its car and shuttle trips as traffic worsens during the current boom — may have been attracted to the project partly for its water transit possibilities beyond freeways.

Pacific Shores is a half mile from the Port of Redwood City, where a Google pilot project earlier this year tested running ferries from San Francisco and Alameda to the port.

Mayor Gee said the city would be happy to work with Google on such a plan, should the search company decide to go in that direction.

"One of the things that's always a challenge with new forms of transportation is, is there enough there there," he said. "With Google, that potentially brings the there there."

The changes Google is bringing to Silicon Valley's commercial real estate scene, its transportation system and its market for technology talent are a local reflection of the company's global dominance in Web search advertising, which subsidizes all its other business and tech forays.

Google is sitting on a horde of $61.2 billion in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of Sept. 30, according to an Oct. 23 filing with the Securities Exchange Commission. While the company's earnings for the most recent quarter disappointed, sending the shares down when they were reported Oct. 16, the stock has bumped higher since then.

Today the shares fell $4.93, just less than one percent, to $539.05 at 8:23 a.m. West Coast. That gives the company a market capitalization of $365.5 billion.

The Ultimate Question: Rent or Buy?

The biggest benefit of buying a home is longevity — chances are, you’ll be in the same abode 10 or 20 years later. Unfortunately, that’s also one of buying’s biggest inconveniences.
Renting is a good idea for someone who thinks they might be moving in the near future, but in the long-term, it’s still more expensive than owning a home.
The New York Times constructed a calculator to determine whether renting or owning a home would be more expensive. According to the calculator, if you can find a place to rent for less than $961 a month, you’re better off renting. But it’s a tough call, at least in financial terms, when the average rent is $1,083.
How can you figure out which is right for you? It’s largely a question of how long you’re planning to stick around.

• How long you will stay: Time magazine says that any amount of time less than five to seven years could cost you.

• How stable your job is: not only because you might want to move for your job, but also because many mortgages require steady employment.

• How much is it worth (besides dollars): Neil Irwin at the New York Times pointed out that if you own a home, you don’t have to worry that the landlord will sell or raise rents without your knowledge.

And of course, you have to think outside the (cash) box — painting the shutters as you please, regrouting your bathroom any time you want, or having some extra room for a growing family might be worth its weight in gold.

Realtor.com® Survey: Men, Women Dig on Digs Differently

So, you’ve got it bad for “the one” – you know, the one that keeps you awake at night fantasizing about the day when you can be together.

Wait a second. We aren’t talking about that one – we’re referring to a different kind of love affair: a “home crush.” If you’ve found yourself swooning over a house you just can’t get out of your head, you’re not alone.
In a new realtor.com® survey, 69 percent of the 1,000 people who responded said they have had a ‘home crush’ – a home they liked so much that they were drawn back to looking at it more than once online or in person.
“We conducted the survey to see how searching for ‘the one’ in real estate correlates to searching for ‘the one’ in love, and we found that they are very similar,” said Barbara O’Connor, chief marketing officer at realtor.com®. “Buyers have to evaluate crushes based on turn-ons and turn-offs and whether the home is in their league, so they often find themselves spending a good amount of time checking out their crush online.”
But what do you do when you’re pining for that perfect dwelling? Just as in romance, men and women respond to their home crushes quite differently, the survey found. Women were more likely than men to have a crush on a home that was out of their league financially, while men moved from one home crush to another more frequently than women.
Men and women tend to fall for the same things when it comes to houses, though. Of those surveyed, 54 percent of women and 46 percent of men said they tended to fall in love with outdoor living spaces. Women also swooned for open floor plans and appliances and fixtures, while men’s hearts raced over a good garage and curb appeal.
“Whether it’s love or real estate, having a short list of deal breakers is critical for finding ‘the one’ to help buyers weed through the crushes to find the home of their dreams,” said Leslie Piper, consumer housing specialist at realtor.com®.
Majority of all surveyed consumers report having a home crush:

• 69 percent of those surveyed said they have had a house crush
• 31 percent said they have not had a crush on a house

Women are more likely to cultivate crushes on homes that are out of their league financially:
Of the women included in the survey:

• 41 percent revealed that their home crush is out of their price range
• 59 percent reported that their home crush is in their price range

Of the men included in the survey:

• 30 percent indicated their home crush is out of their price range
• 70 percent shared that their home crush is in their price range

How often men and women establish a new crush on a home:

Of the women included in the survey:

