What’s stopping you from putting in the effort?

BY TOM FERRY MAR 5 It happens to the best of us. We have a goal of achieving something, and then some way, somehow, we find every excuse to not take action. Simply put, your behaviors are not aligned with your goals. And this, my friends, is the difference between the rich and the rest. Effort, ambition, desire, determination — whatever you call it, the answer to unlocking your full potential lies in answering the following three questions. Warning: Answering these questions requires you to dig deep, to find the core of what drives you. And that’s the easy part. The hard part is holding yourself accountable to following through on the behaviors that get results. That’s why my coaching company exists and why members in the program achieve so much success. When you’re ready to fully commit to achieving the success you’ve always desired and deserved, we’re here to help. Why do you exist? That’s pretty deep, but seriously, what excites you to get up in the morning, exercise, make your calls, go on listing appointments — and do it all over again the next day? For most of us, the answer is financial security. But what does money really give us? A nice house, cars, and a specific lifestyle? Sure, but if you’re like me, it’s so much more than material possessions. It’s the security I can provide my family. Knowing that I am doing everything in my power to provide at the highest level, to give my family the best life possible. That “why” is what I need to keep pushing, even when I’m tired, even when I’m scared and especially when I’m unmotivated. Knowing your “why,” having it written down, up and visual in your house, wallet, office, is the first step toward unlocking your potential. If you feel like sharing your “why,” I’d love to know – hit me up on social @tomferry. What stamp do you want to make on the world? Achieving true success isn’t just about you. True success means you’re able to create a far-reaching impact — to improve other people’s lives, to shine hope and joy and light into the darkness, to leave a legacy. So who do you want to take care of? Where do you want to make your mark? Your parents? Your friends? Your church? Your community? Charitable causes? Find something so meaningful to you that you jump out of bed every morning determined to take one step closer to that goal. What’s your plan to achieve financial freedom? There’s a sad truth we must confront in our industry — while real estate gives us the ability to earn limitless income, it often doesn’t adequately prepare people for retirement. Do you plan to retire with gusto, or just fade away? Devising a successful retirement plan requires painting a picture of what you want with great specificity. Then do the math — figure out how much money you need and when. Only with a concrete plan will you ever achieve the retirement you desire. Real estate is tough! Over my 30,000 hours of coaching agents to fulfill their greatness, I’ve learned a thing or two about finding and activating ambition to achieve incredible results. And I’d be honored to help you find your success. Schedule a complimentary call with one of my coaching consultants today. Take the next step Answering these three questions is a crucial step our coaching members take to tap into their motivation and propel them on their journey to fulfill their vast potential. If you’re struggling to make your calls or do the things you know will lead you to success, I encourage you to sit down, dig in and answer these three questions. This exercise will supercharge your ambition by bringing your “why” to the forefront.

3 Secrets for a Better Retirement in 2018 By ELIZABETH O'BRIEN January 1, 2018 Retirement, like all life stages, is a work in progress. Whether you’ve been out of the paid workforce for days or decades, there’s always room for tweaks to improve your finances—and your fun quotient. “No matter what step you’re at, take some time to say, ‘what’s next?'” advises Keith Lawrence, co-author of Your Retirement Quest. Here are three steps for making your retirement even better in 2018: Check Your Spending It’s common to worry about your spending rate in retirement. A conservative way to ensure your money will last is to avoid dipping into your principal and instead let the income and investment gains your portfolio generates cover your living expenses, along with Social Security and any other income sources. If your portfolio isn’t big enough to generate enough income, or the markets go into a prolonged slump, a general rule of thumb holds that you can annually withdraw 4% of your nest egg—regardless of its size—and never run out of money throughout retirement. While some financial experts have questioned the sustainability of the so-called 4% rule amid expectations of lower future investment returns, it’s still a reasonable starting point, many advisors say. It’s important to note that this 4% should be enough to cover both your regular expenditures and one-time items like a new roof or a big vacation, says B. Kelly Graves, a certified financial planner in Charlotte. “Retirees should save up for the large expenses and build a kitty for them,” he says. A tool like T. Rowe Price’s retirement income calculator can give you an estimate of whether your portfolio is on track to meet your spending goals in retirement. The tool estimates how much of your monthly income will come from your own portfolio versus Social Security, pensions and any other income sources, and projects how long your savings might last. If your goal is to spend, say, $2,000 each month from your investments, you can ask your brokerage firm to set up a “paycheck”: the firm will transfer the desired amount each month from your investment portfolio to a checking or savings account. (It’s best to create a “cash bucket” for this purpose, so you’re not forced to sell stocks in a down market to generate the needed amount.) It gives many retirees peace of mind to replicate the paycheck they got while working, says Jay Hummel, head of direct sales and service at American Century Investments. Take That Big Trip You want to ensure a sustainable spending rate in retirement so you don’t run out of money. But you don’t want to be so conservative that you miss out on the fun that’s your reward for a lifetime of hard work. If you’re not comfortable doing the math yourself, a good financial planner can assess your situation and give you permission to spend. (Certified financial planners have passed a rigorous exam and must adhere to a code of ethics.) If your budget and your health allow, don’t delay checking big-ticket activities off your bucket list, Hummel says. That means, go ahead and take that wine tour of Italy, or the snorkeling trip to the Maldives that you’ve been dreaming of for years. “Health issues happen, family issues happen,” Hummel says, and folks wind up with regrets: “Boy, we really wish we could’ve done it when we had the opportunity to.” Since research suggests that experiences bring more happiness than things, you’ll be boosting your bliss in the process. At the same time, proceed with caution on making big purchases, Hummel says. He’s seen retirees rush to buy second homes in places where they enjoy vacationing. But then they feel pressure to spend a lot of time there to justify their investment. This can lead to stress and marital discord, if one spouse wants to spend every vacation at the second home while the other wants to spend time with family members or explore new vacation destinations. A better bet? Use the 6% to 8% of the home’s value that you would spend in annual carrying costs on the second home and stay in a hotel or a short-term rental instead, Hummel says. If you and your spouse both still love the location after test-driving it for a few years, then you might be ready to buy. Make Some (Good) Friends Loneliness can damage your physical health as much as smoking, research indicates. Feeling alone may also contribute to your risk of developing dementia. (It’s thought that loneliness produces an inflammatory response in the body that’s similar to what an illness might produce.) To combat these health risks, you need “2am friends,” Lawrence says. Not to be mistaken for Facebook friends, “2am friends” are people who, as their name suggests, you can call in crisis in the middle of the night with the expectation that they’ll pick up and do their best to help. You need at least several of these friends and your spouse, while potentially a great source of support, only counts as one, Lawrence says. Affinity groups are a great way to develop close friends. Choose something you love to do, whether that’s reading or restoring old cars, and chances are there’s a group devoted to it near you. Check the web site Meetup.com for like-minded people. Volunteering is another great way to make friends; volunteermatch.org is a site that connects volunteers with worthy causes.