• 29 percent indicated they cultivate a new house crush weekly
• 26 percent believe they develop a new house crush monthly
• 17 percent reported that they develop a new crush on a house quarterly

Of the men included in the survey:

• 36 percent indicated they find a new house crush weekly
• 19 percent shared that they establish a new house crush monthly
• 15 percent revealed that they develop a new crush on a house quarterly

Top attributes that make consumers fall in real estate love:

Of the women included in the survey:

• 54 percent reported that outdoor living spaces make them fall in real estate love
• 42 percent shared open floor plans
• 29 percent swoon for curb appeal
• 29 percent revealed updated appliances and fixtures

Of the men included in the survey:

• 46 percent indicated outdoor living spaces make them fall in real estate love
• 40 percentage swoon for garages
• 35 percent reported curb appeal
• 30 percent revealed open floor plans

3 Reasons Fall is the Best Season to Buy or Sell a Home

Spring has long been considered the best time of year for real estate, but home purchases also pick up during fall, according to an ERA Real Estate Survey. The survey found that 40 percent of brokers and sales professionals attribute a new focus on real estate to the end of the vacation season. They also asked their brokers why:

1. Home for the Holidays: “As vacations wind down after Labor Day and people become more focused, the desire to be in a new home for the holidays is a historically strong driver of fall home sales,” said Charlie Young, president and CEO of ERA Real Estate.

2. Back-to-School Mentality: As Labor Day passes and kids go back to school, home buyers get down to business. The official end of summer also means the end of vacation season for many people, which means they’re refreshed and ready to refocus.

3. Tax Benefits: 10 percent of survey respondents found that their buyers want to have access to homeowner’s tax benefits before the new year. Homeowners can claim mortgage interest, residential energy efficiency and casualty losses, among other pay-backs.

Take advantage of the season by checking out Zillow’s listings and Open Houses near you.

Confidence is Key: Home Ownership Seems More Attainable

Country Financial, an insurance company from Bloomington, IL, found that 89 percent of Americans still think buying a home is essential to the American dream.

According to their COUNTRY Financial Security Index survey, more people believe home ownership is achievable. Only 41 percent of survey responders saw home ownership as attainable in 2013, while 64 percent now believe they could own a home.

Still, some people see more financial barriers than possibilities for home ownership. Fourteen percent of responders said their credit score was too low; 13 percent said they lacked the money for a down payment; and 12 percent were impeded by the price of homes in their area.

“Younger Americans are more likely to reject the idea of home ownership. Yet, the financial challenges of buying a home can affect those of any age,” said Joe Buhrmann, manager of financial security support at Country Financial.

However, Zillow found that 82 percent of Millennials felt confident that they’d be able to afford to buy a home someday.

Why Fall May be a Good Time to Sell Your Home

The Bay Area housing market has been strong this year. There have been stories of crowded open houses, multiple offers on some listings, and even bidding wars on specific properties that push prices skyward. Now that fall has arrived, some homeowners may believe that they have missed their window of opportunity to sell and that they should wait until next spring. Don’t be fooled; this may actually be a very good time to sell your home. A combination of continued demand from serious buyers, a lack of available inventory in many of our markets, ongoing relocations into the Bay Area, and a warm, cozy feeling from homes over the holidays all add up as good reasons for why autumn may be a better time to list a home than most people realize. Consider all of the following: Continued demand from buyers. As anyone who’s followed the news this year knows, there have been more buyers than sellers for homes in the Bay Area. While the number of potential buyers at open houses may have dropped off in recent weeks—which is traditionally expected during the fall—there is still far more “traffic” than we usually see at this time of year. “Serious buyers” in the market now. During the fall months, there tend to be fewer “lookers” than in the spring and summer, and more serious buyers. These are often people who must buy for specific reasons, such as employment relocation. As a result, they are more likely to act quickly when they find the right property. A lack of available inventory. The number of listings has been relatively low all year compared to historical averages. The shortage of available inventory has helped to push prices higher in some areas. It is expected that this time of year there will be even fewer homes than the months preceding it, and that can mean less competition and more potential buyer attention for your listing. Great natural “staging” this time of year. There’s a certain warm feeling that comes with being in a home during the holidays. Homes just feel friendlier and cozier with holiday decorations, the fireplace glowing in the living room, and special cookies baking in the oven. These holiday touches can help “stage” a home, giving it the very best possible look and feel to sell. Buyers who walk into a home during the holidays may have an easier time envisioning their family at happy gatherings there, too. If you’re thinking about selling your home in the fall, there are a few things you should be doing. Start with improving your “curb appeal.” Clean up flowerbeds and rake any leaves on the lawn. Make sure weeds are pulled and shrubs are pruned. In the backyard, put away any summer items like pool toys. In general, keep things clean and neat. Embrace the holiday season and use appropriate decor. Keep decorations in tune with the holiday that’s approaching. Doing so can help potential buyers see themselves and their families enjoying the same holidays in your home. But be careful not to overdo it. It’s also important to price your home properly. Your REALTOR® can help you determine the appropriate price – based upon recent comparable home sales in your area and the anticipated inventory of available homes. Pricing your home correctly can increase the chances of getting a good offer faster. Finally, it’s more important than ever to work with an experienced real estate professional. Look for an agent that has a solid track record in your community and can provide you with good advice on how best to prepare and market your home during the fall season. While fall is not traditionally seen as the best time to sell a home, as explained above, there are a lot of advantages to listing your home now – especially at a time when others might shy away from selling. With a few simple steps, you just may find that selling your home this fall may be the best move you’ll ever make.

©2014 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Office Is Owned by a Subsidiary of NRT LLC. If your property is listed with a real estate broker, please disregard. It is not our intention to solicit the offerings of other real estate brokers. We are happy to work with them and cooperate fully. CalBRE License #01908304

3 Reasons to Consider a Smaller Home

The U.S. real estate market is seeing a growing trend of super small houses. While you might not be ready to go below 600 square feet, here are three reasons why bigger is not always better:

1. Lower Payments: Fewer of your assets are tied up in your house, which lets you diversify financially. A smaller home usually means lower costs, even outside of the mortgage. Your taxes will also drop.
2. Energy Costs: It costs less to heat, light, and run a small home than it does to heat a big one. Smaller houses may also be easier to sell in the future, as energy costs continue to rise.
3. Cleaning, Maintenance, and Improvement Projects: These are all less expensive and less time-consuming in a small house. Imagine repainting a kitchen that’s 200 square feet kitchen versus a kitchen that’s 70 square feet.

On the other hand, you may decide you need a bigger house. Getting married, having children, taking care of older relatives and even adopting pets can make your small house seem cramped. A larger house can mean more room inside or outside -- Wedding Bee found that most people prefer to have a yard.

How To Keep Your Trick-Or-Treaters Safe This Halloween

Information courtesy of the American Red Cross:

With Halloween right around the corner, the American Red Cross would like everyone to stay safe when they don their costumes and go out to Trick-or-Treat.

Halloween’s greatest hazards aren’t vampires and villains, but falls, costume mishaps and traffic accidents, so the Red Cross is offering the following tips to help make this Halloween safe:

• Look for flame-resistant costumes.
• Plan the Trick-or-Treat route and make sure adults know where children are going. A parent or responsible adult should accompany young children as they make their way around the neighborhood.
• Make sure the Trick-or-Treaters have a flashlight. Add reflective tape to costumes and Trick-or-Treat bags. Have everyone wear light-colored clothing in order to be seen.
• Visit only the homes that have a porch light on. Accept treats at the door – never go inside.
• Instead of masks, which can cover the eyes and make it hard to see, consider using face paint.
• Walk only on the sidewalks, not in the street. If no sidewalk is available, walk at the edge of the roadway, facing traffic. Look both ways before crossing the street and cross only at the corner. Don’t cut across yards or use alleys. Don’t cross between parked cars.
• Be cautious around pets and any other animals.

WELCOMING GHOSTS AND GOBLINS If someone is welcoming Trick-or-Treaters at their home, they should make sure the outdoor light is on. Other safety steps include:

• Sweep leaves from the sidewalks and steps.
• Clear the porch or front yard of any obstacles that a child could trip over.
• Restrain any household pets.
• Use a glow stick instead of a candle in the jack-o-lantern to avoid a fire hazard.

LEARN WHAT TO DO People can download the free American Red Cross First Aid App. Users receive instant access to expert advice for everyday emergencies whenever and wherever they need it. Features of the app include:

• Step-by-step instructions on how to handle the most common first aid situations;
• Videos and animations that make the skills easy to learn;
• Safety and preparedness tips; and
• Quizzes that users can take to earn badges which they can share with their friends on social media.