Housing shortage: New report shows how California cities and counties stack up

By KATY MURPHY | kmurphy@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group PUBLISHED: February 1, 2018 at 3:34 pm | UPDATED: February 2, 2018 at 7:30 am SACRAMENTO — Nearly all the cities and counties in California — 97.6 percent — are failing to approve the housing needed to keep pace with population growth and will be subject to a new law that aims to fast-track development, according to a report released by the state Thursday. The state’s housing department released lists showing that more than 500 cities and counties are not on track to meet guidelines for the development of market-rate housing, affordable housing or both. Those jurisdictions will now lose the ability to reject certain types of development projects under legislation that was signed into law last fall. Only 13 cities and counties, including Foster City, Hillsborough, San Anselmo and Beverly Hills, made the grade. “When 97 percent of cities are failing to meet their housing goals,” the bill’s author, Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, said in a statement Thursday, “it’s clear we need to change how we approach housing in California.” Senate Bill 35, which Wiener carried last year, kicks in when cities or counties lag behind on annual progress reports. It applies only to projects that comply with a city’s zoning rules, pay the prevailing wage, and ensure that at least 10 percent of the new units are affordable, or priced below market rate. (The prevailing-wage requirement only applies to projects with more than 10 units.) For cities such as Oakland, Berkeley, Fremont, Walnut Creek and San Jose — which met their market-rate housing goals but didn’t issue enough permits for affordable housing to stay on track — the law applies only to proposed developments in which at least half of the units are affordable, or below market rate. Others, including Menlo Park, Richmond, Santa Rosa, Carmel and Alameda and San Mateo counties, came up short on both market-rate and affordable development, which means the new law would apply to both kinds of projects. SB 35 aims to make the permitting process faster and less cumbersome in those areas, with the hope of boosting the housing supply and stabilizing soaring housing costs over time. The progress report was published by the California Department of Housing and Community Development, which is managing the new law’s implementation. The department found that 70.1 percent of all cities and counties fell short of the state’s guidelines for both market rate and affordable housing. Another 27.5 percent approved enough market-rate housing, but not enough affordable housing. California has set guidelines for development, measured by permits issued to builders, since 1969 in an effort to discourage cities from impeding growth. Those guidelines are set during 8-year cycles through the bureaucratically titled Regional Housing Needs Allocation, which housing policy wonks call RHNA (pronounced REE-na). Critics say the state lacks power to enforce the guidelines, however, and many cities lobby to have their goals reduced, or ignore them altogether. Wiener has a pending proposal, Senate Bill 828, to change how those numbers are set. The very short list of cities and counties that are on track to meeting the state’s affordable housing development goals was not a shock to Matt Schwartz, president CEO of the California Housing Partnership, a non-profit housing organization based in San Francisco. He believes the state needs to offer more rewards to local governments that are approving affordable housing projects — and perhaps withhold some transportation funding for those that don’t. “What’s the penalty if I don’t meet my RHNA affordable housing goal? What’s the incentive if I meet or exceed those goals?” he asked. “Not much.” Reporter Louis Hansen contributed to this story. These Bay Area cities and counties are failing to meet all of their housing goals — both market rate and affordable: Alameda County, Capitola, Carmel, Clayton, Concord, East Palo Alto, Emeryville, Hayward, Los Altos Hills, Martinez, Menlo Park, Mill Valley, Millbrae, Monterey, Moraga, Newark, Novato, Pacifica, Pinole, Pleasant Hill, Redwood City, Richmond, San Bruno, San Leandro, San Mateo County, Santa Cruz County, Sausalito, South San Francisco, Tracy, Union City, Vallejo The Bay Area cities and counties below are not issuing enough permits for affordable (below market rate) housing, but are on track to meet their goals for market-rate housing: Alameda, Albany, Antioch, Atherton, Berkeley, Brisbane, Burlingame, Campbell, Contra Costa County, Cupertino, Daly City, Danville, Dublin, El Cerrito, Fremont, Gilroy, Hercules, Lafayette, Los Altos, Los Gatos, Marin County, Milpitas, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Oakland, Orinda, Palo Alto, Piedmont, Pittsburg, Pleasanton, San Francisco, San Jose, San Mateo, San Pablo, San Rafael, San Ramon, Santa Clara, Santa Clara County, Sunnyvale, Walnut Creek, Woodside Statewide, just 13 cities or counties are on track to meet both goals. They include Foster City, Hillsborough, San Anselmo, and Napa and Sonoma counties.

New Homes Are Getting Smaller

DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS | MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2017 Developers are continuing to shrink the size of new single-family homes, according third-quarter housing data compiled by the National Association of Home Builders. The median square footage of a single-family home was 2,378 square feet in the third quarter. In the years following the Great Recession, builders were focused on the higher end of the market, catering to larger-sized homes. But more recently, builders have renewed their focus on the entry-level market, and NAHB predicts square footage of new homes to continue to decrease. “Typical new-home size falls prior to and during a recession, as home buyers tighten budgets, and then sizes rise as high-end home buyers, who face fewer credit constraints, return to the housing market in relatively greater proportions,” NAHB explains at its Eye on Housing blog. “This pattern was exacerbated during the current business cycle due to the market weakness among first-time home buyers. But the recent declines in size indicate that this part of the cycle has ended, and the size will trend lower as builders add more entry-level homes into inventory.” Source: “Declining New Home Size Trend Continues,” National Association of Home Builders’ Eye on Housing blog (Nov. 17, 2017)

Charity Deduction Faces Same Tax Reform Risk as MID

Of all the itemized deductions, the one for charitable contributions might seem to come out the best under tax reform. That’s because it’s the only deduction under both the House and the Senate versions of the bill that is largely undiminished. And yet charities complain donations will dry up under tax reform. What gives? b“Provisions in the tax bill the House and Senate are considering would make the situation worse” for charities, Ray Madoff, director of the Boston College Law School Forum on Philanthropy and the Public Good, says in a Nov. 27 New York Times opinion piece. The problem, Madoff says, is the near doubling of the standard deduction. With all of the other itemized deductions either going away or constrained by new caps, most households will opt for the standard deduction rather than continue to itemize. That renders the tax deduction for charitable giving nearly meaningless. As Madoff puts it, “A vast majority of American taxpayers would no longer itemize and therefore would receive no benefits for their charitable giving.” That argument might sound familiar. It’s the same one NAR is making about homeownership. Under the Senate bill, the mortgage interest deduction would be left intact, but the deduction for state and local taxes would go away. In the House, MID would be limited to mortgages of $500,000 and the deductions for property taxes would be capped at $10,000, while the deduction for state and local income and sales taxes would be entirely repealed. So, while MID is preserved, either entirely or in part, very few households that itemize today would continue to do so. As a result, MID would continue to be a benefit only for the wealthiest households. Given the structural changes to the tax code lawmakers have before them, preserving the deduction for charitable contributions is mostly meaningless. This is exactly the same thing REALTORS® are saying about tax incentives for homeownership. They’re meaningless for most households if tax reform passes in its current form in both the House and the Senate. More on tax reform’s impact on homeowners in The Voice for Real Estate.

Largest part of La Honda preserve now open

Midpen Open Space District welcomes visitors to 2,100-acre cattle grazing site In an effort to preserve picturesque cattle grazing grounds, commemorate times past and enhance recreational opportunities, a new section of the bucolic La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve is now open to the public for the first time. Starting Friday, Dec. 1, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District is welcoming visitors to a 2,100-acre lower section of the nearly 6,100-acre preserve along the hillside overlooking the coast. Only a smaller northern portion of the site is currently open to the public so long as they request a permit in advance. Now, a new 6-mile trail, parking lot and free access from dawn to dusk will be offered to hikers and equestrians, said district spokeswoman Cydney Bieber. The Lower La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve will also mark Midpen’s second area that blends cattle grazing alongside recreation. The move continues long-standing ranching traditions on the coastside that support management of healthy grasslands, she explained. “We’re becoming increasingly distant from where our food comes from and the historic use of the land. This land had been used for generations and generations for ranching. This is an opportunity to see what that looks like,” Bieber said. Midpen’s $1.2 million project included creating a new 22-space parking lot where the trailhead meets at Sears Ranch Road. The six-mile trail stretches through forests, creeks and ranchlands with panoramic views. Preparing the site included installing informative panels, preserving habitat and restoring a pond, she explained. The expansive hillside is home to the threatened California red-legged frog and potential habitat for the endangered San Francisco garter snake. Part of the site also encompasses the San Gregorio watershed and Midpen will be able to help preserve clean water for that coastal area, Bieber said. Hikers can park off Sears Ranch Road and meander along the trail that is primarily out and back. A small section known as the Folger Ranch Trail creates a loop at the end of the path but will close seasonally due to weather. Equestrians can apply for a free permit to park at a different lot before taking a 1.2-mile trail into the preserve to meet up with the main Harrington Creek Trail, Bieber said. The work was supported by Measure AA, a $300 million general obligation bond approved by voters in June 2014. The measure levies a property tax on those in the special district’s territory, which includes 17 cites in San Mateo, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties. With development pressures abounding, the ability to preserve 2,100 acres of open space is a unique opportunity. The achievement was celebrated Thursday with a ribbon cutting ceremony leading up to Friday’s opening of the largest section of the preserve for the public to enjoy. The vast grassy hillside is grazed by a local rancher who received a contract with Midpen in 2014 to move his cattle along the property. Midpen acquired the site in 2006 for $9 million from the Peninsula Open Space Trust, she said. While the cattle aren’t expected to be interested in visitors, Midpen is encouraging the public to appreciate them from a distance and hikers must remain on the trail. The site was once managed by the Driscoll family for generations and used for cattle grazing, Bieber said. “Our goal, especially with lands in the coastal areas, is to make sure we’re able to maintain historic usage of them, which is why this preserve will have active cattle grazing,” Bieber said. “That’s really important to us to maintain those agricultural uses that have been used in the past.” In 2012, Midpen approved a 30-year master plan for the La Honda preserve and is striving to make improvements to open more of the entire coastal property to the public. As studies show spending time in nature has immense benefits for a person’s well-being, Bieber said preserving lands for recreation is vital to the community and the planet. “These open space lands are the life support system of the planet. They provide clean air, they provide clean water, they provide a place for people to get away from their hectic lives and convene with nature,” she said. “Our preserves are one of the places in the Bay Area where people can do that, they can get away, they can experience the land around them and how it used to be used for many years.” Visit openspace.org/preserves/la-honda-creek for more information. samantha@smdailyjournal.com (650) 344-5200 ext. 106 Twitter: @samantha_weigel