People can find all of the Red Cross apps in the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store by searching for American Red Cross or by going to redcross.org/mobileapps.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

San Carlos Residents Encouraged to Get Flu Shot Early with Early Flu Season Upon Us

The following is a news release from the San Mateo County Health System:
Flu season is unpredictable and this year, flu season came early. San Mateo County health officials urge everyone six months and older to get vaccinated early this year.
“A flu shot early in the season increases your chances of staying healthy,” said Dr. Scott Morrow, San Mateo County Health Officer. “The flu vaccine is safe and can prevent flu-related illness, hospitalization and even death. It’s the best defense against the flu.”
Flu vaccine is now widely available throughout the county, and because the vaccine takes two weeks to become fully effective, residents should get a flu shot as soon as possible.
While everyone six months and older should get vaccinated, it is especially important that pregnant women, children younger than five, adults 65 and older, and those with chronic medical conditions, such as heart disease, asthma, and diabetes, all get vaccinated.
Healthy people should also get a flu shot to avoid getting sick and to protect others by staying healthy. The flu is not fun for anyone but it’s important to remember that the flu can be very serious. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an average of 24,000 people die each year in the U.S. due to complications from the flu and another 200,000 are hospitalized.
People are encouraged to contact their health care provider to get their flu shot. The vaccine is also available at pharmacies, retail stores, and offered by some employers. For people who do not have a health care provider or insurance, the Health System and community organizations offer free flu vaccine at clinics throughout the county. No appointment is necessary for these clinics, and no I.D. is required. For more information on where to get your flu shot, visit www.smchealth.org/flu.
For more information about the flu, and for a schedule of community vaccine clinics in San Mateo County, visit www.smchealth.org/flu , or call the flu hotline at (650) 573-3927.

Introducing "Shape San Carlos" Open Town Hall

9/11/2014

Shape San Carlos is a new community engagement tool, developed by Berkeley-based Peak Democracy as Open Town Hall, to increase transparency and encourage the community to participate more regularly in civic governance.  As a bonus, a robust Cloud storage solution allows for the archiving of maps, plans and other large public documents related to a topic, making the online discourse even more dynamic.

Members join by registering for Shape San Carlos on the City's website.  Participants are then able to engage in moderated discussions with both City staff and other citizens on topics presented by the City. Comments and feedback are reviewed regularly by City staff and moderated by Peak Democracy to ensure that standards of respect and civility are upheld. 

The platform allows the City to gather a broad range of perspectives from residents, facilitate a more informed dialogue and generate greater community participation.  Topics will range from soliciting ideas for park improvements to gathering public comment on City budget priorities and more.

Live in a multimillion-dollar home for $2,500

By Sara Ashley O'Brien  @saraashleyo August 11, 2014: 10:57 AM ET

The Starres in front of their $1.3 million dollar Showhome in Carlsbad, Calif.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

The Starres aren't movie stars, but they live like it -- for a fraction of the cost.

As home managers, Calvenn and Crystena Starre rent a $1.3 million home in Carlsbad, Calif., for just $2,500 a month -- about a third of what it would cost normally.

They're "hired" by Showhomes, a Nashville company that helps sell high-end homes. It preps the homes to look "lived in"... by finding people to actually live in them, at a very discounted rate.
Currently, there are 200 home managers, who reside in the home until it's sold (it usually takes about three to six months). They watch for any maintenance issues and make the home look desirable (food in the fridge, clothes in the closet) for prospective buyers.
But not everyone can get the gig -- Showhomes' acceptance rate is about 40%. Residents must undergo online background checks, including criminal and rental histories. They're typically white-collar professionals who are in a city temporarily, newly divorced or, in the Starre's case, a family of five looking for a quick and easy rental.


With Showhomes, the Starres didn't need to make a long-term commitment -- they could leave their furniture in storage until they figured out where they wanted to live long term.
But what was a temporary move became a way of life. Over the past two years, they've lived in five different Showhomes -- ranging from $900,000 to $1.3 million in value -- all in the San Diego area. The amenities have included everything from tennis courts to pools.
"It's a way to live in a really inexpensive way," said Matt Kelton, chief operating officer of Showhomes, which has 58 franchises in 18 states.
But it's not all a walk in the park. Showhomes has a number of restrictions for home managers.
"You can't be a smoker, you can't have a bunch of pets, no religious items -- things that can deter [a buyer] one way or another," added Kelton.
Personal items like family photos, sports teams and political paraphernalia are also prohibited. And then there's the prospective buyers who could be surveying their home at a moment's notice.
"We give up certain parts of our lives [for] the reduced rent," said Calvenn.