Choosing A Mortgage Broker Or Lender

Deciding on where to secure financing and the type of financing to use to purchase a house is one of the most important steps of buying a house. The article explains the difference between a mortgage broker & mortgage lender. A mortgage broker is a middleman between a potential borrower and mortgage lenders. Mortgage brokers help potential borrowers secure the best type of mortgage and rates. A mortgage lender is an actual organization who provides the funding for the purchase of real estate. An example of a mortgage lender includes credit unions or banks. Ask For Referrals / Recommendations. Turn to family, friends, and colleagues for recommendations, as well as ask a real estate agent. An experienced buyer’s agent will have access to several brokers or lenders they’ve worked with in the past and had positive experiences dealing with. Research Mortgage Brokers Or Lenders Online. A great tip for finding and choosing a mortgage broker or lender is to research potential companies online. The author offers the websites which provide reviews from previous customers which can be very helpful to a potential buyer. They are Facebook, Google Business, Yelp, Better Business Bureau, Trust Pilot, and Zillow Learn About Mortgage Brokers’ Or Lenders’ Products. One of the top tips for finding and choosing a mortgage broker or lender is to learn about the products they offer. Each and every mortgage broker or lender will offer different types of mortgage products. Since every home buyer’s circumstances are different, it’s vital they find the best mortgage product. Understand What Fees Are Charged. Before completing a mortgage application with a mortgage broker or lender, it’s critical to know exactly what fees are charged. The article gives some of the most common mortgage fees to be on the lookout for. They are Appraisal Fee, Rate Lock Fee, Application Fee, Origination Fee, Processing Fee and Underwriting Fee. Ask The Right Questions. Asking the right questions when talking with prospective real estate agents is always highly recommended. Home buyers who know the right questions to ask real estate agents when buying a home will have a better experience than those who don’t. If a mortgage broker or lender struggles to answer these questions quickly, you may want to shop around and talk with a couple of other brokers or lenders.

FAA considering making Surf Air flight path over Bay official

The Federal Aviation Administration is considering making the route Surf Air has used to avoid homes on the Midpeninsula – by flying over the Bay – an official fair-weather route. But an organized group of residents from Sunnyvale has turned out in force against the route saying it transfers the noise to their neighborhood. On Wednesday, the FAA held what it called an informational meeting in San Jose as part of its consideration of whether to make what it calls the Bayside Visual Approach an official charted flight path. That would mean the route could only be used when pilots can actually see the airport, but could be flown using instruments, which many pilots consider safer to do even in visual conditions. The meeting was held in the Santa Clara County Government Center in San Jose starting at 6 p.m., and many of those attending complained about the location as being far and difficult to reach from the areas affected by Surf Air flights. Nonetheless, about 100 people showed up, the vast majority of them wearing bright orange T-shirts signifying they were part of the Save Our Sunny Skies group. That group, made up of mostly Sunnyvale and Cupertino residents, is protesting the route because it brings more planes into the already congested airspace over their homes. Officials had designed the meeting to include about 40 minutes of presentations from Surf Air, the FAA and the San Carlos Airport – which is owned and operated by San Mateo County – and then move out into the lobby, where people could ask questions of the officials. But dozens from the Save Our Sunny Skies group, including a leader with a megaphone, refused to go along and said they wouldn't leave until the officials were regrouped in the auditorium to answer questions from and to the group. Officials agreed to return to the auditorium, but only after most of the meeting attendees who were not part of the Save Our Sunny Skies group had left. The route was developed by Surf Air in cooperation with the FAA after Midpeninsula residents complained about the noisy Pilatus PC-12 turboprop planes the commuter airline uses. The FAA allowed Surf Air to use the Bayside Visual Approach for a six-month experimental period that ended in January. The route takes planes over the Bay – starting in Santa Clara County near Moffett Field – as they descend toward the San Carlos Airport. The FAA has evaluated the results of the trial, during which conditions allowed Surf Air pilots to use the route about 67 percent of the time, and is now doing an environmental review. Thann McLeod, a manager of airspace and procedures, planning and requirements for the FAA, told the group that her "primary responsibility in the FAA is safety." "If something is not going to work, it's not going to work for a reason, not because I'm favoring one community over another," she said. She may have been anticipating that if the FAA decides not to make the approach official, Midpeninsula residents will be angry; if it does approve it, the Sunnyvale and Cupertino residents will be angry. Because the air space in the Bay Area is so congested, the FAA had little choice in choosing the route, she said. "We run out of room very, very quickly," she said. "This was the best we could do." "We did put a lot of thought into this procedure when we designed it," she said. Surf Air and Encompass, the company that has taken over the operations part of the SurfAir business, say that they have been working to find another air route to the San Carlos Airport and have experimented with a route that comes in from the east over the Bay and avoids more residential areas. "We need a global solution," said Charlie Caviris, the Encompass chief pilot. The route from the east "is a way that we can greatly reduce noise for communities," he said. The FAA says comments will be taken on the Bayside approach until Oct. 27. Comments can be emailed to: 9-awp-sql-cvfp@faa.gov or mailed to: Noise Concerns, AJV-W25, FAA, 1601 Lind Ave. SW, Renton, WA 98057. Comments may also be made on the FAA website, which also includes a number of presentations from the meeting. After the six-month trial ended, Surf Air pilots continued to use the route while the FAA studied the results. Existing regulations allow pilots to fly non-charted routes under visual flight conditions, but they, not air traffic controllers, are responsible for maintaining separation from other aircraft and obstacles. Surf Air started using the San Carlos Airport in June 2013, and by July of this year had 228 flights a week arriving at or departing from San Carlos. Its customers pay a monthly fee for unlimited flights. --- Follow the Palo Alto Weekly/Palo Alto Online on Twitter @PaloAltoWeekly and Facebook for breaking news, local events, photos, videos and more.

Study: The income needed to buy a home in the Bay Area has doubled in five years

Study: The income needed to buy a home in the Bay Area has doubled in five years By Amy Graff, SFGATE Updated 9:32 pm, Tuesday, August 15, 2017 A home for sale in San Francisco where the median-price on a single-family home is $1.45 million.Keep clicking for the 20 least affordable places to live in the U.S., according to Forbes. Photo: Michael Noble Jr., The Chronicle Photo: Michael Noble Jr., The Chronicle A home for sale in San Francisco where the median-price on a single-family home is $1.45 million. Keep clicking for the 20 least affordable places to live in the U.S., according to Forbes. The most arresting data point in a new report from the California Association of Realtors reveals that the income needed to buy a median-priced single-family home in the Bay Area has nearly doubled in five years. Back in 2012, a minimum annual income of $90,370 was needed to purchase a Bay Area home at the median price of $447,970. Now, a home buyer needs to be bringing in $179,390 to afford a mean-priced house at $895,000, the report looking at second-quarter 2017 home sales data concludes. This reality of skyrocketing real estate prices might seem rather unfair to those of us who haven't seen our salaries shoot through the roof. If you're trying to save for a home, it can be difficult to keep up with the rising prices unless you're receiving significant raises at work. Before you house-hunt, you've got to answer two questions. How much house can you afford, and how much house should you actually buy? And even if you do achieve that golden salary of $179,390, don't expect it to get you anything within San Francisco city limits where the median-priced home costs a staggering $1.45 million and requires a salary of $290,630. In fact, according to the report, only 12 percent of buyers in the city can actually afford a median-priced single-family home. The outlook is also rather grim in San Mateo (14 percent ), Marin (17 percent), Santa Clara (17 percent) and Alameda (19 percent) counties, all among the least affordable spots in the Bay Area. Solano County was the most affordable with 44 percent of buyers being able to purchase a median-priced home of $412,000 with a salary of $82,580. Here 44 percent of buyers can afford a home. Sonoma and Napa ranked the second most affordable with 25 percent of home buyers able to buy a home.

Roadshow: Cut apartment-dwellers some slack — they need to park, too

Roadshow: Cut apartment-dwellers some slack — they need to park, too By GARY RICHARDS | grichards@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group PUBLISHED: August 30, 2016 at 6:04 am | UPDATED: September 5, 2016 at 7:22 pm Q I realize that much of your readership is in the “get off my lawn” crowd, but why even bother to publish letters like that from Ken Davis about parking problems for homeowners who live near apartment complexes? Ken’s complaints seem to be that many current apartment residents were not fortunate enough to buy homes in the area 30 years ago, that apartment-dwellers have the audacity to own cars without owning a garage to park them in and that no one seems to be in a hurry to tow legally parked cars in order to give Ken a less-obstructed view out of his living room window. Where’s the logic here? Do homeowners think that people park their cars in an inconvenient place to purposefully annoy them? Where else are people supposed to park if they don’t have a private space? ADVERTISING Please understand that the forces that have brought thousands of apartment-dwellers into the neighborhood are the same ones that have sent property values skyrocketing over the past 30 years. If you aren’t willing to deal with the reality of an increasingly crowded area, there are lots of people who would be willing to purchase your house and the guaranteed parking spots that come with it. Bryce Warwick San Jose A That might beat paying $3,000 to $4,000 a month for rent — forcing many to cram five, six or seven people in a two-bedroom apartment — and the desperate searches for a place to park blocks away. There will be a couple of meetings later this month to consider a parking-permit program in West San Jose. They haven’t been scheduled yet; check San Jose City Councilman Chappie Jones’ website, sjdistrict1.com, for updates. Q Wait a minute, Mr. Roadshow. Why aren’t these apartment projects being forced to provide adequate parking for its residents? That is the issue! John Francis San Jose A A difficult issue, and perhaps an unsolvable one. Most apartment complexes are required to have one to 1.5 parking spaces per unit. To require more would eat up more pavement or lead to parking garages, which I am certain would not sit well with nearby homeowners. Q I’ve not visited Santa Cruz in maybe 20 years, but I used to go fairly often. Now? I’m not sure it’s worth the effort. Seems like every weekend traffic is backed up on Highway 17 to Camden Avenue or even to Hamilton Avenue, along with all side streets. If it’s noon and you’re stuck at 17 and Camden, what time can you reasonably expect to be in Santa Cruz? Aside from the obvious recommendation to get on the road early, might it be quicker to go south on Highway 101 and come up through Watsonville? Paul Rekieta San Jose A At noon, expect it to take as long as 90 minutes to get to Santa Cruz from San Jose on Highway 17. Your best bet is to be on south 17 before 9 a.m. or after 2 p.m. As for 101, it’s a longer trek but may be an easier one. Try using Waze on this route. Q I’m a former Midwesterner trying to adjust to driving in California. Is it OK to turn left on a red light? I see folks doing this so often that I’m wondering if it’s legal here. Scott Fosdick A It’s legal as long as it’s from a one-way street to another one-way street. You must stop at the red light first. Follow Gary Richards at Facebook.com/mr.roadshow or contact him at mrroadshow@bayareanewsgroup.com or 408-920-5335.