Palatial-but-Decaying Philadelphia Estate Back on the Market

PHILADELPHIA -- A dilapidated 110-room, 70,000-square-foot estate is back on the market, but an architect says the $20 million price tag doesn't include the tens of millions more it needs in repairs.
The 34-acre Lynnewood Hall estate in the Elkins Park community has been in decline since the original heirs sold it in 1944, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Sunday. The home, completed around 1900, once held one of the nation's largest private art collections. In its heyday, the house was dripping with silk, velvet and gilded moldings, the rooms furnished with chairs from King Louis XV's palace, Persian rugs and Chinese pottery and the halls crammed with art by Raphael, Rembrandt and Donatello.

But members of the Widener family who owned the property just outside Philadelphia died or moved away. The estate was first sold to an association that wanted to build a Protestant university. Then it was sold to a housing developer followed by a seminary and another church. The property went through

"If it continues to be neglected as it is, it will be beyond salvage...."

decades of bankruptcy proceedings and was repossessed, auctioned and sold for pennies to creditors -- all while descending further into disrepair.

But those who have seen the interior in recent years said most of the house's fine, historic fixtures are still there, even though some of the rooms are destroyed by water damage and broken windows. Mary DeNadai, an architect who specializes in historic restoration, said it would take about $50 million to restore the home to its former glory, but time is running out. "If it continues to be neglected as it is, it will be beyond salvage" within five to 10 years, she said.

David Rowland, president of the Old York Road Historical Society, said he has seen possible buyers come and go over the years. "It was always loved more by the people who'd never been inside it than by the people who actually lived there," Rowland said.

Annual Citywide Garage Sale - October 4th

San Carlos Together is sponsoring the Annual Citywide Garage Sale.  It will be held on Saturday, October 4th from 9am to 4pm.  More information is available by visiting the San Carlos Together website. 


QuestionsContact San Carlos Together via e-mail at sancarlostogether@gmail.com

San Carlos Real Estate Market

See you your part of San Carlos is doing in this real estate market!

Click link below:

http://www.sancarloshomefinder.com/mimarket/zip/94070/

10 States With the Cheapest Mortgage Rates

By Christine DiGangi

A property with an affordable listing price is only part of finding a home within your budget, because if you can't access low mortgage rates, you may not be able to buy as much house as you hoped. Your mortgage rate heavily depends on you: your credit score, your ability to repay the loan, your track record with meeting debt obligations and the size of your down payment. At the same time, your mortgage rate is in some ways beyond your control, because unless you're looking to move to a place where financing is cheap, you're stuck with the trends in your state. Depending on where you live, that can be good or bad news.

10 States With the Lowest Average Mortgage Rates

To find the most affordable mortgage rates across the U.S., GoBankingRates and RateWatch analyzed interest rates across the country and published their rankings earlier this month. More than half of the states on the low-rate list are located on the East Coast. Regional markets have an affect on rates, but the price of a home loan depends on the applicant.

No matter where you live, if you have terrible credit and can't show you're capable of repaying the loan, you're likely to qualify for much higher mortgage rates than average, assuming you qualify at all. As far as geography goes, here are the 10 states with the lowest average mortgage rates:

10. New Hampshire -- 3.649%.
9. Minnesota -- 3.623%.
8. Hawaii -- 3.603%.
7. Mississippi -- 3.599%.
6. Massachusetts -- 3.597%.
5. Maryland -- 3.593%.
4. Pennsylvania -- 3.551%.
3. Nevada -- 3.459%.
2. Connecticut -- 3.413%.
1. Rhode Island -- 3.359%.

The weighted averages were calculated from a database including 102,000 15- and 30-year fixed and five-year adjustable-rate mortgage products on July 3. On the opposite end, Nebraska had the highest average rate at 4.102 percent. The national average was about 3.747 percent, which is quite low, historically speaking. Fixed mortgage rates peaked at more than 18 percent in 1981, and pre-recession averages were in the 6 percent range.

Local rates depend on a few things, like supply and demand, home prices and default risk in the area, but if affordability is your goal, you should focus on your credit. The best interest rates are available to those with the highest credit scores, and because your credit score is based on your credit history, you'll want to make sure your credit reports are in good shape. (Here's how to get your credit reports for free.)

Credit scores are based on five main factors: payment history, debt use, average age of accounts, account mix and number of inquiries. Well in advance of house hunting, you should pull your credit reports to make sure they're accurate, and you should see how you fare in those five categories by reviewing your credit scores regularly.