Thinking of buying a house? Here's where to start

Home Trends Thinking of buying a house? Here's where to start by Kathryn Vasel @KathrynVasel June 12, 2017: 12:18 PM ET So you're ready to take the leap from renter to homeowner -- but where exactly do you start? Many first-time homebuyers across the country are facing brutally competitive markets that favor sellers. That means buyers need to bring their A game to snag a pad of their own. Especially if you're a newbie. The road to homeownership can be long and daunting, but here's where experts say you should start. Powered by SmartAsset.com SMARTASSET.COM Check your bank balance How much have you saved for a down payment? Nothing? You might want to start there. Lenders usually like to see a 20% down payment before they'll give you a loan. But it's not a requirement. There are also a bunch of low down payment loans available, including government-backed FHA loans that only require a 3.5% down payment. Either way, you're gonna need some cash. So now's the time to start evaluating your spending habits and finding areas to cut back and sock that savings away. Note that anything less than 20% down means you'll pay more every month -- not only will you be borrowing more money, but you'll also likely be charged private mortgage insurance fees on top of your mortgage payments. Smaller down payments also make it tougher to compete in a hot real estate market filled with all-cash buyers who often win out in bidding wars. Know your number Lenders use a three-digit number called a credit score to decide whether to lend you money, so you need to know what yours is before you start house-hunting. The higher your score, the more likely you are to get to get a loan and a lower interest rate. There are three major credit reporting companies, and federal law mandates they each give one free report, once a year. You can check your reports for free here. You can also order your credit score while you review your report, though there could be fees. Many credit card companies offer free credit scores, so check with your bank first. Related: 3 million first-time homebuyers have been shut out of the market Be sure to review the reports carefully and get any mistakes fixed. If your score isn't where you want it to be, start taking steps to fix it. Along with your credit score, lenders also review your debt-to-income ratio (monthly debts divided by monthly income). Many lenders want to see this number no higher than 43%. home buyers guide Check in with your bank House hunting is fun, but it helps to know how much home you can afford before you start looking. If you're not sure, asking the bank what they're willing to lend you is a good place to start. "Too many first-time clients will fall in love with a home before they are qualified and they try to back into it," said Bob McLaughlin, senior vice president and director of mortgage at Bryn Mawr Trust. "Get the qualification first." To get pre-qualified, lenders will take a quick look at your financial picture and come up with a ballpark figure of how much you can afford to borrow. Related: Homebuying secrets from the real estate battlefield Some buyers choose to go one step further and get pre-approved for a loan to help them better compete against other bidders. This review process is more involved and results in an approved loan amount. Be prepared to hand over a stack of paperwork that will likely include at least one month of pay stubs, two years of tax returns and two months of banks statements from all your accounts. Check in with yourself Just because you got approved for a loan, doesn't mean you should spend that much. "On paper you might be able to afford a $2,500 monthly payment," said McLaughlin. "But it might be better to go with what you feel your budget can hold." When figuring out what you can afford, add up your mandatory expenses like student loan and car payments, health care costs, groceries, cell phone and utility bills. But don't forget to factor in the extra money you need for fun things like entertainment, shopping and travel. Getting saddled with a huge mortgage payment can leave you "house poor" -- or unable to spend money on other things you enjoy because you're struggling to afford housing. Start researching Now comes the fun part: house hunting. First start looking at online listings where you want to live to get an idea of what homes cost and figure out what you can expect to get within your budget. Related: Here's how long it takes to save for a down payment It helps to make a list of which features you definitely want the home to have, and which ones would be nice, but aren't deal breakers. Find a trusted adviser Now it's time to get up close and personal with some actual homes. You don't have to have a real estate agent to visit and make offers on a home, but having a professional in your corner can help make navigating the process easier. And since they're usually paid for by the seller's commissions after a sale, you shouldn't have to pay for their services. Experts recommend asking friends and family members to recommend somebody they've worked with personally, and then interviewing them. Happy house hunting! CNNMoney (New York) First published June 12, 2017: 11:27 AM ET

1031 Exchanges Under Threat?

1031 Exchanges Under Threat? DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS | THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 2017 A major tax advantage for the commercial real estate industry may be one of the casualties in a sweeping federal tax reform expected this year, The Wall Street Journal reports. Read more: Lawmakers Need REALTORS® on Tax Reform We Could Lose 1031s. Here’s Why That Matters Some lawmakers are eyeing the 1031 exchange provision to get the tax-rate cut they seek. The provision allows sellers of real estate and other assets to defer capital gains taxes by reinvesting any profit in “like-kind” properties. The 1031 exchange applies to a range of assets, but real estate accounts for the largest portion of exchanges at 36 percent, according to Ernst & Young LLP data. The Joint Committee on Taxation estimated in 2014 that repealing like-kind exchanges could raise $40.6 billion in extra tax revenue over one decade. Several lawmakers consider the provision to be loophole that has limited economic benefit and, therefore, some are looking to put it on the chopping block in order to pay for lower tax rates. For example, Mark Mazur, the director of the Tax Policy Center, says 1031 exchanges “really have become just a way to defer tax liability.” However, real estate executives believe that any move to get rid of 1031 exchanges would be devastating to the economy and the industry. A recent report by Green Street Advisors says that like-kind exchanges are used in 10 percent to 20 percent of commercial real estate transactions. Any threat to 1031 exchanges “would cause a lot of transactions not to occur,” says Jeffrey DeBoer, chief executive of the Real Estate Roundtable. He adds that investors who purchase real estate through 1031 exchanges are more likely to invest in those properties than those who pay cash. “Therefore, you have capital you can now put into the newly acquired property.” The House Ways and Means Committee has yet to release a bill on the matter, although The Wall Street Journal reports that the chatter among lawmakers on such legislation is growing. Maintaining 1031 exchanges is a top priority for the National Association of REALTORS®. Earlier this year, NAR President William E. Brown said the association will meet any proposals to curb 1031 exchanges with strong resistance because the provision is a vital vehicle in driving commercial real estate development. “If that goes away, commercial real estate will be decimated,” Brown said earlier this year. “That’s something we’re being very clear about with Congress. This provision is to commercial real estate what [the mortgage interest deduction] is for residential real estate. We will fall on our sword for this.” Source: “1031 Exchanges, a Cherished Real Estate Tax Break, Faces Extinction,” The Wall Street Journal (June 14, 2017) [Log-in required.]

Transitioning Renters to Homeowners

When a HUD-approved housing counselor at ACTS Housing first met Esperanza, she was on her hands and knees scraping old tile off the floor of her new home, debris flying everywhere. In that moment, her housing counselor knew she was a woman on a mission. Esperanza went to ACTS Housing, a HUD-approved housing agency, because she was tired of paying high rental costs. “Half of my check goes to the rent,” said Esperanza. “With three kids, I was ready. I’ve been saving so long and my kids deserve more.” The first step in Esperanza’s homeownership journey was a meeting with Maria Santos, Director of Homebuyer Counseling for ACTS Housing. Maria Santos, pulled Experanza’s credit report, walked her through various housing options, and supported her every step of the way. Maria explained, “Esperanza was a joy to work with. She was passionate and focused on homeownership from day one.” With Maria’s help, Esperanza purchased a property that had been in foreclosure on the South Side of Milwaukee, and renovated it into the home of her dreams. Having worked in the construction trade for five years, Esperanza had the perfect skillset to take on such a big project. She explained, “Once I got the house, the kids were excited because everyone has their own room now. And, I have more money in my pocket.” Esperanza, her three children, their dog and cat are now happy and cozy in their newly renovated South Side home. Maria explains that watching homeowners like Esperanza achieve their home buying dreams makes her job worthwhile. “The most rewarding part of my work is watching families overcome obstacles and move closer to homeownership,” said Maria. “I work with a lot of incredibly strong individuals who work hard to become homeowners. Once the keys are in hand, it makes all the hard work worth it.” ACTS Housing is thankful for Esperanza’s commitment to her family and her home. She has joined a cohort of more than 2,200 ACTS families since 1995 who have done the hard work necessary to become homeowners throughout Milwaukee. Read the latest issue of The Bridge from HUD’s Office of Housing Counseling or subscribe at TheBridge@hud.gov.

Golden Moon Gallery: Downtown San Mateo’s Wonderland of Art & Expression

Golden Moon Gallery: Downtown San Mateo’s Wonderland of Art & Expression By Dave Newlands Advertising Feature Writer Jul 26, 2017 Updated Jul 27, 2017 0 × 6 remaining of 7 Welcome! We hope that you enjoy our free content. +2 Golden Moon Gallery storefront Golden Moon Gallery is a bit like Narnia, or Wonderland. You’ll find it when you’ve wandered farther than you think you should, and looked into just the right nook, or cranny. It’s a Parisian inspired black storefront with the logo in gold leaf on a window full of fascinating bits of art. When you do peek into that window you’re pulled into an amazing place full of wonders at which to marvel – items to ponder, and stories to hear. When you leave, you are undoubtedly changed. At the very least, inspired. “We are here for the 74-year-old man who came in the other day and he found something therapeutic in [the art] and he had never found that before,” owner and founder Nick Chaboya said. “Or the kids who come in and are in awe asking a hundred questions about each thing to their parent. I remember those moments.” +2 golden moon logo Chaboya grew up in the Bay Area and has been an artist pretty much since birth. High school was art school for him, then it was California College of Arts and Crafts, and after that he established himself internationally on the strength of his tattoo work and his painting. With that reputation and career built, he had a chance to return home and share the world and the people he discovered along the way. Golden Moon Gallery is the blossoming fruit of Chaboya’s life as an artist so far. +2 Nick Chaboya, Golden Moon Gallery Nick Chaboya, artist and owner of Golden Moon Gallery. Photo by Michael Davis “At the core, what we strive to be is a community. A community of people who appreciate the handmade, and people who believe in art,” Chaboya said. When you do find your way through the doors of Golden Moon Gallery, and you do meet Nick, you quickly realize that this is a place where imagination and personality can truly run free. This is a place where an artist can come from anywhere, and anything can be art – a chemist can make ceramics, a hunter can make jewelry. You look at a roll of duct tape on a shelf and you think it is a mundane thing, included to compliment a display, and you would be wrong. The tape is also art, designed and crafted by a person as a form of expression, not by a corporation as a unit of commerce. If you are starting to get the impression that Golden Moon Gallery is a place where anyone is welcome, where all ideas are appreciated, where all stories and expressions have value, then you are starting to get the point. Chaboya appreciated the culture that was growing in downtown San Mateo, but what he didn’t see amongst the restaurants and stores was a place that you could stumble upon, that you could wander into for no other reason than what you saw in the window piqued your curiosity. When you walk out you should have a new story to tell, or a new hobby to explore. Downtown needed a place that dealt in inspiration. The gallery itself takes an unusually low commission of its sales so more of the local community can afford beautiful and unique items in their homes. Golden Moon Gallery is truly about inspiring the community and supporting the arts. “A high percentage of the artwork displayed here comes from people I meet and interact with while traveling,” Chaboya said. “There’s also a lot of local artists that walk in, introduce themselves, their artwork, and bring their art and community with them. We’re always having a call for artists, every day. I would love to support you.” Like any world built on imagination, one has to indulge in the curiosities while you are there. Be that kid that asks a hundred questions. Chaboya, his wife, his mother, or any of the staff at the gallery are happy to indulge you because the pieces you see at Golden Moon Gallery are not cottages at sunset or happy little trees painted simply to sell, or to pass the time. These are passionate expressions of lives and emotions that needed to be turned into creative output. That bowl in the corner is a chemist who is so devoted to his science that he simply must figure out how to make the elements of clay and glaze swirl in a precise way. That painting on the wall is the healing of an emotional wound put to canvas. The assemblage of each terrarium you see helped a homeless man eat well for a day. There are pieces of traditional art that will leave you in awe, but there are also pieces of non-traditional art that will leave you wondering how it was even made. That wonder and curiosity is forming the next step for Golden Moon Gallery. The gallery begs to be a social space. Chaboya is eager to begin welcoming people to events that will allow the community to be a part of the artistic process, to learn and experience new things with the artists of the gallery, to expand the reach of their inspiration and count the patrons as active members of the Golden Moon Gallery family. Ideas are swirling all the time and beginning to gel for classes and exhibitions that will offer something unexpected and exciting to downtown. Golden Moon Gallery may not reach out and grab you with a neon sign or a pitch man on the corner. It is in it’s own way, a wonderland that requires a certain degree of curiosity to discover. It is a place that, once discovered, will have you returning time and time again, and each time it will be different. You will find new things to explore, and new things to experience. It is a place that must be seen to be believed, and a place that will no doubt pay dividends on your curiosity.

New superintendent takes over in Sequoia High School District

Mary E. Streshly will take over Saturday as superintendent of the Sequoia Union High School District. She succeeds James Lianides, who is retiring. Streshly, who has been assistant superintendent for educational services in the Campbell Union High School District, was selected from among 40 applicants following a nationwide search. She has worked as a teacher, coach and administrator, and has served in Half Moon Bay, San Francisco and Southern California as well as at the Sequoia’s District’s Sequoia High School. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of California-Berkeley, a master’s from San Diego State University, and a doctorate from San Francisco State University. She will earn $240,500 annually, with a 2.5 percent annual pay increase with a satisfactory review. The district serves 9,000 students in four comprehensive high schools, Middle College, one charter school and one continuation school, all in southern San Mateo County.