Either Way, You’re Still Paying a Mortgage

There are some people that have not purchased a home because they are uncomfortable taking on the obligation of a mortgage. Everyone should realize that, unless you are living with your parents rent free, you are paying a mortgage - either your mortgage or your landlord’s. As a paper from the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University explains:

“Households must consume housing whether they own or rent. Not even accounting for more favorable tax treatment of owning, homeowners pay debt service to pay down their own principal while households that rent pay down the principal of a landlord plus a rate of return. That’s yet another reason owning often does—as Americans intuit—end up making more financial sense than renting.”

Also, if you purchase with a 30-year fixed rate mortgage, your ‘housing expense’ is locked in over the thirty years for the most part. If you rent, the one guarantee you will have is that your rent will increase over that same thirty year time period.
And, as an owner, the mortgage payment is a ‘forced savings’ which will allow you to have equity in your home you can tap into later in your life. As a renter, you guarantee the landlord is the person with that equity.
Whether you are looking for a primary residence for the first time or are considering a vacation home on the shore, owning might make more sense than renting since home values and interest rates are still at bargain prices.

How to Compare Home Warranty Companies

Comparing home warranty companies helps you find the policy that fits your needs and budget. A home warranty is an individual policy you can purchase to provide coverage for your home's major systems and appliances. The exact coverage and prices available to you differs by each home warranty company operating in your area, so comparing the specific rates and services from each company is an important step when selecting a policy for your home.

1

Write down the type of coverage you need. Include specific items you want covered. Plumbing and electrical systems are usually covered under a basic home warranty, but you have to pay for coverage for some other major appliances, such as an air conditioner or spa.

2

Contact a local real estate agency for a list of recommended home warranty companies. Home warranty companies typically market to real estate agencies, and a real estate agent should be able to recommend a company she has had positive experiences with.

3

Visit the official website of each warranty company on the list you received. Look for quote calculators and price information. Some home warranty companies have coverage and pricing information online. Write down the total yearly price for your desired policy from each company website you visit.

4

Contact each home warranty company on the list you received. Ask for pricing information and a quote if the information was not available online or to verify data you received online. Ask what the fee charged for a service call is, and write the prices down for each company next to the policy price information you listed. Request information about the typical wait times for a technician for a service call. Ask if emergency and 24-hour service is available.

5

Read over your policy price information list. Compare policy and service fee prices by company, as well as service times. Chose the company that has the policy with the features and coverage you want for the best price.

Kelly Clarke of Coldwell Banker Earns Buyer Specialist Certification from Cartus Broker Services

Certified Agent Advantage offers Broker Network agent specialized expertise to assist customers.

                                                                                                                       

san carlos, california – Coldwell Banker today announced that Kelly Clarke has achieved the Cartus Network Buyer Specialist (CNBS) certification. This annual certificate is part of the Certified Agent Advantage program, a professional standard available exclusively to principal brokers of the Cartus Broker Network — the network of real estate brokers serving the clients and customers of Cartus.

Cartus requires qualified Network agents to become certified as relocation experts by participating in one or more Certified Agent Advantage courses and passing a written exam upon completion. The CNBS Certification course in which Kelly Clarke participated covered issues surrounding the purchase of a destination home, as well as the most effective techniques for helping clients research communities, locate their new homes, and settle into their new areas of the United States.

“As members of the Cartus Broker Network, our agents strive to deliver excellent service to every client,” said Coldwell Banker. “The Certified Agent Advantage program helps to differentiate our agents and provides them with a wider range of resources and career growth opportunities.”

Other certifications available through the Certified Agent Advantage program are Cartus Network Marketing Specialist (CNMS), Cartus Network Inventory Specialist (CNIS) and Cartus Network Affinity Specialist (CNAS).

About Cartus and the Cartus Broker Network

Cartus Broker Network is the nation’s leading network of 802 market-leading real estate firms representing approximately 2,900 offices and nearly 106,000 agents. Cartus provides trusted guidance to organizations of all types and sizes that require global relocation solutions.

Cartus provides trusted guidance to organizations of all types and sizes that require global relocation solutions. Cartus serves 64 percent of the Fortune 50. We provide service in more than 165 countries, applying our more than half century of experience to help our clients with their mobility, outsourcing, consulting, and language and intercultural training needs. Cartus is part of Realogy Holdings Corp. (NYSE: RLGY), a global provider of real estate services. To find out how our greater experience, reach, and hands-on guidance can help your company, visit www.cartus.com; read our blog at www.cartusblog.com; or click www.realogy.com for more information.