City of San Carlos Public Safety Fair

10 Tips for Spring Home Buyers BY ALYCIA LUCIO ON 4 MAY 2017 Follow these 10 tips to make the home-buying process a happy one. The arrival of spring means it’s time to start fresh. Along with pulling out your warm-weather wardrobe and tackling spring cleaning, you may have a bigger project on your to-do list: buying a new home. Before you start on your home-shopping journey, check out these 10 home buying tips to save you both time and money. Find the right agent Real estate expert Joe Manausa says the key to happy spring home buying is finding the most qualified agent to guide you through the process. With reviews available at your fingertips, finding a real estate agent you trust can be easy — provided you take the time to do some research. Check for agents with the best reviews, and give them a call. They’ll relieve some of the pressures of home buying, and walk you through all the necessary steps. Think location Sure, the three things that matter most in real estate are “location, location, and location.” Nonetheless, some buyers end up purchasing a home in a location that’s not right for them, simply because they make their choice for all the wrong reasons. “They’re looking at a house in the wrong area or the wrong school district, but they buy it because they like the kitchen,” Manausa says. Use the new open house The internet has completely changed the home-buying process, making it easier to choose which homes to go see in person. With 3-D tours available on the web, buyers can tour a home from their mobile device or a computer. Eighty-seven percent of home buyers use online resources during their home search, according to the Zillow Group Report on Consumer Housing Trends. Buy a home, not a project Buyers who purchase a fixer-upper can end up spending the same (if not more) than they would on a new home. “When buying a home, pay close attention to the ‘bones’ … and avoid getting caught up in the cosmetic features,” advises Dan Schaeffer, owner of Five Star Painting of Austin. If the kitchen cabinets are in good shape, but you want the space to be brighter, adding a fresh coat of paint is easier and less expensive than replacing all the cabinets. Ka-ching! Be a cash buyer Sellers are more likely to choose the buyer who already has money in hand over an offer that’s contingent on a mortgage loan. But if you can’t pay cash, getting pre-qualified for a loan can help the seller feel more confident that you’ll be able to secure financing. Avoid disaster — get a warranty The last thing you want after buying a home is for something to go wrong. You protect your car, so why not your home? Manausa recommends purchasing a home warranty: “[They’re] very affordable, and cover all the things that go wrong.” Your wallet will thank you. Make inspection time count Small problems eventually turn into big problems. The wood could rot, drains could leak, or the electrical panel may not be up to code. “Hire experts, and always get your home inspected,” adds Nathanael Toms, owner of Mr. Electric of Southwest Missouri. If the inspection reveals issues, be sure to deal with them effectively. For example, “it’s very important that a licensed electrician makes sure all circuits work properly,” say Dana Philpot, owner of Mr. Electric of Central Kentucky. Put safety first No matter the neighborhood or the home, your family’s safety should always be the number one priority after purchasing a home. “Even if the previous owner promised to return the copy of every key, it’s always a good idea to change the locks throughout the exterior of the home,” says J.B. Sassano, president of Mr. Handyman. “If the house has an alarm system, remember to change the code — and don’t forget the garage door.” Fix common repairs Repairs may come in the form of patching up small nail holes or weatherproofing electrical outlets. Whatever the need, Schaeffer recommends fixing the repairs before moving in your belongings. “An empty house is easier to maneuver and clean,” he says. For bigger jobs, find a professional to complete the repairs. Sites such as Neighborly can help you find home services providers. Add the finishing touches The best part about buying a new house is making it a home. Change the color of the walls, update the lighting, or add a more personal touch with a photo gallery wall. “It’s important to find the right gallery layout by measuring the wall space, which determines the size of photos you can use,” Sassano says. “Lightweight frames are the safest option, especially when hanging on drywall.”

San Carlos Airport Launches FAA Noise Study

The public is invited to learn more at an open house meeting Thursday. By Renee Schiavone (Patch Staff) - April 18, 2017 5:56 pm ET San Carlos Airport Launches FAA Noise Study SAN CARLOS, CA – The San Carlos Airport is holding an open-house style public meeting this Thursday to inform the community about a new federally funded noise study and explain how it differs from a separate, earlier aircraft disturbance evaluation The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 150 Noise Compatibility Study is intended to promote aircraft noise control and land use compatibility. It is the only FAA study conducted primary for the benefit of airport neighbors and its goals are identifying current and projected noise levels in the airport area; proposing strategies to reduce the impacts of aircraft noise through changes in aircraft operations or airport facilities; and, in undeveloped areas encouraging zooming compatible with noise such as agricultural or industrial. The study is expected to be completed in 18 to 24 months. The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors will receive final recommendations for consideration and after its approval the final study will be sent to the FAA for its approval. As part of the process, the County of San Mateo — which owns and operates the airport — will hold four workshops and Thursday night’s public hearing. The meeting is an open house format allowing attendees to drop in anytime. Get free real-time news alerts from the San Carlos Patch. Enter email address SUBSCRIBE As part of its ongoing efforts to ease noise impacts on residents, the County of San Mateo in March 2016 also undertook its own aircraft disturbance study to evaluate the possibility of restricting he number of flights into and out of the airport for some aircraft and imposing an evening curfew. The Board of Supervisors will likely consider noise mitigation measures, including the proposed curfew and restrictions, in July. The upcoming open house is Thursday, April 20 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Hiller Aviation Museum, 601 Skyway Road, San Carlos. Those unable to attend may still access the materials from the meeting at http://sancarlosnoise.airportstudy.com

Headlines from the City of San Carlos

City of San Carlos @CityofSanCarlos Headlines from the City of San Carlos. Located in Silicon Valley, San Carlos is well known by many as The City of Good Living.

San Carlos City Council meets 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month

City Council Meeting City Council Meetings - Regular Meetings Location: City Hall, Council Chambers, 600 Elm Street, San Carlos San Carlos City Council meets 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month at 7 p.m. at City Hall Council Chambers unless otherwise noted. The agenda will be posted on the Thursday prior to the meeting at 10:00 A.M. on the site listed below. Packets are also available for viewing at the San Carlos library at 610 Elm Street. Agenda & Packet- Council Meeting Date: 2/27/2017 Time: 7:00 PM - 10:30 PM Contact: Crystal Mui @ (650) 802-4219